The election of a Permanent Chair was the first item of business:
Rules were accepted by the members
Martha Hedberg, Rod Sullivan and Karla Smith were chosen as Tellers
Gerene Denning, Mike Jesse, Brad Kunkle and Dennis Roseman were nominated. Brad and Dennis declined.
Gerene – Interim Chair, job is in Emergency Medical Research. Would focus on Respect with the Central Committee and
everyone else.
Mike – Represented North Liberty up to state level in 2008 and 2012. Lifelong Iowa City resident. Our Incumbents should
not expect our votes. They need to earn it. Every effort should be used to improve on that responsibility.
Questions –
1. How can we better assist our candidates?
a. Gerene D – organization. Lost a lot of infrastructure at the 2012 election. We are building it again using
VoteBuilder and MyCampaign. An Outreach Committee has been set up as well as voter registration
events. We want to build our infrastructure and work with the IDP to make sure no one gets left out.
b. Mike J – Doesn’t disagree with anything Gerene said. Young people are waiting to be tapped.
2. In Presidential years the Chair has been pressured to come out in support of a candidate. How would you
handle that?
a. Gerene D – Remain neutral in all elections. Important for the Central Committee not to come out for one
candidate until after the primaries.
b. Mike J - Neutrality is a wonderful thing to have but we need to call a danger if you see it. Went as an
Open candidate for Obama in 2012 even though campaigned hard for him in 2008. Important that we
make our feelings known.
3. Being Chair is a tremendous amount of work – how will you accomplish it?
a. Mike J – Just got done serving on the Platform Committee. The magnitude of the Chair is much greater.
Doesn’t step down if he sees something to step up to.
b. Gerene D – Organizational skills are important. She has to juggle a lot of things at work and is going to
use the skills she has learned if she is Chair. She also plans to delegate – need to make people included.
4. How does your experience make you fit for this job?
a. Gerene D – Organization and Assimilation. Work as a team.
b. Mike J – Service before self.
1st (and only) vote taken.
Gerene Denning received 32 Votes; Mike Jesse received 4 votes. There was one Abstain.
Congratulations Gerene! You have a LOT of work to do!  Meeting Begins.
50 people signed in to the meeting.
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3.
4.
5.
Permanent Chair welcomes new and returning Central Committee Members
a. Appointed Tom Larkin as Parliamentarian.
Approval of March 6 Central Committee Meeting Agenda – Approved
Approval of February 6 Central Committee Meeting Minutes – Approved
Approval of Treasurer Report (see below Minutes) – Approved
a. Will start downloading statements instead of receiving paper statements @ $10/statement - Approved
Chair Report
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
a. Need to find a 1st Vice Chair to replace Gerene. Will hold an election at the April Central Committee
Meeting. If you would like information on what the 1st Vice Chair is responsible for please contact
Gerene Denning or a member of the Executive Board.
b. Office Location Committee to come up with a location for this summer/fall. They will be responsible for
coming up with a report of what they can find as well as Pros & Cons.
i. Members: Jim Burr, Jim Tate, Dennis Roseman, Damon Shutt, John Deeth, Robin Roseman
1st Vice Chair Report
a. Passed out Outreach Committee Signup. If you are interested in volunteering (and haven’t already
signed up) please visit www.jcdems.org, under the Volunteer tab and sign up! We are going to have a
LOT of work to do this year and need everyone’s involvement!
nd
2 Vice Chair Report
a. Sam Odeyemi will gather the Parade information and pass it along to Gerene Denning, Karen Disbrow
and Steven Damm so it can be posted to the correct spots. Please plan on joining us for as many
parades as you can this year! It is important that we make a good showing. It is also fun. If you haven’t
participated in a parade before – please do! We will carpool if desired. Contact [email protected] if you
are interested!
Executive Committee Reports
a. Fundraising Chair –
i. It went great! Much thanks to Mike Carberry for doing such a wonderful job with the Black and
Blue Ball. We netted $3,700.
ii. The Hall of Fame will be held Saturday May 17, 2014 at the Marriott in Coralville. More
information coming!
b. Platform Chair –
i. Dennis Roseman shared that the Platform Report is Complete and in the convention booklet online. Can be changed if you are a delegate at the convention.
Public Relations Chair Report Report –
a. Karen Disbrow shared that we are working hard to get the website updated.
i. Don’t forget that you can go to the ActBlue link on the website (www.jcdems.org) and make a
recurring donation to the JCDems. This money is used to rent our office for the elections, pay
staff, help out our candidates, buy items for parades and table events. The more money we
have the more we can do.
ii. Constitution and By-Laws have been added back to the Website. Not sure why they
disappeared.
iii. Looking for a tweeter. John Deeth volunteered. Janelle Rettig also tweets for the JCDems.
iv. Need to get SEARCH added to the main page
v. We want to have all candidates have us post their events on our Facebook page so that it goes
out to our group.
vi. If you are having an event of interest to the JCDems please send it to info@jcdems and it will be
added to the Newsletter, Facebook and the Website. Please include that you would like it to be
posted.
