Now what? Who is a central committee member? who is a platform committee member

[Debi]

who is an arrangements committee member? who is a county convention delegate?

And what's our plan for keeping Iowa first in 2012? :banghead:

I'm a platform committee member for Black Hawk.

[Blappy]

1. I am 3 out of those 4

but the JCDems don't meet until next month. Seeing how the convention is mid-March, I am sure the central committee meeting will be arduous and there will be a ton of organization work. If your committee chairs are effective, you will be hearing from them.

[rurallib]

3. Blappy, may I say welcome? Good of you to join us!

There will be a welcoming party at your house this Saturday. Where shall we come?
:evilgrin: :toast: :beer:

[Debi]

7. Tell him we need an address and phone number

and should we bring snacks???

:rofl:

[rurallib]

2. Retained central committe status

but since we were so busy just trying keep things afloat neither cyberswede or I were named delegates. Not sure if we are alternates either.
Frankly it is so nice that there is mucho new blood that we are sending forward. Our delegation will be much more diverse than it ever has been. May shake things up.

[cyberswede]

5. we are alternates

your talented caucus secretary made sure. :)

[Debi]

8. Woo Hoo for caucus secretaries!

:woohoo: We do the math
:woohoo: We sign the forms
:woohoo: We collect the cash
:woohoo: We fail to get nominated as delegates b/c we are too bushy making the Chair look good x(

[rurallib]

13. too bushy? what means too bushy?

[Hardrada]

15. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed??

[Debi]

19. Ummmmm, yeah that's what I meant n/t

[Debi]

18. OH MY GOD

:blush:

There goes my personal business all over the internets...:hide:

[IA_Seth]

4. Still on the CC...

I'm still on the Central Committee, and am a delegate for the county convention.

NONE of the delegates that stuck around (most of them bailed) wanted to be on any of the committees, so I guess I will pick one of the two and show up. I am really disappointed that the campaigns didn't stress to their captains/delegates that this is a party building event and that volunteers are needed to keep things going.

[Debi]

9. My caucus chair (swoon) refused to let anyone leave until all the slots were filled

Hopefully those folks will follow through (since he gave away my central committee seat to a new comer! x()

Black Hawk changed the rules (with the permission of the IDP) and elected central committee members before we broke off into preference groups - hoping to avoid the mass exodus that occurs after presidential preference is completed.

[4dsc]

32. What the heck is going on??

here in DM at my caucus, we re-ected the chairs and secretary and chose the country delegates and that was it.. Noting about anyone wanting to serve on any committees or anything.. Is this a normal process??

[cyberswede]

6. Still on the CC

...and Executive committee. whee!

We did get a lot of new faces as delegates, though - half of them are latino! yeah!

[Debi]

10. Lucky...I'm so oppressed that my Caucus Chair

gave my seat away! x( Right after he didn't let me caucus x(

[pstans]

11. Me, me, me

Platform, county convention delegate, and central committee member.

[Debi]

12. You freakin win the prize!!

Now that is activism! (So, did the Obama Precinct Captain convince you to caucus for the good Senator from Illinois?)

[Hardrada]

14. My wife has served in those positions and as county secretary

for more years than I care to remember.

[pstans]

16. I did caucus for Obama

Here's why... http://commoniowan.blogspot.com/2008/01/common-iowan-endorses-obama.html

Here's the story from my precinct... http://commoniowan.blogspot.com/2008/01/caucus-results-from-my-precinct.html

[DU9598]

17. If Hillary is President

Iowa caucuses will probably be last in the nation. I tend to think that Clintons hold grudges and there is a huge grudge against Iowa right now.

[Debi]

20. Will she also hold a grudge against her co-chairs???

:shrug:

I think you're right - If Hillary is the President Iowa is trouble :scared:

[IA_Seth]

21. And all of you deserve it!

Ha ha. I kid, I kid.

To be honest, I think Iowa is in trouble either way. The nomination process of 2012 is going to look a lot different, and we'll need people in charge that will fight more than ever.

[Debi]

22. Then, Seth Dear, we must ensure that those who believe Iowa should remain first

are on the state central committee - and get elected to the DNC. We must make sure that it is part of the platform of our counties and districts and STATE. And we must be prepared to fight for it. We can't just leave it in the hands of the 'people in charge' (look what happened to us last time x() we must all take responsibility and fight for it.

:patriot:

(imagine some inspiring music here)

:banghead: Am I redundant or am I redundant?! I feel like I've typed those words at least 100 times on this board :banghead:

[Hardrada]

23. Well, it won't be VILSACK anymore

who, for some advantage wished
To give away the store.

[Debi]

24. Oh Great - Hardrada - you're gonna get this thread 'disappeared'

Unless the Mighty TV no longer has 'the power' :shrug:

[Hardrada]

25. I was trying to rhyme that. Try again:

It won't be Thomas Vilsack doing mischief anymore
Who for some obscure advantage tried to give away the store!

[Debi]

26. Woo Hoo

:woohoo:

That was witty!

[yellowdog]

27. Most of those

Central Committee, Committee on Committees, and alternate delegate for Edwards.

[Debi]

28. Good work!

I just attended my first Platform Committee meeting.

With all the new members (YEA!) things were different, but I'm ready to 'roll with it' so happy to see new folks involved in the whole process! :bounce:

[walk softly]

29. Time for a Civics lesson

Debie, with all the new "democrats" can you explain Central Committee, function, number from each precinct etc - really hoping the newcomers will take an active part in county organizations but I know how you feel. And why couldn't you caucus?

[Debi]

30. Here are the By-Laws for the Black Hawk County Democrats

http://www.blackhawkdemocrats.com/index_6.html

And specifically here are the 'duties' for the Central Committee Members:

Section 2: Duties

The Black Hawk County Democratic Central Committee shall take all necessary actions to perpetuate an effective Democratic Party between county conventions. The Committee is charged with the responsibility to promote the principles of democratic government, social justice, civil liberties, civic responsibility in the county, and to elect Democrats to public office.

<snip>

I'm certain every county has similar rules. (Oh, and in Black Hawk there are two representatives from each precinct serving on the Committee).

++++

Now, I COULD have caucused - that was just a continuation of the 'oppressed woman' conversation being had over here. I went into the caucuses uncommitted and figured I would make my choice upon realignment - well after realignment our count was Clinton 18, Obama 23 and Edwards 26 - I could have joined any of those groups at that point but it would not have changed the outcome any - so I just stayed uncommitted. Well, I asked Mr. Debi what he wanted to do and he said "let's just stay put". I took his counsel...not his directions :P.

+++++

Hope this helps!

[yellowdog]

31. Here in Dubuque County the decision was made a few

years ago to allow an unlimited number from each of the precincts on the Central Committee. The feeling was that if someone wanted to get involved we didn't want to discourage them. Their name is put before the committee at one meeting, voted on at the next meeting, and they are a member.

[Debi]

33. Cool, this year will be the first in I don't know how long that someone in our household

is not on the Central Committee - we'll see what happend over the next 24 months and maybe one of us will be back on in the 2010 caucuses.

Obviously anyone can be involved here - just that we've run into central committee voting situations where we needed to only have the folks designated for those ward/precincts involved.