Supporting Democratic values for more than 40 years
Last modified: July 12, 2008
Last updated: July 12, 2008

 

 

Next Meeting: Meetings are second Wed. of the month, 7-9 pm, Deterding Park Clubhouse, 1415 Rushden Way)

Officers
Margie Metzler
President
(916) 921-5008
margiemetz@hotmail.com

Laure Olson
Secretary
(916) 470-1893
laureo77@yahoo.com

James Nakata
Treasurer
(916) 768-9938
james_nakata_52@hotmail.com

Arnie Godmintz
Acting Vice President
(916) 332-5980
arniegod@sbcglobal.net

Tiffany Brown
Past President
(916) 419-4064
tcbwriter@sac.sticare.com

Kevin Murphy
Awards Banquet Co-chair
(916) 536-4212; skamurphy@hotmail.com

Margie Metzler
Webmaster
margiemetz@hotmail.com; 921-5008

Margie Metzler
Newsletter Editor
margiemetz@hotmail.com; (916) 921-5008

Committees:

Fundraising/Events Committee
Arnie Godmintz, Chair
arniegod@sbcglobal.net; 332-5980
Responsible for developing and organizing all club events, including the annual awards luncheon.

Legislative Committee
Joan Lee, Chair
joanblee@sbcglobal.net; 332-5980
Reports on legislation, propositions, candidates and other issues for the club to consider; responsible for planning and organizing club participation in political events including rallies, marches and lobby days.

Membership Committee
Louise Enspahr, Chair. (916) 325-2145 ewilli7021@aol.com.
The Membership Committee keeps a record of members, and develops methods for recruiting new members. Also responsible for providing introductory materials to new members. (Membership application form...)

What District are you in?

  1. Go to www.vote-smart.org
  2. In the top left corner, go to Find Your Representative. Enter your zip code.
  3. You will be on a page that lists your US House of Representatives District, your California Senate District, and your California Assembly District

Look up US Senator: http://www.senate.gov
/general/ contact_information/
senators_cfm.cfm

Call your Senator: 866-808-0065 (TOLL-FREE) or 202-225-3121 (NOT TOLL-FREE)

Contact your Legislator:
Sen. Barbara Boxer: boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/index.cfm
• Sen. Dianne Feinstein feinstein.senategov/contact.html
• Rep. Doris Matsui matsui.house.gov/contactinfo.asp
• Rep. Dan Lungren www.lungren.house.gov/feedback.shtml
• Rep. John Doolittle http://doolittle.house.gov/contact/

California State Legislators: Use phone book or go to these websites:

Sacramento Area Democratic Organizations (Word doc to print)

Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee
Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month, State Capitol, Room 127, 6 PM
Contact: (916) 442-0264 or www.sacdems.org.

Democratic Clubs
Auburn Area Democratic Club
Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month, Auburn Public Library, 250 Nevada St., Auburn, 7 PM
Contact: Trish Grenfell, (530) 887-8873, pgrenfell@yahoo.com

Davis Democratic Club
Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month. Yolo County Library-Davis, 14th St & B, 7 PM. Contact: John Chendo, (530) 758-3331 or jac07@dcn.org

Folsom Democratic Club
Meetings: Last Monday of the month, 7 PM. Contact: Tessa Janian, tessa.janian@comcast.net for info on location

Harry S. Truman Club
Burns Vic
541-3024

JFK Democratic Club
Meetings: 1st Saturday of the month, 10 AM at the Raley’s at Hazel and Madison
Contact: Mike Dillon, (916) 967-3157, mikedillon2@comcast.net

Lincoln Democratic Club
Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month, Orchard Creek Lodge, Lincoln Hills, 7 PM
Contact: Della Sharief, (916) 408-5028

Rocklin/Roseville Area Democrats
Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month, Rocklin Library, 5460 Fifth St., Rocklin, 7 PM. Contact: Glenda Wertenberger, (916) 723-9930, paulindaw@yahoo.com.

