FCDC 2010 Reorganization Meeting

Posted by MasonDem

January 1, 2010

Every two years we are required by our Party Plan to ‘reorganize’ our city and county committees. The 2010-11 Biennial Reorganization Meeting of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee will be held Tuesday, January 5th at 7:00 pm.

Most notably at the Reorganization Meeting we elect our County Officers and approve (and amend) our Bylaws (at this time there appear to be no challenges for any of the offices). We will also be having a canned food and coat drive.

Tuesday, January 5th at 7:00 pm
Falls Church High School (parking in back, entrance at cafeteria 1 and 2)
7521 Jaguar Trail
Falls Church, VA 22042
map: http://tinyurl.com/FallsChurchHS

Canned Food, Coat Drive
Agenda
Candidates for Office
Bylaws Amendments
- Current Bylaws
- Party Plan
- Proposed Bylaws Amendments
- Bylaws Amendments Reference
The Authority and Responsibilities of Officers and Standing Committees

Canned Food, Coat Drive

Here are items need for the food drive:

Canned meats and fish: ham, turkey, chicken, tuna, beef
Peanut butter and jelly/jam
Canned soup, stew, and chili
Cereal
Vegetables – canned
Fruit – canned
Beans – dried or canned
Macaroni and Cheese
Boxed Meals
Pasta and Pasta Sauce
Rice
Sugar and Flour
Fruit Juice
Coffee, Tea, and Drink Mix
Avoid glass items if possible (except baby food)

We will also be collecting coats of all sizes and types as well. If you can wash or dry clean the coat before donating please do. Last year we collected 728 pounds of food, and 53 coats.

Agenda

Convening of the meeting by a Temporary Chair
Adoption of Rules for the Meeting
Election of the County Chair
Adoption of Bylaws with Amendments
Adoption of the Resolution on the Authority and Responsibility of the Elected Officers and Standing Committees
Election of other Officers – as provided in the Bylaws
Convening Standing Committees
New Business – new Members to FCDC
Other New Business
Adjournment

Candidates for Office

Rex Simmons, Candidate for FCDC Chair
Co-host for Road to Richmond brunch, 2009-10 • Chair, State Affairs Committee, 2008 • Virginia House of Delegates Candidate, 2007 • Volunteer for several campaigns • Retired federal civil servant • Former assistant inspector general/government auditor • B.A., political science, UNC • M.P.A., American University • Member, Springfield district
Barbara Caputo, Candidate for Re-election for Vice-Chair North
Incumbent officer, 2008-09 • FCDC member since 1971-38 years of service • Key contributor to Sully district election successes • 3 decades of precinct service • Leadership positions for Springfield, Hunter Mill, and Sully districts • Member, Sully district
Lola Quintela, Candidate for Re-election for Vice-Chair Central
Incumbent officer, 2008-09 • Precinct captain for 5 years • Member, Diversity Committee • Experienced in expanding voter & volunteer rolls • Professional language translator & volunteer political material translator • Vice President of the Parents Guild, Center for Ballet Arts • Member, Providence district
Mark Itzkoff, Candidate for Re-election for Vice-Chair South
Incumbent officer, 2008-09 • 5 years experience in voter protection • Conducted numerous voter protection seminars • Vice-chair of Springfield district past 4 years • Acting chair, Springfield, 2006 • Practicing attorney • Degree in chemistry, U. of Rochester • Member, Springfield district
Mary Ann Hovis, Candidate for Vice-Chair for Finance
Chair, FCDC, 2009 • Vice-chair, Finance, 2008-09 • Vice-chair, Sully district, 2006-07 • Chair, Sully Finance, 2004-05 • Major fundraiser with husband, Bob, for Democratic candidates • Volunteer for several campaigns • Graduate and current Board member for Radford U. • Board member for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation • Retired IT marketing executive • Member, Sully district
Herb Smith, Candidate for Vice-Chair for Outreach
Long-time community activist in Atlanta, DC, and Virginia • Candidate for Fairfax County School Board, 2009 • Field operations leader for several Democratic candidates, 2009 • Deputy Field Organizer in Fairfax County for Obama, 2008 • Political organizer for President Clinton, 1996 • Teacher, tutor, mentor to underprivileged kids • Member, Mason district
Sue Langley, Candidate for Re-election for Vice-Chair for Precinct Operations
Incumbent officer, 2006-09 • First vice chair, Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus, 2007-08 • 11th Congressional District Committee member • Vice-chair for precinct operations, Hunter Mill, 2004-5 • Recording Secretary, FCDC, 2005 • Broad experience in county-wide field operations & volunteer training • Ph. D., economics, Iowa State • Degrees in International studies, Georgetown & The Hague, Netherlands • Member, Hunter Mill district
Chris Ambrose, Candidate for Re-election for Vice-Chair for Voter Registration and Get Out the Vote
Incumbent officer, 2006-09 • Coordinated FCDC voter registration efforts with the Obama campaign, 2008 • FCDC VAN Administrator • N. Virginia GOTV coordinator for Jim Webb, 2006 • Field director for Werkheiser for Delegate, 2005 • Principal and CEO, VA Trading, LLC • B.A., political science • Member, Mt. Vernon district
Nadja Golding, Candidate for Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer, 2008-09 • Experienced at streamlining & improving the Treasurer’s office • Past President and Treasurer of local PTAs and school activist • Former staff at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights • Ph. D., economics, Princeton U. • Member, Dranesville district
Victor Mondino, Candidate for Assistant Treasurer
Newly elected Treasurer of Providence District • Canvasser and field organizer for Virginia Coordinated campaign, 2008 • Volunteer canvasser for Moran & later, Deeds, 2009 • Fluent in Spanish • Accounting background • Member, Providence district
Nomination Anticipated, Candidate for Recording Secretary
Bridget Murphy, Candidate for Corresponding Secretary
Democratic activist • Volunteer for several campaigns, including Brian Moran • Fundraiser • Former alternate delegate to Democratic Convention for Bill Clinton • Began as Young Democrat & worked for NYC Councilmember • B.A., political science • Member, Hunter Mill district
Todd Smyth, Candidate for Vice-Chair for Technology
Long-time community activist in Alexandria and Fairfax County • Organized “Tabling for Change” program that acquired and distributed campaign materials at fairs, festivals, and farmer markets • Avid door-knocker and emailer during most elections for the past 5 years • Instructional designer for computer systems training for U.S. Supreme Court, Department of Defense, & others • Member, Lee district

