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Political Calendar for the Week of January 25, 2015:
Sunday, January 25, 2:00 p.m.: Legislative District 11 meeting, at the Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Church, 3601 W. Cromwell Drive (Tucson). For more information please contact Tom Cuevas at zingue@msn.com or (520) 440-5458. Find us at www.AZLD11Dems.org.
Saddlebrooke Democrats Dinner/Comedy with David Fitzsimmons
Sunday, January 25, 5;30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats Dinner/Comedy Event, at the Mountain View Clubhouse, 38759 South Mountain View Boulevard, Tucson, AZ. 2015 Dinner and Comedy with David Fitzsimmons. Please reserve your seats by returning this Reservation Form.
Sunday, January 25, 6:00 p.m.: 2015 NFL Pro Bowl, at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ. Fans interested in purchasing Pro Bowl game tickets may go to NFL.com/probowl for more information.
Monday, January 26, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon’s View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary’s Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr’s Cafeteria). New price: buffet lunch is $10.00 cash, $12 credit; just a drink is $3.50. Featured speaker is Erika Mitnik-White, Local First Arizona Tucson membership Coordinator on “Local merchants of bib box: what;s the impact on your purchase?” Next Week: Paul Eckerstrom, former PCDP Chair, on “How Democrats can mobilize voters and win elections.”
Monday, January 26, 6:00 p.m.: Legislative District 3 meeting, at the Joel Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue (parking under the library). For more information please contact Andrés Cano at andres@canoagroup.com or (520) 304-5778.
Tuesday, January 27, 11:30 a.m.: Blue Tuesday Luncheon Forum, at the Starfire Golf Club, 11500 N. Hayden (Scottsdale). If you want lunch, you must RSVP so we can order for you! Email jctillotson@msn.com. $20 – cash only – at the door! (If you RSVP, and then find you can’t make it, PLEASE LET US KNOW, or we’ll have to pay for your uneaten lunch!)
Wednesday, January 28, 11;00 a.m.: Democratic Women of the Prescott Area meeting, at the Stoneridge County Club, 1601 Bluff Top Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ. Featured speaker is Colleen Laukka, “Every Last Bite: Learning to appreciate progress in eating the proverbial elephant.” $15.00 for members, $17.00 non-members, includes lunch. Reservations at DWPrescottArea@gmail.com or (928) 848-2753.
Thursday, January 29 – Sunday, February 1: 77th Annual Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo & Fair at the Eugene P. Tashquinth Sr. Livestock Complex located three (3) miles west of Sells, Arizona along State Route 86.
Thursday, January 29, 6:00 p.m.: Pima County Young Dems meeting, at Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink, 101 E Pennington Street, Tucson. Our agenda will include electing new officers and saying adios to Adam as he moves to the State of Maricopa. We will also be planning ways e can each be involved in the upcoming City of Tucson elections.
Thursday, January 29, 6:30 p.m.: UA Young Democrats meeting, in the Presidio Room on the 4th Floor of the UA Student Union. Our guest will be Joel Feinman, Chair of the Board of Planned Parenthood Arizona. He will be speaking about what the organization has planned for this coming year & how we can help them in protecting women’s rights.
Saturday, January 31: 150th Anniversary of the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. The 13th Amendment is ratified by the states on December 6, 1865, abolishing slavery in America.
Pima County Democratic Party Research/Tracking workshop
Saturday, January 31, 8:30 a.m.: PCDP research/tracking workshop, at PCDP HQ, 4639 E. 1st Street, Tucson. Learn how to use the Arizona legislature web site to do bill tracking, learn how to use local media, learn how to do opposition research. WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: 8:30 – 9:00am: Check in, coffee, 9:00 – 9:30am: Presentation by Bunny Davis and Michael Dues, WE ARE AMERICA: Pima County Platform based on the Constitution, 9:30am to 1pm: Research Workshop, PLEASE BRING A BROWN BAG LUNCH. We will be working through lunch. PLEASE RSVP TO: Shasta@PimaDems.org or 326-3716.
Saturday, January 31, 3:00 p.m.: (Special Date) Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meeting at the DCSRA Headquarters, Room #248, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. Featured speaker is Saad Allawi on “The Decline of America,” an important and provocative program for anyone who has questions about the direction of our country. You are guaranteed a lively discussion during his question and answer presentation. A wine and cheese reception will follow. For more information, please contact Pam Duchaine at pamduchaine@gmail.com.
