Content

Board Minutes

HSYD Board Meeting, December 19, 2011

In Attendance:  Brad Pritchett, A.J. Mistretta, Andrea Ward, Chadwick Holmes
Meeting Commenced @ 7:44 pm.

I. Grace Place Volunteering (Dec. event)

a. There was an unfortunate lack of communication between Grace Place and HSYD, specifically the deadlines were not fully clear for when background checks needed to take place.

b. Grace Place contacted Robert on Monday before to say they had gotten their own food and would be serving it on Thursday.  HSYD volunteers who passed the background screening could participate if they wanted, but the group would need to otherwise reschedule.

c.  Brad dropped off donated food for that Thursday but was asked to leave shortly thereafter – clearly Grace Place is very protective of the kids (good thing!)

d. HSYD will reschedule for January and better organize a core group of volunteers so all the screening gets done ahead of time.

II.  Treasurer Update – Andrea Ward

a. Balances:
i. Checking Balance: $672.21
ii. Savings Balance: $200.28
iii. Pending Deposits: $1012.59 (already deposited and in the system)

d. NOTE: no record of $400 initial payment to Dharma Cafe for JRR Afterparty mishap.  This payment was intended to be made in November and should be taken care of ASAP.

III. Endorsement Screenings

a. Filing period closed today: 12/19/11, but will likely be reopened due to redistricting now becoming a court battle.  The next closure is expected to be later in February.

b. Suggestion: split endorsements to focus just on judicial and county races in January, then concentrate on all others later in the Spring.
i. Unopposed candidates should fill out questionnaire to express an interest in our endorsement – won’t need to go through full screening process though – screening committee can make a decision based on the questionnaire.
ii. Opposed candidates need to eventually be screened.
iii. Should HSYD take on Harris County School Board elections?  Board says yes, but we need to put together a questionnaire.  Goal: endorse at Feb. meeting.
iv. Judicial questionnaire – Brad P. will go through Caucus judicial candidate questionnaire, pass on to Neal Falgoust for feedback on how to change it up (he wrote it initially) so HSYD doesn’t get same answers from candidates who previously sought our endorsement.

IV. Youth of the Union Conference

a. A.J. spoke with Jenn Char – originally Director of Boards and Conventions, now Director of External Affairs for Annise Parker – about pulling in the Mayor as keynote for conference.  Still not 100% nailed down, but looking good.

b. Space is available at University of Houston.  Brad P. has put down verbal reservation and is waiting on U of H for a bill since we’ll need to pay some sort of deposit on the rooms right before the event.

c. Will need to raise somewhere between $700 – $1000 to cover event venue and food.  Sponsorships are the best way, but question is how to go about it?  Consensus opinion:  set up an ActBlue page to dedicate to the event without running through HSYD accounts.

d. After-conference reception to be held on Sunday.  Someone’s house preferable to a venue.  Will need to ask around for host.  Keep it simple, i.e. a booze/cocktail reception, not a brunch.  Details to be determined.

e. Brad P. will compile a list of high school Democratic clubs/orgs to invite to the conference.

f. Sponsors: National Stonewall Democrats, HSYD, Harris County Democratic Party possible but need to ask/confirm, Rice Democrats, Texas Freedom Network UH Chapter possible after more discussion.
i. University Democrats at UH basically defunct so striking them from the possible sponsor list.
ii.  None of sponsors will be paid for their sponsorship – donations only. Andrea’s proposal: HSYD puts in all the money and takes care of the costs, and then any left-over money can be allocated out to the groups that provide volunteers.
iii. Two proposed sponsorship levels:
1. $100 – appear on the printed material (sidebar devoted to sponsors) as well as on the event website.
2. $250 – same as $100 level except also get recognized as a sponsor of the cocktail reception  Also has the opportunity to submit internship proposals to be given to workshop participants.

