5th District Democrats

The New Chapter

Welcome to home of the 5^th District Democrats. We represent the Democratic Party in Washington’s 5^th Legislative District, covering most of Eastern King County. The district stretches from the shores of Lake Sammamish to the peaks of Snoqualmie Pass, including the cities and towns of Issaquah, Sammamish, North Bend, Snoqualmie, Fall City, Maple Valley, Hobart and Snoqualmie Pass.

Welcome to our fight for freedom, family, jobs and justice – in Washington, across the nation and around the world. Here’s what we believe in:

· Equal rights for everyone, regardless of race, sex, age, or sexual orientation;

· Sustainable stewardship of the environment;

· Access to a quality education and health care for all;

· Government that is open – honest, transparent and participatory;

· Transition to clean and renewable energy nationwide and statewide;

· Maintenance of national safety and security while seeking peace and cooperation;

· Protection of social security, strengthening Medicare and helping Americans save for retirement.

If you share these beliefs – or if you simply want to have a voice in the building of a fair and equal society – then we encourage you to join us. We meet once each month, and get together for annual events such as our July picnic at Lake Sammamish State Park and the Eastside Democratic dinner each fall. And join the debates on important issues by clicking on our blog - The Buzz - on this page, Facebook or Twitter.

JULY LETTER FROM JIM BAUM

Dear PCOs and Members,

It’s July, and we can all finally celebrate summer, sunshine and Lake Sammamish. The plans for our annual 5^th Dems Eastside Picnic are well

underway, with Dorothy Willard shouldering the responsibility of making sure everyone has a fantastic time. This year we have invited our friends from three neighboring LD’s (41-Bellevue, 45-Redmond/Woodinville and 48-Kirkland/Redmond), an area that leans toward Democrats. Come munch on a hot dog, meet the candidates and pick up some campaign pointers as we gear up to turn the 5^th Blue. I have posted details of the picnic in the Events

section below; they are also posted on our website (http://5thdems.org) and

Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/5th-Dems/360998598554).

Dorothy has been working hard on the picnic, but she cannot do it on her own. She needs your help. This is a big event, and many hands need to pitch in. Please contact her by email (2puggsley@gmail.com) to offer your help. The good news is that there are plenty of jobs available, from setup to cleanup. Remember, this is our biggest fundraiser of the year. And bring your whole family – kids 12 and under are admitted for free!

We now move toward campaign season and our real work will begin soon. We must continue to increase our membership and visibility in order to be more effective. There is a lot going on behind the scenes regarding the website, the Booth for Truth, outreach to younger voters and the wording of our bylaws. Any and all of your ideas are welcomed and encouraged. What may seem not much of an idea may turn out to be something big so step up and tell us what you think. The surest way not to have an impact is by not engaging.

Remember our general meeting on July 20 at the Issaquah Library Service Center, 960 Newport Way, with networking starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be no board or general meeting in August. We will be back the first Wednesday of September for a board meeting at the Issaquah Starbucks (by the QFC) at 7pm and the general meeting at the Issaquah Library Service center at 6:30pm on Sept. 21.

Jim Baum

Chair - 5th District Democrats

MAY LETTER FROM JIM BAUM

Dear PCOS and members,

I want to begin by thanking Kelly Munn for speaking at the April meeting. Her talk generated great discussion and I hope you all learned something new, as I did. I’d also like to thank Mark Mullet and the staff at Zeek’s Pizza in Issaquah for hosting a very successful Cinco de Mayo event. As of this writing, I do not have the final figures but Gloria has indicated the event was a financial success.

Our speaker this month will be Kathy Cummings, communications director for the Washington State Labor Council, who will discuss the state of organized labor in Washington state. Given the events in Wisconsin, Ohio and several other states where organized labor is being used as a whipping boy, her insight into what is happening in this state will be timely.

After several months of meetings, the bylaws committee has put forth two proposals. The majority and minority reports have been posted on the website. Di Irons put together a chart comparing the two proposals and the existing bylaws. Although only PCOs can vote on bylaws changes, members will have voice during any discussion, so please take some time to look at the proposals.
The Executive Board has reviewed the proposals and, by an overwhelming majority, has recommended the minority report. We will be discussing them at the May meeting.

Planning for the picnic is well under way and I’m sure the fundraising committee would appreciate your help and input. Dorothy Willard, 2^nd vice chair, heads our fundraising efforts and is the person to contact about getting involved. Summer may seem a long way off in the midst of our dreary spring, but the picnic is just over seven weeks away.

Jim Baum

Chair, 5th District Democrats

Join Jay Inslee and the 5th Dems in North Bend Parade on Aug. 13!

Come join Jay Inslee and the 5th District Democrats in North Bend this Saturday. Help make sure that Democrats hang on to the state house in 2012!

The 5th Dems will march in support of Inslee, the next governor of Washington, during the Grand Parade at the Festival at Mt. Si on Saturday, Aug. 13. Come join Congressman Inslee and the rest of your Democratic colleagues to spread the word that Democrats plan to stand strong together in next year's election.

