Democracy for New Mexico

NM Human Needs Coordinating Council Meets This Week

This information was submitted by Eric and Sonja Elison, who discussed this organization Saturday night at a meeting of their activist group called NM Democratic Friends. You can read about this group's mission here, and download an information sheet here to fill out if you'd like to become a member. (Both of these are Word documents.) You can reach the Elisons at selison22@comcast.net.

The next monthly meeting of the NM Human Needs Coordinating Council will be on Wednesday, 12/8/04, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM at La Familia, 707 Broadway NE # 201, in Albuquerque. This meeting is open to the public.

The agenda will include consideration of bills to endorse in the 2005 Legislative Session. Bills currently on the agenda are: Living Wage, Immigration Education Act, Guardianship Improvement Bill, Prohibition of Smoking in Workplaces, and Fair Lending Practices.

Is your group or organization planning on advocating for or against proposed legislation in the 2005 New Mexico Legislative Session? Do you want to spread the word about the legislation? Do you want community members statewide to learn about the legislation early and join with you in advocacy during the session? Then bring your draft legislation (or fact sheet about the legislation) to the HNCC meeting in December.

Please contact us for more information about endorsement of bills and to be placed on the agenda. Note that if your organization would like HNCC to track endorsed bills on our website, you must be a current HNCC organizational member or pay an annual tracking fee.

Bills and memorials submitted for endorsement must: 1) be related to HNCC’s mission statement and guiding principles; 2) have “over-arching” impact on community members (not just individual agencies or programs); 3) have statewide, regional, or broad geographical impact; 4) be submitted in writing with an original and 30 copies.

E-MAIL ALERTS & INTERNET TRACKING OF HNCC-ENDORSED BILLS: HNCC endorsed (or opposed) bills are tracked on a daily basis (and e-mail alerts are sent out when appropriate) for HNCC member organizations during the Legislative Session.

NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED FOR THE REP J. PAUL TAYLOR LEGISLATIVE CHAMPION AWARD: HNCC is seeking nominations for the Rep. J. Paul Taylor award for a legislator who has demonstrated a commitment to the health and human needs of New Mexico. Please submit the legislator’s name and reasons for nomination by December 17th at 5 PM to Kristen at HNCC.

The legislative breakfast reception will be held on February 2 from 7:30 AM to 9 AM at the St. John’s Methodist Church in Santa Fe. Last year, more than 150 advocates and legislators from across the state attended. The reception is co-sponsored by many other groups and organizations. Please contact us if you would like to be a co-sponsor this year.  An Issue Update and Advocacy Training will be held at 9 AM on Feb. 2 at the same location.

NEW MEXICO HUMAN NEEDS COORDINATING COUNCIL
PO Box 16737, Albuquerque, NM 87191
Phone: (505) 265-5005, Fax: (505) 265- 4677
Website: www.hncc.org, E-mail: hncc@hncc.org

NARAL/Pro Choice NM Meets Tuesday in Santa Fe

NARAL/Pro Choice New Mexico is having a meeting this Tuesday from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the Grubesic Real Estate Offices at 1322 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe. This is the post-election planning meeting of the Santa Fe Choice Action team. It's all about meeting other activists, sharing ideas and organizing. Issues will include family planning funding, sex ed, and improving access to birth control and reproductive health care.

NARAL asks that you RSVP if you plan to attend. Call 505-243-4443 or e-mail liz@prochoicenm.org.

I encourage everyone to attend. These guys are action-oriented. They are looking for people who are willing to act. That's us.

John McAndrew
DFA - DFNM Meetup Coordinator, Santa Fe

Dean to Speak Wednesday on the Future of the Democratic Party

From Democracy for America's Blog for America:

Over the past month, as he always has, Governor Dean has been listening to what Democrats, independents, and regular people across the country have to say.

On Wednesday, December 8, at The George Washington University, Governor Dean will speak about a vision for the future of our party.

He'll be speaking at the Jack Morton Auditorium in the Media and Public Affairs building at 11 AM (9 AM MST).  UPDATE: The time of the speech has been changed to 12 Noon (10 AM MST) on the same day, this Wednesday.

We'll be streaming the speech live here on the blog and at democracyforamerica.com.

More details to come over the next 24 hours ...

Posted by Joe Rospars at 12:04 AM

Could this possibly be Dean's announcement that he's officially running for DNC Chair?

Thank You ABQ Volunteers Potluck Today

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS PARTY

Sunday, December 5, 2004

4:00 - 7:00 PM

500 Copper (SW corner of Copper and 5th)

Please Come

Cleanse Your Soul

Share Your Ideas

and

Join In . . .

Music, Dancing and Progressive Conversation

Sponsored by SeedPAC, a political action committee formed by Miles Nelson

RSVP at 262-1810 or dunnpilo@swcp.com

POTLUCK: please bring a dish to share. Beverages provided.