g. Workshop details:
i. Young and Involved Panel: asking David Rosen (candidate running for office), Daniel Williams (political blogger), Christina Gorczynski (League of Women Voters), Lillie Schechter (political consultant).
ii. Coalition Building Panel: Noel Freeman (GLBTPC), someonel from Planned Parenthood, more?  maybe Brittani Williams (ACLU).
iii. Need a panel moderator for one or both: Steven David or Andrea Ward?
iv. Delegates Workshop: will be led by National Stonewall + TSDC officers.
v. Voter ID Bill Workshop: looking into options for leader, but  Andrea Ward back-up.
vi. Young Leader in Houston Workshop: led by A.J. Mistretta.
vii. Internship Workshop: led by Travis Shy, Jerry

viii. Influencing the Party Platform Workshop: will ask Victor Castillo if he’s interested in leading.
ix. Inside Look at Campaigns Workshop: will ask one of Ellen Cohen’s campaign staff like David Baumann or Brooke Boyett; maybe Steven David if he’s not the panel moderator; possibly Brittani Williams due to her past experience.

V. Reminders/Announcements

a. General Membership meeting is delayed until Jan 23rd due to screenings and MLK Day.  Board meeting will be the following week on Jan 30th.

b. Daniel Williams has asked for someone to appear on the Jan 23rd Queer Voices to talk about Youth of the Union, so we’ll need to ask someone to go there instead of the GM Meeting.

c. Next Board Meeting will be held at Andrea’s.  Central location + Nearby Taco Bell =  Best board meeting ever.

Adjourned: 9:03 pm.

HSYD Board Meeting, November 21, 2011
Board In Attendance:  Robert Shipman, Brad O’Conner, Brad Pritchett, A.J. Mistretta, and Chadwick Holmes
Members in Attendance: Sarah Melecki

abbreviation key: BV = Board vote

I. General Business
* Robert is appointing Sarah Melecki as interim Director of Membership.  A vote by the General Membership will be held at the next HSYD meeting in December.
* PAC balance: est $1000-$1100 in the bank, several hundred in checks pending deposit, total money on-hand in the $1700-$1900 range

II. Run-off Election Plans
* Planned Parenthood will be pushing for both Kristi and Jolanda.
* HSYD will focus on precincts hit in the past to capitalize on name/face recognition.  Point is to get Jenifer voters to come back to the polls in support of Kristi.
* Early Vote (Nov 30-Dec 6)
* Election Date: Sat Dec 10
- 21 early vote locations announced – can be found online.
* GOTV:
- Live phone bank on Wed, Nov 30th w/ GLBT Political Caucus.
- Finish with numbers not yet called/robo-call on Thurs, Dec 1st.
- Robo-calls on Mon Dec 5th and again on Fri Dec 9th, the night before election.
– Brad P. suggests: one robo-call recorded by Jenifer in support of Kristi and perhaps Jolanda as well?
- Literature drop on Sat+Sun Dec 3rd-4th,
– 4×6 card (lit drop, not mailing since drop is more effective and saves postage)
– likely to be ~$200 in cost
BV: Proposal: approve up to $300 budget for literature costs. Passed by unanimous vote.

III. Grace Place Service Event
* volunteer date for serving dinner to homeless youth: Thurs Dec 15th
* menu:
- mac & cheese (veggie-packed thanks to Brad’s cookbook for parents).  volunteer: A.J.
- sloppy joe (veggie-packed).  volunteer: Brad + Robert.
- roasted potatoes/oven fries.  volunteer: Sarah.
- dessert: aim for 3-4 total, including dirt cake + gummy worms, dump cake (ask A.J.), cookie/baked goods from Nash’s kitchen, etc.
- drinks: simple mix should suffice, e.g. Crystal Light iced tea

