Rutland County Democrats - News & Events
May - June, 2009

Edited by Bob Soule

Since January our Democratic legislators and other state officials have been hard at work in Montpelier.  On our behalf, they have made difficult decisions and crafted laws that make Vermont a leader in its respect for the safety and the rights of all its citizens.  In addition to the historic laws on child abuse and marriage equality already passed in this session, the legislature has also wrestled with the impact of the economic collapse of 2008 on Vermont. 

Gov. Douglas has proposed dealing with the state's money problems negatively, by turning citizens against their local schools, and by cutting state positions and programs that will cause serious hardship to the state's poor and elderly.  At the same time, Democratic legislators have worked hard to save critical services, both by finding cost savings in other areas, and by raising revenues through various strategies.

It is not easy standing up to Gov. Douglas and the shrill criticism from local right-wing Republicans who try to pass themselves off as “pro-business”.  This group seems to care only about lowering taxes now and not about strengthening our state and our infrastructure, so that all of our children can have a future here.  Our legislators are getting lots of negative feedback from these groups, and they need our support.  Please write a letter to the editor of your local paper to let our community know how much we appreciate the hard work your representatives and senators are putting in to save our state! 
 

Here are a few other ways you can stay involved with what is happening politically in our county and our state.  Remember the battle cry of Earth Day - "Think globally and act locally"!

1) Rutland County Democratic Committee Meeting - Monday, May 18, 6:30 PM, at the Neighbor Works Building, 110 Marble St., West Rutland [ADD LINK TO FLYER]

This meeting will feature visits from Judy Bevans, the new Chair of the Vermont Democratic Party, and also Sen. Susan Bartlett, who has expressed her intention to run for governor in the 2010 election.  We are also hoping that the session in Montpelier will be finished by then, and we will have some of our legislators to give us a short wrap up.  Lastly, we will be presenting updated information on community service, fundraising, and social events planned for this summer.  Refreshments will be served, and there will be time for questions. Come find out what is going on, and how we can all help our legislators and statewide officials prepare for next year's elections....
 

2)  Early Summer Fundraiser - Rutland County Democrats Celebrate Governor Dean!

Gov. Howard Dean, who recently completed a wildly successful term as leader of the Democratic National Committee, will be coming to meet with us soon.  The County Committee is planning a festive gathering to welcome him back to the Rutland area.  We are all thankful to him for his 2004 Presidential campaign, which electrified the country and inspired those who admired his courage in standing up against the dishonesty and excesses of the Bush administration. 

Carrying the momentum from that run into his term as DNC Chair, Howard implemented his "50 State Strategy" to help Democrats rebuild our strength as a party, recapturing the Congress in 2006 and the White House in 2008!  This event is a "can't miss" opportunity to hear from Gov. Dean, and we hope everyone will plan to attend.  More details coming soon....

3)  Brandon 4th of July Parade - Saturday, July 4 - Come march with us!

Once again this year, the Rutland County Democrats will have a contingent marching in this parade, which is not only a "command performance" for the state's prominent politicians, but also a lot of fun!  We will be organizing any and all Democrats who would like to march as a group in this parade, to show our support for the party and for our elected officials.  The parade gets organized at noon, for step off at 1:00 pm.  We will provide more detailed information on our plan (what to wear, etc.) to all who let us know of your interest in participating.  To get more information or to volunteer, email Anne Lezak-  alezak@comcast.net

4)  Democratic Potluck/Potlatch Summer Party - Sunday, August 9, 12 noon- , at the Pittsford Recreation Area

This event will be an outdoor gathering for families and adults, to include a potluck picnic and social gathering, possibly with some candidates for governor in attendance!  Also featured will be "fun and games" for those who wish to partake, such as bocce, swimming, volleyball, and other activities to be announced.  Curious about the "potlatch" part?  Stay tuned.

5)  Rutland County Democrats Caring for our Community - Volunteer Opportunity

A small band of R.C.D. volunteers served dinner at the Park Street Rescue Mission in Rutland last week.  This was much appreciated by the guests and the staff at the mission, and we plan to continue this on a monthly basis.  When we serve dinner, volunteers need to be at the shelter from 5:30 pm until approximately 7:00 pm, when cleanup is completed.  As we continue this project, we may also prepare some dishes for the meal as well.  Right now we need volunteers who are willing to commit to helping serve at our night in May (and hopefully beyond).   Please contact organizer Mark Skakel at msforester@msn.com or 773-3733 for dates and details if you’d like to help.