Recognition of Elected Officials (and candidates)–
a. Janelle Rettig, Rod Sullivan, Janet Lyness, Kevin Kinney, Brad Kunkle, John Neiderbach, Gerry Kuhl, Mike
Carberry, Richard GIlmore, John Zimmerman
Guest Speakers (Statewide Candidates = 4 minutes; Other Candidates and Speakers = 3 minutes)
a. John Neiderbach – visiting all 9 counties in Iowa. Currently unopposed. Not a native of Iowa, spent first
18 years in New York. Came to Grinell College. Took Law School in Oregon. Has lived in Iowa over 40
years. He would be an auditor who will do what the rules state. Major changes if he takes over. Visit
http://realtaxpayerswatchdog.com/
b. Kevin Kinney – Lifelong JC Resident. Has worked in the Johnson County Sherriff’s office for 28 years.
Active in his community – currently in his 3rd term on the school board. Feel free to contact him with
questions.
c. John Zimmerman – wants to put a stop to the current way people who are of color or young are
treated. Serious damage happens to people who get into the criminal justice system. We should not
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
put people in jail for petty crimes. Law enforcement should spend time on serious issues. Will welcome
any questions.
d. Janet Lyness – has been the JC Attorney for over 7 years. People are safer. She has started
alternatives to some of the marijuana treatment programs to get people back out into their community.
All efforts are made to keep them out of the system. She is proud of her Alternative Programs. Since
she has been JC Attorney there has been a decrease in drug related issues. She is working to keep young
people out of the system which helps keep them out as adults.
Free Lunch – Pass the Hat $126 raised. Robin Roseman shared that the event is the first Friday of every even
numbered month. Thanks to all of the volunteers who have helped. We cook from scratch and it is a lot of fun!
Election of Central Committee Members to open seats and Associates
a. Sam Odeyemi was voted in to IC10
Election of 2nd District Central Committee Representatives
a. Gerene will contact current members and ask if they are still interested.
New Business –
a. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is having their walk April 26th. For more information https://securewalks.nami.org/registrant/LoginRegister.aspx?eventid=132707&langpref=enCA&Referrer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.namiwalks.org%2f
Announcements – Need to have volunteers to make phone calls for Donations. Peter and John will make up a
list of all sponsors and pass it around at the next Central Committee and you can let us know who you know so it
won’t be cold calling. You will be calling someone you know. We need your help!
SAVE THE DATES!!!!
March 22: House Party for Bruce Braley, Home of Gerene and Gerald Denning, Sat, Mar 22,
11 AM-1 PM, 1146 Oakes Drive, Iowa City, IA, RSVP
March 27: Exec. Committee, Thurs. Mar 27, 2014 @ 6pm, Iowa City Public Library, Room E
April 26: 2nd District Convention, Sat April 26, 2014, DMACC, Newton campus, Newton, IA
May 17: Hall of Fame event, Sat. May 17, 2014, Coralville Marriott
June 21: Iowa State Convention, June 21, 2014, Des Moines
October 13: Fall BBQ, Sun, Oct 13, 3-7 PM, Johnson County Fairgrounds
Treasurer's Report February 2014
Date
What
Expense
Encumbered
01/30/14
USPS - bulk mail permit #109
$220.00
01/30/14
USPS - sponsor letter postage
*** JANUARY 2014 BALANCES
***
$113.49
2/28/2014
(see above)
$220.00
(see above)
$113.49
02/02/14
Adcraft - sponsor lttr printing
$449.92
02/03/14
ActBlue donations - B&BB+
02/03/14
ActBlue - fee
02/10/14
Caucus - pass-th-hat
Income
Actual
Reserves
Bank
Balance
$
53.00
$
(2.11)
$
95.14
$
16,119.09
$
16,119.09
$
16,119.09
$
15,669.17
$
15,722.17
$
15,720.06
$
15,815.20
$
16,452.58
$
16,232.58
$
16,119.09
$
15,669.17
$
15,722.17
$
15,720.06
$
15,815.20
02/11/14
Black & Blue Ball sponsors
02/18/14
ActBlue donations - B&BB+
02/18/14
ActBlue - fee
02/19/14
Black & Blue Ball sponsors
02/23/14
Verizon Wireless - phone
02/24/14
ActBlue donations - B&BB
02/24/14
ActBlue - fee
02/28/14
Interest
$1,150.00
$
125.00
$
(4.94)
$1,300.00
$
24.25
$
400.00
$
(15.81)
$
1.31
$
16,965.20
$
17,090.20
$
17,085.26
$
18,385.26
$
18,361.01
$
18,761.01
$
18,745.20
$
18,746.51
$
16,965.20
$
17,090.20
$
17,085.26
$
18,385.26
$
18,385.26
$
18,785.26
$
18,769.45
$
18,770.76