CLUB PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings Torrey Pines Dems,
I am very pleased to report that Ken Burtt, our Vice President for Communications, has been appointed by the Executive Board as interim Club Vice President, filling a current vacancy created late last year when Stacie Devitt had to resign the office due to growing work and study demands. Stacie was one of the founders of our Club and served very competently as Club Vice President since then. Following her resignation, Stacie was appointed as an advisor to the Executive Committee and will continue in that role.
In his new role as Club Vice President, Ken will continue to serve as Communications Director. I look forward to working closely with Ken as together we provide leadership and direction for our Club activities.
Membership Vote on Bylaws Amendments Moved to the April General Meeting
At the last Club General Meeting on February 25th, we introduced a few amendments to the Club Bylaws, proposed by our Bylaws Committee (Wayne Dernetz, Ken Burtt, Deborah Currier and Phil Currier), and approved by the Executive Committee. Current Bylaws require a vote of approval of amendments to the Bylaws by the regular membership, at a second meeting following the introduction of the proposed amendments.
We are postponing the regular membership vote on the amendments until the April 22nd General Meeting. The one-month delay will allow us to: have a firm count of eligible voting members, following the close of the membership dues payment period on March 31st; employ the online voting method used by the Club in the 2020 endorsements voting, following the April meeting; and provide more time for Club members to study and become familiar with the proposed amendments prior to voting.
The Amendments Report explaining the recommended changes can be viewed at: https://www.torreypinesdems.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TPDC-Bylaws-Amendments-Report-to-Membership.pdf.
March 25th General Meeting Program Notes
We have two outstanding programs scheduled for our March 25th General Meeting. First, Toni Atkins, our State Senator representing the 39th California Senate District, and President Pro Tempore of California Senate, will give us a Legislative Update and review current priorities for the State Legislature. Senator Atkins is the first woman to be elected by the Senate as its President pro Tem. We are delighted to have her provide us with this overview. There will be an opportunity for questions, following her report.
Second, we have Barbara Boswell, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed Clean Energy Alliance, a joint powers agency established n 2019 by the Cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar and Solana Beach under a recent State law. Barbara will explain the purpose, benefits and choices for residents under the Clean Energy Alliance. Residents of the three cities will have an opportunity to purchase their electric power from alternative clean energy sources — a major step toward reducing green house gas emissions. Residents will be offered a range of choices available to convert to clean energy in the next few months, along with the costs and benefits. Both the City and the County of San Diego have similar programs that will soon be available for their residents.
So, make plans now to join us at our March 25th General Meeting. Please use the Zoom link above to register your attendance.
Finally, if you haven’t yet paid your 2021 annual Club dues, time is running out. Don’t let your membership lapse and risk the opportunity to vote on important Club business in the coming months.
I hope to see you all on March 25th,
Wayne Dernetz,
Interim President
Write Letters to Voters
Writing personal letters to voters is one of the most effective ways to help increase election turnout. A personal touch with heartfelt sincerity is more effective than glossy mailers, particularly when sent to fellow citizens in under-represented communities. Vote Forward is a non-profit organization that provides grassroots volunteers with simple tools for writing letters to encourage these people to vote. With over 23 million Vote Forward letters written since 2018, studies have shown that these letters can boost voter turnout by as much as 3.4%.
Vote Forward currently has a campaign focused on thanking Georgia voters, sending letters to show appreciation to voters from underrepresented groups for turning out in 2020, and encouraging them to vote again in upcoming elections. Many of the people who turned out to vote in the 2020 general election are new to voting, or vote infrequently. By celebrating their vote and reminding them of future voting opportunities, we can help them become committed voters.
If you would like to volunteer in this campaign, please visit the Vote Forward campaign webpage. For more information about Vote Forward, see their FAQ page.
Please join us Thursday, March 25th at 6:00pm for the next meeting (via Zoom) of our Torrey Pines Democratic Club, featuring Senator Toni Atkins and a Presentation by the Clean Energy Alliance.
GENERAL MEETING (VIA ZOOM)
MARCH 25, 2021
Please Note: Registration To Join the Meeting is Required.
When: Mar 25, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtf-ytqz8sH9ZqLrBotSeeLHOWqv8wedY0
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
AGENDA
6:00pm Meeting Room opens
6:15pm Meeting Called to order by Chair
1. Quorum Check – Janette Shelton, Vice President – Memberships
2 President’s Welcome
3. Comments from elected officials and Party leaders – 3 minutes each
4. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda
5. PROGRAM (Introductions by Marisa Criqui, Vice President Programs)
A. Legislative Priorities Report from Toni Atkins, President Pro Tempore, California Senate
Senator Atkins will discuss the current legislative priorities in the California Senate, including pending legislation to encourage more affordable housing development in California in response to the ongoing State housing crisis. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
B. Presentation by Barbara Boswell, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Clean Energy Alliance
Clean Energy Alliance is a new community choice energy agency formed by the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Barbara brought 25 years of municipal finance experience as she transitioned to a focus on formation, administration and operation of community choice energy programs. The presentation to the Torrey Pines Democratic Club will provide an overview of Clean Energy Alliance, information on energy power supply, rates, program schedule and comparison to San Diego Gas and Electric.
