A report from superstar Regional Director Rob Haswell for Region 1:

Some 40 Region 1 (from Sacramento to the Oregon border) Democrats attended the Region 1 Meeting in Rocklin on Saturday, Oct. 13, where we heard presentations from the CDP, shared County and club reports and had a spirited CDP Platform discussion. In all, we heard reports from 10 of the 12 counties in Region 1 with chartered DCCs. (Only Glenn and Lassen did not report. Plumas submitted a written report.)

Martha Gamaz talked about the 58-County strategy, which includes trainings around the state, and soon-to-be-released online voter file and volunteer management systems, so activists can canvass and call other Democrats to get out the vote! The CDP campaign training will be in Placer County on Sunday, Nov. 4, from 9 - 4 p.m. at the Rocklin Library.

Todd Stenhouse of the Brown campaign talked about the very successful campaign launch, that included organized grassroots stops in El Dorado, Placer, Nevada and Plumas counties. He thanked folks for their hard work and effort and asked to be included on all club or DCC emailings.

Overall observations: All present counties are engaged in voter registration efforts and are enlisted in the CDP Bounty Program. Sacramento County is among the top counties in the state (as reported by Chair Greg Larkins), and Placer is well into turning in its 5th batch of signatures. El Dorado and Nevada also have turned in batches.

All the counties had significant democratic activities and many had very successful events over the past summer. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi made several trips into Region 1 and headlined successful fundraisers and events in Tehama, Butte, Siskiyou and Shasta counties. Shasta also reported a very successful Jefferson-Jackson dinner in September, which I was the Master of Ceremonies, and more than 100 people attended.

Here are the updates from the counties:

Bill Toensing reported that Nevada County keeps a year-round office open and he attributes that to much of Nevada County's recent success. Other counties in Region 1 with year-round headquarters include Butte, Plumas, and Shasta counties.

Butte County vice-chair Justin Meyers also reported that the California Young Democrats are having a 2-day retreat in South Lake Tahoe in November and he continues to drum up support for his Shasta Cascade Young Democrats group. Butte is also having an event in early November where Chairman Art Torres is expected to attend.

Placer Chairman Larry Dubois talked about the success of Placer's bounty program, its entry into a "Welcome Wagon" program to target new residents for Voter Reg., and also trumpeted the party's recent successes in a county-wide High School Outreach program that the party participates in. Placer also has scheduled a Leadership Summit on Dec. 1 that will include DCC members, club leadership, and elected democrats. Club leaders also gave reports. AADC Chair Brian Washman reported that the club's annual fundraiser netted nearly $6,000 and Steve Postle and Myra Schimke also gave club reports.

Greg Larkins made a great presentation on Sacramento's DCC activities. The 3 goals of the Sac DCC are: Register Voters; raise money to support those efforts; and build party and club activists. Everything they do is in the service of those goals. (I think this is EXACTLY what all our local parties should be doing.)

Neil Posson of Siskiyou talked about the successful Garamendi events in August and also the great outreach the DCC makes with its annual booth in the week-long 4th of July festivities in Mount Shasta. Posson also pointed out that Siskiyou has the best website in the Region!

Jamie Beutler gave the El Dorado County report and announced that a house party for Charlie Brown was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 25. The DCC is having its annual Christmas dinner on Monday, Dec. 3. Francesca Loftis announced the "Take Back Red California" fundraiser, which is this Sunday, Oct. 21, and is being called the "taste of red counties." El Dorado, Placer and several other Region 1 counties are participating.

We also heard reports from Bill Falzett of Yuba and Walter Dodd of Tehama counties.

Comments

[Tiger Cosmos]

How do I withdraw from the Democratic Party? Democrat's approval of Mukasey and the tacit approval of crimes against humanity is not the party I joined or will ever be a member again. Where do I erase?