Thursday, February 28, 2008

Cheshire County Democrats Monthly Meeting/Voter List Training and Platform Committee Meeting

Please join the Cheshire County Democrats for our monthly meeting this coming Sunday at 5:00 (EARLIER TIME)! We will first meet with Esther Kane Dickinson--who will be teaching us to use the voter file. It is very important that we have as many of the Town Chairs and committee members as possible attending as this is very important information that we will need to use in the upcoming elections.

From 6:00 until 7:00, we will be meeting with the New Hampshire Democrats Platform Committee. The platform committee is trying to get as many people to come their hearings and propose ideas as possible and in order to help you prepare I have included the Platform procedures in the body of this email. 2008 Platform Process The Platform Committee of the New Hampshire Democratic Party has created the following procedure to bring forth ideas for the 2008 Party Platform. The Committee will hold hearings around New Hampshire to gather possible planks from as many Democrats as possible. The Committee will then draft a Platform, which will then be voted on at the State Convention in May.

Below are the scheduled dates and locations for Platform Committee Hearings.

Procedures for proposing amendments to the Platform will follow.
I. Hearing Procedure ™ adopted by the Platform Committee February 13, 2008
1. Democrats are invited to attend open hearings around the state to provide representatives of the Platform Committee with comments on what the Platform should include. The 2006 Platform is available on the State Party website for reference and will be available at hearings.
2. Proposed planks must address State of New Hampshire matters. National matters will be referred to the Resolutions Committee of the State Convention.
3. The Committee requests that any proposed planks be in writing, one plank per page, so that it may give all plank ideas careful consideration during the drafting stage.
4. The following is a sketch of broad themes and planks the platform might include which are meant to promote thought and discussion. This list is not final or all-inclusive and is provided as an outline of possible topics Democrats may want the Platform to address. Possible Themes and Planks
1. Strong Families
§ Education
§ Healthcare
§ Childcare
§ Housing
§ Retirement Security
2. Strong Economy
§ Jobs§ Diversification
§ Rural Development
§ Business Investment
3. Strong Communities
§ Energy Policy
§ Emergency Preparedness
§ Public Safety
§ Environment
4. Live Free or Die Tradition
§ Civil Rights
§ Equality
§ Privacy
§ Reproductive Rights
§ First in the Nation Primary

We look forward to a good attendance at the Cheshire County Headquarters located at one Eagle Court in Keene.