It's the End of August; 71 Days to Election Day
Time to power up!
Let's give President Obama and all our Democratic candidates a big win.
Step up and VOLUNTEER!
"Lift All Dems" Blue Crew Phone Project Underway. TRAINING TODAY!
We'll call those Democrats who did not vote in the primary and remind them of the importance of the general election. To volunteer, call (541) 858-1050 or send an email to mail@jcdemocrats.org. Scripts, talking points and training provided. Calling packets are ready. Join us for the next training session Sunday, August 26, 3 p.m. at the HQ office, 40 S. Central, Medford. OR come on in to the HQ office and Michael, our office manager, will get you started. It will be fun and make the Jackson County Democrats an effective voice for President Obama.
Letters! Let's write letters! Come to a letter writing party
Thursday August 30, 6:30 p.m. at the JC Democratic Party HQ office
From now on let's fill the "Letters to the Editor" page with letters to support President Obama and all our Democratic candidates. Steve Haskell will get you started with tips and samples and lots of ideas. Call the office (541-858-1050) to let us know how many will be there.
Wine in the Garden: An Event Worth Repeating
Our second annual Wine in the Garden fundraiser: a lovely garden, convivial friends, outstanding candidates, a truly successful event.
Thanks to Arlene Rogers and her fundraising team who made it happen. Thanks, too, to all of you who came and enjoyed the afternoon. See the pictures here.
Help Keep Track of the "Lift All Dems" Callers
We need someone to keep track of the current callers and supply them with new lists. The office staff can send the list by e-mail. We need you to fill out the team. Contact Jan Waitt at chair@jcdemocrats.org or 541-482-8249. Our website has details for the position.
Jackson County Democratic Candidate List is Now Available
Pick up your copy of the slate at Jackson County Democrats Headquarters, 40 S. Central, Medford during office hours (11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays) or see it at www.jcdemocrats.org
Obama bumper stickers, buttons and lawn signs are now in the HQ Office
Pick up whatever you can use, and please leave a donation to help cover our costs in obtaining them. Ask a friend or two if you can bring them any of the above while you are getting your own.
Blue Bash Planning Underway
Yes, we're already making plans for the Jackson County Democrats Blue Bash on election night, November 6, at the Historic Ashland Armory. Mark your calendars! We need YOUR help! We are looking for a vacation home or timeshare that we can use as the Grand Prize for the drawing, which helps us raise approximately $5,000 in the election year to cover the cost of supporting local, state and national candidates and important issues on the ballot.
Do you have anything you can donate to this fabulous cause? If yes, please contact the JCD fundraising committee at fundraising@jcdemocrats.org. Thank you!
JACKSON COUNTY & OREGON NEWS
Happy Hour with the OLCV (Oregon League of Conservation Voters) Team
Along with Senator Alan Bates and Co-Speaker Pro Tempore Peter Buckley
Tuesday, August 28th, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Alex's on the Plaza, Ashland
We look forward to discussing the 2012 election and the political landscape in Jackson County with you. RSVP by contacting Molly McGuire at 503-224-4011 or mmcguire@olcv.org.
Honoring Dr. John Forsyth
Wednesday, August 22, 9:30 a.m. at the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium
Jackson County Commissioners will honor Dr. John Forsyth, one of Southern Oregon's most dedicated physicians, with the second annual Chairman's Award. The presentation, which is open to the public, will take place during the Commissioners' regular meeting. The Chairman's Award recognizes a local resident whose lifetime achievements have gone above and beyond the responsibilities of good citizenship in making a profound difference in people's lives in Jackson County. Read more about Dr. Forsyth here.
A retired cardiologist who practiced medicine in the Rogue Valley from 1970 to 2004, Dr. Forsyth strives to improve Southern Oregon through his work with innovative healthcare programs and organizations serving local residents, including low-income patients. In 1998, he was named Physician Citizen of the Year by the Oregon Medical Association.
"Dr. Forsyth has been a visionary leader in so many wonderful projects, and a force in the community for decades," said Mark Orndoff, Jackson County Health and Human Services Director. "He approaches each endeavor, and each person fortunate enough to interact with him, with infectious integrity and passion. The leadership and commitment he has demonstrated with countless community projects in a relatively quiet manner, combined with unheralded zeal, make Dr. Forsyth worthy of the Chairman's Award."
Joyce Segers Says We Have a Golden Opportunity to Replace Greg Walden!
Now is the time to replace Greg Walden. Issues of reproductive rights, voter suppression laws, and attacks on Medicare are not going to be solved with Greg Walden in Congress. Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan for VP, along with Walden as head of the Republican Presidential Leadership Team in Oregon, motivates us to ACT! We need you to become involved in a critical contest in our own 2nd Congressional District, and help build support for President Obama in Congress at the same time.
Our Volunteer Coordinator, Kathleen Connair-Rau can be reached at teamsegers2012.kathleen@gmail.com or through the Segers campaign at 541-601-1100. We need a Data Entry person as soon as possible who can work out of their home or in the JCD office. Our website is segersforcongress.org where you can also find ways to sign up, and learn more about our campaign. Bring your ideas, your fervor and dedication and help us in phone banking, canvassing and in any way you feel you can make a difference.
Segers for Congress Town Hall Meeting and Forum
Thursday, September 6, 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Medford Library
Invite your friends, family and neighbors and learn the latest about new legislation and how it will affect you. Bring your ideas and suggestions and let's join together to WIN this election.
National Convention Viewing Night Party
Thursday, September 6 at the home of Darlene Taylor, in Central Point
You're invited to watch President Obama give his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. Call Darlene at 541-326-2655 to confirm and get directions. Bring snacks.
DPO Booth needs Volunteers for Rural Counties Day at the Oregon State Fair, September 3, Salem
There are a large number of people that attend the state fair from all over the state, and rural county Dems are best prepared to engage these folks. Getting new people to register makes one feel that the effort is worthwhile! People need to know that we are the party that is on their side. We also provide buttons and stickers for sale at the booth and provide folks with a free cup of water. We will offer people with a list of issues to vote on and we have a video that is continuously playing messages from Obama.
Contact Jan Waitt at JC Democratic Party office, (541-858-1050), or Loyd Henion, Chair, Linn County Democrats (lhenion@comcast.net or 541-619-8861) for more information.
Don't worry about a place to stay in Salem. Dems in Salem will provide lodging in their homes. You will also be provided with free fair passes.
Three Congressional District 2 Delegates to the National Convention Need Help
They are Stacy Bannerman, Jackson County, and Patrick Vroman, Klamath Falls. Please help them if you can. It's an exciting year.
- Tonya Graham has been chosen as replacement for a delegate who could not attend. Read about her and donate to her fund here.
- See Stacy's statement here. She has offered to keep us updated on all the doings.
- See Patrick's information here also.
DPO In The News Provides a List of Links to Recent Articles that Keep Us in Touch With What Our Elected Officials Are Doing
Read all the interesting articles here. These articles provide material that inspires letters to the editor. Some current articles include:
- "Stop Trillion Dollar Giveaway to the Top 2%"
- Oregon Recognized By National Military Voter Protection Project As All-Star State" through Kate Brown's Initiatives
NATIONAL ISSUES
Stand for Women with the Democratic Party and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chair, DNC
In a year that has brought us no shortage of stunningly backward statements from Republicans on issues affecting women's health, the GOP Senate nominee from Missouri may have just taken the cake. If you're outraged at the Republicans trying to take women back to the dark ages, sign the petition DNC petition here.
MoveOn Petition to Reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act
Glass-Steagall aided in a six-decade rise of a more egalitarian financial system and a healthy middle class. Its 1999 repeal ushered in our current era of reckless and ruinous banking practices, which brought the USA to the brink of financial disaster in 2008.
Essentially nothing has changed since then, and the economy remains at great risk.
The banking system must be brought back to serving the people and sustaining the economy rather than draining its lifeblood. Without a strong middle class, the America that we have known will cease to exist, and the oligarchs will have finally won their coveted prize. This must not be allowed to happen. Read my petition here, add your name, and then pass it along to your friends. Thanks!
- Mitchell Gershten -
Ten Things You Need to Know About Paul Ryan's Radical Agenda
Most people aren't aware of just how radical it really is. Read MoveOn's list here.
Message from the DNC: Romney-Ryan Plan to End Medicare as We Know It
Romney and Ryan have been attacking the President and lying about their plan because they'll say anything to get elected
Take a look at today's Medicare talking points to see the difference between fiction and fact. The fact is their healthcare plan would raise costs for one of our most vulnerable populations, our seniors. View the Romney-Ryan plan to privatize Medicare, raise costs, and eliminate benefits. Then, please share the facts with your friends.
Act Now to End the Federal Judicial Crisis. AAUW (The American Association of University Women) has a petition
An average of 1 out of every 10 judicial seats is vacant nationwide
This weakens the constitutional rights and individual liberties protected by a strong and effective judiciary. Our courts are in crisis because of the "judicial emergency" created by vacancies in courtrooms nationwide.
Read more about the judicial crisis here, and ask your senators to help protect our freedoms by moving forward with judicial nominations.
WIDER COMMUNITY
Oregon Action Tax Rally: Robbing Poor People to Pay The Rich
Tuesday August 28, 1:30 p.m. in front of Representative Greg Walden's office
14 N. Central Ave., Medford (Across the street from the Woolworth Building)
End the ""Robin Hood In Reverse" Bush Tax Cuts, and tell Congress to support the 99%, not their wealthy supporters. Let's tell Congress it's time to end the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2%.
The Bush tax cuts can give a Wall Street banker who drives a red Ferrari and earns more than $1 million a year a tax cut of $143,000! If you're that banker's mechanic who makes $50,000 a year - about what most Americans earn - your tax cut will be more like $1,000.
That's because our tax code is full of special breaks and loopholes for powerful interests. Today the wealthy and big corporations use their lobbyists and campaign contributions to rig the tax system in their favor at our expense. It's about time they started living by the same set of rules as the rest of us.
That can start with you - today!
Sponsored by Oregon Action, Americans for Tax Fairness and USAction. For more information, call 541-772-4029
Oregon Action Voter Registration
1 to 2 hr shifts tabling in Medford or Ashland, Saturdays or Sundays. Some canvasses. To schedule call Virginia 541-772-4029
"Immense Possibilities" Has Moved to Fridays
"Immense Possibilities" will now be seen on SOPTV, Friday, 8:30 p.m.
See what's coming at www.immensepossibilities.org
JCD Facebook Page
If you want up-to-the-minute news about JCD activities, please "like" us on the Jackson County Democrats Facebook Page.