SC Reports / Updates
Report from Sheril Smith: Treasurer

• As of March 31^st, balance is $749.00 in Sterling Bank, Houston.
• First time for a budget for the PPC!
• Fundraiser with Ronnie Dugger: $1500. Split with Ronnie.
• If we count on one fundraiser per year, $1500 per event.
• Suggest T-shirt sales, $15each, $3660 per year.
• Expenditures : $3500 (proposed) per year
• Propose that we go to a bank with branches everywhere to make deposits. Service charge is $5.95/month @ Bank of America, $10/month for Sterling.
• Will apply for federal tax # online (not done yet).
• Will use the tax# to open a new account
• Need the participation of all SC members to help Sheril, especially the regional chairs!
• Fundraising NOT the primary job for the Treasurer!

• We're very action-oriented, but we MUST have a plan first!
• Will establish a TODO list for the SC members including due dates.
• Mike will "bug us" if things aren't done on the schedule(s).

• Working on environmental issues. Can become familiar with her work at the website:
  http://allianceforcleantexas.org
• Will try to get info on Fish warnings
• Garnet Coleman of this group is doing a lot of work on. Renewable energy.
• Meetings are held every Thursday.

• Is working on/with the Texas Ethics commission (no further notes taken on this topic)

Report from Bob Turney (Houston/ Southeast Texas Region Chair)

Group is  focusing on three areas:

• Grassroots training;
• Election reform; and
• Communication.
• Holding off for now on Diversity Training efforts
• Within the grassroots training, there are three sub areas:
• Precinct training (Tom Rohan, subcommittee chair)
• Precinct chair recruiting
• General notes on Election Reform: Several PPC members were invited to Fort Bend County's review of electronic voting machines. Members pressed Hark on "monkey business" with their machines. Also Accupoll (another vendor), will be using Open Source code and was asked to have their code reviewed; they agreed (!) if state-certified.
• Dr. Dan Wallach of Rice would review the code and is excited about the project.

Linda Foley questions:

• Is Houston activism via the PPC ?
  Yes, based in monthly  meetings in Houston
• Are PPC members precinct chairs? Yes.
• Side notes/questions about Harris County democratic committees: lots of PPC members have applied. Grassroots committee is one such example.
• Bob & Aimee will be circulating notes about the Houston activities. 

Report from John Kelley from Corpus Christi

• Air America !!!!! has Impacted other Texas areas (Dallas & Austin)
• This effort will continue and will be extending statewide (Houston next?)
• Established the Preserve Democracy organization, and have film series going (The Corporation, other films that normally don't come to Corpus).
• Last night the program was Weapons of Mass Deception  (200 people showed up, including two judges).
• Got a Progressive elected to City Council, which means that there are now three people of 8 that we can count on for progressive issues. Also a lead for information for the public and Corpus Christi.
• Progressive media offers opportunity for fundraising.
• John Kelley has a progressive radio show in Corpus Christi on FM.
• Note: BPEP: Dennis (?) owns 36 stations in Texas (!) and has supported Air America.
• He (Dennis) has identified stations across the state that can be approached for Air America, and has asked PPC (via Mike Boyette) for help in contacting the stations.

Report from Linda Foley of Fort Worth

• Locally - precinct development in Tarrant County is being organized around 8 counties. Will be doing training and the vacancy committee.
• Will build on the basic training, such as the county-provided materials and will reference voter database.
• Voter database designed for non-computer savvy users.
• Diversity chair has prepared packets and distributed at the YD (Young Democrats) websites. (Have prepared 41 packets & 1/2 page flyer).
• Has mission statements etc. 30 got picked up & distributed at the YD meeting locally.
• Hopes for applications and inquiries from colleges.
• TCC: participated in Tarrant County on counter-demonstrations with the (YCT) Young Conservatives in Texas Illegal Immigrant hunt event.
• Staged an affirmative action bake sale, gave away cookies, lots of negative publicity for the YCT.
• YCT called off the "illegal immigrant" hunt due to anticipated counter-demonstrations.
• UTA : "Straight Pride Day". UTA Gay organization was planning  to have counter-activity; Straight Pride folks were outnumbered (!) on the campus.
• If anyone hears of YCT (Young Conservatives of Texas) activities, please contact PPC folks for counter-actions!!!!

Report from Nata Koerber of Houston on the Membership Plan

• We want to have the PPC reflect regions  and regional concerns.
• Membership packet includes ONE document that explains the PPC.
• Have also developed a regional chair survey (DRAFT) to get more specifics about a region. Topics of the survey include number of voters in order to find ways to boost delegate base & general membership.
• Will be working the technical committee to produce online forms for the survey.
• Linda Perez: will in general meeting for SDEC, Charles Soechting's suggested seven regions (7)  in an effort to be more grassroots.
• Question: can our sections be replicated with the SDEC regions?
• Leslie (strategy chair) was to have produce the region maps; not yet complete.
• Question from Nata: what is the timeline on the region map for SDEC? Maybe we can help the SDEC define the regions?
• Mike: Sheril will follow up on the region definitions.
• Suggestion: mesh with the SDEC (Dennis) grassroots committee.and/or Brian Pendleton.

