Dear Democratic Women and Friends:

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends and are starting to think about how we can make sure that 2014 is a better year for all of us in North Carolina.

We’ll be officially launching our Turning North Carolina Blue campaign at our January 12 2014 DDW meeting.

Our campaign has two critical and related goals: to win back a number of state house and senate seats this year so that the Republicans no longer have a supermajority in either house of the General Assembly.  And to make sure Kay Hagan is re-elected to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

There is a simple strategy to achieve both of those goals: increase the turnout of Democratic voters and democratic-leaning unaffiliated voters in 2014.  A simple strategy, but it’s going to take lots of work all across the state. 

First of all, we need to register more new voters.  Since the 2012 election the Republicans have done a much better job than we have in registering new voters: Democrats account for only 32% of new voters registered.

Second, we need to make sure that every Democratic voter shows up at the polls on election day and gets to vote.  Obama lost the state in 2012 even though he had more votes than in 2008 because the Republicans were better at getting out their troops.  One million registered Democrats didn’t vote.  Imagine what a difference it would have made if they turned out to vote!  And this year we will have two obstacles against us: the fact that this is not a Presidential election year, and fewer people turn out to vote in off-year elections (that’s how we lost in 2010!) and the new voter suppression law that have already convinced thousands of North Carolina voters that they can’t vote without a voter ID, even though that part of the law doesn’t go into effect until 2016. 

To accomplish both, we need to do a lot of outreach and a lot of voter education, using every medium and every avenue available to us, ever day we can, between now and Election Day 2014 – that’s November 4, 2014. Part of our job is getting out the word about what the Republicans have done at the state level to make life harder for all of us and making clear to every voter that we can change it.  And part of our job is going to be fighting the disinformation put out by the Republicans – about who can vote and about the issues and candidates.   

If you’ve been following the news you know that the national GOP has targeted Kay Hagan’s seat. Karl Rove is in North Carolina trying to raise money for her Republican opponents and Americans for Prosperity has already spent more than $2 million on negative ads against her – most focused on linking her to the Affordable Care Act and President Obama’s so-called “broken promises.” We need to be ready to tell the truth about the promises Kay has kept for all of us and how the Affordable Care Act is making a positive difference for all of us.  There’s lots of good information on this…just check out our website athttp://www.durhamdemwomen.org/healthcare.html

But don’t wait until 2014 to start working for change in North Carolina.

There’s lots we can do…starting today.

Sunday, December 1.  We Can Expand Medicaid in North Carolina.http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-mccrory-expand-medicaid-to-500-000-and-unemployment-benefits-to-170-000-north-carolinians.  Start the week out right by signing on to the NAACP petition to Governor McCrory, calling for a Special Redemption Session of the General Assembly to “rescind the regressive and mean-spirited laws that deny Medicaid to 500,000 poor North Carolinians and emergency unemployment benefits to an estimated 170,000 long term unemployed North Carolina families.” And after you sign it, send it on to your friends…

Monday, December 2.  We Can Warn Shoppers about the Thorns at Roses.

Wondering what to do this Moral Monday?  Join the educational picket outside of Rose’s and Maxway stores to let shoppers know what owner Art Pope stands for and how he profits by underpaying his workers.

Chapel Hill: 4 PM, Roses, University Hall, 201-C36 Estes Drive, Chapel Hill 27514

Raleigh: 4 PM, Maxway, 1905 Poole Rd, Raleigh 27610

Tuesday, December 3.  Come to Raleigh for a Crucial Conversation.

Join NC Policy Watch, Equality NC and the NC ACLU in a lunchtime crucial conversation about efforts to overturn the North Carolina ban on second-parent adoption and marriage for same-sex couples. 12:00 PM at the Center for Community Leadership Training Room, Junior League of Raleigh Building, 711 Hillsborough Street (corner of Hillsborough and St Mary’s) Register here:https://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50825/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=74971#regForm

Wednesday, December 4.  Sign Up to Help Durham Residents Get Covered.

The Saturday before Thanksgiving lots of DDDW members joined Durham CAN in a neighborhood canvass to help more low income Durham residents get registered for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.  There are more events coming up next week at City of Medicine High School and NCCU. Sign up too help athttps://www.getcoveredamerica.org/events/?radius_unit=mi&zip=27705&radius=10&submitted=1

Or contact Caitlin Metzguer, Get Covered America Field Organizer for Durham atcmetzguer@enrollamerica.org  or 919-2880-8270

Keep reading us and keep checking our website at www.durhamdemwomen.org for more ways to fill your days and evenings doing good this holiday season.

We do make a difference.  Every day.

Sondra

Dear Durham Democratic Women and Friends:

Every Election Matters.

Just a few days left before the Durham City Council elections.  The early vote tallies are very low at the Board of Elections – only 2,491 Durhamites have voted so far.  When I talked to parents out trick-or-treating with their kids on Club Blvd on Halloween, only a few even knew there was a city election!  So we have to do a better job of getting out the word to folks about why this election matters – and why they should vote!

