The Democratic Clubs of Bay Village, Fairview Park, North Olmsted and Rocky River are pleased to partner together for a Club meeting on:
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(The Zoom link/phone will be sent on August 25 to all who RSVP)
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Special Guest Speaker:
TED STRICKLAND, former Democratic Governor of Ohio.
Governor Strickland once won a plurality of voters in our state. During his remarks, he’ll share how we can reach independent voters in our communities. Governor Strickland will be introduced by Tim Hagan.
Featured speakers will include:
AARON GODFREY, our Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress. Visit Aaron’s website HERE.
TOM JACKSON, our Democratic candidate for the Ohio Senate. Visit Tom’s website HERE.
LIZ GERSTENHABER, Campaign Field Director for Monique Smith, our Democratic candidate for the Ohio House. Visit Monique’s website HERE.
Along with his endorsement of Monique Smith, Senator Sherrod Brown will be participating in a private Zoom call on Thursday, August 20th from 5:30 – 6:30pm with Monique and other endorsed candidates. If you would like to participate, please RSVP and purchase VIP tickets by clicking HERE.
RYAN PUENTE, Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. Ryan will discuss the state of the race in Cuyahoga County.
VOLUNTEERS:
The response in Rocky River has been amazing. Thank you to everyone who has already signed-up to volunteer for postcards and the literature drop! We will be in touch with you directly in a separate email soon with greater detail about each activity.
More volunteers are still welcomed. We have a lot to do until Election Day!
To volunteer for literature drops in Rocky River, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
If you’ve already signed-up for postcards or the literature drop, thank you, and no need to sign-up again. We’ll be in touch with you soon in a separate email with more information.
PHONE BANKING
The Club plans to do our own phone banking closer to Election Day and target fellow residents who have not yet voted by mail.
If you’d like to get started phone banking to a broader range of voters with the Biden/Harris campaign, please click HERE.
YARD SIGNS
We’re being told that free Biden/Harris yard signs will be available around September 3rd, or shortly thereafter.
- To receive a yard sign, residents of Rocky River can click HERE.
- If you are a resident of Bay Village, Fairview Park, or North Olmsted, please click the highlighted name of your city to contact your local Democratic Club.
Help the Board of Elections to “flatten the curve” and submit your vote-by-mail application now to avoid overwhelming them in the months of September and October; and avoiding other issues.
- Online: To request or print a vote-by-mail application from the Board of Elections website, click HERE
- Phone: Call the Board of Elections and request that a vote-by-mail application be mailed to you. Call: 216-443-8683
ON OCTOBER 6TH, the Board of Elections will begin mailing ballots to everyone who has submitted their vote-by-mail application. Many in our community have already submitted their application. Be among the first to vote for Biden/Harris and all Democrats on your ballot!
Everyone is welcome. Please share this message with friends!
(The Zoom link/phone will be sent on August 25 to all who RSVP)
Early voting in Ohio begins in about 60 days. Imagine how you’ll feel when you cast your vote for Joe Biden and other Democratic candidates shortly after October 6th!
According to polls this week, the race in Ohio remains a tie. Every Democrat needs to vote this year. Grassroots efforts have proven time and again to make a difference in voter turnout. To achieve that goal:
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
POSTCARD WRITING
We need to reach Rocky River Democrats who live in apartment/condo buildings (a sizable number). Postcards and a script will be provided; you provide the thirty five cent stamps. This can be done from the comfort of your own home on your own schedule. To volunteer for postcard writing, please send us an email by clicking HERE.
LITERATURE DROP
Many of you remember 2016 when you committed 2 or 3 hours to knocking on doors for Hillary Clinton. Because of Covid-19, there will be no door knocking and interacting with our fellow residents; but we still need to get information to every voter. Territory to cover will be reasonable and can be done at your convenience over several days. To volunteer for literature drops, please send us an email by clicking HERE.
You’ve been waiting to do something to make a difference. NOW IS THE TIME! Both the postcard writing and literature drops are being scheduled for the week before and through Labor Day weekend when the State of Ohio is expected to mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters.
Featured Speaker:
STEVE CRAFFEY
Biden Organizer for Cleveland West Side and Eastern Colleges
When we meet next Tuesday, it will be 98 days until the most consequential election in generations, and 70 days until early voting begins on October 6th. Despite recent national polls, nothing can be taken for granted. In Ohio, the race between Joe Biden and the person in the White House is a tie.