The Clean Energy Alliance is a joint partnership agency formed in 2019 by the Cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, and Solana Beach. CEA is authorized under State Law to provide alternative sources of clean electric power to the residents of the three cities, who elect to subscribe, beginning in May, 2021. SDG&E will continue to distribute the clean energy provided by the CEA under contract.
A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
6. CLUB BUSINESS – No Actions are scheduled
7. REPORTS
A. Treasurer’s Report: Phil Currier, Treasurer
B. Membership Report: Janette Shelton, Vice President – Memberships
C. Future Programs Report: Marisa Hildebrand-Criqui, Vice President – Programs
D. Communications Report – Ken Burtt, Vice President and Communications Director
E. Members’ Comments For the Good of the Order
8.00pm ADJOURNMENT: IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ATLANTA, GEORGIA
AND BOULDER, COLORADO SHOOTINGS, AND FOR ALL THOSE WHOSE LIVES
HAVE BEEN ENDED PREMATURELY DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE.
The next Regular Meeting will be on April 22, 2021, beginning at 6:00pm. Check our Website for further information – www.torreypinesdems.org
Reminder: Annual Membership Dues Payable by March 31st. Please don’t let your membership lapse.
A Message from Will Rodriguez-Kennedy:
For the second time in a week, our nation finds itself mourning for an unthinkable number of lives lost to the epidemic of gun violence and mass shootings.
On March 16th, eight lives were lost in a shooting spree in Georgia targeting the Asian-American community. Our nation barely had a week to grieve before yet another mass shooting occurred Monday afternoon at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado — just miles away from previous sites of mass shootings in Aurora and Columbine.
Las Vegas, Orlando, Charleston, Virginia Tech, Newtown, Sutherland Springs, El Paso, Parkland, San Bernardino, Columbine, Aurora, Santa Fe, San Ysidro — and now Atlanta and Boulder.
So many communities have forever been scarred and defined by the horrific acts that occurred there. Every time, we’ve stated “enough is enough.” Every time, we’ve marched and tweeted and demanded our elected officials take action before our community is next.
Every time, nothing has changed.
House Republicans, like San Diego County’s Darrell Issa, continue to stand in lockstep with the NRA in voting against the most common-sense of solutions — such as expanded background checks and the removal of gun-show loopholes. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans continue to use the filibuster to prevent common-sense gun legislation from even being voted on.
Republican obstruction is killing us — in our schools, stores, theaters, concerts, and churches.
Today, however, we are in a unique position to finally change things.
For the first time in a decade, we have Democratic control — albeit slim control — of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. Common-sense gun reform is in sight, if only our elected officials can show the courage and resolve to stand up to the gun lobby and talking-heads in the right-wing media.
Join your voice with mine: Sign our petition demanding that our elected officials do whatever is necessary to ensure the passage of common-sense gun reform now.
We need to keep the pressure up on elected officials who refuse to take action on gun violence. And we need to show that we have the backs of those who are taking action.
The only way to do that is to do it together. Please, join your voice with mine and sign our petition to demand action on gun violence.
Together, we can protect innocent lives and keep our communities safe.
In Solidarity,
Will Rodriguez-Kennedy
Chair, San Diego County Democratic Party
Friday, March 26, 2021, a Day of Action for #StopAsianHate
Friday, March 26th is the Virtual Action Day for #StopAsianHate. Companies, organizations and individuals are encouraged to post a statement of support under #StopAsianHate. We want to declare our solidarity with the Asian American community against hate and racial attacks.
Since the pandemic, over three thousand racial attacks against Asian Americans have been reported. The actual number could be much higher. Biden says hate crimes against Asian American are ’un-American’ and that they ‘must stop.’
An 83-year-old Korean American grandmother in White Plains, NY, was spit on, punched in her face, knocked unconscious, left lying in the street in her blood. Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai American in San Francisco, was killed. And a Filipino American man was being slashed from ear to ear in an NYC subway. This Tuesday, a white man killed 8 people in three different massage parlors in Atlanta. Six of the victims appear to be of Asian descent. At this point, it is not clear about the motive.
We must condemn and stop racial attacks against Asians. Please help us spread the word, and see what you can do about anti-Asian hate by clicking here: http://stopaapihate.us/
It is Time for our Club Membership Renewal Drive
We hope that you will consider renewing and supporting our continuing efforts to provide a forum for Democrats. Annual Membership dues are payable by March 31st. Please don’t let your membership lapse. There are several categories of membership as outlined on our website Membership page. Why join? We have done a lot in one year and have a lot more to do. Your membership provides the financial support to make these things possible.