Evansville for Change

Evansville for Change: Minutes for 08/17/10 meeting

Meet & Greet with candidates - Saturday Sept 18^th at McCollough Library from 9:00-11:00 am. Hope to have Brad, Trent, and the State Legislative candidates.

Contact info for Campaigns:

• State Legislature & Congressional races are already canvassing and phone-banking. As you have time, please get involved. 2010 election is very critical for our State.
• 8^th District Trent VanHaaften – Contact Eric Heggie at eric@trentforcongress.com
• State Senate Patty Avery – Contact Jaclyn Dillon at JaclynDillon@gmail.com or 260-409-2272
• State House Races for Gail Riecken & Mike Goebel – Contact Megan Cotton at megan.e.cotton@gmail.com or 812-774-8602.
• State House Races for Bob Deig & Russ Stilwell …contact Jaclyn Fenwick at 812-890-2195 or jaclyn.fenwick2@gmail.com
• State House Race for Steven Smith – Contact Steven Smith at stevenlsmith58@gmail.com or 812-402-5024

Stay connected with Evansville for Change:

Website - www.evansvilleforchange.com

Follow Evansville for Change on Twitter – http://twitter.com/eville4change

Join Evansville for Change Group on Facebook

Join Evansville for Obama Group on www.barackobama.com

Upcoming Events:

• August 26^th… Fundraiser for VOP at Zach Heronemus home (521 S Villa Dr). Event starts at 6:00. Conference call with VOP at 6:30.
• August 28^th … JFK Club Family Day at Burdette Park. Putt-putt golf, swimming, and food for $10 per family.
• Sept 16^th … Fundraiser for VOP at African American Museum starting at 5:30.
• Sept 17^th… Warrick County JJ Dinner at Quail Crossing starting at 6:00 pm. Reservations deadline is Sept 5^th. Senate candidate Brad Ellsworth, 8^th District candidate Trent VanHaaften, & Secretary of State candidate Vop Osili are scheduled speakers.
• Check out Vanderburgh County Democrat Party for latest updates - http://www.vanderburghdemocrats.com/

Evansville for Change:  07/20/10  meeting

• Democrat Party State Convention Report - June 26 at Indianapolis Downtown Marriot.   Contested Secretary of  State race made it very compelling. VOP Osili was selected as Secretary of State candidate.
• Ellsworth’s Senate race. Receiving positive feedback from northern IN on his first commercial.  Jobs & Extending Unemployment benefits are huge issues.
• Steven Smith’s House race. He has his walk pieces.

Meet & Greet with the following candidates:

• Superior Court Judge candidate Richard Damour
• Superior Court Judge candidate Jill Marcrum
• County Prosecutor Stan Levco
• County Councilwoman for Dist 3 Stephanie Terry
• County Council candidate for Dist 2 Hayden Barth
• County Council candidate for Dist 4 Tim Taylor
• Knight Township Trustee Kathryn Martin (Annie Groves stood in for Kathryn)
• County Assessor Jonathan Weaver
• County Auditor candidate Maura Robinson
• County Sheriff Eric Williams

Contact info for Campaigns: State Legislature & Congressional races are already canvassing and phone-banking.  As you have time, please get involved.  2010 election is very critical for our State.

• 8th District Trent VanHaaften –  Contact Eric Heggie at eric@trentforcongress.com
• State Senate  Patty Avery –  Contact Jaclyn Dillon at JaclynDillon@gmail.com or 260-409-2272
• State House Races for Gail Riecken & Mike Goebel  - Contact Megan Cotton at megan.e.cotton@gmail.com or 812-774-8602.
• State House Races for Bob Deig & Russ Stilwell …contact Jaclyn Fenwick at 812-890-2195 or jaclyn.fenwick2@gmail.com
• State House Race for Steven Smith –  Contact Steven Smith at stevenlsmith58@gmail.com or 812-402-5024

Stay connected with Evansville for Change:

• Website – www.evansvilleforchange.com
• Follow Evansville for Change on Twitter –  http://twitter.com/eville4change
• Join Evansville for Change Group on Facebook
• Join Evansville for Obama Group on  www.barackobama.com

