First DFA/Democracy for Iowa Statewide Meeting September 10
by Dennis Roseman, Iowa City DFA Organizer

Preliminary Agenda for a Statewide Meeting of Democracy for Iowa

September 10
Iowa Room, Iowa Memorial Union
Iowa City Iowa
9 a.m.-4 p.m.

This will be the first such statewide DFA meeting for Iowa.  At this meeting we will:

- Have direct communication between DFIA grassroots and national leaders of DFA

- Provide opportunity for members of local groups to meet each other and share ideas

- Plan specific coordinated actions for the next several months

- Develop communications for sharing practices, coordinating campaigns, and working on issues

- Decide what goals and state-wide structure DFIA will have

There is a $15 registration fee
(includes lunch)

For further information contact Dennis Roseman
roseman@math.uiowa.edu
(319)-337-4925  

TOPICS

Focus on actions: Focus on Iowa

In relation to the general goals of DFA, what are the issues, problems and opportunities that we have that are unique to our state?  What are the primary goals of DFIA?

What DFIA actions should we take in the next three months beyond those implicit in the general goals of all DFA groups?

What State and local issues might we focus on? How can we use our (probable) first caucus status to promote DFA values?

How do we implement the DFA plans?
Candidate endorsement process, when and how?
Getting referenda on the ballot.
DFA membership expansion.
Media and communications - tools and techniques.
Working with the Democratic party, unions, and other progressive groups.

What state-wide organization/coordination should we have?

Preliminary Agenda

Note: We hope to get one more Iowa speaker for the Morning Session.  If so, times and lengths of presentations will have to be adjusted.  We should know in a few days.

9:00 - 9:30 Registration and coffee

9:30 - 9:50 Welcome and Introductions of groups and individuals by Dennis Roseman (Iowa City DFA Organizer)

9:50 - 10:35 Keynote Address by Jim Dean, Chair DFA

10:35 - 10:50 Recap of 2005 activities from each local DFA group

10:50 - 11:10 DFA's Field Plan by Chris Warshaw, Field/Political Director DFA

11:10 - 11:20 Break

11:20 - 12:00 Open Discussion and Roundtable with local candidates: David Loebsack, Candidate for Congress in the 2nd District and others TBD

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch and Keynote Speech by Sarah Swisher, Second Vice-Chair Iowa Democratic Party, Secretary and Political Director SEIU Local 199, Chair Johnson County Democrats    

Lunch - included with the ($15) registration

1:00 - 1:30 Facilitated Discussion to determine the top 3-4 goals for DFA in Iowa

1:45 - 2:30 Breakout sessions on each goal to determine action plan

2:30 - 3:00 Develop consensus on action plans and next steps

3:00 - 3:30 Overview of Day and Next Steps

Our thanks to Dennis Roseman for putting this event together.