The Update: January 27th, 2023
January 27, 2023
What you'll find in this edition:
(Click on a link to jump down in the email)
Volunteer Opportunities
Clackamas Dems
50 years since Roe vs. Wade Decision
Events & Initiatives
(outside of the DPCC)
DPCC Officer Spotlight
DPCC Second Vice-Chair
Marie Karns
The DPCC has signed on to a resolution brought by the Multnomah County Democratic Party that calls to end Federal Student Loan Interest
Public education is an investment in the future of our society, and students should have the fewest barriers possible to increase their educational opportunities. Click here to read the resolution.
Healthcare for All Oregon (HCAO)
HCAO educates about and advocates for an equitable, affordable, comprehensive, high-quality publicly funded universal healthcare system that will improve the lives of individuals, families and communities across Oregon and throughout the United States. Click here for more information.
Running for Office!
West Linn is having a special election for city council on March 14, 2023!
The DPCC proudly endorses Leo Groner and Scott Erwin!
Did you know that there are over 150 local positions in Clackamas County that will be on the ballot for the Special District Elections held on May 16, 2023? Multiple positions are up including water districts, school boards, fire districts, and parks! Here at the DPCC we can offer support if you would like to serve your community! Please contact us for more information on what positions will be open in your area!
The DPCC is currently creating a candidate portal for our website. Would you like to participate in its creation? Email us!
Board of Clackamas County Commissioners
We must be vigilant and hold our elected County Commissioners accountable!Here is a link to meeting schedules, bios, and contact information. Commissioner Schrader has a lot of work on her hands. Show her support by showing up to meetings, submitting testimony, and emailing the commissioners!
Click here to read the finalization of legislative priorities by the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
The Oregon Legislature session for 2023 is now in session!
Click here to find their agenda and how YOU can participate!
Message from Oregon AFL-CIO president Graham Trainer on new worker protections now in effect!
Click here to read a message from the AFL-CIO president.
New Affordable housing complex to open in Oregon City this summer
Click here to read article from KGW.
Click here to read about the housing complex on the developers website.
Clackamas County is offering free housing mediation services and basic mediator training
Click here for more information on housing mediation training and services.
Clackamas Workforce Partnership
Clackamas Workforce helps job seekers and businesses by developing a skilled workforce that strengthens the local economy of Clackamas County. Click here for more information.
CURRENTLY A HIGH NEED!
You can help grow the grassroots of the Democratic Party by joining our Neighborhood Leader Program. We will give you a list of 35 or so of your neighbors who are registered Democratic voters. You’ll also receive training, slate cards, candidate literature and similar materials to pass out to your list of voters. Won’t you join us and help promote our Democratic values and candidates in YOUR neighborhood?
Apply here using our Website Contact Form.
Are you in House District 40 or are willing to drive to Oregon City? Consider spending some time in the DPCC Office in downtown Oregon City!
Second Vice-Chair Marie Karns is looking for members who can take on a monthly 4-hour shift there. In general, shifts are in the 9am to 6pm range, most any day but Sunday. If you can help out, email Marie at mkarns54@gmail.com.
If you can’t commit to a monthly shift, and you can help out at the office during special events like the Teddy Bear Parade, also email Marie! She’s creating a DPCC Office Pool for special events because we are going to SHOW UP!
Our office is located at 609 Main Street in Oregon City. Get directions here!
Click here for a list of frequently updated current office hours!
The Communications Committee is currently looking for writers to help with several upcoming projects!
You don’t need social media or web skills- just be someone who wants to contribute through writing! Contact Lisa Nichols
Now Forming! ENG (electronic news gathering) video team for Clackamas County Democrats.
Are you a motion graphics person? Do you edit? Do you have time to share your media skills? Are you interested in learning more about producing media?
Clackamas Dems is seeking an audio person for on-location sound recording, a production assistant and a motion graphics editor for our new ENG (electronic news gathering) video team!
PURPOSE
Upgrade social media to include moving images, get beyond still photos and graphics.
Exploit moving image story function on Facebook and Tiktok
Produce "under a minute" clips for social media and blog posts to further our message.
