Monthly Archives - April 2019

Arlington Democrats to Hold Caucus May 14

Arlington Democrats are invited to attend a caucus on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:15 p.m. in the Community Room on the lower level of Robbins Library, 700 Massachusetts Ave., to elect 37 delegates and 6 alternates to the 2019 Massachusetts Democratic Convention.

At this year’s state convention, to be held Saturday, September 14 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to discuss Party business and celebrate our successes as we prepare for upcoming elections. (Unfortunately, this date is the same as that of Arlington’s Town Day.)

Checkin for the caucus will begin at 6:45 p.m. All registrants who are in line by 7:30 p.m. will be accepted. The Community Room is accessible to the disabled.

The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Arlington. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by May 11, 2019 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. The Arlington Democratic Town Committee welcomes participants.

Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as a delegate or alternate may apply to be an add-on delegate at the caucus or at www.massdems.org.

Delegates will be divided equally between men and women. The caucus will elect 18 male delegates, 18 female delegates, one delegate of any gender, 3 male alternates, and 3 female alternates. You must be present at the caucus to be elected, unless there are not enough candidates present to fill all delegate and alternate positions. If you cannot be present and you notify the chair in advance of your interest in running, two-thirds of those present may move to have your name placed in nomination.

For more information on the caucus or the Arlington Democratic Town Committee, please contact Chair Aimee Coolidge at 781-646-5339, visit our website at www.arlingtondems.org/, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/adtcma.

For general information on the Convention or the Democratic Party, please call 617-939-0800 or email contact@massdems.org. Details on the caucus rules can be found at www.massdems.org.

Noted author and activist Frances Moore Lappé addressed the issue of climate change and the importance of finding hope through democratic action. Speaking to an enthusiastic audience of over 150 people at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington, Ms. Lappé offered an encouraging message for combating climate injustice and other social issues. Emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration she reminded the audience that “we are all responsible.” By working together we can fight the cycle of powerlessness. She cited the Green New Deal and the Sunrise movement of young people dedicated to combating climate change as current examples of important democratic movements. Offering a positive message for difficult times Ms. Lappé´ states, “It is not possible to know what is possible.”

ACMI, Arlington’s local cable company recorded the event, and it’s available on their web site at https://acmi.tv/videos/finding-hope-through-democratic-action/.

Climate Change in Focus is the first in a series of forums sponsored by the Arlington Democratic Town Committee. This event was presented by the ADTC along with First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington. Several local environmental organizations were co-sponsors, including Mothers Out Front, Sustainable Arlington, Elders Climate Action MA, 350MA and Metro-North Node and the Sierra Club.