Hancock County Democratic Committee Minutes 04/21/05 Highlights:   Minutes were summarized and accepted. Notice will be sent to the elist when minutes are available online. Treasurer’s report: Julie Mattes gave a financial report and it was accepted. Credit card proposal was passed with amendment that chair approve expenditures over $1,000. HCDC Membership Report: Membership sign-up sheet from last month was misplaced.   Chair Report: John Knuston reported he is involved with state party activities and appreciates support from other officers and HQ. . State wide voter list format is coming along with a test product being reviewed over the next month. Party is hiring two field reps, one for each CD and state party is going in the right direction. John encouraged members to plug into our office and volunteer.   Vice-Chair Report: Dexter Bellows reported the HQ expansion is going well. Donations are needed to offset material costs and volunteers to help with carpentry, painting and manual labor are still needed in April. MCLU reception was held there this evening. Look for a grand opening in the next two months. He also announced several HCDC members will be attending an upcoming Camp Wellstone training weekend (April 29-May1). See http://www.wellstone.org/camp/schedule.aspx. We are also still looking for a fundraising chair to help raise the funds we need to operate effectively. The Secretary announced that a Lobster Bake & Live Auction with Sen. Dennis Damon as the auctioneer will be held in August.   HQ Update: Heather Martin Zboray reported that HQ is currently open Tues & Thur 1pm-6pm and volunteers are needed for clerical tasks, mailing, clipping services, updating lists and more. Sub-committees are forming. Georgia Shenkel is chairing the Publicity Committee georgia@shankel.biz and John Steed, new selectman from Stonington is chairing the Writer’s Group, johns@antioch-college.edu. Volunteers at HQ or working from home are welcome. Volunteers are needed in every town for a variety of activities including organizing a town potluck, updating voter lists, candidate recruitment and more. Upcoming Events can be emailed to HQ.  Call 664-6012 or email: hq@hancockdems.org. Business cards with HCDC officer & HQ info are available.   Elected Officials Report: Dennis Damon brought a few copies of the Legislative Handbook for this year’s session. As they proved very popular, more copies will be available at HQ. He reported on efforts he and 10 other legislators have attempted to broker a budget deal that would lower the borrowing in return for a 1% increase in the sales tax (which would bring revenue from away visitors). He said the efforts by 5 Republican legislators to go to a ‘people’s vote’ on the budget is counter productive as the vast majority of Maine towns have to pass their budgets and they will not receive state funds in anything close to a timely manner. Dennis is also sponsoring a bill to limit human exposure to mercury.   New Business: Dennis Kuchinich will be in Deer Isle May 7. LD 1474, a bill concerning the right to protect citizens from corporate damage will receive a committee hearing in Augusta.   Issues Forum:  Ex.Director Shenna Bellows made an excellent presentation on civil rights, the Patriot Act, and the Maine Civil Liberties Union.   Next meeting will be May 19, Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium, 7PM. Bring a Friend.