Bylaws Amendments

Thirty-six (36) amendments to the FCDC Bylaws were duly proposed, submitted and made notice of.

FCDC does on occasion amend our Bylaws to remain contemporary and revise our structure to reflect the will of the membership. The current intent and rationale for proposing Bylaws amendments: 1) refocus attention to our primary mission defined in our Bylaws, 2) formulate Bylaws contemporary for the times, 3) improve operational transparency of actions as a Committee, and 4) increase and improve our leadership / management structure so that is directly responsive to members and grass roots concerns.

By the nature of the hierarchy of the Democratic Party, we follow, are guided by, and must be compliant with the Party Plan (of the Democratic Party of Virginia, aka DPVA). Bylaws that we approve every two years must be submitted to DPVA for approval.

Amendments to the FCDC Bylaws are guided by Article XII (note that at our biennial reorganization Article XII, Section 2 applies). It is further very important to note that amendments proposed, submitted and duly made notice of may NOT be amended at the meeting, but only voted for or against.

ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS
Section 2. The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at the biennial reorganization meeting of the County Committee. Amendments to the Bylaws considered at the reorganization meeting may not be amended from the form mailed to members.

One amendment submitted, designated Amendment ‘U’, is in the form of an entire Bylaws proposal, with many changes throughout; however, two items (Article VIII, Section 7, and Article VIII, Section 9b) contained in that single amendment are legally out of compliance with the Democratic Party of Virginia Party Plan. FCDC Bylaws must be in compliance with the Party Plan, and there is no modification allowed for a submitted amendment.

From the State Party Plan “Section 10.5 Quorum. A Quorum of thirty percent (30%) of the members of any Democratic committee or convention shall be required to take any action . . . “ Only a few years ago, FCDC fought the State’s old 40% requirement. The best we could get was 30%.
- Amendment ‘U’: Article VIII, Section 7
  The presence of 25% 30% of the members of the County Committee and each of its committees shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
From the State Party Plan “Section 8.11 All meeting of the county or city committee shall be open to the public . . . “ The FCDC Bylaws make specific exceptions for discussion of paid staff and for litigation. The Vice Chair of the State Party for Rules was on the FCDC Bylaws Revisions Committee and confirmed that those specific exceptions would be approved by the State Party at that time.
- Amendment ‘U’: Article VIII, Section 9b
  the Steering Committee may decide, by a two-thirds vote of all present its members, to meet in closed session if the nature or the issues discussed is made public.