May 2013 Meeting

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

Sunday, May 19, 2013

3:00 to 5:00 PM
Home of  Elisa and Eric Callow
1210 Journey’s End Drive
La Canada Flintridge  91011

 

Speaker:  Fmr. State Senator Dean Florez

Dean_Florez

Topic:  “Twenty Million Minds”
an Educational Foundation

Dean Florez was a California State Senator from the 16th Senate District from 2002 until 2010 after serving two terms in the California State Assembly. His mostly rural district stretched across 300 miles anchored by the city of Bakersfield in the south and the city of Fresno at its northern tip. In 2008, he was named Senate Majority Leader by then-incoming Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).

Florez currently heads up the 20 Million Minds Foundation, seeking to drive down the rapidly growing cost of a college education by making electronic textbooks widely available.

Florez and his wife Elsa now live in La Canada Flintridge.

Announcements:

The membership will vote on changes to the 2013-14 budget.

Thank you for renewing your Membership for 2013!
By mail: to download a membership form click under the Join Our Club button to download or use “open with” file option.
– or -
To join online with credit card:
https://secure.actblue.com/page/canadadem

Posted in Club Meetings, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

An evening with Ron Schultz, author of “Creating Good Work”

Posted on April 2, 2013 by

Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse

Thursday  May 2, 2013

7:30 P.M.

1010 Foothill Blvd

La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

How do we avoid having to make “rotten compromises” in the work we choose to do?

What steps can we take so that 20-25 years down the road we don’t experience the disappointment, regret or dissatisfaction that decisions we’ve made, although well-meaning, have not had the outcome and the impact we hoped for?

This book-signing and talk is based on the lessons contained in the new book Creating Good Work, by author Ron Schultz. Ron is the founder of Entrepreneurs4Change. His latest book draws on the experiences of dozens of highly successful entrepreneurs, sharing real life examples of how they overcame barriers to creating lasting positive impact on the world.  Ron’s presentation will focus on bringing meaning and purpose into the workplace, facilitating an interactive discussion on how we work, create enterprises and ultimately build a healthy economy.

This event is free and open to the Public. To download a flyer to share with friends, click here.

Co-hosted by the Cañada Crescenta Democratic Club &

Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse  ~ 818.790.0717  http://www.flintridgebooks.com

Directions:

From Pasadena – East:

Get on the 210 going west
Take the Angeles Crest exit
Turn left down the hill to Foothill
Turn right on Foothill and take the first left on Chevy Chase.
Parking is available behind the store—underground parking is also available

From Montrose – West:

Get on the 210 going east
Take the Angeles Crest exit
Turn right down the hill to Foothill
Turn right on Foothill and take turn left on Chevy Chase. Parking is available behind the store  – underground parking is also available

Posted in Club Events, Events, Health Care Insurance Reform, Uncategorized

April 2013 Meeting

Posted on April 2, 2013 by

April Club Meeting

Sunday,  April 21, 2013

3:00 to 5:00 PM

Home of Celina Lew and Ed Castro
La Cañada Flintridge 91012

Speaker:  Professor Gerald F. Kominski, PhD

Professor, Dept. of Health Policy and Management, UCLA
Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Topic: Affordable Care Act

Great_Seal_of_the_United_States_obverse_svg

This month we welcome a very special guest speaker on a topic that touches all our lives.  Jerry Kominski is a noted expert on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Federal statue signed into law by President Obama in March, 2010.  The Affordable Care Act is a regulatory overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, the biggest since Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.  Kominski has conducted research in the field of public medical programs, the financial impacts of alternative approaches and new technologies, health care reform and access to health care among the full range of populations.

Join us as we learn how the Affordable Care Act works and what we can expect to happen now and in the future.  This General meeting is open to members and guests.

Remember to Renew your Membership for 2013!

 https://secure.actblue.com/page/canadadem

Posted in Club Meetings, Uncategorized

February 2013 Meeting

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

February Club Meeting

Sunday, February 24, 2013

3:00 to 5:00 PM

Home of Erica Fishman and Kirk Brattkus
La Cañada Flintridge 91011

Speaker:  Professor John Eichinger, PhD

California State University, Los Angeles
Division of Curriculum and Instruction
Charter College of Education

Topic: What makes an Effective School?

