1) Rutland County Democratic Headquarters!

Thanks to a great effort by our HQ search committee, we have landed what is perhaps the best space in Rutland County: The Tuttle Building, 11 Center Street! (most recently home to Center Street Artisans). We will begin working there this weekend, and you are welcome to come by.  However, we will hold off on a full-time schedule until after the Vermont State Fair, as our booth there is a major effort. Those who participated in the 2006 election can attest to the excitement and fun to be had as a volunteer at the HQ. We will have volunteer opportunities on behalf of all candidates, including a major Obama presence. Don’t miss our HQ Grand Opening – Wed., Sept. 10, 5-7 PM. Details to come, but we guarantee a great time: lots of candidates and delicious eats will be part of the mix.

2) You Too Can Help us Win in November – Volunteer!

With the arrival of our new headquarters, our capable VDP Field Organizer Kate Lesniak has two flexible options for everyone to get involved!
Phone Calls can be made during phone banks (week nights from 4-8pm), or from home for folks who are too far out to travel. Every call moves us closer to Democratic success in Rutland County and Statewide!
Door Knocking can be done anywhere and anytime! We will be asking potential voters who they will support in November for President and Governor.  Door knocking is typically done on week nights, from 4-8pm, and Saturdays earlier in the day and can be in your own neighborhood or elsewhere.  Kate will organize groups and pairs to walk routes. Candidates are encouraged to get involved and introduce themselves in their districts. Even if you can only go a couple of times, we hope you'll help knock on doors to spread the good word about our candidates – this is a proven path to success.     Kate can be contacted at (716) 725-1995 to set up a time when you can help, or email her at klesniak@vtdemocrats.org.  Let’s do it!

3) Good News!! Two Democratic Candidates for Lieutenant Governor

Thomas Costello, a Brattleboro lawyer and Rutland native, is running for Lieutenant Governor. Tom had his campaign kickoff on Monday, July 21 with a big crowd in attendance at the Vietnam Memorial in Rutland's Main Street Park. Tom has served 10 years in the Vermont Legislature from both Rutland and Brattleboro. He chaired the Judiciary Committee as well as General Housing and Military Affairs. He is a Vietnam Vet who was awarded a purple heart and the bronze star. Check out Tom's website at: www.TomCostelloForVT.com
Nate Freeman, a self-employed businessman from Northfield has also declared for Lieutenant Governor in the Democratic Primary on September 9th. Check out Nate's website at: www.NateFreeman.com

4) Rutland Sidewalk Sales and Ethnic Festival – Fri.-Sat. August 1 & 2

We’ll be there Friday and Saturday; thank you to all who have volunteered to staff the booth and bake. Saturday, August 2, we’ll sell a potpourri of ethnic goodies; we still can use a few more tasty treats. Please donate a favorite ethnic dish: Cookies, pastries, cold appetizers, or salads to sell by the scoop. We can keep dishes cold, but not hot.

Candidates, this is a great opportunity for you to meet and greet your voters.  SIGN UP: Email or call Marcy Tanger at tanger@vermontel.net or 259-2344 or email Pat Menduni at dunesvt@comcast.net.

5) Peter Welch & Friends BBQ – Saturday, August 16th, 4-7 pm

Join us to celebrate Congressman Welch’s first term, and kick off the campaign season with dozens of dedicated Democrats.  Candidate for Governor Gaye Symington will be joining us, as will local and perhaps other statewide candidates. Denise McGinley and Ramsey Yoder are opening up their lovely Tinmouth home for a hearty, informal Vermont summer BBQ – no cost to attend, but donations to the Rutland County Dems or Vermont Democratic Party are welcome. Click here to view the invitation

6) Other opportunities to volunteer in August – You are needed!

Long Trail Festival, Fri.-Sun., Aug. 15-17

We are seeking volunteers for our table; this event will be at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland. Email Anne Lezak at alezak@comcast.net  or Marcy Tanger at tanger@vermontel.net if you can help out. We will email or call to arrange a shift.

Vermont State Fair, Aug. 29 - Sept. 7 We need many folks to staff our booth at the Vermont State Fair, at the Fairgrounds in Rutland. Contact Mary Mellow at tanger@vermontel.net about volunteering for a shift. We will get back to you to schedule you.

7) Next Meeting of Rutland County Democrats – Tues., August 26th, 6:30 pm

We will meet at Wallingford Town Hall, School Street, Wallingford. This is an important campaign season meeting where we will share our ambitious plans for the fall. Learn how you can help our great candidates win – from Obama to our statewide candidates, State Senate candidates Sen. Bill Carris, Hope Blucher and Cheryl Hooker, and the local House incumbents and challengers. We’ve got terrific folks running, and they need you to put them over the top on November 4th!

8) Obama Unite for Change Gala Celebration – Thurs., Aug. 28th, 7:30 pm

This exciting event will be held at the Vermont Marble Museum in Proctor, to raise funds for Sen. Obama's presidential campaign. Together, we will watch Sen. Obama give his major speech at the Democratic Convention, on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Please RSVP and pay early, to help the organizers plan. All checks must be accompanied by a donor form click here to get a printable form.

For more information on the event Click here

9) Justice of the Peace Town Caucuses  – Wed., Aug. 20^th (most towns)

The VDP has set Aug. 20^th as the date that Democratic Town Committees will aim to meet to nominate candidates for Justice of the Peace. However, towns can choose any day up to Sept. 2^nd.  If you are interested in running for J.P., make sure you contact your Town Chair so that you can be nominated. You are urged to attend your town’s nominating caucus, but if you can't be there, you can still be nominated by signing the form that your Town Chair has.

10) Old News - Recent Successes for the Cause of Democracy!

“Dollars for Dems” Yard Sale, June 28 - Pat Menduni, who played a major role in this event wrote:

We had great weather and a great turnout for the Dollars for Dems Yard Sale at the Godnick Center. We netted approximately $1200, which is a terrific boost to the Rutland County Dems election season efforts.  Thank you to so many volunteers who gave your time on Friday evening and throughout Saturday, to collect, move, arrange, and sell all the items that so many more of you donated. This was truly an event that needed many dependable hands, and you delivered. A special thanks to our experienced yard sale leader, Laurie Elwell, whose good humor and inexhaustible “can do” attitude helped make order out of chaos. You are all fabulous!

Brandon Independence Day Celebration, Booth and Parade, July 5 - Once again, a bunch of you came out in force. The Rutland County Dems booth, which was set up alongside the Obama table, was a busy place, and volunteers fanned out from there to register voters with our energetic VDP Field Staffer, Kate Lesniak and Field Intern, Michelle Seager. The Rutland County Dems parade contingent was large and enthusiastic; we were flanked by the Symington folks in front, and Obama marchers behind. Together we made quite a splash, and got a great response. Thanks so much to everyone who joined us!

SolarFest Booth  July 11- With help from a number of Rutland County Democrats, we once again had a successful booth at Solarfest. Statewide candidates Gaye Symington and Tom Costello attended, along with a number of local candidates.  By the final tally, we gathered hundreds of signatures for Democratic candidates' petitions, registered a number of new voters, and spoke to many, many people about the goals of the Democratic Party in this fall's election.  Many thanks to all who participated.

11) See who you recognize... photos of Rutland County Democratic events

Check out the Rutland County Democrats website to see some great new photos: 

www.rutland-democrats.org