District 10 Democrats

* Upcoming Events – Get Your Calendars Out!!!

        * Tues., July 21 –D 10 Social + YD + Vets Outreach Mtg., 6:30 p.m., Don Pedro’s, NE Corner of 28^th Dr and Cactus Rd., come one/come all to eat, drink and talk with other friendly Dems. RSVP 623-931-6519 or just show up!!!

            * Sat/Sun., July 25-26 – Democracy for American Campaign Academy.  For details go to DemocracyForAmerica.com/campaign/academy.

            * Mon., July 27 - Arizona.  Diamondbacks VS Philadelphia Phillies, 6:40 p.m. Please join us for a chance to get together as Democrats and cheer on the home team!  Special discount ticket options. To get tickets: 1. Click on or go to the following link: www.dbacks.com/groups. 2. Log in using the following information: sign-in ID - democrats / password – dbacks. 3. Choose your game and follow the instructions. 4. All seats will be together and in the best available seats based on the seating area you choose. For more information, questions or if you do not have internet access, please call (602) 462-4106

            * Sat., July 27 -  PC Plus Training, 1 p.m.  County Demo Offices, 2915 N. Central Ave., NW corner of Thomas and Central.

* Tues., Aug. 11 – Regular monthly District 10 meeting, 7 p.m. Speaker:  Luis Heredia, new AZ State Party Executive Director, Glendale Public Library, 59^th Ave. and Brown (south of Peoria and just north of Glendale Community College).

* Sat., August 15 – State Democratic Party meeting, Flagstaff.  More details to follow.

* Tues., Aug. 18 -  D 10 Social + YD + Vets Outreach Mtg., 6:30 p.m.,  Don Pedro’s, NE Corner of 28^th Dr and Cactus Rd., come one/come all to eat, drink and talk with other friendly Dems. RSVP 623-931-6519 or just show up!!!

* Wed., Aug., 19 – Nucleus Club, 11:30 a.m.  Wyndham Hotel, 50 E Adams St. Phoenix, AZ, Join Democrats from around the county for lunch, conversation and guest speakers each month. Cost for guests: $40. http://ww2.nucleusclub.org

* Fri., Aug. 21 – Friday Night Out, 5:30 p.m., West Dems Office, 7440 W. Cactus –Join West Valley Democrats for a social evening at the West Dems Headquarters. A light supper will be served, including beverage of your choice. No tips expected. This event is hosted by LD 4 Democrats but anyone is invited to attend. Cost is $10 per person. Please RSVP to 623 249-7407. NE corner of 75th Avenue and Cactus Road, facing 75th Avenue. Please do not park in front of Domino’s as we try to be good neighbors.

            * Sat., September 27 – Constitutional Jamboree, 12:30 -3 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 8066 N. 49^th Avenue, Glendale (just north of Northern Ave., on the east side of 49^th Avenue). $20/person for a Mexican buffet, and a chance to hear Jack August, author of the first biography of Raul Castro, AZ’s first Hispanic Governor. More details to follow.

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1480 FM Progressive Radio is Back!!!!

 Please tune into to hear Thom Hartmann, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Dr. Mike (Newcomb),  Jeff Farias, Steve McChesney (a prior speaker at a D 10 meeting) and more!! 

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News from the Washington Elementary School District Board

By: Aaron Jahneke, Governing Board Member, Washington Elementary District 6 (former D 10 Chair and PC Golden Precinct).  

            What can I say? It’s been an interesting six months since I took office. These are trying times economically statewide and also at the local school district level.  At the last governing board meeting the board approved a preliminary budget based on the vetoes Governor Brewer had made and the subsequent special session budget that was signed by the governor. While I applaud Governor Brewer for taking a stand against extreme leadership from her party, I cannot help but fear that this is just a temporary reprieve from possibly devastating future cuts. For now, my district plans to be sure to put some money aside to ensure that we will maintain fiscally sound in the event of future cuts.

I am fortunate to work with an excellent superintendent in Dr. Susie Cook. Dr. Cook has extensive knowledge and experience with curriculum and is very hands on with her employees. She gives me information in a timely manner and does not sugar coat any bad news I receive. Furthermore, I am lucky to work with terrific board colleagues such as Bill Adams, Chris Maza, Clorinda Graziano, and our board president Tee Lambert. We have fun communicating with each other and attending school events throughout the year.

