Democracy For Iowa Conference 2005Notes by Aaron Wings, with additions and Workshop notes by Robin Roseman
Report on DFIA Conference
September 10, 2005
Iowa City
OVERVIEW:
The morning sessions were very informational. What was most impressive was the variety of issues that were discussed and the political cooperative efforts.
The afternoon sessions were work sessions. Several important actions were planned. We began to give structure to a statewide DFA organization - DFIA. We also decided to have a coordinated focus for the next several months on state health care issues, in particular, a State Health Care Lobby Day. We urge all interested people to join DFIA by signing up here.
MORNING SESSION:
We began with a welcome by Dennis Roseman, Iowa City DFA Organizer who in turn introduced members of the meeting that represented some progressive non-DFA groups and activities:
Pat Vunderink talked about DAWN, a Democratic Activists Women’s Network. This might be termed an Iowa Emily’s List with a major goal to support progressive women candidates.
Trish Nelson talked about IBLTV, Iowans for Better Local TV, a media reform group: http://www.ibltv.org. They have an on-line petition which all are invited to sign asking the FCC to hear Iowa complaints about the quality of local television. There will also be an important FCC-Free Press Public Hearing, on October 5th, in Iowa City at the University of Iowa (exact location to be determined).
Ellen Ballas spoke of Rapid Response Network. This organization is well known to all readers of Blog for Iowa. Please join them in their efforts to fight disinformation: http://www.rapidresponsenetwork.org
Mike Carberry informed us of an Iowa City group, Citizens for Public Power. This group has put the issue of creating a municipal Iowa City electric power company on the November ballot. They are currently building support for passage. http://www.icpublicpower.org
Dick Stater, Chair Linn County Democrats, talked about a Fundraiser on October 22nd, in Mount Vernon, with the possibility of a nationally prominent Democratic office holder as a speaker. For more information go to http://www.linndems.org
Alta Price discussed Quad Cities Progressive Action for the Common Good, a new progressive coalition consisting of various issue forums. Due to the high level of activity, PACG is currently engaged in a fundraising campaign in an effort to hire an organizer to maintain the necessary support of the various issue forums.
http://www.digiforce.net/PACG%20Site/index.php
Mike Carberry also spoke of FAIR, a local group working for social and economic justice. FAIR will co-sponsor an Iowa City Council Candidate Forum with Johnson County DFA and The 49 - to be held on September 15th.
The above list exemplifies the variety of activities that Iowa DFA members are engaged in as well as establishing connections and cooperation with other progressive groups.
Jim Dean, DFA Chair, then gave a lively keynote talk about the future plans and goals for DFA.
He spoke of other DFA State meetings (23 of these to date). They focused on some small races as well as larger ones. Currently DFA is supporting 40 candidates nationwide and plans to endorse an additional 10 more candidates for a total of 50. DFA is also engaged in providing some Candidate and Activist training with 21st Century Democrats. In addition, they plan to provide a 2-day training workshop in the Quad Cities next Spring.
Jim listed and spoke briefly on several current and future political issues and mentioned two particular goals for the near future: a DFA Meet-up in every congressional district and expansion of Generation DFA for college students.
In the next segment there were four reports by Iowa DFA Meetup groups: Alta Price for Democracy for the Quad Cities, Tony Hansen for Des Moines DFA, Sue Astley for Cedar Rapids DFA, and Robin Roseman for Johnson County DFA.
Chris Warshaw, DFA Field/Political Director, described four areas of focus for DFA:
1. Meet-up programs in all states, 100 college groups, a total of 5000 at meet-ups
2. Development of communication tools such as DFA-Link.
DFA Link will replace and improve upon the functionality that we had with Meetup.com.
3. Having special training sessions to build political skills such as communication with elected officials and writing letters to editors, etc. For example, there is a plan for a two-day training next Spring in the Quad Cities.
4. Candidate development: One goal is to build from within by encouraging members to run for office. Also, DFA sponsored 103 candidates last year - approximately 1/3 won. DFA is currently sponsoring 40 candidates, but won’t endorse any more until after the November elections with the exception of one congressional seat.
This early sponsorship will be decided by voting online here.
(Note: The vote started on Tuesday, 9/13)
Next on the program was a Candidate Forum. It was a real showcase of what we in DFA are doing. Candidates (and one pre-candidate) from many levels of government participated; David Loebsack (2nd District), Bill Gluba and Bruce Braley (1st District), Tammy Place (pre-candidate, Iowa House 79) and Garry Klein (Iowa City Council). Scroll down for contact information.
Next we had two presentations dealing with Iowa issues and Iowa groups:
Mike Owen, assistant Director of the Iowa Policy Project, gave a fact filled presentation on Iowa economic issues. To review this wellspring of useful information, stats and facts (highly recommended), visit thier website at: http://www.iowapolicyproject.org
Sarah Swisher, gave a spirited talk about three organizations of which she is an officer: The Iowa Democratic Party, SEIU, and Johnson County Democrats. Sarah discussed various ways that DFA could interface with each of these organizations for a mutual benefit.
AFTERNOON SESSION:
Identifying Goals
What to focus on in the next 6 months? At first a large list of goals and issues were suggested by participants but were ultimately reduced down to reflect two levels: Meetup level and State level.
On the Local Level:
Endorse and support local candidates. (Run for office)
Participate in 2006 Democratic caucuses.
Build coalitions with other progressive groups.
Outreach-expand membership.
On the State Level:
Increase the number of contributors for Blog for Iowa.
Support Democratic Candidates; Opportunity to take back the Iowa House, Senate, and Governorship in 2006.
Health Care for Iowa.
Most importantly it was decided to form a state-wide group known as Democracy for Iowa (DFIA). This would be done with the help of a steering committee and implemented (in part) as a new statewide DFA-link group called DFIA.
Introducing the DFIA Steering Committee: Dennis Roseman, Robin Roseman, Alta Price, Gary Gramon, Sue Astley, Tony Hansen, Cliff Day, Sally Troxell, Trish Nelson and Ellen Ballas
One goal of DFIA is to expand the number of Meet-up groups and to facilitate communication between members across Iowa.
In particular we would like to have at least one Meetup group per congressional district. (see map)
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Redist/congress-color.pdf
It was suggested that folks from established groups should help new groups get going. Tony volunteered for central Iowa, Alta and Dennis for eastern Iowa, and we need someone for western Iowa.
As a particular focus for statewide action it was decided to have a Health Care Lobby Day.
Tony volunteered to coordinate with SEIU/Iowans for Health Care to participate in a joint Health Care Lobby Day in Des Moines on Februrary 7th, 2006. DFA will help with a phone list and support. We also plan to make home visits to legislators in the districts to discuss Health Care for all Iowans.
At the end of the day, a few of us went out for ice cream with Ed Fallon, candidate for governor, who wasn't able to make the meeting because of a previous engagement, but showed up at the Iowa Room just as we were
leaving. A great time was had by all!
Braley for Congress
http://www.brucebraley.com
P O Box 390
Waterloo, IA 50704
319-464-4450
Tammy Place
PO Box 501
Durant, IA 52747
563-785-4837
Friends of Bill Gluba
http://www.glubaforcongress.com
PO Box 2205
Davenport, IA 52808
563-459-6558
David Loebsack
http://www.loebsackforcongress.org
PO Box 81
Mt Vernon IA 52314
319-721-5324
Garry Klein
http://www.kleinforcouncil.org
628 2nd Ave
Iowa City, IA 52245
