Happy Thursday! Please note that our office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!
As the office re-opened for the New Year, we had an immediate need for volunteers. Thanks to all of you who answered email blasts soliciting volunteer help! We could not do our work without you!
MERCHON GREEN GUEST SPEAKER AT JAN. 14 DEM CLUB MEETING
The next Democratic Club meeting will feature guest speaker, Merchon Green. Merchon is the Chair of the Equity Committee formed in 2018. Its goal is to work with the NAACP and the Indian River School Board to comply with the federal desegregation order which has been in effect since 1967. Please come for an update on the committee’s progress and have any questions answered.
The Club meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14th, from 6 to 8 pm at the Irish American Society, 1314 20th St, Vero Beach.
GALA UPDATE
Happy New Year! 2020 is the year Democrats will reclaim the White House! You can help this effort by attending our Blue Gala: 2020 Vision on February 23rd! Florida Democratic Chair, Terrie Rizzo, will be joining us for the evening. Black tie is optional, valet parking is free and there is a full, open bar. The invitations are in the mail but if you haven’t received yours by January 15th, please call the office at 772-226-5267 and one will be sent to you. You can also register online by clicking the Gala button the front page of the Democrats of Indian River Website: www.democratsofindianriver.org Tickets can be paid for via PayPal, credit card, or check.
This is the launch of setting our 2020 Vision on the White House. This is an event to be remembered! Democratic turnout is crucial to helping support our mission.
CANDIDATE TRAINING
If you are considering a run for office this year (and we hope you do), here is the first place to start that journey. The Supervisor of Elections will cover all the basic requirements and give you an idea of what running for office entails. This is also a good class if you are thinking of helping a candidate who is running office.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE FROG LEG FESTIVAL
The Frog Leg Festival in Fellsmere is January 16 – January 19. We are looking for volunteers to work in our booth. Shifts are 2 or 3 hours long. See below for dates and shift times. To sign up for a shift, email Stacey at [email protected]
If you haven’t been to the Frog Leg Festival before, you won’t want to miss it! For more information you can go to their website at https://www.froglegfestival.com/
Thursday, January 16
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, January 17
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, January 18
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, January 19
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING
If you are interested in registering voters, there will be a Voter Registration training on Monday, January 13th at 11 a.m. at Democratic Headquarters (2345 14th Ave., Suite 7). Please RSVP to Stacey at [email protected]
DWC LUNCHEON
The Democratic Women’s Club January Luncheon is on Saturday, January 11th at Grand Harbor. Please see the flyer below for more details.
MLK PARADE AND BOOTH
The Democrats of Indian River will be participating in the MLK Parade and we will have a booth at their day long event. The parade line up begins at 8 a.m. and the parade starts at 10 a.m. Event in the park follows afterwards. If you are interested in participating in these events, please contact Claudia Martino at [email protected]
Let’s all work hard and diligently this year, including attending the parade, to honor these words of Martin Luther King Jr.: “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT
You are invited participate in Pelican Island Audubon’s forthcoming conference on “Transforming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future,” on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave, in Vero Beach. Our conference is an opportunity to learn how to landscape in a way that is sustainable, cost-effective and helps enhance our quality of life. This day long conference is $25 ($35 after January 15th). For more information and to register online go to: https://pelicanislandaudubonsociety.wpcomstaging.com/home-page/3rd-transforming-landscapes-for-a-sustainable-future-conference/
SPEAK UP VERO BEACH
SpeakUpVeroBeach.com is the online hub for community engagement about the future of Three Corners - 38 acres where the old power plant, former postal annex and land & water treatment plant now stand. Here you'll find facts about Three Corners and many ways to discuss & share your ideas. Kindly Register to join the conversation and be part of a new model of public debate where all voices & ideas are heard.
On January 18 and January 25, Speak Up Vero Beach will be offering tours of the old power plant. For more details go to: https://www.speakupverobeach.com/
ENHANCING FLORIDA’S ELECTION SECURITY
Secretary of State Laurel Lee recently announced that Florida has been accepted for membership, along with 29 other members, into the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multi-state partnership that uses a sophisticated data-matching tool to enhance the accuracy of voter registration systems.
