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May
20, 2009

We all want to talk intelligently and convincingly
when supporting decency in the
labor practices of our country. Attendees will receive a very concise booklet to take with them.

Please join us in a quest
to find the information to do that
this Thursday.

AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION PRESENT:

inauguration

QUICK LINKS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT...Winnie Blewitt
OFFICE HOURS THROUGH JUNE 2
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE DUPAGE DEMOCRATS
TWO PREMIER CANDIDATE TRAININGS IN CHICAGO
DON'T MISS THE MATERIALS FROM LAST WEEK'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING
WHAT CAN I DO? SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES LIST
NEW FEATURE--ACTION CORNER: COUNTY BOARD MONITORS
spotlight


WINNIE BLEWITT
LOCAL DEM-GEM


Winnie Blewitt was awarded the Wheaton Good Citizen Awardfor 45 years of volunteer work at the DuPage Convalescent Home. 


Winnie will be ninety in October.  She also received the Illinois Shining Star award for volunteer work several years ago, and is also the mother of York Township Chair, Carol Davis.
 
She served as a Democratic Election Judge in Milton Township from 1960 to 1985.  Her husband was a committeeman, whom she joined in walking their PC and distributing Democratic literature at St. Francis Convent.  Winnie will be walking with the York Democrats in the Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade on May 25th.
 
Carol Davis remembers, "She, Tom Blewitt, Ed Fisher, Steve Rothman, Vera Wiss and others were pioneer Democrats who worked for the party and helped keep it alive during the bleak years of the early 60's.  In her her first election, she came home to report that we had 3 Democrats voting in our PC.  She and my father were two of them; the third Democratic vote was thrown out because the x crossed out of the square although by so little it was hardly visible with the naked eye."

CONGRATS WINNIE!!


OFFICE HOURS
Our phone: 630-629-1125
For events throughout the county please click here.

Office Hours:

May 21:  1-5:30
Closed Memorial Day
until Wednesday May 27th

May 27th:  12-4
May 28th:  1-6
June 1:  10-4
June 2:  12-6


OF NOTE:

Parades on May 25th:


Elmhurst,9:30
Westmont,10:00
Wood Dale,11:00

RSVP HERE to
let us know you'll
march with  us!


IF you wish to have something appear in the DPDC e-blast, you must send the notice to dpdcnewsletter@ameritech.net
(Receipt at other DPDC e-mail addresses will not constitute notice.) THANKS for your understanding!




DuPage Democrats
DPDC Symbol
For more information, visit our website:
www.dupagedemocrats.com
THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF DUPAGE COUNTY

If you want an item to appear in this blast please send the info to [email protected]
at least one week in
advance (no more than 2)




Our momentum
can only build with YOUR help. Hopefully you have chosen a few ways to help us during the summer when the living is a little easier!

Please talk to your Dem friends and neighbors and ask them to get involved. Please forward this email widely and ask folks to sign up at our website here.

Sincerely,
 

AMY TAUCHMAN
Executive Director
Democratic Party of DuPage County
1000-7 ROHLWING RD LOMBARD, IL 60148
630-629-1125
[email protected]
CELL IN EMERGENCY 630-699-5071

CANDIDATES

GOOD CANDIDATES
are a product of
hard work, curiosity and the willingness
to listen to and learn from others.



CAMP WELLSTONE
July 17-19


This training is superb
and will fill up quickly.
For now, please contact 630-699-5071
if you are interested in attending. The weekend will cost $200.

DEMOCRACY

FOR AMERICA
is organizing a
Campaign Training
 in Chicago!

August 1-2
Click here to register today!


NOTES FROM

LAST THURSDAY'S DPCC MEETING:

Resetting our
General Political Strategy for Increasing Democratic Votes in all 2010 Races

AGENDA from
the May 14 Meeting:
  • Active Committees You can Join
  • Summary of the 2008/2009 Elections
  • Races Open in 2010 and Candidate Recruitment
  • Positive Democratic Messages: Ethics Reform and More 
  • Summer Issue Canvass: Process and Goals
  • Improved Tools for Consistent, Effective Voter Contact
Hindsight is 20/20 and, looking at this agenda, I realize we still need to pursue many of these topics; however, we covered a lot that evening and are on a good path.

As always, we are open to friendly critique. So, if you were in attendance and have a comment OR if you were not in attendance and want the materials, please write to me here.

Thanks,

Amy



 
PARADECome March with Us
on Memorial Day and Show your Democratic Patriotism and Pride!

     Elmhurst:  9:30 a.m.
     Wood Dale 11:00 a.m.

     (Details at the end.)

Dear DuPage Dems,


I never cease to be amazed by the participation of DuPage Democrats in so many things and, most recently, in our Central Committee Meeting last week, at which we had 120 people. Please check out the agenda recap below and order the 5-14-2009 handouts by email if you were not able to attend this energetic meeting. We are happy to walk you through those materials if you want to stop by or call Dem HQ (check this week's hours, please).

