The Ventura County Democratic Central Committee held their regular reorganization meeting Tuesday night in the new party campaign headquarters in Camarillo.  The first order of business was the swearing in of new members elected in the June primary.  The swearing in ceremony was conducted by 3rd District Supervisor Kathy Long.

Outgoing Chair, Brian Leshon of Ventura, spoke about the need for party unity and the importance of having a centralized party headquarters in the county.  He recounted the party’s accomplishments during his tenure, citing the adoption of new bylaws and standing rules, improved member communication, record-setting fund raising and candidate support, and the creation of a centralized party campaign headquarters.

Richard Carter, a quality manager and long-term care ombudsman from Simi Valley, was elected Chair of the party.  The Chair presides at meetings, is the party spokesperson, and oversees the the duties of the officers and committees.  Emerging technologies and political research consultant David Atkins of Ventura, was chosen for the 1st Vice Chair post.  The First Vice Chair oversees the Communications, Field Operations, and Endorsements subcommittees. 

Sandy Emberland, a software trainer from Thousand Oaks, was elected 2nd Vice Chair.  This position oversees financial review, fund raising and events.  Ventura community volunteer and public relations consultant Marie Lakin was elected Secretary and the new Treasurer is Pete Brinkman, a mortgage banker from Simi Valley.

The new leadership team, beginning a two-year term, is charged with being the voice of the Democratic Party in Ventura County, electing Democrats, and upholding democratic principles.  New chair Carter’s personal goals are to lend more support to the various Democratic clubs in Ventura County, encourage more diversity in the party, and unify the various interests.

The party will kick off the November general election campaign this Saturday night from 6-8pm at the new headquarters in Camarillo.

The Ventura County Democratic Party is opening an 1,800 square foot office on Saturday, July 31st, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 1760 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93010. We will hold a party and fundraiser that evening with a no-host bar and appetizers, and there will be a chance drawing (raffle) for a great prize. The party is free-of-charge, though the public is encourage to make donations at Act Blue or VenturaCountyDemocrats.com.

John Chiang, Controller of the State of California, will be our honored guest along with candidates for the November election and other elected officials from around the county.

The new office will be used to support democratic candidates and causes of interest to Democrats. Phone banking will be done weekly in the location and canvassing efforts will be coordinated from the office. The party will hold meetings, seminars, and activist and leadership training programs in the office and county-wide clubs will also meet in the space including Stonewall and Young Democrats. Major voter registration efforts will be organized there as well. New clubs will be formed in the county and run from the office including Latino-Chicano, African American, Business Owners and Singles.

Come join the Ventura County Democratic Party celebrating the opening of our new office.

Members of the Ventura County Democratic Party protested near the Thousand Oaks office of Congressman Elton Gallegly Thursday.  They denounced his position against extending benefits for unemployed people.  Their position is that unemployment checks will stimulate the economy more than the tax cuts for the wealthy, which Gallegly supports.  Photo by David Yamamoto of the Ventura County Star.

Please join us Sunday, September 26, 2010, 5 PM to 8 PM in the garden at the Kapitz family home in Oak Park.

We are presenting awards to and mingling with our excellent local and statewide elected officials including  Supervisor Steve Bennett and many others.  We are also featuring our candidates for Congress, statewide and local offices.

Enjoy live music & fabulous silent auction items. Cost includes catered dinner, dessert and beverages including wine and beer.  Lower cost is for payment before September 1.   Individuals: $35/$40; Seniors: $30/$35; Students: $20/$25.

Golden Oak Sponsor – $250
Silver Oak Sponsor – $100

Sponsorships include dinner and notices in future invitiations and announcements.

Special rates available for special needs or limited means.  Call for info.

We will be using the proceeds from this event to finance our precinct operations, newsletters & website which will benefit all Democratic candidates and issues.

Pay by mail at:  DCCV, Box 4421, Thousand Oaks, CA  91359.

Pay by credit card - http://www.actblue.com/page/garden2010

RSVP: info@conejodemocrats.com or 818-889-1039.  Please RSVP even if you mailed your check or sign up by credit card link.

