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Meeting reflections

Meeting Reflections – January 11, 2022

General Membership Meeting
Tuesday, January 11th
7:00 pm

Featured Speaker:
Congressman John Garamendi, Congressional Dist. 8

Our January monthly meeting was held on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7:00.

U.S. Representative John Garamendi

Our program featured Congressman John Garamendi, who represents Congressional District 8, which now includes Benicia. Cong. Garamendi announced last month he is seeking reelection in 2022 and will introduce himself to Benicians, share with us his priorities for Congress this year, and let us know how we can support his efforts. The newly drawn lines for Cong. Dist. 8 now mean that all five oil refineries in the Bay Area are located in an area represented by one U.S. Representative, John Garamendi. Let’s have our questions ready for Cong. Garamendi!

We also continued discussion from our last meeting on possible changes to the Club and votes on any motions that may arise. We announced appointments to vacated Officer and Steering Committee positions, including a new Interim Chair, Kathy Kerridge, and Treasurer, Nathalie Christian – and two new Steering Committee members, Lisa Reinertson and Terry Mollica. But, we still need to fill the Vice-Chair position who will be assisting the new Chair in overall club responsibilities, and we need 2-3 additional members to join the Steering Committee to help lead the Club into 2022 in supporting candidates and actions at the local, state, and national levels. It’s time to step up!!!

Non-members were welcomed to participate in the discussion and Q&A with Cong. Garamendi. The remainder of the meeting on Club issues was open only to current and lapsed PDB members.

Uncategorized

Join Us for We the People: Jan 6th Day of Remembrance & Action

January 6th Day of Remembrance and Action

Join us on Thursday evening, January 6th at 6:00 pm at the Benicia City Park Gazebo for a Day of Remembrance of the attack on Congress and the American democratic process. We are holding this candlelight Vigil both as a day of remembrance and to say that in our country, the voters decide the outcome of elections.

It’s been a year since a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, leaving five people dead, scores injured, and an untold number of legislators, staffers, journalists, and others there for the certification of Joe Biden’s victory traumatized.

Our Vigil will be one of hundreds of events across the county remembering the January 6 attack. More than 100 activist groups are banding together with vigils and voter registration events. We urgently need to support federal legislation to protect and expand voting rights. The future of our democracy is in our hands.

During our Vigil at the Gazebo, Mary Susan Gast will read from a collection of poems by local poets on the events of January 6, 2021.

Please join us at the Gazebo on Thursday, January 6 at 6:00 pm to support democracy, the rule of law, and actions to fight the suppression of voting rights.

Meeting notices

General Membership Meeting January 11, 2022 7:00 PM

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

 

We’re ready to kick off 2022 with our first General Meeting on January 11 at 7:00 pm. Headlining the program is Congressman John Garamendi, who has announced that he is seeking re-election in the newly designed California 8th Congressional district, which now includes Benicia and Vallejo.

Following Congressman Garamendi, we’ll continue our discussion from our last meeting in November on proposed changes to club bylaws, including consideration of a new name for our club, and address filling some vacant officer and steering committee positions.

We’re still meeting via Zoom. Watch for the zoom link which will be sent closer to the meeting date.

Benicia is now part of Congressional District 8. The newly designed voting districts are based on results of the 2020 Census. Benicia is now part of the 8th Congressional district which has been represented by Congressman Garamendi since 2009. The new district stretches from Vacaville in the north to El Cerrito in the south and includes the cities of Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, Antioch, Pittsburg, and Martinez in Contra Costa County and Fairfield, Suisun City, Vallejo and Benicia in Solano County. On Dec. 20, 2021, Congressman Garamendi announced he is running for reelection to Congress. We look forward to hearing from our new Congressman and his plans in Congress for 2022. Have your questions ready!

During the January 11 meeting, we’re providing as much time as Congressman Garamendi needs to address the club as well as to allow for Q & A.

Club changes.

  1. During our November meeting, we discussed possibly changing the club’s name. We will continue the discussion on a possible name change to allow members who weren’t present in November to share their thoughts. Here is a summary of pro and con comments provided by members thus far. A vote on a name change can take place only after the proposed change has been presented to membership at a preceding meeting. The Jan. 11 meeting will be considered first notice for any motion(s) that arise during this meeting.
  2. We will also announce plans to fill two officer positions: the Vice-Chair position has been open for some time, and Ralph Dennis is stepping down as Chair effective February 8, 2022. Club officers serve two-year terms, and PDB’s next officer elections are January, 2023. If an office is vacated, new officers can be appointed to serve out any remaining terms of a vacated office until elections are held.

Please review the comments on a possible name change for PDB, specifically keeping or dropping the word “Progressive.”

Also, annual club dues are payable beginning in January. Annual dues are $20 per member. See our website for payment information.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7:00 pm. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments!