Just this last Thursday, our members met at Coaches Bar & Grill for our January Link-up. There were three items on our agenda. The first was to elect our Executive Officers and the Board of Directors. The results of the Election are as follows:

Executive Officers
Chairman - Chaim Julian
Vice Chairman - Tom DeLuca
Treasurer - Eric Schmitz
Secretary - Kristen Thomas

Board Members
Geoff McKim
Andy Ruff
Angel Rivera
Michael Drescher

You may be wondering just who will be teaching us how to become effective activists at the DFA Campaign Academy. Here is the faculty list.

KENDRA-SUE DERBY – FIELD (ROSWELL, GA)

I just came from the Occupy Bloomington event over at People's Park. The turnout was impressive - over 200 people from all walks of life. After some speeches (there was no set program of speakers) the bulk of the crowd marched down Kirkwood to the Chase Bank branch at Kirkwood and College. When they returned to the park they were chanting "This is what Democracy looks like."

July 31, 2011 -- DFMC held our second annual Frisbee Golf Tournament at Karst Farm Park. We had lots of wonderful people attend the picnic. (And special thanks to Dale Jones for manning the grill!) Four of us stuck around for the tournament: Chaim Julian (chair), Mike Drescher (treasurer), Eric Schmitz (past chair), and Steve Volan (Bloomington City Councilman). A good time was had by all!

Click here to see the exciting photos!

Regina Moore, City Clerk

Regina has served as City Clerk, the friendly face of City Hall, since 2000. Her dedication to transparent and apparent government is clear. She has spent countless hours reaching out to community groups to teach them how city government works. She is organized, smart, and congenial — everything you need in a City Clerk. Beyond that, she has been an active supporter of progressive issues in our community and has played an instrumental role in bringing more women into local government.

City Council

This morning, I was informed by a friend of mine that Public Question #1, that abominable Constitutional Amendment which will now be polluting the Indiana Constitution, actually lost narrowly here in Monroe County. This surprised me because at the polling place at Read Center, where I served as the poll's Inspector, it actually won even though all the Democrats on the ticket won.

First, here is what you will see on the ballot when you go to vote.

SHALL PROPERTY TAXES BE LIMITED FOR ALL CLASSES OF PROPERTY by amending the Constitution of the State of Indiana to do the following:

1. Limit a taxpayer's annual property tax bill to the following percentages of gross assessed value:
   
   1. 1% for an owner-occupied primary residence (homestead);
   2. 2% for residential property, other than an owner-occupied primary residence, including apartments;
   3. 2% for agricultural land;
      

Last Saturday (June 26) the Delegates to the Indiana Democratic Party Convnention nominated three extraordinary candidates for statewide office. Sam Locke (for State Auditor), Pete Buttigieg (for State Treasurer) and Vop Osili (for Secretary of State) have all put an energy into their respective campaigns unlike any other candidates for those offices.

Today is Primary Election Day. DFMC encourages all Democrats to vote for:

• Linda Robbins - Monroe County Clerk*
• Chris Gaal - Monroe County Prosecutor
• Mike Szakaly - Monroe County Recorder
• Vic Kelson - Monroe County Council, District 1
• Cheryl Munson - Monroe County Council, District 2
• Larry Barker - Monroe County Council, District 3
• Sam Allison - Monroe County Council, District 4
• Linda Sievers - Bloomington Township Trustee
• Terry Robbins - Van Buren Township Trustee*
• Vickie Sorensen - Indian Creek Township Trustee*