March 21, 2009 Minutes

The bimonthly meeting of the Democratic Women of Johnson County was called to order by President Belinda Gelman March 21, 2009, 10:05 AM with guest Janet Meek and five members-President Gelman, Jill Bontrager, Kathleen Gehr, Bobbie Smith, and Evelyn Cook in attendance.

Neither the Minutes of the January meeting nor the Treasurer's report was available.

Under old business, the requisite second vote was taken confirming Katherine Hegemann as the group's legislative representative.

President Gelman asked that members continue the previous meeting's activity of sharing experiences with the group. Jill Bontrager volunteered career and personal stories to included the fact that even though she was raised in a Republican family, she discovered that she shared the values found in the Democratic Party.

During a discussion concerning the future of our organization, Kathleen Gehr suggested that we reach out to other Democratic women's groups in the area. Great emphasis was placed on the need for our members to be actively engaged in recruiting new members and working for out party in general. President Gelman stressed the point that we owe President Obama the same energetic support we gave during the election year.

Our guest speaker Janet Meek underscored the pressing need for activity in our state election. Ms. Meek is head of the Democratic Resource Center in Johnson City and has been active in the Democratic Party for years.

A theme of her speech was thinking "outside the box". "We are in a critical time for the Democratic Party in Tennessee and must be actively engaged," she said. She echoed Gehr's suggestion that we team up with other groups in our area in order to strengthen our position. She noted that of the 878 Democratic votes in the Johnson County Presidential election, 516 were women, all potential members for our organization, though she did add that some of the women were registered Republicans.

"We need action," she reiterated. "Build some email lists. Find and support some good women candidates. Start supporting people well before they declare for office, thereby helping to get their names before the public."

"I have learned so much in the past six months," she said. "I find that people do not understand state politics. We must educate them."

She announced a meeting of the Tennessee Health Care Coalition Workshop, April 18th, 9:30-4:30 pm at Northeast State University and encouraged us to attend.

President Gelman thanked Ms. Meek for a very informative talk and requested committee chairs to remind members of the next important meeting of our organization May 9, 10 am, Community Center.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.

Respectfully submitted
Evelyn Cook, Acting Secretary

Minutes from January 10, 2009 (Pending Approval)

Minutes
Democratic Women of Johnson County
January 10, 2009

Pres. Belinda Gelman opened the meeting at 10 am and welcomed everybody. To get to know each other better, she asked each member to introduce themselves and give a short account of their background, place of birth, etc.

Minutes of December 13, 2008 were read and approved with additions and amendment.
Addition: Names of new officers
Amendment: To find out who is in charge of getting those 9 books we voted on - Lynne Cheney's "We the People" to be distributed to the local schools and library.

Financial Report: Treasurer Judy Walsh was absent. Yearly dues are $10 to be paid at the March meeting.

Kitty Hegemann agreed to be our legislative advisor to keep membership informed and up to date on national and local issues. Carole Maulden made motion to accept, Kathleen Gehr seconded. All approved. We'll have to vote again in March.

Also voted on was the position of Public Relations. Karin Bell volunteered for that. Romayne St. John made motion, Carole Maulden seconded, all approved.

Belinda read the duties of each officer and committee chariman according to the By-Laws.

No old business was discussed, and Belinda skipped new business to give Bobby Smith time for her presentation on Barack Obama.

Bobby highly recommended the book "Change We Can Believe In" which served as the inspiration for her report outlinging his ideas for the future of America. Her in-depth and interesting presentation was enjoyed by all present.

Belinda made closing comments.

We will have a leadership workshop at the March meeting and Kitty Hegemann will introduce speaker.

Meeting adjourned at 11:20 am
Submitted by: Karin Bell, Secretary
Date: January 11, 2009

Slideshow from December 13, 2008 Meeting

Minutes for December 13, 2008

Minutes for December 13, 2008: Pending Approval

10:00-10:25 am: Treats and conversation

10:25 am: President Wanda Payne calls the meeting of the DWJC to order

Minutes: The minutes from the November 8 meeting were read by Katherine Hegemann and approved by the attendees.

Treasurer's Report: The treasurer's report were presented by Carole Maulden and approved by the attendees.

Wanda Payne:
The billboard is still up on HWY 421
Old Business

• Buttons are for sale $2 and tee shirts are for sale $3.
• The members shared election stories.
• Judy Walsh suggested that derogatory emails we receive about President Elect Obama be handled as he handled such things.

New Business

• Proposed Project: Purchase 9 copies of Lynn Cheney's book "We the People" and place them in each public school and a copy in the Johnson County Public Library. Evelyn Cook made a motion to accept the project and it was seconded. The motion was approved.
• President Payne presented the current officers and thanked them for their service. Each one was presented with a Democratic tee shirt and a copy of the November 5 edition of The Johnson City Press.
• President Payne introduced the incoming officers and wished them well for their term of service. Each one was presented with the same gifts.

Incoming President Belinda Gelman:

• The Executive Board will meet at her house on January 3, 2009 at 10:00 am. The Executive Board is made up of a new officers and committee chairs.
• We need a Legislative Coordinator as explained in Appendix 1 of the By Laws. The new president asked Katherine Hegemann to serve as Legislative Coordinator. Katherine said she would have to consider this. She will attend the Executive Board meeting.

