Help Build the Democratic Party Platform: March 4, 2009

Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform Hearing
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.

The 2009 Massachusetts Democratic Convention is just around the corner. This year's convention is a historic opportunity to focus Massachusetts Democrats on who we are and what we stand for.

The 2009 Platform will be crafted similarly to the 2008 National Convention. You are invited to share your ideas regarding the Democratic Party Platform at the local meeting hosted by the Cambridge Democratic City Committee and the Somerville Democratic City Committee. All testimony received by deadline will be posted on the MassDems website for all to access and comment on. The goal is to make the drafting of the platform as inclusive and transparent as possible.

Your voice is needed! Please join us in having a say in our party platform for 2009.

The Platform Drafting Committee is working on:

1) A summary of our values and principles;
2) A summary of positions on priority issues; and
3) An online, comprehensive list of all testimony and feedback given during the hearings.

Testimony given at this event will be recorded and transcribed for web publication. Platform hearing participants must indicate their party affiliation. Anonymous testimony will be accepted, but will be regarded as such. To read the current Party Platform, go to www.massdems.org/about/platform.cfm.

Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform Hearing
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
6:00-8:00 p.m.

George Dilboy Hall VFW Post
Davis Square
371 Summer St.
Somerville, Ma 02144

If you have any question please contact the event organizer: State Committeeman Mushtaque A. Mirza at 617-876-4267.

Updated Somerville Caucus Information

The Somerville Ward 6 Democratic Caucus has been changed to Saturday, February 7 at 10:30am at Ciampa Manor.

Somerville Ward 5 Democractic Caucus will be held on Thursday, February 5 at 8pm at the Argenziano School on Washington Street.

ALL OTHER Ward Caucuses in Somerville will be held on Thursday, February 5 at 7pm at the Argenziano School on Washington Street.

The Somerville Ward Caucuses will elect delegates to the 2009 State Convention, where the party's platform is formally approved. David Plouffe is scheduled to be this year's keynote speaker. To find out which ward you live in, click here.

Which Ward Do I Live In?

If you are planning on attending the Cambridge and Somerville caucuses in the next two weeks, you will need to know which ward you live in.

1. Go to http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php.
2. Enter your address.
3. Click on Find My Election Information.
4. Your ward and precinct number are listed on the resulting page under Where Do I Vote.
   

Democrats to Elect Delegates to 2009 State Convention - David Plouffe, Keynote Speaker

One great way to have a say in the Massachusetts Democratic Party and network with progressives around the state is to become a delegate to the 2009 State Democratic Convention. Below are more details on the Cambridge and Somerville caucuses to elect delegates and the
convention itself.

The Cambridge caucuses to elect delegates to the 2009 State Convention in Springfield will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 10 am (sharp), with the exception of Ward 6. The caucuses will be located at the Peabody School (formerly, the Fitzgerald) at 70 Rindge Ave. in North Cambridge. Ward 6 will hold its caucus on Sunday, February 8, at 1:30 pm (sharp) at Youville Hospital. Each Ward will elect delegates to the Convention separately. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women. For more information, please contact KD Mernin (kd.mernin@comcast.net).

The Somerville caucuses to elect delegates to the 2009 State Convention in Springfield will be held on Thursday, February 5th at 7pm with the exception of Ward Five which will be at 8:00 p.m.at the same location. The caucuses will be located at the Argenziano School on Washington Street. Each Ward will elect delegates to the Convention separately. For more information, please contact Ward Chairs.

The state convention in June formally approves the party's policy platform. It is a great place to network with progressives, and see the state's present and possibly future leadership (e.g., Deval
Patrick gave a smashing debut speech there in 2005). David Plouffe, campaign manager for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, will be the keynote speaker. According to Party Chairman John Walsh, "David will share the insights he garnered during the campaign and his vision for where we need to go as a party to build on those successes." If you haven't been to a convention, going this year is a good way to prepare for the nominating convention for state-wide offices in 2010.

Any Democrat, registered as such by December 31, can vote at their local caucus to select delegates, and can run for delegate. In years where nominations are not at stake, like this one, caucuses are generally low-key and often every one in a ward who wants to be a delegate can be one. If you can't attend the caucus, but want to be a delegate, you should contact the city or ward chair to hear about your options. Sometimes people who can't attend can be selected anyway, and those not elected as Delegate and/or Alternate, who meet the qualifications, may apply to be add-on delegates in the following categories: youth, minority, and disabled.

If you don't know which ward you live in, click on this site:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php.