6)  Visit Our Website for New Pictures and Information -                                                  www.rutlanddemocrats.org
 

News & Events

March - April, 2009

After our great successes in last fall's election, all Democrats across our country have reason to be proud. Because of our efforts, and those of millions of other Americans, our leaders are working together to bring the United States back to its true values.

Here in Vermont, we are fortunate to have dedicated majorities in our state legislature working to keep Vermont a leader in positive government for the people, despite the negative and obstructionist actions of the governor and his administration.

Now it is time for us to roll up our sleeves again and re-energize our party, both on the local level and on the state level. We must do this to provide the support that our leaders need to get their job done, and to prepare ourselves for the important mid-term elections that are only a year and a half away...

In order to reach our goal, there are many things to be done, and we need your help. Listed below are several opportunities for you to begin this important work with us. Please make time for at least one of these, and more if possible!

1) David Curtis Awards Dinner - Saturday, March 28th, 6:30 PM, Hilton Hotel, 60 Battery St., Burlington click here

Save the date!! This is the first (and the biggest) fund raising event for the Vermont Democratic Party this year, as we kick off the new election cycle. Always an enjoyable evening of camaraderie with fellow Dems from around the state, this year's dinner promises to be one of the best! Joining us to celebrate the party's successes and our new goals will be our all-star delegation from the U.S. Congress - Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Peter Welch. The keynote speaker will be Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, who has a courageous story and an exciting message.

Last but not least, the Curtis honoree for this year is none other than our own Gov. Howard Dean, just back from his highly successful term as leader of the Democratic National Committee, where he implemented his winning "50 State Strategy". Let's have a big turnout to honor Howard and thank him for the huge role he played in the victorious elections of '06 and '08!

All are invited to this event, to fire up the party faithful and to replenish our war chest for the coming battles! Tickets are $60 per person. An invitation with ordering information will be mailed to Vermont Democrats within the next week. If you have not received one soon, you can order by contacting the Vermont Democratic Party at (802)229-1783 or at: info@vtdemocrats.org

A final note on the Curtis Dinner: the VDP is challenging all counties to see how much we can reduce our "carbon footprint" this year by carpooling to the dinner. We will arrange a carpool meeting place for anyone going from Rutland County who would like to join us. For more information, please contact Bob Soule at: mc_soule@vermontel.net or 446-2331.

2) Rutland County Democratic Committee Meeting - Monday, March  30, 6:30 PM, at the Fox Room, Rutland Free Library, Court St., Rutland click here

This meeting of the county committee is our annual opportunity to get the "inside scoop" on the work of the legislature, directly from our representatives in the House and the Senate. There will be refreshments served, and time for questions. Come find out what is going on, and how we can help our legislators accomplish their goals. We owe them a vote of confidence for the difficult work they are doing on our behalf!

3) 4th Annual “Women Making a Difference” Brunch - Sunday, April 19, 11:00 AM, Rutland Country Club, Grove Street, Rutland click here

This highly successful event honors the achievements of many of the outstanding women of Rutland County. Although the brunch is organized by the Rutland County Democratic Committee, the selection of honorees is on a nonpartisan basis, and all women are welcome to attend this event. Those who have joined us in the past know that “a great time is had by all,” as we share a great brunch and some laughs, and get to hear the stories of women who have contributed to their communities in a surprising variety of ways.

The cost of the brunch this year is $32. Further information about the brunch and how to obtain tickets will be in an invitation that is going out to Rutland County women. If you have not received one in the next couple of weeks, you can get tickets by contacting Kathy Milillo at: azurevt@aol.com, or 459-3398.

4) The 2010 Race For Governor Is On!

Two well-known Democratic leaders have announced that they will be candidates: Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and Senator Doug Racine (if others announce, we will add them to the list). Here is where you can find out more, volunteer, or make contributions:

Deb Markowitz

Website to volunteer, donate online, or learn more about the campaign: www.debforvermont.com or contact: debmarkowitz@yahoo.com

Donate online or mail checks to: People Supporting Markowitz, PO Box 204, Montpelier, VT 05601-0204

Doug Racine

To volunteer or learn more about the campaign, contact Mary Sullivan at: marysull@yahoo.com

Checks can be mailed to: Racine for Governor, 909 Wes White Hill Rd., Richmond, VT 05477.

Website coming soon.

5) Visit Our Website for New Pictures and Information - http://www.rutlanddemocrats.org/