Meeting Adjourned: 11:07 am

Submitted By: Katherine Hegemann
Date: December 13, 2008

Minutes for November 8, 2008

Meeting called to order at 10:00 am: President Wanda Payne presiding

Discussion of the 2008 presidential victory by Sen. Barack Obama

Round up state and county voting results by Terry Thompson, Chair of Johnson County Democratic Committee: the Republican Party won in our county and the TN General Assembly is now controlled by the Republicans

Welcome and thank you to Flo Bellamy and her staff for set up of the facility and for snacks provided by Kathy Terrill and Wanda Payne

Minutes read by Kitty Hegemann and approval by voice vote

Treasurer's report given by Carole Maulden: $341.63 in our account

Old Business:

• Our billboards were successful; however, the one on HWY 421 near Midway was torn off by wind
• The Democratic Party headquarters and the grand opening at 4:00 pm on September 20 was a successful endeavor. Thanks to Kaye and Trenton Davis, Darlene Atwood, and Wanda Payne for clean up and decorations
• The tee shirts did not sell very well and we lost money
• Concerning the headquarters: a suggestion by Jan Standish was to have sample ballots and handout about the issues and candidates
• Appreciation to Jill, Louise, Kitty, and Karin for Letters to the Editor
• Thanks to all who came to the dinners and worked the booths

New Business:

• The December meeting is "passing the torch" for the DWJC, and we will also have a party after the meeting
  
• The meeting will have time for discussion of possible goals, fundraisers, etc.
• Paul Maulden has asked to speak to us, and we allocated him 15 minutes
• The proposed officers for 2009-2010 are Pres.-Belinda Gelman, VP-Kathleen Gehr, Sec.-Karin Bell, and Treas.-Judy Walsh. Unanimous approval by a show of hands.
• As per the By-Laws, any changes to such must be read and voted upon at two DWJC meetings. The final change reads: Meetings of this organization shall be the odd months on the second Saturday, at 10:00 am at the Johnson County/Mountain City Community Center. During presidential election years, the meetings shall be held each month on the same day of the month and at the same time. Unanimous approval by a show of hands.

Parting words by Wanda Payne
Meeting adjourned at 11:07 am
Submitted by: Katherine Hegemann, Secretary

Johnson County Dems Grand Opening of the 2008 Headquarters

Minutes for September 13, 2008

Democratic Women of Johnson County, Tennessee

Minutes from September 13, 2008 Meeting: Pending Approval

Meeting called to order by Wanda Payne at 10:05 am

Welcome of everybody and thanks to Flo Bellamy for set up of the facility and for snacks by Kitty Hegemann, Carole Mauldin, and Wanda Payne

Minutes presented by Kitty Hegemann: Approved

Treasurer’s Report presented by Carole Mauldin: After paying for the billboard the balance is $401.33

Old Business

• The billboard will be up in front of American Hardware by October 1, 2008.
• We will have a booth for the Cranberry Festival on October 11. 9:00 am-12:00 noon: Evelyn Cook, Louise Hamm, Romayne St. John. 12:00 noon-3:00 pm: Jill Bontrager, Louise Hamm, and Penny Smith.
• If members can be found to man a booth at the Pumpkin Festival, we will participate.
• The last voter registration was August 30 and manned by Kathy Terrill and Pat Criswell in the morning and Kathleen Gehr and Kitty Hegemann in the afternoon. There were six people registered and a total of 15 over the summer registrations.
• The election is November 4, 2008.

New Business

• Wanda moved to authorize buying a pop-up canopy for the sum of $150 or less. The purchase was approved.
• Kathy Terrill volunteered her canopy for the Cranberry Festival, which she will put up, and if we precipitate in the Pumpkin Festival, we may also use her canopy. This will give the DWJC time to find a canopy for a reasonable price.
• A second billboard has been donated. Thanks to Gloria Griffin on 421. We will give her a donation for her generosity, which has already be given by an anonymous patron. Wanda has secured the materials, workers, and equipment to put up the billboard. Approved.
• Johnson County Democratic Headquarters will be located across from Food Country and will open Saturday, September 20, 2008 with an open house. The facility has a kitchen and restroom. Wanda, Trenton Davis, Terry Thompson, and Kay Davis will clean the facility Monday, September 15, 2008. Anyone who wants to help should be at the headquarters by 10:00 am. Janet Meek will try to secure a guest speaker for the open house.
• Wanda Payne has secured a vendor to print tee-shirts for $5.25 each with the same slogan as will appear on the billboards. We will sell them for $10.00 each.
• The DWJC will not meet in October: Approved.
• Nominating committee will meet and select a slate of candidates for officers to serve for 2009-2010. The slate will be presented at the November 8. Committee members are Kitty Hegemann, Karin Bell, and Bobbie Smith.
• Amend the By-Laws: The DWJC will meet bi-monthly on odd months of the year. (The by-laws say that this must be voted upon at the next meeting.)
• There will be a call bank event the last week of October. More information will be forthcoming.

Program: Janet Meek from the Democrat Resource Center

• Our goal is to win this election. She presented a list of those who vote only in the general election or vote sporadically. Early voting begins in one month. Our job is to make sure people vote.
• The finding is that 1/3 McCain, 1/3 Obama, 1/3 Undecided
• The call sheets are from Vote Builder. The JC Dems will call the people, fill out the sheets, and call Janet Meek to come pick them up. They are people who have voted in the Democratic primary at least once in the last ten years. There are 1031 names on the list.
• We have members who are able to make calls, and they will be contacted.

Next Meeting: November 8, 2008

Snacks: Karin Bell and Kathy Terrill

Meeting Adjourned: 11:15 am

Submitted by: Katherine Hegemann, September 15, 2008