• Bruce Barrick: we (the PPC) will be tested in the next year. Charles Soechting has been chair for barely a year now
• The situation reminds him of the "Dirty Thirty" group: state reps in the early 70s,  Lane Denton (eg), and included Republicans. Had trouble with the state speaker of the house, formed a progressive coalition.
• Situation is similar now. PPC can synthesize SDEC folks to band together to address issues in the near future. 
• This coalition is unhappy with the way the party is being run.
• It believes that the coalition exists due to personal problems with Charles as opposed to specific issues; must focus on the issues and solutions and get away from a specific person; otherwise the coalition might deteriorate
• Bruce is working on structural issues. MUST do things to not be dependent on specific individuals.
• Mike: our mission is the reform of the Democratic Party in Texas !! NOT to do specific issues and structural and rules. Also platform !

• Will address structural changes; and
• Can win!
• Mike : if we concentrate on structure, all will fall in place.

General comments about SDEC reaction to the PPC

• Generally favorable, as evidenced with the creation of a grassroots committee.
• John Kerry is in Austin today !!!! State Democratic Party asked Kerry folks to visit today (SDEC meeting) and was told that it was not possible (!!!!)
• Fidel: the lesson of the last election --- quitters never win!
• Comment from the YDs: "If the YDs put as much effort into organizing blogging, we'd have peace and justice in the world today!"

   

Report from Nata Koerber of Houston on SDEC voting reform efforts within the TDP (Texas Democratic Party).

• Party is behind any bill behind paper trails and vote counting.
• Building on work from last year with the Democratic Party on Harris county, (voting security group). Before the presidential election (first using evoting) they brought up the issue of verifiable voting.
  Spring through Nov 2004 --- report on many areas to look at (voter registration base & technology, reliability of duplication  for auditing, counting of absentee ballots)
• There is now an election commmitee in Harris County including election procedures, voter intimidation, and technology committee.
• Many elected officials didn't know of any problems with the voting process. Committee diligent about collecting specific reports of  irregularities. Coordinated with diverse groups to document the problems.
• Many legislators would not believe that irregularities occurred. But facts were collected to convince them otherwise.
• Keep organized! And documented!

   

Other points/issues:

Motion on the PDA/PPC relationship

*** Motion made to consummate the PDA/PPC position

*** Seconded by Nata. Koerber

*** Terrence: discussion ?

Vote: Passed unanimously

PART II (NEW BUSINESS)

• Mike: table agenda item #12 (add new regions in Ft. Worth / The Valley / The Panhandle & Brownsville).  Will roll over discussions to next SC meeting, try to coordinate with SDEC regions.
• Mike: Leslie will resign from the Steering Committee (Strategy chair). Is inundated with CAFTA and other activities and feels that she cannot function as the Strategy Chair.
  Contact Mike with ideas & suggestions.
• Strategy chair: articulate the strategy and liaison with the TDP. Would prefer a chair in Austin. Does not need to be a current SC member.
• Agenda item #14, will fold into the #12 discussion (see agenda).
• Agenda item #15 : need to help Sheril with PPC budget.
• Stan got the PPC together with Dr. Dan Wallach at Rice and Bill Baumbaugh in Dallas (tech person).
• Why important? We have been invited to brief the Ft. Bend County Chair on voter irregularities in preparation  for buying voting machines.
• We caught the vendors off-guard with specific questions about the machines & the procedures.
• January : met with Alan Peigna (House Bill 1466)  about evoting.
• Stan ---- called TDP about the paper trail. Visited with the Republican committee on the voting machine approvals and  so forth.
• Bob Dean (Reeves county chair):  new machines being evaluated now, have punch card machines need paper trail-equipped machines, haven't been implemented yet. His point: law requires that machines be  present in the  Precinct, but NOT THAT THEY BE USED :-) So he'll advocate punched cards with electronic voting machines  as a backup.
• Mike: Looking for new regional chair in Dallas. Same in El Paso (was Wild Horse (now in Florida)). Norma Flores of DNC --- offered to help. Has become a PPC member.
• PDA - PPC relations (Mike, Sheril, Stan)
  Mike: Great relationship now, was very confusing.

  Vote to be a PDA "partner" (by the SC). Is an ALLIANCE, not a SUBSET of the PDA, no cross-reporting between the organizations.

• Stan summary: when precursor to PDA (Progressive vote), their written mission (pre DNC convention) was to develop caucuses  in the state organizations.

  Within 90 days of the convention, Progressive Vote merged with the PDA, which began to blur the commitment to the caucus establishments.

• PDA became issue-oriented rather than the caucus creation body that Progressive Vote group had as their mission.
• PDA was to be a "from-the-top" communication model on issue advocacy.
• It was decided that the PDA mission did not jive with the PPC mission (us: structure; them: issues). And PPC is meant to be a bottom-up grassroots group. 
• Conclusion: PPC is NOT a part of or directly affiliated with the PDA.
• PPC agreed to work with PDA in a "next door neighbor" type of arrangement.
• PDA turned  over the membership list to Sarah (250 members. About 50+ people are not PPC members (but were PDA members).
• Democracy for America (DFA) is also a partner organization with the  PPC.
• PPC should develop healthy relationships with other groups: PDA, PPC, YDs.

