1. Race Relations in Talbot: A Dialogue - March 1st
2. Women’s Club Hosts State Party Chair
3. Committees Swing into Action
4. Dues Are What Make Us Strong
5. Anyone Game for Game Change?


1. Race Relations in Talbot: A Dialogue - March 1st
Nearly a year ago this month, Attorney General Eric Holder made a speech in honor of Black History month that was honest, controversial, and a call to action.
He ignited a fire storm across Right Wing radio and even among some Liberals with his straight talk, noting that “on Saturday and Sunday, race relations are not any different than they were 50 years ago.”
The Attorney General pointed out that "Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we average Americans simply do not talk enough with each other about race."
The Democratic Forum has decided to start that dialogue, right here in Talbot County. For us to achieve the kind of community AG Holder envisions means we start talking to each other on the local level.
“To make progress . . . we must feel comfortable enough with one another -- and tolerant enough of each other -- to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us,” Holder further explained.
We are taking up that challenge and hope this will be only one of many dialogues we will have as African-Americans and whites sit down for an evening of honesty and problem solving.
Please join us on Monday, March 1st at 7 pm at the Academy Art Museum to hear our panel of long time Eastern Shore residents initiate a long overdue conversation between the races.
Our panel consists of Walter Black, Kathleen Francis, Keasha Haythe, Paula Lowry, Harry Rieck, and Joyce Scharch with moderator Charlene DeShields. The audience will be invited to join in the discussion.
The evening will open and close with a special treat, the Asbury Church Men’s Choir. Dessert and coffee will be served. And the event is free and open to the public.
So bring friends for this community dialogue, one that we hope will lead to the “frank conversations” that Attorney General believes are necessary if we are to move forward as a people.

2. Women’s Club Hosts State Party Chair
Snow forced the cancellation of the Maryland State Democratic Party Chair’s first visit here, but the United Democratic Women’s Club of Talbot County has rescheduled Chairwoman Susie Turnbull as the keynoter for its first Annual Meeting for Wednesday, March 10th at 6 pm at the Talbot Senior Center at 400 Brookletts Avenue, Easton.
Kicking off the 2010 campaign, Ms. Turnbull urges all Democrats, women and men, to "Roll Up Your Sleeves" and elect Democrats to the State House, the Governor's mansion, and to Congress. While stressing that Maryland is not Massachusetts, Ms. Turnbull is calling upon Democrats not to be complacent and work harder than ever to keep Maryland a Blue state.
The event is free and open to the public. Light fare, including finger sandwiches, tidbits, desserts, and coffee or soda will be served.
For more information, contact club president, Joyce Scharch at joyce202@verizon.net .

3. Committees Swing into Action
All of our committees welcome new people to join and become active. With the Legislative Session now open, doing the people’s business, it is vital we make our voices heard.
Minority Outreach, chaired by Charlene DeShields (cdeshields@goeaston.net) - Race Relations panel on March 1st (see #1) and committee meeting on Thursday, March 4th, 7 pm, Welcome Center (11 S. Harrison Street, Easton). Will plan for follow up to the panel discussion.
Environmental Committee - will not meet this month, but will return to its regular schedule of the second Monday of each month on March 8th at 7 pm with some hot-button issues to discuss such as the airport expansion. Cleo Braver and Hasan Wilson are co-chairs.
Legislative Committee - co-chaired by Blair Potter and Bruce Robinson (blairbpotter@atlanticbb.net  & Barbandbruce@verizon.net) - Thursday, February 18th, 7 pm at the Welcome Center (11 S. Harrison Street, Easton). Will be looking at the Open Government bill and the Nurse-Practitioner De-coupling bill and readying for action in Annapolis.
Communications Committee - new committee chair, Richard Calkins (momomont@aol.com), Friday, February 19th, 1:30 pm, at home of Bob Potter. Planning the upcoming Viewpoint columns, letter writing strategy, and website redesign.
Hospitality Committee - Chair June McGuckian is planning for the March 1st event and the upcoming Annual Meeting and welcomes all interested volunteers. It is a great way to become active in the Forum. Contact June at jgmcguck@goeaston.net.

4. Dues Are What Make Us Strong
The 2010 campaign is about to go full throttle. That means the Forum needs You. Right now we are collecting dues because if we don’t build a financial war chest, we cannot elect Democrats. Believe me, it will be a war. Just ask the Tea Baggers. Just ask Andy Harris. Just ask The Club for Growth.
It’s a sad political fact, but without money elections cannot be won. Without money, the Democratic Forum can’t have a Headquarters. We can’t run ads. We can’t host parties for our candidates. We can’t run phone banks. We can’t print up material for candidates. We can’t pay the electric bill. It’s that basic.
So if you have not paid your dues, don’t wait another minute. Fill out the form at the bottom of this Update and mail it in today. Sometimes some of you forget to send in your dues, but don’t forget us this year.
And if you can contribute more than the basic dues, please do. Every dollar counts and we spend every dollar carefully.
What has made us develop into the Democratic warriors we have become is you, your dues and your volunteer time. Thanks to all of you, even though we are outnumbered in this Red County, we continue to elect Democrats from County Council to our Congressman.
Help us continue the good fight!

5. Anyone Game for Game Change?
Soon the snow will be history, literally. So we can plan our political book club discussion without fear of being snowbound. Many of you have read or talked about reading Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.
Despite some political gossip that made the nightly news, the book has garnered good reviews because it also revealed fascinating insights into what make campaigns tick and not tock.
Anyone interested in hosting a book discussion of Game Change? And if not that book, do you have one that would make a good selection for the end of March or the beginning of April?
Remember, you decide how many people your home can accommodate and the date and time you prefer. Cookies and coffee/tea will suffice. We thrive on the lively discussion not the calories.
If so, let me know at catpoe@goeaston.net and I will get the information out to the Forum.
As President Obama admonished Democrats in his State of the Union address, “This is not the time to run for the hills.” It is time for Democrats to protect our core values and principles, the ones that eight years of Republican misrule shredded.
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Talbot County Democratic Forum
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