I am assuming all of you are part of that 2,491 total. If not, I know you will show up at your local precinct voting place on Tuesday to be sure that your voice is heard. But please use your voice more. Talk to neighbors and coworkers and make sure they come out to vote too.  And if you have time this afternoon or Tuesday, please join Durham People’s Alliance in their efforts to get out the vote!

Canvassers will be heading out from their Green St office today at 1:30 PM and all day Tuesday.  You can sign up herehttp://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054FABA82CA57-volunteer/1105392

Teachers need our support more than ever! The Durham Association of Educators' "I Heart Public Schools Rally" was postponed till Friday November 8, 4:30-6:00 PM. Join us at at the downtown Durham "Bull" Plaza at the intersection of Corcoran and Chapel Hill Streets. 

 [Be sure to check our website every week for announcments of new events and changes like this...it's www.durhamdemwomen.org]

We need to make our voices heard on health care reform.

In a country as rich as ours, everyone should have access to healthcare. That was the premise behind the affordable care act.  Although, given U.S. politics and economics, it got redefined as everyone should have access to health care insurance. The idea was that if the insurance companies and doctors and hospitals all thought they were going to make money by expanding the pool of insured, they would go along with reform.  And they did.  We got the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act passed in 2009. 

But then the Republicans decided that giving everyone access to the same public goods that every other advanced democracy in the world offers its citizens would give too much of an advantage to the Democrats. And they set about waging war against health care reform – using every tactic they could think of. (If you think the attacks are not orchestrated look at this piece from 2009 laying out the arguments that Republicans should use http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=130628F1-18FE-70B2-A81BBE8E2316F81D )

That war is continuing.  The Republicans will do everything they can to delay implementation so that no one can enjoy the benefits of the Affordable Care Act before the 2014 election.  That’s why they are all clamoring about the failure of the website (which, of course, is not a good thing) and Obama’s false promises (“If you like your plan, it won’t change.” They know these are usual startup woes – in this case complicated by how much more complicated this kind of private plan is than a simple Medicare-for-all plan.  But they have to raise a rucus now.  To do everything they can to keep people from signing on. So that it won’t succeed. And they are going to use it as an issue in the 2014 election: to turn it into an “albatross” so that both Republicans and Democrats running for office will disown it.

We need you to raise your voices about health care.  Now and often. Let’s drown Governor McCrory’s office in a sea of letters and cards urging him to Expand Medicaid now for the benefit of everyone in North Carolina.  Let’s flood his phone lines with calls urging him to act now.  Ohio’s Governor John Kasich has accused his state legislature of waging an anti-Christian war on the poor by refusing to expand Medicaid and he has found a way to enact Medicaid Expansion without legislative support.  Surely McCrory and his budget director Art Pope can do the same.  If they feel enough pressure.  That all depends on us.  So sign on to ProgressNC’s petition. And make it part of your daily routine to reach out to our Governor and urge him to expand Medicaid now. Visit our website to find addresses and phone numbers at http://www.durhamdemwomen.org/healthcare.html

And please let’s help get out the truth about the affordable care act. Write letters to the editor of the Herald and the N&O in response to articles in the paper about the Affordable Care Act or in response to other letters to the editor.  We need to counter all that false propaganda about what it will do.  There’s lots of background information on our website to help you write your letter…and send us copies atdurhamdemwomen@gmail.com  We’ll track them and share them with others writing letters.  We can build a great team ready to fight attacks – like the one Americans for Prosperity has already launched against Kay Hagan.

Inside Corner on DDW

Just want to let you all know that we were unable to hold our election of officers at our October meeting because we did not have a quorum of members present.  Now that we have well over 100 members, we need nearly 40 members present to have an election.  So we have put off the election till our next meeting, January 12, 2014.  It’s the start of a new membership year so we certainly should have enough members present to hold the election. 

We are hoping that at that time we will not only have a slate of existing officers to put forward for re-election, but that we will also have a slate of proposed co-officers.  Our bylaws allow us to have co-officers for every position and the Executive Committee is hoping this will be a strategy that will encourage folks who are interested in helping lead the organization to step up.

We know that DDW has been an important actor in the Durham political scene in the two years since we reactivated the organization in the summer of 2011. And we know that one reason that the previous incarnation of the organization went inactive was that folks weren’t interested in taking on leadership responsibility.  If you think that we now bring an added value to the Durham political scene and want to see us continue, it’s important that you help us grow the organization and build a strong leadership pipeline.  That’s our goal for proposing co-officers.   Being a co-officer will give you a chance to “learn the ropes” and keep the workload manageable since we will be able to share responsibilities.  Please think about stepping forward if you are a member of DDW.  We’d love to have you join our team.  Just email me at durhamdemwomen@gmail.comand we can talk about it.

Well, I think I’ll stop here.

I know I promised you a report on the DNC Women’s Leadership Forum but this eletter has already been too long and I want to send it out. So next week.  I promise.  If you promise to write or call the Governor.

Sondra

Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Women

Dear Durham Democratic Women and Friends:

I’m sending you this short note midweek because I’m heading up to DC today to participate in the DNC Women’s Leadership Forum.  It is very full schedule and looks like we will have an opportunity to learn a lot, once again.  I’m taking my daughter-in-law with me – hope we will see some of you too!  And I’ll let you know all about it when I return. 

