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Welcome to HotLines.  We send you HotLines, Benton county Democrats' subscriber e-letter, on the 1st and 15th of the month to let you know how you can keep the Democratic party strong here at the grassroots level.

Send us your announcements, news of events of interest, and needs for volunteers.  We'll pass them along.

body:

1.  ACTION NEEDED
2.  ANNOUNCEMENTS
3.  EVENTS
4.  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
5.  SUCCESSES
6.  THANKS
7.  SHORT TAKES

Also:
VISIT AND USE BCDEMS WEBSITE
ABOUT HOTLINES
CONTACT THE BENTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS
DONATE ONLINE

 

ACTION NEEDED

March 7: Go to State Legislature in Salem to support Dr. Kitzhaber's remedy for HEALTH CARE. Contact: roberta hall.

APRIL GARAGE SALE: The BCDems will be holding a yard sale on April 13th and 14th as our first fund-raiser for the new year.     As you do your spring cleaning in March, please consider donating some items that can be sold at this event.  Location TBA.  Please contact Barbara Ross, Coordinator (752-3605), or William Switzer  if you have items you would like to contribute or would like to have picked up.  

FROM Sam Sappington, BCDems Chair:

"We were accepting contributions to the Linn Benton Community College Foundation in memory of WES PRICE, who passed away last month from a sudden brain hemorrhage.  Wes was the Democratic candidate for the Oregon House District 15 race (Linn and Benton Counties) in 2004. He was life-long resident of the Willamette Valley, and very dedicated community member and activist.  He was serving as the current Chair of the LBCC Board of Directors at the time of his death.  If you would like to contribute to our donation for Wes please send a check to BCDems, PO Box 232, 97339, or bring it to our next meeting on March 15th.   Thanks for helping us honor the memory of a great Democrat.

"Also, share your preferences for new Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon with our delegates to the State Central Committee.  Elections will occur at the upcoming reorganization meeting of the SCC on Saturday, March 10th in Salem.  The four candidates are:

*MEREDITH WOOD-SMITH from Portland (has served as Vice Chair of the DPO for the past four years, and was elected as an officer of the national association for Democratic State Leaders).  
 
*MAC PRICHARD  from Portland (helped to coordinate Kerry House Parties around Oregon in the 2004 election cycle)
 
*CAROL VOISON from Ashland (ran as the Democratic candidate in 2006 again Greg Walden in Oregon 2nd Congressional District; she's a real "Dean-iac" who wants to embrace a 36-county strategy for the DPO).  
 
*DAN CAROL from Eugene (worked for Ron Brown when Mr. Brown was the Chair of the DNC. (was the research director for Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign for the Presidency and a campaign strategist during the special
election that led to Ron Wyden's becoming our U.S. Senator.)  

*Look at each candidate's statement on www.blueoregon.org or w.oregondemocrats.org/dpo_elections. Please feel free to contact BCDems delegates if you have a strong preference for support.  We can take your input up through Friday night, March 9th. Tanya Shively, Ann Gaidos-Morgan, Sam Sappington, Larry Weymouth."
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rep. SARA GELSER publishes a bi-weekly e-newsletter about legislation, new bill introductions, upcoming hearings, and community events.  If you'd like to subscribe, send her an email at rep.saragelser@state.or.us.  If you are in Salem, be sure to stop by Sara's office to say hello or give her a call to let her know you are on the way--  503-986-1416. 
 
The BCDems newsletter, BCDems: We the People, will have 6 issues in 2007, rather than the 10 or 11 of the past two years, in order to shift more available funds to fundraising this year. Starting with the April issue, you can see a pdf of the newsletter on www.bcdems.net.

We are updating our very successful directory of active BCDems, the Blue Pages, for the current election cycle - through 2008. If you weren't in the Blue Pages before but want to be listed this time around, or if you know of someone you think would like to be listed, email Sue Tautwein.  

