Announcements
It's Election Day!!!
To all of our members and supporters, whether serving as paid staff, campaign leadership, election protection lawyer, field organizer, poll watcher, pollworker, citizen, Democrat, voter…
...THANK YOU!!!
SIGN UP: Obama Voter Protection Program
The effort to promote and protect the vote has begun -- and it needs volunteers.You can sign up here.
Earlier than ever before, in a more comprehensive fashion than ever before, building on three years of base work and an extensive primary season, we're making sure that every eligible citizen who wants to vote can, and that the vote will count.
DC DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION at UDC May 3
Join voter promotion and protection colleagues on May 3 for a voter promotion and election protection workshop!
Sign up here. Full Convention agenda available here.
What: 2008 DC Democratic Party State Convention Where: University of the District of Columbia
Where: University of the District of Columbia (Van Ness Metro)
When: Saturday, May 3, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
(Voter Promotion and Election Protection Workshop at 10:30 a.m.)
The DC Democratic Party is holding its state convention at the University of the District of Columbia May 3. Democrats from across the District will come together to review and adopt the 2008 DC Democratic Party Platform that will be submitted to the National Democratic Party during the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
At 10:30 a.m., we have organized a Voter Promotion and Election Protection workshop. Please join representatives from the DNC, the Democratic presidential campaigns, and your colleagues from the DC DLC, DC Democratic Party, and Virginia Democratic Party to discuss local, regional, and national opportunities to make a difference and help voters exercise their rights!
Sign up here (or RSVP to erika@democraticlawyers.org)
Full Convention agenda available here.
Become a Neighborhood Leader for the Democrats!
The DNC is launching a new block-by-block neighborhood empowerment and party-building initiative.
Sign up! Be a Leader! It’s fun and easy!Washingtonians: sign up at www.dcdemocrats.us
Virginians: sign up at http://www.vademocrats.org/page/s/nlsignup
Marylanders: sign up at http://www.mddems.org/ht/d/sp/i/1128619/
Neighborhood Leaders is a new DNC initiative to build a grassroots program in every state to help the eventual Democratic Presidential Nominee. The program provides the Neighborhood Leaders with training on a host of on-line tools to communicate with their neighbors in their own voice.
Neighborhood Leaders will get access to the State Party's Votebuilder database, targeted lists of their neighbors and political material to personalize and distribute.Folks, this is brand new and game changing...it's the first time Democrats have had a national voter file and allowed our grassroots activist and leaders with direct access to it! If we build this program in every ward, precinct and neighborhood, we'll create a real ground game that will push our candidate to victory on November 4th, 2008!
Volunteers for 1/19 DC Pre-Primary Caucus Needed!!!
The DC Democratic Party is seeking volunteers to help to administer and monitor the DC pre-primary caucus on Saturday, January 19th.
See democracy in action first-hand and help DC voters select District-level Delegates and Alternates to represent the City and the Democratic Presidential Nominee at the 2008 National Democratic Convention!Training session is scheduled for January 16th at 7:00 p.m.
You do not need to be a DC resident to volunteer. DC residents who volunteer will still be able to participate in the caucus.
If you are interested, please contact DC Democratic Vice Chairman Jeffrey Richardson at jeffdrndc@yahoo.com.
DC Democrats Holiday Party
Holiday Party, Presidential Forum, and Straw Poll
- Join fellow DLC members, as we celebrate the holidays and inaugurate our NEW partnership with the DC Democratic State Committee
- At 8 p.m. there will be brief presentations from representatives of the presidential campaigns
- Buffet and Cash Bar
WHEN: Monday, December 10, 2007, 7:00 to 11:00 pm
WHERE: The 18th AMENDMENT RESTAURANT
613 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (one block from the Eastern Market Metro station)
Admission is $10, plus a children’s book (age 12 and under) that will be donated to a local charity
Mention that you were referred by the DC Lawyers/DC Voter Education Committee – a portion of the admission will benefit the DC Lawyers Committee!