There are a couple of important events and opportunities that I wanted to be sure that you knew about:

There’s still another week to see Robert Reich’s excellent documentary Inequality for All at the Chelsea Theater in Chapel Hill.  It’s a basic primer on how the U.S. changed from a fairly egalitarian society where it really was possible for anyone who worked hard and got a good education to change their lot in life to the vastly unequal society we have today, where upward mobility is only a myth – for the 98%. Seehttp://www.thechelseatheater.com for show times.

Saturday, October 26

Durham Peoples Alliance is looking for folks to come out and canvas both Saturday morning (9-12) and afternoon (1-4) to turn folks out to vote in the municipal elections.  So many people are discouraged by all that’s been happening: we need to knock on doors to get them to the polls to vote for a strong City Council that will represent their interests.  If you can help out show up at the PA office, 1821 Green St or call Kate 919-274-9117 for more information.

Monday, October 28

Burlington is just 40 minutes west of Durham.  An easy drive to support Alamance County Moral Monday.  They have a great Democratic Women chapter that I got to know at the Democratic Women State Convention.  They would love our support!

 It’s 4:30 PM at the Historic Depot Amphitheater, 200 S. Main St.  You can get more information herehttp://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101933772499-884/Oct.29_Alamance+MM_print.pdf

Wednesday, October 30

Up where I come from this is Beggar’s night: a good night to be out reminding folks why it’s so important that they come out to vote and registering new voters for the 2014 elections.  Join us at Beth’s house, 2212 W Club Blvd at 5:30 PM to scare up some new voters. RSVP athttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Hc0svugIujgktAn2apKqoe8mHMIQBX6ypD8yEnolguw/viewform

Friday, November 1

Teachers need our support more than ever!  Don’t forget to show up at the  Durham Association of Educators' "I Heart Public Schools Rally" from 4:30-6 on Friday, Nov. 1, at the downtown Durham "Bull" Plaza at the intersection of Corcoran and Chapel Hill Streets. 


Saturday, November 2

More voter outreach with Susan and Duncan, 10 AM – 1:00 PM.  Meet at the Durham Academy Upper School Parking lot on Ridge Road.  We may be able to get some folks to the polls in time for the last day of One Stop Early Voting.  The last time folks can register and vote on the same day.  RSVP athttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Hc0svugIujgktAn2apKqoe8mHMIQBX6ypD8yEnolguw/viewform

Let’s do everything we can to make a difference.

Sondra 

Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Women

 Dear Durham Democratic Women and Friends:

The past two weeks have made it depressingly clear that the Republicans in Congress suffer from the same misplaced priorities as our own North Carolina Republicans. “They’re anti-establishment anarchists” I heard one commentator say – and, in one sense, he was right.  They are determined to destroy “our good faith and credit” in the US government: they want people to believe that the government can’t do anything right: that “that government is best which governs least.”

But they are not anti-establishment.  They are only anti-government. Their agenda is set by Americans for Prosperity, ALEC, John Locke, etc: the organizations that have funded the Tea Party!  Just check out Rob Christensen’s column today about Congresswoman Renee Elmers (http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/12/3275839/christensen-why-dc-is-broken.html) or Dana Milbank’s piece on why Mitch McConnell isn’t joining Harry Reid in finding a solution in the Senate (http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/11/3273024/mitch-mcconnells-vanishing-act.html). 

The policies that these organizations are pushing are aimed at making life better for the 1% at the expense of all the rest of us.  As Ellie Kinnaird reminded us in her passionate speech to Durham Democratic Women last weekend, this administration (Governor plus General Assembly) has waged a war against the working poor [and middle!] since their first days in office. They

·   Denied 500,000 North Carolinians access to health insurance fully funded by the federal government through Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

·   Deprived 170,000 long term unemployed North Carolinians of access to federally-funded unemployment extensions. And decreased the maximum dollars and number of weeks someone can collect unemployment in NC in order to cut the unemployment taxes that NC businesses have to pay.

·   Denied over 900,000 working poor North Carolinians access to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) put in place by President Reagan!

·   Raised taxes for all of us by increasing the sales tax in exchange for cuts in corporate and personal income tax and the estate tax.

·   Deprived all of us of the right to redress by making it more and more difficult for more old, young, Black and Hispanic North Carolinians to vote!

This is just a starting list of all those who have been hurt by the policies of this administration.  I haven’t talked about all the kids in our public education system who have been deprived by transfers of public monies to private vouchers. Or all the women who have lost access to safe and affordable healthcare by the attacks on Planned Parenthood. 

We are talking about millions of voting age North Carolina citizens who have learned this year how dangerous Republican leadership is to the well-being of our state.  They are ready, Ellie told us, to join us in fighting back and electing a new leadership, if we reach out to them, if we make sure that they are not deprived of their right to vote by the changes to our state voting laws! That’s what Ellie’s Voter ID Project is working on.  You can find out more about it at https://www.facebook.com/NCVoterIDProject?ref=profile

So our job, in the months ahead is outreach: talking to folks in our communities.  Making sure that everyone who has been impacted by these policies understands the stakes in the 2014 election and is fully equipped to come out and exercise their right to vote. 

