Monthly Updates

Lamorinda Democratic Club Members and Friends,

I know we are all still reeling from the news of multiple mass shootings in our own state—and more U.S. mass shootings in January 2023 than there were days in the month. I know we are sickened and heartbroken by the atrocious violence that claimed the life of a 29-year-old Memphis father who loved skateboarding, photographing sunsets, and dinners with his family. I know we feel sick and tired of the effort to affect the kind of change we want to see.

But you know who else must be tired?

The Sandyhook parents who never saw their children blow out the candles on their 6th birthday cake,
the Parkland parents who never heard their teenagers say, “Mom, Dad! You’re embarrassing me!” as they took one more prom photo,
the grandchildren from Half Moon Bay who never had the chance to finish hearing their grandparents’ immigration stories,
Tyre’s mom—who had to hear accounts of her son’s heart-wrenching call for help, “Mom!” while he was being brutally beaten by the police officers who swore an oath to protect him,
and the parents, children, uncles, aunts, grandparents and best friends of the too-short lives taken by guns and violence every day on American streets.

So, while California can boast the strictest gun laws in the country, there is still more we can do. And while charges were filed swiftly against the Memphis police “scorpion” unit, we still have a long way to travel along “the arc of the moral universe” as it bends towards justice.

Engaging, Educating, and Electing Democrats is the mission of the Lamorinda Democratic Club. In times like these, nothing we do seems like enough. But we can draw inspiration and energy from witnessing the parents, children, friends, and family who, with grace and dignity, just keep going—to chip away—with the hope that piece by piece, we will get there together.

In this Lunar Year of the Rabbit, I wish you peace, hope, prosperity, and good health.

Sincerely,

Tracy Brog
Lamorinda Democratic Club President

Lamorinda Democratic Club Members and Friends,

I hope you are staying safe and dry on these stormy days. The 2023 rainy season in our part of California is off to a promising start. Now it’s time to replenish the reservoirs of the Lamorinda Democratic Club!

Weathering four elections in the space of the last 16 months was no small task for our club. In each election cycle, the LDC performed an outsized role in Engaging, Educating, and Electing Democrats.

GOTV
The Lamorinda Democratic Club Got Out The Vote for Democratic candidates across Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Saranap, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Danville, Alamo, Concord, Martinez, and San Ramon.

LDC Precinct Organizers reached more than 20,000 Contra Costa Democratic voters in each election cycle, person to person, producing Democratic voter turnout that was above state and county percentages. In the last election, Contra Costa precincts “covered” by LDC Precinct Organizers saw an average 76.6% turnout of registered Democrats! That is 16.1% higher than the Democratic turnout for the county and 19.2% higher than the registered voter turnout for the state.

BUILDING COMMUNITY
The LDC saw another successful year bringing together local Dems to meet, learn, and build community.

Monthly Zoom meetings (including a virtual Open House), the annual Hot August Night Political Trivia Championship, and the LDC booth at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival are just a few examples of the ways in which we reached out, expanded, and connected.

SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES & ELECTEDS
Whether running for local, city, county, or state office for the first time or for reelection, Democratic candidates and incumbents sought the LDC’s endorsement—knowing it comes with effective volunteer organizing and support that translates into votes.

While you hunker down to stay dry, I hope you can find time to celebrate all this new rain and snow. Please also take a minute to renew your membership, so the LDC can refill its reservoir and continue the mission to Engage, Educate, and Elect Democrats.

Online: https://ldclub.org/join-donate/
By Mail: P.O. Box 31, Orinda CA 94563

I look forward to seeing you at the LDC General Meeting on Thursday!

Best,

Tracy Brog
Lamorinda Democratic Club President

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

First LDC General Meeting of the Year
Thursday, January 12
7 p.m. via Zoom featuring Guest Speaker Steve Falk

Currently a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy, Steve spent more than 28 years as Lafayette’s City Manager, followed by his roles as Interim City Manager for the cities of Richmond, Oakland, and Hercules. He was also the subject of a 2020 New York Times feature story, Build Build Build Build Build, and was presented with the Bay Area Metro Award in 2019 for his vocal support of housing “to address climate change, income inequality, and housing affordability.” Steve has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and also is an artist and writer.

