With all the focus on federal elections, it is easy to overlook some of our pressing local concerns. Come to our monthly membership meeting to hear about the nefarious dealings of the Port, an update from our elected officials, and a peek at the new Precinct maps. All this and much more, see you there!

There have recently been some changes in the Whatcom Democrats Executive Board.

Chair Natalie McClendon has resigned to run for the 42nd District seat currently held by Jason Overstreet. Natalie has been Chair of the Whatcom Democrats since 2008 and has held a variety of party positions before that. We will miss her hard work and leadership. Let’s all get behind Natalie and help her unseat Overstreet.

Vice Chair Mike Estes has taken over as Chair. A special election for the Chair and 2 Vice Chair positions will be held at our regular June Meeting.

Many of you already know me as Natalie, the Chair of the party, but once I was just Natalie the citizen. I’ve been involved in my community all my life, from the Sierra Club and  community radio to the PTA and Boy Scouts. But about ten years ago, all hell broke loose. How can we forget: the stolen election of 2000, September 11, 2001, and the illegal, unprovoked invasion of Iraq. So in 2004, I decided it was time to get directly involved in electoral politics. It was clear, elections have consequences.

The 42nd Legislative District Democrats will be holding an endorsement meeting on May 12. The meeting will begin at 10 AM, Saturday May 12th at the Tillicum House in Pioneer Park, Ferndale WA. This is a brunch meeting. A $10 donation will purchase brunch and 2012 membership in the 42nd LD Democrats. Democrats who live in the 42nd LD and pay their dues at the door are eligible to vote at the endorsement meeting. The 42nd will formally nominate Natalie McClendon for State House Representative Position 1, which is currently held by Jason Overstreet-R.

Anyone who wants to run for Precinct Committee Officer in Whatcom County should be aware of some recent changes. Toward the end of April, the County Council approved new precinct boundaries for the county.

Whatcom County Democratic Convention & LD Caucuses

April 28, 2012  9 am - 5:30 pm

Whatcom Community College, Syre Auditorium (map)

Registration opens at 8:30 am and closes for the first Tally at 9:30 am

Please print a copy of the platform at home.  To save cost and trees there will be limited copies available at the convention.

As outlined in the rules document, ammendments to the platform or resolutions must have 15 signatures and be submitted to the platform committee within 30 minutes of the convention convening (by 9:30am)

• Proposed 2012 Platform
• Proposed Rules
• Proposed Agenda
• Delegate List
   

Each precinct will caucus as a separate and distinct unit, but some precincts will meet in the same building. Below is a list of the locations around the county where Democratic precinct caucuses will meet. They are listed generally from NW County to SE County. An interactive version of this list, with maps, precinct look-up tools, etc., can be found HERE Also listed on the web is your PCO or Caucus Captain and phone number. They could use your help with neighborhood publicity or caucus logistics.

It’s time to gear up for 2012. The Republicans are on the march, and eager to undo all of our accomplishments in the last four years. They want to reinstate Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, hand over the job market to the 1% and send women’s rights back to the Stone Age.

We aren’t going to let that happen.

Welcome to the Democratic Caucuses 2012. Together we are banding together and doing the neighborhood level organizing that was such a success four years ago. We are recruiting volunteers, designing our message and working to ensure that on election day this November, we can go to sleep with a smile.

Delegates elected at their precinct caucus on April 15 will gather on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Whatcom Community College for the Legislative District Caucus and County Convention. The delegates will represent the voters in their precincts in voting for a presidential candidate for the nominee of the Democratic Party. They will also debate and adopt a Whatcom County Democratic Party platform. Non-delegates are welcome to attend and can even stand for election as delegate to the Congressional District Caucus. Proceedings begin at 9 am and are scheduled to finish by 5:30 pm.

Collecting Now for our annual Yard Sale!

Household Goods * Working Electronics * Smaller Pieces of Furniture
Clothing in Good Condition * Collectibles

Drop off at 215 W. Holly Street, Suite B-27 (enter on Bay) M-F, 10 am to 2 pm. For details call 647-7661 or email office@whatcomdemocrats.com. Tentative date for sale - mid July.