Ventura, CA – Thursday night, 3/25/2010 The Democratic Club of Ventura and Ventura County Democratic Party presented “2010 Democratic Candidate Town Hall” at the Topping Room, E.P Foster Library, 651 Main Street, Downtown.

Forty-five people attended the town hall meeting hosted by Helen Conly, Vice President and event coordinator. The program opened with political consultant and local software business creator David Maron, who was emcee.

Sheriff hopeful, Geoff Dean assured the audience that “political persuasion or party won’t be the catalyst behind him giving out future arrests. Criminality is not parceled out by whether or not you are a republican”, said the avowed Republican candidate.
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Written questions from the audience were also asked by Maron.

Next was Ferial Masry with a fifteen-minute presentation. Masry expressed the need for California, the 6th largest economy in the world, to strive to become the state where business owners create products and services that can be used globally, to educate and prepare our students to be the 21st century work force instead of going to foreign countries and to reconsider green initiatives that supplement sustainable energy resources and careers.

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The 37th Assembly District includes the following cities: Acton, Agua Dulce, Camarillo, Canoga Park, Castaic, Chatsworth, Fillmore, Los Angeles, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak View, Ojai, Piru, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Somis, Thousand Oaks, Val Verde, West Hills, and Westlake Village.

As opposed to prior advertising, the program wasn’t televised although some of the content was captured by Todd Hoover a videographer from the Santa Clarita area.

Other participants were Ed Summers and Peggy O’Reilly, both running for Treasurer; Jim Dantona, running for County Clerk. For more information regarding the 2-1/2 hour town hall see: http://www.youtube.com/user/crazycatherder#p/u

Yesterday we reported that Tony Strickland will pay a $3,000 fine for violation of state campaign law.  Today we hear that Audra Strickland, soon to be ex-assemblywoman, appears to be in violation of the city ordinance prohibiting campaign signs earlier than 45 days prior to an election [TOMC 9-4.2304(d)].  Yesterday an Audra Strickland for Supervisor sign was spotted at the ExxonMobil gas station at 45 N Reino in the Newbury Park neighborhood of Thousand Oaks.

We’re sure that it is just a coincidence that the first sign to appear is on the property of one of her campaign donors, but careless disregard of the law seems to be a recurring theme with Audra and Tony.  Candidates need to keep in mind the best interests of the community and not on what will leverage a degree of political advantage in a contentious campaign.

The DFA Campaign Academy mission is to focus, network, and train grassroots activists in the skills and strategies to take back our country, manage successful campaigns or run for office themselves.

Our Campaign Academy weekends are 16 hours of interactive workshops that bring hundreds of local activists, campaign staff and candidates together for 2 days of intensive campaign training. Experienced campaign professionals lead sessions in voter contact, fundraising, communications, on-line organizing and much more to empower progressive activists with the skills to win in November and beyond. Attendees also meet with dozens of local progressive candidates and learn about exciting job and volunteer opportunities in their area. And of course, everyone receives their own copy of DFA’s 180-page Campaign Training Manual.

Year after year, the DFA Campaign Academy is building a grassroots infrastructure of skilled progressive activists in all 50 states.

Event Date: Feb 20, 2010
Event Time: 9:00 AM PST (12:00 PM EST)
Venue Name: University of California Santa Barbara
Address: Gervetz Hall
City: Santa Barbara
State: CA
Zip Code: 93106
Website: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/events/33795-dfa-campaign-training-in-santa-barbara
Hosted by: DFA Campaign Academy Alumni, DFA Campaign Academy Alumni

Agenda:

Ten reasons to attend the DFA Campaign Academy training in Santa Barbara on February 20-21.

1. Learn how to plan and run a winning grassroots campaign
2. Meet and hear from local progressive candidates
3. Learn from trainers with decades of experience
4. Mingle with other local progressive activists at social events
5. Get a copy of our 180 page Grassroots Campaign Training Manual
6. Set goals and make plans to pass progressive legislation
7. Re-connect with old friends from the campaign
8. Help elect progressive candidates in 2010
9. Learn to organize your neighborhood or precinct
10. Look for a new job or volunteer opportunity

Click here to see what you will learn at a DFA campaign training.

Invite your friends on Facebook!

All we ask is a small contribution of $60 to DFA to help us cover our costs. Don’t worry if you can’t afford it, you can always find someone to sponsor you through our training scholarship fund and we offer reduced tuition rates to those in need.

Space is limited so reserve your seat today!

For more info on our trainers, curriculum, and history visit our training homepage at: www.democracyforamerica.com/training.

If you have questions you can email us at training(at)democracyforamerica.com or call our DFA Training hotline at: 802-651-3200 x191.

Click here if you have already registered and would like to pay your tuition fee.

Can’t make it to the training that weekend but still want to help? You can contribute to a scholarship fund for this training and help send a local organizer in your place.

Click here sponsor another attendee!

THOUSAND OAKS, CA – A Children’s Literacy Fair will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 to promote children’s literacy and increase the number of books available to children in local schools. This is the first time the event is being held. It is co-sponsored by Borders and Westlake Learning, and will run from 10am to 2pm at the Borders Thousand Oaks store, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.

