Fwd: Rural Caucus Newsletter

[Darrell Martin]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rural Strong <modemsru...@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Nov 25, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Subject: Rural Caucus Newsletter
To:

Happy Thanksgiving! Rural Democrats!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday and did not get too crazy with the Black Friday shopping. 

We apologize that the newsletter is a day late, our Chair Joshua Dunne is filling in and it took him longer to write it than Jacqueline, so be nice, LOL!

The MDP Rural Caucus has a lot to be thankful for this year, Most importantly all of you who continue to keep us awestruck with your passion for people and the work that you do to make sure every Missourian can feel welcome and safe in our communities and state. Thank you for all that you do for the people of Missouri. 

All of Jay Ashcroft's and Andrew Bailey's dirty tricks have finally come to an end! After the Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear their latest B.S. appeal, we can finally start gathering signatures. We will provide information as soon as we get it, so be on the lookout and be ready!

We are still waiting on final approval from the Democratic National Convention for the Presidential Caucus and Delegate Selection. We are hoping to have final approval by the State Committee Meeting on December 2nd, and will report back to you all at our next meeting December 9th at 2pm. 

We have created a cool new shirt for 2024: Rural Caucus Shirts - Google Docs. We will be discussing the different options available during the meeting. We still have shirts left from the last design. We do not have sizes XL and 3XL : Missouri Democratic Party Rural Caucus — Donate via ActBlue

Upcoming meetings/events (Don't forget to let us know about events/meetings: Event - Google Forms):

• Ripley County Democrats Christmas Party December 8th @6pm 715 East Washington St. Doniphan, MO
• Cole County Christmas Party December 12th @530pm at Bones in the Alley Jefferson CIty, MO

• Boone County Democrats Calendar:  Upcoming - Boone County Democrats (boonecountydems.org) There's some great events listed.

Save The Date:

• 4th Congressional District Virtual Meeting, Sun., Dec. 3, 2 p.m., https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89929917443?pwd=h5bYJrVMJOPajRyBic6mE0cBkcEi6Z.1 Meeting ID: 899 2991 7443, Passcode: 486351

• Holiday Dinner and Silent Auction hosted by the Phelps County Democrats, Sat., Dec. 9, DiTrapani's On The Square; 400 E 6th, Rolla. Doors will be open and drinks available beginning at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at approximately 5:30 p.m. People with Silent Auction items are asked to bring those items at 4:30 if at all possible. More details: Phelps County Holiday Dinner - Google Docs For more information, contact jkc...@gmail.com. 

• Missouri Rural Crisis Center 2024 Legislative Preview Webinar, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. Registration required: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Joshua Dunne

Chair

Jacqueline Farr

Vice-Chair

Meg Edwards

Secretary

John Parks

Treasurer

[Darrell Martin]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rural Strong <modemsru...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 3, 2023 at 3:25 PM
Subject: Rural Caucus Newsletter
To:

Good Afternoon Rural Democrats! 

The Missouri Democratic Party State Committee met yesterday and we have a lot of information to cover from that meeting.

We will be going over this information at our next caucus meeting on December 9th at 2pm. Here is the link for that meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89698480715?pwd=REFEaGtZQ0Y3MU5sTFNFWXZNbFVGUT09

Filing for Municipal Races in most counties begins on Monday December 5th and runs until December 26th. These races are supposed to be non-partisan but we have seen a lot of people running on campaigns that are harmful to our children, schools, and communities. It is important that we stay informed and vote in these races, as they are just as important as the state and federal races even though they do get the same media coverage. You can get more information about dates at https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/calendar

The MDP is still waiting on final approval on the Presidential Primary and Delegate Selection Plan. But here is an update on where things currently stand.

• To receive a mail-in ballot, you will need to register on the MDP website https://www.missouridemocrats.org/

• The in person option will require one voting location per county, The Rural Caucus is coordinating with the MDP to help out in counties that do not have active or have no county committees to make sure that everyone, everywhere can vote. 

• Chair Russ Carnahan wants to have everything finalized and figured out by the end of this month, and we will be hosting education sessions for everyone starting in January. 

We also received an update on the status of the Abortion Access Petition. Here is the complete update  from Maureen Jordan who sits on the Missouri Planned Parenthood Board of Directors

There are two organizations working to get an abortion referendum on the ballot for 2024.

 

Democrat organizations filed the first petition. Jennifer Smith, MD. (Wash U OBGYN) and Missourians for Constitutional Freedom submitted 12 variations for consideration. The SOS exhausted all avenues to change the ballot language to their inaccurate descriptions. We immediately began the poll testing process on the ballot language for 6 of our potential petitions. We will know in early January which one polls best; then announce the signature collection process.

 

Jamie Corley of the GOP-led Missouri Women and Family Research Fund settled on one of their petitions. They started collecting signatures despite having no approved language. This is a terrible petition for women. Briefly: the petition protects abortion through 12 weeks for rape or incest victims; but they must report their assaults to a hotline. It permits women who have a life-threatening condition or fatal fetal anomaly (ONLY UNTIL VIABILITY) to abort; but bars taxpayer funding for a therapeutic abortion even when the life of the mother is at risk. Its scope is very limited. And, it will not withstand legal challenges by the state.

 

You can read a detailed legal analysis here. Please do NOT sign this petition. Our best chance to regain reproductive rights for all women is to prevent Jamie’s from appearing on a ballot at all.

 

Legal abortion on paper, but not in practice: breaking down Jamie Corley’s Missouri ballot proposal.

 

https://bridgettedunlap.substack.com/p/legal-abortion-on-paper-but-not-in

Maureen Jordan

Chair Carnahan also announced the return of the Camp Carnahan trainings. This program was created by Governor Carnahan and are an incredibly valuable tool in training candidates, staffers, and anyone who wants more information on how to help flip Missouri Blue. The First Camp Carnahan will be in Columbia MO Feb 24th and 25th. We will provide information as we get it for people who are interested in attending this great opportunity. 

The MDP Secretary Johnathan Kessler is also scheduling strategy calls for County Party officers here is the information about that as well as the sign up link.

Dear County Party Officers,

I hope this message finds you in good health and spirits. As we navigate through crucial times for the Democratic Party in Missouri, the collective effort and wisdom of our county leadership - including chairs, vice-chairs, secretaries, and treasurers - are more important than ever.

I am delighted to extend an invitation to you for our upcoming series of monthly strategy calls. These discussions are particularly vital for our chairs and vice-chairs, as we will delve into significant topics like the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary Elections, the publication of the County Manual, delegate selection trainings, and key meeting and convention dates.

To accommodate everyone’s busy schedules, we have arranged four different calls in December. You are encouraged to join one of these sessions:

• December Option 1: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 7:00 PM

• December Option 2: Friday, December 8, 2023, at 5:30 PM

• December Option 3: Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 11:00 AM

• December Option 4: Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 1:00 PM

https://forms.gle/mAuFyEGgXuJrQCa17

While the focus is on chairs and vice-chairs, we welcome and value the insights of all county party officers. Your participation, perspectives, and collaborative efforts are crucial in shaping our strategies and preparing for upcoming electoral challenges.

Please add my email address, jona...@missouridems.org, to your contact list to ensure you receive all future communications directly in your inbox and avoid them being filtered into your junk folder.

For any questions or additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at the above email.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and leadership within the Missouri Democratic Party. I am looking forward to our fruitful discussions and collective planning in these strategy calls.