Interview candidates for short sound bytes and interview voters for opinion pieces.
Cover special events, on call and where most needed.
NEEDS:
Do you have a camera with ON BOARD as well as MIC inputs for syncing lavaliers, external hand held and/or shotgun mics We will use external hand held "news" mic, clip on lavaliers, and/or a "shotgun" mic.
Opportunity to learn video/shooting/editing skills if you have no experience. An experienced producer will help you.
Producer/director to edit in iMovie. Nothing fancy. Content over bells and whistles.
Contact Hester Schell (Please include CLACK DEMS MEDIA TEAM in subject line)
We are currently looking for regular volunteers to help with the following committees:
Email volunteer-team@clackamasdems.org to apply for any of these committees or fill out our Website Contact Form.
Candidate Portal Are you knowledgeable about elections and what candidates need to succeed? Or are you good at research and information-gathering? We are putting together a Candidate Portal on our website that will provide information to prospective candidates. This is a short-term assignment and you’d be working with people from several of our committees.
PCP Handbook Revision Do you have experience as a Precinct Committee Person? Do you have good writing skills? We need a couple of people to help update our PCP Handbook, last revised in 2018. This is a short-term assignment that should only require a few hours time commitment.
Neighborhood Leader Committee Have you been a Neighborhood Leader and enjoyed it? Would you like to spread the word to others? Or are you a data wonk who wants to learn more about the intricacies of VAN and turf cutting? The Neighborhood Leader Committee promotes and trains Neighborhood Leaders and tracks the effectiveness of the program with data. This committee meets monthly.Kickoff meeting is Friday, Feb. 3rd at 6 PM.
Finance/Fundraising Committee Do you like to plan events? Do you enjoy working with donors and speakers? Or do you have an aptitude for all things budgetary? Then this committee could use you! The Finance/Fundraising Committee proposes and reviews budgets and conducts fundraising events. This committee meets monthly.Kickoff meeting is Thursday, Feb. 2nd at 7 PM.
Campaign Committee Do you want to help Democrats get elected? Do you like researching? Or are you a people person who likes to talk with others? Then maybe the Campaign Committee is right for you. This committee determines and executes strategies for getting Democrats elected in Clackamas County. This committee meets monthly and may have extra assignments near elections. Next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 PM.
Technical Operations: Light computer skills required. There are a variety of technology-related tasks that we need help with, including helping administer surveys and organizing Google Drive files.
Communications: Graphic design, social media.
Platform and Resolutions: Help researching and drafting proposed party resolutions in coordination with other committees.
Justice: Help research and draft resolutions with an eye towards social justice.
Volunteer and Recruitment: Volunteer Committee: Composing and publishing this newsletter, leading efforts to recruit and retain volunteers and PCPs.
Email volunteer-team@clackamasdems.org to apply for any of these committees or fill out our Website Contact Form.
A Precinct Committee Person is a voting member of the County Democratic Central Committee and represents his/her precinct in the Democratic Party. An elected PCP is eligible to participate in electing county officers and selecting county representatives to the congressional district and state level.
Apply here using our online PCP Application.
February Clackamas County Dems Central Committee Meeting - Thursday, February 16th 7p.m.
We will hold our monthly Central Committee meeting on Zoom. If you have not received a notice and agenda for the meeting by February 14th, please check your spam filter or contact our Electronic Secretary or Chair (See Officers’ Directory for email).
January 22nd marked 50 years since the Roe v. Wade decision.
Seven months ago, our constitutional right to have autonomy over our bodies was taken away from us when the court released the Dobbs decision.
On October 14th of last year, The Democratic Party of Clackamas County released a resolution on Reproductive Healthcare Rights during a press conference in which we demanded protection for reproductive healthcare rights in Oregon. Click here to read a summary from our event.
Here are some resources to get involved and find more information:
Planned Parenthood - Learn about all the methods of reproductive care that Planned Parenthood provides, get the care you need, or get involved with advocacy.
