Recorded by Nicholas Wilt

Attendees:

Bill Benet

Ann Diehl

Dave Garretson

Sam Liotta

Dave Marcus

Dave Nevin

George Pixley

Jerry Seward

Jim Swarts

Jim Tappon

Vic Vinkey

Tom Wega

Nicholas Wilt

Robin Reynolds Wilt

7:00 – Meeting convened.

Bill Benet - motion to approve minutes subject to any corrections or amendments – Jim Swarts seconded and unanimous vote in favor

I.        Voter Registration

a.    Park Avenue Festival (Robin Wilt)

At St. Paul's Episcopal (opposite George Eastman house)

5 members registered voters

Good traffic throughout the day

Registered about 20, handed out forms to additional people

Gave forms to Susan B. Anthony Foundation

Jim Tappon manned Obama campaign’s booth 10:30-noon, registered 4 people

b.    Rochester Public Market (Dave Nevin)

Dave contacted the Rochester Public Market about voter registration and they extended an open invitation - if we show up before 7:00am on Saturday, they will make sure to give us a place. They have a nice high traffic spot that is well suited because it is too small for a vendor's booth.

Dave Marcus wanted to know about identifying signage etc. if T-shirts or lapel stickers. Bill Benet believes that Public Market would accommodate table with Progressive Democrats of America signage.

c.       Metro Justice Project Pushback (Robin Wilt)

– Flyers may come in handy during voter registration. http://www.metrojustice.org

d.      High School Senior Voter Registration Drive (Robin Wilt)

We were not able to get into high schools in June due to bureaucratic pushback. When we met with Rochester City School District, they offered push-in presence in Participation in Government (PIG) classes. They also suggested that we could meet with teachers of PIG classes or principals.

Paul Lampe was the contact for that meeting, but is no longer in that position with the school district. George Pixley will follow up with Rochester City Schools.

Jim Tappon: Why not use PIG as a platform to hold voter registration for rest of seniors or eligible students and get them involved in doing something as opposed to just signing up.

                        Jerry Seward: High school newspapers could be used to publicize events.

Dave Marcus: Rochester Against War does truth in recruiting that involves push in to schools -> potentially could register voters at the same time. Robin took action item to check with Hank Stone and get involved.

e.    Community Colleges (Robin Wilt)

Robin hasn't had a chance to follow up with community colleges, but City Schools seem like as much as we could handle.

II.      Candidate Chair (Jim Swarts)

a.    08.08.08 - Noon-8pm 8-county Democratic rally/picnic in Webster

Robin and Jim Swarts got there at noon, set up table for Paloma Capanna's campaign. George Pixley stayed there the whole day. We signed up one person.

Jim took the opportunity to talk with Rick Dollinger. Dollinger asked for endorsement again; Jim reiterated the need for a completed questionnaire; Rick asked him for another questionnaire.

Dave Marcus: liked the visual of the Support the Troops End The War behind podium at this event. Found State Democratic chairman June O'Neil’s talk really inspiring.

b.     Mel Braverman is holding a house party for Dollinger on August 21.

c.       Massa House Party with Mimi Kennedy - Saturday August 23

        Please come and bring your checkbook

        Hoping to get Mimi Kennedy to call in or tape a video to show

        Eric will be present

d.      Dave Marcus will be hosting another PDA house party September 28.

e.      Health Care Roadshow - FLCC with Donna Smith Sep 4-6

                                Donna Smith was featured in SiCKO

                                http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=9946

                                Sep. 4 – MCC – Damon City Campus

                                Sep. 5 – St. Joe’s and Canandaigua (public appearances)

                                Robin thought we were set for FLCC on Sep 6, but that fell through.

A number of action items were taken to come up with a new venue for Donna Smith in Canandaigua. Note: since the August 13 meeting, the date, time and location have been settled on as follows:

Date: September 5

Time: 7 pm

Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua,

3024 Cooley Road (North of Rt 5 & 20), Canandaigua, NY 14424

f.        Dave Garretson

Dave Garretson challenged us to think of a way to help him get elected. He is running a shoestring campaign but thinks he has an excellent chance. This is the last week before he starts walking 3-8 hours per day. Estimates that he will meet 10,000 voters door-to-door before Election Day. Has been going to festivals and campaigning.

                                Ideas: House Parties, boots on the ground

g.       Free-form discussion

George Pixley: props to 08.08.08 event, pointed out that it was a great networking opportunity for Democrats. Robin saw Ithaca Democrats, Ken Preston got to network. It’s easy to smile at the Democratic efforts "out in the country" but investments will pay off. Capanna is challenging an incumbent who has not had to campaign in 16 years.

Tom Wega: State Democratic Party has figured out value of networking. MCDC's office space has doubled in the last month. Outfitted it as information center, gathering place. Can phone bank in house now.

III.    National Organization

a.       Leadership Conference August 1-2

                We submitted report on our activities

                Coordinating with Massa campaign to get email blast sent nationally

                Massa appeared on Air America radio program

                Action: "tune in" Tuesday nights - PDA gets credit for every online listener

                Turned in their best numbers the night Eric was on.

b.      PDA will be co-located with The Nation magazine at the Democratic National Convention

c.       Change Makes Change - sustaining supporters needed.

                                Visit pdamerica.org, can become sustaining member at $5/mo

                                5-10 years is the timeframe impact

IV.    Treasurer Report - Dave Marcus

                Need to change address to which the statements are sent.

                Please submit your dues if you haven’t already.

                You may pay dues online via Paypal.

V.      Priorities Liaison Report (Bill Benet)

Bill hopes to develop a position paper for a progressive platform, begin a Progressive Caucus within the Democratic Party, and ask Democratic Committee members to sign onto platform and vote for whichever candidate supports the platform 100%. The goal is then to recruit candidates who support the platform and try to make sure there is a candidate to stand for PDA position paper, even if they are not willing to invest much time in their candidacy.

The paper would be revised annually.

                Tom Wega: can represent progressives on the Executive Committee

George Pixley: are we going to become Ralph Nader-type spoilers who take the wind out of someone's sails and keep them from being elected?

                Jim Swarts: it’s important that the platform is evolutionary, revised annually.

                Robin Wilt - issues based organizations don't seem to get involved in this context

Bill Benet: there are 770,000 people in Monroe County. If national figures are correct re who supports single payer healthcare, at least 200,000 support the progressive agenda. We need about 400 of those.

George Pixley: important to outreach to Working Families Party, create alliance, support them, they will reciprocate.

Dave Nevin: there are at least 3 dues-paying Working Families Party members present here.

Other possible partner organizations: Metro Justice, Planned Parenthood, Rochester Labor Council, Sierra Club.

VI.    PDA is reaching out to Women for Obama

September 20 - Louise Slaughter will be at an event (possibly AAUW) time & place to be determined

                Later on, fundraiser with PDA Board member (Mimi Kennedy?)

                Mid-October timeframe

VII.              Miscellaneous

a.    Next meeting is Wednesday, September 10, 2008, AAUW, 494 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (preceded by a social from 6:30 – 7:00 PM)