IV. Homophobic HISD Trustee Issue
* hisdbully.org now live!  Site focused on removing Rodriquez from office for his anti-gay comments/literature during the campaign. Brad P. provided a large share of the content, so check it out.
* Note: there is no method for censure in HISD rules/bylaws.  Only provision that exists is the President can self-mediate or appoint a 3rd party mediator when conflict arises between citizens and a trustee.
* Direction to consider – look at other positions Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. currently holds, contact related orgs and institutions and ask that he be stripped of those titles.  e.g. he is currently President of the Mexican American School Board Association.
* Ideally, Rodriguez would have to go through something like GLSEN training or make some other good faith effort to move beyond bigotry through education/personal growth.
* Meyerland Democrats meeting tonight, expected to produce a resolution asking for Manuel Rodriguez, Jr.’s resignation.  They’re interested in having other Dems join in their resolution.
- need to see resolution wording before agreeing to anything.
- Robert wrote a statement already, but a resolution might have more impact or at least adds to that.
- resolution voted on by the General Membership would have more impact than one from just the HSYD Board, but email responses could be tough to get from membership and next HISD meeting is 12/8, before HSYD general meeting.
BV:  Proposal:  Take a 2-stage approach:  1. communicate the issue via a Board resolution when Meyerland Dems draft theirs, then 2. get General Membership sign-on at the general meeting in Dec.  Passed by unanimous vote.

V. JRR After-Party Wrap-up
* AvantGarden event went well.  Essentially a fund-raising event for HSYD.  HCYD are not expecting any profit-share and actually donated $100 for the event.  Rice Democrats didn’t show up, so they will not be included in the profit distribution.
* Dharma Cafe Mix-Up will be costly.
- The background:
– Brad P. looked into options for party location, found Dharma, started making arrangements
– Oct Board Meeting took place the same week as the JRR Dinner.  Brittani and Andrea suggested change of venue, and Brad P. passed all Dharma info on to Brittani to handle.
– Night of the JRR Dinner/After-Party, Dharma called asking “where are you?” – had drinks, band, food, booze all ready and waiting.  Original arrangements were never cancelled with them even though party-goers were already arriving at new location, AvantGarden.
- Robert spoke with Dharma contact and talked down the $1900 bill to straight event costs of  $800.
- Payment plan – could pay all at once but that puts HSYD on rocky ground – not much left in the bank after also paying for run-off efforts and little/no incoming funds during the holidays.
- Robert’s suggestion: $400 payment up front, 4 $100 monthly payments starting in Jan.
BV:  Proposal: Adopt Robert’s payment plan.  Passed by unanimous vote.
* January HSYD Social should be a dinner @ Dharma Cafe as a good faith gesture.

VI. Judicial Races
* Balance PAC:  big coalition (primarily but not exclusively Democratic) designed to elect/reelect Democrats to the bench in order to maintain political balance.  Focus on electing incumbents helps bring in corporate money since it keeps a known quantity in office.
- Have asked HSYD to endorse full ballot of Balance PAC judges, but gave a deadline of Dec 6th/7th. This is before our next General Membership or Board meetings, the Dec 19th filing deadline, planned HSYD judicial screenings in Jan, and thus too soon for us to sign on at that level.
* Robert suggests putting Judge Kirkland up for endorsement in next meeting (Dec), screen others later.  Judge Kirkland would still need to go through the process, i.e. answer a questionnaire at least.
- Note: GLBT Political Caucus judicial candidate questionnaire is a good place for us to start.
- HSYD previously suspended the rules to handle a large number races:  for contested races or uncontested races that HSYD had questions on, the candidate(s) were brought into face-to-face screenings; otherwise HSYD solely focused on questionnaire answers for endorsements.
- A.J. and Sarah:  best not to give Kirkland special treatment due to GLBT status, and best not to endorse before filing deadline.
- Between the holidays + time required to send out and receive completed questionnaires, later endorsement is necessary.
BV:  Proposal:  Move January General Membership meeting to Mon Jan 23rd, the week after MLK Day, to allow time for questionnaires and endorsement screenings.  This is the alternative to delaying endorsements until February General Membership meeting several weeks later.  Passed by unanimous vote.
* Plan going forward:
- HSYD didn’t endorse HISD, probably don’t want to get too tangled up in all the Harris County races either because we’ll already have our hands full.
- Anyone in a contested primary, we’ll screen/endorse in time for the primary.  Anyone running unopposed, we will endorse after the primary (if at all).
- Only contested races we know of right now:  Damon Crenshaw, Candidate for Judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law, and Erica Graham, Candidate for Judge, County Court at Law 1.

