By events, on January 17th, 2012
The San Ramon Valley Democratic Club will feature a discussion about "The Death Penalty Costs All of Us" with Former Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Jeanne Woodford at its Thursday, January 26, meeting.
The meeting will take place at the Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, in Danville. Social time at 6:15 p.m., dinner at 6:45 p.m., with the program at 7:15 p.m. Members and invited guests can enjoy the dinner and program for $25, non-members $30, presentation only is $5 (requested donation).
Please RSVP to Jim Donnelly. Mail checks, made out to Jim Donnelly, to 373 Century Circle, Danville, CA 94526. For more information, visit the club's web site.
By events, on January 16th, 2012
The Diablo Valley Democratic Club's Wednesday, January 25, meeting will feature a discussion about the State of Our Cities (Walnut Creek, Martinez, and Pleasant Hill).
The meeting's panel discussion about the challenges facing these cities will feature Walnut Creek City Council Member Kristina Lawson, Martinez Vice Mayor Mark Ross and City Council Member Mike Menesini, and Pleasant Hill Mayor John Hanecak.
The DVDC meets from 7-9 p.m. at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Please park on Deerpark Drive, the first right after the library, unless you have difficulty walking. For more information, call 925-946-0469 or visit the club's web site.
By events, on January 15th, 2012
Please join Senator Mark DeSaulnier and his supporters for his 6th Annual Crab Feed on Friday, January 27, 2012! The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Centre Concord, located at 5298 Clayton Road, Concord. For more information, please click here.
By Edi Birsan, on January 14th, 2012
The Thursday night meeting of the Lamorinda Democrats featured their President – Craig Cheslog speaking about California Education as well as his position within the Superintendent Torlakason's offices at Sacramento. There was a host of bullet points and issues covered from the basic office structure (the lobby receptionist also reports to him) these were some of the salient features that echoed in my concerns for our children's future.
1. The number of new teachers learning to be teachers has dropped almost in half from 80,000 to 42,000. This was also confirmed my Mike McGill a trustee in a local college group that has a teacher training focus.
2. The retention of teachers is down, the prospect of new teachers to replace those that are leaving is poor.
3. The society has turned up the heat on blaming the teachers and the number of pink slips and unreliable work has caused a massive loss of interest in being a teacher. (to me this represents an interesting paradox, people look at tenure as a guaranteed job, yet clearly, it has not attracted enough people who want to bet their career on obtaining it.)
4. We are cutting back on the school days taught because of money while other countries have in school days substantially longer- India 7 weeks longer, Zimbawe has 4 weeks longer than us. There is talk about cutting another two weeks off of the school year because of money.
5. There is a strong correlation to money spent per student and achievement, we are in the bottom of the money spent and the scores for reading and math. NJ/Massachusetts are in the top five or six in funding and the 1st to 3rd in achievement.
6. There is also a direct correlation between poverty and successful rated schools. In those schools within California where there is less than 5% of the students receiving Free Breakfast and Lunch (a measure of poverty) those schools rate amongst the top in the world. Those of our schools with 90% or more on the Free Lunch food qualifications they are the worst achievers.
7. The future of budget cuts does not give a lot of hope for a turn around of the situation. Possibly a revenue measure in the form of taxes or tied income from say oil licenses may give some hope. The question remains whether the people will come to the aid of the schools.
8. Only 30% of Californian voters have kids in schools, making it harder to get support as above.
All of this does not bode well, and for those who think that elimination of the public school system is some sort of solution best take a look at what they are expecting people to do when there are not even half the number of qualified teachers even thinking about going into the field. Then again maybe those same people will have a champion call to "outsource/globalize" education- just ship the kids to China to catchup with their future job market.
By DPCCC, on December 4th, 2011
Join your fellow Contra Costa County Democrats for a holiday party on Thursday, December 15, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the IBEW Local 302 Meeting Hall, 1875 Arnold Drive, Martinez.
Please bring a donation for the food bank and join us for this potluck dinner. Meet and greet begins at 6:30 with the food to follow when it is set up.
Local elected officials and party volunteers hope to see you there!
By DPCCC, on November 11th, 2011
The agenda for the November 17 meeting of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Central Committee follows below. The DPCCC Central Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 302 Meeting Hall, 1875 Arnold Drive, Martinez, CA.