Register to receive a Zoom link for the meeting by clicking here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvf-uurzMsG9Hg8K-BQtGqHihj7XhglM9r. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Lamorinda Democratic Club 2023 Open House
on Thursday, February 9
7 p.m. at the Lafayette Library

Members, friends, city, county, and state elected representatives, party leaders, and activists—please join us for this fun in-person event at the Lafayette Library (3491 Mount Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549) to kick off the new year, meet, mingle, and enjoy drinks and desserts.

CADEM ASSEMBLY DISTRICT DELEGATE ELECTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 16

There is still time to register and vote in person for our district’s delegates to the California Democratic Party State Convention!

Several Lamorinda Democratic Club members, including LDC Board Member Tom Duckworth, are running. Click here to see a list of all the candidates in Assembly District 16. Registered Democrats in each Assembly District will elect 14 delegates for a two-year term, including seven self-identified females and seven other than self-identified females.

The in-person location for Assembly District 16 will be announced soon, but ballots can be dropped off at any voting location in the state. Click here to see these voting locations and times. In-person voter registration opportunities will end on January 22, 2023.

These Assembly District Elections are one of three major ways delegates are selected for the California Democratic Party. These delegates vote on California Democratic Party business—including endorsements, resolutions, state party officers, and the state party’s platform.

All Democratic Party County Central Committees elect delegates from among their members. The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County elects delegates from each Supervisorial District (ours is District 2) and then the rest in an at-large vote of the entire membership in good standing. These elections among members in good standing will happen at the DPCCC’s Organizational Meeting on Thursday, January 19, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about these elections by clicking here.

California Democratic Party delegates are also selected by appointment from statewide party officers and by Democratic Party Elected Officials (or the highest vote-getting Democrat if no Democrat was elected) for statewide offices; the U.S. Senate; and State Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional offices.

RENEW YOUR LAMORINDA DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEMBERSHIP

To renew online, click here: https://ldclub.org/join-donate/

To renew by mail, please send a check ($60 for a single annual membership) to:
Lamorinda Democratic Club
PO Box 31
Orinda CA 94563

CONTRA COSTA DEMOCRATS ANNUAL PARTY BBQ!

LDC Members:

As a sponsor of the 2022 DPCCC BBQ, the Lamorinda Democratic Club receives two complimentary tickets. The first two members to individually email info@LDclub.org with the subject line “ Count Me In!” will receive our two tickets.

This annual fun event will be held at Concord Community Park (3501 Cowell Rd, Concord, CA 94518) on Saturday, September 10th, 2022, from noon to 5:00 p.m. The BBQ (which this year is really a taco bar!) is a great way to connect with county Dems, elected officials, candidates, and activists.

Lamorinda Democratic Club Members and Friends,

If you attended the Lamorinda Democratic Club’s Hot August Night Political Trivia Championship last Thursday, you may have reconnected with some friends, made new ones, or joined the club for the first time!

You may have chatted with candidates for school board, county clerk, or fire district board. Perhaps you met city council and committee members from Concord, Lafayette, and Walnut Creek. Maybe you were on the team “Waiting for Garland” or “Trump Looks Good in Orange.” You may even have heard LDC member Leonard Dorin describe what it was like to attend FDR’s speech, in Chicago, following his fourth inauguration! But one thing is certain: you would have noticed that we just had a good time being together, in person—sharing the same space, and struggling to remember the general election year that Chubby Checker’s Twist was a number one hit.

There is, however, nothing trivial about these opportunities to connect. They are at the core of how we understand each other, solve problems, organize, energize, support, and elect.

Photo of the 2022 Hot August Trivia Champions

Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in this year’s event. You made it so much fun! Congratulations to the 2022 championship team Niners

Pictured from left to right: Kevin Wilk (Walnut Creek City Council), David Clark (Lafayette Creeks Committee & LDC Board Member), Carl Anduri (Lafayette City Council), and Wei-Tai Kwok (Lafayette City Council)

Congratulations also to Silver medalists: Winners, and bronze medalists: Trump Looks Good in Orange. Many thanks also to LDC Members Mark and Marcia Dunaway for crafting and donating such beautiful prizes for the winning team.