Support the Democratic Law Students’ “Opportunity Grant Program”
The National Democratic Law Students Council, the national group for law school Democrats, has launched the "Opportunity Grant Program" for the 2008 Law Dems '08: Building to WIN! Convention. Opportunity Grants will help to foster a convention that reflects the diversity that makes our Party strong by helping law students who otherwise would be unable to afford to attend the Convention.
We need your help to give students this great opportunity. Click here to contribute for greater law student involvement! Our convention will enable students to plug in and get ready to play important roles in the 2008 elections and voting rights efforts.
Your support will allow us to ensure a diverse group of delegates this spring.
· A $500 "Donor" contribution allows us to reimburse travel and expenses for up to three law students from diverse backgrounds.
· A generous $1000 "Benefactor" contribution would mean even more deserving students will reap the benefits of attendance.
· We also welcome contributions at lower levels as "Friends of Diversity" donations – e.g. $250 or $100.
We are encouraging firms to match attorneys' individual contributions. Consider your gift a direct investment in the future attorney-leaders within the Democratic Party. So don't wait!
For this program to work, we need to know well in advance the amount of money we can raise so that we can properly get the word out to the students who apply. Our goal is $5000 – which will help 15-20 students from diverse backgrounds attend the 2008 National Convention. All donors will be recognized at the Convention through placement on signage and in the convention program.
Click here to donate and promote diversity today!
If you have any questions, please contact Matt Bailey at mbailey@lawschooldems.org.
Voters in Gaithersburg need your help!
We need lawyers and bilingual volunteers on the ground in to ensure people have the right to vote on November 6.
Recent activities by the Minutemen, including plans to handbill polling places, suggest that intimidation and attempted suppression of Latino votes is likely.The City of Gaithersburg has already stated that they will not have bilingual judges available because they are not required to provide bilingual access to the polls under their city charter. With the help of voter protection volunteers, voters in Gaithersburg can have a peaceful election and have their voice heard!
When: Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. We need people all day.
Where: Headquarters is located at Volunteer Lawyers for Ryan Spiegel, Carlos Solis, and Ahmed Ali - 60 W. Gude Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850 From the headquarters, people will rotate across the 6 polling places and respond to volunteer calls.
Do I have to be a licensed lawyer in Maryland to help? No What legal backup will be provided? We will be working with a national voter protection association, which will have a telephone hotline and a web based system.
Is there anything I can bring? Yes, a wireless enabled laptop and a cell phone. Computers and telephones will be limited at our makeshift headquarters. Also come in your own car (rather than sharing a ride) if you can so we can dispatch more people if needed to problem voting sites.
Who can I contact to volunteer of for more information? Kim Propeack, 301-379-7461, kimpropeack@hotmail.com
Help Virginia PROMOTE THE VOTE
Lawyers Needed for all Priority Races in the Commonwealth
Volunteer activities will include one election day training session, election day field placement, and field placement for subsequent Canvass the day after the election (Canvass training will also be available).Contact: rita@democraticlawyers.org, on behalf of Virginia Association Democratic Campaign Counsel.
Please send an email stating your availability on Nov. 6-7, whether you have transportation, the distance you are able to travel, and fluency in other languages in addition to English. You do not need to be licensed in Virginia in order to participate.
“Your right to vote - we guarantee it!"
Power in Diversity! 2007 DNC AMP Summit
DNC American Majority Partnership Summit
August, 23-25th, 2007
Las Vegas, NV
CLICK HERE FOR THE DRAFT AGENDA
(includes 2 voting rights sessions!)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration Extended to: August 17th, 2007
Fee: Registration is $25 per person, $10 per student
Event Date & Location: August 23-25th, 2007 Las Vegas Bally's and Paris Hotel, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109 (877) 603-4390
A message from our Chairman:
“Democrats are taking back our country because everyone has a seat at the table.“Our diversity makes us relevant, it makes us representative of our country, and it makes us better serve the entire nation.“You have a chance to see this in action. The 2007 DNC American Majority Partnership Summit starts in just two weeks in Las Vegas -- and I'd like for you to join us…
“Hosted by the DNC's African American, Asian Pacific Islander American, LGBT, Hispanic, and Women's Caucuses, the Summit will be an incredible chance for leaders in the party to hear from you.
