5th Congressional District Democratic Party Annual Convention
Saturday, May 18, 2012
Continuing Education Auditorium on the Campus of Mitchell Community College 701 West Front Street in Statesville
Registration Begins 8:30 am

The 5^th Congressional District Democratic Party Officers are pleased to announce our upcoming Convention on May 18^th at the Mitchell Community College in Statesville. Prior to the convention, the following workshops will be offered.  The workshops are designed to help you better organize your counties and prepare for upcoming elections:

Class Session I (9:00 – 9:55 am)

The Work of the Precinct:  How to Make Precinct Meetings Fun

The Heart of G.O.T.V.: Canvassing, Flushing, Phone Banking and Transportation

Class Session II (10:00 – 10:55 am)

How to Make VoteBuilder Work for Your County

Best Practices for Your County Party

All registered Democrats are welcome and encouraged to attend, however, only elected delegates may vote in matters of business. The business of the Convention will be to elect new District Officers and to consider Resolutions that were passed at County Conventions and submitted to the District. The Convention will also feature remarks from NCDP 3^rd Vice Chair Andy Ball.

The Forsyth County Senior Democrats will meet 9am Wednesday, June 5 at Omega House, 1498 Peters Creek Parkway W-S.   All are welcome to attend.

Dr. David Coates will discuss, “How we can respond to conservative arguments”.

         Dr Coates holds an endowed Chair in Anglo-American Studies in the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Wake Forest University.  He was born in the United Kingdom and educated at the universities of York and Oxford.  He came to Wake Forest in 1999, having previously held chairs at the universities of Leeds (in contemporary political economy) and Manchester (in labor studies).  David has written extensively on UK labor politics, contemporary political economy and US public policy.

         Books  by Professor Coates include:

Pursuing the progressive case, Making the progressive case,

Answering back: Liberal responses to conservative arguments, and

A liberal tool kit.

         David is married to Eileen, a native of New Jersey who now teaches English at Mount Tabor High School. Their son is a Wake Forest student.

Fun – Fellowship – Fish!  Join us for one of our favorite fund raisers on June 6, 5:00 – 7:30 at Bolton Park.  For only $10, you get a plate full of fried fish with trimmings, drink, and dessert.  You can feed the whole family and we’ll do the cooking!  Get a plate to go or stay and meet your fellow Dems.  Tickets are available at our HQ, 1128 Burke St., 10:00 – 2:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Please call 336-724-5941 or email [email protected] for more information.  See you there!

Dem Women’s officer Norma Corley, 1st Vice Chair Larry Johnson, Chair Susan Campbell, and former Party Secretary Cindy Burke at the convention.

We’re pleased to present our 2013 – 2015 Forsyth County Democratic Party Officers:

Chair – Susan Campbell

1st Vice Chair – Larry Johnson

2nd Vice Chair – Jimmy Boyd

3rd Vice Chair – Tara Orris

Secretary – Lois Roewade

Treasurer – Michael Flatow

The new members of the State Executive Committee are listed below.  We’re proud to have representatives from Salem College, WSSU, and WFU, as well as our first Hispanic-America Democrat!

Our 12th District Executive Committee members were re-elected: Jemmise Bowen and Phillip Carter.  (5th District representatives are Susan and Larry, as Chair and Vice Chair.)

The program for the convention on April 20 was inspiring.  Mayor Allen Joines welcomed our delegates.  In addition to giving brief highlights of the State General Assemby, Sen. Earline Parmon presented resolutions honoring Sen. Linda Garrou and Rep Larry Womble, who have served Forsyth County with honor and dedication.  Sen. Garrou gave a gracious speech when she received her framed resolution.  Associate Director of Democracy-North Carolina, Jennifer Frye, gave us a history lesson on ”fusion” politics and the value of working together for change.  We had a full house of delegates and elected officials, as well as those attending a convention for the first time.

State Executive Committee members, 2013 – 2015:

Come to our annual Forsyth County Convention, April 20, at the Forsyth Tech West Campus auditorium, 1300 Bolton St. Registration begins at 9:00am and the meeting begins at 10:00am.

We are pleased to be presenting a special “thank you” to Rep. Larry Womble and Sen. Linda Garrou for their many years of public service and for representing Forsyth County so honorably. 

Our guest speaker will be Jennifer Frye, Associate Director for Democracy NC. She will give us the latest news on voter suppression in Raleigh and suggest actions for us to take.  We’ll also hear from Sen. Earline Parmon, the leader of our Democratic Party legislators, about what’s happening on Jones St.  Are we outraged yet?

Also on the agenda will be elections for county Party officers and State Executive Committee members for 2013 – 2015.  Nominated for office are:

Chair:  Susan Campbell

1st Vice Chair:  Larry Johnson

2nd Vice Chair:  Jimmy Boyd

3rd Vice Chair:  Tara Orris

Secretary:  Lois Roewade

Treasurer:  Michael Flatow

All good Democrats are welcome to attend this annual meeting, but only delegates who were selected at the precinct meetings will be eligible to vote.

If you have questions about the convention, please call 336-724-5941, or email [email protected].