Members also voted to elect Peter Ericson as the LDC Representative to the DPCCC (Democratic Party of Contra Costa County) and Craig Cheslog as the Alternate for the remainder of this calendar year and for the following two-year term beginning in January 2023. Congratulations Peter and Craig, and thank you very much for your willingness to represent the Lamorinda Democratic Club.

So “What’s up next?” you ask? The LDC calendar is chock full of more opportunities for us to get together! Please take a look at the list below, and do let us know if and how you’d like to get more involved.

Stay cool,

Tracy Brog
Lamorinda Democratic Club President

Thursday, August 25, at 7 p.m. on Zoom
LDC Virtual “Meet the Candidates!” Night

This is an LDC special event and another chance to hear from some Democratic candidates who have requested an LDC endorsement before our club endorsement votes at our September 14 meeting. You can register for the August 25 Meet the Candidates meeting by clicking here:

If you are a candidate seeking the club’s endorsement and would like to participate in our virtual “Meet the Candidates Night, please email Craig Cheslog at issues@LDclub.org as soon as possible and no later than Monday, August 22.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 at 7 p.m. on Zoom:
“LDC 2022 Candidate Endorsements”
LDC General Meeting Featuring Membership Vote

Members, don’t miss the opportunity to weigh in on LDC endorsements for the upcoming election. Candidate endorsement votes will follow the presentation of the LDC Issues & Candidates Committee recommendations.

Saturday, September 17–Sunday, September 18:
LDC Booth at Lafayette Art & Wine Festival

The Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is back! And the excitement is palpable! Please stop by the LDC Booth (in front of Learning Express at 5205 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) to say hello, find some cool Democratic swag, mingle with all the Dems who visit, or meet Democratic Candidates on the November ballot.

If you would like to volunteer for a two-hour shift at the LDC booth, please let us know that too at info@LDclub.org! There will be at least one LDC Board member for each shift, so please do not let inexperience keep you from volunteering. In addition to meeting and greeting festival goers, we will also be registering voters and introducing candidates to voters.

The LDC Booth is a terrific opportunity for candidates to meet voters in a friendly and informal way as the festival attracts more than 85,000 visitors! If you are a candidate and would like a scheduled slot at the LDC booth, please contact Tracy by emailing president@Ldclub.org.

LDC Precinct Organizing Project Election 2022 Kick-Off
(Date, Time, and Place to be determined in Early October)

The LDC “POP” Precinct Organizing Project is the Lamorinda Democratic Club’s superpower, and LDC Precinct Organizers are its superheroes!

Each election cycle, LDC Precinct Organizers together reach about 20,000 voters throughout central Costa Contra County. But we are working to reach more! Currently, Organizers connect with voters, neighbor-to-neighbor, in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Martinez, Danville, Alamo, and San Ramon. If you are a current Precinct Organizer, or have participated in the past, please drop us a line to say “Count me in for November!” Email Tracy at GOteam@LDclub.org.

If you are new to the club or have never done any voter outreach before, but would like to know more, please contact us! If you have a friend or neighbor, you can also organize as a “dynamic duo!”😉 It’s fun, it significantly increases Democratic voter turn-out, and helps get great candidates elected, and it feels good to be making a positive difference.

First & Third Thursdays of Most Months at 10 a.m.
LDC Virtual Coffee Club

Join LDC Membership Chair Mike Rusk for friendly conversation about the political news of the day. This is another avenue for new members to meet fellow members and share what’s on their minds. Typically, the group is around six people and the conversation goes on for an hour. If you’d like to participate, please email Mike at: membership@LDclub.org.

Call for Contra Costa Poll Workers

Poll workers are critical to maintaining safe in-person voting for voters without reliable access to mail service, voters with disabilities, voters who need language assistance, and voters who simply prefer to cast their ballot in person. For more information, or to apply, visit https://www.cocovote.us/poll-worker-center/become-a-poll-worker/.

