Tuesday, January 6, 2015

How To Pick Your Friends

Take 10 Minutes to Elect Equality-Minded Delegates This Saturday

There are a couple of ways to create a coalition. You can cherry-pick people that will follow your instructions who happen to fit into specific slots - say they happen to belong to other Democratic Clubs - or, you can reach out to other Democratic Clubs that share your progressive values and ask them to pick the representatives they want to be part of the coalition.

There are advantages to both methods. If you pick everyone yourself, you get a group that is more likely to agree with you and you don't need to deal with divergent viewpoints/ideas. If you seek out other Clubs to join a coalition, you get a group that can address progressive policies in all their forms and you get a much bigger pool of activists to work to enact those policies.

Democrats for Equality has chosen the latter option because we think that a wide net of Democratic Clubs, represented by delegates chosen by the Clubs themselves, is a better way to move the Democratic Party forward toward our shared progressive values.

For that reason, Democrats for Equality worked with California Young Democrats-South State Region, City Heights Democratic Club, College Democrats at UCSD and SDSU College Democrats to develop a slate of candidates for the ADEM (CA Democratic Party 2015-16 convention delegates) elections this Saturday, January 10^th.

Read MORE...

But creating a slate is only part of the process. Now we need to get them elected. The process is simple and fairly painless. It does not require you to attend a meeting. (You can if you want to, but it's not necessary.) Both the 78^th and 80^th AD ADEM caucus is Saturday, January 10^th. Registration opens at 10 AM and remains open for two hours prior to the Noon meeting. Anytime within that 2 hour window (10-Noon) you can come to the caucus location, register (a $5 donation is requested to help defray the cost of administering the caucus meetings. It's a good deal but it is totally voluntary.), vote for our slate, including Craig Roberts for E-Board representative in the 78^th AD, and then you are welcome to leave. Ten minutes total to show your support for the Club, the Party and our shared progressive ideals.

See you there!

Assembly District 80* Assembly District 78*

1/10/2015 10:00 AM 1/10/2015 10:00 AM

Chula Vista Public Library Marina Village Conference Center

Civic Center Branch 1960 Quivara Way, Rm. 3-1

365 F Street San Diego CA 92109

Chula Vista CA 91910

more info: more info:

angelin2011@gmail.com attriv23@gmail.com

_________________________________

Join the Club for a Screening of Selma

It's been a remarkable year for marriage equality and LGBT rights in general. It's also been a remarkable year for post-racial America - remarkable for how clear it's become that we aren't in a post-racial America.

As San Diego Democrats for Equality begins our year-long celebration of our 40th anniversary, and the momentous progress we've made in that time, it's seems appropriate to reflect on where we started.. Most of us know about Stonewall and Harvey Milk. Some even know about the Mattachine Society, Harry Hay and Barbara Gittings.

While we can be justifiably proud of all the events and pioneers in the LGBT equality movement, we would still be a small group of people picketing in front of the State Department for our rights to be granted someday if it weren't for the blueprint, philosophy and - let's be honest - the sweat, tears and literally blood shed by the civil rights movement.

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "no one is free until we are all free". That has never been more true than it is today. A majority of lesbians and gay men can now (or soon) marry the person they love, but in much of the Country, they can still be fired for utilizing that right. All over America, we've seen that equal voting rights has not necessarily guaranteed equal protection under the law.

As we prepare to overcome the hurtles still standing in the way of equality, it's time to get a refresher on the path set by Dr. King and the people who marched with him. The Club is planning an outing to see a screening of Selma. We found that an exclusive screening would result in prohibitively expensive ticket costs so we will be buying a block of tickets for a public screening of the film. The screening will be January 9, 2015 at AMC Fashion Valley 18 (7037 Friars Road, San Diego 92108 - Mall Upper Level). The screening begins at 7 PM and we will be available to hand out tickets from 6:40 PM until 7 PM.

Make sure there's a seat for you at this important event by purchasing your ticket HERE.

_________________________________

Is it Time to Re-Up?

The Club depends on membership dues to keep the lights on and promote our candidates and issues to the community. A large number of community members depend on our Voters Guide to help them make an intelligent choice when marking their ballots so your membership renewal is critical to ensure those Guides get into those hands. If your membership has lapsed or if you know you're membership is soon to expire, please re-up now. You might also consider upgrading your membership to a higher level.

You can find out more about the Club's membership levels and benefits online HERE. You can also renew with a credit card there. If you would prefer to use a check, send the check, made out to Democrats for Equality to:

San Diego Democrats for Equality

PO Box 33050

San Diego CA 92163

__________________________________

Nominations Are Open for Club Officers

At the Club's January meeting - Thursday January 22nd - we will be accepting nominations for Vice President-Political Action and Treasurer as well as at-large Board member. Our Bylaws call for two year terms in alternate years. Because our President, Vice President for Resource Development and Secretary were elected last year for two year terms, those offices will not be up for election until next year. The officers elected this year will serve until early 2017.

If you are interested in serving in one of the positions, or, if you would like to nominate another Club member, please come to our meeting on Jan. 22nd. Elections will be held at the Club's February meeting and the new officers will take office at a ceremony in March.

Thursday, January 22, 2015 Joyce Beers Uptown Community Center

3900 Vermont St

(across from Trader Joe's) in Hillcrest.

6:30 PM for Social Time, Program 7:00 PM

__________________________________

Jonathan Dunn-Rankin

We lost a member, benefactor and friend last Friday. Jonathan Dunn-Rankin was a part of San Diego Democrats for Equality for decades, opening his home for events and meetings, performing Master of Ceremony duties at the Freedom Awards as well as where ever his strong voice could be of use. He was also a friend to many in the Club and within our community.

On February 2nd, a memorial service - This Is Your Wonderful Life, Jonathan Dunn-Rankin - will be held at Cygnet Theatre. Jonathan Dunn-Rankin's life will be celebrated by family, friends and colleagues. But I'm sure that in Jonathan's mind everyone he met became family. Please come together to celebrate the life of this wonderful man.

There will be a reception followed by a celebration in the theater. RSVP and keep up with the plans for the celebration here.