Please contact DPCCC Chair Chuck Carpenter if you have any questions.
AGENDA
November 17, 2011
Democratic Central Committee
1. Flag Salute
2. Roll Call
3. Additions to Agenda
4. Introductions and visitor sign in
5. Sean Bagley discussion on Fundraising
6. EBoard minutes from Nov. 13
7. Meeting minutes from Oct. 20
8. Treasurers Report
9. Voter registration forms available from Rao Kaza
10. New Business: CDC membership, DPCCC transport
11. Action Reports:
12. Old Business: Membership drive, Delegates to February convention
13. 2012 primary election Endorsement timetable
14. Committee reports, Meeting times and dates: issues, by laws, Fund Raising, convention
15. Elected Reports or Alternates reporting
16. Club reports
17. Good of the DPCCC
18. Adjourn until Dec. 15, 2011, Holiday Party
By events, on November 8th, 2011
Assemblymembers Joan Buchanan, Susan Bonilla, and Nancy Skinner are hosting a Contra Costa County Women's Summit on Monday, November 14, from 1-6 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, in Walnut Creek.
Join our elected officials for a conversation about the state budget's impact on the health, safety, and educational services for women and children.
For more information, view the event flyer, or to RSVP for the event, please visit your Assemblymember's web site:
By events, on November 7th, 2011
The Contra Costa Labor Club, Democrats of Rossmoor, Diablo Valley Democratic Club, Lamorinda Democratic Club, and San Ramon Valley Democratic Club are joining together for to kickoff the 2012 campaign on Saturday, November 12 with a fundraiser for the 2012 Democratic Campaign Office.
Rep. George Miller will be the principal speaker at the November 12 event, which will be hosted by the Democrats of Rossmoor from 3-5 p.m. at the Diablo Room, Hillside Clubhouse, Rossmoor. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m.
State Senator Mark DeSaulnier and Assemblymember Joan Buchanan will also attend.
General admission is $10 and sponsor admission is $25. You can download an event flyer by clicking here.
By events, on November 7th, 2011
The Diablo Valley Democratic Club's Wednesday, November 16, meeting will feature a discussion about the State of Our County with County Administrator David Twa.
Twa will discuss how the county is faring amid difficult budgetary times. Learn how budget cuts will affect law enforcement, the judicial system, health care, and other county needs.
The DVDC meets from 7-9 p.m. at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Please park on Deerpark Drive, the first right after the library, unless you have difficulty walking. For more information, call 925-946-0469 or visit the club's web site.
By events, on November 5th, 2011
The Lamorinda Democratic Club's monthly meeting on Thursday, November 10, will feature Ann Notthoff speaking on "Confessions of an Environmental Lobbyist: Making Progress while Holding the Line".
The meeting will be held at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, in Lafayette. The club's social hour will begin at a new time of 7:00 p.m., with a business meeting at 7:15 p.m., and Notthoff's presentation to begin at 8 p.m. There is a $5 charge at the door to help the club cover meeting expenses.
California’s landmark environmental and public health laws are moving ahead here, but in our nation’s capitol bedrock laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act are under attack in the House of Representatives. What’s going on and since when did clean energy become a dirty word? Tales from the trenches.
Ann is the California Advocacy Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in San Francisco where she has worked since 1981 with NRDC. She directs a broad range of initiatives to promote public health and environmental protection. In 2010 she was a leader of the successful bipartisan campaign to defeat Prop 23 and defend California’s landmark climate law, AB 32. She has led NRDC’s efforts to get many of California’s nationally significant environmental laws enacted including: the Marine Life Protection Act (AB 993 in 1999), the Clean Car bill (AB 1493 in 2002), Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32 in 2006), climate and land use (SB 375 in 2008) and a package of water policy reforms in 2009.
Before assuming the director position, Ms. Notthoff’s work at NRDC focused on coastal and marine management issues. She is currently a board member of the State Coastal Conservancy and is the northern vice president of the California League of Conservation Voters. She has held appointed positions on the California State Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee, the San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee and the CALFED Bay Delta Advisory Council. Ms. Notthoff received her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon and a Masters of City and Regional Planning from the University of California at Berkeley. She and her husband Dwight Holing have two adult children.
|
|
|
Comments are closed 