“This meeting will also help set up our strategy for success in the upcoming election cycle. There will be trainings on how to run for office, and how to win; policy briefings by our party's leading experts; and trainings on new technologies that will give our candidates the tools for victory.
"I'll be at the AMP Summit, as will other key leaders of the Democratic Party. We're looking forward to hearing what you have to say -- your ideas on how we can, and will, work together to win.
"Thank you for your work to take our country back.
"Sincerely,
Gov. Howard Dean, M.D."
For further information, please contact AMPSummit2007@dnc.org
Debate Watch Party - August 19
WHEN: Sunday, August 19, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Busboys and Poets (2021 14th St. NW)
RSVP: erika@democraticlawyers.orgSPONSORED BY: Andy Shallal, Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Democratic Caucus, Ward 2 Democrats, Councilmember Jack Evans, Councilmember Jim Graham and the Ward One Democrats, and the Women’s Information Network
$20 Donation INCLUDES:
- FREE BUFFET & Specials on Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s
- A Presidential Preference STRAW POLL
- A Raffle with Dinner for Two at Bus Boys and Poets
Funds will be used for DCDSC expenses to the DNC Convention
Visit http://www.dcdsc.org/
Congressional Training - Tuesday, June 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Please join us for the DC DLC Congressional Training on June 26, 2007, in Washington DC.
We are delighted to have, as our instructor and mentor, the Honorable "Jim" Chapman. Jim previously represented Texas' 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for 12 years. Jim has also had 8 years of state elective experience and served as a District Attorney for 8 years.
Jim will give advice on how to approach Members and congressional staff and how to connect our issues with their constituent interests and political proclivities.
To RSVP and for location information, please contact John Shuman at john@democraticlawyers.org.
March for the Vote on April 16
What: Voting Rights March—The Largest Demonstration Ever for DC Voting Rights
Why: Because Congress Needs to See Thousands of Us Taking to the Streets—No More Taxation Without Representation!
When: DC Emancipation Day, April 16, 2007
2:30 PM—Gather at Freedom Plaza, 13th St. & Penn. Ave., NW
4:00 PM—Rally at the Capitol Reflecting Pool, 3rd & Independence, NW
Where: Gather at Freedom Plaza and March to the Capitol Reflecting Pool(Freedom Plaza—Metro Center | Capitol Reflecting Pool—Federal Center SW)
Who: DC Vote, Mayor Fenty, Chairman Gray, Delegate Norton, other elected officials, civic leaders, coalition partners and
dedicated citizen activists
Sign up online at www.VotingRightsMarch.org or call 202.462.6000 x25
Join the DNC's New Lawyers New Leaders Democracy Bonds Initiative
The New Lawyers New Leaders Democracy Bonds group is an exciting new program that brings together democratic lawyers in the DC metro area for political briefings, low-dollar events, and social networking.
The Presidential cycle has started earlier than usual and the DNC is preparing for the eventual nominee early as well. By becoming a member of the DC New Lawyers New Leaders chapter, you are supporting the Democratic Party as we continue to lay the groundwork to win back the White House and increase our majority in Congress.
Please become a Democracy Bond member today by visiting our group's home page:National Democratic Law Students Convention
The National Democratic Law Students will hold their 2007 Convention from March 2-4 in New York City. The events will be held at New York University School of Law and Cardozo Law School.
For more information and to sign up, visit: www.lawschooldems.org/convention
For more information
Please contact our co-chairs:
Rita Aguilar
Erika Moritsugu
For interest outside of the DC area, please contact Anna Martinez
DNC Hosts Election Protection Summit
The National Democratic Lawyers Council and Voting Rights Institute hosted a day-long event to bring together voting rights activists, litigators, scholars, Democratic Party leaders, and election administrators to develop comprehensive strategies to advance fair election practices. DNC Chairman Howard Dean delivered the closing remarks for the session, noting the contributions of the DLC and concluding:
"This is a really huge issue, because it's not about the future of the Democratic Party, but the future of a Democracy that has been the greatest Democracy for 200 years. When you begin to believe winning is more important than America, you have hurt your country, and we can't have that -- we want to make sure that America is always first."
For more information visit the DNC Voting Rights Institute.