Hancock County Democratic Committee Minutes 02/17/05 Highlights:   Minutes were summarized and accepted.   Treasurer’s report: Julie Mattes gave a financial report and it was accepted. Full Committee passed a motion to allow current Chair and Vice-Chair to sign checks.   HCDC Membership Report: The Chair is researching and will report at a future meeting on bringing by-laws into compliance with our accepted practice. He is accepting volunteers for a by-laws committee. Several people were accepted as at-large members and several more signed the sheet for the following meeting.   Chair Report: John Knutson reported on his increasing involvement with the State Party which includes coordinating work on a centralized voter file. He and Scott Traylor will be a meeting on Tuesday. He is also very active as the Chair of the County Chair Caucus which involves meetings, emails and phone calls. The next State Committee meeting is Feb. 27, 3PM in Bangor. The Maine State Party looks to be in good financial shape and is negotiating to move into much improved, larger and permanent headquarters.   The regional state party meeting will be held at the Bangor High School from 10AM-2PM. Feb 27. Congressman Michaud and Governor Baldacci will attend and there will be ample opportunity to network with fellow Dems and participate in workshops. You can sign up to attend at http://www.mainedems.org/ See the improved up to date state web site and sign up to receive their electronic newsletter as well.      Vice Chair Report: Dexter Bellows reported on successful negotiations with the landlord and our neighbor George’s Java which will allow us to expand and have a large meeting room adjacent to the current back offices. Volunteers to help with carpentry, painting and manual labor will be needed in March. Heather Martin-Zboray, Office Coordinator introduced Charlene Sheridan, our new Volunteer Coordinator. HQ is currently open Tues & Thur 1pm-6pm and volunteers are needed for clerical tasks, mailing, clipping services, updating lists and the expansion project. Call 664-6012 or email: hq@hancockdems.org. Volunteers at HQ or working from home are welcome. Volunteers are needed in every town for a variety of activities including oraganizing a town potluck, updating voter lists, candidate recruitment and more. Upcoming Events can be emailed to HQ. A newly forming group, Women Democrats will meet on Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Mex, 7PM for dutch dinner and fellowship.  The newsletter MoreCommonSense is still being published. Writers and distributors are needed. Contact Phil at pbsustain@aol.com. Copies are available at HQ. The email list has greatly expanded and an online email discussion list is also available. Bethany Reynolds has been instrumental in helping to provide additional services to HCDC members.   Issues Forum:  State Rep. Jim Schatz and Rob Brown with the Maine Citizens Leadership Fund presented information on both the current property tax relief bills and the overall issue of tax policy in Maine. Written materials are available at HQ.   DNC Vote: As goes Maine, so goes the nation. Howard Dean’s election as chair of DNC was greeted by applause. A petition regarding the nomination of John Negroponte as Director of National intelligence was circulated and faxed the next day to Sens. Snowe and Collins.   Next meeting will be March 17, Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium, 7PM.  Bring a Friend.