We are looking for at least 10 people to join in the parade. Everyone is welcome, and a huge crowd of supporters would help give the message that Inslee will be the winner in 2012. Bring your whole family! Call your friends! Make a day of it at one of the best festivals this summer! After the parade, you can hit the food booths at the festival!

Anyone who wants to walk should reserve an Inslee T-shirt by emailing 5th Dems Chair Jim Baum at jimbaum@earthlink.net.

Plan to arrive well before the 10:30 a.m. start time for the parade. Gather at the east end of North Bend Way. Just look for our 5th Dems banner - and for Jay Inslee. He stands tall in any crowd!

Remember, our Booth for Truth will be up and running for three days at the festival itself, which is located at Si View Park, on Orchard Drive, a short walk from the parade route. Volunteers are still needed to fill a few time slots Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Email Jim to sign up.

Here are directions to the festival:

Traveling eastbound on I-90:
Take exit 31 loop left thru roundabout and go under freeway
Exit off roundabout onto Bendigo Blvd, go thru 3 lights
At the 4th light turn right onto North Bend Way (Twede's Café on right)
Turn right onto SE Orchard Dr (just past the post office)
(If you get into the roundabout on North Bend Way you've gone too far)

Traveling westbound on I-90:
Take exit 31, turn right off exit
Onto Bendigo Blvd, go thru 3 lights
At the 4th light turn right onto North Bend Way (Twede's Café on right)
Turn right onto SE Orchard Dr (just past the post office)
(If you get into the roundabout on North Bend Way you've gone too far)

Here's a link to the map that will show you how to get to the festival:
http://www.festivalatmtsi.org/gettinghere.php

5th District Democrats Eastside Picnic

Our 5th District Democrats Eastside Picnic was a big success! Thanks to the many candidates who showed up to help spread the Democratic message, and to the sponsors: Gary and Jennifer Fancher, Jim KIranick, Chris Hetzel and Jennifer Sutton,

Baum Inspection Services, Bob Iness and Di Irons, Dean and Dorothy Willard, Composite and Casting Supply Inc., and Shawn and Ted's Meat Market.

Coming Events:

(see Events page for details)

Sept 21 District Meeting 7pm @ King County Library Service Center in Issaquah

Sept 25 East Side Dinner @ Bellevue Hyatt

Registration 6pm Dinner 7pm

October 1-2 - Salmon Days Festival and Parade, Issaquah, 5th Dems Booth for Truth

October 21 - Ballots mailed for general election

October 31 - Deadline for in-person for general election

November 8 - General election day

See our Events page for more details!

TO ALL DEMOCRATS: We seriously need volunteers to work at our Booth for Truth during community festivals this summer. The duty is simple - show up, hand out literature and talk politics with your friends and neighbors for two hours. Or longer, if you prefer. Festivals where we need help are underlined in the following list. Call Gloria Mays if you want to help - 206-282-2345. Or email her at ghatche@hotmail.com.

Membership dues ~ Click here to pay online and secure your member privileges! Remember, only members and PCOs are allowed to vote in District matters! Members must join 10 days prior to a District meeting to be eligible to vote.

It starts...the campaign for 2012.

Here's Obama's plan to take back our country. Watch the video or read the PowerPoint plan:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/share/strategy-slideshow-share?source=20110425_jm_imin&keycode=42016c1d1315404b4af4a87e1e6817b558fc72f13fb9a239aa671b280634566a&email=scottwill7625%40gmail.com&zip=98065

WHO ARE WE?

A gallery of pictures of 5th Dems at work, at play and doing the business of the party.

Dave Irons at the helm of a helicopter at Sitka Coast E-board hard at work May 18.

Guard station, which he helped open years ago.

(Photo - James Poulson, Sitka Sentinal)

The Buzz

The Buzz is your place for all the political news fit for the Internet that affects 5th District Democrats. There are a few things we share as Democrats. We love to follow political news, and pick up any political tidbit. We want to know what’s going on, and we’re not ashamed to give our opinions. The bottom line: we love to argue.

This is The Buzz. This is the place to do all of the arguing you want. It is your place to keep tabs on 5th District news, lots of tidbits out of Olympia and a steady stream of news and rumors from Washington D.C. It’s our own place for political debate

We live in a remarkable time. It’s not often will we see politics as energized as they are right now. You can credit Barak Obama’s “transparent government” policy. He has put big issues on the front page of The Seattle Times almost daily and is willing to candidly debate big issues like health care reform in public forums - television and the Internet.

We can help displace Rep. Reichert (has he ever been anything more than a stiff, a sheriff out of his league?) What about all the polling about a Patty Murray v. perennial candidate Dino Rossi? What do you think about Olympia’s dismissal of Tim Eyman’s voter-approved anti-tax initiative? These are all fair game for The Buzz.

Click here to join the conversation.

(NOTE TO READERS: Microsoft has discontinued the software we used to write this blog. We will get it back up and running with some exciting new and different software soon.)