Donaghue's Dispatch: Happy Holidays and Updated Information

December 13, 2016/Dispatch

Donaghue’s Dispatch: Happy Holidays and Updated Information

Greetings from Kate

Dear Democrats,Matt and I wish all of you a happy holiday season. It was great to see so many people in Westborough and at other events.

As you celebrate the holidays, look for common ground and unity with others, while at the same time, ensuring that people have accurate information.

Looking for the gift for the person who has everything? Send them a copy of the Democratic Dispatch! Those of us who are known to be active are hearing from people outside our own areas asking how to connect with local people. If your Democratic Town Committee meeting or a Democratic gathering is listed here, it is easier for interested people to connect. Send events to DDemDispatch-owner@yahoogroups.com.

As I mentioned last week with the holidays coming up we have adjusted the Dispatch schedule. We had some new events and some changes that we want people to see. Unless we have some time critical events or changes, we won't be sending an issue on Friday morning. Please send information as soon as it is finalized.

Democratically yours,

Kate Donaghue

PS Events and schedules change rapidly. Matt and I work hard to get the most up to date information, but sometimes we don't receive notices of changes. Weather can cause cancellations and postponements as well. If in doubt, watch MassDems calendar and check with the organizers.

Ideas for Committees – Plan a Democratic Voter Registration Event in January
Registering voters is important work that is easy and fun. I am finding that people are very interested in becoming Democrats. January will be a good time to get people registered. As we near the inauguration people are yearning to do something positive; a voter registration drive gives people the opportunity to do something concrete. There is also high interest among people who we will be asking to register as Democrats. A voter registration drive can be done door to door or in public areas where people congregate. During a Democratic registration drive:
– Recruit registered Democrats to become more active.
– Encourage voters who are not in a party to become Democrats.
– Register those who are eligible to become voters.
– Pre-register sixteen and seventeen year olds. – Invite non-citizens to take part in volunteering in campaigns.
Organizations are encouraged to take part in Martin Luther King Day of Service. https://www.serve.gov/site-page/mlkday

Mass Dems seeking applicants for Executive Director position – Deadline 12/24
Chairman Bickford writes…
Former Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral and State Committee Member Mark DiSalvo have agreed to Co-Chair the Search Committee. Mayor Dan Rivera, DNC Member and former Executive Director Sue Thomson, and former Mayor Lisa Wong have also agreed to serve. I believe this will help us find the best individual to work with us to elect Democrats in 2018. Anyone interested in applying must have his/her application submitted by close of business on December 24th. The five person search committee will interview qualified applicants January 3-5, 2017, and will select up to three finalists. It is my hope that we will be able to announce a new Executive Director by January 17th. For more information and a job description: http://bit.ly/2fNo2iG

Recurring Sections and Dispatch Information
To subscribe to the Dispatch – send an email to DDemDispatch-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Event details:

*12/13/2016 Jay Livingstone End-of-Year Campaign Reception CORRECTED DATE*
Tuesday, December 13, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Lala Rokh Restaurant, 97 Mount Vernon Street, Beacon Hill
Please join State Representative Jay Livingstone at his End-of-Year Campaign Reception.
Suggested Contribution:$50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/livingstoneforstaterepresentative

12/13/2016 Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 13, 6:30 PM
Mario's Cafe, 60 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow
Let's celebrate the season together. This is the Meeting to be Merry. Buffet Dinner; Cash Bar; Annual fun LDTC Yankee Swap. $20 per person- spouses , partners and S.O. invited. Reservations REQUIRED. (We need count for dinner buffet at Mario's.) RSVP by Wed. December 7. Include names of those attending. Checks made out to "LDTC" and mail to: LDTC, P.O. Box 60744, Longmeadow, MA 01116. Your check is your reservation. Bring wrapped gift – $10 max value – for Yankee Swap. For more info email LongmeadowDemocrats@gmail.com.

12/13/2016 Salem Democrats Platform Brainstorming Session
Tuesday, December 13, 7 – 10 PM
Brothers Taverna 283 Derby Street, Salem, Massachusetts 01970
Members of the Salem Democratic City Committee are interested in creating a platform with a focus on city, state, and nationwide goals. The idea is to capitalize on new member enthusiasm, prioritize issues for the Committee, and build organized, actionable items that we can work to achieve as a group. Please join us if you are interested in brainstorming.

12/14/2016 Fundraiser for Khrystian King for Worcester City Council
Wednesday, December 14, 5:30 – 7 PM
El-Basha, 256 Park Ave., Worcester, MA 01609
Join SenatorsHariette Chandler and Michael Moore and Representatives Dan Donahue, Mary Keefe, John Mahoney, and Jim O'Day for a fundraising reception in support of Khystian King for Worcester City Council. Suggested contribution: $25/$50/$100. All contributions gratefully accepted. RSVP to king4worcester@gmail.com.