Voter education and registration is going on right now. 

 You can join Wednesday evening and Saturday morning sessions with Beth Silberman and Susan Yaggy at

http://tinyurl.com/Durham-Voter-Registration

You can also join Durham Peoples Alliance voter outreach efforts at their office every Sunday at 1:30 PM. PA is also signing folks up to pass out literature and talk to voters at the polls during Early Voting for the Durham Elections on November 5.  Sign up athttp://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080A4BADAD2CA02-early1/1105392

Teachers are fighting back.

Join Durham Association of Educators' "I Heart Public Schools Rally" from 4:30-6 on Friday, Nov. 1, at the downtown Durham "Bull" Plaza at the intersection of Corcoran and Chapel Hill Streets.  It’s time we were as noisy about our support for Public Education as the Tea Party is in their fight against it!

(see attached flyer for more details).

 The Moral Monday-Forward Together Movement Continues.

Get ready to join the Moral Monday-Forward Together Movement as it continues to take on the Governor and the General Assembly to fight for our rights.  Rev Barber announced these priorities at the NAACP North Carolina State Conference this weekend:

 1. Ask Gov. McCrory to call a Special Redemptive Legislative Session to rescind the stripping of unemployment, insurance, benefits to 100,00 families and medicaid health benefits to 500,000 families which takes effect on New Year's Day 2014.

 2. Public education campaign to expose the State Budget Director's ethical conflict between his propaganda/financial networks and his role as a powerful state employee who writes the take from the poor and gives to the rich state budget.

 3. Enforcing the North Carolina Constitutional guarantee that all children enjoy the right to a sound, basic education. The NC NAACP will join with other civil rights organizations to file legal action to challenge the cuts to public education as unconstitutional.  

 4. Wage a spirited fight against the monster voter suppression law in the court houses, at the polls, and in the streets to have it declared unconstitutional by the 2014 elections.

 5. All Roads Lead to Jones Street on February 8th, 2014, when we will bring together the largest People's Assembly in Raleigh in the state's history.   

 To listen in on the discussion visithttp://new.livestream.com/accounts/5188266/events/2463447

 So let’s all get ready to get out and do what we can to turn things around. Don’t forget to check out our website at www.durhamdemwomen.org for updates on all these issues and more.

Together, we can make a difference.

Sondra 

Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

Dear Democratic Women and Friends:

The word is that even though none of the provisions of the new state voting law actually go into effect until 2014 the law is already having the intended effect: suppressing voter turnout.  Lots of people – both young and old – believe that since they don’t have state approved Voter IDs (not required until 2016) they can’t vote in local elections this fall.

Getting out the word on what the changes are, what we can do about them and – most important – why it is critical that we all come out to vote for candidates who support a progressive agenda – is a huge and critical job that we have to begin right now.  And there are lots of opportunities to get started this week.

Even today.

Sunday, Sept 15.  1:30 – 4:00 PM. Get-Out-the Vote with PA PAC.

Meet at 1821 Green St at 1:30 PM.

PA PAC is organizing voter canvasses to Get-Out-The-Vote to elect the candidates they have endorsed for Mayor and City Council: Mayor Bill Bell, Cora Cole McFadden, Eddie Davis, and Don Moffit.  After training, volunteers will go door-to-door in target precincts.  To sign up, go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054FABA82CA57-volunteer

As you know, DDW is affiliated with the Democratic Party and cannot endorse candidates in a primary.  But individual DDW members are free to support and work for the candidates that support the issues that matter to them.  To find out more about the positions of candidates for Durham Mayor and City Council read their responses to the PA PAC Questionnaire at http://www.durhampa.org/pac/2013-election-information/2013-candidate-questionnaires/

Sunday, Sept 15. 4:00 – 6:00 PM Help Stop the Republican Money Machine.

In 2012 Art Pope and the Koch Brothers contributed over $1 million to Republican campaigns for the State House and Senate, changing the face of elections in 22 districts across the state and producing the super majority the Republicans now have in the General Assembly.  In the long run, we need strong public finance laws to stop this kind of takeover of the People’s Assembly by special interests.   But in the meantime, we’ve got to raise money for Democratic candidates and work hard for them.

Today’s a good day to start.  Bring your donation of $100 to this fundraiser for NC House Democratic Seats.  At the home of Beth Silberman and Ken Rose, 2212 W Club Blvd, Durham 27705, 4:00 – 6:00 PM. 

Monday, Sept 16.  Moral Monday Rally  4:30 PM

Join the NC NAACP and the Forward Together Movement in standing up for voting rights for students and young people and for reinvestment in the public education that is our most important guarantee of democracy. 

Rally at First Baptist Church, 101 S Wilmington St, Raleigh 27601.

Wednesday, Sept 18. 5:30 PM  Voter Outreach

Another chance to talk to voters and make sure their registration is up to date! Meet at Beth Silberman's back porch, 2212 W. Club Blvd at 5:30 PM. Park on Oakland by Oval Park. Every Wednesday till it’s too dark to go out! Sign up at http://tinyurl.com/Durham-Voter-Registration

Friday, Sept 20, 2013. Marching Together United and Strong.  Democratic Women of North Carolina Convention.

It’s not too late to attend the 53rd Annual DWNC Convention, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Shelby, NC.  Visit the DWNC website to find out morehttp://democraticwomenofnc.org

Tuesday, Sept 24, 2013. National Voter Registration Day.  

Find out everything you need to know to register voters in North Carolina at http://www.durhamdemwomen.org/voting-info.html   

Sunday, October 6, 2013 DDW Annual Meeting

Please mark this date on your calendar. Ellie Kinnaird will join us to talk about why she left the General Assembly to launch her new statewide Voter ID Project.  We’ll also hear about our own voter engagement strategy and, what happened at the DWNC convention.  And every member gets to vote for new officers.  3:00-5:30 PM at Colony Rd Clubhouse, 3060 Colony Road, Durham 27705. 

What a difference we can make when we each come out to do our part.

 Sondra

Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

–       Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Dear Durham Democratic Women,

What a great meeting on Sunday! We had over 100 at the meeting, 25 of you became new members, women from Wake, Orange, and Chatham counties came. We sold DDW buttons. We are all ready to get busy changing the politics of North Carolina. Al McSurely and Rob Stephens of the NC NAACP were great speakers. Al talked about deep rooted issues of racism in our state and how it is affecting the state Democratic Party. Rob gave us a brief history of Moral Monday and talked up upcoming events.

At our meeting, Cathy Moore and Sandy Ogburn continued the conversation about how to turn NC Blue with Commitment forms to let us all pledge in what ways we can contribute to that effort. If you missed filling out that form you can find it and information about the form on our ever-ready website http://www.durhamdemwomen.org/ .

We know that an important endeavor will be to register voters. Cathy and Sandy are forming a Voter Engagement Group. This group will be designing voter registration activities throughout the fall. Along those lines, Christine Gebhardt encouraged us all to get voter registration forms from the Board of Election (Corporation St) and to get started now in your neighborhoods. New rules from the new Voting Bills will not be initiated until January 2014. For more information on how to get registration forms and the rules go to Board of Elections website. We will post on our ever-ready website and send emails giving information about activities as they are developed.

Democracy NC has developed a list of components of the new voting laws. These laws are effective January 2014 or later. You can print a copy by going to Monster Law: More Money, Less Voting. As you talk to new voters you may want to warn them of changes and when they take place.

You are invited to the 53rd Annual Convention of Democratic Women of NC the weekend of September 20 – 22 at LeGrand Center in Shelby. For convention registration, go to http://www.clevelanddems.com. Please note the registration and hotel deadlines. The aptly titled tentative agenda is being tweaked almost daily. The Saturday sessions will be interactive, informative, and invigorating—notice our very own Cathy Moore will address the group on Saturday! Bring your laptops and tablets.

I am guessing you have seen the news about the success of the Mountain Moral Monday on August 5. In case you missed it, The Carolina Mercury has a short article including some video from a Moral Monday event in Chicago! Thousands Attend Mountain Moral Monday , Protests Spread to Chicago and Oakland.

Durham Democratic Women will have several more meetings this year. In September, we will attend the Democratic Women of NC in Shelby. On October 6, DDW will have our annual meeting, and we will elect officers. Also, mark your calendar for meetings on November 17 and January 12.

Stay involved and talk to people about Turning NC Blue! See you soon.

Helen Compton (treasurer) writing for Sondra.


Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

–       Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Dear Durham Democratic Women and Friends:

Who ever thought the General Assembly would still be in session, with so much still unresolved, the week after July 4th?

But they are still there, still passing legislation that chips away at our rights.  So we need to be there too.

Please plan to come out for Moral Monday tomorrow.  Lots of folks are still afraid that if they show up at Moral Monday they will be arrested.  Please know – and assure all your friends – that you will not be arrested unless you want to be and plan on it. Most of the people who attend are there for support of those who will commit civil disobedience and to make a statement to the legislators inside the State House that there are thousands of us who are upset enough about what they are doing inside to come out, no matter the weather, no matter how often, to say: we have had enough!  We want state representatives who represent us and are willing to stand up for us!  WE want

§  People’s representatives who will not deny North Carolinians access to health care.
§  People’s representatives who will not deny unemployment compensation to North Carolinians who cannot find work.
§  People’s representatives who will not infringe on a woman’s right to make her own health care and reproductive decisions with the help of a medical professional. 
§  People’s representatives who know that education is the best pathway to success in our culture and will not destroy the public K-12 and higher education systems which are the only route to a better life for most North Carolinians.
§  People’s representatives who stand up for a fair budget that funds important state functions and services and makes sure that all of us – including corporations and the wealthiest among us – pay their fair share for the benefits are state offers.

If you care about any of these issues, please come out.  And if you care about women’s right to make her own decisions about health and birth control, please wear pink or purple!

The schedule is as always:

3:00 PM if you want to commit civil disobedience.  This week come to Christian Faith Baptist Church, 509 Hilltop, Raleigh, NC

5:00 PM at Halifax Mall if you want to stand and up be counted.

