What:  Fort Collins Office Opening
When:  7:00pm, Friday, May 28th
Where:  419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 200
Fort Collins, CO 80521

On a more somber note, tonight I received note from Angelique Layton that her
longtime friend, Ivan Meek, passed away today.  Ivan and Angie are not only LAD members;
Ivan made a great presentation to LAD at my first meeting as President in
January of 2007.  The presentation still resonates in my head because it
exemplified the kind of person Ivan was to me.   It was a bi-partisan
presentation filled with facts, figures, and other nerdy statistics.  However,
what underpinned it all was the desire to make sure EVERYONE’S vote counted.

Ivan was a template for integrity (and not only because served as a board member
for Coloradoans for Voting Integrity).  His stoic exterior almost betrayed his
fiery fervor for Election Reform and justice of all kinds.  I remember him
patrolling the State Capital in Denver on Governor Ritter’s Inauguration bending
Sen. Brandon Shaffer’s ear on voting issues.  All the while, he was good-natured
and polite, listening to Sen. Shaffer as to when Ivan could make his pitch to
the Senator.    The pitch was made.  Trust me.  “No” was not an option.

At first glance, his grimacing exterior would lead you to believe that he was
unhappy.  It’s not that he was unhappy; it’s just that he was always
thinking.  Thinking of ways to make a more just world,
thinking about how to approach the next legislator, thinking about what YOU were
saying.  His slight frown always had a smile curling at the edges.  His
gravel-toned voice had warm tinge that showed he cared about his common man (and
woman).  Just this March, he wrote a letter to the Daily Camera about his 80
year old neighbor that missed out on her chance to vote because of mail-in
ballots.
http://camera-letterstotheeditor.pmpblogs.com/2010/03/18/ivan-c-meek-no-all-mail-elections/

Ivan’s presentation to LAD included a great speakers from Longmont. 
This presenter and Ivan worked as election judges in 2008.   They
were working on the ballots late one night, and on their way home they turned
around to go back to the County Clerk’s Office.  They knew there were voting
inconsistencies that needed the Clerk to address.   And the Clerk did address
them (remember that thing I told you about not taking “No”?).  We could be sure
2008’s results were more accurate because of these two men.  People asked me
why this Longmont presenter was not an LAD member.  I told people Ivan’s
friend and colleague was a Republican.  Ivan did not put politics before
principle.

Regardless of whether you knew him or not, the issues he fought for are still
omnipresent.  We still need to count votes correctly.  His passing means there
must be a passing of the torch.  There will never be another Ivan, so we must
stand together to bring his ideals to reality.  Go to Coloradoans for Voting
Integrity http://www.cfvi.us/?q=node/1 when you get a chance.

Lastly, I have a personal admission to make.  I knew about a month ago that Ivan
was not doing well.  I knew that might not have another opportunity to talk to
him and I missed it.  A lot of people talk about doing things if “time
allows” … as if time controlled our actions.  Allow some “time” this
week to email or call a friend you haven’t spoken to but keep meaning to.
Tonight I am emailing one of my old college buddies who I haven’t spoken to in
years.     Just to say “hi.”

Below is a youtube link to a Denver Post interview of Ivan Meek.  Keep him and
his family in your thoughts.   The services will be at the Louisville United
Methodist Church in the next few days.  I will keep people updated on
www.longmontdems.org as to the details.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbKXuQKQ2-I&feature=player_embedded

What: Boulder County Canvass Kickoff

When: 10:30, Saturday, May 15th

Where: Collyer Park, Longmont, CO 80501

I. VP in Weld County 4-30-10
II. Upcoming LAD Meeting 5-5-10
III.  Other Events
a. Cinco de Mayo / Immigration March
b. Help Betsy Markey 5-2-10
c. Romanoff Event

I.  Vice President Biden was in Weld County today

with Rep. Betsy Markey, Sen. Mark Udall, and Gov. Ritter.  I was pleased to see so many people come out to see them at UQM.  UQM is a local business that makes electric and hybrid engines.  They were able to expand their business and hire more workers in large part due to a government grant throught the ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act). 

The federal government helped to spur American ingenuity into American prosperity.  I am glad that our Longmont City Council was invited to this premier event, and even more excited that they came to support local business in addition to the Vice-President Biden’s ARRA. If companies like UQM and Abound Solar continue their great works (spurred in part by the federal government), they will have to change the name of the Carbon Valley to the Carbon-free Pinnacle!

