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Meeting Notes
November 16, 2006
Present: Nick Albaugh, Nathan Batalion.
Christopher Church,
David Cyr, Melinda Elliott, Dave Grodsky, Leon Kalmus, Michael Kaufman, Paddy
Lane, Alice Richardson, Joe Richardson, Walter vom Saal.
Paddy moved to accept the minutes of the 10/19 meeting. Carried.
Alice gave the Treasurer’s report. We have a balance of $90.74.
She has been in touch with the IRS on our account status; although she received
some telephone reassurances, further formal clarification is expected within
60 days. Hat was passed.
Updates:
Healthcare: Michael advised the Healthcare Committee is sponsoring
a program with Dr. Laura Chalfin comparing the practice of medicine
in Canada and the US, Monday, 11/20, First Methodist Church, Oneonta, 6 pm.
10 members are active in the group, and they hope to finish formulating strategic
goals this week. Dave noted that Ulster County voted a majority resolution
in favor of single-payer health care and suggested our work group might function
in a citizen advisory capacity.
Voting machines: Dave G. discussed the optical scan option for
voting machines and emphasized the costs involved in competing systems. He
suggested that 3 optical scanners do the job of 11-22 DREs. He voiced some
expectation that Spitzer was willing to look at the issue. He discussed the
funding issue, including the burden on localities to assume maintenance costs.
David C. reported on Delaware County’s experience with its one machine
for handicapped voters in the midterm election. In addition to requiring
5 times as much time, it failed to print, with the result that not one vote
was cast on it.
There will be a debate on PBOS (optical scan) vs. DRE (touchscreen) voting
machines Wed. evening 11/15 for the Otsego County Board and interested members
of the public.
Clean Money Clean Elections: Discussion of CMCE followed, with
David C. asserting that the present proposal would mainly serve to reinforce
the vested interests of the main parties. Leon and Nick discussed how lobby
reform was an essential adjunct. Leon requested more info on the proposal.
Delaware County organizing initiative: Paddy announced the Delaware
County initiative, Delaware 4 Change. Contact Dick Stinson for more info.
Looking to the future, Brainstorming:
Paddy introduced the tasks of brainstorming issues for action as we go forward
and of proposing a subject or theme for the Annual Meeting. There was animated
discussion of these, sometimes overlapping, including:
1. Inviting Arcuri and Gillibrand to discuss voter expectations
and the need to hold elected officials accountable. David C. commented that
we would be more effective if we concentrated on getting good people in office
in the first place than trying to influence them later.
2. For our annual meeting Alice suggested a focus on local/state
issues rather than national ones.
3. Michael emphasized an activity or theme to build up
spirit, noting that the Health Care speakout drew 28 (which Paddy characterized
as not disappointing in light of the busy election season). Walter followed
up with the need for a theme that people would find relevant.
4. There was a suggestion regarding separating the Annual
Meeting from the meeting with Arcuri and Gillibrand.
5. Nick suggested we adopt a Town Meeting format for either
or both events.
6. Nathan proposed CMCE, which he viewed as an underlying
issue.
7. Nick argued that the war in Iraq remained the overarching
issue for which we should mobilize public pressure.
8. Joe suggested that neither the war nor CMCE was persuasive,
and thought maybe Health care could be.
9. Melinda suggested big-name guest speakers as a draw,
like Amy Goodman or Noam Chomsky.
All the suggestions received considerable comment and discussion.
We did decide to pursue a town meeting with Arcuri & Gillibrand,
as soon as can be arranged. Paddy, with the help of Ed Lentz, will
pursue contacting them and will also inquire re: a venue. Our annual
meeting will be a separate event shortly thereafter.
Next meeting: Due to the holidays and the immediacy of our concerns, we
decided to hold our December meeting Thursday, 12/7, 7 PM at First United
Methodist.
Adjourned.
Respectfully submitted: Nick Albaugh
Edited and Approved: Paddy Lane
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