Four local children’s book authors will be on hand doing book readings and signings. There will also be reading-related activities for children and free give-aways. Local schools in Simi Valley, Moorpark, and the Conejo Valley have been invited to provide a list of books they need for their libraries. During the event, Borders will offer the books for sale, coordinating the effort so duplicate book purchases are avoided and all schools receive an equal benefit from the event.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the community to come together to support our local schools by purchasing books to be donated,” said Stephen Fofanoff, one of the coordinators of the event. “It’s important for us to not only say that we should support our children’s education, but that we actually take the steps necessary to make it a reality. The more people who come out to support an event like this, the better it is for students in all of our schools. The kids will benefit for years to come because school libraries will have more resources to offer them.”

The authors who will be at the event are: Barbara Jean Hicks, Mary Ann Fraser, Carol Heyer, and Chris Warnock.

After the event, Westlake Learning will hand deliver the books that have been purchased to the local schools who participated in the event. Also, present at the event will be local community leaders, including Marta Jorgensen, congressional candidate from the 24th district.

“Education has to be our local community’s priority,” Jorgensen said. “We can’t wait for government or someone else to fix our schools, we have to be proactive at the local level because we don’t have time. Children are in school now. With the latest round of budget cuts, our schools are really suffering, and generally educational resources are the first thing to go. We can make up the difference when we come together as a community to support our schools when they need help the most.”

THOUSAND OAKS, CA – A Children’s Literacy Fair will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 to promote children’s literacy and increase the number of books available to children in local schools. This is the first time the event is being held. It is co-sponsored by Borders and Westlake Learning, and will run from 10am to 2pm at the Borders Thousand Oaks store, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.

Four local children’s book authors will be on hand doing book readings and signings. There will also be reading-related activities for children and free give-aways. Local schools in Simi Valley, Moorpark, and the Conejo Valley have been invited to provide a list of books they need for their libraries. During the event, Borders will offer the books for sale, coordinating the effort so duplicate book purchases are avoided and all schools receive an equal benefit from the event.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the community to come together to support our local schools by purchasing books to be donated,” said Stephen Fofanoff, one of the coordinators of the event. “It’s important for us to not only say that we should support our children’s education, but that we actually take the steps necessary to make it a reality. The more people who come out to support an event like this, the better it is for students in all of our schools. The kids will benefit for years to come because school libraries will have more resources to offer them.”

The authors who will be at the event are: Barbara Jean Hicks, Mary Ann Fraser, Carol Heyer, and Chris Warnock.

After the event, Westlake Learning will hand deliver the books that have been purchased to the local schools who participated in the event. Also, present at the event will be local community leaders, including Marta Jorgensen, congressional candidate from the 24th district.

“Education has to be our local community’s priority,” Jorgensen said. “We can’t wait for government or someone else to fix our schools, we have to be proactive at the local level because we don’t have time. Children are in school now. With the latest round of budget cuts, our schools are really suffering, and generally educational resources are the first thing to go. We can make up the difference when we come together as a community to support our schools when they need help the most.”

Our speaker will be animator and cartoonist Steve Greenberg.  Mr. Greenberg has contributed to the  Ventura County Star and has written and animated an environmental book entitled “Fine-Tooning the Planet” that he will have for purchase and signing.

We also welcome Bernie Rosander from Organizing for America to dialogue with us about Obama’s healthcare package. 

This month we will collect canned, boxed and fresh foods for Manna, the local foodbank. 

We will also discuss general club business, upcoming events and welcome new members.  Please join us.

WHERE:  Thousand Oaks Inn

            75 West Thousand Oaks Blvd.

            Thousand Oaks, CA  91360

            (Behind Dupar’s)
 

COST:       $12 per person for Buffet Lunch (Pay at the door)  - Includes tax and gratuity

SPEAKER:    Dr. Michaela Crawford Reaves, Associate Professor at CLU

TOPIC:  “Social Gospel to Social Security:  Frances Perkins”

        Frances Perkins was the Secretary of Labor for the 12 years

        of Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency, and the first woman to hold

        a Cabinet post.  In light of the current economic situation, what

        better time to learn about Frances Perkins!

FOOD: 

Vegetable Lasagna

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Twice-baked mashed potatoes

Fresh grilled vegetables

Dinner Rolls

Dessert: Black Forest Cake  

Reservations are a must. Please  RSVP by Tuesday, May 19, 2009: 805-675-8785.

Clearly state your name, phone number, e-mail address and the number of people in your party.  Also call if you need to cancel.

Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley will be tabling at the Oaks Mall on May 16, 12-4 pm. Come on all you social types—we need you to help us register voters and persuade others to join our progressive movement. Contact Mary Freed at 805-795-3887.  To build our membership, please bring a friend to our meetings.

El Torito Mexican Grill; 449 N. Moorpark Rd. (North of Hillcrest), Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. 

$12 per person includes tax and tip.  (Pay cash or with a check at the door. Checks are payable to DCCV.)

Choice of one entree:  Enchiladas Rancheras with Chicken or Beef; Mexican Caesar Salad and Tortilla Soup; Lunch size portion of Grilled Chicken Mexican Caesar Salad; Soda or Ice Tea (Order at the table.)

SPEAKER:    Dr. Frank P. Barajas, Associate Professor at California State University Channel Islands

TOPIC:      “A Curious (Re) Union:  Cesar Chavez’s Organizing in Ventura County, 1958 – 59.”

Reservations are a must. RSVP by Friday, March 27 by calling 805-675-8785.  Please clearly say your name, phone number, email address and number of people in your party.