Evansville for Change   06/15/2010

Election of Officers:

• President: Steven Smith
• Vice-President:  Katie Griffin
• Secretary: Cathy Edrington
• Communications & Membership Directors (2 positions): DeLois Freeman & Laurel Rold
• Phone Bank Captain:  Steven Smith
• Canvass Captain: Ann Shank
• Voter Registration Captain:  Andrea Baltzell

State Convention – June 26th   Downtown Marriott in Indianapolis.Block of rooms for convention have been filled at this hotel. There are still rooms in this hotel.  Courtyard Marriott is a block away.  Cheaper parking is available in parking garage instead of at hotel.  Registration is at 8:00 am.   Alternates can attend, but can’t vote.  However, always possible alternates will be needed due to no shows.

Report from State Senator Bob Deig (House District 76 Candidate):Recently endorsed by local teachers.   He discussed the huge cuts in education funding.  One agency received increase in funding this year…. Dept of Corrections. Democrat Control of House is very critical in 2010.

Week-end Walks (June 12-13th):734 doors knocked.  Great job by all including the hard work of those who organized both walks.

Campaign Updates:

• 8th District (Trent VanHafften) – Haubstadt Parade on Saturday June 19th.  Meet at ONB on Main Street at 11:00.   Campaign is in planning stage now.  Contact Eric Heggie at eric@trentforcongress.com
• State Senate District 49 (Patty Avery) – Likely will do joint walks with House campaigns once a month due to overlapping districts.  Contact Jaclyn Dillon at-jaclyndillon@gmail.com
• State House Races (Gail Riecken, Russ Stilwell, Bob Deig, & Mike Goebel)  - 11 phone lines are available at Dem Hdqs for phone banking. Contact Megan Cotton at  -megan.e.cotton@gmail.com
• State House Race (Steven Smith) – Plans a phone bank in Fall calling Dems.  Contact Steven Smith at stevenlsmith58@gmail.com

Media Bias: Discussed that one way to counter the media bias is through letters to editor.

Next Meeting: Tuesday July 20th at 6:30 at Central Library Browning Room B

Evansville for Change     05/18/2010

Reports from Task Forces:

• Education – Bill in Senate & House for Emergency Funding of Education to preserve teaching jobs in states
• Energy – Clean Energy Bill has recently been released.  Offshore Oil Drilling is downside.  Repower is taking 1000 letters to Senators in favor of Clean Energy on 05/19/10.Please contact Brad, Baron, Evan, & Richard (Lugar) regarding these issues.  It might not hurt to inform Trent when possible about these issues as well.

Campaign Reports:

• 8th District Trent VanHaaften – Fundraiser Thursday May 20th at Labor Temple.
• Senate District 49 Patty Avery – Jackie Dillon is working this campaign.  Chili Cookoff Saturday at 2:00 at Shrine fest (Riverside & Walnut).  June 12th or 13th … Canvass Kickoff.
• House District 78 Steven Smith – Fundraiser June 11th at 7:30 AM at Labor Temple
• House District 77 Gail Riecken – Megan Cotton is working this campaign.  Fundraiser June 2nd at Marina Pointe Restaurant at 5:00. Gail has started walking as well so if you are interested, contact Megan or Gail.

Media Bias - Latest example … Hybrid Family Services article which claimed it was working and didn’t show issues folks are still having.  Jeffersonville had much more balanced coverage.  Actuary report on health care impact to IN citizens is another example of one-sided coverage.  There was discussion of trying to meet again with Courier Editor Mizell Stewart III and discuss this.  On one-hand, doubt it will change anything, but last time folks met with Mizell, it did seem to get better for a while.

Leadership Team

Proposed Structure & Duties:

• President – Group Representative. Also conducts meetings & coordinates planning with other area groups.  Prepares agenda with Secretary.
• Vice-President – Back-up President & is Treasurer.  Also manages data (VAN, Votebuilder, etc) & oversees three leaders (Canvass, Phone Bank, & Voters Registration)
• Secretary – Prepares agenda with President, take minutes & post minutes
• Communications & Membership Directors – 2 positions.  Split the following – maintain website calendar & post events, organize community service projects, post events & promotes public awareness.

