Dear NCW Democrats and Friends, 

RIGHT UP FRONT: 

Summer Ice Cream Social/Candidate Meet-up: (Tonight, 8/22) CANCELLED due to Covid

NCW Fair-DCDem Booth: (8/25,Waterville) CANCELLED due to Covid

Wenatchee Pride Festival and Parade: (9/18, Wen) CANCELLED due to Covid

NCWDem HQ Office: will be CLOSED to the general public due to Covid, week of 8/23 (we'll re-evaluate on a weekly basis).  Call/email us to make an appt.

Chelan Co Fair:(Cashmere): https://signup.com/go/TqCQHMS  Help staff the booth between 9/8-9/12 and be a Dem in public! STATUS - watching Covid #s

SignOrders: We received 100, but still have an assortment of ~40 social justice message signs at HQ.  Contact us.

PCOs and Volunteers: https://forms.gle/RSKo3VM6mQwfYcx88  Volunteer to help candidates or for critical special projects (see below) at NCWDem HQ. 

Here's a quick review of recent activities:

·  We recommended five local candidates to you for the 8/3 Primary Election. 

o The GOOD NEWS:  All but one made it into the Top-Two group and will advance to the 11/2 General Election!   If you voted, thank you!   Your vote was essential to their success.

o The BIG Challenge:  If we want people with REAL democratic values leading our communities, they have to run and we need to help them get into office!  Those candidates are out there - 58 have filed to run for nonpartisan offices in our two counties just this year.  They need money, volunteers, and - most of all - they need our votes!  FYI - 1/3 of our most-ardent local Democrats made the effort to vote on 8/3.  Thankfully, that was enough to help our recommended candidates jump the first hurdle.  Will the other 2/3 vote on 11/2?  We need every breathing Democrat to vote if we want these good people to WIN in the General Election.  NEWSFLASH: Many of these candidates' opponents are campaigning on 1) disinformation / misinformation, 2) on threats and fear, and 3) with support of Republicans and their friends.

·  The General Election is rushing at us.  These candidates will bring quality leadership for our schools.  They will be joined in the election by other Democrats who are in two-way contested races for city councils, fire/hospital/water districts, and more.  The candidates and their campaign teams must conduct the voter outreach, education, and persuasion.  But NCWDems (that means all of us!) must help Get Out The Vote.  How will you help?

·  To prepare for 2021 and 2022 and a more BLUE FUTURE, we're joining forces with Democrats throughout WA to dedicate ourselves to four critical efforts:

o Have conversations with voters with whom we've had little/no contact or data, FIND Dems!

o Contact Dem voters who didn’t vote in 2020 and encourage them to vote,

o Conduct robust, coordinated voter registration,

o Contact voters who have been purged from the voter rolls, help them register again (there are approximately 2500 in NCW)

Please join with us to achieve these goals. Sign up to volunteer. Join a team. Attend gatherings and meetings to get connected. Bring friends!

·  Next NCWDem General Meeting: Wednesday, Sept 1, 6-7:30p, via Zoom. Sign up here to be sent the meeting link:  https://forms.gle/rQDo8RNUu1T752ZE7  

·  Our Democratic "Coffee Breaks" continue, but the schedule is changing due to Covid.  No in-person Coffee Break on 8/24.  We'll resume 2nd and 4th Tues, when at Pybus when it's safe again.  Gather on Zoom on the 3rd Tues at 11.  Use this link to join:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82441867847?pwd=QUhLV2J5bVJiUmxoalVuNEpWdlNHQT09

·  WA State Redistricting Commission, share your thoughts about where the congressional and legislative district boundaries should be redrawn.  You can still weigh in on this effort by going to the website and submitting your thoughts and suggestions.  You can even "Draw Your WA" map using a clever tool they make available.  Please weigh in.  The Commission will consider all input before drawing the final maps.

Please consider supporting the ongoing work of our local Democratic Party to cultivate, recruit, and support local candidates, build effective neighborhood teams, register and inform voters, participate in the statewide Democrat Party, and keep our NCWDem Headquarters Office OPEN (even with pandemic interruptions)!  Your recurrent or one-time contribution will allow us to plan through 2021 and beyond.

·   Via ActBlue to Douglas County Democrats: DONATE/DCDems, or by mail to 630 Valley Mall Parkway #175, E Wenatchee 98802

·   Via ActBlue to Democrats of Chelan County: DONATE/ChelanDems, or by mail to PO Box 1061, Wenatchee 98807

·   By check made payable to NCW Democrats, 768 S Mission, Wenatchee 98801 (we'll split these donations 50/50)

On behalf of the Democratic Central Committees of Chelan and Douglas counties and our HQ Team, we look forward to seeing or talking with you soon.  Please take care of yourselves.  Be vigilant to help our healthcare workers and one another! 