Let’s celebrate what we did accomplish in this last election and make plans for what’s to come. This will be an opportunity to coordinate our efforts, organize our energy for the future, and foster the interconnectedness of our ideas and groups.

ABQ Meetup Snapshot

A nice shot of Miles Nelson speaking about his new SeedPAC to our Albuquerque DFA - DFNM Meetup at Page One on December 2nd. Photo courtesy of Tom Solomon, one of our members, who submitted it to the Meetup site. It's now featured as our primary group photo. This shot shows only a small portion of the crowd, which filled the entire coffee shop and the area where Page One usually has author presentations, and then spread out among the bookshelves. Standing room only.

If you haven't yet signed up at Meetup, please do. It's the only way to ensure you receive all the emails and notices about DFNM activities and Meetups. There are now DFA -DFNM Meetups in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces. If you'd like to start one of our Meetups in your area, sign up at the Meetup site as a Coordinator and just follow the instructions. There's always a big red link to Meetup on this page, in the upper left-hand sidbar.

In the Free World

Michael Moore's website has a new entry on the To Do list about halfway down the main page. Its instructions? Check out Neil Young's new 'Rockin the the Free World' video, directed by Michael Moore. You may recall Moore featured this song in Fahrenheit 9-11, along with some other powerful music. A useful remedy for political fatigue.

You're Invited

From Friends of Eric Griego:

Please join us in kicking off

Click through to the continuation for a list of host committee members.

HOST COMMITTEE:

Councilor Martin Heinrich Councilor Debbie O'Malley Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino Commissioner Deanna       Archuleta-Loeser Senator Cisco McSorley Boardmember Paula Maes Patricia Montoya Tony and Lori Monfiletto Dr. Miles Nelson Norty Kalishman Jennifer Conn Zoe Economou Laura Harris Arturo Sandoval Bob and Paulin MacPharson Antonio Maestas Tom Brennan Orlando and Lydia Vigil Bill O'Neill Ellen Grigsby Gabriella Duran Herman Baca

Dr. Luis Padilla Barbara Garrity Dr. Lawrence Berger Paula and Louisa Hood Regina Gonzales Brian Egolf Kelly Shannon Mike Puelle Mo Chavez Thomas and Patty       James Jaramillo Robert Vigil Wendy Forbes Giovanna Rosi Linda Siegel Steve Archibeque Rich Williams Drew Setter Marianne Dickinson Jim and Jean Genasei Michael and Dina Giddings Dr. Steve Pilon

Nationwide Vote Problems

It can be difficult to keep track of all the voting irregularities and possible fraud being uncovered across the nation, but the Boston Globe has created a map that makes things easier. It's accompanied by an indepth analysis of what has been discovered so far. Worth a read.

Devo Evo

Bumper sticker found at Pharyngula via :

As we move into the Dark Ages once again. Who'd a thunk it?

Report on 12/2 Meeting of Democratic Party of Bernalillo County

From Patricia Lee:

Dear Friends,

Several of us attended the Bernalillo County Democrats meeting this evening and it was well worth the time.  Here's a quick, abbreviated rundown of what we discussed:

With respect to Ward/Precinct elections, the dates will be posted in the newspapers, available by E-news and/or you can telephone headquarters.  To sign up for e-news send an e-mail to DPBC@att.net and include your name, address and precinct number.  Being a Precinct Captain or Co-Captain or a Ward Chair or Ward Co-Chair is the best way you and I can affect the 2006 elections.  Now is the time to start.

The November 2 election and Disqualified Ballots was a major point on tonight's agenda and we had two motions made and passed (please note: I'm paraphrasing the language):

1. A motion to identify and notify Democratic voters in Bernalillo County whose provisional, absentee or "in lieu" ballots were disqualified within 3 months was made (by me), seconded and passed with all but one dissenting vote.
2. A motion to either re-register or in some way correct the problem (where it is within our power) that caused those voters' ballots to be disqualified within 6 months.

We discussed just how these ballots were disqualified.  Ultimately it was the Secretary of State's decision based on sections in the election law that names must match exactly, i.e. if a voter's registration read Mary J. Smith and their identification read Mary Josephine Smith the ballot was disqualified.

County Clerk Mary Herrera was to have attended. Unfortunately, one of her brothers passed away this afternoon and she was unable to be there.  Thus, Jeff Carbajal, Bureau of Elections Coordinator, attended and gave us a really good rundown on the whole process of counting the provisionals, etc.  For those of us who were able to participate even on a small scale in the counting process, it was a good opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the work involved.

SAVE THE DATE:  The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at UNM School of Law, 1117 Stanford NE.  PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND.

Best,

Patricia

P.S.  Usually about 25 people attend these meetings; about 45 were there tonight!  Let's keep up the momentum.