• JUNE 9 PRIMARY ELECTION CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS recommended by the LDC Issues & Candidates Committee (Contra Costa District Attorney, Contra Costa Clerk/Recorder, Contra Costa Sheriff, Contra Costa Board of Supervisors District 4)

• LEGISLATIVE ISSUE ENDORSEMENT recommended by the LDC Issues & Candidates Committee

• LDC BYLAWS CHANGE recommended for endorsement by the LDC Board of Directors

• LDC 2022 BUDGET recommended for endorsement by the LDC Finance Committee

March, 2022 Letter

Lamorinda Democratic Club Members and Friends,

If there is any subject that can demonstrate the sweeping expanse of our Big Blue Democratic tent, surely it must be California Housing: specifically, the new California laws derived from California SB9 and SB10.

No matter where you are on the spectrum of opinions, we hope you will join us for the next Lamorinda Democratic Club General Meeting on Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The meeting will provide an excellent opportunity to get answers to your housing questions and to learn about some local implications of the new state legislation.

The evening’s expert panel includes:

• Greg Wolff, Planning Director, City of Lafayette
• Jim Cervantes, Chair of Lafayette GPAC (General Plan Advisory Committee), and newly appointed Member of the California Housing Finance Agency Board
• Cindy Darling, Walnut Creek City Council Member, former Chair of Walnut Creek Planning Commission

Additionally, LDC members will have the opportunity to vote on whether to endorse a recent bill introduced by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier. The Saving Local News Act (H.R. 6068) would make it easier for newspapers to become non-profits, allowing them the flexibility to focus less on maximizing profits and more on producing quality content. The local news resolution (H.Res. 821) addresses the urgent need for Congress to prevent the further decline of local media outlets. Please click here to learn more about these bills.

Please be sure to register in advance for the meeting. You can click here to register, and then you will receive a confirmation email.

If you have not yet renewed your LDC membership, please do so by clicking here. Only members who have renewed their membership by March 31 will be eligible to vote for the first round of 2022 Candidates and Issues endorsement recommendations at the April 14 general meeting.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Best,

Tracy Brog
Lamorinda Democratic Club President

February, 2022 Letter

January, 2022 Letter

December, 2021 Letter

Lamorinda Democratic Club Members and Friends,

I hope that you and your families have managed to stay healthy and safe through another roller coaster of a year and that you are able to enjoy the holiday season.

Thank you for staying involved in the Lamorinda Democratic Club through 2021: attending monthly zoom meetings, joining in Thursday morning “Coffee Club” get-togethers, contributing annual dues, and reaching out to voters as LDC Precinct Organizers. Your  participation ensured that we engaged, educated and elected Democrats – the mission of the Lamorinda Democratic Club.

Being part of the LDC team reminds us that the power of working together for the common good can deliver the optimism and energy we all need to fight weariness in the face of adversity. It allows us to see challenges as opportunities.

When faced with the California gubernatorial recall election in the fall, LDC precinct organizers and volunteers readied, rallied, and reached over 22,000 Democratic voters in Contra Costa County — producing Democratic voter turn-out numbers above 80% in most of the precincts in which our team had a presence.

2021 once again demonstrated the importance of staying connected, informed, flexible and creative. Although we would have liked to come together in person for our January general meeting, we will instead be hosting a Zoom “Open House,” like we did last year. Attendees from last year’s event enjoyed the virtual open house as a fun way to exchange ideas and get to know one another a bit better. I hope you will be able to join us on Thursday, January 13, for the first general meeting of 2022.

I look forward with hope and optimism to the possibilities of 2022— and reflect with gratitude on the opportunity to be a part of this terrific team. May the new year bring the good health, peace, energy, and the snow and rain  that we need to keep going!