Sacramento County Young Democrats (35 and younger)
Meetings: 1st Tuesday of the month, State Capitol, Room 317, Sacramento, 6:30 PM
Contact: scyd@yahoogroups.com

Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento
Meetings: 2nd Monday of the month, Lambda Players Theater, 2427 17th Street, Sacramento , 6 PM
Contact: info@sacstonewall.org or call (916) 441-1787 or go to www.sactonewall.org

Sun City Democratic Club
Meeting: 4th Tuesday of the month, Sierra Pines Recreation Center, Whistlestop Way, Sun City, Roseville,
9 AM
Contact: Myra Schimke, (916) 772-4371, mschimke@surewest.net

Town and Country Democratic Club
Meeting: 2nd Wednesday of the month, Deterding Park Clubhouse, 1415 Rushden Drive, 7 PM
Contact: Margie Metzler, (916) 921-5008, margiemetz@hotmail.com , website www.tcdems.org

West Sacramento Democratic Club
P.O. Box 653
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 229-3509
Contact: Billie Hanlon, stbilli@vmmail.teale.ca.gov

Women Democrats of Sacramento County
Meetings: 3rd Monday of the month, SCTA Office, 5300 Elvas Ave., Sacramento, 6:30 PM
Contact: JoAnn Souvignier, (916) 971-9601, josouvign@comcast.net, website www.wdsc.net

Woodland Democratic Club
927 West El Dorado
Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 666-2573
Contact: Lisa Lance, llance@woodland.net

Other Progressive Organizations

CODEPINK
Davis, CA
Natalie Womeli
natandben@aol.com
www.codepink4peace.org/index.php

Capitol Area Progressives (CAP)
Meetings: CAPMEETS, 3rd Thursday, various locations
Contact: Cathlyn Daly, dalywood@comcast.net; 479-5961
www.dfalink.com

Sacramento for Democracy (SFD)
Meetings: 1st Wednesday, usually SEIU, but check. Contact: bob644@earthlink.net; 974-1960
www.sacramentofordemocracy.org

 

Town and Country Democratic Club

Our latest newsletter   Old newsletters

NE Headquarters to open July 12!

Northeast Headquarters
4146 Sunrise Blvd. (Durston)
4148 Sunrise Blvd. (Everyone else)
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

e-mail: NEDemoHQ@aol.com
916.671-8288

Grand Opening July 12!!

Please come, share with your friends, invite everyone you know, and pass out our flyer. Black and white PDF file PDF in color Word document

Contact Margie or 916-921-5008 if you need any of our working documents.

Join our weekly planning sessions: Every Thursday in June, 6 pm. at the Headquarters. Everyone is welcome.

Info on all three headquarters:

Downtown Headquarters
2729 P St., Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-739-6001 - Fax: 916-739-6002
Email: SacDemsOffice@aol.com
Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm

Elk Grove Headquarters
9089 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 204
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Grand Opening June 28th

Northeast Headquarters
4146 Sunrise Blvd. (Durston)
4148 Sunrise Blvd. (Everyone else)
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
e-mail: NEDemoHQ@aol.com
916.671-8288

Grand Opening July 12!!


Thinking about running for office??

The DPSC (Central Committee of Sac. County) is gearing up for the November elections, and kicking off with a "Farm Team" recruitment program. We'd like to see Democrats running for every seat available in this county. We as a club strongly support this effort and stand poised to support anyone who wants to run for office.

Mike Whiteside, Chair of the Campaign Services Committee, is in the process of identifying boards and districts, and would love information from YOU regarding both boards that need people, and people who are eligible and qualified to run for those seats. We are asking you if you know of any individuals who are:
- Dedicated and competent
- A leader willing to work with others
- Civic minded - willing to learn
- Good Democrats with interest in their community
- Hard working and have integrity

Most of the seats (fire, water, & park boards) do not require a tremendous amount of work or expertise.

If you have such members, please let us know. We will identify which positions they are eligible for, and we're planning a full program of support to help them run a campaign and win.

If you have questions, please contact Mike Whiteside at (C): 916-802-3072 or Email: mikensac@comcast.net .


To all our Stonewall and other gay brothers and sisters,

I speak both for myself and for Town & Country Democratic Club, in congratulating all of you on one of the most substantial decisions yet handed down by any state Supreme Court, which acknowledges your full membership in the society in which we all live. We support you completely, both in the aggregate, and personally, as our friends!
We also know that while the Supreme Court's decision was a huge affirmation of the equal rights of all citizens, there are still people who believe that the majority rules even in the case of issues which would unjustly and unconstitutionally cause immense harm to a particular group of Americans. We fervently hope the scales have tipped, and in fact, the majority does not believe that gay people are less than any other citizen s in any way, and that all Americans need, and deserve, to live in loving families of their choosing and to enjoy the pursuit of happiness as do we all.

Margie Metzler

Next Town & Country Monthly Meeting Wed., July 9, 7 pm!

July meeting: Media issues. Ron Cooper of Access Sacramento (www.accesssacramento.org) will talk about media issues stemming from devastating changes to the FCC over the years, and what we as citizens can do to help. Democracy depends on the free flow of information!