Motion by Linda Perez  / Seconded by Terrence to approve the tax ID# for the PPC

No discussion. Vote : unanimously passed.

• Agenda item #16: will revisit later (if time allows). John Kelley has suggestions. Roll over til next SC meeting.
• Agenda item #17 report from parliamentarian (rolled over)
• Agenda item #18 Revisions in printed material beyond the membership form

  1. Need to thank people who have done work in the past.
  2. Need vote on approving existing documents

  Two main components:
  1. Mission statement
  2. Statement of principles/beliefs

  Must be voted upon.

Sheril: we have a seat on the table at the Advisory Committee of the TDP. Must we be coordinated with the TDP  and be in line with the rules of the TDP?

Mike suggestion: stay engaged, but try to formalize the relationship with the Advisory Committee.

Do we (PPC) want to be a formal Member of the AC? We are NOT at present (more like a "cohabitation", not a marriage).

Motion by Stan / second by Sheril. that we be a cohabitant to the AC

Discussion: None, Vote : unanimous by the SC

• Agenda item #19: move to next meeting (Farm and Ranch)

  If we develop infrastructure, there will be a large contingent of rural and farm participation, do we need separate  ranch & farm groups?

• Sheril's district: 90% agriculture. Both Linda & Sheril have Ag communications.
• Agenda item #20 : combine with #21
• Agenda item #21: Business plan submission
  Mike:  didn't get total participation.
• Agenda item #20 : with respect to other groups.

Report from Nata Koerber on Membership Packet materials

• Sarah Gonzales pulled up logo and did a foldout pamphlet (4-fold).
• Hard copy and "soft" copies available.
• Additions to the mission in the pamphlet: 
• Empower the grassroots
• Dilute the power of corporations.
• Will have "tear line"

• Not redundant, very concise
• Easy to read
• Will mention committees
• Have gotten quotes from a Union Printer for the pamphlet.
• First printing : 1000 suggested (cost?)
• Question: how do we distribute the document?

Report from Nata Koerber survey for region profile.

• Organizations within region which are addressing LOCAL concerns.
• Survey provided for regional chairs
• Have survey online by ??? for region chairs to fill out
• Need contact person for the chapter(s).
• Must get region-specific organizations & issues; also a list of educational institutions.
• Membership plan for 2005 --- (GET FROM NATA)
• Relies on region-specific exposure
• Outreach via region-specific issues that are progressive (e.g., Unions)
• Need to identify non-Democratic organizations in particular
• Increase delegates in the 2006 convention(s)
• Proposed timeline - April 23rd through May 7th (two weeks)
• NOTE FROM TECHNICAL COMMITTEE:  online version (with database) not feasible in desired timeframe (May 7^th).
• EMAIL-based survey IS possible, however.
• Suggestion: photos of regional chairs to be used in a membership registration letter.
  Could be used to recruit and to demonstrate diversity. 
• TODO: photos of regional chairs by end of the  month? Try to have a plain background and as professionally produced as possible.
• August-September: campus-based registration drives (for PPC) as well as voter registrations.
• End of year (2005) --- recruiting for Precinct Conventions in 2006
• John K suggests that strategy NOT be based just on PPC. Corpus Christi has Tejano groups, several GI groups, .... CC is organizing around an election with a progressive candidate, NOT just PPC members.
• John K: will offer candidate(s) in the upcoming election help  with grassroots activities.
• Will be doing block parties concentrating on common ground around local issues. Example: fixing streets, lobby city council.

  "If you want to lead a parade, find a parade and go to the front"

• Try to avoid PPC being perceived as "raiding" other groups, rather offering leadership/organizational help.

  "Attraction rather than promotion".

• Works from actions (block walking, etc.)
• John K: CC is NOT attracting new voters. If the PPC helps other organizations to organize and get membership, then the other organizations will look to the PPC for  leadership in other areas.

  "Lead by example" : help other organizations do THEIR job,  5 people can coordinate that.

• Example from Stan:  Harris County is taking an active role in training Precinct Chairs; this is less resource-intensive than RUNNING the  other groups.
• John agreed: training is a great example of telling  people HOW to do things, not taking away from their organizations.
• Nata: consider voluntary participation donation ($$$$) on the pamphlet ???
• John: should PPC produce materials (such as the training materials) and then sell to organizations for a fee?

Examples:

• How to put on a block party?
• How to run a Precinct?
• John K: need to have a region organization (Tech person, Strategy person, Membership chair, Diversity Chair, etc.)
• Mike: Regional Chair meeting suggested.
• Linda Foley: emphasize the PPC regional organizational structure!

Motion to have a booth at DemocracyFest in Austin

Motion seconded, No discussion, Vote: Passed unanimously

Notes produced by Charlie Lindahl attending on behalf of Sarah Gonzales.