Washblog || Active Grassroots - Agricultural and Rural Caucus

Active Grassroots - Agricultural and Rural Caucus

By gibney
Wed May 03, 2006 at 12:42:37 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Building the base

[ED: Frontpaged by Noemie. Live blogging, yeah! Thanks, Dave.]

The Agricultural and Rural Caucus was formed at a State meeting in Pasco a few years back. This event in Walla Walla is a pre-convention gathering to meet candidates and discuss strategy. It's been mostly organized by ARC members, not the WSDCC.
Best Western Walla Walla Suites Inn at 7 East Oak Street in Walla Walla, Washington.
If you have any questions, please contact Larry Ludwig, Panludwik@aol.com

Agenda for All-Day ARC Meeting at BestWestern in Walla Walla May 6, 2006
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

9:00-9:30 am Registration

9:30-10:00 am 1. Call to Order, Chris Zefares
2. Welcome: Nina Roth, Chair Walla Walla Dem. Central Committee
3. Introductions/Self-Introductions, Chris Zefares
4. Officers Reports: Chair, Vice-Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary,
Ex-Officio's
10:00-Noon Candidates Forum - Moderator Eileen Macoll
Congressonal: 4CD Richard Wright, 5CD Peter Goldmark
State House: 7LD Jack Miller, 16LD Bill Grant, George Fearing
County: Candidates for Auditor, Clerk, and Commissioner

Noon-1:15 pm Lunch (on your own)

1:15-2:35 pm Committee/Study Group Reports

1;15-1:30 (a) Declaration of Support for Farmers: Ian Graham, Chair
1:30-1:45 (b) Grange Common Concerns: Jackie Bradley, Chair
1:45-2:00 (c) East Side Democrats Brochure/Pamphlet, Ellie Webb
2:00-2:10 (d) Formation of 5CD Organization/Coordination with 4CD, Gordon Ellis
2:10-2:20 (e) Moses Lake Field Office/Eastside Regional Field Director: Purpose and
Mission, Action Plan, Job Description, Shared Usage of Facilities, Ellie Webb
2:20-2:30 (f) East Side spokespersons
2:30-2:35 (g) Liaison with other ag/rural groups/organizations, Larry Ludwig

2:35- 3:20 pm Platform Planks/Resolutions June WSDCC State Convention, Carolyn Cress

3:20-3:55 pm Specific Eastside Topics of Concern/Campaign Issues,
Bill Harrington/Pat Notter
a.    Environmental: Clean up of Lake Roosevelt
b.    Environmental: Hanford Clean up/downwinders
c.    Survival of Family Farms
d.    Biodiesel Fuels/Renewable Energy Sources
e.    BPA Electricity Rate Increases
f.    Reductions of Agricultural Subsidies
g.    Services to Farmworkers
h.    Immigration Policies
i.    Outreach to Latino community/voters

3:55-4:00 pm Good and Welfare/Adjournment, Chris Zefares

< Maria Cantwell on the News Hour | "No Illegal Human Being" Is Empty Rhetoric >

Active Grassroots - Agricultural and Rural Caucus | 27 comments (27 topical)

ho hum

Well, we start in about 9 hours, real people getting together to discuss real issues IN PERSON. I know I;m feeding the Washblog fires, when I complain about how little notice this meeting has gathered from either Dwight and the WSDCC, or for that matter, even from Washblog.
There really are some of us over here who care enough take a couple of days and work on getting Democrats elected in the red part of the state. And discuss issues that are important to all Americans.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Fri May 05, 2006 at 11:53:18 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

32 people from north to south

Are here, 5 are candidiates for office, including imcumbent Bill Grant.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 09:45:54 AM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Richard Wright

Is speaking, 5 more people arrived.
He's making good points about agriculture, energy, and sensible attidutes to the total Middle East situation, especially the need to wean ourselves from forgiegn oil.
He also has good positions on small farms.

Ethics committee question, we will rally on the 15th of May against Mr. Hastings, the day the Medicare bill deadline, from the bill they kept the house vote open for several hours until arms were sufficdntly twisted to pass.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 10:04:37 AM PST

* 3 none 0 *

Peter Goldmark

Richard is headed to the Cinco De Mayo events in Pasco.
Peter is buring up the room about taking Congressman Foley's seat.
"free trade is different from fair trade"

He's quick on his feet also, I asked if his freshman opponent had sponsored any bills good for agriculture. "not that I'm aware of", then he went on to cite votes she's taken against agriculture, including her vote to felonize immigrants and their employer.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 10:27:54 AM PST

* 4 none 0 *

Bill Grant 16th LD representative

More good stuff, Washington's legislature just put almost 20% as much as the feds did for biofuels.
Reminded us about the export of asparagus industry to Peru. This was part of the war on drugs. It's true, they thought Peru would stop growing cocaine in the highlands if we bought asparagus grwon in the lowland.

Bill is one of four Democrat incumbents from east of the mountains. We can and should do better,

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 10:34:07 AM PST

* 5 none 0 *

Better, as in more...n/t by gibney, 05/06/2006 10:42:38 AM PST (none / 0)

George Fearing Posiyion 1, 16th LD

Maureen Walsh needs to look out, George is running.
"eliminate oil subsidies", Dick Cheney needs to come clean.

George worked with Tom Foley.

George is a practicing Tri-Cities attorney

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 10:52:38 AM PST

* 7 none 0 *

Jack Miller, for 7th LD

Running against an incumbent who votes NO all the time.
"Live up to the State Consitution" on education.
Got into the race because he is a patriot and is very concerned about the directions our country is going.
Need the total decent enviroment, jobs, education, healthcare, community that will keep a good place for our kids to stay here. Otherwise, they will move to Ohio, etc.