Best wishes,

Tracy Brog

Lamorinda Democratic Club President

November Letter

Lamorinda Democratic Club Members and Friends, If the autumn of 2021 has taught us anything, it’s that “All politics are local” is ringing louder and truer than ever before. From Virginia school board fights over false narratives about “Critical Race Theory,” to Texas legislative attacks on reproductive rights, local issues exploded onto the national scene and may likely have the staying power to drive the elections of 2022. The Lamorinda Democratic Club has always recognized the power of LOCAL. We know the importance of understanding what’s happening in our neighborhoods, and harnessing the influence of our local members, organizers, and activists to affect change in, and well beyond our communities. And we know that our mission to “engage, educate, and elect Democrats” can make a positive, lasting change in the lives of our families, neighbors, and the friends we have yet to meet. Please join us for the next, and last, LDC General meeting of 2021, when city council members from Concord, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek will be presenting Adapting to Climate Change—a Local Update this Thursday, November 11, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. How is climate change already affecting local city planning for housing, transportation, land-use and development, water, energy, traffic, local economy, emergency management? Our Thursday meeting will provide an opportunity to hear from local elected leaders about adaptation strategies, actions and ideas, and about some of the specific challenges our communities face. Thank you to the following invited speakers for participating in what we hope will be just the first in a series of presentations dedicated to the topic: Carlyn Obringer, Concord City Council Carl Anduri, Lafayette City Council Wei-Tai, Lafayette City Council Teresa Onoda, Moraga Town Council Amy Worth, Orinda City Council Ken Carlson, Pleasant Hill City Council Kevin Wilk, Walnut Creek City Council Cindy Darling, Walnut Creek City Council In this season of grace and giving, thank you to each and every member and friend of the Lamorinda Democratic Club for doing your part to respect and improve the lives of our neighbors—regardless of their immigration status, their race and ethnicity, how they’re employed, where they live, or who they love. Thank you for your compassion, empathy, and understanding. Thank you for listening to all sides of the argument, trusting science, and recognizing reason. Thank you for being part of the LDC team, and for making a difference. May the Veterans among you enjoy a peaceful Veterans Day. Thank you and your families for your service. Happy Thanksgiving! Best, Tracy Brog Lamorinda Democratic Club President On the Calendar: Time to Renew or Join! The Lamorinda Democratic Club Membership 2022 Renewal Campaign begins officially on Tuesday, November 30, which also happens to be “Giving Tuesday!” Please remember the LDC when you are writing annual checks for your favorite non-profits! Lamorinda Democratic Club P.O. Box 31 Orinda, CA 94563 Questions about membership? Contact LDC Membership Chair Mike Rusk at membership@LDclub.org LDC Thursday Morning Coffee Join us on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 10 a.m. for lively banter about the news and politics of the day! If you are new to the Club, or new to town, this is a particularly great way to meet some long-time members and friends of the LDC, as well as some LDC Board members. We’d like to know what’s on your mind! Contact: membership@LDclub.org How to Run a Political Campaign The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County is offering two trainings this month: : Candidate Basics Training: Saturday, November 13, 1-2:30 p.m. Click here to register. Campaign Management 101: Saturday, November 20, 1-2:30 p.m. Click here to register. Contra Costa Democrats Connecting! Join the Contra Costa Young Dems and the Lamorinda Democratic Club for a no-host get-together on Wednesday, December 15, 7-9 p.m. Drop in at Headlands Brewing in Lafayette to meet new Dems or reconnect with friends! 3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette In Memoriam: Our community will miss long-time Lamorinda Democratic Club member, Betty Karplus of Orinda, who passed away on September 22. “What a wonderfully talented, generous, and energetic person she was!” from LDC Board Member Mary Ann Hoisington. “A brilliant, and remarkable woman — modest, down-to-earth, and kind.” from LDC Board Member Valerie Sloven. Betty was a World War II welder, a physicist, researcher, teacher, Orinda Citizen of the Year, a pioneer for the rights of students with disabilities, mother of seven, grandmother of sixteen, and great grandmother of sixteen! In her 70’s, Betty joined the Peace Corps and worked for two years in a home for handicapped children, in Jamaica. The obituary in the Orinda News included a photo of Betty in July 2021, painting a picnic table in Sequoia National Park—as part of a refurbishment project—her way of celebrating her 95th birthday. She was 96 years old. To those of you who were lucky enough to have called Betty a friend, our sincerest condolences. No doubt, her life well-lived will continue to inspire so many of us.