IDWC Annual Breakfast and Board Meeting
The Idaho Democratic Women’s Caucus Annual Breakfast and Board Meeting is schedule this February 24th on the morning after the Frank and Bethine Church Gala in Boise. This year we will elect our Treasurer, as well as Region Directors for regions 1, 3, 5, and 7*. If you live in any one of these counties and would like to be part of our board. If you are a member, and are interested in running for office, please inform any officer listed on the Contact page. We also encourage you to review the Bylaws or for more information.
*REGION DESCRIPTIONS
- Region 1 includes Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties.
- Region 3 includes Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette and Washington Counties.
- Region 5 includes Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties.
- Region 7 includes Bonneville, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton Counties.
We will also be presenting the Dottie Stimpson Award on February 24th. If you have a candidate that you wish to nominate for this annual award, please forward your submission to bahcdsrm@roadrunner.com or mail to Barb Harris, 1802 N 5th St. CoeurdAlene, 83814. Review our past Dottie Simpson Award Winners.
Election 2012 in Idaho
Thinking of the election results. It would be easy to focus on what didn’t happen, but I’d rather focus on what did happen and the positives. The defeat of the Luna Bills! Education Bills, Not only was this great for our state policy wise, it also showed that voters are willing to vote against a Republican supported piece of legislation (baby steps).
Hannah Sharp (r) presenting an NFDW PAC check to Nicole LeFavour (l)
Having numerous candidates for legislative seats. We had 38 Democratic women though out the state running. Although many were not successful, if you use the analogy of keep throwing darts at the board till something sticks, well we need darts in the first place before we can get any to “stick.”
The Nicole LeFavour campaign: A liberal, openly gay, female candidate going against a Republican incumbent whom has no big controversy around him was able to get nearly 35% of the vote, (this was in LDS territory) in a year where there was a LDS candidate on the top of the Republican ballot, this in my book is a positive. The Nicole LeFavour campaign was also able to put together an impressive fundraising effort and organization throughout the district.
IDWC Chair, Barb Harris
Open Letter from IDWC Chair Barb Harris
Our annual Breakfast after the Frank Church Dinner we had the New Mexico Western Regional Director, Marie Sedillo from National Federation of Democratic Women as our guest speaker. She had lots of information on the Federation and the IDWC Board decided to join. We felt that this will help IDWC to grow we could network with other states and give us more direction.
IDWC Chair Barb Harris in Washington D.C.
The National Federation of Democratic Women had their yearly convention May 17 -22, in Washington, D.C. NFDW wanted to give us our Charter at the convention (I suppose that is protocol) I didn’t want to wait another year and maybe get it next year, besides it was in D.C. and offering a tour of the White House and going to the Capitol, Women in Blue on the Hill, how could I not go. I fretted about the money it would cost, the long plane flight, changing planes. Could not get reservations at the hotel for the first night, where would I stay in the airport or in the Hotel lobby. All in All I made some phone calls. Found a place to stay with a friend that first night in D.C. and a roommate from Missouri to share cost of Hotel.
Barb Harris and Missouri Roommate at NFDW Convention
What a trip! WOW! Rob Ellsworth, Walt Minnick’s chief of staff and now his business partner, picked me up at midnight on Tues the May 17th then took me to my hotel by 6am next morning to check in and go to the White House Tour by 7am. Bless him, helps to have special friends in designated places. After the tour I got a couple hours of sleep, then off to the Odyssey dinner cruise. So much fun live band, good food, good company sat with women from Georgia, Michigan, Missouri and West Virginia.
Photo op with Missouri Senator Clair McCaskell (center) and Missouri Delegation.
Barb Harris (far right)
Thursday morning Women in Blue on the Hill, at the Capitol to meet representatives from our states, my roommate were from Missouri so I went with her and the Missouri delegation and met with Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill. After we talked with her and took pictures one of her staff took us through the Capitol basement on the tram. The Capitol is HUGE.
Friday, first day of convention was exciting and so very interesting. Started out having breakfast with NFDW Presidents from 32 states, there were 320 delegates and on final day 279 voting delegates.
Took care of business, roll call of states and officers, credentials, rules, reports all that good stuff. Then Alaska, Idaho, New York received our Charter. The Charter is beautiful, not what I expected. Can’t wait till you All see it. Then there were bylaw changes to be approved.
We heard from the Mayor of D.C. Vincent C Gray, whose mission is to have Congress approve Statehood for his 600,000 citizens. Point of interest, Congress approves D.C. budget and not usual in a timely matter. This would not be the case if they were a state.
There were two workshops in the afternoon one from U.S. Assistant Secretary of Aging and Chair DC State Committee on “The power of Women”. I picked up some great things to think about.
Faith, Focus and Force. Faith, believe in yourself, Focus, always going to be obstacles, Force, keep moving no stopping till goal.
Another one I liked Christine from Oklahoma said “Blue Roots, Red Dirt”. Love it!
Saturday was election of new officers, so there is a complete change of the Board. Christine Pelosi spoke on “Young Democrats Answer to America’s Call to Service”
Afternoon we had a workshop ‘Young Democratic Women; Learn to Run, Learn to Lead”
Next year’s NFDW convention is in Kentucky and I would like to see more of the IDWC Board go.
When I took this position with the Woman’s caucus I wasn’t sure of the direction we needed to go, I guess I just wasn’t sure what I needed to do. I had ideas no direction. Since the convention I have felt more confident, have ideas of what I want to do. I have been in contact with regional directors; they have been working on their database for their region. I have been to Weiser Central Committee meeting, reported on convention. We have helped sponsor Idaho Young Democrats trip to Kentucky last of July to get their Charter from National Young Democrats.
Looking for someone to help with a quarterly newsletter, checking on pricing to update the Website,
I am working on a IDWC Yard Sale, July 15 & 16th, a few women have donated from Kootenai County we are pricing, sorting, what a job. We need to think of ways to make money.
IDWC will be in Sun Valley October 28, 29, breakfast on the 30th.
IDWC Chair, Barb Harris