-Jonathan Singer, President LAD

II Next LAD Meeting – How to Get Big Money Out of Politics

When: EARLY START TIME! 6pm , May 5th, 2010
Where: Front Range Community College (Classroom Building – Community Room)
Who: A movie from MoveOn.org, Jim Hoffmeister – Clean Campaigns Colorado, and YOU
What: Come early for a potluck to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  Bring a dish to share and your own table settings (let’s make this zero waste).
At 7pm we will start our regular meeting.  MoveOn.org is holding Forums across the country about home to democratize our democracy.  We will learn about the problems of the coroporate influence on democracy, and work to come out with our own solutions.

MoveOn Organizers will also be there.  You can RSVP at http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=103225

III Other events

a.  March in Longmont for immigration reform

What: Join the May 1, 2010 in solidarity for our brothers and sisters in Arizona and for a better future for all of us and for this country!  Fair and humane immigration reform now!
When: 11:00 AM to noon
Where: Meet at 487 17th Street just east of Main (We will start to gather at 10:00 AM)  March will go down Main Street to Longs Peak.

What: Help Deb Gardner and the Longmont Area Dems at the Cinco de Mayo Celebration (or just stop by and say “hi.”)
When: May 1, 12p-7p
Where: Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave, Longmont
Contact: Deb Gardner if you would like to help her out at deb@debgardner.net

b.
Help Besty Markey in Longmont

Longmont Volunteer Meeting
Sunday,May 2nd at 4:00pm
Longmont Free University
Bring a snack come help lay the foundation for her Longmont Canvass kickoff to Saturday, May 15th at 10:30am

c.
Team Romanoff Steering Committee Meeting

When: Tuesday, May 4, 6-7 pm
Where: Longmont Public Library, 409 4th Ave, Longmont 80501
Meeting Room A

When: Saturday, May 1, 10-11 am
Where: Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder 80302
Boulder Creek Room
www.AndrewRomanoff.com

Note:  I have been receiving a lot of updates for Romanoff Events directly from organizers, but none for Michael Bennet.  The LAD will remain neutral in this race.  However, if you want to promote a local Michael Bennet event, please email us.

Note 2: The LAD is supported by local individual donations.  We are spending an extra $60.00 for the room next Wednesday.  If you are not a member, please bring $20.00 for the year.  If you are rich, please bring more
No one will ever be turned away for lack of funds.

We the People Are!

Make Your Voice Heard!

February 20, 2010:

Communitywide Forum

Duane Physics G2B47, Colorado Ave,

Across from Folsom Field CU, Boulder

Join Boulder County Democrats, elected officials, activists and professionals in the field in exploring currentissues of utmost import. Core Democratic Party values and key policy recommendations must be clearly defined and voiced so that the will of the voter can be represented effectively by our elected Democratic officials. Help us determine or 2010 BCDP Platform. Together we can empower the will of Democratic voters tohelp drive our state and federal legislative agenda.

For further information email: platform@bouldercountydems.org

We the People Are!

Make Your Voice Heard!

February 20, 2010:

Communitywide Forum

Duane Physics G2B47, Colorado Ave,

Across from Folsom Field CU, Boulder

Morning session:

9:30-10:30 AM: The Economy

10:40-11:30 AM: Health Care

11:40 AM-12:30 PM: Healthy Democracy

Join Boulder County Democrats, elected officials, activists and professionals in the field in exploring currentissues of utmost import.  Core Democratic Party values and key policy recommendations must be clearly defined and voiced so that the will of the voter can be represented effectively by our elected Democraticofficials.  Help us determine or 2010 BCDP Platform. Together we can empower the will of Democratic voters tohelp drive our state and federal legislative agenda.

For further information email: platform@bouldercountydems.org

…but characters of all sorts are invited to join us at The Dickens Tavern on December 13th.

What: Holiday Party with Jake Williams

When: Sunday, December 13th from 4pm to 5:30pm

Where: The Dickens Tavern, 300 Main St. in Longmont

RSVP: Send an email to Jenn at jenn@jakewilliams.org

Happy Holidays! On December 13th, please join me in celebrating the season, enjoying great free food and supporting two great causes.

As we approach the start of the new year, it’s time to look forward to a better Colorado – where the security and dignity of employment is within reach for all, where each of us has access to quality health care, where we can offer every kid a quality public education, and where we always protect our environment. These are the goals of our campaign for the State House of Representatives, but there are many Coloradans among us who have more immediate needs.

