Exiting Stage Left……

Dear Ada County Democrats:

I notified our County Central Committee and State Party early last week that after much thought I have decided to announce my decision to resign as County Party Chair with the Ada County Democratic Party Central Committee, effective March 20th, 2013.

The past two years as Ada County Party Chair have truly been a rewarding experience working with very dedicated democrats throughout Ada County, the Treasure Valley and Idaho.  We have grown and will continue to move forward. I have been heavily involved with the County Party for many years and have learned much through my experiences over that time and will leave with many wonderful memories.

I have worked with an amazing group of elected officials and have seen first-hand how dedicated our elected democrats are to assuring that Idahoans have an ethical government that puts citizens first and thank them for their service.

I have also worked with an amazing candidates and campaign teams.  In that time, our County Party has increase investment in Legislative Districts, and its ability to reach beyond democratic strongholds expanding its focus to local and County elections. We have regained seats and have begun reaching into areas where Democrats have not held seats before.  With every conversation we have with people throughout Ada County, we open doors for communication and cooperation that become the bedrock for winning campaigns and better representation for the residents of Ada County.  To all of our candidates, I say THANK YOU for stepping forward and running.

The State Democratic Party and dedicated state party administrators have been invaluable partners in building an organizational structure that will continue its work beyond the campaign season.  They are a great resource for County Parties and our candidates and elected official.  Thank you for all of the hours you have put in and continue to put in every day.

One thing that makes any organization move forward is the dedication of its volunteers, and Ada County has amazing volunteers.  We are thankful that they give their time in many ways from data entry to door knocking, contacting voters and watching the polls.

I’d also like to thank all of our Ada County donors.  You are helping fund democracy from the ground up.  I know you will join me as I continue to support the Ada County Democrats with my monthly pledge to assure that our candidates have the support structure they need.  You can Click Here to Join our Ada County D.E.M. Club.

I will take with me the knowledge that the Ada County Democrats will be in good hands with a great Executive Committee, Office Administrator and active Central Committee. Thank you all for your support during my time as Chair, you are a great team.  Working together Ada County Democrats will continue to see growth in elections and development in Ada County and build democratic bridges throughout the Treasure Valley.

I’d also like to thank my family, husband Jeff and sons Alec and Andrew for your patience during this adventure.  You’ve joined me at numerous meetings, events, parades and for holding signs for our dedicated candidates.  You are troopers!

Thank you all for the opportunity and friendship that you have provided me during my time as Chair with the Ada County Democrats.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at ColleenFellows@hotmail.com.  Nominations for Ada County Chair are being taken by our Office Administrator, Jordan Brady at Office@AdaDemocrats.org.  The election for the next Chair is scheduled for the March 20th meeting.

Know that I will always be an Ada County Democrat and will continue to support the organization’s goals that will create a more open and responsive government that fairly represents the communities it serves.  It has truly been an honor and privilege serving as your County Chair and I wish everyone the very best.

Sincerely,

Colleen Fellows

Chair ~ Ada County Democrats

This annual event includes a Mexican dinner, dessert auction, and a Q&A with our Legislators.  This year, Rep. Grant Burgoyne of District 16 and Reps. Phylis King and Janie Ward-Engelking of District 18 will be joining us. 

$5-10 per person suggested donation at the door.  No host dinner & drinks; order off the menu.

DESSERT DONATIONS:  Please RSVP if you will bring a dessert to auction (cakes, pies, cookies, candies, gift certificates or coupons)   

SHOW OFF YOUR CULINARY SKILLS … and enjoy others’!  WE NEVER HAVE TOO MANY DESSERTS! 

Suggested donation at the door of $5 for pizza and soda.

Wednesday, Feb. 13th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm

- Louie’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, at 2500 E Fairview Ave, Meridian, on Fairview Rd., 1/3 mile west of Eagle Rd.

- Lite pizza appetizers & soda. 

The 2013 Idaho Legislative Session is off and running.  The Ada County Democrats will be hosting three catered Legislative Lunches at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel and four Free Brown Bag Lunches at the Statehouse.  Each week, our Democratic Senators and Representatives will be joining us to speak about the current issues in the session.

