ATTENDANCE:  Gar Byrum, chair; Lois Thompson,  Merrill Ring, Debi Evans, Ned Freed, Laura Ditte Lo,  Bob Gerecke, and Carol Whitson. 

MSA  The ExComm minutes for March 6 and the General Membership minutes for March 29, 2010, were approved.

Debi was unable to prepare a Treasurer’s report due to a bank online access issue, but she promised to prepare one and email to the ExecComm as soon as she corrected the problem.  Carol asked that she check to see whether the Pilgrim Pickers, our Holiday Party entertainers, had been paid the $100 donation authorized at the February 6, 2010, ExComm meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Merrill informed us that the Issues Committee is preparing about 4 questions to be asked of Forum participants.  The Committee will also be preparing a list of recommendations for the ballot propositions in the upcoming Primary election.  He also informed us that his and Gar Byrum’s letters to the editor are being published in the Courier and the Daily Bulletin and will be submitted to our Newsletter as well.

Laura Lo who has been working with Carolee and Jack Monroe as liaisons to the Claremont High School Democratic Club, reported that the presentation by Ivan Light on Democratic Values had been very well received by the students at the previous Thursday’s meeting.  She says that there are approximately 40 students attending every meeting (twice per month).  She thought it may be beneficial to back off of speaker presentations and so the group has one meeting per month at which they can discuss other issues without the time constraint of a speaker.  She also said that she would be calling Gwen Carr and Mel Boynton to discuss the essay contest guidelines.   The Monroes have been providing pizza every meeting and it was moved, seconded and approved that if Carolee requests reimbursement, our club will do so.

Merrill mentioned that he had attended Sandra Day O’Connor’s speech at Pomona College where she mentioned her website aimed at teaching children and young people about Civics and the judicial system.  The website is www.ourcourts.org. - perhaps another topic for presentation to the CHS club.

Dues:  Debi will provide Mike Davis with an updated list of the dues receipts and ask if Mike can make phone calls to those who have not yet paid for the 2010 year. 

For the Newsletter:

•  Lois Thompson announced that on Wednesday, April 14 at 10:45 in Decker Hall there will be a movie:  “Jerusalem: The East Side Story.” 
• We wish to thank Beverly Sloan for all of her service in getting our newsletters folded, stamped and organized to deliver to the post office in a timely manner for so many years.   Beverly has been recuperating from a fractured hip after a fall and will instruct Marguerite Royse and Aelian Gunawardena in how to perform this task.   Carol Whitson will send a get well card from the Club.  Anyone else who needs Beverly’s address can call Carol at 909-629-7994 for that information.  Thank you, Beverly for all your enthusiastic service to our club!  
  

Gar announced that on Sunday, April 11, the USAPAC will be putting on a fundraiser for Democratic candidates in Red districts.  It will be held at the home of John Van de Kamp and will have a minimum entrance fee of $50.   Debi will check with the organizer to see if a couple of the CHS Dem members can attend.

Carol Whitson will order an insurance certificate for our Candidate Forum in May.

Lois spoke to Barbara Riley about a fundraiser for Darcel Woods, Democratic candidate for the 59th Assembly,
but it was Barbara’s intent to volunteer to help.  When Carolee returns from Florida we can decide on a date to use her home.  An announcement will be put in the newsletter after that occurs.

Merrill has submitted his application, required resume and references, joining 31,000 others who hope to become members of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.  He is waiting for an answer about whether he has made the latest cut to a list of 120!

Carol will check with Carolee in Florida to see whether she is still on target for Earth Day on April 17 in Claremont.
Debi reports that she will be attending the Democratic Convention on the 16-18th and notes that she will attend a dinner to honor Debra Bowen and perhaps a luncheon at which Arianna Huffington will speak.

At our April general meeting we will be holding an endorsement vote for the California Fair Elections Act about which we were informed at our March meeting.  More information can be found at www.YesOnProp15.org or for the complete act, www.sos.ca.gov/elections/vig-public-display/060810-primary-election/.    We will also hear from several judges who are running for office in the Primary.

Merrill is hopeful that our luncheon speaker for April 9 will be Miguel Tinker Salas.
  
Lois reported that the Scrooby Lounge will not be available for our ExComm meetings from September, 2010 through May, 2011, due to the ongoing construction at Pilgrim Place.  She will keep us apprised of alternative locations and changes with as much advance notice as possible.

 Meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol Whitson
Recording Secretary

Upcoming Events:

April 9, 2010         Luncheon at LYL Garden at 12 noon
April 16-18, 2010  CA Democratic Convention, Los Angeles Convention Center
April 17, 2010       Sustainable Claremont Earthday Celebration, 10am-3pm at our booth on 2nd Street
April 26, 2010       General Meeting, 7:00 pm in Porter Hall