Weekly Reminder Friday Radio Show, Party to Benefit Iraq Veterans Against the War, CD Leadership Training June 17, 2009 Courtesy Ventura County Democratic Party, Communications Committee VenturaCountyDemocrats.com

Dear Brian ,
This week there are many important activities for Democrats, Progressives and Independents. We hope you will join us at one, or more, of our many meetings, events and seminars.

Democratic Club Meetings - For details visit VenturaCountyDemocrats.com
6/17/09 - Democratic Club of Simi Valley/Moorpark, 7 p.m.
6/17/09 - Santa Clara Valley Democratic Club, 7 p.m. (Dinner at 6 p.m.)
6/21/09 - Young Democrats, 2 p.m.
6/22/09 - Ojai Valley Democratic Club, 7 p.m.
6/23/09 - Ventura County Democratic Central Committee, 7 p.m.
6/25/09 - Democratic Club of Ventura, 7 p.m.
6/26/09 - Ojai Valley Democrats Book Club, 7:30 p.m.
6/27/09 - Party to benefit Iraq Veterans Against the War. 7 p.m
6/28/09 - CDC Leadership Training, Grover Beach, 8 a.m.
7/01/09 - Working Blue Democratic Club, 6 p.m.
7/02/09 - Democratic Club of Camarillo, 7 p.m.
7/02/09 - Stonewall Democrats of Ventura County, 7 p.m.
7/04/09 - 2009 4th of July Street Fair voter registration, 10 a.m.
7/07/09 - CANCELLED - Communications Committee Meeting, 7 p.m.
7/08/09 - Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley, 7 p.m.
7/08/09 - GOOD Club of Oxnard, 7 p.m.
7/11/09 - Democratic Womens' Council of the Conejo Valley, 10 a.m.
7/14/09 - VCDCC Eboard Meeting
7/25/09 - Salsa and VAN Training, 9 a.m.

6/19/09 "Reality Check" Progressive Radio Show - The show airs weekly from 11 a.m. -11:30 a.m. every Friday on 1520 KVTA during the "Locals Only" program. Call in (805-289-1520), listen live or download via podcast at http://1400localsonly.podomatic.com.
This week, David Atkins and Brian Leshon will discuss the current situation in Iran and the effect Social Networking sites like Twitter are having. And, as always, they address the hypocrisy and cowardice of Tony and Audra Strickland and Elton Gallegly on live broadcast radio!

6/17/09 Green Jobs and the Green Economy Action Summit - CA Central Coast
Please join Cause for the region's first Green Jobs and the Green Economy Action Summit on Wednesday, June 17 from 7:30 am - 12:00 pm at Oxnard College. This half-day action summit will focus on four critical facets of our emerging regional green economy:
- Workforce development for quality green jobs
- Green business opportunities
- Sustaining the environment and communities
Oxnard College Gymnasium located at 4000 S. Rose Avenue in Oxnard

6/20/09 Brunch, Democratic Women's Council of Conejo Valley - Mandevilla Restaurant, Westlake Village, 10 a.m. Welcome winners of Council's Scholarship from five Conejo High Schools. Our speaker is 41st District Assemblywoman Julia Brownley. Brunch $20. Meeting free. dwccv2009@yahoo.com for information and reservations.

6/27/09 Benefit Party with Dancing and Bands, Simi Valley/Moorpark Democratic Club

Support Iraq Veterans Against The War - Veterans For Peace - Military Families Speak Out

Saturday night June 27, 7:00 p.m. is a party with live music and dancing. Music provided by local Topanga bands: Killing Casanova and Jim Crawford & Friends. Suggested minimum donation $10 - no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Cash Bar.

6/28/09 Fundraiser in Support of Senator Gloria Romero for Superintendent of Public Instruction 2010 sponsored by the Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats

This fundraiser will be held Sunday, June 28, 2009 from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the home of Alfredo & Yolanda Plascencia on 1031 Corte Barroso, Camarillo, CA 93010. Please RSVP to Irma Lopez (805) 797-6203.

Make checks payable to: Gloria Romero for Superintendent of Public Instruction 2010

6/28/09 Democratic Leadership Training, California Democratic Council and the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party

Sunday, June 28, 2009, 8 a.m. -7 p.m. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433. Cost: Free (Lunch and refreshments will be provided.)

