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Happy Thursday! Please note that our regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

We will be closed this Friday, January 15, in the afternoon and Monday, January 20^th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (join us at the parade).

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** DEC MEETING - TONIGHT
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**
Please join us for our Democratic Executive Committee Meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Vero Beach Community Center, 2266 14^th Ave. Learn about what the DEC is working on, how you can get involved and meet like-minded people.



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** VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
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Congratulations to Mary Jane Romano, our December Volunteer of the Month! Mary Jane is always up for any project and is a regular office volunteer. She works hard in her precinct to organize Democrats in her neighborhood and helps others do the same. Thank you for all you do Mary Jane, we appreciate you!




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** GALA UPDATE
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**
Steve Lieberman, Chair of the Blue Gala: 2020 Vision, is excited to announce Ambassador Christopher Hill will be the Gala’s distinguished guest speaker.

Ambassador Hill was former ambassador to Iraq, South Korea, Poland and Macedonia, as well as Special Envoy to Kosovo. Ambassador Hill was a member of the team that negotiated the Bosnia peace settlement. In 2005, he was named head of the US delegation to the six-party talks to resolve the North Korea nuclear crisis. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs for which his portfolio included U.S.-China relations.

In addition, Florida Democratic Chair, Terrie Rizzo, will be joining us for the evening.

If you haven’t received an invitation and would like one, 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 on the front page of the Democrats of Indian River Website: www.democratsofindianriver.org ([link removed]) Tickets can be paid for via PayPal, credit card, or check.

This is the launch of setting our 2020 Vision on reclaiming the White House. This is an event to be remembered! Democratic turnout is crucial to helping support our mission.



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** DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF IRC NEWS
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**
Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, Jan. 16-19
If you are attending the festival, please stop by our booth to lend a hand or just say hello.

MLK Birthday Celebration, Jan. 20
The parade begins at 10 am.
Walkers meet no later than 9 am at 45th Street and MLK Plaza near Occulina Bank.

A car is available for people who cannot walk. The car will line up at 8 am at 37th Street and 18th Place. Please contact Stacey at 772-226-5267 if you would like to ride in the car. Spaces are limited.

We will also have a booth in Gifford Park from 10 am to 2 pm. Please call Claudia Martino 954-290-5661 if you are interested in volunteering for the booth or doing setup or takedown.

Downtown Friday in Vero, Jan. 31
Volunteers are needed for the following:
Booth setup at 5 pm
5 to 7 pm booth workers
7 to 9 pm booth workers
Booth breakdown at 9 pm
Please sign up at HQ.

Next Club Meeting Speaker

Indian River Democratic Club Board Member Steve Osiecki will present "Getting Out the Vote is our Best Strategy: Recent Developments in the Science of Winning Elections" at the next Club meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 11 This short presentation will summarize research on brain differences between liberals and conservatives, research that can help explain why the mental gap between the two groups is often so large. He will also focus on recent voter persuasion research showing why “Get Out the Vote” is our best statewide strategy.


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** CANDIDATE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
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**
Blue Bench Training:

The Florida Democratic Party’s Candidate Blue Bench Training is coming to Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast! FDP Municipal Victory Program Director Lisa Peth has been working with candidates from across the state to help us realize a brighter, bluer Florida. As a result, they are providing a free training from subject matter experts on core aspects of campaigning, such as fundraising, messaging, digital communications, and field operations. The training is Saturday, February 8^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Here is the link to RSVP:
[link removed]

NDTC Training:

The next National Democratic Training Committee’s (NDTC) free candidate training will be on Saturday, January 25 in Ft. Myers (Lee County). This training will focus on fundamental aspects of campaigns and growing organizations, including fundraising, messaging, digital communications, and field operations for candidates, campaign staff, and local leaders. A light breakfast, boxed lunch, and training materials will be provided.
You can register here: [link removed]


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** MLK PARADE AND BOOTH
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** 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. Please arrive no later than 9 am 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.”


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** WOMEN’S MARCH 2020
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**
If you are interested in taking part in the Women’s March 2020, either here in Florida or in Washington D.C., please find information on the ways to do that below.

March in Tallahassee January 22
To Tallahassee from Indian River:
[link removed]
and
[link removed]

March in Washington DC January 18
[link removed]

Washington DC - Week of Action Schedule
[link removed]


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** GARDENFEST
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**
Gardenfest! Nature’s Finest Marketplace Returns to Vero Beach for the 19^th Year February 1^st and 2^nd.

Choose from a great variety of plants, pots and garden ornaments from more than 85 vendors. Expert lectures and advice are featured each day. Other activities are available for for kids. There is a food court and raffle prizes. Admission is always free and so is the parking!

Venue: Riverside Park 3250 Riverside Dr. Vero Beach, FL 32963
Find out more at www.gardenclubofirc.org ([link removed])
or call 772-567-4602.




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** ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT
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**
You are invited participate in the Pelican Island Audubon Society’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. The 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 15^th). For more information and to register online go to: [link removed]


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** SPEAK UP VERO BEACH
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**
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 on the Indian River Lagoon. 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: [link removed]
There is also a week of events and opportunities to engage with leaders who will be making decisions about the 3 corners. For more information click here:

[link removed]


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** CONGRATULATIONS
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** Congratulations to Steve Osiecki and his partner Frances Munoz on winning the gold medal in Mixed Doubles Pickelball at the World Pickleball Open. Way to go Steve!


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** OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION
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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


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** CALENDAR
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**

Below find upcoming government, Democrat and community events to add to your calendar. Visit [link removed] for a full list of calendar events for 2020.

January 16

6:00 p.m. – DEC Monthly Meeting, Community Center, 2266 14^th Ave., Vero Beach

January 16-19
Frog Leg Festival, Fellsmere

January 20
Office closed
MLK Jr. Parade and Booth in Gifford

January 21

8:30 a.m. – Vero Beach City Council, City Council Chambers, City Hall, 1053 20^th Place, Vero Beach, 32960

9:00 a.m. – Indian River County Commission, County Administration Offices – Council Chambers, 1801 27th Street, Building A, Vero Beach 32960-3388

January 22

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Data Meeting (open to anyone interested) with Jim St. Martin, Democratic Headquarters, 2345 14^th Ave., Suite 7, Vero Beach, FL 32960


Every Saturday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Koffee with Ken and Parris
Democrats of Indian River Office
2345 14^th Ave., Suite 7, Vero Beach 32960
Bring your own coffee and chat about politics!

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Democratic Executive Committee of Indian River County
2345 14th Ave.
Suite 7
Vero Beach, FL 32960
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