12/14/2016 North Andover DTC Holiday Potluck
Wednesday, December 14, 6 PM
179 Coventry Lane, North Andover
Special Guest: MDP Chair Gus Bickford.

12/15/2016 Attorney General Maura Healey Year-End Celebration
Thursday, December 15, 5:30 – 7 PM
Scholars Bistro, 25 School St., Boston, MA 02108l
Suggested Contribution: $50/$125/$250/$500/$1,000. Donate on line at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dec_15

*12/15/2016 Rep. Jay Kaufman Forum – All the News That's Fit to Print*
Thursday, December 15, 7 – 8 PM
(13 Depot Square in Lexington Center
Representative Jay Kaufman's OPEN HOUSE, takes a post-election look at the Presidential race, and the media's role in shaping the debate in "All the News That's Fit to Print: A Conversation With Former Boston Globe Columnist Eileen McNamara & State House News Service Publisher Craig Sandler.

12/16/2016 Wayland Dems 3rd Friday Breakfast
Friday, December 16, 7 – 9 AM
Mel's Commonwealth Cafe, 310 Commonwealth Rd., Wayland, MA 01778 (Rt. 30 at East Plain St.)
Join us for eggs and conversation over easy. Stop in when you can and stay as long as you like. Candidates who wish to speak please contact WDTC Chair Michael Gilbreath at gildell@mac.com. Address questions to same or for more info visit https://www.facebook.com/waylanddems

12/17/2016 Democrats: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Saturday, December 17, Noon – 3 PM
Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, 100 Bigelow St, Holyoke, MA 01040
You are hurting, you are angry, you want to talk, you want to listen. Please join us for a facilitated discussion. Whether you supported Bernie or Hillary, it is time to come out from behind the walls of social media and reflect through civil dialogue, on our experiences within the Democratic Party, from the primary, through the general election. Then we will brainstorm about what we have learned and put a plan together to move forward. Join state committee members Ray Drewnowski, Pat Duffy, Nancy Stenberg, and colleague Peter Dopp for an afternoon of reflection and action.

12/17/2016 Dennis Dems and Cape & Island Dems Holiday party
Saturday, December 17, 6 PM
Kathy and John Ohman's home, 12 Thomas Ct., Dennis, MA 02638-2200
The Dennis Democratic Town Committee and the Cape & Islands Democratic Council invite you to join them for good food and good cheer at the annual pot luck dinner. RSVP to Kathy at 508-385-4141 or Ohmankathy@gmail.com or Kathy McNamara Ohman on Facebook.

12/18/2016 Hopkinton DTC Holiday Party
Sunday, December 18, 3:30 – 7:30 PM
Home of Sandy and Carl Altamura, 33 Elm St, Hopkinton
Feel free to bring something you like to eat or drink and we'll help you eat or drink it!

12/18/2016 Newton Ward 6 Dems Holiday Party (All wards welcome)
Sunday, December 18, 4 – 6 PM
Home of Shawn Fitzgibbons, 300 Homer Street, Newton, MA, 02459
Speakers Sen. Cindy Creem will talk about protecting immigrants.
Gretchen Bennett, chief counsel of the Joint Committee of the Judiciary on Beacon Hill and will speak about her experience with voter suppression in Michigan.
Football friendly party.
For this party we are collecting donations for Syrian refugees. If you can, please bring: Clean used coat, Data-free working cell phone/smart phone, Sleeping bag or blanket, and/or Reconstituted baby formula.
For more info email Ward 6 Chair Barbara John at barbaraj.massed@gmail.com.

12/20/2016 Holiday Celebration in Support of State Senator Jason Lewis
Tuesday, December 20, 6 – 7:30 PM
Bobby C's, 20 Main St., Melrose
Suggested contribution: Co-Host $1,000/Benefactor $500/Supporter $250/Friend $100/Guest $50. Donate online at http://electjasonlewis.com/contribute/ or make checks payable to the Committee to Elect Jason Lewis and mail to PO Box 253, Winchester, MA 01890. To RSVP or join the host committee contact Ellis at ellis.j.brewster@gmail.com or 508-728-1510.

*12/20/2016 Fundraising Reception for Mayor Setti Warren in Grafton*
Tuesday, December 20, 7 – 8:30 PM
RSVP for address
Suggested donation: $50, $100, $250.
Please make checks payable to the Setti Warren Committee, P.O. Box 600095, Newton, MA 02460.
For more information, please call 617-733-3751 or email webster@castlepointpartners.com.

