College Democrats Meeting

            First meeting of the 2004 School Year

Where:  U-Center  Alumni Room

When: September 2^nd, 2004   

Who: President – Simon Khagi, Vice President – Daniel Hannes, Treasurer – Andrea Martineau, Campaign Director – Tyler Thompson, Communications Director – Julianne Dunn,  Philanthropy Director – Ashly Evans, Kristen Turner, Marie Coleman, Rachel Colman, Elyse Max, Sarah Williams, Dianne Sager, Carly Harrington, Robert Williams, Peter Lawless, Jessica Linke, Rose Carlton, Ryan Sullivan, Sharin’ Muscrat, Callie Nguyen, Desiree Vitale, Kory Gallager, Aron Neesman, Emily Brewer, Glynnis Zieman, Adrienne May, Ashley French.    

Call to order 6:35 by Khagi

Announcement of Agenda

            Kerry Campaign

            Letter from the Secretary

            Voter Registration

            Democrat Days

            List Serve

            Events

            Communications

            Philanthropy

            T-Shirt

            Finance

Adjourn

Kerry Campaign

·        September 12^th there will be a training seminar in Pierson Auditorium (U-Center) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  (at the latest)  This training seminar is being hosted by the College Democrats and the John Kerry Campaign.  The main session will be held in the auditorium but there will be break-out groups around in the U-Center. The Kerry campaign expects there to be at least 200-300 people at this seminar.  It should be tons of fun and all of the UMKC College Democrats are invited.

·        Debate at Washington University on October 8^th :  John Kerry and George Bush .  We will be having a road trip to try to see the Debate.  If we don’t get tickets we can still be a part of the action. 

o       ADDENDUM:  Simon visited with the president of the Washington University College Democrat president. She said if we don’t get tickets, Washington University will be hosting a protest/student rally in Forest Park in Saint Louis.  This will be huge and we are all invited. It will be held the weekend of the debate. 

Getting Involved

• Get Involved!!  UMKC College Democrats have promised to fill eight, 4 hour phone banking shifts a week (or sixteen 2 hour shifts) .  Starting Tuesday, September 5^th until November.  The shifts run 5-9, 5-7, or 7-9 (all in the evening)  If you are interested please contact Elizabeth Lewis at emlm98@umkc.edu or call her cell phone at 816-820-9208. 
• Missouri Democrats still have internships available.  If you have 20-25 hours a week and would like to earn 3 credit hours, please contact Alexis Stevens at astevens@missouridems.org. 
• Missouri democrats are beginning to canvass on September 4^th and are looking for groups of different colleges to collectively go as groups to canvas neighborhoods together.  If you would like to contact someone about this from the Mo Dem office:  mmarshal@missouridems.org (Marlon Marshal) office # 816-822-1702.   Our student contact for canvassing is Adrienne May – Cell #  314-537 – 1262 or e-mail anmvdc@umkc.edu

Voter Registration

• We have set up a committee to volunteer to sit at the College Democrats table to hand out Democrat information and register people to vote.  If you would like to help contact:  Callie Nguyen at 816-616-6697 or cjnnnc@umkc.edu.  We will be starting to register next week.  Callie will be contacting you. 
• ASUM will be hosting a Voter Registration Table on Tuesday from 10-2 they need 2 people to help with this.  If you would like to help contact Julianne Dunn at: 

Democrat Days

• March 5^th and 6^th in Hannibal, Missouri will be this years’ Democrat Days.  This is an event in which all of the Democrats of Missouri get together to share ideas and basically have a big party. Daniel Hannes went last year and had a blast.  The cost of this trip would be a $35 registration fee and then the cost of getting there and hotel.  The registration fee gets you into all of the sessions and includes all of your drinks. 

Events

• Political Olympics! – We are interested in having a political “Olympic” tournament with the College Republicans and the Greens on campus. It would involve some sports like Tennis, Soccer and kickball and then after the events there would be a debate between the groups.  This is a very new idea we have not contacted either party we just wanted to know if the Dems would be interested in doing this.  The conclusion was that we are interested in doing this so we will be contacting the different organizations to see if they even want to. 
• Speakers – the idea of speakers was brainstormed and the names of Emanuel Cleaver II, Claire McCaskill, Beth Low, Poli Sci professors, and Mrs. Dutch came up.  We also had the pleasure of having Diane Sager (Bob Sager’s wife) in the meeting and she said that she knew that her husband would love to come in to speak with us sometime.  Mr. Cleaver loves to speak to small groups, but he is a very busy man so we don’t know if it would be an option to have him speak.  Diane also knows Beth Low and she said that Beth would love to come speak to us. So we will be in contact with Ms. Low. 
• Rock the Vote:  There are two Rock the Vote concerts happening in the next month.  On September 10^th there will be a FREE concert involving the Presidents of the United States of America in Westport. 96.5 the Buzz radio station is hosting the event.  The streets of Westport will be blocked off and it will be a big party that Friday night. If you would like to go please e-mail us umkccollegedems@umkc.edu and let us know.  Maybe we can get a group and represent!  There is also an event on September 24^th hosted by the LGBT of UMKC and some other organizations.  If you would like to go or just receive more information please contact Julianne Dunn at: 
• Molly Ivans – author.  Will be at Unity Temple on September 15^th.  There will be a $1-2 charge.  She writes for the KC Star and has a new book coming out.  Should be really interesting.  Contact Tyler Thompson at: 

Philanthropy

• Our first Philanthropic event EVER will be the Light the Night walk at Corporate Woods in Overland Park on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17^TH .  It starts around 5 and we will be done at around 8 or 9.  This walk is to benefit the Lekumia Lymphoma Society of Kansas City.  We will be volunteering at the walk.  Counting money and helping the walkers know where to go will be some of our duties.  If you are interested in helping out please contact Ashly at aee257@umkc.edu
• If you have an organization that needs help please contact Ashly at aee257@umkc.edu and let her know so that she can contact you about it and offer it to College Democrats.   We want to help you!

T-Shirts

•  We will be getting new t-shirts this year. We will be getting t-shirts not long sleeved shirts as well as HOODIES! Whoo hoo!  New designs will be at the next meeting.  Please bring a check for $15 if you would like one so that we can get them ordered asap.  (Payable to UMKC College Democrats)
• We also have shirts from last year available. If you would like to buy one please contact Ally at: 

Finance

• Dues – $25 membership including a shirt    $20 membership not including a t-shirt. 
• We will be starting our Lincoln for a Lincoln letter writing campaign soon. If you know of anyone who would be interested in donating to our group please e-mail their address to Andrea Martineau at:  so that they can put the address on our list!!! 

Meeting Ending 7:32