There’s more you can do, too:

Tuesday, July 9 at 9AM -- 'Women Are Watching' Rally to Stop HB695 at the Legislature -- https://www.facebook.com/events/273012696171656/

If we all make our voices heard, we can stop the House from taking our access to women-centered reproductive health care away from us.

If you can’t get to the hearing, here’s what else you can do to make sure the legislature knows how you feel:

Sign this petition on HB695.

Here is the shortened link:  http://bit.ly/1cQVPds

Call or write Speaker Tom Tillis and let him know where you stand.

Call or write Governor Pat McCrory.  Remind him of his promise not to support further restrictions of women’s right to abortion.

Write a letter to the editor of the Durham Herald Sun or the News and Observer.  There have been powerful letters this weekend: add your voice. 

For all the ‘how to’s’ you need to write or call visit our websitehttp://www.durhamdemwomen.org.

Tuesday, July 9 at 5:45PM -- 'Phone Bank to Protect Voting Rights' -- Democracy NC, 1821 Green Street in Durham. To RSVP, contact Allison Harrison at allison@democracy-nc.org

Sunday, August 4 at 3:00 PM         -- Save the date for Durham Democratic Women’s next public meeting.  This time on the topic of the moment, the topic to save our future:

What we can do right now to protect our voting rights!

Durham Democratic Women is ready to act.  So please join us at the Durham Public Library.  More information soon. Please check our website www.durhamdemwomen.org  and friend us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/77234686574/permalink/10151699743826575/

If you are feeling worn down by this relentless assault, hold on, keep faith alive.  I was inspired yesterday, reading a piece in the New York Times about Ahmed Kathrada, the 83 year old South African anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela, and served at his side. “During the sometimes rocky transition to democracy, many South Africans drew faith from the former Robben Island prisoners’ dedication to their cause, even against the longest odds, and their eventual triumph. If for all those years. the thinking went, they could have faith in a new South Africa, then surely South Africans who endured far less could do so today.

 “The 1960s were the worst period, inside and outside of jail,” Kathrada said, “and the optimism never left us.  We knew we were going to win.”’

None of us wants to think we will have to hold on to hope, to keep struggling for such a long time.  And the odds are, we won’t.  But we can’t give up just because it is hard.  Just because it is taking longer than we hoped.  There is just too much at stake.  And we can make a difference.  We can win.


 Sondra
Sondra G. Stein

President
Durham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

–       Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

 Dear Durham Democratic Women:


The national media is finally noticing what’s happening in North Carolina!  Yesterday, Melissa Harris-Perry of MSNBC devoted a full hour of her show to detailing the attack on our fundamental rights in North Carolina – from the attack on voting rights, to the refusal to expand Medicaid, to the cut in unemployment benefits, to the cuts in public education at every level – from K-12 through community colleges to the university system, to the repeal of the racial justice act.  She and her panel reminded their audience that this was not a homegrown response to voters, but a national ALEC-defined strategy to hold back change and hold on to power.  You can view it at http://www.nbcnews.com/id/46979745/#52142954

Of course Governor McCrory describes us as “special interest groups defending the status quo,” while he is “concentrating on the economy, education, and government efficiency.” 

I don’t get how it is good for the economy to turn down billions of dollars in Federal Medicaid funds that would create 23,000 jobs in healthcare related fields and provide health care for 500,000 individuals currently unable to afford health care, who make less than 138% of the poverty level. 

And I don’t get how it’s good for education to do away with limits on class size, to do away with teacher assistants, and to transfer $90,000,000 of funding for public education to pay for vouchers for private schools.  Why not use the money to lower class size, provide more teachers, and more individualized instructions in public schools?

And I don’t get how you can simply do away with core government functions and protections for citizens – and call it efficiency.  It looks more like robbery to me – taking from the rest of us to look after the rich!

I hope you will continue to join Durham Democratic Women in standing up for our rights this week!

Here are some things you can do:

Every Day. Fight on for Medicaid Expansion.  According to the N&O: “For all the wrong done during this stormy session of the General Assembly, the greatest wrong remains what lawmakers have chosen not to do: expand Medicaid.”

Call or write Governor McCrory again, urging him to revisit his decision and bring $15 Billion in Federal Funds into the state economy to provide health care for 500,000 very low-income working people and – as a byproduct – create 23,000 new jobs in health care fields.

Last week the N&O had a great editorial based on a Rand Corporation study that concluded there is no benefit in the short or long term to any state turning down the government’s offer to fully fund Medicaid Expansion.  You can read the editorial athttp://www.newsobserver.com/2013/06/06/2944030/nc-needs-to-look-again-at-medicaid.html

Then write or call the Governor.  You can reach him at:

Write the Governor:
Governor Pat McCrory
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301

Call the Governor at:  (919) 814-2000

 For more background information to help you write your card or letter visit our website:http://www.durhamdemwomen.org/healthcare.html

Monday, June 10. Join us at Halifax Mall behind the State House at 5:00 PM for Moral Monday.  Our numbers are growing.  It is harder and harder for our elected officials to ignore us.  And why would they want to?  We are asking them to enact legislation that benefits all the people of North Carolina – not just the very few very rich.  Download the Moral Mondays flyer and bring your friends and coworkers.  Together we can make a difference! http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101933772499-712/Moral+Monday+Flyer+6-7-13_D.pdf

Durham Peoples Alliance is organizing buses to the event for a $5-10 donation.  To reserve a seat email Kate at Kate@durhampa.org

Wednesday, June12.  The People’s Lobby is back in front of the State House, 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.  Join us as we reach out to school kids and passersby about what is going on inside the State House and how it will effect them.  We also provide an important role: reminding the Democrats inside that we are standing up for them, too!  And this Wednesday, we’ll be on hand to cheer on the Witness Wednesday delegation from the NAACP, coming to remind the lawmakers inside of the people’s best interests.

