From the convention

Thanks to all those who attended the progressive caucus meeting at today's DPW convention. Following the rules requiring that only allowed credentialed and listed caucus members to vote was a challenge with lists that did not seem accurate and a great turnout for our 600+ member caucus! We encourage everyone to provide feedback to DPW about your experience as a caucus attendee and/or member.

Rev. John Stanley of Dane County was elected to serve as chair. Chris McDonough of Dane county and  Ka Lo, from Marathon County will be our new co-vice chairs. Dr. Mark Neumann of La Crosse will be the secretary/treasurer. Our state will be well represented by the officers and, we hope, by the CD coordinators and county coordinators who will connect us all together.

John also talked about a resolution that germinated in the progressive caucus allowing for the resolutions we spend much time on to actually mean something.

We were honored to hear from Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes during our short meeting.

Welcome to our new leader team. If you haven't yet, please consider representing your county or CD as a PC coordinator.

Forward

Pre-convention news

I thought it was important to get a letter out before the state convention.

PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS REPORT:

The Progressive Caucus, has been meeting twice a month, with one Exec meeting and one membership meeting, per month.

We have established a Resolutions/Policy Committee, a Networking/Website committee and a candidates state/party committee.
Our Executive committee, each headed a separate committee.

John Stanley, Chair: Hosted the Resolutions/Policy Committee where we were able to get resolutions passed in 6 CDs.

Tammy Joy Wood, Vice Chair: Hosted the candidates state/party committee and has been encouraging progressive candidates to run for office.

Cathy Van Maren, Secretary/Treasurer: Leading the Networking/Website committee. Cathy was able to create a web presence for the Progressive Caucus at dpwprogressives.blogspot.com/

With our committee strategy, to bolster local county grassroots and democratic candidates, the rural and progressive caucuses have been working together to create a progressive rural strategy. We know that the legislature will be coming out of the red districts, so we need to double down and organize in a 72 county strategy, not urban vs. rural.

Our caucus met in February, at Chula Vista, and adopted the "Rank Choice Voting Method" for our caucus in the progressive spirit that the D.P.W so boldly and bravely initiated.

We voted for a logo, but the measure was tabled.

Cathy Van Maren, our Secretary/Treasurer, attended the Treasurers forum this spring.

Rev. John Stanley has attended every executive admin meeting, with the exception of one, where he had to work.

We will be proposing an amendment, during the convention, to our caucus constitution to increase the number of required meetings.

Tammy Joy Wood is running for vice-chair of the Party, and will not be seeking re-election; as vice-chair of the Progressive Caucus.

Cathy Van Maren, who has filled in as secretary/treasurer from Jsnuary, will not run.

John Stanley will run for chair of the Progressive Caucus.

[See the candidate page for info about others who will run.]

All three officers have agreed to initiate a handover day, to update, fill in and help newly elected officials. We hope to make a tradition, of a "Turning over the Keys" to the successors to help new officers and give them passwords, mail chimp, email control and anything else they may need.

The Progressive Caucus established a Progressive Google Doc folder, with the entire contents of our actions, meeting minutes, agendas, etc.

As we come upon the State elections, let’s unite in the same spirit, paying close heed to what is right and what we can do to build, rather than what is wrong and where we falter. We have a long way to go, and we all make mistakes, but the Progressive Caucus has really helped to push the narrative and make changes in Wisconsin that are important for the future, changes that will strengthen our values and return our progressive state back into the hands of the people. I say, let others try to weaken our values, let us focus on strengthening them.

Much to learn and much to build on, but as Joyce Meyer said, “I may not be where I want to be, but thank God that I’m not where I used to be”.

Apologies and FORWARD

Apologies to those who attended yesterday's conference call. Our leadership team had last minute conflicts. We did hear from a couple of you that you plan to run for leadership at convention.  With only a few of us on the call, you will reach more of our hundreds of members by emailing your bio/paragraph of intent to the secretary-treasurer at cvmaren@mwt.net. We will make sure all members get your info before our PC meeting AT NOON on Saturday.