Ron's presentation: PowerPoint PDF


Town & Country Endorsed Candidates (general election Nov.)
Heather Fargo for Mayor
1630 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-443-2676
Email: dhoward@fargoformayor.com
Website: www.heatherfargo.net

Joan Buchanan 15th Assembly
2694 Bishop Drive, Ste 121, San Ramon, CA 94583
Phone: 925-806-0560; fax 925-806-0563
Email: campaign@joanbuchanan.com
Website: http://joanbuchanan.com

Alyson Huber for 10th Assembly
P O Box 1085, Lodi, CA 95240
Phone 916-358-5919
Email: huber4assembly@yahoo.com
Website: www.alysonhuber.com

Danial Leahy for 5th Assembly
e-mail: leahy4assembly@gmail.com
Website: www.leahy4assembly.com

Dave Jones for CA State Assembly District 9

Durston for Congress
Website: www.durstonforcongress.org
Events: Phone Banking call Marilyn Sabin 916-483-8820

Charlie Brown for Congress
Website: www.charliebrownforcongress.com

Doris Matsui for Congress
Website: www.matsuiforcongress.com

Lois Wolk for State Senate
Call: (530) 747-0512.
e-mail: colleen@loiswolk.com
website: http://www.loiswolk.com/


Town & Country members make a video!

This video was made by Lyn's son, Sean Stueve, and it stars venerable actors Arnie Godmintz and John Bernier!

We made the finals, though we didn't win the grand prize. But as John Bernier told me, "We already won!" We had a ball, we made it to the finals, and we got incredible support from all of you!

www.summerofchange08.com



Please check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLBqdzBwRU. You can rate our video on this page too, which might send more business to Sean's video company, Monketyfacevideo (http://www.youtube.com/user/monkeyfacevideo).
You can have our autographs if you contribute to the NE Headquarters!

Thanks to Sean, who made this happen.


Progressive Talk Radio: Can it Work?

Sue Wilson article in the Bee: Sunday, May 11, 2008

There's a mournful hush in Sacramento these days, the empty sound of an entire political viewpoint quieted. More than 32,000 weekly listeners who once tuned to KSAC (1240 AM) to hear partisan Democrats beat up on President George W. Bush, now hear only Christian hip-hop.

There's nothing wrong with Christian hip-hop; it's a great outlet for artists breaking out of the gansta rap mold. But there are six other commercial radio stations licensed in the Sacramento area programming the Christian message. In the political realm, three local radio stations program 264 hours of partisan Republican radio talkers beating up on Democrats every week. Now, zero stations program any Democratic view whatsoever: 264-0.

This follows the national trend revealed in the 2007 Free Press and Center for American Progress study, "The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio." Nationally, 90 percent of commercial talk radio is conservative; only 10 percent is liberal. (This study does not include Public Radio, which by statute is required to provide differing points of view. One is as likely to hear a Republican's views as a Democrat's. And NPR hosts don't beat up on anybody.)

KSAC shared another characteristic with other liberal radio stations: It had a tiny, 1,000-watt transmitter. Tough for a little station that barely reached Sacramento's suburbs to compete with 50,000 watt giant KFBK, whose signal stretches from Chico to Modesto, from Reno to that little town of San Francisco. Despite KFBK reaching millions more potential listeners, KSAC mustered an audience nearly 20 percent that of KFBK's. (Its ratings were double local conservative station KTKZ, which has a 5,000-watt transmitter.) And Arbitron showed the progressive station's audience was steadily growing. KSAC was the little station that could.

Until it couldn't.

In the Bee: http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/927485.html

Printable PDF file

Margie Metzler response:

This article was one of the most valuable the Bee has ever printed. Town & Country Democrats (www.tcdems.org) has a group dedicated to bringing back Progressive radio which has been absolutely stymied, after demonstrating, joining the stations (KCTC and, now, KSAC) to help drum up support and advertisers, and listening rabidly. We participated in events Christine Craft organized and we loved what our stations did for us. We tried everything, including starting our own stations. The 1996 Congressional action you cited obliterated smaller, local stations and created an environment where a radio station costs many millions of dollars if you can find one for sale at all.

We are bereft without our Progressive radio hosts because they are educated, civil, and most of all, while they certainly ferreted out information favorable to our Progressive worldview, they give us facts and they annotated their sources. Thom Hartmann, Peter B. Collins, Randi Rhodes and others told us exactly where they got their information and their websites had direct links. This information was often not available anywhere on TV, newspapers or other radio stations. They also took calls from everyone and treated them civilly. They sent us to bookstores, libraries and websites in droves, and we loved them for it. None of this happens with conservative talk shows!

