In This Issue

• Bulletin Board
• January 16, 2003 Meeting Minutes
• Chair's Corner: The Birth of the 9th
• Congratulations Cathy!
• MDP - 2003 Spring State Convention

Bulletin Board

Berkley Democratic Club Meeting
March 27, 2003 (4th Thursday)
Club Annual Meeting - Election of Officers

Jeff - Jack Dinner
Cobo Center, Detroit
May 10, 2003

Berkley Democratic Club Meeting
May 22, 2003 (4th Thursday)
Final meeting of the Winter Season

All club meetings will be held at Anderson Middle School in the Media Center beginning at 8:00pm.

- Ralph Conklin

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January 16, 2003 Meeting Minutes

BERKLEY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
JANUARY 16, 2003
MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Sauer, L. Gogola, M. Stephan, G. Stephan, P. O'Dwyer, J. Head, C. Riley, D. Mirk, M. Spinney, P. Pelowski, P. Haggis, R. Conklin - GUESTS: Vince/Yvonne Gregory, C. Wilhelem, and J. Duquette.

The Chair, Phil O'Dwyer opened the meeting at 8:05 P.M. He discussed the resignation of Marilyn Stephan from the Oakland County Democratic Party (OCDP) Executive Board because she was elected as an officer (Corresponding Secretary). He explained that our club could not elect a replacement, but we could make a recommendation to OCDP. It was moved by Polly Haggis to recommend to OCDP Chair that Cathy King be considered to fill this vacancy. Marilyn Stephan seconded the motion. THE MOTION CARRIED. Phil O'Dwyer will send a letter to OCDP Chair David Woodward stating our recommendation.

At the completion of the Business Meeting, the CHAIR introduced Oakland County Commissioner Vincent Gregory and his wife Yvonne. Mr. Gregory became our county representative as the result of the recent reapportionment of county voting districts. He is a resident of Southfield and served previously in this office. He is the first Democrat to represent Berkley since the late Angus McPherson was our county commissioner.

Commissioner Gregory explained that most of the work to explore issues concern county government is done by standing committees. With only five Democratic Commissioners, each of these individuals has more committee assignments than their Republican counterpart.

His latest committee assignment is as a member of the Finance Committee, where the budget is developed. He indicated the County was also suffering from reduced revenues. They are using an early retirement incentive to help reduce the county staff. For every two people that take an early retirement, only one new employee is added.

We look forward to future visits from our county commissioner.

- Ralph Conklin

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Chair's Corner

The Birth of the 9th

Birth is seldom an easy event. It is often a blend of pain, tears, and delight. The birth of the 9th Congressional District was a painful process offering little delight. The relatively incompetent, although highly educated, midwife made the process dreadful to endure. On the positive side it revealed why our Congressman is not a democrat.

Factions from the old districts that now comprise the new 9th scrambled for control. Tempestuous negotiations initially arose with regard to the rules that would govern the election of officers, the executive committee, and the delegates to State Central. The usually compliant Berkley delegation became quickly embroiled in contentious discussions when a slate of candidates was distributed. The candidate purporting to represent Berkley was neither a resident of Berkley nor a resident of the district.

Portly and well-healed oracles were determined that changes to the slate would not be made but the feisty Berkley delegation would not be appeased until the change was made. This issue was soon replaced by other matters that gave little evidence of collegiality. Soon, multiple changes were forced from the floor. Indeed, the fifteen member executive committee was expanded to thirty on the rationale that it allowed broader representation and signaled a more inclusive posture.

The race for chair of the district was bitter and Stewart Brickner, who was defeated, was not subsequently included elsewhere amongst the officers. The winner seemed to lack the grace that her handshake suggested. The new chair of the 9th Congressional District is Ingrid Grace. Ralph Conklin was elected to the executive committee and Cathy King was elected to State Central.

The absence of a central unifying figure in the 9th may portend further division as time passes. It is hoped that a climate of healing will occur and that the newly elected officers and the executive committee will realize that the task is defeating republicans and not each other. It will be interesting to observe how the 9th Congressional District, which is the only district confined to one county, cooperates with the county party organization.

- Phil O'Dwyer, Chair

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Congratulations Cathy!

At the Winter Democratic State Convention, which was held on February 15, 2003, Cathy King expanded her role within the party structure. She was re-elected as delegate to the State Central Committee representing the new 9th Congressional District in spite of increased competition, which was created because of the larger size of the district.

Her return to the committee will enable our club members to learn of the actions taken to reclaim the elected positions that were lost in the recent election.

In addition to retaining this position, she was also elected chair of the Educator's Caucus. The duties of these positions will be added to her duties as President of the Bloomfield Hills Education Association. This editor wonders how she can fit these new responsibilities into her busy schedule.

- Ralph Conklin

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MDP - 2003 Spring State Convention

Some of the highlights of the convention received media coverage. The press has written many articles concerning the two-way race for Party Chair. The election of co-chairs dividing the duties of the state party chair also received equal treatment. Sound bites of some of the many speeches of elected officials were featured on many of the Television newscasts. All of these facts have short lives and soon will be forgotten.

One aspect of the program that never receives any publicity is RESOLUTIONS. Twenty-seven resolutions about state and national problems were presented and approved by the Resolutions Committee. They represent the concerns of county and congressional party members.

The following is a short list of the most important concerns:

• Regarding Iraq - The resolution supported our military personnel all over the world. It also supported the continued work of United Nations weapons inspectors. It opposed pre-emptive strike by US troops unless it is demonstrated that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of the United States.
• Supporting Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity - This resolution supports the University of Michigan and the plans other universities. To demonstrate this support, it endorsed the civil rights marches that are being planned at the US Supreme Count for Tuesday, April 1, 2003 and the Metro Detroit Area endeavor on March 1, 2003.
• Out Of State Trash - This resolution supports the current efforts in state and federal legislation to impose stringent inspections and to stop the importation of trash in the state.
• Supporting Social Security and Medicare - This resolution opposes the efforts to privatize any part of Social Security. It also commends Michigan Democratic Senators and Representatives for their efforts to secure a prescription drug benefits as a part of Medicare.
• The Columbia Tragedy - This resolution offers sympathy and condolences of the MDP to the families and friends of the crew members, who were serving their country in the space program.
• The Great Lakes - This resolution supports the belief that the waters of the Great Lakes must remain in the public domain. It urges Governor Granholm and the State Legislators to enact legislation that will deny permits to any public entity, corporation or business diverting water from the Great Lakes and its watershed.

Space does not allow the remaining twenty-one resolutions of this report to be listed here. If you wish to receive a copy of the complete report, contact MDC headquarters at 515-371-5410 or email to mi-demparty@mi-democrats.com.

- Ralph Conklin

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