Special Announcements:
DCSRA Discussion Group
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.: Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area hosts a Current Events Discussion Group at the DCSRA Headquarters, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. Join us at the weekly meeting of the Democratic Headquarters Current Events Discussion Group. We’ll talk about some of the major events of the previous week, including but not limited to political topics, and try and go behind the news for a deeper understanding. For more information, please contact Pam Duchaine at pamduchaine@gmail.com
Drinking Liberally
Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m.: Drinking Liberally. Location TBA. An informal, inclusive progressive social group, and lively discussion. Contact: www.livingliberallytucson.org.
Sunday, February 1, 4;20 p.m.: Superbowl XLIX at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ . New England Patriots v. Seattle Seahawks. NBC broadcast, game time 4:20 p.m. AZ time.
Monday, February 2, 6:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting.
Saturday, February 7, 10:00 a.m.: Legislative District 2 meeting, at the DCSRA Headquarters, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. For more information please contact Tom Prezelski at fusilero@aol.com.
Saturday, February 7, 10:00 a.m.: Legislative Training sponsored by the Pima County Democratic Party African American Caucus, at Grace Temple Baptist Church 1019 E. 31st Street, Tucson – Everyone is welcome! Talk with Pima County Legislators and find out how you can keep track of what is happening and get your voice heard without leaving home with Senator Andrea Dalessandro, LD2 Representative Victoria Steele LD 9, Representative Stephanie Mach LD 10 and former Representative Herschella Horton. For more information please call (520) 241-8408.
Sunday, February 8, 1:30 p.m.: Precinct Committeeman training session, at Pima County Democratic Party HQ, 4639 E. 1st Street, Tucson. All attendees will receive a copy of the PC Handbook. Sessions on PC Orientation, Democratic Messaging, and VAN training. Please RSVP by 5 PM on Friday, February 6 to receive a personalized LD/PC identification pin, and neighborhood lists and/or LD maps. Please indicate whether you want maps or neighborhood lists and indicate how you want your name to appear on your pin. Please RSVP to Susan Bickel at susanbickel@hotmail.com or 520-559-3904.
Monday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.: Democrats of Oro Valley meeting, at the Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive (SE corner at La Cañada). Featured speaker is Judy Gans from the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, on the topic of immigration. For more information please contact Mike Dayton at teachers12@msn.com or (520) 742-3774, or visit our web site http://www.demsov.org/.
Tuesday, February 10, 3:30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats meeting, at SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 E. Galveston Lane (Saddlebrooke). For more information please contact Hollace Lyon at Email Us or visit our web site. SaddleBrookeDemocrats.org.
Wednesday, February 11, 6:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting, at Ak-Chin Ultra Star Multi-tainment Center, 16000 Maricopa Road (Maricopa), in the Ten Pins Rock’n Roll Room. For more information please contact jjjudd@live.com or like us on Copa City Dems | Facebook.
Thursday, February 12: Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday.
Thursday, February 12, 5:30 p.m.: Yavapai County Democratic Party Spring Fundraiser, at the Prescott Adult Center, 1280 E. Rosser Street, Prescott. Live music, political bingo, raffles. $20 or $10 if you bring a hot dish for the pot luck. Please RSVP at (928) 541-0413.
Thursday, February 12, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Nucleus Club meeting, at the Viscount Suite Hotel, 4855 E. Broadway Blvd. For more information please contact Ash Silverburg at (520) 326-3716.
Saturday, February 14: Valentine’s Day, Arizona Statehood Day.
Saturday, February 14, 9:30 a.m.: Tanque Verde Valley Democrats meeting, at Risky Business, 8848 E. Tanque Verde Road. For more information please contact Lucy Messing at (520) 591-7615 or visit our web site. Tanque Verde Valley Democratic Club.
Saturday, February 14, 9:30 a.m.: San Tan Valley Democrats meeting, at the SRP Service Center, 3735 E. Combs Road (San Tan Valley). For more information please contact Dwight Snyder at dsnider@cox.net or (480) 331-9386, or visit our web site santanvalleydems.org and Like Us on Facebook.