On August 15^th we will have a special study session to go over our roles as governing board members and also to discuss district procurement procedures. If you were to ask me what I have learned so far I would say the following: a)      Always read the board packets thoroughly and make sure you understand what you are voting on so it does not get buried in a consent agenda;  b)      Understand that it is your job to set policy and not to run the district. No superintendent wants to be micromanaged.  c)      The most important work I do is representing the community and being a positive volunteer and advocate for good public education in the Washington Elementary District.

            I can always be reached by email if you have any questions, concerns, or comments at aaron.jahneke@wesdschools.org. It is an honor to represent you.

 

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The LEGISLATURE IS STILL MEETING SO…..

AS I SAID IN PRIOR E-LETTERS, DON’T JUST SIT THERE AND COMPLAIN —-  

CALL, CALL, CALL, CALL, CALL or contact

your D 10 Legislators about any and all issues and bills at:  

Senator Linda Grey – 602/926-3376 lgrey@azleg.gov; Rep. Jim Weiers, 602/926-4173 jweiers@azleg.gov; and Rep. Doug Quelland, 602/926-3024  dquelland@azleg.gov.

And, don’t forget to call the Gov also at 602/ 542-4331

 

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MORE ON HEALTH CARE!!

                * Paul Krugman writes: “Thus Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska initially declared that the public option — which, remember, has overwhelming popular support — was a “deal-breaker.” Why? Because he didn’t think private insurers could compete: “At the end of the day, the public plan wins the day.” Um, isn’t the purpose of health care reform to protect American citizens, not insurance companies?”

            * President Obama said during his ABC prime-time health care town hall meeting, “If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality healthcare, if they tell us that they are offering a good deal, then why is it that the government – which they say can’t run anything – suddenly is going to drive them out of business?  That’s not logical.”

 

DEMOCRATS HELP VETS!!!    The AZ Democratic Vets Outreach Committee, which includes several very active D 10 folks, has been working to help out homeless vets.  They are looking for furniture for a new apartment that several are moving into, bikes and bike parts (to provide transportation with those without such) and food/volunteers to help serve such the 3^rd Tuesday of each month. Please contact Ken Barner, 480-232-4605 or D 10’s own Paul Verhelst, at 602/993-0466 or golfkids03@cox.net

 

HOW OLD IS THE EARTH?

            According to Senator Sylvia Allen (R of Snowflake) it’s 600 years old.  You can watch it here. This woman is making important decisions that will affect Arizona’s future.  It is funny and frightening at the same time.  What can we do?  Elect Democrats! Please use this video as motivation to make some phone calls or knock on doors.  As always, we would appreciate your donations to the Maricopa County Democratic Party. Please go to: www.maricopademocrat.com and help us win in 2010! (From Ann Wallack, Chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party).

            Well, Mary Raseley (PC, Desert Cover) responded by getting Sen. Allen’s phone and e-mail address sallen@azleg.gov amd emailed her to get in touch with any science professor at ASU and ask him or her if the Earth is billions of years old!!!!

 

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GETTING TO KNOW D 10 ACTIVISTS– Please volunteer & submit your bio to R. Knox at bvaandrk@earthlink.net!!!!

Michael Payne (PC Acacia), became a PC to help the party, have some input into the political process, & into some of the problems the Government has; he’s for “trying to use common sense in proposing new laws.” Michael believes that govt. is too large, should “…stay our of my private life & worry about the tasks & jobs that the Constitution requires, not how I should live my life.”  Michael was born in Milford, Nebraska on 9/9/1942; his family then moved to Lincoln, where he attended school until they moved to Elgin, Ill. where he finished high school.   He has worked at a wide variety of jobs in various places (making connectors for the “Man in Space” project in Chicago, being a short order cook in Anaheim CA, being a micro film document copier in LA & a bus drive in Elgin, Ill.) In 1978 he moved to Phx & began to work for Phx Transit as a bus operatorl; he then moved into personnel, where he became the Benefits & Administrative Manager.  There he learned about a wide variety of computer programs. Not one who wants to be bored doing the ’same old,’ Michael then became a Road Supervisor, after which he transferred to the OCC where he worked as an Operations Controller, handling the GPS system for the seven companies that run the transit system & the communications for Phoenix Transit,  now Voelia Phoenix Transit. His job required him to work in close cooperation with other companies & the Police & Fire Depts. He is a member of the American Compensation Association & a graduate of the Phx Transit University.   Michael retired on 8/6/2007 at which time he took the Queen Mary II on a Transatlantic crossing to England!!!!  Since then he has contined enjoying traveling by taking trips cross country by private rail road car, collecting antiques, working with computers & doing research on the internet.                                