Rail is important. Much more effiecent than rubber on the asphalt.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:03:35 AM PST

* 8 none 0 *

Really impressive, n/t by gibney, 05/06/2006 11:06:07 AM PST (none / 0)

Nathan Horter, candidate for Whitman C. Auditor

Eileen did the introduction. Since she addressed how our current auditor is known as "worst in the state" on elections and voter disenfranchisement, Nathan is speaking on the financial viability for the county by improving the agriculture contribution to energy.
Whitman County wheat is more conducive to ethanol than Bio-diesel. Now that a Bio-diesel plant is being build at the Port of Wilma, we need to also work toward using our existing crops.

He's handling the Q&A damn well for a 24 year old.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:27:34 AM PST

* 10 none 0 *

Jackie Bradley, running for re-election

Clerk of Okanogan and Treasurer of ARC. She's spending her time talking in support of Peter Goldmark and she can name names.
She's telling us all about McMorris's lousy votes, including one against funding meth lab eradication.
Good stump for the year of the Democrats

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:34:35 AM PST

* 11 none 0 *

Back from lunch

Walla Walla has a great farmers market with Walla Walla sweet onion sasuage.
Thank you for the front page. The local net work just lost my post, I'll try again.
Dan Lambert just spoke on a resolution "A Declaration in Support of Farmers"
We passed it.
Dan is a strong force in the current bio energy initiatives in Washington. www.egreenrenew.com

By the way, my typing while listening skills are limited, when I try to start thinking and actuallt participating in discussion, my grammar and spelling tend to suffer. Please bear with me.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 01:25:29 PM PST

* 12 none 0 *

Thanks for this, Dave --

I was wishing I could go to this -- and am glad to be able to keep up a bit online.

by noemie maxwell on Sat May 06, 2006 at 01:34:53 PM PST

* 13 none 0 *

Agreement with the Grange

Well not 100%, but Jackie Bradley and the ARC Grange committee have identified many areas where we agree with issues in their legislative handbook for 2006.
The committee didn't have time to consider all issues, but of those considered there is agreement with about 30 percent.
This will be a major topic at the next ARC meeting to be held in conjunction with the convention in Yakima.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 01:37:07 PM PST

* 14 none 0 *

Ellie Webb, East Side Democarts Brochure

That's east side of the mountains, not the lake :)
Ellie from Moses Lake in Grant County has been working on a great brochure about what Democrats really stand for.
"Since we weren't provided this information from any National or for that matter the State" campaigns, we did our own"!

I'll get Ellie to send me the file and post it somewhere.
There really are capable and caring Democrats over here.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 01:44:56 PM PST

* 15 none 0 *

WSDCC slice of pie by gibney, 05/06/2006 01:52:29 PM PST (none / 0)

Gordon Ellis - Creating a 5th CD organization

The 4th has been well organized and cohesive for sometime, and this time, they'll elect Richard Wright to replace the Delay puppet who is not a doctor.
Well thise are my words. Now for Gordon's:
A resolution was passed at a recent meeting in the 5th to establish a formal 5th district organization.
Keith Gourley of the 4th will help with the 527 details. Some of this help will be at the next meeting of the 4th meeting on Saturday, Ellensburg Inn, May 13th 10:00 am.
A well organized 5th will help all races in the district. We need to get more people to stand up as representatives to the 5th District Organization.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 02:08:24 PM PST

* 17 none 0 *

Ellie Webb, Mose Lake Field Office

Even though Autumn Sample has moved on to the Co-ordinated campaign, the office is still open.
It will stay open thought the campaign, but if we don't use it, we will lose it. National CC has insisted on moving efforts to Spokane, (Dave here, the strongest voice in selecting the location a last year was NOT IN SPOKANE)
Job discription is still valid, and we need to hire someone who's not afraid to go into a union hall or other forums. We need to hire. Moses Lake is 90 minutes or 2 hours from almost any place in Eastern Washington.

Dave here again, don't let me get started about the uselessness of the "Coordinated Campiagn" !

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 02:17:05 PM PST

* 18 none 0 *

Coordinated Campaign can be... by Cherisse, 05/06/2006 08:29:10 PM PST (none / 0)

Coordinated Campaign by gibney, 05/06/2006 08:55:02 PM PST (none / 0)

Larry Ludwig We need Eastside spokes people

Then, we started twisting arms and six or seven people volunteered.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 02:25:32 PM PST

* 19 none 0 *

War just came up

Well, really how we've screwed our soldiers and let Haliburtion poision our troops.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 02:43:59 PM PST

* 20 none 0 *

Resolution, Services to Farmworkers by gibney, 05/06/2006 02:48:18 PM PST (none / 0)

Pat Notter - DNC member

We're talking about several good of the order stuff now, I'm likely to be getting a little more involved, I'm probably signing off for the momnet.
Hope to see many of you in Yakima next month, ARC may be helping with several Eastside Hospitality rooms or even an alternative event for Friday.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 03:06:46 PM PST

* 22 none 0 *

Cougar Gold

Whatever we do, I'll be bring some cheese.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 03:09:25 PM PST

* 23 none 0 *

We're done

Larry, Eileen, Jackie and maybe others need to hit the road for the rules and platform meetings in Seatle tomorrow. It's unfortunate they'll need to but gas and not biofuel.

That's to anyone who's been reading

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat May 06, 2006 at 03:33:46 PM PST

* 24 none 0 *

I meant -- Thank's to anybody that's been reading by gibney, 05/06/2006 11:41:52 PM PST (none / 0)

Active Grassroots - Agricultural and Rural Caucus | 27 comments (27 topical)

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