The Inn Between of Longmont [i] is an organization that provides transitional housing and services to a diverse population that includes single and two parent families, teen parents, individuals exiting domestic violence relationships, persons with physical and/or mental disabilities, single adults, seniors, and teens unable to live at home for a variety of reasons. They truly help people in our community every day, and they need your support.

Celebrate with us on December 13th at the Dickens Tavern and bring along a suggested minimum donation of $25 for our campaign and/or a non-perishable food item, personal care product or cleaning supply (visit theinnbetween.org to see the “Wish List”) to support the Inn Between of Longmont.

[i] The information contained in this invitation is in no way meant to state or imply that the Inn Between endorses our campaign for the State House of Representatives.

Do you ever feel like you play Bingo every first Tuesday in November?  2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d as well as 1a and 1b are not games.  But if the voters choose wisely, we can all win.

Join the Longmont Area Democrats Wednesday October 7th for a presentation and
discussion of the ballot items Longmont voters will be facing.

What: Longmont Area Democrats Monthly Meeting
Where: Front Range Community College (Longmont Campus – Community Room) 2190 Miller Dr. 
When: 7pm to 9pm
Why: The 2009 all mail-in ballot is not nearly as long winded as some previous
years.  However, there are some critical issues that the Longmont and Boulder
County are facing.

For example did you know that there is an item on the ballot that will allow voters to
decide if Longmont could be allowed to provide cable and Internet services?
(Issue 2C)?

Come and be a part of the LAD city election follow-up as we discuss all of the
items on the 2009 ballot.

Longmont Area Dems Go Higher (Education)

When:

May 6, 2009 from 7-9pm

Where:

 Front Range Community College

http://www.frontrange.edu/FRCCTemplates/FRCC1.aspx?id=3173

Classroom Building (Community Room)
2121 Miller Drive
Longmont, CO 80501

 What:

a. Please join the Longmont Area Democrats and CU Regent Joe Neguse to learn about and discuss the future of higher education here in Colorado. The state legistlature initally looked at cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from our world renowned institutions such as CU and CSU.

 Come and hear from the 2nd Congressional District representative Joe Neguse about the value of these insitutions and the financial peril they find themselves in almost every economic downturn.

b.  But first … the Longmont Area Democrats have been asked to endorse the Employee Free Choice Act.  Everyone is encouraged to discuss and debate the merits of this piece of federal legislation on May 6.  You may also post on this website your questions, concerns, and options (if you have them).

Click this link for details.

NOTE: If you wish to make an announcement at LAD, please contact me beforehand and we will work to make sure that some time is set aside (keep it topical).  You can email me atjonathan.singer@gmail.com

Members are asked to weigh in this subject at our monthly meeting.  Feel free to bring your ideas, questions, and opinions on this blog, or at Front Range Community College on May 6.

Here is the langauge below:

EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENT FORM:

WHEREAS:  Our economy is in shambles and working people are struggling to make ends meet while bankers and failed financial institutions are being bailed out at tax-payer expense.

WHEREAS: Unions have historically been one of the few legal and democratic vehicles for workers to advocate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

WHEREAS: According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, unionization raises wages for minority women more than education, seniority, and job training combined.

WHEREAS: Workers who belong to unions earn, on average, 30% more than nonunion workers and over half of all Americans say they would join a union today if they had a fair chance.

WHEREAS: Every 23 minutes a worker in the U.S. if fired or otherwise discriminated against for trying to form a union and during organizing drives, 91% of employers force their employees to attend mandatory closed-door anti-union meetings on paid company time.

WHEREAS: In 2005 alone, over 30,000 workers received back pay from employers that illegally fired, coerced, bribed, or otherwise discriminated against them for their union activities.

AND WHEREAS: Under our broken labor laws, penalties against Employers who engage in anti-union activity is minimal and in 2005 the median time between the resolution of an unfair labor practice charge against an Employer was 659 days.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT: We, the undersigned organization, urge our Colorado decision-makers to support the Employee Free Choice Act as the most significant and necessary piece of labor legislation since the National Labor Relations Act of 1935.  This is a historic opportunity to restore balance in the workplace and protect the right of Colorado workers to pursue the American Dream.

Organization:______________________________________________________

Officer’s Signature:_________________________________________________

Date:_________________________

Furthermore, I am willing to: (please check all that apply)

____Write a personal letter to the Senator ____Write a letter to the Editor

____Speak publicly on this issue to the media ____Join a delegation to lobby decision makers on EFCA

____Come to rallies or demonstrations in support of EFCA