FROM OUR CHAIR, LAUREN DIKIS
Hi All,
It was great to see so many of you at the Spring Dinner in Amesville. Thank you again to Mayor Gary Goosman and Roxanne Groff for leading the dinner and cooking up such an amazing meal. We’ll be back at the Legion for the Fall Dinner. For next year’s Spring Dinner, If any communities or volunteers are willing to take the lead, I would love to be in touch!
At our April executive committee meeting, we appointed people to the central and executive committee and elected a Vice Chair (Bill Bias), a Secretary (George Bain), and a Treasurer (Josh Thomas). A very hearty thanks to Commissioner Lenny Eliason for his years of service to the party as Treasurer.
I hope to see you all soon; our next meeting is Wednesday, May 15 at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building in Athens.
– Lauren
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
TONIGHT! May 7 – Meet Our ODP Campaign Organizer & Info Session
Autymn Shepherd, our Ohio Democratic Party Regional Organizer, will be working out of the Athens Dems office, organizing around 20 SE Ohio counties. Join Autumn on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 pm at the Athens Dems office to learn more about the campaign.
May 11 – Collect Signatures for “Citizens Not Politicians” at the Athens Farmers Market
To volunteer to help collect signatures, contact Solveig Spjeldnes to sign up at solveigsp@gmaiL.com. Seeking volunteers for two-hour shifts, between 8:30 am – 12 pm.
May 15 – ACDP Executive/Central Committee Meeting
Join us at 5:30 pm at the Municipal Building in Athens.
May 18 – Panel Presentation on Canvassing: How to Talk About the Issues
Join us at 12:30 pm at the Athens Dems Office for a panel presentation by three experienced local canvassers who will speak on: Immigration (John Schmieding), Gun Rights (Dana Carlson), and Reproductive Rights (Susan Quinn). Contact Janalee Stock at janalees@gmail.com to RSVP for in-person attendance or the Zoom link.
May 19 – Collect Signatures for “Citizens Not Politicians” at Kindred Community Day
To volunteer to help collect signatures, contact Andrea Reik at areikathens@gmail.com. Seeking volunteers for two-hour shifts, between 12 – 6 pm.
May 25 & 26 – Collect Signatures for “Citizens Not Politicians” at Heartwood Campout
Join the Athens Dems in Meigs County to collect signatures – contact Andrea Reik at areikathens@gmail.com to sign up.
June 7 – Glouster First Friday with Athens Dems
Represent Democratic Values by showing up with our Athens Dems group. Bring lawn chairs, listen to performers, and check out local vendors.
June 8 – Athens Pride Parade
Join a group of Athens Dems at this and other parades this summer to represent the cause! See the “Community Events Committee Update” below for details, and for the full calendar of parades.
June 8 – Coolville Founders Day Parade
June 13 – Canvassing Training: Environment, Education & the Economy
June’s canvassing training, 6 – 7 pm at the Dems Office, will be on the topics,”The 3E’s: Environment (Roxanne Groff), Education (Dana Carlson), and the Economy (John Hansen) ”.
June 15 – Boogie on the Bricks
June 22 – OU Juneteenth Celebration
July 20 – Amesville Fireman Festival & Parade
August 2 – Glouster First Friday with Athens Dems
August 5 – 10 – Athens County Fair
Join Democratic candidates and special guests at the Athens Dems fair booth!
August 17 – Parade of the Hills
September 2 – Old Settlers Reunion Parade
September 22 – Albany Independent Fair & Parade
September 28 – OU Homecoming Parade
Join as the Athens Dems march with the OU College Dems.
October 6 – The Plains Indian Mounds Festival & Parade
October 12 & 13 – Appalachian Color Hills Festival
Our last parade in 2024!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
CITIZENS NOT POLITICIANS
Calling all volunteers! New volunteers, past volunteers, and people considering volunteering –– we need you! The time is NOW to collect signatures for the “Citizens Not Politicians” petition, as the circulation period ends in early June.
Sign the Citizen Not Politicians (CNP) petition, available at the Athens Dems Office at 74 East State Street in Athens –– stop by any Monday or Wednesday from 1 – 4 pm.
Collect signatures for the CNP petition. The first step is to complete this online training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYlCXj4_je8
Once you’ve completed the training, please reach out to Andrea Reik at areikathens@gmail.com or Solveig Spjeldnes at solveigsp@gmail.com to be assigned petitions. See the calendar above for opportunities to volunteer at events throughout Athens County, collecting signatures.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Canvassing
Girl Scout Motto: Be Prepared! Time and time again, we have heard potential volunteers say they are uncomfortable with canvassing because they feel ill-prepared for a conversation about a hot topic.
On that note, we invite those who have committed to canvassing, and those who sit on the fence, to our first two canvass training events, on May 18 and June 13 –– see the calendar section above for details. Modeled after the limited time we have at each doorstep, each panelist will cover their topic, followed by a Q&A where you can pose concerns or questions about speaking on these topics while canvassing.
From our own experiences, we have found that one-issue voters do like to talk! It’s a great opportunity to spend a few extra minutes at a doorstep, listening and responding. These are the golden moments when you know you have made a difference with that door knock.
We’re planning a third canvassing training event, with input from you! To suggest a topic, contact Janalee Stock at janalees@gmail.com.
VoteBuilder (VB)
Like to work with data? This data system uses voter registration records to assist in reaching Democratic and independent voters to promote voting, candidates, and issues. Locally, we’ll use VoteBuilder to develop canvassing routes, as well as lists for phone banking and sending postcards.
