Bexar County Democratic
Party
Minutes – County
Executive Committee
November 11, 2008
I.
Call
for Quorum–County Chair Carla
Vela announced a quorum was present. She
called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
II.
Approve
Agenda–There was a motion and
second to approve the agenda as presented.
The motion carried with no discussion.
III.
Opening
Ceremonies–The Chair led all
present in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence. The Chair recognized the following elected
officials in attendance: Judges Karen
Crouch and Barbara Nellermoe, and Bexar Met. Water
Board Member Guadalupe Lopez.
IV.
Approval
of September Minutes–There was
a
motion and second to approve the September minutes as presented. The motion carried with no discussion.
V.
Reports
A.
County
Chair–Ms. Vela thanked everyone who helped make the coordinated
campaign
such a success. She named some of those
who especially contributed: Thomas
Rockeymoore, Dwayne Adams, Bryant Livingstone, Cheryl Novak, Paul
Javior, Linda
Allen, Monica Simpson (Communications), Lila Aguirre (Special Events),
Rose Marie
Parra (Campaign), Todd Hedley, San Antonio Firefighters Assn.,
Communications
Workers of America, Bexar County
Deputies Assn., Precinct Chairs, Northeast Democrats, Northwest
Democrats,
Stonewall Democrats, Bexar County Democratic Women, Bexar County Young
Democrats, Mission Democrats, Eastside Democrats, Alamobama, and Alice
Guerra.
She said now that we have the White House, next is the Governor’s
Mansion.
She
read a letter from a student from Madison High School requesting
financial
assistance to attend a national conference in Washington, D.C. This will be discussed under new business.
B.
Treasurer–Dwayne
Adams reported the financial reports are available at the sign in table
and explained
a few of the details on them. He
announced we are now able to take credit cards at the party headquarters and the Partners
Program may now be paid this way, also.
Laredo National Bank has been bought by Compass Bank so our bank will now
be Compass. We have 74 new Partners for a
total of $3,000 additional per month pledged.
We also have an additional 41 pledges totaling $3,268 still
outstanding. He anticipated receiving
these funds soon. We are consulting with
a professional events company to hold an “Inaugural Ball” here locally
on
January 20, 2009. More details will come
at the next meeting. The BCDP is not
sponsoring anything for Washington, D.C.
The motion carried with no discussion.
C.
Committees
1.
Budget & Finance–In
the absence of Chair Larry Meads, Zada True Courage reported the
Committee did not
receive the financial information from the Treasurer before the
meeting, so
were unable to review them.
2.
Campaign–Ian
Straus reported they are looking for more members to serve to be better
prepared for the 2010 Governor’s Election.
3.
Communications–The
Chair recognized all members of this committee for their work during
the
election.
4.
Community
Outreach–Helen Villarreal reported for Chair Ruth Stewart that
thanks to
the generosity of the CEC over $200 was contributed, along with
cookies,
bottled water, games, books, toiletries and presented September 3rd
to the Warrior & Family Support Center.
Ms. Villarreal also moved that the CEC assume responsibility for
collecting for the Center for March 2009.
The motion carried with no discussion.
5.
Election Protection–No
report.
6.
Endowment–Dr.
Adams announced the next meeting will be November 17th, at
the headquarters beginning at 6:00 p.m.
7.
Fundraising–The
Tommy Adkisson Roast brought in $14,050, of which $9,045 was profit. The report was accepted as presented.
8.
Precinct
Chair Recruitment–Mark Camann gave the current status report of the
number
of Precinct Chairs. He made 2
motions. The first was to have a
strategic party building workshop this spring.
The motion was accepted. The
second motion was a Resolution on Filling Precinct Chair Vacancies to
be presented
to the Texas Democratic Party. During
discussion it was decided the committee would hold a short session
aside from
the body to rework the wording of the last portion of the resolution. They would make
their report during the New Business period.
9.
Rules
– Robert Bretz announced the next committee meeting will be on Monday,
11/17,
at the headquarters beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The rules changes presented in August are scheduled to be voted
upon at
the December meeting. If anyone has any
questions on them they are welcome to attend the meeting.
10.
Seniors
– No report.
11.
Veterans
– No report.
12.
Volunteer
– No report.
D.
DNC
Member – No report.
E.
SDEC
Members
1.
SD19
– No report.
2.
SD25
– No report.
3.
SD26
– No report.
VI.
Unfinished
Business–None
VII.
New Business
A.
Nancy Froment moved we hold an
abbreviated December meeting with a party afterward.
There was a second and the motion carried.
B.
Nancy Froment moved we vote at the
December meeting on the 2009 meeting schedule.
There was a second and the motion carried.
C.
Mark Camann reported on the
amendment to the Precinct Chair Committee’s Resolution.
He read the amended last paragraph and after
discussion the amendment carried. The
motion, as amended, carried.
D.
Dwayne Adams moved we donate $100 to
Anastasia Holbrook for her trip to Washington, D.C.
After a second there was discussion. The
motion was defeated.
E.
Melanie Aranda reported on her
experiences working for the Obama Campaign in New Mexico.
F.
Bea Sierra expressed concern about
certain Democratic officials escorting Republican candidate Lyle Larson
around
and introducing him at various south side precincts.
G.
Melanie Aranda moved all Democratic
clubs donate 10% of their fundraising to the County Party. After a
second there
was discussion both pro and con. An
amendment was made to give goals to the clubs agreed upon by the Club
President
and Party Treasurer. It was moved to
refer this motion to the Budget and Finance Committee to report next
month. After a second the referral
motion carried.
H.
Sylvia Pena requested feedback on
how we performed during the election.
Thomas Rockeymoore said as soon as all the information is
gathered it
will be reported, probably in December or January.
I.
Ralph Galvan proposed we begin
paying a salary to both the Chair and Executive Director.
This was referred to the Budget & Finance
Committee for study.
J.
It was announced we Raised $220 at
this meeting.
VIII.
Announcements
A.
Don’t forget to put January 20th
on your calendar for our Inaugural Ball.
B.
Ruth Stewart invited everyone to the
Bexar County Dem. Women’s Christmas Party on December 1st honoring Catherine Stone.
It’s at the Westfall Library, Vance Jackson
and IH10.
C.
Nick Pena asked if we had people on
the Ballot board to validate signatures.
Thomas Rockeymoore reassured everyone we had very qualified
people do
this work and they made sure the party was protected.
D.
John Courage invited everyone to the
NE Democrats Party on November 18th at their San Pedro
location from
6:30-8:30 p.m.
E.
Toni Arteaga – thanked everyone for
their support during her campaign. Amber
Alwais is only down by 730 votes and there a Toni Arteaga – thanked
everyone
for their support during her campaign. Amber
Alwais is only down by 730 votes and there are still 1500 provisional,
military, and mail ballots to be counted.
The deadline is November 17th.
IX.
Adjournment
– Following a motion and second the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
______________________________
Nancy T. Froment, Secretary
Bexar County
Democratic Party