03.27.07

“No Child Left Behind”, Public Hearing with Houston A+ Challenge

Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 5:30 pm by M Beauregard

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03.19.07

Minutes, March 10

Posted in Meeting Minutes at 8:39 pm by M Beauregard

The meeting was called to order by Max Beauregard at 9 AM. He recognized some guests at our meeting. Gerry Birnberg, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, was in attendance (www.hcdp.org). He announced various upcoming events, such as the Spring Home and Garden Tour on April 14, and 15, sponsored by the Houston Heights Association (www.houstonheights.org); and, a big impeachment event, entitled :"Impeachment: Our Right, Our Duty", at the Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 West 11th Street (just west of TC Jester Boulevard), Houston, Texas 77008, at 7 PM on April 9, 2007, with keynote speaker Cindy Sheehan, Professor Bob Jensen, State Representative Lon Burnham, Debra Sweet, City Councilwoman Ada Edwards, Diane Wilson, and Sissy Farenthold. There will be petition signing, postcard writing, tabling, networking, music, videos, speeches, and food.

He announced upcoming speeches by Tim Flannery, author of Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What it Means for Life on Earth, "widely acclaimed as the finest and clearest account on the science behind global warming", on March 19; and, political writer Joe Klein, on April 12. Bill White will introduce Tim Flannery’s speech with his own remarks on global warning.

He said that Jim Rine has volunteered to put together a scrapbook of GHDC club history. The Mosiers, Diane and Bruce, founded the club, and know a lot of the club’s history.

Gerry Birnberg said the big story this week is the conviction of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former Chief of Staff to the Vice President, on four counts of obstruction of justice and lying to a grand jury and federal officials.

He announced a rally and march of the Houston Coalition of Working People and the Poor, which will commence at Hermann Square at noon, and will conclude at Houston City Hall, on March 24, 2007. This is a new broad-based coalition of religious, political, community, and labor organizations that was formed this year in Houston. The Coalition will demand full funding for human needs, including restoration of funding for CHIPS and food stamps, and affordable housing.

Coalition members include James Dixon, Coalition Chair and Pastor of the Community of Faith Church; Richard Shaw, Secretary and Chair of the local chapter of the AFL-CIO; Dave Atwood of the Houston Peace and Justice Center; Jose Ballester, Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church; State Senator Rodney Ellis; City Councilwomen Ada Edwards and Carol Alvarado; Dr. S. J. Gilbert, Sr., Houston Metropolitan Ministers Alliance; Pancho Arguelles, Training Coordinator of Houston Interfaith Workers 4 Justice; and the Harris County Democratic Party (HCDP). For more information, call (713) 688-2900.

Max announced that GHDC will participate in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade downtown on Saturday, March 17, at noon. The staging area will be on Hamilton Street near Minute Maid Park. He said the idea is not just for us to be Irish, but to be Democrats. He said,” If we just look Irish, we’ll blend in with everybody else". Mary Kay Green said we’ll have flyers to pass out to the crowd to show who we are. Vicki Bellow said,”The thing to do is wear our Heights Democrats t-shirts with green things, like hats". Max found some green and white hats that are perfect for the parade.

Melissa Noriega talked about her campaign for City Council At-Large Position 3. There will be a special election on May 12 to fill the unexpired term of Shelly Sekula-Gibbs. She is the wife of State Representative Rick Noriega. She said her political career started years ago when she first started working with Rick in their civic club. She said it’s always an honor to be invited to speak before Democratic groups. She predicted that, if people support her and turn out en masse, she will win without a run-off. Gerry Birnberg asked what is her strategy to get voters out to the polls. She said her "sign crew is awesome" and "they’re getting out there". She is looking for more volunteers to phone bank. She said early voting is going to be very important in this election, "turn-out is the key’; and, warned, "I tell you, the people who vote early in special elections aren’t always Democrats".

Max Beauregard reported that she has been endorsed by the Harris County AFL-CIO Council and the GLBT Political Caucus. Her campaign headquarters is located at 7401 Gulf Freeway. Gerry Birnberg pointed out that she is the only sustaining member of the Harris County Democratic Party who on the ballot, and said, "As far as I know, she is the only Democrat in the race".

Someone expressed concern about the current rules on term limits, and she said, "the current set-up handicaps people". She said, "if we’re going to do it, let’s do something that makes sense". She would be in favor of two (2) four year terms, rather than three (3) two year terms.

