April 2023 WCDC Meeting Re-Cap

Our meeting this month covered everything from important legislation being debated this session to next year’s caucus and state convention plans, and more!

We opened with guest Dan Jenkins, Campaign Manager for Rep. Jared Golden, who talked about what the campaign is doing this year and answered questions from members about issues in Congress. He mentioned Rep. Golden’s new blog available at https://jaredgolden.substack.com/p/a-letter-from-congressman-golden and invited members to email him at dan@jaredgoldenforcongress.com or call him at 207-577-1406. Rep. Jan Dodge was also with us to discuss bills before the Maine Legislature. In response to a question, she showed a poster called “Vollmer’s List” showing all the mandated school curriculum subjects; those interested in the list can look for it at www.jamievollmer.com.

Maine Dems’ Proposed Delegate Selection Plan. The Maine Dems’ proposed Delegate Selection Plan can be viewed at https://www.MaineDems.org/page/2024-delegate-selection. Members can also use that webpage to submit online comments on the proposed plan, if they do so before COB on Monday April 17. Under the proposed plan, Democratic municipal caucuses will be scheduled on either February 3 or 4, 2024. Maine’s presidential primary will be March 5, 2024. WCDC is starting work now to make sure Democrats all across Waldo County will be able to caucus in their community to select state convention delegates and local committee leaders.

Executive Committee Expansion. WCDC voted to expand our Executive Committee from the four County Committee officers to seven, adding two at-large members and one ex officio member designated by the Standing DEIB Committee. The new members will offer a wider range of voices to the Executive Committee and deepen our leadership bench. We’ll hold elections for the two at-large members at our meeting on May 21 at 3pm. Please let us know if you’re interested in running for one of the positions with an email to info@waldocountydemocrats.com. We’ll also take nominations from the floor on May 21. (Pre-register for the May meeting here.)

Treasurer’s Report. Treasurer Gail Chase reported an encouraging uptick in ActBlue donations over the past month. Recurring donations are very helpful for WCDC to plan a range of activities. You can set up a secure monthly contribution on our ActBlue page. You can also visit our website at www.waldocountydemocrats.com and look for the Contribute tab.

Office Re-Opening. WCDC will re-open our Route 1 office in Belfast soon! Several members volunteered to take a shift, and to help organize a yard sign lending program with the left-over wire wickets and other sign materials. If you weren’t at the meeting but would like to staff the office or help with yard signs, please let us know at info@waldocountydemocrats.com.

Upcoming meetings. Please note our May meeting will be later than usual! We’ll meet on May 21 (a week later than usual) at 3pm (two hours later than usual). Preregister for the May meeting here. We will elect two new at-large Executive Committee members as well as our representatives to the statewide Platform Committee and Credentials Committees. If you’d like to run for any of these positions, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@waldocountydemocrats.com. Our June meeting will be June 11 at 1pm (back to our 2nd Sunday schedule). We’ll meet in person at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street. If you prefer to attend by Zoom, preregister for the June meeting here. We’re looking forward to seeing you!