This year we're soliciting small ads from local businesses to defray the cost of printing and mailing to everyone listed in the directory. If you know of someone who'd like to take a small ad (at $30, $50, or $100), please contact Marion McNamara.  This directory is strictly a working tool for grassroots organizing, not for commercial purposes. Please pitch in to help make this the best organizing tool we can manage to make it. For other questions, email Davi Richards.

An insert was mailed with the BCDems: We the People newsletter (the paper mailer) this month that listed government contact information for 2007-2008 -city, county, state, and federal. If you would like this information, there's a pdf of the file on www.bcdems.net.

League of Women Voters' 2007 Oregon Legislative TOWN HALL Series: 9:30-11:30 am, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, Saturdays, March 31, April 28, June 2, June 30. For more information visit www.lwv.corvallis.or.us or call 758-2922.

EVENTS

DAILY VIGIL protesting the war in Iraq, 5-6 pm in front of the Courthouse on 4th Street.  Democrats gather there on THURSDAY each week, A NEW DAY TO COINCIDE WITH NEW WEEKLY "SURGE DAYS."

March 2, Friday, 7:00 pm:  Join LCDems to see "THE GROUND TRUTH," personal portrayals of the realities of being in Iraq as expressed by those who know the pain of that experience. At the home of Gloria Olson, 3154 SE 17th Avenue, Albany. Bring a plate of appetizers and your serving of a favorite beverage for a "get acquainted" time that will begin at 6:30 PM.

March 4, Sunday, 2:30 pm:  BCDEMS COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE will meet at the Old World Deli. Contact Davi Richards for more info.

March 7, Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 pm:  First  BCDEMS PLATFORM & RESOLUTIONS committee meeting at home of LoErna Simpson, 1863 NW Estaview Dr (off Circle, then Lantana, Jameson).  What 2 issues are you most concerned about this winter--troop surge, loss of habeas corpus rights, health care, environment, voting fraud?  Are resolutions for county, state needed?  Contact LoErna, 753-7431, for more info.

March 7, Wednesday, noon:  Join hundreds of other pro-equality activists in Salem for STATEWIDE DAY OF ACTION. Rally on the steps of the Oregon Capitol to pass a comprehensive, statewide anti-discrimination law and create legal recognition for same-sex couples.  Contact Basic Rights Oregon to register.

March 10: Saturday, 6-8 p.m:  SECOND SATURDAYS program, SunnySide-Up: Cassandra Robertson and Absolute are playing for a benefit for peace, this time, support for Agustin Aguayo, conscientious objector awaiting trial while imprisoned in Germany. Donations of all sizes gratefully accepted. (Alternatives to War, Veterans for Peace, co-sponsors)

March 15, Thursday, 7:00 pm:  BCDEMS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING, Grace Lutheran Church, Harrison and Kings, Corvallis.  Doors open at 6:30.  Program TBA.

March 15, Thursday, 8 am-4 pm: PRO-CHOICE LOBBY DAY in Salem.  Join hundreds of pro-choice volunteers from across the State to advance reproductive justice right here in Oregon.  Location: First United Methodist Church, Micah Building, 600 State St. Hosted By:   Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon; contact publicaffairs@pphsso.org (541-342-6042 x-31) for more info.
 
March 17, Saturday (St. Patrick's Day): The Dem Party of Oregon sponsors a Portland fund-raiser to begin a campaign fund for our next US Senate candidate.  The program will include dinner, entertainment, silent auction, and live auction.  One of the prizes is a trip for two to Ireland.  Tickets are $50 per person.  More details in March 15 HotLines. p>

March 17, Saturday, 11:00:  PEACE MARCH. Gathering under the bridges at the north end of 1st St., ending up at the southeast lawn of the courthouse.  More info about parade route and times, contact Roberta Hall.

March 19, Monday, noon (tentative):  SILENT MARCHING VIGIL.  Wear black or dark clothing for this respectful and silent vigil.  Meet across from the Methodist Church, Monroe/12th St.  More info in next HotLines.
 
