Help Needed NOW to Plan for Successful Precinct Caucuses, April 15

One of the most important roles of the local party organizations is to conduct the bi-annual precinct caucuses and Democratic Party conventions. This is a big under-taking that involves Democrats in every precinct in the county, and the quality of the experience for rank-and-file voters reflects on us as an organization. It’s important that voters feel welcome to participate, feel the process allows for their ideas and opinions to be heard and respected, and that it was a valuable use of their time. Our ultimate goal is to create momentum from the caucuses to move forward with effective grassroots organizing that helps win elections.  So here’s where you come in: we need volunteers!

Logistics: Each caucus site will need to be arranged for and people recruited to help with the details of set-up, materials, recruiting volunteers to help the day-of. We could use a person from each “region” of the county to work in their area and make the work easier for all. Contact Natalie McClendon to volunteer, 671-6851.

Platform: Every two years we take a deliberate and thoughtful look at what our values are, and what our immediate goals should be, and set them out in the Platform. Because of the unusually short time between the Caucuses and the County Convention, we will need to start our Platform work now, months before the Caucuses on April 15.

We will need to develop a plan and procedures for gathering platform proposals, and provide leadership at caucus sites to involve attendees in this process and follow through to the County Convention. Contact Mike Estes to volunteer, 220-1100.

Caucus Leaders (PCOs): Each precinct will convene separately, even if they are in the room with other precincts.  Not all precincts have PCOs, or the PCO is not able to serve for some reason.  Specific training will be provided to all volunteers leading caucuses. Contact Sherry Zeilstra to volunteer, 380-1438.

Affirmative Action: The party is committed to diversity, but it takes effort to make that happen.  Unfortunately, the Whatcom Democrats does not currently have a functioning Affirmative Action Committee, so we need to recruit someone. The committee work involves networking through existing organizations and their natural leaders as well as making one-to-one contacts with voters.  Contact Natalie McClendon to volunteer, 671-6851.