Author name: Rocky River Democrats

Please Join Us!
For the next meeting of the

Rocky River Democratic Club
Tuesday, May 31st at 7:00 PM

Via Zoom and In-Person at the Rocky River Library

Hello Rocky River Democrats! We want to share the info and RSVP link for our May meeting.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

JESSIE HILL, JD

Jessie Hill, JD is Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and Judge Ben C. Green Professor of Law. She joined the faculty in 2003 after practicing First Amendment and civil rights law with the firm of Berkman, Gordon, Murray & DeVan in Cleveland. Before entering private practice, Hill worked at the Reproductive Freedom Project of the national ACLU office in New York, litigating challenges to state-law restrictions on reproductive rights. She also served as law clerk to the Honorable Karen Nelson Moore of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Hill’s teaching focuses on constitutional, civil rights, reproductive rights, and law and religion. Her scholarship has been published in Michigan Law Review, the Duke Law Journal, the Georgetown Law Journal, and the Texas Law Review, among others.

Jessie’s scholarly focus is remarkably prescient for the turbulent and confusing times that we are currently living through and she will offer great insight into the assault on civil liberties that all Americans will feel with the impending Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade.

CRYSTAL LETT

Crystal is the Ohio Program Director for Red, Wine & Blue. She will be speaking about pending extremist legislation in our statehouse that will deeply affect how school is taught. Crystal will discuss how it impacts what curriculum looks like in our school district, and what we can do about it at both the state and local level.

After a very near win for a State Senate seat in central Ohio in 2020, Crystal is again running for State Senate District 25.  In addition to politics, she brings her background in mental health and advocacy to this much-needed discussion on school policy.

Both are delighted to be available to speak to our group and are looking forward to taking questions after they speak.

To attend our club meeting, May 31st, please first CLICK HERE

The online form will ask whether you will attend in-person or via Zoom:

• In-person at the Library is limited to the first 40 who RSVP.  Please wear a mask.

If you have already RSVP’d–thank you! No need to RSVP again!

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We also want to share the slide deck of HSRA presentation by Rick Harnish from our last meeting, please find HERE and a link HERE for a related article from The Plain Dealer.

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The Rocky River Democrats are proud to co-sponsor an event with Gubernatorial Candidate Nan Whaley and her running mate Cheryl Stephens, hosted by the CDWC!! We are so excited to have Nan Whaley and Cheryl Stephens as our nominees for Governor and Lt. Governor!  The CDWC and other local Democrat organizations, including the Rocky River Democrats are putting together a fun fundraiser for them at their campaign headquarters with both Nan and Cheryl as well as the legendary and famous Tommy’s milkshakes! The headquarters is a large beautiful space (next door to Tommy’s) and will soon be a coordinated campaign but for now, it is still a Whaley/Stephens space. Come and get familiar with the space and get to hear from Nan and Cheryl. Help us make history by helping to elect the first woman governor of Ohio!

We encourage all who are able and willing to attend to please do so to show your support for our Democratic candidate as well as represent the Rocky River Democrats and the larger community of Democrats in Cuyahoga County!

When: Wednesday, June 8th

Where: Whaley-Stephens Headquarters
1814 Coventry Rd
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

Tickets start at $50 to attend and all contributions can be made through the Whaley-Stephens campaign site linked HERE

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Anyone interested in volunteering to help with County Executive candidate Chris Ronayne–his campaign is seeking help for two upcoming events. Please get more info and sign up at the links below! 

Euclid Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 30th
9:30 am -12 pm
SIGN UP HERE

Cleveland Pride March
Saturday, June 4th
11:30 am – 2 pm
SIGN UP HERE

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CLUB BUSINESS

Membership:

We are currently in our membership drive for 2022 and encourage all former and current members to please renew via one of the options listed below. If you have not renewed up to this point, we strongly encourage you to do so ASAP! Please encourage other Democrats you may know in Rocky River to join as well or gift a membership to friends and family, we welcome as many Democratic voices as we can have! Membership dues helped the Club produce and mail postcards that reached every registered Democratic voter before last November’s local election, maintain the Club’s presence on the internet, hold events like the summer party at Elmwood Cabin, and more. 

Dues:

• Student:  $5
• Senior:  $10
• Individual:  $20
• Family:  $30

There are four easy ways to renew or become a new, dues-paying member:

1. Pay securely on the Club’s website by CLICKING HERE. Click the appropriate level for you on the right of your screen.

2. Print the member application form by CLICKING HERE.  Mail the form and your check to the Club’s Treasurer (name and address are on the application)

3. Save a stamp and request that the Club send you an application form and pre-stamped return envelope.  Send that request now with a quick email by CLICKING HERE.

4. Attend the Club meeting at the Library on May 31st.  You can complete an application form and provide a check in person!