Karen Keleman, Chair, Douglas County Democrats (509-630-3055)

Bill Miller, Chair, Democrats of Chelan County (425-444-9598) 

NCWDems@gmail.com – HQ Office, 768 S Mission, Wen (509-436-8899/leave a msg) HQ Office Hrs: Temporarily CLOSED 

2021 is Redistricting time for us, and now is the time to make yourself familiar with the process and provide input.   Every 10 years, following completion of the decennial U.S. Census, the Washington State Redistricting Commission is formed.  Redistricting is the process of creating new districts or redrawing existing district boundaries to adjust for population changes that occurred in the last decade.

The number of people allocated to each district is based on the 2020 Census, which determined that the population of Washington state was 7,705,281 as of April 1, 2020. This figure represents a 14.6 percent growth in population over the last decade, but it does not change the number of Congressional representatives that the state is allocated. That number remains at 10.  Although final community census numbers will not be available until later this summer, each Congressional district in Washington state should represent approximately 770,528 people, while each of the 49 legislative districts should represent approximately 157,251 people.

It is important to take this opportunity to give input and find out how the Washington State Redistricting Commission is developing alternatives to the current configuration of Congressional Districts and Legislative Districts in Washington State.  There is one alternative out there so far that would move the 8th Congressional District further west and move East Wenatchee into the 4th.  If this is done, we may lose our sole blue representative: Kim Schrier. This would also necessitate that the Greater Wenatchee Area would need to work with two congressional district offices, rather than one, on any joint project requiring federal support.  The consequences would be similar if our communities are split between two legislative districts.

There are three ways for you to share your community feedback—by email, written testimony, or Zoom testimony before the Commissioners. 

1. Tell the Commission about your community.  Send the Commission your comments and insights about your community and what makes it whole.  You can send your ideas by mail, email, phone, webform, or by submitting a video.  Communication through any of these methods will reach each Commissioner directly.

2. Draw your community using the Commission’s mapping tool. Share your idea of how voting district boundaries should be drawn in your community or throughout the state. Use our DRAW YOUR WA mapping tool to easily draw the boundaries of your community and send it directly to the commission.

3. Share your testimony with the Commission. Participate in a public forum in your outreach district. Find out where and when by finding your outreach district on the Commission’s map.  All forums will be held virtually, and participation is easy.  If you have trouble accessing the internet, the Commission has formed a partnership with Washington public libraries who will make available laptops and WIFI at their branches so you can sign up and participate.

If you are going to do Zoom testimony before the Commissioners, keep the following in mind:

• You will only have 2 minutes to state your input to the commissioners.

• Be brief.  Practice.  Time yourself.

• Make your statement your own. 

• Tell them Who you are, Where you live, and any relevant titles you hold.

• Avoid describing your political party affiliation.

• Concisely state what you do or don’t like about previous redistricting boundaries.  

• (Example:  I do like that the City of East Wenatchee is in the same Congressional District as the City of Wenatchee.)

• (Example:  I want to see Chelan County included in a West-River Congressional District because these communities have a stronger relationship with populations of the west-side, rather than of the east-side of the state.)

• Tell the Commissioners what you would want to see done in this 2021 Redistricting effort. 

• (Example:  I would like to see the Colville Nation included within one Congressional District and Legislative District.)

• Remember you sign up to give a 2-minute talk on your points, so it’s a good idea to keep it within that time frame.  They won’t let you go over two minutes (the microphone will be turned off), so it is a good idea to also submit written comments via email.  

In lieu of personally testifying before the Commission, you can also submit written comments or draw your own CD and LD alternatives.  Each CD or LD must contain the correct population totals.

If you want to “speak out” your best opportunity is at the Redistricting Commission Outreach Meetings.  There will be two Outreach Meetings for each Congressional District.  The second outreach meeting for CD 4 (Newhouse) will be held Saturday, July 24th from 1-3 p.m.  The second outreach meeting for CD 8 (Schrier) will be held on Saturday, July 31st from 1-3 p.m.  Register for Public Comment

If you are interested in testifying, here are some sample testimonies to check out:

Sample Testimonies CD4: Click Here to View CD4 Videos

Sample Testimonies CD6: Click Here to View CD 6 Videos

This is an important opportunity to be heard. Although the personal Zoom testimony opportunities are limited in number and time, community members may submit written statements and draw maps until mid-October or later. The Redistricting Commissions will produce its final recommendations by mid-November. These will be presented to the 2022 Washington State Legislature for adoption or modification and become law for next year's elections. Now is the time for your input.