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” There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”  Indira Gandhi

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Had enough? Frustrated, sad, depressed, angry about the wars, world crises, pandemics, global warming, hate crimes, political bickering, economic crisis, health care on the edge of the cliff, education cuts, racism, prejudice, pollution, waste of resources… Take a deep breath & consider what you CAN do to make a difference.  We may not fix anything for a long time, but we can help to make a difference. Do something in your community that will help.  Small accomplishments help your heart and soul. (Rivko says:  register one new D, get one or two registered D’s to sign up for PEVL, make 20 phone calls to D’s in your precinct who didn’t vote in 2008 and find out why??) If each one us does something–no matter how small we think it is–collectively it will be enormous!… in order to fix the big we have to also work on the “small.” Attitudes have to change.  Responsibility has to enter thinking.  Worried about the environment?  Recycle!  Start someplace.  In my neighborhood we have a “large trash” collection about twice a year.  It pains me to see some of the things left curbside that could be donated.  There are people who drive around collecting the items before the big truck comes to grind them up, yet the people who live there could take responsibility and donate to a charity. This does not mean, if you have the energy and stamina, giving up on contacting Congress and the President on the issues.  No…the military/industrial/congressional complex is still with us.  But, people are speaking out all over the world… Please do not forget The Starfish Flinger! Thousands of starfish washed ashore.  A little girl began throwing them in the water so they wouldn’t die.  “Don’t bother, dear,” her mother said, “it won’t make a difference.”  The girl stopped for a moment and looked at the starfish in her hand.  “IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THIS ONE. “(adapted from a Grandmothers for Peace e-mail).

 

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WHY IS JULY 15^TH A VERY IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY??

 (From Ron Owen, Former Chair, Maricopa County Democratic Party AA/Diversity in Action Committee

“On this day, July 15, 1948, Judge Levi S. Udall, ruled that Indians have the right to vote and he quoted eminent Indian law scholar, Felix Cohen: “In a democracy suffrage is the most basic civil right,…whereby other rights may be safe-guarded. To deny the right to vote…, is to do violence to the principles of freedom and equality.”  Many people do not realize that Native Americans had a long fight for this right.….  Let us honor the people who fought for these liberties by rededicating ourselves to the ongoing effort to protect the rights of all citizens and in particular, to ensure that the right of suffrage is never compromised.”  (For more information about the long and painful struggle that the Native American community endured to achieve the right to vote, please contact Jackie Thomas, a member of the Maricopa County Democratic Party’s AA and Diversity Committee at 602/285-0157. Please also note that D 10 is actively involved in this committee as well. Robert Motley, Chair of the D 10 AA/Diversity Committee Chair and Joanne Romero both serve on it, and Joanne is also active on the statewide Native American Democratic Party Caucus. You can contact either of them to learn more about the work of the County Committee or the Statewide Caucus at: Robert Motley - 602/938-0241 or Joanne Romero at 602/980-8273 or lippyromero@aol.com..)

 

Want Some “Democratic News??”

Then please subscribe to a new newspaper “The Arizona Democrat” to get local, national news, state and federal issues, individual voting records and positions taken by our state legislators, as well as opinions from State, County and District leaders statewide.  12 issues for $19.95    www.thearizonademocrat.com or contact 602/993-0466

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Obama White House web site….www.whitehouse.gov/blog/

A place to speak your mind!!!  Remember, democracy is like a marble….and it moves in the direction YOU (or others!!) push it!!!

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” –Barack Obama

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Web Sites.   Please don’t forget to periodically check the web sites for D 10, AZ Democratic Party and the West Dems office, respectively at www.district10dems.com, www.azdem.org, www.maricopademocrat.com and www.westdems.com.   AND please note that due to D 10’s volunteer photographer, Chuck Howey, our site now has pictures of past events!!!

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Make This YOUR E-letter.  Please send your suggestions, whether serious, funny, controversial or ?? to bvaandrk@earthlink.net