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February Newsletter - Volume 3, Issue 5
CONTENTS:
Upcoming WDC Events
Democratic Party Events
Obamacare House Parties
New Website and Facebook Page Launched
Board Report
Political Book Club
Volunteers: It Takes a Village
Suggestion Box
You may click on one of the above titles to go directly to that subject, or simply scroll down the newsletter.
Thanks to
Sybil Cantor, Teddi Pensinger and Mary Lou Fox for their contributions to the newsletter.
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UPCOMING WDC EVENTS
Mark your calendars now for these upcoming events. For more information on locations and registration, watch for future e-mails and daisy cards - or visit our website at www.womansdemocraticclub.org.
Tuesday, March 12
 Lunch with Washington Post columnist, and political commentator E. J. Dionne. 12 noon Normandie Farm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road, Potomac Author of Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent, Mr. Dionne will share his well-informed wisdom on how the singularly American value of individualism collides with the collective needs of a diverse, and diverging, country. Don't miss this insightful discussion of the state of the nation. Copies of his book will be available for sale and signing. To RSVP, send your check to Judith Heimann, 6900 Marbury Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, or reserve online at http://www.womansdemocraticclub.org by noon Thursday, March 7. (Reservations may be closed earlier if the event is sold out.) Questions? Call Natalie Bouquet at 301-907-7856.
Thursday, March 14
Happy Hour
5:30-7 p.m.
Lebanese Taverna
7141 Arlington Road, Bethesda
Want to meet new people and talk politics? Join us at the next WDC Happy Hour. Every second Thursday of each month, Democrats who are passionate about politics gather to relax and network with WDC members and their guests. Whether you want to meet elected officials, make new friends, form new business contacts or just have fun, the WDC Happy Hour is the perfect place to meet and greet fellow Democrats.
Thursday, March 21
Going Into Practice: Implementing Obamacare in Maryland
District 19 House Party
7 - 8:30 p.m.
Home of Charlotte Crutchfield, 13207 Osterport Drive, Silver Spring
WDC is hosting Obamacare house parties in each of the County's legislative districts. For additional information, see Obamacare House Parties. Please contact Charlotte Crutchfield at crutchfield2@comcast.net or 301-933-6430 to RSVP.
Friday, April 12
 Lunch with Washington Post op-ed columnist Ruth Marcus
12 noon
Normandie Farm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road, Potomac
Details to follow
Washington Post Editorial Board Member and former Pulitzer Prize finalist for Commentary, Ruth Marcus will share her well-honed perspective on the current kaleidoscope of events in our nation's capital.
Thursday, April 18
Going Into Practice: Implementing Obamacare in Maryland
District 20 House Party
7 - 8:30 p.m.
Home of Jean Bailey, 517 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring
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Sunday, March 3 
Montgomery County Democratic Party's Annual Brunch
Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road, Rockville
It's time to celebrate what we've accomplished and gear up for the 2014 campaign. What better place to do that than at the Annual Democratic County Brunch? For more information and to make a reservation, please click here .
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OBAMACARE HOUSE PARTIES: "GOING INTO PRACTICE: IMPLEMENTING OBAMACARE IN MARYLAND" by Mary Lou Fox As has been previously mentioned, WDC is hosting a series of Obamacare house parties in each of the County's Legislative Districts. At the District 16 House Party on Tuesday February 19th , Leni Preston, Chair of the Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform. reviewed the key components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 known as Obamacare. Some of the provisions of the act are already in effect such as allowing dependent children up to the age of 26 to stay on their parents ' plan and the elimination of preexisting conditions for children. Beginning in 2014 affordable insurance options will expand coverage through state exchanges for: - Medicaid expansion to cover adults up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL);
- Advanced tax credits for adults from 138 - 400% FPL to help pay premiums;
- Tax credits for small businesses to afford insurance for their employees.