FROM NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, RANDY VOLLER:

Republican bills in the General Assembly would end voting as we know it in North Carolina. Including: forcing photo ID, cutting early voting, ending same-day registration, ending straight-ticket voting and taxing parents working to put their kids through college.
Voter ID:
Voter ID is just a piece of the overall puzzle Republicans are forming to make it hard for people to vote. Voter ID is part of a widespread, concerted effort to disenfranchise key Democratic constituencies at the ballot box. Voter ID is a solution in search of a problem. Voter fraud is practically non-existent in North Carolina. Legislation creates multiple new and unnecessary roadblocks to voting in North Carolina. Legislation creates a new state government bureaucracy and will cost taxpayers millions–all to solve an imaginary problem.
Other Key Voting Rights Components:
78% of North Carolinians approve of early voting (PPP) 68% of North Carolinians oppose Republican efforts to eliminate straight-ticket voting (PPP) 53% approve of early voting on Sunday (PPP) Republican legislation would tax parents working to put their kids through college, if their child is registered outside of the home address. The constitutional right to vote is a matter of personal liberty, freedom and choice. It’s a perversion of power to toy with democracy for partisan gain. Gov. McCrory must act to rein in the radical state legislature and stop their assault on our right to vote. If Republicans have their way, their legacy for voting in North Carolina will be longer lines, fewer options and disenfranchisement at the ballot box.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 9:30am – 12:00pm at the Forsyth County Democratic Party Headquarters, 1128 Burke St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Democratic Women are welcome to join us!

Forsyth Hispanic Democrats and their allies visited Raleigh yesterday with the goal of speaking to our legislative delegation as well as other legislators about immigration issues, specifically, HB 141 (moratorium until June on giving drivers’ licenses to DACA recipients to allow further study) and HB 218 (Not allowing undocumented students to attend State Universities or community colleges, period) as well as HB 184 (allowing DACA recipients to receive licenses).

I have attached all the bills as well as more extensive notes from our meetings. All contacts are at the end of this message

Here is their advice for action:

1.   We cannot let up the pressure to change this discriminatory license design and to push forward the issuing of drivers’ licenses for DACA recipients.

2. We need to go to our faith-based communities and ask them to produce resolutions to this effect and send them to the General Assembly, the Governor and the Secretary of Transportation. Perhaps we could also ask our City Council to do the same?

3. We need to call Governor McCrory and Secretary Tata (pronounced ‘tayta’) and tell them our views on this subject.

4. We need to try to change public opinion by writing letters to the editor to our local papers and talking to our Republican friends and neighbors about the effects of such discrimination on businesses and growth in NC.

5. We need to go back to Raleigh regularly to keep up the pressure.

Rep. Glazier stated that he will craft a message for us to take to our churches in the next day or so.

We give our thanks to all of our representatives and senators for their courage and efforts in behalf of the people of North Carolina. Stay strong! You are not alone!

–Mary, Guy, Sonya, Rene, Peggy and Kathy

Governor Pat McCrory…you may speak to him on any of these issues:

919-733-5811  [email protected]

Forsyth Delegation in Raleigh:

Other Democrats we should know

Rep. Luebke 919-733-7663 [email protected] sponsored HB 184

Rep. Glazier: 919-733-5601 [email protected] sponsored HB 184

Rep. Rosa Gill 919-733-5880 [email protected]  sponsored HB 184

Rep. Deb McManus 919-733-0057 [email protected] sponsored HB 184

Representatives aiming to deny DACA students and other undocumented people entrance into state universities and
community colleges through HB 218 CALL THEM!

Rep. George Cleveland 919-715-6707   [email protected]

Rep. Chris Whitmire  919-715-4466  [email protected]

Attorney General Roy Cooper  (919) 716-6400 [email protected]

He has come out in favor of issuing license so thank him!

Calling the DMV directly about license design:

(919)861-3015- Eric Boyette, (Acting DMV Commissioner)

NC Department of Transportation: Secretary Tony Tata (“taytah”)

(919) 707-2800

VOTER_ID_TALKING POINTS

The House Committee on Elections will hold a Public Hearing in Raleigh on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 4:00 pm in Room 643, Legislative Office Building to accept comment and opinion on all of the following related to voter ID:

•    Whether the requirement of a photo ID upon voting is good policy

•    If required, the impact of the requirement of a photo ID on elections,  and other governmental services

•    If required, suggestions and ideas of how to implement a requirement for photo ID including how to assist voters in obtaining a photo ID.

There are a limited number of speaker slots and speakers will have up to 3 minutes for presentation to the Committee. Click here if you would like to speak at this meeting. This sign-up will close at 5:00 p.m. on March 11, 2013.  If you are unable to attend in person, please email your views to David Lewis, Chair, House Election Laws Committee at: [email protected].  Live audio of the meeting also will be broadcast on the site.  For more information, please visit: http://www.ncleg.net/Applications/RTS/hce.aspx

Friend,

Right now, North Carolinians are preparing their taxes. Did you know that your North Carolina taxes offer you an opportunity to help your Democratic Party secure the future of our state with absolutely no cost to you?

The North Carolina Political Party Tax Check Off allows Democrats to make an investment in our party by simply making a check mark on their North Carolina Income Tax Form under the heading “NC Political Parties Financing Fund.” By checking the box next to “Democratic” you allocate $3 of your tax payment toward NC Democrats. This is the single easiest way to support you NC Democratic Party and it won’t cost you a dime.

This money is used by the North Carolina Democratic Party to elect more Democrats. The more people check off, the more resources we have for our candidates. These check-offs DO NOT REDUCE the size of any refund that you are due and WILL NOT increase the tax amount you owe.

Please take the time to check “Democratic” in the NC Political Parties Financing Fund on your taxes.

Thank you for all that you are doing for our Democratic Party as we forge ahead toward victory in 2013.

–The North Carolina Democratic Party