Rockport Democratic Town Committee

Minutes of 09/18/2004 Meeting

Members - Ann Sheinwald, Rose McMullen, Ruth Perrault, Laura Dickey, David Wise, Harold Rush-Lloyd, Helen Rush-Lloyd, Ruth Gillies, Bob Luoma, Jacqueline Paulson, Lois Lundell, Pat Koechlin, Bernie Koechlin, Vernice Gaietto, Dan Lauzon, Mary Sibbalds, Sally Chapdelaine, Tanner Cronin, Tom Delaney, Mary Francis, Jim McCloy, June McCloy, Pat Watson, and Dan Hoch.

Enrolled Democrats: Betsy Munroe, Jerry Maisch,

Friend: Marcia Siegel

Guests: Paul McGeary, Antigone Simmons, Victoia Simmons Nicholas Soffron, Bill Murley, and Laura Rowe.

Members excused: Nan Chase, Maureen Dwinell, and Bruce Franklin.

Associates: Hildy Feuerbach indicated she couldn’t attend.

At 10:10 am Chair Sheinwald opened the meeting at the Rockport Public Library. The Chair asked for a vote on spending an additional $300 toward the rent for Cape Ann Democratic Headquarters offices in Gloucester. An additional $300 is necessary since we have been asked to share half of the monthly rent of $600 for 2 months. A motion was made, seconded and voted unanimously in the affirmative. Ann encouraged everyone to sign up for manning the HQ office at 72 Rogers Street, to request yard signs for the Democratic candidates, get bumper stickers, and be available for any other upcoming actions, e.g., visibilities, voter registration. CAHQ phone numbers are: 978-283-1005, 978-283-0624, and 978-283-0646.

Ann introduced Bill Murley, the Democratic candidate for Essex County Sheriff. Bill hopes to be given the opportunity of reforming daily operations of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department and making incarceration a deterrent to future criminals while reforming current inmates. He has been increasingly concerned with public safety and security within the correctional system for both officers and inmates.

Next, Ann introduced David Graves, a Vietnam veteran for Kerry, who shared his thoughts about the disturbing polarization of this country.

Paul McGeary, the Democratic candidate for State Senator, addressed the Committee, asking for our assistance in his battle to unseat the Republican incumbent.

Dan Lauzon requested help or ideas about a potential Labor Appreciation Day in October he is trying to organize for the purpose of reaching out to grass roots union members. Currently, there is no system in place or available to directly contact union members.

Rose McMullen suggested that committee members manning HQ could use the voter registration sheets to send out “Dear Friend” postcards to ask Rockporters registered as Democrats or Unenrolled to vote for national & local Democratic candidates. Pat Koechlin made a motion to allocate up to $100 for expenses for this project. This motion was seconded & voted affirmatively. Rose volunteered to check out the cost of printing up pre-printed postcards for volunteers to write in names & addresses, and sign.

Sally Chapdelaine reported about this Sunday’s rally in New Hampshire and provided the phone number for those interested in participating - 1-617-367-1551.

Antigone Simmons, the Senate District Coordinator for the Kerry/Edwards campaign addressed the Committee to request workers from this District for such activities as door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, and visibilities in Dover, NH, and Portsmouth, NH on Saturdays and Sundays until election day. She indicated that if anyone is interested, meet at Friendly’s (at Grant Circle) at 8am on Saturday, and 10am on Sundays for pickup. She also encouraged people to host/attend debate parties on Thursday, September 30. Check out www.johnkerry.com and go to the “volunteer center,” or www.nhdp.org.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30am.

Respectfully submitted,

Rose McMullen