Reach Doug Debrick at dgdebrick@gmail.com to be trained on VoteBuilder – no prior experience needed. Doug is the Data Manager for the Athens County Dems, so contact him for all your data needs!
Community Education
Do you have an opinion on issues this political season? Join Kathy Kinsner at bigapplekk@aol.com to receive tips on writing letters to the editor, as well as guidance on crafting messages for talking with people about important issues.
Kathy was recently invited by a local bar owner to craft a talking-points guide for their bartenders, and is working to provide a range of people who serve the public with guidance on talking about issues and candidates. Contact Kathy to request a talking-points guide that’s tailored for your own organization or community.
Postcards
Contact Lisa Eliason at eliason.lisa.2128@gmail.com for more information about our upcoming postcard writing projects.
OFFICE HOURS
In May, the Athens County Democratic Party office will be open Mondays and Wednesdays 1 – 4 pm. Visit us at 74 E State St, near the intersection of Stimson Ave uptown.
Stop by and sign the Citizens Not United petition!
ACDP COMMITTEE UPDATES
Neighborhood Campaign Committee –– Chair, Andrea Reik
Our NCC committee is busy preparing for the November election. See the volunteer opportunities section above for ways to get involved, from circulating Citizens Not Politicians petitions, to canvassing, and more.
A shout out to Solveig Spjeldnes, our Special Events Team leader, for organizing the David Pepper speaking event! Lots of time organizing and plenty of details. Thanks Solveig!!!
Community Events Committee –– Chair, Patrice Beard
We’re gearing up for a busy parade season! We’re seeking volunteers to join the Athens Dems by walking in parades, representing at our booths, wearing Dems T-shirts (or a plain white or blue shirt), offering use of their vehicles for parades, bringing homemade signs to carry in parades, or carrying our usual Dems banner. To get involved, email Patrice Beard at apbeard11@gmail.com.
See the calendar section above for a full listing of parades in 2024. Note that the Athens Dems will also have a table at the Nelsonville Pride Parade, date TBD.
Community Service Committee –– Chair, Janalee Stock
Athens Dems community service volunteers recently helped with the Mount Zion Preservation Society’s faux stained glass window project. Artist Keith Wilde shared how the real windows are being rehabilitated, and what will take their place in the meantime. We had fun painting, cutting, and gluing the pieces of what will become a temporary substitute for the original windows. This church with a rich, vibrant history will become a Black Cultural Center for our region.
DAVID PEPPER EVENT RECAP
In April, David Pepper gave a talk, based on his new book Saving Democracy, about the problems facing us, and shared what we can do to engage our legislators to respond to the will of the voters. Stay tuned for video clips from the event, which we’ll post to the Athens YouTube channel soon and share on social media.
Thanks to everyone who came to David Pepper’s talk and made the event a success! And of course, thanks to the Athena Cinema for hosting, Solveig Spjeldnes for organizing, and Tanya Conrath for introducing Pepper. Thanks also to our new Athens County Democratic Party Chair Lauren Dikis for introducing our Ohio Supreme Court justices running in 2024, who did a great job explaining why we need to vote for them.
Several candidates and elected officials were in attendance: Supreme Court Justices and Candidates Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly, Candidate for US Congress Jerrad Christian, Candidate for State Senate Ari Faber, Candidate for State Representative 94th Wenda Sheard, Mayor Steve Patterson, Athens County Commissioner Chris Chimel, Athens County Democratic Party Chair Lauren Dikis, Candidate for Athens County Treasurer Taylor Sappington, Athens City Treasurer and ACDP Treasurer Josh Thomas, Athens City Auditor and ACDP Committee Chair Kathy Hecht, and Athens City Council Representatives Beth Clodfelter (At Large), Jeff Risner (2nd Ward), Solveig Spjeldnes (1st Ward), Alan Swank (4th Ward), and Jessica Thomas (At Large).
SPRING DINNER RECAP
Thank you to everyone who attended our Spring Dinner and donated to the Athens Dems cause! Thank you to our wonderful speakers, Julie White of United Academics of Ohio University Organizer and OU Professor, and Natalie Johnson of ACLU Ohio. And thank you to our volunteers who helped in the kitchen, and our hosts Gary Goosman and Roxanne Groff who cooked a phenomenal meal (many returned for seconds).
We filled every seat at Village Productions in Amesville, and then some –– a wonderful turn out. When we show up together, we can make real change.
PAID TRAINING PROGRAM:
OPERATION ORGANIZE OHIO
Operation Organize Ohio 2024 is a hands-on, paid training program where you’ll learn how to organize your community for the critical November elections and beyond, and where you’ll learn how to be a part of a Democratic political campaign in Ohio this year. Field Organizing is all about empowering communities and speaking to voters directly about our values, and is THE thing that will make a difference in this election this year. Ohio needs leaders who are ready to engage with voters across the state, and Operation Organize Ohio will train those leaders to make an impact.
Operation Organize Ohio is run by leadership from some of the Ohio Democratic Party’s most experienced staff from across campaign departments. Their goal is to teach new community leaders what it takes to win elections and provide a look behind the curtain. At Operation Organize Ohio you will learn the fundamentals of organizing, including the functions of a good campaign, how to talk to voters and volunteers about Democratic values, and how to make a long-term political impact in your community.
Attendees who successfully complete the program will receive a $135 stipend. Further details can be found HERE, and applications can be submitted at bit.ly/operationorganizeohio.
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