Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting
Feb 4, 2020
Agenda

7:00 p.m. Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Sign in sheet and introductions

7:05 p.m. Reports

Secretary’s presentation of the minutes of the last meeting

Treasurer’s summary of financial activity.

Announcements from the Chair.

• Upcoming trainings
• Nellie Tayloe Ross Banquet

7:15 p.m. Old business

Report re: Jan 26 social

7:25 p.m. New Business:

Motion to make/find scarves, earmuffs, hats, with slogans from Jan 26 social

7:30 p.m. Announcements from the floor

Request for Agenda Items

7:35 p.m. Adjourn & Announce next meeting

Caucus volunteers, sign ups, committee work

Make America Again

Here’s an image from a social gathering yesterday.

JC Dems Minutes – Jan. 7, 2020

In Attendance: Greg Haas (C), Lois Petersen (S), Bill McIntyre (SCM), Joanie Taylor, Mary VanAuken, Juanita Bybee, John O’Laughlin, Bob Day, Kathie Day (SCW), Kay McCormick

Meeting was called to order and pledge recited at 7:00 pm.

Minutes of Dec. 3 meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s report: We currently have $2320.23 in our account.

Greg noted the upcoming WDP training session taking place Jan. 11 at 1:30 pm at the JC Library on Rank Choice Voting – the method being used in this year’s Democratic Caucus taking place Sat., April 4. All who plan to vote in this year’s Democratic Caucus are strongly encouraged to attend the session on January 11. Greg also ran through some key dates on the primary/caucus timeline.

The Nellie Tayloe Ross Banquet will take place on Feb. 22 in Cheyenne. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Go to https://www.nellietayloeross.com/ for more information and to register.

Greg read a letter written by F. Mikel Carmon MA related to the high rate of suicides in WY and the need to change how this issue is dealt with so that positive change will happen. Please contact F. Mikel Carmon at (307) 277-1235 to find out more and support new efforts.

Nick Reynolds, State Politics Reporter for the Casper Star Tribune, has posted an online Legislative Session Survey and is asking people to complete the survey to let him know what questions and issues we, his readers, want our legislators to address and what issues he should cover as a reporter. To take the survey, go to – https://tinyurl.com/CSTSessionSurvey

Old Business: Caucus Committee members Greg and Bill (and any committee newcomers) will meet on Feb. 12 to develop a list of things that must be done in readiness for the Caucus. Volunteers should contact Greg to help decide where to meet. Use the Contact Us Page

New Business: Lois made a motion to have a person available at the Jan. 26th Social Gathering who is able to do voter registration. Kathie seconded. Motion passed. Lois and Bill will try to secure a notary for this purpose.

Lois attended a Better Angels workshop on Dec. 9 in Sheridan. The workshop is online and free to BA members. Membership is $12 and can be accomplished online at https://www.better-angels.org/support-us/#join.

Next meeting: Tues, Feb. 4th at 7 pm, Room 108, Bomber Mountain Center

Meeting adjourned at 8:00.

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting
Jan 7, 2020
Agenda

7:00 p.m. Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Sign in sheet and introductions

7:05 p.m. Reports

Secretary’s presentation of the minutes of the last meeting

Treasurer’s summary of financial activity.

Announcements from the Chair.

• January 11 Training: Ranked Choice Voting
• Timeline for caucus/primary
• Nellie Tayloe Ross Banquet
• Letter from F. Mikel Carmon re: Suicide Prevention Efforts

7:25 p.m. Old business

Joining committee for caucus/primary

Donation to College

7:35 p.m. New Business:

Jan 26 social: Voter Registration: Motion to accept this activity at Jan 26th event

Announcements from the floor

Better Angels Dec 9 meeting??

Request for Agenda Items

7:55 p.m. Adjourn & Announce next meeting

Training on Ranked Choice Voting, the system to be utilized by Wyoming Democratic Parties for presidential primary election in 2020.

When: January 11, 2020 at 1:30pm
Where: Johnson County Library, Buffalo, WY

No Admission fees.