Saturday, February 14, 3:00 p.m.: Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meeting at the DCSRA Headquarters, Room #248, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. Featured speaker is Saad Allawi in a follow-up discussion to “The Decline of America,” on what can be done to change the path America is on and return it to its great potential. You are guaranteed a lively discussion during his question and answer presentation. A wine and cheese reception will follow. During our wine and cheese reception we will raffle off a beautiful and generously stocked Valentine’s Day Basket which will include flowers, candy, bottles of wine and many other surprises to celebrate the holiday. For more information, please contact Pam Duchaine at pamduchaine@gmail.com.
The Wingspan Dinner: Celebrating legalized Love
Saturday, February 14, 5:30 p.m.: The Wingspan Dinner: Celebrating legalized Love, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive (Tucson). Tickets are $125 if purchased before January 15, 2015; $145 for all tickets after January 15, 2015. 5:30 p.m. Registration/Silent Auction, 6;30 p.m. Dinner, 7:00 p.m. Community Awards, 7:30 p.m. Keynote Address, 8:30 p.m. Comedian, 9:30 p.m. closing. PURCHASE TICKETS by following this Link!
Monday, February 16: President’s Day observed.
Tuesday, February 17: Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras.
Tuesday, February 17, 11:00 a.m.: Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona meeting, at the Pueblo del Sol Country Club, on St. Andrews Drive in Sierra Vista. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00. For reservations, please contact Kathy Marvin, President of the DWSEA through email at kathleencrafts@gmail.com or by telephone at (520) 803-6697.
Tuesday, February 17, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 9 meeting, at Northwest Medical Center, La Paloma Urgent Care Community Classroom, 4001 E. Sunrise Drive. For more information please contact Brian Clymer at brianclymer@yahoo.com or (520) 297-3539.
Tuesday, February 17, 6:30 p.m.: Oracle Democrats meeting, at the Oracle Fire Department, 1475 W. American Avenue (Oracle). For more information please contact Renee Barbaree at reba520@q.com or (520) 896-9054.
Wednesday, February 18- Friday, February 20: Pitchers and catchers report to Cactus League Baseball. Spring training games begin March 3.
Wednesday, February 18, 6:30 p.m.: Democracy for America – Maricopa County (DFA-MC) monthly meeting will be moving to the 3rd Wednesday of every month, and the new location will be Macayo’s on Central Avenue, South of Indian School. Our featured speaker will be Terry Goddard on his “dark money” initiative. DFA-MC is on the web, Facebook and Twitter. For more information contact DFAofMC@gmail.com.
Wednesday, February 18, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 10 meeting at Pima County Democratic Party HQ, 4639 E. 1st Street (one block South of Speedway and West of Swan). For more information lease contact Rob Selby at r_ybles@hotmail.com or (520) 790-3024.
Thursday, February 19: Chinese New Year. Year of the Sheep (Goat, or Ram). Gong Xi Fa Ca (Happy New Year).
Thursday, February 19, 8:00 a.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks Monthly Breakfast, at the Olde Sedona Family Restaurant Bar & Grill, 1405 W. Highway 89A (Sedona), Breakfast is $12, includes buffet and gratuity. Breakfast at 8:00 program at 8;30 a.m. For more information please contact info@democratsoftheredrocks.org or (928) 203-5858.
Thursday, February 19, 6:00 p.m.: Casa Grande Democrats meeting, at Bedillon’s Restaurant, 800 N. Park Avenue, Casa Grande. For more information please contact Jack Guthrie at democratsofcasagrande@gmail.com and Like Us on Facebook.
Saturday, February 21, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Vail Pride Day at the Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road (from I-10). A huge community-wide event that involves almost every student in the 10,000-student district as well as teachers, staff, businesses and community organizations. Free, food and drink will be available for purchase from food vendors outside as well as from the many clubs and school groups.
Sunday, February 22: George Washington’s Birthday.
Sunday, February 22, 2:00 p.m.: Legislative District 11 meeting, at the Wheeler, Taft, Abbett Library, 7800 N. Schisler Drive, Tucson (new location!) Election of District Chair. For more information please contact Tom Cuevas at zingue@msn.com or (520) 440-5458. Find us at www.AZLD11Dems.org.