Professor Eichinger has a PhD in Education from Claremont Graduate University, an MS in Biological Sciences and a BS in Zoology from Cal Poly Pomona.  His research interests include integrated instruction (science with math, art, social studies, etc.), effective classroom practice, student attitudes, and international comparisons of science curriculum, and his preferred areas of teaching are science instruction and curriculum development at the K-12 level. Professor Eichinger has been an educator for over 25 years, most of which was spent as a middle school teacher. Although he enjoys reading and outdoor activities, he spends as much time as possible these days with his identical twin boys (Wolfe and Bjorn).

Notices: The club will vote to elect Marsha Hymanson to be the permanent Controller, effective after the end of March.

 Remember to Renew your Membership for 2013!

 https://secure.actblue.com/page/canadadem

Posted in Uncategorized

January 2013 Meeting

Posted on January 14, 2013 by

January 2013 Club Meeting
Sunday, January 27, 2013
3:00 to 5:00 pm

at the home of

Anthony and Ellen Portantino
La Canada Flintridge, CA

Speaker:  Professor Susan McWilliams

Topic:  The 2012 Election

Susan McWilliams teaches in the politics department at Pomona College, where she received the Wig Distinguished Professor Award in 2009. At Pomona, her courses include “American Democracy in Theory and Practice,” “Dangerous Books,” and “Politics and Literature.” McWilliams has recently completed a book manuscript entitled “Traveling Back: Political Theory in an Age of Globalization,” and she is working on a volume that explores the political thought of James Baldwin.  She is the co-editor, with Patrick Deneen, of Wilson Carey McWilliams’ recently released books “The Democratic Soul” and “Redeeming Democracy in America.” McWilliams received her BA in Russian and political science from Amherst College and her MA and PhD in politics from Princeton University. McWilliams grew up in New Jersey but is a fifth-generation Californian who now lives in Claremont with her husband, their daughter, a parrot, and a flock of beautiful chickens.
Posted in Club Events, Club Meetings

Election Night Parties

Posted on November 6, 2012 by

United Democratic Headquarters-Pasadena

The UDH will be holding its Election Night Party at Burger Continental, 535 So. Lake Ave, Pasadena, a few doors down from the headquarters. Doors will open at 8:15pm and there is parking behind the Arbour Building, entrance on Hudson Ave.

Congressman Schiff-Silverlake

In Los Angeles, Congressman Schiff is celebrating and thanking supporters at a party at Rockwell, 1714 N. Vermont Ave, LA 90027. Parking behind the restaurant.  Food and cash bar. Starts at 8pm. Contact Patty.campaign@gmail.com or call 626 583-8581.

Pasadena: Jerry and Edith at the UDH.

Posted in Uncategorized

November 2012 Meeting

Posted on October 31, 2012 by

November Member Meeting
Presentation by John Smith
of Common Cause
on
Citizens United

From the moment the U.S. Supreme Court endowed corporations with inherent rights of personhood, Citizens United became arguably one of the most important court decisions of the 21st Century, changing the nature of our political landscape. John Smith is a full-time representative for Common Cause and has worked extensively on issues ranging from public financing of federal and state elections, to changing the filibuster rules in the US Senate.

Sunday, November 18, 2012
3:00-5:00PM

Home of Mary Freeman and Michael Davis
La Canada Flintridge, CA

Agenda:
2:45 Meet and Greet
3:00 Call to Order: Guest Presentation
Club business: Election of 2013 Club Officers

The Nominating Committee of the Cañada Crescenta Democratic Club presented the following candidates for a one-year term. January 1 to December 31, 2013:
President – Jerry Reynolds
Vice President – Vickere Murphy
Secretary – Vicki Hays
Controller – Chuck Guinta

Posted in Club Meetings

October 2012 Meeting – UDH

Posted on October 2, 2012 by

United Democratic Headquarters (UDH)
Sunday, Oct 14, 2012
3:00 to 5:00 pm
519 So. Lake
Pasadena, CA
(free parking lot behind the Arbour Building, enter on Hudson Ave.)