Tickets Available Online Here: https://secure.actblue.com/page/2013leglunch

Speaker Information will be Updated as Legislators Schedule

• Legislative Lunch 1 - 1/30 - Catered – Ticket Required       Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking   &   Sen. Elliot Werk
•  Wed.  2/6       Human Rights Panel Discussion  - 12:00 noon to 1 pm in the Statehouse Auditorium
• Free Brown Bag 2 – 2/13       Rep. Hy Kloc
• Legislative Lunch 2 - 2/20 - Catered – Ticket Required       Rep. Phylis King,   Rep. Gannon   &   Sen. Durst
• Free Brown Bag 3 – 2/27       Rep. Woodings
• Free Brown Bag 4 – 3/6       Rep. Pence   &   Rep. King
• Legislative Lunch 3 - 3/13 - Catered – Ticket Required       Rep. Erpelding,   Rep. Rusche   &   Sen. Stennet

Legislative Lunches: Owyhee Plaza - Doors Open 11:45 am, Lunch & Speakers begin at Noon.

The three Legislative Lunches are $20 each, and will be Wednesdays, January 30th, February 20th and March 13th at the Owyhee Plaza, at 1109 Main Street in Boise.  Please RSVP: 331-2128 by the Monday before the lunch. If possible, please consider purchasing your lunch ticket a head of time on line.

Free Brown Bags: Statehouse Rm 426 - Lunch & Speakers begin at Noon. 

Four FREE Brown Bag Lunches are scheduled for 12 noon on Wednesdays February 6th, February 13th, February 27th and March 6th.  The Brown Bags are in the House Minority Caucus Room, 4th Floor, Rm 426 of the Statehouse (East Wing).  Free parking is located at  the visitor parking lot at the North West corner of 6^th and Washington.  Additional parking is available at metered locations on surrounding streets.  Bring a sack lunch with you.  Great lunches are available from Rooster’s Eatery in the Statehouse dining room, located in the West Atrium Wing (lower level) of the Capitol.

Finish your Christmas Shopping THIS Sunday, Dec. 9th from 5-8pm at Dunia Marketplace at our Festive Fair Trade Community Shopping Event!

A small portion of profits will go to Democratic Causes! Light appetizers will be served. Free to Attend – Spread the word and bring your friends.

When: Sunday, December 9th, 2012

Time: 5pm – 8pm

Where: Dunia Market Place, (Formerly Ten-thousand Villages), 1609 N 13th Street, Boise in Hyde Park

Free to Attend – Spread the word and bring your friends.
* 15% OF SALES from the night will go towards our democratic organization. 
http://www.duniamarketplace.com/

Join Idaho Democrats to celebrate our wins tonight at the Boise Hotel and  Conference Center at 3300 S. Vista Ave, at the the NE corner of the intersection of Vista and I-84 (formerly the Holiday Inn).  Come help make calls to voters to make sure they get to the polls.  EVERY VOTE counts here in Ada County for our County, Legislative, Congressional and Presidential Races!  One of our legislative races fell last election by only 7 votes.  Let’s win them all big this year!

Doors for the party open at 8pm tonght, Tues. Nov. 6th.  Come celebrate as we watch the retuns come in.

• What: Idaho Democratic Party 2012 Election Night Celebration!
• Where: Boise Hotel and  Conference Center at 3300 S. Vista Ave., Boise (N.E. Corner of the Intersection of Vista and I-84 – formerly the Boise Holiday Inn)
• When: Tuesday, Nov. 6th, 2012
• Time: Doors Open at 8PM for the Celebration – Come Help With Calls Before the Party Starts!!!!

Join us at the IBEW Union Hall to watch Vice President Joe Biden square off with Congressman Paul Ryan.  This will likely be a very interesting debate. We will be watching on a projector for great viewing.

Date:

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Location:

IBEW Union Hall – 225 Nth Bannock, (SW Corner of 16th and Bannock)

Time:

Doors open at 6:30 pm

The Debate begins at 7:00 pm

What to Bring:

Bring your favorite beverage and snack to share.

No Cost to Attend, Donations Greatly Appreciated!

2012 Presidential Debates Watch with the

It’s that time of the year that we all love!

Get together with fellow Democrats to watch the three Presidential Debates & the Vice Presidential Debate!  Multiple screens & a projector for great viewing!  We will meet at the D19 Campaign office for the first Presidential Debate, & then meet at the IBEW Hall at 16^th & Bannock for the Vice Presidential Debate, & the second & third Presidential Debates.

Bring your beverages & snacks to share.  Doors open at 6:30PM, debates start at 7PM and go to 8:30PM.