Pro-Choice Oregon is a grassroots pro-choice advocacy organization. Pro-Choice Oregon uses the political process to guarantee every person who can become pregnant the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, raising healthy families, and choosing legal abortion.
The Northwest Abortion Access Fund A 501(c)3 nonprofit, NWAA Fund is an abortion fund serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Trained, compassionate volunteer advocates run their toll-free hotline. They help people pay for their abortion care by sending funding directly to the clinic. They also help people get to and from the clinic and make sure people traveling for care have a safe place to stay.
The Oregon Reproductive Health Program works with clinics across the state to offer free or low-cost reproductive health services and birth control.
The Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) is a state health insurance program for people within certain income limits that pays for most health care services, including abortion. Depending on your income, you could qualify for this free health coverage.
Reproductive Health Equity Act If you qualify for DACA, are undocumented, are a legal permanent resident of less than 5 years, or have another immigration status that makes you ineligible for Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan), you may be eligible to receive coverage through the Reproductive Health Equity Act. If your income is less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, the full cost of your abortion care would be covered by the state. Additionally, the Reproductive Health Equity Act required many private insurers to cover the entire cost of many reproductive healthcare services, including abortion.
The Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Fund
Expanding on the Reproductive Health Equity Act, The Reproductive Health Equity Fund provides access to essential reproductive and gender-affirming care, and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand equitable access across Oregon’s health care infrastructure.
Click here to read a statement from Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield from March 2022 in preparation for the reversal of Roe.
National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), a membership organization of over 70 funds across the United States.
Statement from Healthcare for All Oregon(HCAO) president Tom Sincic.
Joint Town Hall: Reps. Courtney Neron & Ben Bowman & Sen Aaron Woods
Sat, January 28, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
King City Civic Association Clubhouse,
15245 SW 116th Ave, Portland
Join Rep. Courtney Neron (HD26), Rep. Ben Bowman & Sen Aaron Woods (SD13) for a Joint Town Hall. Learn about the legislative session, what Dems hope to accomplish this year. Share your questions, concerns, or requests for accommodations in advance via the registration link. Light refreshments will be offered. Click here to register.
Unite Oregon Legislative Launch
January 29, 306pm @ Oregon State Fair and Expo Center
Unite Oregon members and our allies from across the state will convene to hear a report back on the issues that we voted on at last year’s United for Action Summit. Join us for an afternoon of community building and learning how you can get involved in pushing for the policies that impact our communities during this year’s legislative session.
Dinner and drinks will be provided. Please indicate any dietary restrictions you may have on the registration form. Translation services are offered upon request.
Click here to register.
The Clackamas County Commissioners have openings for their Advisory Boards and Commissions
• Aging Services Advisory Council (Apply by Feb.15th)
• Enhanced Law Enforcement District Advisory Board (Apply by Feb.1st)
• Veterans Advisory Council (Apply by Feb.15th)
The Clackamas County Commissioners are seeking interested residents to serve on county Advisory Boards and Commissions (ABCs). These ABCs offer residents the opportunity to become very involved in specific activities and the goals of Clackamas County.
Individuals interested in this opportunity can apply online or via a paper form that can be obtained from the Public & Government Affairs Department by calling 503-655-8751.
Click here for more details!
Run for Something
See Yourself Running: Black Candidates
Webinar - Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Learn about Run for Something (RFS) and how they support candidates. RFS's mission is to recruit and support diverse, progressive Democrats age 40 and under, running for the first or second time in local and state races.
During this webinar, RFS alumni, who ran for various local offices, will talk about their experience running for office as Black candidates and how you can prepare to run.
Click here to register.
Ending Hunger Power Nights (EHPN) Phone Banks Wednesdays, from 5:15-7:15 pm PST
Hosted by Oregon Food Bank https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/543279/
Virtual Zoom Event! Join the Oregon Food Bank and their Efforts To Build An Inclusive Democracy In Oregon By Signing Up For One (Or More!) Of Our Virtual Phonebanks for Ending Hunger Power Nights.
Only together can we eradicate the root causes of hunger 🌱
For any questions or comments please feel encouraged to contact Juell Towns via email at jtowns@gmail.com.