SUNDAY, July 25th, 2010 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Ferial Masry will update the voters on the current issues that she will address once she becomes the representative for the 37th Assembly District. Purple ribbons, Refreshments. Live Entertainment!

Mariam Humeid, hostess: 32378 Lake Pleasant Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91361

In caring for the community and seeing an increase in family violence due to the stifling economic situation, we will be saluting the . . .

The Ventura County Coalition Against Household Violence

BRING YOUR Gently used HOUSEHOLD GOODS, FAMILY CLOTHING AND SHOES TO BE DONATED.

For more information regarding the domestic violence center, please visit: The Ventura County Coalition Against Household Violence, 4882 McGrath, Suite # 240, Ventura, CA. 93003 Visit the site: http://www.thecoalition.org; Hotline/Crisis: 805.656-1111 Volunteers needed for the Ferial Masry for 37th Assembly District campaign, phone banking and precinct walking. Ref ID # 1321069; Ventura County Headquarters 805‐498‐7608 or Los Angeles County 661-295-9318 Visit: http://www.ferialmasryforassembly.com; Masryforassembly@gmail.com NOTE: Event does not imply a candidate endorsement from the Ventura County Coalition Against Household Violence.

For information and RSVP contact Minerva crazycatherder@ca.rr.com.

Dear Supporters,

This week the crew working on the office has accomplished a great deal. The carpeting and linoleum are in. The walls and small, locking office are built – thank you Carpenters Union! The phones are scheduled to be installed on Wednesday next week along with the internet access. Over the next couple of days we’ll move in furnishings and set them up and we’ll be all ready for our meetings next week.

We need volunteers for the next tasks, which are:

1. Friday – painting the walls and small office.
2. Friday – moving furnishings from donors homes and the Oxnard storage unit. Need pickup trucks!
3. Friday and Saturday – clean up all the furnishings and set them up.

Some of the things that we need to pick up and need strong backs to help with are:

1. Desk in Newbury Park.
2. Large copy machine in Ventura.

The remaining major items needed for the office are:

- podium/lectern (critical)
- refrigerator (critical)
- new U.S. and State of California flags and matching stands
- computers (we need your old PCs, Macs and monitors) (critical)
- coffee table
- 2 matching end tables
- 2 matching table lamps
- large pads of paper and an easel to stand them on (critical)
- 2 locking file cabinets (critical)
- 1 locking metal storage cabinet (critical)
- 5 or 6 live, indoor trees
- 8 phone headsets for Skype (critical)
- Swag for sale cabinet (glass doors, old china hutch would be great)
- 60 blue, padding stacking chairs for meetings
- washable entry carpet for front door (critical)
- paper shredder (critical)
- 5 office trash cans
- 2 large, kitchen trash cans (one for trash, the other for recycling)

General items still needed: TP, paper towels, cases of copy paper, staples, toner for copier, toner for printer, pens, pen cups, caffeinated instant coffee, decaffeinated instant coffee, powdered creamer, stir sticks, recyclable or biodegradable hot and cold cups and plates, doilies, serving spoons, knives, sugar and sweetener packets, tea bags, baskets and trays for serving.

Please email or call Sandra Kinsler (skinsler@venturacountydemocrats.com or 805-641-2400) to coordinate and make donations.

Thank you,
VCDCC Executive Board

Rachel Ulrich

College professor Rachel Ulrich announced her candidacy for the Ventura County Board of Education, District 1 at a press conference held Wednesday, July 21 at the Ventura County Government Center.

Ulrich teaches in the Biological Sciences Departments at Oxnard College and California Lutheran University and is a longtime community volunteer.  She is a graduate of the Ventura Unified School District and she and her husband, Ramsey, currently have three children in schools in Ventura.

Ulrich did both undergraduate and graduate work at UCLA and received her Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology at San Diego State University.

The County Board of Education provides support and citizen input for county office-operated educational programs, and community leadership on behalf of the county office and public education. District 1 covers Saticoy, Ventura and parts of North and West Oxnard.

The current representative for District 1, Mary Louise Peterson, has announced her retirement and is supporting Ulrich for the seat.