Monday, February 23, 6:00 p.m.: Legislative District 3 meeting, at the Joel Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue (parking under the library). For more information please contact Andrés Cano at andres@canoagroup.com or (520) 304-5778.
Tuesday, February 24, 11:30 a.m.: Blue Tuesday Luncheon Forum, at the Starfire Golf Club, 11500 N. Hayden (Scottsdale). If you want lunch, you must RSVP so we can order for you! Email jctillotson@msn.com. $20 – cash only – at the door! (If you RSVP, and then find you can’t make it, PLEASE LET US KNOW, or we’ll have to pay for your uneaten lunch!)
Thursday, February 26, 9:00 a.m.: 90th Annual Tucson Rodeo Parade. Over 200 non-motorized floats are on display along the one and one-half mile parade route beginning at Park Ave. and Ajo Way, proceeding south on Park to Irvington Rd. Tickets for Grandstand seating at Irvington and South 6th Ave, $10 adults, $5 kids under 13. Call (520) 294-1280 for grandstand tickets. Schedule | Directions – 90th Annual Fiesta De Las Vaqueros.
Thursday, February 26, 3:00 p.m.: Sunflower Democrats meeting, at the Continental Reserve Urgent Care meeting room, 8333 N. Silverbell Road (on the southwest corner of Silverbell Road and Continental Reserve Loop). For more information please contact democratsofcasagrande@gmail.com or call (520)251-8247.
Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.: Heritage Highlands/Dove Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Heritage Highlands Clubhouse, 4949 West Heritage Club Boulevard (Marana). For more information please contact Dick Reddy at (520) 579-9460 Richard.Reddy@fredonia.edu.
Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival
Saturday, February 28, 11:00 a.m.: 2015 Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival at the Reid park band shell, 900 South Randolph Way, Tucson, AZ. This FREE event is Arizona’s largest gathering of Peace, Justice, and Environmental groups. There will be Live Music, Tables, Food, Entertainment, and Children’s Activities. The 2015 theme is Challenging Poverty. For more info call (520) 730-3609 or email mdecamp@q.com.
Yuma County Democratic Party Annual Diamonds & Denim Dinner
Saturday, February, 28, 6:00 p.m.: Yuma County Democratic Party Annual Diamond & Denim Dinner, at the Cocopah Casino, 15318 South Avenue B, Somerton, AZ. Individual tickets $50, Denim Sponsor $800, Diamond Sponsor $1,000. Plan to attend and honor all former Yuma County Democratic Party chairs. To RSVP and for more information, please contact Sarah Lydick at diamonds@yumademocrats.com or Gail Beeler at gail@yumademocrats.com.
Wednesday, March 4: 150th Anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address: “With malice toward none; with charity for all…let us strive on to finish the work we are in…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations,” Lincoln says.
Wednesday, March 4: Arizona César E. Chávez Holiday Coalition hosts the Second Annual Dolores Huerta Luncheon. Details TBA.
Saturday, March 7: 50th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march from Selma to Montgomery in support of voting rights was stopped at the Edmund Pettus Bridge by a police blockade. Fifty marchers are hospitalized after police use tear gas, whips, and clubs against them. The incident is dubbed “Bloody Sunday” by the media. The march is considered the catalyst for pushing through the voting rights act five months later.
Sunday, March 8: International Women’s Day, 2015 Theme: Make It Happen.
Arizona List 11th Annual Celebration
Saturday, March 7: Arizona List 11th Annual Celebration, Tucson Luncheon at the Westin La Paloma, Phoenix Happy Hour at the home of Don Bivens and Trish Refo. Keynote Speaker is former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. She currently serves as the co-chair of Priorities USA Action and is the Director of The American Jobs Project at UC Berkeley. After leaving office, Granholm hosted Current TV’s national political analysis show “The War Room with Jennifer Granholm” and co-authored the Washington Post political bestseller, A Governor’s Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future. Event and VIP tables sponsorships are available. For more information or to RSVP, please contact info@arizonalist.org or (520) 327-0520.