HSYD Board Meeting, October 17, 2011

In Attendance: Robert Shipman, Brad Pritchett, A.J. Mistretta, Andrea Ward, Brittani Williams, Brad O’Conner, Chad Holmes

Meeting Commenced: 7:45 PM
Meeting Adjourned: 9:00 PM

1. GOTV for 2011 Municipal Elections:

a. Oct 24, 2011: First day of early voting; Robert will be at West Gray polling station.

b. Oct 25, 2011: Larry Green is having a young professionals event, 2-3 ppl asked to be there to help pass out literature.

c. Oct 29, 2011: Blockwalk; Voters who have already voted will be off the list; Note: Brad has received no response from District B after several inquiries – without guidance, we can’t dedicate limited resources.

d. Nov 7, 2011: Phone bank night before election (HCDP HQ most likely location); Note: Janay’s bday!!

e. Nov 8, 2011: Work the actual polling locations – GLBT Caucus will be at West Gray location, Robert may be there too.

 

2. Treasurer Moment: Andrea Ward

a. Balance – $540 in savings, $20 in checking

 

3. 2011 JRR Dinner:

a. Volunteers needed between 1-4 pm to help set up, dinner commences at 6 pm.

b. Andrea is gathering necessary supplies for registration table. Andrea will get tabloid in Brad’s hands for foam board by Friday noon.

c. Looking for more hosts…

 

4. JRR After Party:

a. This is “Young Dem” after party – partnership needed between HCYD and HSYD.

b. Dharma is no longer going to be the venue. Looking for replacement. Once a new venue is locked down, will follow up for sponsors.

c. Emails will be sent to everyone on the Host Committee last year to look for a commitment this year.

d. Need a DJ. Not an issue last year because it was included in the deal. Worst case scenario is to rely on an iPod.

e. Drink tickets will cover anything under $5.

 

5. November Social:

a. Post-election Happy Hour. Fbar possibly. Looking at Thursday, Nov 17.

 

6. December Social Event:

a. No official HSYD event.

b. Cocktail party with Robert??

 

7. Judicial Screening/Endorsement:

a. Keep in back of head, will sneak up on us right after the New Year. Screening likely to take place in January.

 

8. HSYD 5 Year Anniversary Event :

a. Will coincide with a Saturday fundraiser for 2012 election season.

b. Add a small awards component – helps because it will bring in people who wouldn’t normally be in attendance; con: award weariness. Perhaps limits it to 1-2 awards (e.g. an up and coming award, LGBT legend/hero award).

c. Full-blown evening event. Should be fun, celebration of achievement, retrospective, but not stuffy – venue determines a lot, so no Magnolia Ballroom, no gay bar…perhaps somewhere FBar-esque though. (88 Keys?)

d. 5 Year = Wood and Silverware anniversary!

HSYD Board Meeting, August 15, 2011

In Attendance:  Robert Shipman, Brad Pritchett, Andrea Ward, Brittani Williams, Brad O’Conner, Chad Holmes

Meeting Commenced: 7:47 PM
Meeting Adjourned: 8:59 PM

I. Board Changes

  • Secretary position open after Hunter Cauble recently stepped down. Bylaws provide two options: leave position vacant until Officer elections in March or President appoints temporary replacement and membership vote takes place at earliest opportunity.
    • Robert Shipman named Chad Holmes as interim Secretary.
    • Open Elections for HSYD Secretary will be held at the September General Membership Meeting. Any members interested in running for Secretary can enter their names into consideration at the meeting, and the elected Secretary will serve out the remainder of the 2011/2012 term.

II. Account Balance

  • Checking Account: $598.71
  • Savings Account: $440.09
  • Total Funds: $1038.80

III. GOTV Plan

  • Must carefully plan campaign efforts due to limited resources. Individual candidates should receive HYSD support based primarily on need (e.g. Jenifer Poole, Bryan Smart). Brad will reach out to the different campaigns to gauge who both needs and/or wants help the most.
  • Activities:
    • Block walks (already commenced for Ellen).
    • Voter registration events.
      • Drop dead date of early October.
      • Festivals/public events good potential venues.
    • Phone banking.
    • Robocalls.
    • Print materials – expensive, but good investment.
      • 2010 Elections: HYSD spent $2465 total, printed 5000 pieces (special deal), mailed 3000.
      • Rests on whether enough money can be raised to cover costs. Budget estimate: $2000.
      • Option: HYSD pays $500 and approaches 3+ candidates to ask for $500 apiece as matching contributions. Ellen, Jenifer, and Mayor Parker’s campaigns likely willing and able to make the investment.
      • Could perhaps save a couple hundred dollars by sharing printing costs with The Caucus. Brad can design something simpler than last year’s stapled multi-page hand-out.

IV. TSDC Endorsements

  • Background: Dan Graney, President of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus, emailed Stonewall chapter leaders throughout the state to address the TSDC endorsement process.
  • TSDC bylaws outline endorsement rules and procedures, but endorsements have never been made for fear of conflicting with decisions made by local chapters.
  • Dan drafted 6 changes to the bylaws in an effort to set clearer boundaries on TSDC endorsements.
  • Robert and Brad will distribute Dan’s email to the HSYD board members and solicit feedback for Dan on the proposed changes at the September board meeting.

V. Upcoming Events

Magnolias & Mint Juleps
When: 7-10 pm, August17, 2011
Where: HCDP HQ
Details:

  • Facebook event has 47 yes’s and a high number of maybe’s, the largest response in memory to an HSYD event. Likely attendance somewhere between 30-40 people, which bodes well for the final event revenues.
  • Invitation mentions bringing your own blankets and pillows, but folding chairs will be available for people who don’t want to sit on the floor.
  • Costume and/or other contest prizes? Bottle of Aqua Net is one suggestion.
  • Action Items: alcohol for juleps (A.J.), fried chicken and sides (Robert), Armadillo cake (Brad).

Pool Party
When: 1-4 pm, September 10, 2011
Where: Patrick Dickson’s house (Brad O’Connor’s brother)
Details:

  • Both a monthly HYSD Social event and a driver for new membership if enough attendees can be attracted from U of H and elsewhere.
  • Donation ($10) will remain “suggested,” but need to manage the stigma new people can feel about showing up and not paying anything.
  • Waivers required. Life guards should be on-hand. Brad O’Connor has been certified for years and can be “on call” at the event.
  • Water volleyball competition + “adult swim” time for volleyball-averse people.
  • Action Items: Facebook event (Brad), flier for xeroxing and posting around campuses (Andrea), leis from Arnie’s (Robert/Brad).

General Membership Meeting
When: 6:30 pm, September 12, 2011
Where: Stag’s Head Pub
Details:

  • Robert reaching out to invite Mayor Parker to attend. Current risk is she assumes she has HSYD’s support and face time with the membership is not needed. Potential for a Parker-specific event afterwards?
  • Invite Ronald Green as guest speaker.

Candidate Meet & Greet
When: September 14, 2011
Where: Boheme
Details:

  • Possible “bring a friend, get a drink” promotion if enough funds can be secured to cover the costs.

HCYD’s Johnson-Rayburn-Richards (JRR) Dinner Afterparty
When: October 22, 2011
Details:

  • Robert has been approached about helping organize the afterparty to the JRR event after the success of the Trailblazers Brunch.
  • Tentative yes, but it will be important to coordinate and communicate with the right people before fully committing – want to mitigate any risk of conflicting with other after-parties as has happened in the past.

HSYD 5th Year Anniversary
When: March 12, 2012
Details:

  • Meeting coincides with HSYD General Membership Meeting and the annual HSYD Board Elections.
  • Celebrate with a fundraiser/event, possibly on March 10 (Saturday). Invite the founding board members to come, include an award component, invite a big speaker (e.g. Michael Mitchell of the National Stonewall Democrats?).
  • More discussion and planning to come.

Houston Stonewall Young Democrats
Board Meeting Jan. 17
I Brunch Against Bullying
Raised $3120 or so. Expenses $480. Approximately 48 roughly people. People who were part of Victory Fund, Fort Bend Caucus, HRC.
Trevor Project donation.
II Equality Texas Lobby Day: Mon. March 7, 2011
transportation options
advertising plan for participants
release at GLBT Caucus, releases to Democratic groups
III TSDC State Conference: March 4-6 2011
hotel/registration
donation? Determined no.
IV Lobby Day Training: Sat Jan. 21 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
lunch for 30 @TGFA House, registration link
V Pride Festival
must book the booth space before the 31st, $355. We would like to be in the same space that we were last year.
help out with the Harris County Democratic Party entry into the parade.
VI Membership Drive
VII Social Events
Dinner Hour, Jan. 27, Thursday.
Spotlight karaoke?
Possibility of a movie night at 14 Pews. Talk to Cassandra Thibodaux
Other Ideas?
VIII 2011 Calendar
IX Officer Elections
Monday Feb. 7, is the general meeting. Consider who will run.
meeting ends 8:40 pm

HSYD December Board Meeting
December 20, 2010
Meeting called to order 7:30 p.m.
I. Revisions to the municipal candidate questionnaire
II. Brunch Against Bullying Jan. 16, 10:30 a.m.
Donna Roth and Ken Council host level. $100. $400 raised so far. Anna Eastman probable host.
$50 per ticket with 50 people attending; counting on five individual hosts at $100 and five host couples at $175.
Pursue some corporate underwriting.
III. Bullying Seminar: April 8th and 9th
two planning sessions so far. Inclusive of all bullying, Montrose Counseling Center, MCC, Rice and University of Houston
bullying summit, Lobby Day, cross promotion, events for the next few days. Looking for sponsors
IV. Equality Texas Lobby Day training: Jan. 22
hosted by TFA at the TFA house. No cost to the people attending it. Lunch sponsor.
V. Texas Stonewall Conference March 5,6,7
meet and greet

VI. Begin looking at the municipal screening questionnaire after the holidays.
Meeting concludes at 8:15 p.m.

Special Endorsement Meeting
September 20, 2010
Board members present: Robert Shipman, Brad Pritchett, Brittani Williams, Hunter Cauble, A.J. Mistretta
General members present: none
Meeting called to order: 7:40 p.m
Discussion on endorsing Rep. Kristi Thibault in her reelection bid to District 133.
Motion to endorse Rep. Thibault proposed by Hunter Cauble, seconded by Brad Pritchett, passes unanimously.
Special meeting concludes: 7:50 p.m.

Board Meeting
September 20, 2010
Board members present: Robert Shipman, Brad Pritchett, Brittani Williams, Hunter Cauble, Shaun Nelson, A.J. Mistretta
Meeting called to order: 7:50 p.m.
I. Finance overview
Current bank balance: $1,583.23
Fundraising efforts: An additional $1,200 will be necessary to implement Get Out the Vote plan in its entirety
II. September happy hour
Set for 9/24 at Guava Lamp
Promotion: 3 cans of food items = one drink ticket. Cans will be donated to Houston Food Bank
III. HISD race
Discussion of possible screening and endorsement in HISD special election
Board unanimously determines that it will not endorse in the general election on this race, but reserves the right to endorse in the event of a runoff
IV. GOTV plan
Mail cards
Need to be in hand by 10/8
5,000 to be printed, 3,000 mailed and 2,000 distributed by hand
Total cost for printing, processing and postage is quoted at $2,750.46
Robocalls
1.    Cost of executing roughly 1,000 robocalls is $43
2.    Loren Jackson discussed as a possible voice for these calls because of his age and prominence; board will examine other contingencies
3.    Board agrees to spend the money to pursue the robocall initiative
Blockwalk events―led by Robert
1.    Oct. 3, Ellen Cohen
2.    Oct. 17 Bill White
3.    Oct. 30 HSYD mail card distribution via blockwalk, car windshield deposits, hand-to-hand
Phone banking―led by Shaun
1.    10/6 to reach out to 500 prospects identified by the party. Call will encourage them to vote for Bill White and the complete Democratic ticket
2.    10/13 to reach out to existing and former HSYD members encouraging them to early vote and asking for their help in volunteer efforts
OutSmart magazine advertisement
1.    completed and submitted on 9/20 for October issue
2.    donated space is ¼ page, may be upgraded
JRR Dinner after party
1.    Board member Andrea Ward has suggested HSYD consider co-sponsoring the JRR dinner after party at Sawyer Park along with HCYD.
2.    Event is scheduled for Oct. 8
3.    HSYD may benefit financially from ticket/sponsorship sales
4.    Board agrees to co-sponsor event
Voter registration
1.    Robert is in contact with several bars concerning the possibility of allowing HSYD to set up on-site voter registration the weekend of 10/24
2.    The same bars are also being asked to show GOTV videos

Meeting concludes: 9 p.m.

Board Meeting
August 16, 2010
Present: Robert Shipman, Brittani Williams, Shaun Nelson, Brad Pritchett, Hunter Cauble, A.J. Mistretta
Absent: Andrea Ward
I. Financial Update
Exact figure unavailable but several hundred dollars currently on hand. In excess of $1,000 owed to us. Robert making efforts to collect.
II. Membership Update
Brittani planning university membership drive for morning of Saturday 8/28. Asking for help from board and other members to paper area campuses. Promo will publicize the Bring a Friend Happy Hour for August and the September membership meeting.
III. Political Update
Endorsements: Shaun sent out a BCC email to all candidates who had not yet responded to
screening questionnaire but did not get a response. Board determines we must make every
effort to get a completed questionnaire from candidates who have supported our
organization and pro-equality issues in the past. Shaun and/or Robert will attempt to reach
out to these select individuals with further communication.
IV. Ellen Cohen/HSYD blockwalk is rescheduled for 10/3
November Election Candidate Involvement/Action
Shaun has asked endorsed candidates how we can be effective for them.
Receiving feedback. Will advise as that becomes clearer.
In the meantime, he proposes an action plan for Sept./Oct. that involves a
weekend event (such as a blockwalk, literature drop) followed by a weekday event (phone bank or helping a candidate with literature for instance). With this approach we will be active each week but not be committed every weekend.
Tentative start date to the above plan on Sept. 18 with a political event (Bill
White blockwalk suggested).
IV. Reach Out
Brad is working on a mail piece that pushes a straight Democrat ticket and the diversity
reflected in the party. He has also obtained mailer pricing from a number of printers.
Robert would like to aim for printing 5,000 pieces, if finances allow.
Sept. 18th is a goal date for mailer.
Brad has arranged to use Democratic Headquarters for a photo/video shoot on Aug. 28. Several candidate videos are complete/nearly complete.
VI. Summer Fundraising
Muffin Man dinner with portion of proceeds benefiting HSYD tentatively set for Sept. 9 (update: rescheduled for Aug. 26).
Organized Dem. vs. Republican water balloon fight fundraiser proposed. Board will look into options
VII. Adjourn 8:45 p.m.

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