Jackson County Democratic Party Newsletter - January 1, 2012
Happy New Year! It's starting with a bang!
January Kicks Off the 2012 Election Season - Get Involved
(Office opens again on January 5)
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Secretary of State Kate Brown Joins Us to Answers Your Questions Let's fill the room for this truly dynamic speaker. SOS Brown is running for re-election. This will be a great opportunity to ask questions! See item re voter registration below. |
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2012 Campaign School - Candidates and Managers Take Note! Open to all registered Democrats
Saturday, January 14, 8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Reservations due by January 6
(This is a long article, but its worth your time to read and attend!)
Where: JCD Headquarters, 40 South Central, Medford
Who: Cathy Allen, founder and president The Connections Group, Seattle
Cost: $30 per person, includes continental breakfast and lunch
Register: Contact Jackson County Democrats (541) 858-1050 (leave a message)
This fast-paced session is designed for registered Democrats who plan to file for or are seriously considering running for public office in Jackson County - and for the campaign managers and volunteers who support them.
"President Obama won our county in 2008 and it's likely to happen again," said Democratic Party Chair Jan Waitt. "To take advantage of that, we're doing all we can to identify, recruit, prepare, fund and support the most qualified local candidates."
Campaign School instructor is Cathy Allen, founder and president of The Connections Group (www.connectionsgroup.org), a political consulting firm based in Seattle. In addition to fundamental advice on planning and running successful campaigns, Allen will cover:
- New tools for voter targeting and reaching voters more efficiently
- How to engage Independents and other non-Democrats with issues we share
- Determining a realistic cost-per-vote budget
- Where technology will save candidates money and where it's going to cost more than it returns
- The new negatives that work and what negatives won't work anymore
- New fundraising that you won't hate to do
Checks, made out to Jackson County Democrats, should be sent to P.O. Box 4474, Medford 97501. Participants can sign up by phone and pay with a credit card by calling JCD Headquarters, (541) 858-1050.
Allen has spent the past 22 years working to elect people other than the "usual suspects." Her Golden Rule: Have the best message; get it to the right people at the right time, many times in a variety of ways at the most efficient cost.
This strategy has worked for more than 655 successful political campaigns all over the world - ranging from U.S. Presidential and Governor's races, Senatorial and Congressional races, state legislative races, issue campaigns, Parliamentary races, and numerous political action committees. In 2010, Allen broke from traditional Democratic protocol to travel back to Alaska where she ran the successful - and historic - write-in campaign on behalf of Senator Lisa Murkowski against the Tea Party.
Allen has recruited, trained and supported candidates in countries just fresh from the Arab Spring revolutions in Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Yemen and Kuwait. She specializes in getting women elected, increasing young adult turnout and maximizing strength for Democrats in Republican strongholds. She is the author of three books on political campaigning. Former board member of the American Association of Political Consultants, Allen is also the former VP of the National Women's Political Caucus. She is a frequent political commentator on national television and radio, and appears weekly on Public TV's "KCTS Connects."
Allen's professional background includes stints as a reporter for several newspapers: The New York Times, the Anchorage Times and the Bridgeport Telegram. She worked for three years as the top executive for the Mayor of Anchorage. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University.
JCD Democrats Education Series Open to the Entire Community
Thursday, January 26, 6:30 p.m.
Oregon Education Association building, 2495 S Pacific Hwy, Medford
"Watching the Supremes: The Importance of the Court and Its Impact on All of Us" with Wolf Hoppe as out special guest speaker. Wolf will focus on the makeup of the Supreme Court, its ideological schism, and how cases get there; and will illustrate by discussing a recent case. He is a retired trial lawyer, adjunct professor of law and U.S Foreign Service Officer. Wolf has been teaching courses at OLLI at SOU (formerly SOLIR) on the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court and related topics since retiring in Ashland in 1999. After the presentation, we will have the Central Committee meeting. We'll be rolling out new campaign strategy and volunteer opportunities.