*12/21/2016 Sen. L'Italien Holiday Party*
Wednesday, December 21, 6 – 9 PM
Attika Restaurant & Sports Bar, 1 Mill St., Lawrence, MA 01840
Sen. Barbara L'Italien is hosting her Second Annual Free Holiday Party to benefit local veterans. There will be complimentary food and refreshments, and guests are asked to bring a donation in the form of a personal care item that Sen. L'Italien will deliver to New England Veterans Liberty House, which serves veterans in need in the Merrimack Valley. For more info email info@teambarbara.com.

*12/21/2016 AG Maura Healy Town Hall Meeting in Framingham NEW LOCATION*
Wednesday, December 21, 7 PM
Greater Framingham Community Church, 44 Franklin Street Framingham, MA 01702
Attendance limited. RSVP required. More information on facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/589820931218545/
Please RSVP http://tinyurl.com/j7s2y59 and watch for additional town halls with Maura Healey around the state in the coming weeks.

*01/04/2017 Inauguration Party for Jack Patrick Lewis*
Wednesday, January 4, 6 – 8 PM
Los Cabos Mexican Cantina & Grill 300 Eliot St., Ashland, MA 01721
Bring your family and friends for an evening of fun, food, and fellowship to celebrate Jack Patrick Lewis' recent election and his swearing-in as State Representative. Please RSVP to harry@electjacklewis.com. Note: This event is free and open to the community. However, if you wish to donate to the Lewis Committee you can do so at the event or online at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/electjacklewis

01/12/2017 Chicopee Democratic City Committee Meeting
Thursday, January 12, 6:30 PM
Chicopee Library, 490 Front Street, Chicopee
Guest speaker, Nancy Stenberg (topic: Votebuilder).
Watch here for details.

*02/01/2017 Bellingham DTC Monthly Meeting *
Wednesday, February 1, 7 PM
Municipal Ctr., 10 Mechanic St.

*02/02/2017 Democratic State Committee Meeting*
Thursday, February 2, 7 PM
Boston Teachers Union, 180 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester 02125
6:00 pm Refreshments
7:00 pm Meeting
NOTE: There is a Mt. Vernon Street on Beacon Hill. Be sure to use the zip code when using a GPS.

04/30/2017 Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee Democrat of the Year Award Breakfast
Sunday, April 30, 9:30 AM
Twin Hills Country Club, 700 Wolf Swamp Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106
Save the date. For more info see https://www.facebook.com/longmeadowdems or email LongmeadowDemocrats@gmail.com.

05/08/2017 Shrewsbury DTC Meeting
Monday, May 8, 7 PM
Community Room at Southgate, 30 Julio Drive, Shrewsbury.
Our meetings are open to any interested Democrat, not just members! For more information contact ShrewsburyDTC@Gmail.com.

Caucus and Convention Information
The method of selecting delegates was approved on November 14 by the DSC.
Please refer to this document (once is is posted) for information on the process. Some of the key dates are listed here:
Deadline for notifying MDP of caucus date: January 27, 2017
Caucus window: February 4 to April 2, 2017
Convention date: June 3, 2017 in Lowell
NOTE: The DSC voted to allow sixteen and seventeen year old pre-registered Democrats to take part in the State Convention and vote on the party platform at the 2017 Democratic State Convention, if they become delegates. Preregistered Democrats who will be age 18 by the anticipated date of the 2018 primary will be able to participate in caucuses and run for delegate or to apply to become youth add-on delegates.
PLATFORM: Since it is a platform convention, caucuses usually go fairly quickly. This makes it easier to have a committee meeting in conjunction with your local caucus. A specific time for a caucus is required. For example it it is not allowed to have the caucus follow the adjournment of a committee meeting. But a committee meeting can immediately following the adjournment of a caucus. With the very long window it is easy to schedule a caucus on the same day as a regular meeting. With the provision to have candidates who are absent be able to run under specified conditions, many committees find this to be a practical way to proceed.

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The Democratic Dispatch is a more or less weekly e-mail newsletter for Democratic events across the state. Your editors are Kate Donaghue and Matt Shear. Pace Willisson handles the tech stuff and "Dispatch Team" members include Pat Mosca and others. We edit this as volunteers as our way of promoting the Democratic Party, Democratic candidates and the Democratic Platform. The positions represented in the regular "Greetings from Kate" or "Greetings from Matt" reflect our personal positions, and not those of the Democratic Party.

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Thanks! Kate Donaghue (and Matt Shear)

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