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!