Donations Greatly Appreciated!

Presidential Debate Schedule: Note Locations!

Oct. 3^rd  at D19 Office

Oct. & 11^th, 16^th & 22^nd at the IBEW Hall

• 1^st Presidential Debate: Wed., Oct. 3^rd - D19 Campaign Office, 800 West Idaho, Suite 304, (door on Idaho between See Jane Run & North Face store fronts).
• Vice Presidential Debate: Tue., Oct. 11^th- IBEW HALL, 225 N 16^th, SW Corner of 16^th & Bannock
• 2^nd Presidential Debate: Tue., Oct. 16^th- IBEW HALL, 225 N 16^th, SW Corner of 16^th & Bannock
• 3^rd Presidential Debate: Mon., Oct. 22^nd- IBEW HALL, 225 N 16^th, SW Corner of 16^th & Bannock

1^st Presidential DebateTopic: Domestic policy
Air Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m. Mountian Time

Viewing Location – D19 Campaign Office, 800 w. Idaho, Suite 304

Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Jim Lehrer (Host of NewsHour on PBS)

• The debate will focus on domestic policy and be divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes each on topics to be selected by the moderator and announced several weeks before the debate.
• The moderator will open each segment with a question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.

Vice Presidential DebateTopic: Foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m. Mountian Time

Viewing Location – IBEW HALL, 225 N 16^th, SW Corner of 16^th & Bannock

Participants: Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan
Moderator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent)

• The debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics and be divided into nine time segments of approximately 10 minutes each. The moderator will ask an opening question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the question.

2^nd Presidential Debate Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m. Mountain Time
NEW Viewing Location – IBEW HALL, 225 N 16^th, SW Corner of 16^th & Bannock                                                                   Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)

The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.

3^rd and Final Presidential Debate Topic: Foreign policy
Air Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m. Mountain Time
NEW Viewing Location – IBEW HALL, 225 N 16^th, SW Corner of 16^th & Bannock                                                                   Participants: President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney
Moderator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS)

The format for the debate will be identical to the first presidential debate and will focus on foreign policy.

Donate Now Here!: http://adademocrats.org/contribute/

Here in Ada County, we are working hard to support the campaigns of the 21 Democrats running for the Legislature, two Congressional candidates, two County Commissioner candidates, and a candidate for Ada County Prosecutor –the first time in 30 years that a Democrat has run for the seat. We see great things happening for Democrats in Idaho in November, and are building the infrastructure to keep the momentum going.  We are recruiting volunteers, precinct captains and, most importantly, talented candidates who are committed to representing you.

Join Democrats from across the county in supporting the Ada County Democrats.  We need your ideas, we need your time, and we need your investment in our efforts. Please consider joining our monthly pledge fund, which goes to pay for our basic operations and to allow us to work more efficiently and effectively.

We have been building up our strength and are poised to make great gains.  By 2014, our goals include having at least 24 candidates for the 27 Legislative seats in Ada County, having a strong candidate for each countywide race, and having a robust pool of volunteers to support those campaigns and bring the candidates over the finish line.  With work we are doing now and our plans for the future, we know we can accomplish these goals.

But we cannot do it alone – we need your support. Any amount – $50, $20, even $5 a month – goes a long way to help Democrats in building the team that is needed to win. Remember, we do not take money from corporate donors, special interest groups or political action committees.  Our supporters are individuals, like you, from around Ada County looking to move Idaho forward with change that matters. 

As an extra incentive for your support, we are giving an Obama bumper sticker and yard sign for monthly pledges of $10 or more (until supplies run out!).

Thank you for your support and for all you do to help elect Democrats in Idaho!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.     ~ Margaret Mead

Join us for a great time at the 2012 Ada County Democrats

CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE FAIR BOOTH! 

Help us spread the word about our great Democratic candidates, register voters & show Idaho that Democrats are alive & well in Ada County. This is going to be a great event & we need you with us!

Sign up at the link above to volunteer through our online volunteer calendar at Volunteer Spot.  See what shift are still open.  Pick a shift you’d like, fill in your name & sign a friend up with you!  It’s a great new way to sign up for Ada County Volunteer Events!

The Fair runs from Fri. August 17th through Sun. August 26th.   We couldn’t do it without your amazing help.   Working together we will make a change here in Ada County & Idaho!  Contact Colleen Fellows with questions at 870-6749.