Gerry Birnberg asked whether she would support a local ordinance calling for verifiable paper ballots. She said she absolutely would be in favor of that. She thanked us for having given her the opportunity to speak before us. Vicki Bellow made a motion to endorse her campaign. The motion passed unanimously. Although City Council races are supposed to be non-partisan, the fact is that partisan affiliation is a definite factor. Martha Wong is Treasurer of Roy Morales’ campaign, and Talmadge Heflin is a backer. Another opponent, Noel Freeman, is a Log Cabin activist in the Republican Party. Melissa Noriega predicted that this is going to become very quickly a very partisan race. She said everything is going to depend ultimately on which side turns its voters out.

Vicki Bellow presented the Treasurer’s Report that we have $1,257.48 in the bank.

Max Beauregard adjourned the meeting at 10 AM.

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Tim Flannery, Author, The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth

Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 7:30 pm by M Beauregard

Tim Flannery
Monday, March 19 | Wortham Center

	PURCHASE and PRINT TICKETS ONLINE For phone purchases, call 832-251-0706, 9 to 9 seven days a week. For assistance with buying tickets online, call the help desk at 888-695-0888.

Author, The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth

sponsored by Progressive Forum Houston

Widely acclaimed as the finest and clearest account of the science of global warming, Flannery’s book presents the powerful connection between climate change and human activity, and lays out a game plan for halting and eventually reversing the damage that we “weather makers” are doing. A native Australian, Flannery is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books, ABC Radio, NPR, and the BBC. He has taught at Harvard and is currently director of the South Australian Museum and the National Geographic Society’s Australasian representative.

Program at 7:30 p.m. in the Wortham Center, Cullen Theater. Private patron reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Green Room. / Book signing after the program in the grand foyer. Books will be on sale throughout the evening by Barnes & Noble. / Tickets $19 to $59. A limited number of patron tickets at $110 include preferred seating location, private patron reception with the speaker, and a free autographed book. All tickets are $5 more at the door. At certain price levels, there are discounts for students, seniors 65 and over, and groups of 15 or more. Valid ID required at the door. There are no tickets sold in advance at the Wortham Center box office. Tickets are sold by an independent box office service, ClickNPrint, by telephone or online (see link and phone number under photo above). / For the hearing impaired, headsets are available at the box office or from the ushers.

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03.10.07

regular meeting, 9-11am Chatters

Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 9:00 am by M Beauregard

Guest Speaker: Melissa Noriega

Houston is one of the finest cities in America. It will take competent, effective leadership to make this the city all we want and I believe I am the person that can work with you to make that happen on City Council.  Whether in public education, our community or the State Legislature, I’ve always worked to find common ground to achieve positive change. With your help, we can bring that type of leadership to the Houston City Council. Let’s start the conversation now about the great things you see ahead for our city. I would be honored to have your support and your vote.

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03.05.07

Rice University’s 2007 De Lange Conference: “How Knowledge Will Be Accessed, Discovered, and Disseminated in the Age of Digital Information”

Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 8:00 am by M Beauregard

Fee: $35.
Date: March 5-7, 2007
Host: Rice University,  Fondren Library, and Computer and Information Technology Institute (CITI)
Site: Alice Pratt Brown Auditorium, Shepherd School, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, Texas

http://delange.rice.edu/conferenceVI.cfm

Rice University’s 2007 De Lange Conference: "How Knowledge Will Be Accessed, Discovered, and Disseminated in the Age of Digital Information"

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03.03.07

Washington on Washington Ave Parade, Heights 1st Saturday,

Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 10:00 am by M Beauregard

Heights Dems needs volunteers to march in this parade to carry our banner and market our club to our neighbors. This is an enormous opportunity to expand our membership!

The Washington on Washington Parade is being organized by SuperNeighborhood #22- Washington Avenue/Memorial Park to bring together our neighbors and the City of Houston in a truly grassroots effort to highlight our community, our contribution to the history of Houston, and to promote fellowship with each other.

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Democracy for America, Natl grassroots training, Sat & Sun. March 3&4, 9am-6pm

Posted in Events, GHDC Blog at 12:00 am by M Beauregard

At the DFA Training Academy, experienced campaign professionals will cover practical strategies and tactics including communications, fundraising, voter targeting, online organizing, and building a sustainable grassroots movement. We design the program so you can go out and use the skills you learn right away. Then, we follow up with you to make sure you have the support you need to organize your community.

The 2008 Presidential race is already beginning to take shape. You and I both know that the grassroots are more than just a passive audience in this race. The DFA Training Academy will prepare you to become an asset to whichever candidate you end up supporting.

But this is more than just a presidential race. This past November Democrats across the country were successful in races from the U.S. Senate to local city councils. In addition to the standard campaign curriculum, we also will focus on strategies geared toward retaining the seats won last year and building Democratic majorities in 2008 and beyond.

You can RSVP at:   http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17123

Phillip McNutt
Executive Steering Committee
Democracy For Houston &
Heights Dems member

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