Record-keeping is easier if everyone completes the membership process as soon as possible.  As a Rocky River resident and registered Democrat, becoming a paid member confers the ability to vote on  items such as Club Officers, endorsements made by the Club, changes to the Club’s bylaws, and other decisions that require voting by members.  We also welcome supporters who wish to become  Associate Members (registered Democrats who are non-residents of Rocky River — does not confer Club voting rights).

Thank you in advance!

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We look forward to seeing you at the Club meeting on Tuesday, May 31st at 7:00 PM via Zoom or at the Library. 

To attend the meeting, please CLICK HERE

Thank you for you continued support!  We are making a difference together.

Mike, Dave, Erin, Nick, Sue
Rocky River Democratic Club
[email protected]
www.rockyriverdems.org

Please Join Us!
For the next meeting of the

Rocky River Democratic Club
Tuesday, April 26th at 7:15 PM

Via Zoom and In-Person at the Rocky River Library

Featured Speaker:

RICK HARNISH

Rick Harnish is the Executive Director and co-founder of the High Speed Rail Alliance and will speak to the aims of the organization in expanding the infrastructure and impact of rail to reconnect families and regions, creating new housing and economic development and reducing the carbon impact of automobile travel and commuting. He will also speak to the impact that high speed rail and public transit infrastructure can have throughout the Northeast Ohio region and beyond. He looks forward to taking questions from and interacting with the audience.

To attend the meeting, please first CLICK HERE

The online form will ask whether you will attend in-person or via Zoom:

• In-person at the Library is limited to the first 40 who RSVP.  Please wear a mask.

Please review the minutes of our March meeting HERE

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CLUB BUSINESS

Membership:

We are currently in our membership drive for 2022 and encourage all former and current members to please renew via one of the options listed below. Please encourage other Democrats you may know in Rocky River to join as well or gift a membership to friends and family, we welcome as many Democratic voices as we can have! Membership dues helped the Club produce and mail postcards that reached every registered Democratic voter before last November’s local election, maintain the Club’s presence on the internet, hold events like the summer party at Elmwood Cabin, and more. 

Dues:

• Student:  $5
• Senior:  $10
• Individual:  $20
• Family:  $30

There are four easy ways to renew or become a new, dues-paying member:

1. Pay securely on the Club’s website by CLICKING HERE. Click the appropriate level for you on the right of your screen.

2. Print the member application form by CLICKING HERE.  Mail the form and your check to the Club’s Treasurer (name and address are on the application)

3. Save a stamp and request that the Club send you an application form and pre-stamped return envelope.  Send that request now with a quick email by CLICKING HERE.

4. Attend the Club meeting at the Library on April 26th.  You can complete an application form and provide a check in person!

Record-keeping is easier if everyone completes the membership process as soon as possible.  As a Rocky River resident and registered Democrat, becoming a paid member confers the ability to vote on  items such as Club Officers, endorsements made by the Club, changes to the Club’s bylaws, and other decisions that require voting by members.  We also welcome supporters who wish to become  Associate Members (registered Democrats who are non-residents of Rocky River — does not confer Club voting rights).

Thank you in advance!

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ELECTION 2022: MAY 3RD PRIMARY

In this critical midterm election year, Democrats across the country — including us in Rocky River — will work to preserve our majority in the U.S. House and Senate.  President Biden can’t do it alone.  Our votes and activism will help elect Democrats who will protect voting rights, address climate change,  strengthen middle class incomes, and so much, much more.

In Rocky River this year, we’ll be voting for a U.S. Senator and Congressional Representative, Ohio Governor, State Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Board of Education, Ohio Statehouse Representatives, Cuyahoga County Council offices, judges, and more.

Voter registration has already closed but for those that have registered, please vote early if you are able and encourage others to do so to ensure our voices are heard!!

April 5
Opening of vote by mail and early in person voting at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE) located at 2925 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH.  See the schedule for early in person voting at the BOE at the end of this message. 

May 2:
Close of early in person voting at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Vote by mail ballots must be postmarked by this date.

May 3:
Primary Election Day.  Local polling locations in Rocky River will be open 6:30 AM  – 7:30 PM.

If you have any questions about voting, please call the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections at: 216-443-8683.  

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Voting as part of good citizenship is important every year.  Last year, we cast our votes for Rocky River Mayor, Law Director, City Council and School Board. We’ll do so again next year in 2023 (our local elections are every two years).  In 2024, we again vote for President. 

This year, though, is the all important midterm.  The outcomes will have profound consequences for the direction of our Country and the state of Ohio; and will set conditions that will prevail for many years beyond. 

Please visit Common Cause Ohio at this LINK to see the legislative maps discussed at our February meeting and find resources to contact our legislators to demand fair maps and districts. The ramifications of redistricting can affect us locally and statewide for years to come so please take the opportunity to reach out and make your voice heard!

Please scroll back up and renew or become a new Club member to help us make a difference together again in Rocky River this year.

We look forward to seeing you at the Club meeting on Tuesday, April 26th at 7:15 PM via Zoom or at the Library. 

To attend the meeting, please CLICK HERE

Thank you for you continued support!  We are making a difference together.