BRIEF MEETING NOTES
JUNE 10, 2025

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Our January general membership meeting was held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 7pm, via Zoom.

AGENDA

• Call to Order – Kathy Kerridge, Chair
• Quorum – Christina Gilpin-Hayes, Secretary
• Acknowledgements
• Welcome to new members and steering committee members
•  Program
• • Kel O’Hara, Senior Attorney of Policy and Education Equity at Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) in San Francisco
  • Christina Gilpin-Hayes – Local actions to support and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community
  • Bart Sullivan, Esq. Swing Blue Alliance: Counter right wing media
  • PDB By Laws Amendment
  • CA Democratic Convention Recap
  • Treasurer’s Report – Chris Kerz
  • Acknowledgements/Announcements

Speakers

• Kel O’Hara (they/them), Senior Attorney of Policy and Education, Equity at Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) in San Francisco

• Ari Smith, Legal Services of Northern California in Vallejo
  • Presentation on LGBTQ+ Rights in California and how to get involved
• Christina Gilpin-Hayes
  • Presentation on Local Events Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Community:
    • Saturday, June 14, 10am-7pm – “Solano Comes OUT”, Solano County Fair
    • Saturday, June 15, 1-6pm – Sunday Funday, Rellik Tavern, Benicia
    • Saturday, June 22, 12-3pm – Pride in the Park, Vacaville
    • Monday, June 23, 6:30pm – How to be and Ally, Benicia Library
    • Saturday, June 28 – SF Pride Festival
    • Sunday, June 29 – SF Pride Parade
    • Sunday, July 6, 2-7pm – Pride After Glow Coctail Party (+ Cristina’s birthday), Baxters Restaurant & Bar, Benicia
• Swing Blue Alliance Upcoming Events
  • June 11, 2:00 pm – Landing In Print Or On the Air – How to win media visibility for your event, campaign, or project
  • June 18, 2:00 pm – How to Launch and Sustain a Community Podcast That Strengthens Democracy
  • June 25, 2:00 pm – Influencing Public Opinion: Writing Successful Letters to the Editor
  • htpps://www.mobilize.us/swingbluealliance/

PDB By Laws Amendment Discussion – Vote at next meeting

CADEM Convention Report

Announcements

• Solano County No Kings Events – Saturday, June 14
  • Vallejo – 10:00 am Vallejo City Hall
  • Benicia – 1:00 pm First Street Gazebo
  • Fairfield – Noon Corner of Jefferson & Texas Streets
  • Vacaville – 10:00 am Vacaville City Hall
  • Rio Vista – 10:00 am CA-12
  • http://www.mobilize.us/nokings/
• Upcoming City Council Meeting to adopt the budget
• Brief report from Mayor Young on the state of the Valero refinery closure and other possible closures, and the State’s response
• Benicia Public Library Juneteenth – June 19 6:30 to 8:30 pm
• Sustainable Solano Annual Celebration & Fundraiser June 29 4-7 pm at Soul Food Farm
• June 10 – Suisun City Council to vote on advancing annexation of 22,000 acres of CA Forever Project
• June 28 6-7:30 pm – Wanda Williams Fundraiser Birthday Party at Wooden Valley Winery
• July 3 6:30 pm Benicia Torchlight Parade on 1st Street

Next Meeting: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 7:00 pm

Meeting Recording Link

Here is a link to the video recording of the meeting. If asked for a passcode, it is:

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