Click image for larger copy.

JC Dems Minutes – Dec. 3, 2019
In Attendance: Greg Haas (C), Lois Petersen (S), Jim Shell (T), Bill McIntyre, Joanie Taylor, Mary VanAuken, Juanita Bybee, Anita Bybee, John O’Laughlin, Will Cox, John Strandholm , Kay McCormick, and Kathie Day

Meeting was called to order and pledge recited at 7:00 pm. Introductions were made.

Minutes of Nov. 5 meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s report: We currently have $2280.23 in our account.

Greg read a letter from Joe Barbuto suggesting Dems host a social event to reach out to disaffected moderate Republicans. This was discussed and Lois suggested we bring this up again for consideration after the January Social Gathering for JC Dems.

Greg showed a short video explaining run off voting. Sarah Hunt of the WY Dem Party is planning to do a training session on run off voting (the method to be used in our county caucus this year) from 2-5 pm on either Jan. 11 or 12 here in Buffalo. Kathie Day will reserve the large conference room at the library for this purpose.

Greg called for a motion to form a Primary Election/Caucus Committee whose job it would be to help organize this year’s county caucus. Kay made the motion, Jim Shell seconded. The motion passed. Bill McIntyre and Jim Shell volunteered to be on that committee and others interested should contact Greg.

Joanie made a motion to hand address the invitations to the New Year’s Gathering of Registered JC Democrats to be held on Sun., Jan. 26 at 1 pm at the JC Library. Mary seconded and the motion passed. Joanie, Mary, Kay, Anita and Juanita volunteered to do the hand addressing. Lois will obtain a current list of names and addresses. A discussion of activities and handouts for the gathering took place and Lois now has a list of suggestions.

Jim Shell made a motion to donate $100 to Sheridan College with a thank you note for allowing us use of a meeting room at no cost. Lois seconded the motion. It passed.

Lois provided basic information about Better Angels and provided information about an upcoming meeting at Sheridan Hospital’s Hospitality Room, 61 Gould, Sheridan on Dec. 9 from 6:30-8 pm.

Next meeting will be Tues, Jan. 7 at 7 pm, Room 108, Bomber Mountain Center
Meeting adjourned at 8:15.

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting
Dec 3, 2019
Agenda

7:00 p.m. Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Sign in sheet and introductions

7:05 p.m. Reports

Secretary’s presentation of the minutes of the last meeting (https://jcdemswyo.org/2019/11/minutes-nov-5th-2019/)

Treasurer’s summary of financial activity.

Announcements from the Chair. (Joe’s email. Sarah’s request)

7:15 p.m. New Business:

Motion to form Primary Election committee

Old business

Video(s) about Ranked Choice Voting (a.k.a. Instant Runoff Voting)

Followup on January event

• motion to send invitation in most time efficient manner, or motion to hand-address invitation
• motion to create list of activities for the event

Donation to College/Civic Center (motion to donate a particular dollar amount)

Announcements from the floor

Better Angels

7:40 p.m. Adjourn & Announce next meeting

JC Dems Minutes – Nov. 5, 2019
In Attendance: Greg Haas (C), Lois Petersen (S), Jim Shell (T), Bill McIntyre, Joanie Taylor, Mary VanAuken, Frank Pratt, Kaye McCormick, Bob Day and Kathie Day

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm

Started meeting with a phone conversation with Judith da Silva and Kevin Delaney. Kevin is with the National Organization Team for the Elizabeth Warren campaign and Judith is a volunteer organizer. Both are recruiting community leaders and volunteers to help support the Warren campaign. How to get more info from that campaign will be shared via the jc dems email list.

Oct. 1 minutes were approved as written: (Bill, Kathy)
Treasurer’s report: We currently have $2032.83 in our account.

Announcements:
The state party appointed Jeff Dockter (previously ran for State Auditor) as WDP treasurer.
Greg will show a video about how rank voting works at our next meeting. We will also discuss location and start planning for the upcoming caucus at the Dec. mtg.

Lois proposed setting up a New Year’s Gathering of JC Democrats to be held on Sun., Jan. 26 at 1 pm as a way to bring fellow Democrats together to discuss issues, get to know one another and combat the feeling of political isolation. Joanie moved, Mary seconded that we proceed with plans for the gathering. Approved. Motion made/approved (Bill, Kathy) to spend up to $200 in support of this effort.

Lois spoke about Better Angels and the Sheridan meeting she attended pertaining to this group. She passed out information about the organization and specifics related to an upcoming workshop scheduled for Nov. 21 in Sheridan. To register for the workshop, please go to: https://www.better-angels.org/event/depolarizing-within-workshop-sheridan-wy/

Jim Shell suggested we consider making a donation to Sheridan Community College in appreciation for free use of the classroom for our monthly meetings. Further discussion at our next meeting.

Next meeting will be Tues, Dec. 3 at 7 pm, Room 108, Bomber Mountain Center
Meeting adjourned at 8:40.

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting
Nov 5, 2019
Agenda

7:00 p.m. Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Sign in sheet and introductions

7:05 p.m. Reports
Secretary’s presentation of the minutes of the last meeting.
(https://jcdemswyo.org/2019/10/minutes-october-1-2019/)
Treasurer’s summary of financial activity.
Announcements from the Chair.

7:15 p.m. New Business:
Guest Kevin Delaney via telephone from Warren Campaign. Intro, Talk, Q & A

Lois will move that Dems gather in early Jan. as a way to get to know each other.

Old business
Followup on tri-county training.
Followup on letter writing.

Announcements from the floor
Lois hopes to present some information about Better Angels.
Others.

7:40 p.m. Adjourn & Announce next meeting

JC Dems Minutes – Oct. 1, 2019
In Attendance: Greg Haas (C), Lois Petersen (S), Bill McIntyre (SCM), Joni Taylor, Will Cox, Mary VanAuken, Mike Matto, and Kathie Day (SCW)

Meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm
Agenda for this meeting and minutes of our Sept. 3 meeting were approved as written
Treasurer’s Report: In Jim Shell’s absence, Greg read the report. We have a current balance of $2048.23. Our fundraising goal is to have $4,000 raised by May 2020. Discussion about whether to publicize dollar amounts of our budget was tabled until next meeting.

Announcements:
Kendra Cross, Treasurer for the state party, has resigned. Any interested in running for that position should contact Joe Barbuto by Oct. 6.

Sarah Hunt (current Exec. Director – WDP) is willing to work toward a Tri-County (Campbell, Johnson, Sheridan) Training Session if we can come up with a topic, location suggestion and date. The topic we are interested in is Caucus Day Procedure since the caucus will run differently this year (run-off/ranked choices style). Please contact Greg right away with the date you would prefer to attend – the evening of Tues, Oct. 15 or sometime on Sat., Oct. 19.

Greg has set up a listserv that should facilitate email communication. Currently he has 61 addresses for Dems he sends our newsletter to. More information and the signup for the listserv can be found here: http://lists.jcdemswyo.org/listinfo.cgi/jcdems-jcdemswyo.org.

New business:
Letter writing: We discussed language/ideas to be used in writing to Representative Tass and Senator Kinskey asking their support of ‘A Resolution Urging the WY State Legislature to Adopt Legislation to Make All County-Level Political Races Non-Partisan.’ A few letters were drafted. Please write a personal letter to each of these legislators in the next few days and feel free to enclose a copy of the resolution itself, found at:
https://johnson.wyodems.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/10/Resolution-County-Elections-Signed.pdf

Addresses are:
Rep. Richard Tass, 386 Crazy Woman Canyon Rd., Buffalo, WY 82834
Sen. Dave Kinskey, 614 Mountain Shadows Blvd., Sheridan, WY 82801

Meeting adjourned at 8:25.

Next meeting is on Tues., Nov. 5, 2019 at 7 pm, Bomber Mountain Civic Center Room 108.