January 2024 Chair's Report
Happy New Year! The year has just started and we’ve had several campaign activities to support local Democrats. Things are heating up, and our DEM Volunteer Headquarters has been receiving many calls from new volunteers asking how they can help!
Our in-house Get Out The Vote (GOTV) team presented “Organizing 4 Power” at the monthly Democratic Woman’s Club meeting. Women’s Club meets the first Saturday every month at the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City. Turnout has been good with an uptick of potential new members.
Attendance is picking up at the monthly “Unmask Kevin Kiley” rallies, held every third Friday of the month at Brunswick and Sutton from 4-5pm. Try to attend one. Signs are provided.
House parties are some of the most effective grass roots activities to promote and assist endorsed candidates Endorsed local supervisorial candidate, incumbent Heidi Hall, appeared along with our Congressional Candidate Jessica Morse at a well-attended event in Rough and Ready. Fire insurance was top of mind with both candidates detailing local, state and national initiatives to stand up to the threat of wildfire. Anyone wishing to host a similar house party can engage Volunteer Headquarters staff to make calls to known DEM neighbors surrounding the house party address. We call DEMS who have engaged with the local party productively in the past. The party host will determine the extent this is needed for any given house party.
Speaking of wildfires, a follow up educational forum on this topic, featuring Jessica and Heidi will be hosted by local DEMS on Feb 6th at the Nevada County Media Center at 355 Crown Point Circle, Suite D in Grass Valley. This important media facility hosts the DEM “First Tuesday” educational forum most every month. Finger food and a half hour of socializing will precede the forum .
At this month’s local DEM Central Committee meeting, attended by 21 people, we discussed many items, then at a special second meeting, passed resolutions endorsing the fire mitigation proposals Measure V in Grass Valley, and Measure B in Nevada City. The community consistently voices concerns about fire safety, so we’re hoping these measures pass.
During January, local DEM leaders held a strategic planning event at Controller Caorline Wright’s house, to smooth out our business process so we can scale for volume for the highest electoral stakes of our lifetime. Representatives from the following committees attended: 1) Volunteer Headquarters, 2) Communications, 3) Candidate Recruitment and Support, 4) Outreach, 5) Finance & Fundraising, and 6) Neighborhood Teams.
All local DEMS are encouraged to join one or more committees to do something tangible to save our Democracy, maintain our Freedoms, and take care of the Planet. Call 530-802-5431 for details.