This intense training consists of a variety of workshops for club/party leaders and political activists who want to advance their leadership roles in the Democratic Party or are just getting started! Learn about:

- The California Democratic Party Structure
- The state officers, committees, caucus', clubs, county DCCs, regions, etc., as well as how the State DCC is pulled together.
- How to Run a Meeting: Robert's Rules of Order
- Club Finances: How to Stay Out of Jail
- Fundraising Fundamentals and Guidelines: "Money is the milk of politics", right?
- Fundraising Ideas & Projects
- Increasing and Keeping Your Membership
- Recruiting Candidates for Local Office
- Technology and Clubs
- Additional topics: social networking, email etiquette, listserves, voter files
- The Progressive Challenge: Learn more about the top issues facing Democrats. Whether you are an activist or candidate, you need to be aware of what progressives expect of you and what we expect of our candidates. Also, talking points and concise messaging.

07/04/09 2009 4th of July Street Fair, Ventura
Ventura County Democratic Party will have a booth at the street fair in downtown Ventura from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. We'll be doing voter registration, introducing the public to the local clubs, and selling memorabilia to raise funds for the county party.
Democratic candidates for elected office are welcome to volunteer in the booth. Once candidates have committed to a date and time, their presence in the booth will be announced and advertised.
To volunteer for the booth contact Sandy Emberland at semberland@verizon.net.

07/07/09 CANCELLED - Communications Committee Meeting
As the VCDP Communications Committee is hosting Salsa and VAN training on 7/25/09 we are cancelling the regularly-scheduled meeting in July in lieu of the training event later in the month.

07/17/09 $1,000 Ventura County Democrats 2009 Jack O'Connell Scholarship. The application for the annual scholarship is available as a PDF on the VenturaCountyDemocrats.com website. Eligible candidates must be Ventura County residents; graduates of a Ventura County high school; registered (or registration in process) for the Fall 2009 semester at any public college or university in California (no private institutions); have the career goal of a position in Public Education or Service; and be a registered Democrat or intend to register as a Democrat when eligible. Applications must be postmarked by July 17, 2009. The scholarship will be awarded on 9/7/09 at the Ventura County Democratic Party's Labor Day Picnic at Freedom Park in Camarillo.

7/25/09 Salsa and VAN Training - Hosted by the VCDP Communications Committee
On Saturday July 25, 2009 at 9 a.m. the VCDP Communications Committee will host the first formal training for both the Salsa database program to manage club and volunteer records, and the VAN voter database. The program will be held at a computer training center in Thousand Oaks, and last about 3 hours.

Brian Leshon and Chris Lanier will be presenting. Each attendee will have a computer to work on. If attendees prefer to bring, and work on, their own laptops we recommend this as it enables more people to attend the training.
The cost is $15 per person. 11 seats are being held for one member of each club who will be responsible for member data. Additional seats are allowed on a first-come-first-served basis as computers are available (or immediately enrolled if you will bring your own computer.) Please contact Sandra Kinsler (skinsler@VenturaCountyDemocrats.com) for information and reservations.

You Can Help - Things the Ventura County Democratic Party Needs

1. Free, or low-cost, office space along the 101 corridor.
2. Donations to the Donate Every Month (DEM) program - $25 a month (or more, or less) provides the foundation to run the party, register voters and elect Dems.
3. Volunteers to run fundraising events including; film series, lecture and seminar series, picnics, parties, etc.
4. Volunteers for; voter registration drives, precinct walking for Democratic candidates (currently Nathan Sweet for Moorpark City Council), Communications Committee (write articles, post to website), Political Field Operations Committee (precinct walking, phone banking), Fund Raising Committee (chair events, call donors, attend meetings to introduce the DEM program).
5. Small photocopy machine for the Treasurer.

Donate Every Month (DEM) Financial Foundation of the Ventura County Democratic Party - The purpose of the Ventura County Democratic Party is to elect Democrats to public office and further the causes of importance to Democrats, Progressives and Independents. The party is asking you to make a modest, monthly donation to support these goals and thwart right-wing efforts against equality for all. Our goal is to sign up 250 people to donate $25 every month to support the efforts of the party - more if you can afford it, or less. Every donation matters.

100% of your donation will be used for: voter registration, issue education, candidate recruitment and education, slate cards, mailers, door hangers, phone banking, Democratic Club support, membership drives, and candidate support.
To join the program visit VenturaCountyDemocrats.com, click on the Contribute button and follow the instructions.