We carpool every week from Durham. Please sign up athttp://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4BA5AB28A75-standing 

Save Sunday August 4 for our next Durham Democratic Women Meeting.

If you missed our terrific DDW meeting last Sunday, June 2, you missed two terrific presentations on what we can do to turn things around in North Carolina.  30 Durhamites attended our meeting at the Durham Public Library where we heard Cathy Moore and Carol Teal present two legs of a careful strategy to turn North Carolina blue again.  To be successful, we need to start working right now: the 2014 elections are just a little over a year away.  We need to make sure Kay Hagan holds on to her Senate seat and we need to start working with our neighboring counties to elect representatives who share our values and will speak up and stand up for all of us.

Watch for more details about our strategy in the weeks ahead and plan to join us on August 4 to get started on the work ahead. ’Cause if we can’t change their minds, we’ve got to change them out.

Hope to see you on Monday.  And Wednesday.

Together, we can make a difference.

Sondra

Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

–       Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Dear Democratic Women and Friends:

Well, we’ve finally made the mainstream national news.  Saturday’s Washington Postheadlined their article “In North Carolina, unimpeded GOP drives state hard to the right.”  It’s a strong piece, with a description of everything we know too well.  It also highlights Moral Mondays, and includes a link to a video of Reverend Barber.  Check it out athttp://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/in-north-carolina-unimpeded-gop-drives-state-hard-to-the-right/2013/05/25/a9c9ccd2-c3c7-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html?hpid=z1 

Maybe it will embarrass our Governor--the so-called Republican moderate--into stepping back a little from the odium of being recognized as the state that has the “most regressive policies on tap.” This from Penda Hair, co-director of Advancement Project, a Washington-based civil rights group that is considering a lawsuit challenging changes to the state’s voting laws. Take it on Penda! We’ll support you!

And in the meantime, let’s support our Democratic representatives and senators and help educate our fellow citizens.  If enough of us understand even half of the policies these Republicans are putting in place and get angry enough to speak out then in 2014 we can throw these bums out and elect some men and more women who truly represent us!

So join the People’s Lobby on Wednesday, 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon, in front of the state house.  It’s your only one chance this week to join a statehouse vigil. Please sign up for this week or next at our SignupGenius page. We really do make a difference.   Come out and you will see!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4BA5AB28A75-standingfor

If you want to carpool from Durham, meet us at Oakland and W Club, along Oval Park at 8:55 AM.

Next week there’s lots to think about and lots to do.

First off, there is our Durham Democratic Women Public Meeting on Sunday, June 2nd, 3:00-5:30 PM.

“if we can’t change their minds…we need to change them out!”

Our focus will be on what we can do – starting now – to turn North Carolina blue again.  Come hear from special guest Carol Teal, Executive Director of Lillian’s List and our own Cathy Moore about what we can do, month by month, county by county, to turn this state back over to the people.

It’s going to take a lot of work from all of us…so please plan to join us.  Please share the attached flyer and thumb.png with friends around Durham – and other counties.  Post it anywhere you can.  We all need to be part of this change.

Monday, June 3rd.  It’s Moral Monday again! 5:00 PM at the Bicentennial Mall across from the State House.

You can come and be part of the support team without committing to get arrested.  That’s what I do. Come help us swell our numbers so that those legislators can’t afford to ignore us!

Check out the video from May 20th and get inspired! https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rHpVOZQxJkw.

Tuesday, June 4.

Phone bank. 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Reach out to Democrats and Unaffiliated voters across the state to make sure they know about the GA’s actions on voter suppression, denial of expanded Medicaid eligibility, or a $90M voucher program for private schools.  RSVP at susan.yaggy@gmail.com

Screening of American Winter at Motorco. 6:15 PM

Join PA and the NC Justice Center at Motorco on June 4th for a screening of “American Winter,” a documentary feature film that follows the personal stories of eight families struggling in the wake of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. RSVP here http://action.ncjustice.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=71975

Wednesday, June 5.  Vigil at the State House. 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Round out your week with Durham Democratic Women at the People’s Lobby State House vigil.  You’ll be glad you did. Sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4BA5AB28A75-standingfor

 Looking forward to seeing you all.