Some more information:

Washington State Redistricting Process:  www.redistricting.wa.gov

League of Women Voters’ alternative CD and LD suggested maps.  Zoom into both and see if it is affecting your area.  This is important to look at and see if it is affecting you in any negative way and call it out.

LWVWA Maps and Links: https://lwvwa.org/maps/

LWVWA Links to LD suggestion: Map

LWVWA Links to CD suggestion: Map1 Map2

Please keep in mind that these are just alternatives submitted by the LWVWA.  Any individual or group may provide input.  All input will be considered by the Redistricting Commission.

Following are some generic talking points we are promoting, but you will want to make your testimony your own.

• Chelan County, the City of East Wenatchee, and the greater East Wenatchee Metropolitan Area (including Orondo, Baker Flats, Fancher, and Rock Island) would fit best with a western WA Congressional District as our issues, visitors, transportation needs, markets, and media markets are primarily western WA based.

• After what happened in 2011, the commission must prioritize keeping Native lands and populations together.  

• The commission should do outreach to each Tribe.  

• Communities of interest should stay together geographically within CD and LD.  

• Joe Fain should step down and be investigated for his past behavior.  

• How will the Commission get mapping data to real people in ways they can understand?

• How can the Commission make certain minority populations get at least a chance at a voice in districts in Central and Eastern Washington?  

• Gerrymandering comes when you try to just modify existing maps - will you draw maps that start “from zero” as the maps should be, not how they “have been”?  

• The Commission should not protect incumbents but should protect diverse populations and their right to representation.  

If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to call (509-436-8899) or email.

Karen Keleman, Chair, Douglas County Democrats (509-630-3055)

Bill Miller, Chair, Democrats of Chelan County (425-444-9598)

NCWDems@gmail.com – HQ Office, 768 S Mission, Wen (509-436-8899/leave a msg) HQ Office Hrs: MWF 10-2

You are welcome and invited to attend Wednesday night's Joint General Meeting of the Democrats of Chelan County and Douglas County Democrats. Legislative District 12 Democrats will also report.

DAY/TIME: Wednesday, June 2, 2021, 6:00-7:30 PM  (1st Wednesday each month)

WHERE: Online Via Zoom (Request Zoom link HERE).  You will be emailed the Zoom link and meeting documents prior to the meeting.

AGENDA: Special Guest, Eric Gonzalez Alfaro (voter protection and other advocacy), Thad Duvall (filing week and other election info), Ed Martinez (Redistricting Commission progress), NCW Young Voters, introduction of NEW candidates, HQ Team work, and regular business.

Join a few minutes early (5:45) to visit, so that we can begin promptly at 6!

We look forward to seeing each of you Wednesday!

***Please mark your calendars for our Annual NCW Dem Picnic, Sun July 11, 6:30p @ HydroPark!***

Karen Keleman, Chair, Douglas County Democrats (509-630-3055)

Bill Miller, Chair, Democrats of Chelan County (425-444-9598)

NCWDems@gmail.com – HQ Office, 768 S Mission, Wen (509-436-8899/leave a msg) HQ Office Hrs: MWF 10-2 MASKS REQUIRED 

You received this eNews because you have registered with NCWDems, Democrats of Chelan County, or Douglas County Democrats.
To unsubscribe from this list and stop receiving emails from it, click HERE.

You are welcome and invited to attend tonight's Joint General Meeting of the Democrats of Chelan County and Douglas County Democrats. Legislative District 12 Democrats will also report.

DAY/TIME: Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 6:00-7:30 PM  (1st Wednesday each month)

WHERE: Online Via Zoom (Request Zoom link HERE).  You will be emailed the Zoom link and meeting documents.

AGENDA: Updates of the past month's work, reports by State Committee Members regarding the recent meeting of the WA State Democrats, reports regarding training of grassroots volunteers, candidate recruitment efforts, and regular business.

Join a few minutes early (5:45) to visit, so that we can begin promptly at 6!

We look forward to seeing each of you!

Karen Keleman, Chair, Douglas County Democrats (509-630-3055)

Bill Miller, Chair, Democrats of Chelan County (425-444-9598)

NCWDems@gmail.com – HQ Office, 768 S Mission, Wen (509-436-8899/leave a msg) HQ Office Hrs: MWF 10-2 MASKS REQUIRED 

You received this eNews because you have registered with NCWDems, Democrats of Chelan County, or Douglas County Democrats.
To unsubscribe from this list and stop receiving emails from it, click HERE.