The good news is that our "Resolutions as policies" resolution will be among those voted at the convention along with several other resolutions that concern party governance.

RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING PARTY GOVERNANCE:

19-PG-05: Turn Platform And Resolutions Into Policies (5th CD, 95 words); No action

WHEREAS, our party works to create Platform and Resolutions that reflect our values of social and economic justice, ecological sustainability and peace;

WHEREAS, candidates seeking support from DPW often promote the Platform and Resolutions, but sometimes don’t on very significant issues, e.g., universal and affordable health insurance, defense spending, fair trade, etc; and,

WHEREAS, the resources of our party are limited;

THEREFORE, RESOLVED, DPW focus its resources on candidates who advocate for our Platform and Resolutions;

and,

FURTHER RESOLVED, DPW shall semi-annually inform the membership of candidates’ positions in regard to our Platform and Resolutions.

The final schedule is published. Our caucus meets at noon on Saturday (Serenity Room). We'll hear about new initiatives to organize within our caucus and among others inside and outside the party,  plans for the future, and elections for leadership. You must have been a caucus member before the convention in order to vote.

Check out the schedules and details here:

https://www.wisdems.org/events/2019-wisdems-state-convention

Our last conference call before convention

The Last Progressive Caucus meeting, before the June 1st and 2nd Convention, will take place at 5:00 P.M. on May 25th via conference call. We strongly encourage all those, who are interested in running for the executive committee, to attend THIS meeting, as we will have a “MEET THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS CANDIDATE'S FORUM” at this time. We hope many of you, will take the PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVE and run.

Come listen to the candidates. We would like our caucus to vote; as an informed and enlightened body, to make sure we continue to act, as a progressive caucus.

John Stanley, current chair, will run, but we encourage, all strong progressives who are willing to move our caucus forward, protect and build upon it to run.

Tammy Joy Wood, will not run for the Vice-Chair position due to her election as the Sauk county chair and for the fact that she is running for Vice-Chair of the D.P.W.

Cathy Van Maren will also step down as acting secretary/treasurer.

We need people to run. John says, "I remind you, that oceans are composed of drops of water. YOU are the drop of water, vital to our Progressive Caucus’s future!"

PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS CANDIDATES FORUM -TELECONFERENCE MEETING: 

05/25/19 @ 5:00 P.M. 

Dial (712) 775-7035 Pin number 507999#

 This meeting will be dedicated to our Progressive Caucus Candidates!  Hope you will join us!

Will you run?

We need strong progressive leaders to lead our caucus! Please consider running for a caucus officer position to help our caucus make a difference in the DPW and in our state.

Please view the information at the PC Caucus candidates page. If possible, send your info by May 20.

Message from PC Vice Chair

Hello Progressives!

It is with great optimism that I announce my candidacy for Vice Chair of the DPW along side Representative David Bowen as Chair and Alicia Lorta as 2nd Vice Chair! We believe our ticket is the future of the Democratic Party! 

I am incredibly excited for what this will mean for the Progressive Caucus, David has been an outstanding ally of our caucus and given the opportunity to become the state party’s Chair and Vice Chair we will ensure progressive values will be the mantelpiece of Wisconsin once again! 

It is with the best interest of the Progressive Caucus at heart that I have decided to not seek another term as Vice Chair. Instead, I’ll be an enthusiastic member helping in every capacity I am able. 

I want to allow space in the leadership for the other members who have been dedicated to promoting the progressive cause within the party. I am encouraging all who are willing to step forward and take the reins! We have only just begun, and the potential is limitless. 

It's up to us what history records. Make sure your name is in BOLD!!

Solidarity and Gratitude,
Tammy Joy Wood

New notes 2nd CD Caucus

Be sure to check out the latest notes from the 2nd CD Convention held on March 16.