Maryland's Health Benefit Exchange has been established and expanded by State law in 2011 and 2012 to offer all Marylanders the opportunity to buy insurance as individuals, as a family or as small businesses in a marketplace called the Maryland Health Connection (www.marylandhealthconnection.gov). Beginning with Open Enrollment in October 2013, individuals and families who are uninsured or who purchase their own Individual insurance can go to the Maryland Health Connection to view Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) that meet ACA standards . At that time, they may immediately enroll for insurance that will start on January 1, 2014. These QHPs will cover all basic care - doctor's visits, hospital visits, maternity care, prescription drugs and more including mental health and substance abuse services. Enrollment can be done on the website but there will also be Navigators or assistors to help people enroll as well as a Call Center. During the enrollment process individuals and families will have the opportunity to see if they qualify for a tax credit or for Medicaid. If so, they can be enrolled immediately. Projections are that 340,000 uninsured Marylanders will be enrolled in the first three years. The ACA benefits all consumers as well as those with employer -provided insurance plans because pre-existing conditions can no longer be used to deny insurance coverage and women cannot be charged more than men. Also included in the ACA is Sen. Mikulski's amendment that women's preventative services will be available without co-pays and deductibles. Existing health plans outside the new marketplaces will be "grandfathered" until they significantly change. For more information, or to receive regular updates, see the Coalition website www.mdhealthcarereform.org.
 | District 16 House Party attendees listen intently as Leni discusses the implementation of Obamacare
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NEW WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE LAUNCHED
Our new website to go with our new name has been launched at www.womansdemocraticclub.org. We'd love to receive your feedback. Please send any comments you may have to wdcmcmd@gmail.com. Don't forget to like us on Facebook; we're listed as Woman's Democratic Club, Montgomery County.
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BOARD REPORT
Nominating Committee: As mentioned in last month's newsletter, the President appointed and the Board approved the following individuals to serve on the nominating committee:
Board members: Carmela Cowgill (cacowgill@yahoo.com); Lucy Freeman (dorset4708@yahoo.com); June Jeffries (jjeffries1978@verizon.net)
Non-Board members: Janet Lowenthal (janet.jim@verizon.net); Sara Watkins (sarawatkins1@aol.com)
The committee will nominate the officers of the Club. The remainder of the Board will be appointed by the incoming president. This is your opportunity to get more involved. Please feel free to forward names of any members - including yours - to the committee for consideration.
Paid Sick Leave: The Board recently voted to join the Working Matters Coalition in support of the Earned Sick and Safe Time Act. In addition to the Working Matters Coalition, this measure is supported by 65 nonprofit, community, and faith groups. The purpose of this legislation is to establish a paid sick days standard in Maryland.It would allow full-time workers to earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, or up to seven paid sick days each year for full-time workers. Part-time workers would accrue fewer days per year, depending on the number of hours worked. Employees would begin to earn paid sick days as soon as they begin work. The definition of "Safe Time" as it pertains to this legislation means that employees who may need to take off work to obtain medical attention,victim's services, counseling, relocation, or legal services as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, would be allowed to do so. It should also be mentioned that this Act in no way impacts the federal Family Medical Leave Act.
Click here to view a fact sheet about the bill.
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POLITICAL BOOK CLUB
The April 24 selection is Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by political talk show  host Rachel Maddow. The premise of the book is that our country has become a national security state at peace with perpetual war. The narrative takes the reader from the Vietnam War to today's war in Afghanistan, along the way exploring the rise of executive authority, the gradual outsourcing of war-making capabilities to private companies, the plummeting percentage of American families whose children are fighting in these seemingly constant wars and the changing fortunes of the American soldier.
The book club meets the third Wednesday of every other month, 10:30 a.m. at members' homes. A facilitator leads the discussion for each book. Want to join the conversation? New members are always welcome! For more information, contact Estelle Stone at estelles@webtv.net.
If you're interested in seeing what other books have been discussed, please go to www.womansdemocraticclub.org and click on Political Book Club, which is listed under Events.
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VOLUNTEERS: IT TAKES A VILLAGE
We need your help creating a vibrant Club and we solicit your ideas and participation. And the most valuable contribution you can make to the Club is - you guessed it - your time. Sharing your skills and expertise with us and joining a committee are fun ways to meet other members and make new friends while helping the Club accomplishits goals. Go to www.womansdemocraticclub.org and click on "Get Involved, then click on Volunteer to complete the volunteer form.
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| SUGGESTION BOX:
Do you have ideas for future programs? Do you know someone who would be a great speaker at a future WDC event? If so, please send an e-mail to wdcmcmd@gmail.com .
Keeping members better informed, better connected and more politically effective since 1957
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Woman's Democratic Club
Sybil Cantor
Email Coordinator
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