Your New Year's Resolution: Support the Democrats
Help us Elect Democrats in 2012! Please keep the Democrat's Presence in Jackson County Strong!
Your one-time and monthly donations, no matter what the amount, will keep the JCD office as the hub of the Democratic Party in Jackson County and help elect Democrats to important local positions. Please become a "Grassroots" sustaining supporter. Even $10 a month commitment will ensure our office remains open to provide a headquarters for local progressive political education and discussions, committee meetings, seminars and trainings. AND, it is the base for 2012 campaign.
Help us keep a progressive voice in Jackson County. Contribute via credit card by going to the www.jcdemocrats.org website, or by sending a check (and your Grassroots Commitment) to the JCD HQ, PO Box 4474, Medford, OR 97501. Thank you!
JCD Facebook Page
If you want up-to-the-minute news about JCD activities, please "like" us on the Jackson County Democrats Facebook page!
Are You Sure You're Registered to Vote? Have you moved since the last election?
If yes, then you need to re-register to vote and update your mailing address. And now, you can do it on-line! Simply click here, have your Oregon Driver's License handy, and 5 minutes from now, you cross this "to do" off your list! By the way, this new on-line voter registration was made possible under Secretary of State Kate Brown - she's running for re-election, and we need to keep this type of progressive-thinking public official in office.
Representative Peter Buckley announces opportunities for small businesses
Business Oregon to Start Disbursing $16.5 Million in Federal Small Business Assistance Funds
The funding, from the U.S. Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), is expected to generate lending up to 10 times the amount received--or an estimated $165 million over the next four years through existing Business Oregon financing programs. Oregon small businesses interested in applying for funds can find more information at Business Oregon's Web site.
Senator Jeff Merkley wants to keep you informed
If you'd like to receive regular updates from Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, sign up here.
Rural Organizing Project (ROP) has been very active this year
Click here for details - revel in their accomplishments - get involved!
Great news! 100,000 Oregonians get a pay raise starting today. BUT -
It also means that the New Year Brings $118 Million Tax Cut for Oregon's Wealthiest
Read the details from the The Oregon Center for Public Policy here ...
Happy New Year to all our returning and deployed troops
We wish you a smooth transition and a successful new year.
Chances to join in are coming to "Immense Possibilities"
Welcome to the 2012 Season—Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., starting January 3
Host Jeff Golden celebrated completion of his first season by inviting friends and supporters to SOPTV's studios. The audience participated in the program with suggestions about "immense possibilities" they wanted to see in the new season. Watch for more chances coming soon to be part of the studio audience for our very own local production. Read more about it here ...
Occupy Medford General Assemblies
Saturdays, Noon at the Medford Library
Citizens for Peace Benefit Concert Starring folksinger/blues artist Pete Herzog and friends
Thursday, January 5, 6:30 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit the defense fund through Peace House for the "Medford Six," the six who were arrested on Monday, Dec. 5th, for refusing to leave the Medford office of Rep. Greg Walden. The Medford Six face fines and other costs associated with their arrests and citations for the crime of "Trespass of Premises." They hope to have T-shirts to sell that will also benefit the Medford Six Defense Fund.
Save this date for the 3rd Annual Bodacious Rainbow Ball, Community-wide Dance in Celebration of Diversity on Friday, February 10, 7 - 10 p.m.
Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 87 Fourth Street, Ashland
General Admission: $15 • Students: $5 • Children Under 12 Free
Proceeds Benefit Lotus Rising Project (Youth Led Social Justice Org.)
Tickets Available at the Door ◈ Tobacco, Alcohol & Drug Free ◈ Childcare Available
Co-Sponsors: Lotus Rising Project; PFLAG Grants Pass; Rogue Valley Lavender Womyn; SOPride; SOU Queer Resource Center; United Church of Christ, Ashland
For more information, go to http://rvuuf.org/bodacious-rainbow-ball