Through ERIC, member states can share information from voter registration systems, motor vehicle databases, social security death records, and U.S. Post Office records. This data-sharing agreement will help identify voters who have moved to another state, passed away, or changed their name in Florida.
In addition to enhancing the accuracy of voter rolls, ERIC also improves voter registration by providing information for member states to contact potentially eligible but unregistered voters with instructions on how to register to vote. Prior to the 2020 general election, Florida will spend $1.3 million to contact potentially eligible voters who are not registered to vote. This outreach is conducted every two years ahead of federal general elections.
“I have heard strong support for joining ERIC from supervisors of elections all over Florida, and I am excited to provide them with one more tool to serve voters in Florida,” said Florida Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee. “Joining ERIC keeps Florida at the forefront of election security and will help us ensure fair and accurate election in 2020 and beyond.”
OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION
There are numerous offices up for election in Indian River County in 2020. The Democrats of Indian River are looking for candidates for these positions. If you are considering running for office, or know someone who is, below are the offices, positions and current office holder up for election in 2020.
Board of County Commissioners:
District 1 – Susan Adams
District 3 - Tim Zorc
District 5 – Bob Solari
School Board:
District 3 - Laura Zorc
District 5 - Tiffany Justice
IR County Hospital District:
Seat 3 - Barbara S. Bodnar
Seat 5 - Karen Deigl
Seat 7 - Michael J. Weiss
Indian River Mosquito Control District:
Seat 1 - Janice Broda
Seat 3 - Buck Vocelle
Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District:
Seat 2 - David Gunter
Seat 4 - Robert J. Lindsey
Sebastian Inlet Tax District:
District 1 – Jenny Lawton
District 2 – Beth L. Mitchell
District 3 – Michael Rowland
City of Fellsmere:
Fernando R. Herrera
Jessica Salgado
Joel Tyson
City of Sebastian
Ed Dodd
Jim Hill
City of Vero Beach
Tony Young
Laura Moss
Robert Brackett
Town of Indian River Shores Council
Robert “Bob” Auwaerter
Deborah “Debbi” Peniston
Tom Slater
Town of Orchid Council
Paul Knapp
Harold Ofstie
SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
The Sebastian City Council will be having a workshop to discuss Integrated Pest Management Systems on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. at the Sebastian City Hall Council Chambers. If you are interested in how the City of Sebastian will proceed with this issue, please plan on attending.
CALENDAR
Below find upcoming government, Democrat and community events to add to your calendar. Visit https://democratsofindianriver.org/events/ for a full list of calendar events for 2020.
January 11
11:30 a.m. – Democratic Women’s Club January Luncheon, Grand Harbor Clubhouse, 4985 Club Terrace, Vero Beach, Cost: $25, Guest Speaker Alex Berrios, FDP Regional Director
January 13
11:00 a.m. – Voter Registration Training, Democratic Headquarters, 2345 14th Ave., Suite 7, Vero Beach, FL 32960
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Data Meeting (open to anyone interested) with Jim St. Martin, Democratic Headquarters, 2345 14th Ave., Suite 7, Vero Beach, FL 32960
January 14
9:00 a.m. – Indian River County Commission, County Administration Offices – Council Chambers, 1801 27th Street, Building A, Vero Beach 32960-3388
12:00 p.m. – School Board Discussion, School District of Indian River County, 6500 57th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32967
6:00 p.m. – School Board Business Meeting, School District of Indian River County, 6500 57th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32967
6:00 p.m. – Democratic Club of Indian River Monthly Meeting, Guest Speaker Merchon Green, Irish American Society, 1314 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960
January 15
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Data Meeting (open to anyone interested) with Jim St. Martin, Democratic Headquarters, 2345 14th Ave., Suite 7, Vero Beach, FL 32960
January 16
6:00 p.m. – DEC Monthly Meeting, Community Center, 2266 14th Ave., Vero Beach
Every Saturday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Koffee with Ken and Parris
Democrats of Indian River Office
2345 14th Ave., Suite 7, Vero Beach 32960
Bring your own coffee and chat about politics!
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