Rutland County Democrats - News & Events
July-August, 2010

Edited by Bob Soule

It is now officially summer, and your County Committee is shifting into high gear!  During this last week of June we kick off the season with our first Friday Night Live.  And July promises to be one of our busiest months ever.  This is all a nice way of saying, we need you! 

We will be needing volunteers for the events outlined below, for numerous different tasks:  registering voters, marching in parades, cooking food, answering telephones, and putting together mailings, to name just a few.  Many of you have helped us with your volunteer efforts in the past, and we hope that you will step up again.  To those who have not yet participated, now is a great time to get involved!  Please read over the information on our summer schedule and sign up for as many events as you can - there is lots of variety....

1)  Friday Night Live - Fridays: June 25 - August 20, 6-9 pm, on Center St., Rutland

Rutland’s weekly downtown music/food/arts gathering.  We’ll have a Rutland Democrats table at a prime location - right in front of our 2010 Democratic Election Headquarters!  HQ is at 24 Center Street (formerly Essential Alternatives).  Our tables will offer voter registration, campaign materials from our candidates, and delicious snacks for a nominal charge.  Local and statewide candidates will be invited to join us to meet and greet the people of the Rutland area.  We will need 2 or 3 people each week to staff the tables and greet people, from 6 to 9 pm.  If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Bob Soule at:  mc_soule@vermontel.net, or 446-2331.

2)  Brandon Independence Day Parade - Saturday, July 3, 12-3 pm, Brandon 

Keeping up our tradition of "showing the colors" for our most American holiday, the Rutland County Democrats will be marching in this great parade.  We expect to be accompanied by most of our Democratic office holders and candidates, as well.  As in years past, we will not have uniforms, but will dress in red, white, and blue as much as possible.  The theme of the parade is "stars", and we will have some posters honoring stars of the Democratic Party.  We encourage marchers to be as creative as you like, and feel free to bring balloons, streamers, hats, or other patriotic paraphernalia.  The line up is scheduled at 12 noon, and the parade steps off at 1 pm.  Marching time is an hour or so, covering about a mile and a half.  If you can join us to march, please contact Bob Soule at:  mc_soule@vermontel.net, or 446-2331.

For those who would like to participate in the celebration without the walking, we’re planning to have a table on the Brandon Green, for registering voters and handing out campaign literature.  The table will be setting up at 10 am; this part of the operation is being handled by the Brandon Democrats.  If you are able to help with the table, please contact Katie Johnson at: katie@acswmd.org, or 247-5611.

3)  SolarFest - Friday, July 16 - Sunday, July 18, at Forget-Me-Not Farm, Rt. 140, Tinmouth (Info at:  http://www.solarfest.org/)

This is a unique event combining the spirit of Earth Day and Woodstock with 21st century green technology.  In addition to wonderful music, arts, and food, this event offers numerous workshops and vendors focussing on alternative energy and conservation issues.  We will have a booth with a tent (for protection from sun and rain!) for registering voters, giving out literature, and visiting with festival-goers.  Our space is L22 (not far from the main entrance and parking).  This is a great place to meet interesting people, including many like-minded voters.  We will need several people to take shifts during the three days of the festival, and discounted passes can be purchased for volunteers if we have you signed up in time to get the special rate.  Anyone interested in helping with Solarfest, please contact Anne Lezak at: alezak@comcast.net, or 775-1695.

4)  Rutland County Democratic HQ Grand Opening - Friday, July 23, 5-6:30 pm, at 24 Center St., Rutland

We will have a ribbon-cutting and celebration of our 2010 campaign headquarters, with all of our Democratic candidates invited to participate. We generally get a good crowd for this event, where we’ll introduce the candidates, welcome volunteers, and have an informal reception, with great appetizers to celebrate our official opening.  Following the opening, Friday Night Live will be in full swing (from 6 - 9 pm), right outside our office.  For this event, we will need volunteers to cook refreshments, as well as a crew to set up, staff, and clean up the food and drink tables.  Please contact Anne Lezak if you are able to help with the opening; she can be reached at:  alezak@comcast.net, or 775-1695.
 

5)  Rutland City Sidewalk Sales and Ethnic Festival - Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31 (Info at:  http://www.rutlanddowntown.com/ethnic.html) 

Rutland City Democrats will have a booth at the Rutland Democratic Headquarters, 22 Center Street, where pastries and other ethnic foods will be sold. This is a great place to “meet and greet” - most of Rutland County seems to come through this event at some point!  We will also be able to welcome folks into our HQ, where candidate materials will be on display.  To volunteer (making some food, staffing the table - or both!) contact Mike Austin, at:  mikeaustinvt1@yahoo.com, or 773-6964.

6)  Potluck and Bocce party for Bob Baird and Brigid Faenza - Sunday, July 4, 4 pm  at the home of Marcy Tanger, 1333  Rt. 155, Belmont

There will be a pot luck and cross country bocce gathering at the Tanger home on the 4th of July starting at 4 PM.  We're going to have fun and fundraise!  Special guests will be Bob Baird who is running for Vermont Senate from Rutland County, and Brigid Faenza who is running to be our local representative from the Mt. Holly/Ludlow/Plymouth district to the Vermont House.  These people are giving their time and money to run and represent us and we will be asking for donations for them.  It takes money to run - so if you are able, please bring your check book. There will be short talks during the evening, but this is mostly a social event.

Other invited guests include Senator Bill Carris, and Cheryl Hooker, who is also a candidate for the Senate from Rutland. These are fantastic candidates and we are so lucky to have them!  Please let others know about this and please let us know if you can attend - or not.  Thanks so much and hope to see you then!   RSVP by contacting Marcy Tanger at:  tanger@vermontel.net, or 259-2344.

7)  Meet Representative Peter Welch - Saturday, July 24, 5-6:30 pm, at the home of Dottie Finnerty and Ron Unterman, 3101 Healdville Road, Belmont    

Everyone is invited to attend. This is a great opportunity to talk with Rep. Welch on critical issues facing Vermont and the nation.  Campaign contributions are not required, but will be very much appreciated.  Peter needs our support for his reelection to Congress this fall.  Please RSVP to either:  Dottie Finnerty, at 259-2491 or mailto:dottie@finnerty.us, or Janet Warren, at 259-2007 or janetwarren72@hotmail.com  

8)  Calling all J.P. s !!  (or those who want to be)

If you are now a Justice of the Peace, or would like to run for that office in your town, it is time to contact the chair of your town Democratic Committee to let them know you are interested.  You can find the name and contact information for your town chair at our website:   www.rutland-democrats.org/.  If you are interested, but your town does not have an organized Democratic committee, contact Anne Lezak for information, at alezak@comcast.net, or 775-1695.

9)  Democrats Serving the Community - (1st Tuesday of each month), 5:30-7 pm, at the Open Door Mission, Park St., Rutland

For about a year, local Democrats have taken turns serving dinner at the Mission one day a month.  As many of you know, this was a project that was started and coordinated by Mark Skakel, who died suddenly this spring.  With his loss, we are without a leader for this project, as other County Committee members are already stretched with other responsibilities.  We have explained this situation to the Mission staff, and they understand that we need to put this project on hold for now unless we find a new leader for it.   If you are interested in taking on the coordination of this project, or know someone who is, please contact Bob Soule at:  mc_soule@vermontel.net, or 446-2331.

10)  Governor Madeline Kunin coming to Rutland County in August!

We are working with the Vermont Democratic Party to bring Gov. Kunin to our area for an election rally and fundraiser, in mid-August.  Stay tuned for more information!

11)  Vermont State Fair - September 3-12, at the fairground, Rutland