Oregon AFSCME
Oregon AFSCME's 2023 legislative agenda includes worker safety, equitable workplaces, and lobbies for a better place to live and work for all Oregonians.
Click here to find out more about Oregon AFSCME's 2023 Legislative Agenda, which includes virtual and in-person lobby days and tracking the status of pro-worker bills as they pass through the Oregon legislature.
Take Action with Oregon AFSCME!
We need to get more lawmakers signed on to sponsor our bill to fix an aspect of Workers’ Comp so that Oregonians and Oregon AFSCME members don’t have to use their own sick time to cover their required medical appointments.
Click here to send a message to your legislators and ask them to support injured workers!
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
The OLCV works to protect Oregon's natural legacy, elect pro-environment candidates, and hold our elected officials accountable.
Click here to find out more about the OLCV and to learn how you can get involved (phone banking, gathering petition signatures, attending town halls, and more!).
Oregon Trail Democrats
The Oregon Trail Democrats live in the Sandy/ Hoodland/ Estacada/ Boring region of House Districts 18, 51 and 52.
Their purpose is to work to organize and elect Democratic candidates. They come together to learn how to be more effective in both influencing the voters AND influencing our elected officials about issues that are important to us. They welcome your presence, your ideas, your experience- together we can move mountains!
Click here to find out more information.
Stable Homes for Oregon Families
Write representatives in Salem to say no to high rent increases and stop fast track evictions.
Click here for more information on what Stable Homes for Oregon Families are working on.
Meet DPCC Second Vice-Chair Marie Karns!
Marie Karns is a transplant from Long Island, New York. In the late 1980s when she was finishing up her MFA in Creative Writing at The American University (AU) in Washington, D.C., she also worked full-time for AU’s Vice President, a job that included making his travel arrangements. The travel agency (remember those?) that she worked with had a holiday customer appreciation party, with raffle gifts, and BINGO, she won airline tickets to anywhere in the U.S.A. When she finished her degree, she used those free tickets to move to Seattle, WA, where all the young beret-wearing want-to-be authors and grunge bands flocked. She’s lived in the Pacific Northwest ever since!
Did she ever publish? YES! In 2005, her children’s book, The Incredible Peepers of Penelope Budd, was published by Gibbs Smith. She became a frequent contributor to Arthritis Today magazine and published many articles online in places like WebMD and MSNBC.com. She has more manuscripts she’s trying to place and totally believes in the six degrees of separation theory, so if you know someone who knows someone (and so on) in publishing (children’s picture books or mysteries), hook her up!
Marie lives in Oregon City with her husband and two daughters, ages 11 and 17. She’s thrilled to be dedicating some of her time and mindshare to DPCC in the role of Second Vice Chair, a position that oversees our downtown Oregon City office.
Marie recently took some “Before” photos of the office, and she says she can’t wait to share them with you, alongside the “After” photos. She says, “Stay tuned! 2023 is going to be a transformative year for the DPCC!”
Stay tuned for more bios of our officers who keep our efforts alive here at the DPCC!
Donate to our “Yes We Can Sustaining Fund”
There is no more urgent time to give than now! The Clackamas Democrats urge your supporting contributions to the Yes We Can Sustaining Fund. This fund maintains operations and programs that support our ability to assist Democratic candidates and build a stronger, progressive Oregon. Make a one-time or monthly donation of as little as $5.
Officers for the Democratic Party of Clackamas County
Chair: Cris Waller
chair@clackamasdems.org
First Vice-Chair: Nicholas Walden Poublon
first-vice-chair@clackamasdems.org
Second Vice-Chair: Marie Karns
second-vice-chair@clackamasdems.org
Secretary: Morgan Buck
secretary@clackamasdems.org
Digital Secretary: Jason Rambo
digital-secretary@clackamasdems.org
Treasurer: Eric Carlson
treasurer@clackamasdems.org
Paid for by the Clackamas County Democratic Central Committee PAC, ID #293. The top donor was the Ken Humberston for Clackamas County Commission
PAC.