HomeMinutes of the CDC Board Meeting held at the Best Western Hill House in Bakersfield, California on September 25, 2005
9:30 AM - Meeting called to order by CDC President Chris Stampolis. Explains that this will be working meeting.
9:33AM - True Blue Presentation by Central Valley South Region Vice President Holly Hart and Regional Assistant Helen Acosta, including integration of CDC Strategic Plan
11AM - Twenty minute break.
11:20AM - CDC President Chris Stampolis discusses organizational structure of CDC with focus on growth from three to 11 Areas and 15 to 25 Geographic Regions and reason for the expansion. Explains that seven Area VP slots and 15 of 25 Regional VP slots are vacant.
Continues with discussion of what constitutes a functional, geographic Democratic Club, defined by CDC as follows:
- Meets on a regular schedule.
- Wants three percent of registered democrats in community served as members.
- Aims to contact all Democratic voters in community by phone, mail, e-mail, or other method for elections.
- Tracks municipal commission openings and recruits candidates to apply for vacancies.
- Finds and produces candidates for elected local office.
- Does substantial community outreach.
- Develops relationships with appointed and elected Democrats and holds them accountable.
- Creates an annual plan and takes accountability for creating benchmarks.
With reference to the CDC:
- Appoints club members to CDC issues and standing committees.
- Participates in both local and statewide CDC meetings and county committee meetings.
11:33AM - Participants split into Areas and engage in exercise to determine how many constituent clubs meet definition of functional.
12:00PM - Lunch Break
12:47 - CDC President Chris Stampolis discusses afternoon agenda.
1:05PM - Reports by Region on clubs and whether they are functional:
Riverside and Imperial - Regional VP Michelle Heaberlin states that region needs both more clubs and more activity.
Alameda - Lucy Sells announces new clubs in Oakland and Berkeley, but explains that most are not open to three percent request.
Contra Costa - Hilary Crosby from El Cerrito Democratic Club reports lots of gaps in region and that many clubs are not functional.
Santa Clara - CDC Treasurer Herb Engstrom will attempt to help launch two new clubs in San Jose.
San Bernardino - Yucaipa Club President Jim Ewing asks for CDC effort in Imperial County and explains that although there are ten clubs in San Bernardino County, most are underperforming. Also calls for establishment of multiple clubs in Cities of San Bernardino and Ontario.
LA County West - Regional VP Greg Valtierra explains that his region may be most active in state and has multiple clubs that are functional. Also calls for effort to establish clubs in Calabasas, West Lake, and North Hills. In addition, asks for support for existing El Segundo club and forming Beverly Hills club.
LA County South - regional VP Mark Bowen discussed plan to resolve overlap between various club geographies. Calls for effort to establish clubs in Downey, Paramount, and Huntington Park.
LA County North - Regional VP Nina Sharky states that only half of the cities in the Region have clubs, most of which are underperforming. New clubs have recently been established in red areas, including Monrovia and Rosemead. Temple City Democrats need club and assistance from CDC.
LA County East - Jerry Voorhis club leader Rudy Mann states that very few clubs exist in region. Next efforts to establish club will be in Montclair.
1:24 PM - CDC President Chris Stampolis asks to alter agenda and postpone remaining reports so local staffers working for local elected officials can make their presentations. Board agrees by acclamation.
1:25 PM - Talk by Ann Cervantes, staffer for State Senator Dean Flores and recently named Kern County Democratic Central Committee 2005 Democrat of the Year. Recommends accessing staff before attempting to develop relationship with elected official. Distributed pamphlets on lobbying and participation. Recommends using Legislative Recognition Certificates to honor local activists and organizations. Certificates can be secured through staff or online.
1:36 PM - Talk by Kim Salas, Assistant Director for Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio. Discusses applying for appointments to Boards and Commissions through supervisors.
1:44 PM - Regional reports resume:
Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties - Steve Cummings, former Area VP reports that all cities have active Democratic clubs. Details reenergized Camarillo Club and new Democratic Women of the Conejos Valley. Santa Ynes is only gap in Santa Barbara County.
Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties - Represented by Jan Black, who is not present. In process of reorganizing. San Benito County has no clubs.
South Central Valley Region - Area VP Jery Lacayo states that Area has solid coverage in north section. Currently limited excitement for geographic clubs in Fresno, although Chair of Fresno Central Committee wants to get them established. Details efforts by Holly and Helen to build new clubs in Kern, Tulare and Inyo Counties, with focus on Delano, Fowler, Orange Cove, and Kernin.
1:51 PM - Talk by Kern County Democratic Central Committee Chair Duane Moore. Takes position that party should stay away from hot-button issues such as abortion and gay marriage.
2:00 PM - CDC President Chris Stampolis reviews definition of Functional Club.
2:11 PM - Discussion of officer vacancies. Lucy Sells asks that vacancies be listed on website.
2:30 PM - CDC President Chris Stampolis leads discussion of finances, including reports by CDC Treasurer Herb Engstrom and Chief Operating Consultant Josh Futterman. Substantial discussion and debate over accounting procedures and delivery of written financial reports. President Stampolis agrees to ensure that written reports are provided at all future Board meetings.
3:50 PM - President Stampolis makes motion that Board continue to allow him to hire CDC Secretary Josh Futterman as Chief Operating Consultant and Area VP Jery Lacayo for outreach pursuant to requirements of CDC constitution.
4:05 PM - Motion made to split question. Motion passes.
4:10 PM - Motion to allow President Stampolis to continue to hire Jery Lacayo passes with no opposition.
4:14 PM - Motion to allow President Stampolis to continue to hire Josh Futterman passes with the following opposed: Hilary Crosby, Rose Lernberg, Craig Athon, Nina Sharky, Michelle Heaberlin.
4:18 PM - Motion to support CDP position on disbanding AD Committees. Passes with limited opposition.
4:20 PM - President Stampolis requests CDC support to assist with recovery of monies lost by YDA due to unfair forfeiture of deposit for YDA convention to Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. Motion made and passed by acclamation to allow President Stampolis to make concerted efforts on behalf of CDC.
4:27 PM - Motion made to investigate chartering issues surrounding club in Nevada County. Motion passed by acclamation.
4:30 PM - President Stampolis details possible alliance with Planned Parenthood for "No on 73." Asks for club support to mount precinct walking operations to distribute door hangers.
4:39 PM - Motion made to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned.
These minutes certified as true and accurate by California Democratic Council Secretary Josh Futterman on September 27, 2005.