Tucson Festival of Books
Saturday, March 14 – Sunday, March 15, 9:30 a.m. – 5;30 p.m.: Tucson Festival of Books | 2015 Festival Information. The 2015 Tucson Festival of Books will take place on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 on the University of Arizona campus. Admission is free. The Tucson Festival of Books is located on the University of Arizona Mall – along East University Boulevard, stretching from Old Main to east of Cherry Avenue, and in several nearby buildings. Free public parking is typically available in the University’s surface lots and in six garages: Cherry Avenue, Highland Avenue, Main Gate, Park Avenue, Sixth Street and Tyndall Avenue (the Second Street Parking Garage is not available for the public). Because the University will be on spring break, Festival participants and spectators won’t be competing with students for parking. The Festival offers two full food courts along with snack vendors. Net proceeds from the Festival – from the support of our sponsors, exhibitors, and Friends of the Festival – go to fund amazing literacy programs in Southern Arizona.
DCSRA Fund Raiser with John Nichols of The Nation
Sunday, March 15, 5:00 p.m.: Democrats of the Santa Rita Area Fund Raiser, at the Desert Diamond Casino,1100 W. Pima Mine Road, just off I-19 9exit 80). Featured speaker is John Nichols, Washington correspondent for The Nation.Tickets are $60 per person. More details TBA.
Tuesday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day.
Annual St. Patricks’ Day Fundraiser
Saturday, March 21, 2:00 p.m.: Legislative District’s 9 and 10 host the Annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser at the home of George and Margie Cunningham, 630 N. Alamo Avenue, Tucson, AZ. This is the annual political season kick-off event for Democratic candidates in Pima County. Keynote Speaker will be Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. Master of Ceremonies Tucson Vice mayor Paul Cunningham. Tucson’s best corned beef & cabbage with all the fixings and side dishes, bountiful desserts, soft drinks and beer. Tickets are only $20 per adult if purchased in advance. Children 6-12 $10, under the age of 6 free. Order online at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/gogreen15. Ticket price goes up to $25 at the door, so purchase your tickets early. A limited number of tickets will be sold. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will be on the TV for you basketball fans, so you have no reason to miss this fun event.
Arizona Advocacy Network 4th Annual Dinner Reclaiming Government For The People
Saturday, March 21, 6:00 p.m.: Arizona Advocacy Network hosts its 4th annual Dinner Reclaiming Government For The People, at the Pointe Hilton Resort, 7677 N. 16th Street, phoenix, AZ. Keynote Speaker is Congressman John Sarbanes, sponsor of the Government by The People Act. Please contact jon@azadvocacy.org to host a table and for sponsorship opportunities. More details TBA.
Monday March 23 – Friday, March 27: Arizona César E. Chávez Holiday Coalition sponsors Youth Conference in Schools. Details TBA.
Saturday, March 28: Arizona César E. Chávez Holiday Coalition sponsors the César E. Chávez March and Rally. Details TBA.
Monday, March 30: Arizona César E. Chávez Holiday Coalition sponsors City of Tucson César E. Chávez Holiday and Day of Service. Details TBA.
Thursday, April 9: 150th anniversary of Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendering his Confederate Army of Virginia to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia, marking the unofficial end of the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham, North Carolina on April 18, 1865. Remaining Confederate forces surrender in May.
Tuesday, April 14: 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. The president dies from his fatal wounds the following morning.
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Netroots Nation 2015
Thursday, July 16 – Sunday, July 19: Netroots Nation Convention at the Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix. This is the largest annual gathering of progressives in the Nation. For Netroots Nation 2015, we’re choosing to go to Phoenix and make immigration a central issue to the progressive agenda. We haven’t won on this legislation. We’re mindful that we are about to launch into the 2016 presidential cycle, and it’s time to step up as a movement on this issue. We want everyone aspiring for office in 2016 a from the President to Congress to local offices – to know that if you don’t support taking real action on immigration reform, you won’t win our community’s support. There’s a burgeoning progressive infrastructure in Arizona that could use more support, and there is a lot to discuss from a policy perspective. It’s time to start talking about how militarizing our police forces and borders is problematic, how trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have created the economic conditions for the migration from Central America, and how this issue ultimately comes down to family. For more information please contact desiree@netrootsnation.org and visit Netrootsnation.org.
Thursday, August 6: 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it easier for Southern blacks to register to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes, and other such requirements that were used to restrict black voting are made illegal. In June 2013, the “Felonious Five” of the conservative activist U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, reasoning that it was no longer responsive to current conditions. The very same day, Southern states imposed new restrictions on voters, proving the court wrong.