Framingham Democratic Town Committee

 

Minutes of October 14, 2007

 

Attendance

Members: Elsa Aviza, Nancy Coville Wallace, Gerard Desilets, Esther Hopkins, Beverly Hugo (new), Chris Lorant, Laura Medrano (new), Stephanie Mercandetti, Sarah Micciche, Terene Micciche, Valerie Mulvey, Joan Rastani, Pamela Roberts (new), Norma Shulman, Alan Silver, Rochelle Sivan, John Stefanini, Cheryl Tully Stoll, Parwez Wahid

 

Associate Members: Christopher Broyles, Bob Edwards, Claire Farragher, Dawn Harkness, Steve Joyce, Farooq Mirza

 

Guest Speaker: Michael Hugo

 

Business

1.        Treasurer’s Report from Nancy Coville-Wallace):

Cash on Hand as of 9/9/07

     1615.01

Dues Received

       35.00 

Dividends

                     

Other Income:  Summer Picnic

       155.00

Net Income

       190.00

Itemized Expenses

 

Web-Site:

        26.85

Committee to Elect Niki Tsongas

       100.00

 

Net Expenses

       126.85

 

Balance as of 10/14/07

      1678.16  

 

 

 

Dues as of October 13:

Ÿ          Members owing dues for 2006-07: 3 unpaid members; 34 paid. Paid up members: E. Aviza, B. Berman, R. Black, R. Blum, R. Cotton, N. Coville Wallace, G. Desilets, P. Dunne, L. Fields, B. Haberman, E. Hopkins, D. Howland, S. Khan, R. Litter, C. Lorant,  T. Mahoney, K. McCarthy, S. Mercandetti, S. Micciche, T. Micciche, C. Monzon, V. Mulvey, B. Muto, P. Ottaviani, J. Rastani, C. Ross, N. Shulman, A. Silver, R. Sivan, J. Stefanini, C. Tully Stoll, P. Wahid

Ÿ          Members owing dues for 2007-08: 20 unpaid; 16 paid. Paid up Members: E. Aviza, N. Coville Wallace, G. Desilets, E. Hopkins, D. Howland, S. Khan, C. Lorant, K. McCarthy, S. Mercandetti, S. Micciche, M. Murphy, J. Rastini, N. Shulman, A. Silber, R. Sivan, P. Wahid

Ÿ          Associate Members owing dues for 2006-07: 15 paid

Ÿ          Associate Members owing dues for 2007-08: 12 paid, 9 unpaid.  Paid up Associates: C. Boyles, R. Edwards, C. Farragher, D. Harkness, K. Harkness, G. Heng, B. Hugo, F. Mirza,  P. Richardson, P. Roberts, Laura Wells, George Wells

 

2.        Minutes (Rochelle Sivan): Amended minutes from September 9 accepted.

3.        The results of the survey that Parwez sent out to all to choose the most convenient FDTC meeting day of the week: Sunday shall remain the day the FDTC convenes, by a considerable margin.

4.        Voting was held to fill the 4 vacancies on the FDTC. The nominees: Bob Edwards, Dawn Harkness, Beverly Hugo, Laura Medrano, Rep. Pam Richardson, Pam Roberts. The nominees who were present each gave a short speech, and Parwez read a letter from Rep. Pam Richardson, who couldn’t attend the meeting. The following were elected: Beverly Hugo, Laura Medrano, Pam Richardson, Pam Roberts.  Congratulations!

 

Announcements:

1.        Cheryl Tully Stoll announced the dedication of a Memorial Building hearing room in honor of state Rep. Deborah Blumer, on October 15.

2.        Parwez Wahid announced again the Pasta Dinner, taking place on November 4th, an hour before the regular meeting, in the regular place. The special guest - Augustus Bickform from the DNC. The volunteers: Parwez Wahid, Sarah Michiche, Jerry Desilets, John Stefanini.

3.        The Holiday party will be on December 2.

4.        There will be training in the skills needed to create national change at the local level. It

5.        On the weekend of November 16 - 18 in Manchester, NH at the Radisson hotel there will training for campaigns and chapter building; and there will also be an opportunity to see some of the candidates. The cost is 45$ which includes some meals. For more information call 603-4548557.

 

Program: Our guest speaker was Michael Hugo, a personal friend of John Edwards for 15 years, who spoke about why we should support John Edwards’ candidacy:

Ÿ         John Edwards strived hard to achieve his goals as a senator and will do the same as a president.

Ÿ         He’s the most electable candidate

Ÿ         93% of the contributions to his campaign are in amounts under 100$

Ÿ         John Edwards’ actions match his words - his commitment to fighting poverty is such that he founded the University of North Carolina Poverty Law Center, and would spend much of his time there.

Ÿ         He has many good ideas to return power to the people and to turn the country around:

Þ      Fighting lobbyists and special interests

Þ      Lowering the maximum contribution per cycle to 1000$

Þ      Having the government double the small amount contributions to somewhat level the playing field

Þ      Lower the price of drugs by prohibiting the advertising by the drug companies

Þ      Same day registration on Election day

Þ      Allowing felons to vote after their sentences are done

Þ      Reducing the troops level in Iraq by 40 = 50 thousand immediately, and afterwards bringing the rest home within 9 to 10 months

 

 

Next Meeting - November 4, 2007, after the 5:30 Pasta Dinner.

 

Rochelle Sivan · (508) 333-5698 · shellyis@gmail.com