Our club is one of the sponsoring organizations of the UDH.
We are holding our October general meeting on site, with presentations and updates on the campaigns.
~~~~~
Notice: Report of the Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee of the Cañada Crescenta Democratic Club presented the following candidates for elected officers for a one-year term.

January 1 to December 31, 2013:

President – Jerry Reynolds
Vice President – Vickere Murphy
Secretary – Vicki Hays
Controller – Chuck Guinta

The persons named are CCDC members in good standing and are willing to stand for election.

Nominations may also be made by Club members at the October meeting.  To be valid, nominations must be accepted by the nominee in person at said meeting, or by a signed letter of acceptance received by the Secretary prior to or concurrent with the nomination.

In order that we can give notice to our members, please contact our Club President, Dana Runge, by email before October 4th to submit a name for nomination.  Send your note to: dana@unmail.net

Posted in Club Events, Club Meetings

Endorsements Update

Posted on September 30, 2012 by

Note: Requests for endorsements or contributions must come through the membership.

On September 23, 2012, the Cañada Crescenta Democratic Club voted to endorse or oppose the following ballot measures in the November election:

Prop 30—Temporary Taxes to Fund Education: Yes Support ·
Prop 31—State Budget State and Local Government Initiative: No Oppose ·
Prop 32—Prohibits Political Contributions by Payroll Deduction: No Oppose ·
Prop 33—Changes Law to Allow Insurance Companies to Set Prices Based on Driver’s History: No Oppose ·
Prop 34—Death Penalty Repeal Initiative Statute: Yes Support ·
Prop 35—Human Trafficking. Penalties. Sex Offender Registration: Yes Support ·
Prop 36—Three Strikes Law. Sentencing for Repeat Felony Offenders: Yes Support ·
Prop 37—Genetically Engineered Foods. Mandatory Labeling: Yes Support ·
Prop 38—Tax for Education and Early Childhood Programs: No Oppose ·
Prop 39—Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses: Yes Support ·
Prop 40—Redistricting maps: Yes Support ·

The tally sheet used for “Endorsements 2012.”
Special thanks to Jerry Reynolds (2nd from left) who led the effort to prepare the materials used in the process.

Posted in Uncategorized

September 23 – “Koch Brothers Exposed” and Ballot Measures

Posted on September 9, 2012 by

September Membership Meeting

Sunday, September 23, 2012
2:00-4:00 PM
Home of Marsha Hymanson
La Cañada

Program:

Film: “The Koch Brothers Exposed”

Koch Industries is a privately held corporation based in Wichita, Kan

     U.S. elections are now operating in uncharted and dangerous waters, allowing the rich and super rich to contribute millions of personal income, overwhelming the democratic system as never before.  Join us in a viewing of a 52-minute documentary “Koch Brothers Exposed,” by Robert Greenwald. The filmmaker says, “The Kochs are willing to use hundreds of millions to attempt to buy democracy on a grand scale. The use of their enormous resources are driving our country towards greater and greater economic and power inequity. It is important we use all the tools at our disposable to investigate and expose. And most important to take action…”

Endorsements: Ballot Measures 2012

In our own efforts to participate in this great democracy, we will discuss and vote on taking a positions on the ballot measures on the November ballot.

The official source on all the propositions is the
Secretary of State’s website:
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures.htm

At our last meeting, Jerry Reynolds gave an initial presentation on the upcoming initiatives and propositions.  We recommend our members prepare for the meeting by reading up on the ballot measures  (double click to open links.)

Ballot measures

Jerry has also offered to pass along additional materials, upon request.  He has handouts on each measure, including a cover sheet that provides basic info and vote recommendations from various organizations.  Other materials worth looking over are the arguments and rebuttals for and against each measure and a summary of major donors.  Here, for example, are his materials on Prop 30:

  Prop 30 – Cover sheet

Prop 30 summary and analysis from Attorney General

Prop 30-arg-rebuttals

  Prop 30 – contributions

To request more information on other ballot measures, contact Jerry at:   finnegan2@earthlink.net 

Posted in Club Meetings