Please join us on the 28th to discuss what we’ll do in Rocky River to ensure a Biden Victory, as well as support Monique Smith, Democratic candidate for our district in the Ohio Statehouse; and Aaron Godfrey, our Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress.
To receive the phone number and link to this meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 7 PM that will be held via Zoom, please click HERE.
Featured Speaker:
Dr. Michael G. Shoaf, Superintendent, Rocky River Board of Education. Dr. Shoaf will discuss plans for the upcoming school year, the impact of budget cuts, and answer your questions.
Please feel free to share this with your friends and neighbors in the community; everyone is invited to participate. To receive the phone number and link to this meeting that will be held via Zoom, please click HERE.
We are very pleased to announce that Cassimir Svigelj is the new Treasurer of the Rocky River Democratic Club!
We enthusiastically congratulate and welcome Cassimir as a Club Officer. You may remember Cassimir’s strong candidacies that tell of a man who cares deeply about improving the lives of the citizens of our community and state. As fellow Club officers, we look forward to working closely with Cassimir to elect Democratic candidates in this most important election year.
Also by majority during the May 26th meeting, the Club voted to approve its updated Bylaws and Constitution.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MAY 26TH MEETING VIA ZOOM
Andrew Bemer, Law Director, City of Rocky River
Mr. Bemer reviewed the operations of various city departments and agencies during the state-mandated shutdown. He addressed the city’s Charter Review that is done every 6 years, and the final steps in the process to get it on the ballot for the General Election. He noted the significant payroll tax loss of $900,000 to the city’s budget since the onset of the pandemic. Governor DeWine also plans to cut $805,000 to Rocky River schools from the State’s funding pool while the State of Ohio has a budget surplus of $2.7 BILLION (that’s not a typo). Mr. Bemer encouraged residents to visit the City of Rocky River’s website at www.rrcity.com for the wealth of information it provides.
Aaron Godfrey and Monique Smith
Both Aaron and Monique addressed the changes the pandemic has brought to traditional ways of campaigning. Rather than knocking on doors and in-person gatherings, reliance will be on social media, phone banking, and mailings. They also noted the significant advantage that incumbents have in elections. While their Republican opponents may try to appear moderate to voters in our community, they, nonetheless, wholeheartedly espouse the Trump Republican agenda.
It is difficult for candidates like Monique and Aaron to come right out and ask for donations to sustain a costly virtual campaign against their well-funded Republican opponents. On their behalf, the Rocky River Democratic Club asks you to consider making a donation of any amount to each of their campaigns. We realize that these are financially challenging times and that there are many worthy causes. Donating to help a Legislator win can bring big changes in our lives; and it is one of the most important contributions we can make. Whether it’s $5, $10 or $20, it’s our cumulative strength in numbers that makes a difference.
Donate to Aaron Godfrey, Democratic candidate for the United States Congress, District 16, click HERE.
Donate to Monique Smith, Democratic candidate for State Representative of Ohio House District 16 – Bay Village, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Rocky River, Westlake, click HERE.
Giving Tree Project
The Giving Tree Project provides free face masks to community members who do not have access to them or cannot afford them. The project began with local attorney Kira Krivosh, State Senator Nickie Antonio and a group of volunteers. The first donation event was in Rocky River on May 28th, and the organization plans the next donation event in Lakewood in the coming weeks. Masks are free and are replenished daily on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in becoming a sewer, they provide kits with fabric and instructions. If you do not sew, they need fabric cutters and additional volunteers. For more information and to volunteer, please send an email to GivingTreeProjectRR@gmail.com
ELECTION 2020
Vote by Mail for November 3rd
Even though you voted by mail in the primary, unfortunately, you’ll need to repeat the application process for November 3rd.
You can submit a vote by mail application NOW to receive your vote by mail ballot at the appropriate time for the November 3rd General Election.
- Online: To request or print a vote by mail application from the Board of Elections website, click HERE
- Phone: Call the Board of Elections and request that a vote by mail application be mailed to you. Phone: 216-443-8683
- Email: Send an email to the Rocky River Democratic Club and we’ll deliver an application to your home. Email: submit@rockyriverdems.org
On the vote by mail application, please remember to: 1) select General Election, and 2) write the year “2020”
CLUB MEETINGS:
Thank you to those who joined us during the May 26th meeting. Because it was done on Zoom, we would love your feedback. If you have 15 seconds to answer 3 quick questions, it would be most helpful. Please click HERE.
The next meeting of the Rocky River Democratic Club is scheduled on Tuesday, June 30th at 7 PM. We’ll provide more information soon in a separate email.
