KUTZTOWN AREA DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Meeting
Minutes September
13, 2009
Present: Karen Feridun, Rich Stine, Rosie
Skomitz, Ron Stouffer, Dick Horton, Vanessa Moore, Dan Allen,
Robert Johns, Colleen Fitzgerald, Cate Chensel, Chuck Brown,
Darree Sicher, Carol Wentz, Linda Wood, John Scott, Dick
Manderbach and Helen Manderbach. Meeting was held at theWalnut
St. church annex and was called to
order at 7:05.
Treasurer’s
Report: Rich presented the August receipts and disbursements
and the bank balance and the report was approved for audit
after Rosie motioned and Vanessa seconded the motion.
Minutes:
Dick motioned,
Carole seconded that the August minutes be approved as
written.
New
Business/Announcements:
·
Dan
announced that the Misc. Committee still needed help at the
MAREA Energy Fest.
·
Dick
announced his fundraiser for the Democratic candidates would
be held on Oct 12th 5:30- 8PM.
·
Colleen
and Karen spoke about the Fall Film Fest to be held throughout
the area in October (see website for dates, times and titles)
and asked for phone bankers for healthcare
reform.
·
Darree
passed out flyers about an informal meet the candidates/ party
night that she put together at TC’s with music by Jack Murray.
The party will be held at TC’s Food and Spirits on Oct
28th at 7PM.
·
Rosie
injected some vigor into the discussion by speaking about the
Single Payer Rally in Harrisburg on Oct
20th. On a motion from Rosie,
seconded by Bob, a motion for the KADC to co-sponsor the
legislation and rally with a donation of $100 passed without
dissent. Chuck will arrange caravan/carpooling for that day.
Please plan to attend and see Chuck if you need a
ride.
·
Dick
motioned/Linda seconded that the KADC donate $150 to each
candidate; Dennis Hess, Charles Corbit and Carole Snyder. Rich
voted against the motion on grounds of the budget but the ayes
would have it!
Old
Business: Karen
passed out a proposed Endorsement Procedure for the KADC which
defined the procedure for the KADC to interview candidates,
propose club endorsements and vote on those proposals. In a
nutshell: Since the by-laws already state that endorsements
are a function of the club this is not an amendment to the
by-laws but a procedure that clearly defines the process. The
KADC is a State PAC and 527 which limits the club’s
endorsements to candidates for State, County and Local
offices. This proposal refers to endorsing candidates in
primary elections. Only voting members of the KADC would
participate. A committee of up to 10 members will serve as a
the point of contact for the candidates, will determine which
issues the candidates would be questioned about (after
soliciting club members for interview questions), will design
the interview questionnaire, schedule and conduct the
interviews. Voting members will have the opportunity of
attending the interviews but the interviews will be conducted
by the committee members. After the interviews have been
conducted the committee will prepare written reports including
the candidates’ responses and their own evaluations of the
candidates. All voting members of the KADC will be given the
opportunity to vote on whether or not to endorse a candidate.
66% of the voting members casting ballots would need to agree
on a candidate in order for the club to grant
endorsement.
In
the discussion that followed several issues popped up:
- Rich
motioned, seconded by Carole that new paid memberships after
September 1st would be good through the end of
the following year. All present agreed in the vote.
- Linda
mentioned the need for guidelines for the club’s donations
towards political mailings and that this issue should be
addressed soon.
- The
issue of the costs to contact all voting members was raised
but since most members have an email address and the mailing
costs to those who don’t is minimal it was decided it was
not a concern.
Finally,
in a motion from Linda Wood, seconded by Ron Stouffer that the
KADC adopt the endorsement procedure, as a procedure, in
accordance with State PAC rules with the stipulation that the
wording be changed to leave no doubt that ALL voting members
would be included, was passed by the members present. Dick and
Dan dissented.
The
meeting was adjourned around 9PM.