Motion was made to pass this proposal for Leadership of EFC (Ann Shank & Aaron Calbert made motion and seconded it).  It passed with support from all present.

Election of Officers :  Send Katie Griffin names for those you want to nominate and/or if interested in serving in one of these positions.  Deadline for submission ….June 14th.  Election will occur at our next meeting on June 15th.

Next meeting - June 15th at 6:30 at Central Library.

Evansville for Change     Jan 19, 2010        Central Library           20 people in attendance

Reports from Task Forces and Committees

• Groups need to be more vigilant about once per month meetings
• Task Forces:  Energy, Health care, Education, Economy, Foreign Affairs
  • Keep all existing task forces
• Committees: Public Relations, Membership, Finance, Community Service, Website
  • Eliminate finance committeeCombine PR and Website committee
  • Community Service
  • Soup Kitchen
    • First Ebenezer Baptist Church
    • Clark to organize

State Representative races and other campaigns

• Meet Your Legislators – Saturday, Jan 16, 2010
• Russ Stillwell
  • Contact: Cindy Wuerth and Meg Schuba
  • Gary Fritz met with Stillwell several days prior to the meeting. Stillwell is concerned, as are many IN state reps, that Gov Daniels is pushing several key Rep races and is willing to help finance their campaigns. Many Republican Rep candidates have already raise.
• Dennis Avery
  • Contact: Clark Field
  • Opposer: Ron Bacon
• Gail Riecken
  • Contact: Cathy Edrington
  • Gail wants to start walking
  • Opposer: Cheryl Musgrave
• Trent Van-Haften
  • Contact: Ann Shank
  • Opposer: Wendy McNamara

Money report from DeLois

• $79.50

Voter Registration

• New form
• When/where? Plans

Evansville for Change Logo

• T-shirts
• Bumper stickers
• Buttons
• Production of tshirts: Bill Musgrave – American Advertising (in Boonville)
  • 897-8806 – website
• Committee for tshirts
  • Katie Griffin
  • Steve Smith
  • DeLois Freeman

Upcoming events

• Jobs with Justice Meeting
  • Nomination of Officers and Plan for Action Meeting
  • Monday January 25, 2010 6:30 PM
  • Evansville Central Library Large Group Room, 200 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
  • This meeting is for the nomination of officers and to make plans for our first action. For questions or additional information call Gary Fritz at 812-664-1425 or email at speedway@travelin.com
  • Facebook group?
• State of the Union Watch Party
  • January 27
  • Meet at 7 PM
• Change that Works Conference Call with Al Franken
  • Meet at office in Court Bldg
  • Jan 21 – 3:15 PM
• Estelle’s Speech at the African American Museum
• Democratic Women’s Caucus – Campaign Fundamentals I
  • Saturday, Jan 30
  • 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
  • Central Library Browning Room
• Campaign Fundamentals II – March 13 (same time and place)

Evansville for Change Executive Committee

• Structure
  • Panel
  • Officers
  • How many people?
• Responsibilities
  • How often does “committee” meet?
• Those interested in being on committee:
  • Katie Griffin
  • Aaron Calbert
  • Steve Smith
  • Laurel Rold
  • Andrea Baltzel
  • Clark Field
  • DeLyn Beard
  • Ann Shank
  • Perhaps other people who are not attending
• Will be meeting after general meeting to establish meeting time for committee

Health Care discussion

Evansville for Change  -  November 17, 2009 -  Oaklyn Library  -  15 people in attendance

• Old Business
  • Task Force/Committee Reports
    • Bob Wuerth discussed Peter “Pete” Buttigieg, who is running for Indiana State Treasurer
    • Economic Task Force
      • Ann talked about the unemployment rate
  • Community Service committee
    • EPA Access Agreement canvassing
      • 8 people canvassed, 1 access agreement signed
  • Health Care Task Force
    • Blood drive?
    • LTE Challenge
    • Standing phone bank
      • Monday nights – 6 PM – Grand Traverse Pie Co
• Evaluation of Pot Luck
  • Laurel Rold suggests we have some sort of sign-up sheet
  • Ann Shank liked that we didn’t have a working meeting, that we had a celebration
  • DeLyn Beard thought we need to plan farther in advance
  • New Business
    • Organization
    • Treasury
      • Current balance – $129.00
      • Tonight’s meeting – $48.50
      • Updated balance – $177.50
• Support for State Representatives
  • Meet Your Legislatures – Saturday, Nov 21
  • Russ Stillwell
    • Contact: Cindy Wuerth and Meg Shuba
  • Dennis Avery
    • Contact: Clark Field
  • Gail Rieken
    • Contact: Cathy Edrington
  • Trent Van-Haften
    • Contact: Ann Shank
• Letter to Brad Ellsworth
• Christmas Party
  • December 15 – 6:30 PM
    • Meeting for 30 min
    • Party for the rest of meeting
    • White Elephant Party
    • Committee for Party
      • Laurel Rold
      • Meg Schuba
      • Katie Griffin
• T-shirts/bumper stickers
  • Will save until next meeting for lack of time
  • Evaluation
    • Good
      • Minutes
      • Timekeeper
      • Meet Pete
    • Negative – need more members

Evansville for Change – September 15, 2009 – Oaklyn Public Library – 15 people in attendance

Committees

• Community Service
  • Canvassing for lead – stay tuned for more information
  • Membership
    • Faith-based outreach
      • “Call your pastor” sign-in
      • Talking to churches about why health insurance is a human right, earth sustainability, or at the very least community service
• Online outreach
  • Website
    • Submit to info@evansvilleforchange.com with ideas about discussions, website links, and events
    • Invite friends on facebook to join group
    • Add spot on website with phone number’s to Congressman
• Visibility
  • Bumper stickers
  • Yard signs
    • Clark proposed ordering 100 signs (100 signs for $100)
    • T-shirts

Task Forces

• Energy
• Education
  • Bob will investigate about getting a grant for our local schools from the Dept of Ed
  • Talk to DeLyn about that
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Economy
• Health care – SEIU – Teabag Rally
  • West side of MLK for more distance
  • Rally – 5:30 PM
  • Poster making party – Sept 16 – 6 PM – Court Bldg (4^th and Vine)

Evansville for Change meeting – August 18, 2009 – 22 people in attendance

• Economic Task Force –
  • Bob’s analysis on big Pharma
  • Report on the DREAM Act event, a piece of legislation co-sponsored by Lugar and Durbin, Obama is supportive of it in support of immigrants rights.
    • No bill yet,  the committee is still taking suggestions, as the administration says the bill will likely not come up until next year anyway
• Health care task force
  • SEIU Change that Works event
    • Meet at Ridgeway University Center, University of Evansville
      August 19^th at 10:45 AM
      (on Walnut btwn Rotherwood and Weinbach)
    • Going to arrive early
• Education committee
  • No report
• Energy Task Force
  • Repower America
• Community Service Committee
  • Working with the Health Dept and the EPA to get an event set-up in order to canvass in specific neighborhoods, trying to get people to have their soil tested for lead
• OFA Specific
  • Aug 26 – Women’s Equality Day
    • Women-only phone bank, calling other women about gender inequalities in the health care system
• SEIU Change that Works
• Event
  • Meet at Ridgeway University Center, University of Evansville
    August 19^th at 10:45 AM
    (on Walnut btwn Rotherwood and Weinbach)
  • Going to arrive early, in order to take control of event
• Facts
  • 1600 Hoosiers lose their Health insurance every day
  • The Chamber of Commerce has actively lobbied against health insurance reform on many levels, including limiting the amount of new people who get insurance.
  • Every year, the health insurance costs for small businesses go up at least 15%-20%
  • Small businesses who have a payroll of less than $500,000 will not have to contribute to the cost of a public option
    • 85-87% of businesses in America do make less than $500,000/year
  • With Tort Reform, in 10 years health care will cost more than take home pay
  • Malpractice caps
    • Dr’s are leaving the practice all together because they can no longer afford the malpractice
  • Mandates
    • In this bill, you are required to have health care. If you cannot pay for it, then you are either provided a subsidy
  • Canada has a fully-funded universal health care system
    • England has a socialized health care system
• What can we do now to persuade those who are still on the fence?
  • Health Care Rally
    • Goal: to have meaningful, factual speakers
      • We need to produce numbers
    • Meg to make up fliers
    • Tuesday, Sept 1, 2009 at 5:30 PM
    • At Four Freedoms Monument
    • Clark to get mic and sound system
    • Will be meeting sometime this weekend (Aug 21-23) in order to plan the upcoming rally
    • Potential Speakers
      • Phil Hoy (faith-based perspective)
      • Marsha Bennett
      • Dr. Eric Weisman (Health care provider)
      • Dick Connolly
      • Sherry Eliodis
      • Jack McNeely (Labor Perspective)
      • Kay Forbes-Smith (Small Business perspective)

