SDEC REPORT – MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2009

Thank You! : SDEC 12 member Jo Pierce for submitting the following report.
Hasn’t this been a busy and exciting two weeks for Texas Democrats ! And full of surprises. Tom Sheiffer getting out of the Governor’s race, Bill White moving from Senator to Governor into it, Hank Gilbert moving from the Governor spot to Agriculture, Kinky Freidman says he will announce something Monday. And last but not least the new fellow on the block Farouk Shami.

Farouk Shami, candidate for Governor came to the meeting at the end of the day and was introduced. He did not speak to the group, just shook hands and visited with attendees.

The Convention Committee met on Friday beginning at noon and had presentations from Dallas and Houston inviting the 2012 State Convention. We met again on Saturday and after much negotiation the decision was made and the contract signed to have the meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. They made many financial concessions, plus the GRB is going green, already using wind power and solar power for 80% of their electricity needs. Also, there are several hotels plus all sorts of family entertainment in a 9 block footprint. All is going as planned for the 2010 convention in Corpus Christ June 10-12. The convention hotel is the Omni. Hopefully the airlines will offer discounted rates to our attendees.

The Resolutions committee is my other assignment and we met on Saturday morning.
Three resolutions were presented: 1) a Resolution supporting managing fisheries to prevent overfishing. Passed in committee and the general session. 2) Resolution in support of NASA and US Space Exploration Program. Passed in committee and the general session. 3) Resolution in support of HR 226 on supporting the human rights of the people of Tibet. Failed in committee. Three congratulatory resolutions were passed, 1) Harry Reid for standing up for us, 2) Jean Klego, president of ElPaso Central Labor Union, and 3) Committeeman John Beherman on his 67th birthday.

I sat in on the Grassroots committee meeting. In the past 6 months 350 people have been trained at five Campaign Camp Academies. There are three programs plus webinars. New candidates (or old ones) are welcome to go to the web site at www.txdemocrats.org
and check out the online training. Go to Resources, then Candidate Resources, and online training. A committee was formed from the Grassroots Committee to draft help for new precinct chairs who will be election judges for the first time in 2010.

I also was able to sit in on the last 15 minutes of the Rules Committee. Very interesting,. Senator Royce West chaired a special advisory committee over several months of the spring and summer to gather information from Democrats around the state regarding the election process, the precinct and district convention process and the so-called Texas Two Step process for delegates. A series of twelve meetings were held all across the state. The committee members were not paid for their time or expenses. There is a report from this group with proposed rules changes that will be posted on the TDP web site in the very near future. I suggest we all read it. Then please let me know what your concerns and thoughts are so I can vote appropriately when the time comes.

GENERAL SESSION

Chairman Boyd reported on the many successes and achievements since June. The national Democrats in congress are gradually pulling out of the GOP recession. The Texas Dems restored SCHIPS for the children. We can’t let up, we must continue to work the precincts in our counties. That is how elections are won. By the voters voting!
He said that when Sam Rayburn was criticized for the Democrats being Socialists that Sen. Rayburn replied “Socialism – no it is Applied Christianity.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
David Henderson of Smith County, newly elected SDEC member
There are new county chairs in: Archer, Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dickens, Hansford, Hudspeth, Matelle, Refugio, Stephens and Scurry Counties.

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Adopted budget of $368,000 for 2010 convention

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
This committee and the Rules committee appointed members to the special committee that began in the Grassroots committee because the goal of the groups overlap

MAJORITY BUILDERS
There are currently 1056 Majority Builders across the state and that program has raised $166,370.00

The DNC sent cards and letters of gratitude for the help during their Austin meeting.
(Note- I’m glad the DNC has noticed that there is a Texas Democratic Party and it is alive and well)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Pierce, SDEC Dist 12