PDNC Conference Call Minutes: 2/18/08
Next Call: Monday March 17th, 8:15
Present: Susan, Tara, Mike Sprague, Delmas, Pete, David, Mike Oder, Isaac, Miriam, Helen, Matilda, Heide
HK on J Discussion:
Positives: News and Observer did good story, PDNC banner present, Diversity and inspiration is great. Need better work on turnout.
Suggestions: build better relationship with folks in the coalition. It is hard to get people motivated to work at state level. Need to push for quarterly meetings of state wide HK on J agenda coalition. We can work on voter registration with the coalition at the local and state level.
Idea: Do a voter registration drive on same day. If someone in triangle is going to meet with legislators, they can let others around the state know what is happening and invite them to email in their comments or questions. We may be able to create a blog for this. Pete will follow up on these ideas with Al and Rev. Barber.
Deadline for voter registration 26....we need to help organize a drive NOW.
SEC Meeting:
Dinner naming: Delmas says that to his knowledge no committee has been appointed yet.
Overwhelming majority of folks at the SEC want the name changed asap.
We agreed to join forces with all the caucuses to appoint non racist names for the Dinner. Susan will try to draft a letter to send out to these groups.
Delmas will check with Jerry whether a committee has been appointed. Jerry could get a person from each caucus/ or each group for the committee. EVERYONE in agreement with this proposal.
Pete says that the problem with naming is the history of the Democratic Party in NC consisted of Dixiecrats. Possible name: Frank Porter Graham and/or major NC black leader – not a Democrat.
Moving our resolutions out to the precincts.
Put progressive resolutions on website for everyone to read.
Heidi will send tweaks of immigrations resolutions to Mike or Tara.
We agreed that Mike and Tara will set up a resolutions blog in the next week and Tara will send Pete an email on how to announce our resolutions blog. Mike will monitor resolutions sent to site and veto any that are clearly not appropriate.
Resolution Process - Delmas
Pete proposes that unlimited positions of the party can be adopted but there needs to be prioritization. We need to have an action agenda....to have 10 resolutions as opposed to 147. Mike S says that a fatal weakness of the committee’s recommendation is that it left final prioritization to party insiders. Not where we want to go.
Tara proposes that we put this discussion on the blog.
Delmas' committee will reconvene and work on this issue.
Dan’s Campaign
Isaac is getting together with Christine Toole (Besse manager.) Isaac trying to put together party for Dan in Asheville . Matilda will get the contact list to Isaac for Dan. We need to get Dan's message/info on our website. Christine lost her father this week and campaign is disorganized this week. Need to look at Dan's schedule to find out where he is in the state so we can encourage parties/rallies, etc.
New labor commissioners running, Jeff Starkweather is running for a board position and these folks want to know if we can endorse them. It is feared that we don't have enough time/money to work on more endorsements. Tara says we can put up info about candidates on blog and would be able to answer folk’s questions. Delmas: labor commissioner position is important.
We need to put together a questionnaire for candidates to help determine who is progressive.
Should we consider endorsing for the Labor Commission race? Those present on call were mostly in favor. Pete will talk to James Andrews of AFL to get a first read on the candidates. We agree to only consider this race, and Lt. Gov.
Committees
Social Justice and Partnership...Heide put out wish list for others and is waiting for them to reply. Susan will email Sally to see where she is.
Legislative Committee...Chris, Mike Sprague, Pete and David. Mike will contact Chris.
Fundraising: Helen, Susan, and David
Helen will send out reminder to committees in 2 weeks to find out about progress being made
House party Feb 24 for Jim Neal in Triad....contact Tara about it.