Sondra

Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

–       Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Dear Democratic Women and Friends:

I have to confess that I am one of those people who grew up in the 50’s, came of age in the 60’s and 70’s.  I was proud when the Supreme Court decided Brown v Board of Education. When Congress passed The Civil Rights Act of 1964.  When Medicaid and Medicare made health care available to families living in poverty and to what then seemed like “old people.” When Title IX extended equal protection to women in higher education. It seemed to me then – and still seems to me – that this is what government is supposed to do: to look out for the poor and aged and infirm; to extend the benefits of our democracy to everyone by making sure that everyone had equal access to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

I don’t need to tell any of you that it is this vision of government for the public good which is under attack – not just here in North Carolina, but across the country, and in our nation’s capital where Republican leaders are intent on making it impossible for our President to govern in the best interests of the people. 

Now I’m not one who believes in conspiracy theories.  But this is a concerted and purposeful attack – on public education, on health care for all, on voting rights, on women’s rights, on the rights of working people.  It is a strategic attack devised by a Republican leadership, guided by the sweetly named ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), funded by business leaders, that is intended to dismantle, piece by piece, government for the public good, and to make it impossible, ever after, by so-called ‘tax reform’ that starves government of the revenue it needs to provide services and otherwise act in the interests of all of our citizens.

This is what we are faced with.  And this is why we have to act. In whatever ways we can. Educating ourselves about the issues. Writing letters to legislators.  Joining phonebanks. Talking to neighbors and colleagues at work. Joining demonstrations like our Peoples Lobby Wednesday Vigils and the NAACP’s Monday Night Nonviolent Civil Disobedience.   

We have no choice, really, if we want our children and grandchildren to have the opportunity to grow up in a  nation that still believes in government of the people by the people and for all the people.

What You Can Do This Week.
Standing Up for what you believe in.
Monday, May 13. 5:30 PM
Nonviolent People’s Protest at the State House 

Join Reverend Barber and the NC NAACP in shining a light on the extremist actions of  the NC General Assembly. "The point is every Monday they open the session, and every week they announce new forms of extremism, so every Monday we will continue to rise up."

To participate in Civil Disobedience come to Davies St Presbyterian Church at 3:45 PM.  To show support for those planning to commit civil disobedience – including some of our own members – come to Bicentenniel Mall across the State House at 5:30 PM.

Let’s rise up together.

Wednesday, May 15.  10:00 AM -12:00 Noon   
People’s Lobby Vigil

Rev Barber said it well: every week the NC General Assembly attacks another one of our fundamental American rights. So every week, we need to keep standing up and reminding everyone inside the state house and out on the street that this General Assembly doesn’t represent us.  Special targets this week:

§  stopping HB 937 which extends the right to carry guns to restaurants, college campuses, and public and private assemblies.
§  Stopping HB 944 that uses our Public Education dollars for vouchers for private schools, and
§  Stopping the Senate’s Tax Bill aimed at defunding public government.

Come join us! Sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4BA5AB28A75-standingfor

If you want to carpool from Durham, meet us at Oakland and W Club, along Oval Park at 8:55 AM.  Just send an email to durhamdemwomen@gmail.com to let us know you want to ride with us.

Wednesday, May 15. 12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM      

NC4ERA Vigil: Simple Justice, Long Overdue.

After more than 40 years, North Carolina will walk back onto the historical stage with an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Action on the heels of Mother’s Day! If you come to join the People’s Lobby Wednesday morning, plan to stick around in the afternoon in support of the ERA: “Simple Justice, Long Overdue.”  The vigil, in front of the State House, marks the introduction of a bi-partisan joint resolution in the U.S. Congress to remove the deadline for the states’ ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The lead sponsors of the legislation are Senator Ben Cardin (D) and Senator Mark Kirk (R). If you are interested in attending contact Marena at nc4era@gmail.com

Writing or Calling your Legislators for Right Action

Help Save Public Education. On Tuesday, the House Education Committee will vote on HB 944 that takes public dollars away from public education to support vouchers for private schools. Committee members and other representatives need to hear from their constituents before Tuesday.  Write or call or use NC Justice’s simple online form at  http://action.ncjustice.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=10789 

Protect us all from more gun violence. 

HB937 that expands the right to carry guns to public places like restaurants and college campuses has passed the House and moved on to the Senate. Call Sen. Berger  (919) 733-5708. Let him know you expect him to protect the people’s right to send children to college without the threat of guns on campus and to eat in peace. Tell him to vote against HB937!

Join NC Justice’s Campaign against Senator Berger’s regressive Tax Proposals.  It’s time to raise the red flag on the Senate’s tax shift plan which forces middle and low-income families to pay more while giving a tax cut to the wealthiest individuals and corporations.

While the Senate has not yet released specific legislation, the proposal they released with a press conference, video and website outline the general message: cuts to the personal and corporate income tax and increasing goods and services that are subject to the sales tax. This change shifts a higher tax load to middle and low income families while cutting taxes for millionaires.

The Senate tax plan also puts our vital public services and infrastructure at risk, reducing state investments by $1 billion, roughly equivalent to the entire community college system budget.

It is time to urge legislators to stop all proposals and legislation that would hurt working families and our cherished public investments.

Tell your legislators this plan is a bad idea for North Carolina.  Write your own letter or use the NC Justice link for actionhttp://action.ncjustice.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=10783

Let’s all stand strong together….

Sondra

Sondra G. Stein
President
Durham Democratic Womenwww.durhamdemwomen.org

–       Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead