ATTENDANCE: Zephyr Tate-Mann, chair, with approximately 34 members.

Zephyr welcomed attendees, wished all a Happy New Year and thanked  them for their support during the past year.

PROGRAM: Zephyr introduced Professor Richard Worthington, of Pomona College, who talked about his survey project and the Copenhagen Climate Conference. His worldwide survey regarding Global Warming found that citizens are ahead of their governments in wanting “faster action, deeper GHG emissions cuts and stronger enforcement.”

BUSINESS:

The February 22 general membership meeting will honor the Ambassador for Sri Lanka, along with other people from that country.
Aelian Gunawardena is in charge of the arrangements.

A majority of members (two dissenting) voted to delete the standing committee, Leadership Development Committee, from Article VI, section B in the By-Laws.

Information regarding “The California Democracy Act”, commonly referred to as the Lakoff Petition, was given and signatures for the initiative to change the California Constitution were gathered. Jim Stripling, Chuck Farritor and Gar Byrum are circulating the petition and others are encouraged to do so.

Club members, Darcel Woods and Donald Williamson, both candidates for the 59th Assembly District seat, addressed the members. They discussed their qualifications and asked for support.

Volunteers for the California Democratic Convention, to be held April 16 – 18 at the L.A. Convention Center are needed. Forms can be found at the cadem.org website.

John Perez, a member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee (LACDCC), is now Speaker of the California Assembly.

Two members of the DCC have or will apply to serve on the Re-districting Committee. They are Merrill Ring and Jim Stripling. The
deadline for applying is February 12.

Republicans are targeting specific Democratic incumbents this year. Barbara Boxer is one.

Russ Warner, Democratic candidate for the 26th Congressional District seat, invited members to watch President Obama’s State of the Union Address on Wednesday, January 27, at Winestyles, located next to Russ’s headquarters on Indian Hill Boulevard.

The Move-On.Org rally has been changed to Thursday, January 28, because of the rain. People are asked to gather at 5:30 PM at Arrow Highway and Indian Hill Boulevard with signs supporting Health Care Reform. Meg Mathies is one of those in charge. In California, the State Senate will vote on SB 810, a bill in favor of single payer health care, on Thursday, January 28. Members were asked to contact State Senators asking for support of the issue.

Members were encouraged to attend Claremont’s Budget Workshops on February 10 and 16. Nate James, Ivan Light and Zephyr Tate-Mann will attend one.

Members were encouraged consider attending the pre-endorsement conference on Saturday, March 29, in Hesperia. Zephyr, Gwen Carr, Debra Hurd, Rudy Mann, Bob Gerecke, Garland Byrum and Ivan Light, as elected officials, are already included. There may be a provision for absentee voting. Contact Zephyr for more information.

Members desiring to be elected to the LACDCC, term 2010-2012, need to file between February 16th through March 12th at the L.A. County Registrar Office in Norwalk. Currently Zephyr, Bob, Gar, Rudy and Debra Hurd are members, with Ivan as the alternate member.

Laura Lo reported on the up-coming Student Democrats of Claremont High School meeting to be held in Room 707 at noon on Thursday, February 4th. Laura, Chuck Farritor, Zephyr Tate-Mann and Carolee Monroe will attend and offer to mentor the group and suggest volunteer opportunities.

The LACDCC resolution to reestablish the Glass-Steagall Act was distributed.

A sheet with contact information for elected officials was distributed.

Two decisions, one a Supreme Court decision regarding the unlimited use of money in campaigns and the other the election of a
Republican to “Ted Kennedy’s Senate Seat “, were discussed.

ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.

Carolee Monroe
Acting Secretary