Ulrich has also been endorsed by Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, VUSD Board President Debbie Golden, VUSD Board Member Barbara Fitzgerald, Former County Superintendent of Schools Charles Weis, Ventura County Community College District Trustees Steve Blum and Art Hernandez, California Congress of Seniors President Hank Lacayo, Former Ventura County Supervisor Susan Lacey and many others.

For more information, email Rachel@RachelUlrich.com or visit www.rachelulrich.com.

The Ventura County Democratic Party has secured office space at 1760 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo near the Carmen Drive off-ramp of the 101 freeway. The office is about 1,800 square feet and faces the highway. It can be seen from both sides of the 101.

The office will be used to support Democratic candidates and support propositions important to our democratic principles. There will be extensive phone banking done in the office as well as Precinct Captain operations, canvassing coordination, VCDCC meetings, standing committee and sub-committee meetings, and meetings of countywide clubs such as the Young Democrats and Stonewall Democrats. We hope to hold activist training programs, lectures, seminars, and monthly open houses for Democrats. We hope to keep the office after November on a permanent basis.

To donate to the Democratic Party to help furnish and maintain the office, please click here.

For more information call 805-641-2400.

The first work party at which we scrubbed the office top to bottom included the following volunteers: Bruce Little, Sandy Emberland, Brian Leshon, Sandra Kinsler, Richard Carter, David Atkins, KK Holland, Kate McDermott, Barbara Schiebelhut, Marcia Schneider, Richard (Fitz) and Ruthie Fitzgibbon, Roy Emberland, Jodene Morrell, George Corbin and Joe O’Neill.

The second work party at which we installed the linoleum included the following volunteers: Bruce Little, Richard Carter, Steve Brown, Sandy Emberland, Roy Emberland, Carol Keavney, Jim Paulson, Richard (Fitz) and Ruthie Fitzgibbon, Brian Leshon, and Sandra Kinsler.

Special thanks to Melissa DeMarco for everything she does to support the party.

Volunteer Photos:

Bruce Little Helping To Set Up New VCDCC Office

Richard Carter Preparing Light Covers In New VCDCC Office.

Bruce Little, David Atkins and George Corbin Installing Light Covers in New VCDCC Office.

Sylvia and Cleo Navarro Working In the New VCDCC Office.

Sandy Emberland Cleaning The New VCDCC Office.

Democratic candidate for Ventura County Board of Education, Rachel Ulrich, will speak about the race at the upcoming club meeting this week. We will discuss the extension of unemployment benefits, the VCDCC office in Camarillo, upcoming volunteer opportunities and general club business.

Democratic Club of Ventura meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month in the Topping Room of Foster Library at 651 Main Street in downtown Ventura. Doors open at 6:00 pm for snacks and socializing and the meetings start at 6:30 pm. Meetings are free. Guests are welcome.

To contact the club call 805-641-2400 or email SKinsler@VenturaCountyDemocrats.com.

Important Hearing in Ventura – This Friday
By Rachel Morris

We have an opportunity to weigh in on California Air Resource Board’s implementation requirements of SB-375 this Friday. This is all about designing walkable/bikeable/bus-friendly cities. There were two other hearings in SoCal, and this third one in Ventura is the last. This discussion will be setting the pace and standards for decades from a local perspective.

Senate Bill 375 Target-Setting
Public Workshops

Friday, July 23
9am to Noon
Ventura County Govt. Ctr.
Board Chambers
800 S. Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009

If we want to be ahead of the curve, or better yet help form the curve on: New Urbanism, infill, people-centered-design as opposed to car-centered-design, compact development, and alternative transit – then I strongly suggest as many of us attend as possible. One note – you don’t need to be a climatologist to attend this. What they’re looking for is people sharing from their own local community experience.

Please encourage and invite friends who can speak from a personal perspective on issues such as jobs, economy, social justice, safe routs to school, in a way positive toward sustainable communities.

You can also get information at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/sb375/meetings/meetings.htm

I’m thinking of holding a little potluck this Thursday, July 22, at 7pm, if people want to get together to prepare for the workshop Friday Morning. Please let me know if you’re interested.

Please let me know if you plan to go. Feel free to call any time.

Rachel Morris
VCCool Executive Director
www.vccool.org
office (805)648-1267
cell (805)258-9369
VCCool is a Ventura County gl