EFC Meeting – July 21, 2009 – 6:30 PM – 28 People present

• Foreign Relations Committee – Bob Wuerth
  • Wednesday, July 22 at 6 PM
    • Nativity Church – Juan Diego Center – 3635 Pollack Ave
    • Event is sponsored by Senator Lugar’s constituent staff
    • The DREAM act would provide immigration relief to a select group of students and allow them to become permanent residents if they came to the US as children (under the age of 16), are long-term US residents (5 years or more), have good moral character, and attend an institution of higher learning or enlist in the military for at least two years. In addition, the legislation would allow states to grant in-state tuition rates to alien students. The DREAM act would provide young people with an incentive to move toward permanent residency, while pursuing further education or serving our country in the U.S. Uniformed Services.
  • Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act
    • Sponsored by Illinois Sen Dick Durbin and Indiana Sen Richard Lugar
    • For a copy of the DREAM act text, visit the Library of Congress website: http://thomas.loc.gov
• Economic Committee – Ann Shank
  • Recovery Funding
    • 4.556 bill announced
    • 2.956 bill made available
    • 1.103 bill paid out
  • Indiana unemployment – 10.7% in June up from 10.6% in May
  • Evansville area unemployment – June not available – 8.7% in May
  • Overall economy
    • Inflation low and no deflation
    • Increase in housing starts
    • Leading indicators up (handouts)
  • Health Insurance Industry summary – Bob and Ann
  • Ann discussed the JFK Club’s 2^nd Annual Family Fun Day
• Change that Works
  • 2 main goals
    • Health Care
      • Call Captain
      • Organizing a call tree
    • Flight Team
      • Organizing to get volunteers to D.C. during the health care debate to tell their stories to the media outlets in
    • Employee Free Choice Act
      • To allow people to want to organize unions to be able to do so.
      • Putting employees on an equal level with the CEO’s
      • Why is this so important?
        • Roughly every 87 minutes, a factory worker is fired b/c they attempted to form a union
        • Workers should be able to have as much power and influence over the company they work for as the CEO does
• Organizing for America  – Jay Plant
  • Read quote from Sen. Jim Demitt (R-SC)
  • OFA primarily focused on health care right now
  • Letter-writing campaign on Saturday, July 25 at Dem Headquarters
  • Phone-banking next week
  • Canvassing next weekend
• Repowering America – Katie Griffin
  • Introduced campaign
  • Discussed the ACES bill (for more information visit, www.repoweramerica.org)
  • Talked about future plans included canvasses, phone banks, organizational meetings, etc.

