Oxford County Democrats

The Oxford County Democratic Committee will hold a combination business meeting and training on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at the Crescent Park School, on Crescent Lane in Bethel. The event will include a food drive for the local pantries, chaired by Norway Selectman Russ Newcomb of Norway, assisted by the Democrat’s elected officials. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable items or a cash donation.

Two training sessions will be held beginning at 2 PM. These will include training for the Convenors or Designees for municipal Maine Democratic Party caucuses on Jan. 31, 2010. Brandon Maheu, Field Organizer for the Maine Democratic Party, will conduct the training. Also at 2 PM there will be a Healthcare Action Meeting conducted by Benjamin McCollister, the Change That Works organizer for the county. Following the trainings, there will be a social time with coffee and munchies. At least one gubernatorial candidate, Rosa Scarcelli of Portland, plans to attend.

The agenda for the Business Meeting from 3:45 to 5:15 includes a finance report, a report on activities during the summer and fall, a check-in on candidate recruitment, field organizing, fundraising, and plans for the January 31 caucuses. An update on the progress for the May 21-22 Democratic Convention to be held in Lewiston will be provided, and two vacancies on the State Committee will be filled.

The Oxford County Democrats provides additional information on the web site, www.oxforddems.org, on facebook, and by contracting County Chair Cathy Newell at 875-2116.

The Oxford County Democrats will meet on Sunday, Dec 6, at the Crescent Park School on Crescent Lane in Bethel. There will be a training for Caucus Convenors from 2 to 3:15, a Healthcare Organizing seminar from 2 to 3:15,  followed by a County Democrats meeting, from 3:30-5, open to all who are interested in electing Democrats. The agenda will include time for candidate remarks, updates from field organizers, filling vacancies on convention committees, and planning for the 2010 campaign.

The Oxford County Democrats recently lost a true friend and tremendous volunteer, Rich Plante, to cancer. Rich was instrumental in the election of Rep. Sheryl Briggs in the 2007 special election, driving to doors daily. His work also included reorganizing the Mexico Democratic Committee and in assisting with video projects. County Chair Cathy Newell stated, “Basically Rich was always there to help and he will be greatly missed.” The Oxford County Democrats made a donation in Rich’s memory to the Meroby School, 21 Cross St, Mexico 04257, where Rich taught for many years.

The 2010 Maine Democratic Caucus Meetings will be held on Sunday, January 31, between the hours of 1:00 and 8:00 PM at locations throughout Oxford County. Nearly all towns have a designated caucus convenor, with the goal of covering all the towns prior to the scheduled training in December. Oxford County Democrats’ Treasurer Roy Gedat stated, “The caucus meetings, even in a non-Presidential year, are vital to the organization of our party. We will be working hard on ways to make the meetings productive in advancing issues, helping our candidates, as well as conducting the essential business of the caucus.”