March 20, Tuesday, 7-9 PM: Senators ALAN BATES and BEN WESTLUND will be in Corvallis, part of their state of Oregon travels in March, to explain their proposed legislation for winning health care coverage of all with reduced costs.  Please call either one to find out the exact location of the town hall meeting near you.  Bates - 503-986-1703; Westlund 503-986-1727.

March 20, Tuesday, 7:00 pm: BILL LUNCH, OSU political scientist and Oregon Public Broadcasting political analyst, will speak on the 2006 elections and their consequences for Oregon’s future, as part of a series of community forums at the Venetian Theater, 241 First Ave. in downtown Albany. Sponsored by Albany Peace Seekers & LBCC Institute for Peace & Justice. For more details contact Doug Clark.   Free and open to the public.

April 19, Thursday, 7:00 pm:  BCDEMS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING, Grace Lutheran Church, Harrison and Kings, Corvallis.  Doors open at 6:30.  Program TBA.

May 19, Saturday (date to be confirmed):  BCDems will host a Democratic Party of Oregon TRAINING SESSION  in Corvallis.  More later.

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

2007 BCDems VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE Dates and Venues (Please contact Carol Sweeney if you can help):

March 5, Monday, 10:30-1:30: MU quad, with OSUDems (1 more volunteer needed)
March 17, Saturday, 11:30-2:00: City Hall (2 more volunteers needed)
April 9, Monday, 10:30-1:30: MU Quad with OSUDems (2 more volunteers needed)
April 14, Saturday, 8:30-1:00: 2nd & Monroe near Farmers Mkt (2 volunteers need for 8:30-11:00)

SUCCESSES

The first step in equality and justice legislation is introduced in Oregon House and Senate:  (1) HB 2007, titled "The Oregon Family Fairness Act" would create a new Oregon law to legally recognize civil unions.  (2) SB 2, titled "The Oregon Equality Act" would amend Oregon's existing non-discrimination laws to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in such situations as housing, employment and public accommodation.

Congratulations to RON MASON (Precinct 16 Committee Person) for being elected vice-chair of the LBCC Board. 
 

THANKS

At the BCDems regular monthly meeting on February 15, Rep. Sara Gelser expressed appreciation to Rep. VICKI BERGER (R-Salem) for crossing party lines to support the Healthy Kids Initiative. We need to support bipartisanship by thanking legislators who take such actions. Berger's email is rep.vickiberger@state.or.us.  Tell her thanks.

SHORT TAKES

Find out what's happening in the Oregon legislature:  www.leg.state.or.us  And...check out the new and improved DemPartyOregon website at www.dpo.org

Want to find out more about Grassroots Democrats? http://www.grassrootsdemocrats.com

Representative Jack Murtha's plan to prohibit sending troops to Iraq who are under-equipped or exhausted from multiple tours of duty is being "spun" by the Bush administration. Want to write a short letter to the editor of the GT debunking this smear? Write a letter by clicking http://political.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=71&id=9946-3229463-o7oOnR&t=2 

 

 

VISIT AND USE BCDEMS WEBSITE
You'll find up-to-the-minute information about BCDems and useful links to other sites. Under the "News" headings, you'll find the current issue of BCDems HotLines. You can also get access to post your own information and opinion. For questions, ask Rachel Ozretich . 

ABOUT HOTLINES
If you know someone who would like to receive HotLines, send their email address (with their permission), and be sure to put "HotLines" in the subject line. Or let them know they can sign up for HotLines on our website. We want HotLines to be useful to our subscribers. Send news items and events to be included to Linda Paschke . We also welcome comments, suggestions, criticisms, and general feedback on content, readability, length, frequency, and other thoughts.

CONTACT THE BENTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS
Mail: P.O. Box 232, Corvallis OR 97339
Email: bcdems@bcdems.net
Web: http://bcdems.net
Phone: 541.752.4848

 DONATE ONLINE
You can make a one-time donation or set up a monthly contribution.

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