At our membership meeting on Sunday, November 8, we will meet State Senator Gretchen Whitmer, candidate for State Attorney General. Prior to being elected to the State Senate, Sen. Whitmer was an attorney at Dickinson Wright, a well-respected law firm in Michigan, and a State Representative from the greater Lansing area from 2000-2006. She was elected to the State Senate in 2006. In 2003 she was honored as “Legislator of the Year” by the Michigan Sheriff’s Association. Sen. Whitmer will be our lead-off speaker and will answer questions from the audience.
She will be followed by Senator Deb Cherry, who will speak on behalf of her brother Lt. Governor John Cherry, who, as most of you know, is a candidate for Governor. Following her presentation, Sen. Cherry will answer questions regarding Lt. Governor Cherry.
The meeting will begin at 3:00 p.m. in Community Room B of the Charlevoix Public Library. Light refreshments will be served. At our membership meeting following the presentations we will discuss proposed activities for next year, including parades, food drives, county fair, fundraising, etc. Any ideas from our members will be appreciated.
The Democratic county parties in Northern Michigan have been actively encouraging statewide candidates to visit us in Northern Michigan to express their opinions, concerns and to learn more about our area of the state and the issues that are important to us. This will be another opportunity to hear a statewide candidate speak to us after Jocelyn Benson, a candidate for Secretary of State, spoke to us last summer.
On October 24, the First District’s annual Big Bash fundraising dinner held at the Odawa Hotel in Petoskey was a success. The dining room was packed to capacity with Democrats, primarily from the Lower Peninsula. Bart Stupak gave us an update on the status of the health care reform legislation, and gave us the sobering statistic that the 1st District has median income of less than $39,000 and the average annual health insurance premium is over $13,000 for a family of four. Jocelyn Benson gave a brief presentation on the voting rights of citizens in Michigan. The food was excellent and it was a great way to meet with our friends from other counties.
We have continued with our successful food drives. We have held four food drives so far this year, collecting nearly 50 cartloads of food for four area food pantries and supplies for the Boyne Area Free Clinic, as well as $2,000 in cash. If you would like to volunteer in future food drives, please contact us at charlevoixdems@aim.com or call Barb at 582-0416. If you want to help, but are unable to volunteer at the drives, you can mail a check, made out to the pantry, to us at: Charlevoix County Democratic Party, P. O. Box 651, Boyne City, MI 49712. We will deliver it for you.
There are many serious issues facing our country now – two unpopular and expensive wars, healthcare reform, climate change, financial industry reforms – that we don’t have the space to discuss here. Michigan is facing severe economic problems. Make your voice heard by contacting Sen. Levin, Sen. Stabenow, Rep. Stupak, Sen. Allen, and Rep. Elsenheimer to voice your concerns. Contact information is given on the home page of this website and in our newsletter, Donkey Tales. While many of us felt that we could take some time off from politics after last year’s victories, it is clear that we have only begun to change what is needed to fix our problems. Our continued engagement is crucial.
Through our e-mails, post cards, telephone calls, and Donkey Tales, we strive to share our collective accomplishments, thoughts and ideas with our membership. Please keep in mind that communication is a two-way street. For us to be effective, we need to hear back from you, so please let us know your thoughts and how you can work with us to improve our government.
Thank you.
Bill Lovett, Chair
November, 2009