Saturday, April 18, 2009 Meeting at Oaklyn Library

Introductions of the 16 people in attendance

1:10    Task Force Structure

• Task forces must be fluid
• If you’d like to join any of the groups, please email the group leader or the address given (because the currently group doesn’t have a leader).
• New Task Forces:
  • Health Care – Leader: none yet
    • Members: Katie Griffin; Andrew Katz; Cathy Edrington; Jim Edrington; Laurel Rold; Bob Rold; DeLois Freeman; Andrea Batzell
    • Next meeting: Thursday, April 30 at 5:30 PM at Laurel’s house
  • • If you’d like to join our group or have any questions, please email Katie Griffin at daydreambeliever1215@yahoo.com
  • Economy – Leader: Ann Shank acshank@insightbb.com
    • Members: Ann Shank; Estella Moss; Kay-Forbes Smith; Bob Wuerth; Daphne Robinson
    • Next meeting: Monday, May 4; 4 PM at Daphne Robinson’s house
  • Education – Leader: DeLyn Chapman dlchapm@mac.com
    • Members:DeLyn Chapman; DeLois Freeman;Bresha Stamps; Aaron Calbert; Cindy Wuerth
    • Next meeting: The group will be emailing one another to determine when their next meeting will be.
  • Energy – Leader: None yet
    • Members: Bob Wuerth; Cindy Wuerth; Wendy Knipe-Bredhold; Katie Griffin
    • Next meeting: Thursday, May 7 at 6 PM at Roca Bar in Newburgh
    • If you’d like to join our group or have any questions, please email Katie Griffin at daydreambeliever1215@yahoo.com
  • Foreign Affairs
    • Members: Connor Agnew; Clark Field
    • Next meeting: The group will be emailing one another to determine when their next meeting will be.
    • If you’d like to join the group, please email Clark Field at cfield16@earthlink.net .
• Task Force Responsibilities
  • Petition legislatures
  • Visibility
  • Education
  • Recommend actions to EFC

1:35  Committee Structure and Responsibilities

If you would like to join any of the committees, please email Katie Griffin at daydreambeliever1215@yahoo.com.

• Finance Committee: will explore whether we should structure ourselves in such a way as to be able to raise funds to cover expenses and perhaps to support candidates, causes, etc.
  • Members: Alex Jarvis; DeLois Freeman; Laurel Rold; DeLyn Chapman
• Community Service: Will identify community service activities for EFC members to support and explore generating EFC events
  • Members: Alex Jarvis; Jenn Schultheis; Lucy Williams; Ann Shank; Estella Moss; Katie Griffin; DeLois Freeman; Andrea Baltzell; Cathy Edrington
  • Actions:
    • Glenwood Neighborhood Association Saturday, April 25, 2009, Caldwell Park, Evansville; Lucy is requesting $10 per volunteer in order to finance their membership
    • Bank on Evansville
  • Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 21 at 6 PM; BP McDonald’s at corner of Washington and 41
• Membership: Will generate a plan to increase the active membership in FC
  • Members: Katie Griffin: Alex Jarvis: Aaron Calbert
• Public Relations: Will generate a plan to promote awareness of EFC
  • Members: Alex Jarvis; DeLyn Chapman; Katie Griffin
• Website: This committee will further enhance the EFC site to promote more traffic and generate richer content
  • Members: Kay Forbes-Smith; Will Smith; Amy Gelinas; DeLyn Chapman; Katie Griffin; Cathy Edrington
  • Meeting: Thursday, April 29 at 6 PM at Oaklynl Library; Kay and Will will be skyping in from South Carolina!

2:10  Future Meetings

• Speakers: Did not have time to discuss, but group seemed to think it was a good idea in a general sense when the idea was introduced at the beginning of the meeting.
• Group Leadership: DeLyn Chapman: Aaron Calbert
• OFA Listening Tour: Tuesday, May 5; Starts at 7; Facilitators arrive at 6
• Next meetings

• Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30 PM at Central
• June 16 at 6:30 PM at Central
• July 21 at 6:30 PM at Central
• August 18 at 6:30 PM at Central
• September 15 at 6:30 PM at Oaklyn
• October 20 at 6:30 PM at Oaklyn

2:20  Other New Business

• Response to Conservative Teabagging and Tea Parties
• Change that Works – Andrew
  • Action to Support the Employee Free Choice Act;
  • Thursday, April 30 at noon; Where: TBD

2:30        Adjourn to Listening Tour Organizational Meeting and Website Contributor Training