Beyond the valuable time spent as Precinct Workers and Committeepersons, Dems (probably you!) are actively involved in the fabric of our community. Some of us are involved in environmental committees in our towns, others are focussing on the needs of seniors. We have Dems working to make our roads safer for bikes and walkers and some working to help our struggling neighbors stay solvent. You present a very important face of compassion out in DuPage and we thank you.

The more we weave ourselves into this community fabric, the more like-minded folks we will find to spread our message of government that serves everyone.  Eventually this will change how our representatives vote on important issues.

In the meantime....let's get out to the streets and meet all of our neighbors who want to know we are here! We have three parades to chose from:

ELMHURST:
Come march with York and Addison Dems in the Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade Monday May 25th! We assemble at unit 50 (behind the Virginia Infantry) east of York Rd and south of Third. Call 708-772-1898 for any day of parade questions.

WESTMONT:
Come march with DG Twp Democrats in Westmont's Memorial Day Parade Monday May 25th! We're assembling at 10AM at 98 E. Naperville Rd. just east of Cass Ave. For all ages--it's more fun to be in the parade than to watch it!

WOOD DALE:
For those later risers, come march with us in the Wood Dale Parade. Stepping off at 11:00, the line up starts at Wood Dale Jr High 655 Wood Dale Rd. Call 630-699-5071 for details before and day of  the parade.

LET'S KEEP IT UP!
Bob Peickert, DPDC Chair


blimp
Keep an eye on the skies and on our calendar HERE.

BE A HELPFUL NEIGHBOR


If you know someone who is struggling
to pay their mortgage, ask them to call us
at 630-629-1125
or write [email protected]
and we can send them helpful information from the Attorney General's office.


THIS MONTH:
  • Join us to learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act on May 21st in Elk Grove Village. See flyer on the above.
  • Become an area organizer in our Summer Issue Campaign. Find out what people in DuPage really care about! This would make a great unpaid internship experience for your college or high school student who may be unemployed!
  • Come work in the office a couple of hours a week.
  • Help us clean and reorganize our space at Dem HQ(coming soon!)
  • Check the ACTION CORNER below and get involved however you can.
  • Help monitor a local meeting or be a liaison to a group in your community. (See the report on the DuPage County Board below.)
  • Start gathering a team for the  June 29th Golf Outing, OR put together a raffle prize, OR plan to help put final touches on the event the week before (June 22-25) at the office or the day of at St. Andrews. Write here to let them know you are willing to help on June 29th.
  • Call Donna to let us know you would like to help the DAYTIME DEMS work with Downers Grove at Heritage Fest in late June. Leave a message at 630-771-5543 ext. 5 for "Daytime Dems.
Also coming up this summer:

Taste of Wheaton with Milton Township
June 6 Wheaton

Rose Parade June 7 Roselle

Downers Grove Dems Annual Yard Sale
June 20 ( to donate click here)

Heritage Fest June 26-28
Downers Grove

Summer Issue Canvass
Late June through October

Rocking For the Troops
Cantigny July 18

Blue Fest August 8 Venue TBD

Buy American/Buy Local Expo September




ACTION CORNER
inauguration

HEALTH CARE:
  • Obama Listening Tour
Date:  Monday, June 1st
Time:  7:00-9:00 PM
Place:  Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 501 Union Hall
Address:  Corner of Church and Butterfield Rd., Aurora
Sign Up on MyBO
  • Put Single Payer on the Table:
Albany Times Union
 EDITORIAL
  • Two Harvard Professors make the case against a "Public Option" here
  • Join the DPDC Committee to push HB 311 to get Single Payer in Illinois
  • Watch for Healthcare Forum coming up in June


COUNTY BOARD MONITORING:

Several members of the Daytime Democrats have attended recent meetings of the
DuPage County Board.


HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS: 


1. The meetings of the Board focus on the presentation of  awards, voting on proposals, and the making of public comments. The "real" business is conducted in committee meetings that are held at pre-specified times.  If you want to find out what really goes on in terms of discussion and debate of the issues and development of proposals, you need to attend the committee meetings.

2. The Board meetings are not "public friendly." The area is small and there is no identifiable space set aside for members of the public.  No handouts or an agenda are provided to visitors.  Board members are not identified so their names can be seen by the public. Microphones are not used by Board members so it is hard to hear.  Instructions as to how to address the Board or otherwise participate in the process are not readily available.

3. The Daytime Democrats were astounded to learn of the high salaries earned by Board members (over $70,000, including benefits) for which they are required by contract to work five hours a week. Furthermore, no methods of accountability are in place or other means available to determine if Board members are doing their job.
A copy of our report(s) filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections and DuPage County Clerk is available (or will be) for purchase from the DuPage County Clerk's office, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187.
PAID FOR BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF DUPAGE COUNTY.