We’re thinking today of the life and the words of Martin Luther King, Jr, whose last book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? could be a testament for these times.  Our tomorrows are looking a little better, but the insurrection in Washington DC and threats around our country are serious.  Our democracy of "We the People" – requires a great deal from each of us. 

Again today, our message will be short, sharing just a few topics.

·   Governor Inslee held a press conference today, during which he shared the plan to significantly ramp-up the roll out of vaccinations.  Please sign up to check your eligibility for the current and upcoming phase at www.FindYourPhaseWA.org.  Then, be persistent if you aren't able to make an appointment the first try. Consider helping a neighbor or friend, if they have trouble with tech.  According to Gov Inslee's presser, the eventual goal will be to vaccinate 45k people every day, but it will take awhile for supply to catch up with demand. Town Toyota Center will become a drive-through vaccination center (once it has been "stood up" with trained personnel and equipment), plus many healthcare providers, pharmacies, and other sites throughout our counties will provide the shots. According to the press conference, it may be 2 wks until appointments will be readily available.

·   Take a Democratic "Coffee Break"  Join with other Democrats any Tuesday between 11:00 am and noon, for a Zoom event.  Gathering provides an unstructured hour of conversation and discussion about topics of interest and upcoming events.  Drop in for an hour or a few minutes to meet other Dems!  RSVP for link HERE (https://forms.gle/9zjFsV4v64c6CQY97).  

·  Join with NCW Democrats and Friends to celebrate the inauguration of President-elect Joseph Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris!  Wednesday, January 20, Zoom room will open at 8:30 AM; Inauguration Swearing-In will take place at 12:00:01 PM on the dot!

Watch from the comfort of your own home as you join a Zoom meeting with friends.  RSVP to https://forms.gle/ULb8XA7QoppmwsNt9.  You will be emailed the meeting Zoom link before the inauguration.  Time for a celebration!

Last week, we held the rescheduled general meeting of the Democrats of Chelan County and Douglas County Democrats.  We were pleased to welcome members of the newly elected executive board of the 12^th Legislative District Democrats and guest speakers, Karen Bruggman and Britany Mieklen, Chelan Douglas Community Action Council Food Distribution and Food Donation Program coordinators.  They provided important information about the local food bank programs, which have doubled in number of people served during the pandemic.  Local programs have grown from feeding 10,500 people per month to more than 20,000 people – in Chelan and Douglas counties!  The need is great and for that reason, we were happy to help organize a food drive event for food distribution programs in NCW.  We did this to honor the service of Martin Luther King Jr and to celebrate the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.  Seventeen local organizations joined with us to co-sponsor the week-long event, which ended tonight.  More than 135 people registered and contributed.  We’ll share more detail in our next eNews.  If you missed the opportunity to join this event, feel free to contact one of the following food programs:

CHELAN DOUGLAS COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL (509-662-6156), More than 20 NCW Food Pantry Locations, over 21,000 people served each month Contribute by mail: CDCAC, 620 Lewis Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801 * Donate online: http://www.cdcac.org/, (click on the DONATE button)

OKANOGAN COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL (509-422-4041) 9 Food Program Locations Contribute by mail: OCCAC, 424 2nd Ave South, Okanogan, WA 98840, * Donate online: http://occac.com/get-help/food-programs/ 

COMMUNITY SERVICES OF MOSES LAKE (509-765-8101) 12 Food Banks in Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties, Contribute by mail: CSML, PO Box 683, Moses Lake, WA 98837,   * Donate online: https://donorbox.org/mlfood-org

We were honored to partner in this community service event with Co-hosts

Wenatchee Interfaith Climate Group
350 Wenatchee
Climate Conversations NCW
UNITE Wenatchee Valley
Wenatchee for Immigrant Justice
NCW United
Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho
YWCA NCW
NCW Black Lives Matter Action Council
Confluence Indivisible
Grant County Democrats
12^th Legislative District Democrats
Okanogan County Democrats
Wenatchee CAFE
Wenatchee Womxns’ March
Chelan County Democrats
Douglas County (WA) Democrats

We’re all looking forward to a peaceful transition of power this week, followed by a long and productive period ahead.  Both at the local and national level, we all know there is work to be done.

Please take care of yourselves.

Karen Keleman, Chair, Douglas County Democrats (509-630-3055)

Bill Miller, Chair, Democrats of Chelan County (425-444-9598)

NCWDems@gmail.com – HQ Office, 768 S Mission, Wen (509-436-8899/leave a msg) HQ Office Hrs: temporarily CLOSED to the public. 

You received this eNews because you have registered with NCWDems, Democrats of Chelan County, or Douglas County Democrats.
To unsubscribe from this list and stop receiving emails from it, click HERE.