Democracy can survive only if voters have the facts they need to make thoughtful decisions.

My personal efforts now have been to join Access Sacramento (http://www.accesssacramento.org/ ) and the common Cause Sacramento Media Group (http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=2896519). I am talking all the TV and radio classes I can find. I also listen to Air America, Ed Schultz and Peter B Collins on the Internet whenever I can. But none of this gives me back my friends on my car radio, and that leaves a huge void in my life.

From John Chendo:

Mark Twain, a local Sacramento reporter in the 1850's, said: "It's very hard to change the opinion of anyone who's being paid to hold it."

We have a media market, especially among talk radio hosts, which is dominated by big corporations, some of them under the cover of religious tax exemptions.

Ronald Reagan, when he rescinded the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, which had worked for fifty years , said that he thought big corporations would voluntarily provide fair and balanced reporting, because big corporations automatically act in the nation's best interest (this was before the pervasive growth of multinational corporations). A strange idea: that corporations, but not people, can be automatically trusted to observe ethics and laws by making all laws and regulations "voluntary" for corporations.

This has led us down a slippery slope of unchecked permissiveness for the rich to get up to 45% of media market control.

Not having access to a variety of sources (e.g. Why is there always a Business section but never a Labor section?) has led to the current corruption of language, and a budget-busting war without being declared and with no specific reasons -- no exits, and overwhelming repercussions on every state and local budget. As LBJ proved: we cannot afford both "guns and butter." Our war budget hits every U.S. school, construction site, hospital, health plan, food price, fuel cost, and emergency preparedness. We have a Katrina-kind of government run by no-bid contractors-in-chief who get to decide what we hear on the radio. Mostly noisy screaming which makes torture seem normal.

It is worth remembering that the Kremlin-sponsored newspaper was named "Pravda," the (Absolute) Truth.

Thomas Jefferson wrote: "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free,in a state of civilization,it expects what never was and never will be." Pope John XXIII in Pacem in Terris (1963) referred to the UN Declaration of Human Rights of 1948: "in most solemn form, the dignity of a person is acknowledged to all human beings; and as a consequence there is proclaimed, as a fundamental right, the right of free movement in search for truth...and the right to a dignified life."


Report on Meeting, April 9, 2008

See our talk radio page

As you probably know by now, our only progressive radio station, KSAC 1240 AM, morphed into a gospel music station this week. On April 9, our meeting was devoted to a discussion of what happened, and immediate and long-term possible solutions.

Steve Reed and Arnie Godmintz shared their insider information about what happened this week. Both agreed that it was not ideology, but economics, that caused KSAC to drop progressive talk. We knew they needed more sponsors, and Steve talked about his efforts in that direction. They really needed some large corporate sponsors, but that never happened for a combination of reasons. David Quinlan, who is new to our group,, brought in the Arbitron ratings, which showed that KSAC was trending up and was by no means in a bad position. Steve noted that Progressive talk shows need to have marketing staff familiar with the Progressive community.

Margie noted that she is educating herself about media issues and technology by taking classes at Access Sacramento. (They're free and you can have your own online show after you complete training: http://www.accesssacramento.org/).

We came to the conclusion that our best bet in the long run is to talk to other local stations and get them interested in running "our" shows. We will all see what we can do individually and stay in contact. (Contact Margie at margiemetz@hotmail.com to get on the list.)

In the meantime, Steve talked about his SIRIUS receiver and how to use it, Lyn Stueve described using an IPOD to download podcasts, and we all noted that you can still hear some stations online:


To comment on the governor's proposed budget, contact:


Bill Durston for Congress!!

(Newsletter!)


Sac Dems Downtown Headquarters

Democrats have an office located at 2729 P Street (one house away from the corner of 28th St and across from Winn Park) near Mid-Town in Sacramento.

Sam Catalano is the Executive Secretary, and the office is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm. If you have an hour or two to spare come on down and help or just check us out.
  • Phone numbers: 916-739-6001 or 916-739-6002
  • Address: 2729 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95816-6403
  • Email address: SacDemsOffice@aol.com.

Democratic Presidential Candidates' Contact Information

Hillary Clinton Sacramento Headquarters: One Capitol Mall, Suite 660
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-442-0141
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/hq/california/contact/

Barack Obama: www.sacramentoforobama.com
Phone: (916) 400-3252
Email: sacramentoforobama@comcast.net
Location: 1420 65th Street, at the corner of 65th & Folsom Blvd. (enter the driveway at Office Depot)
Hours: Mon – Fri 10 - 7
Sat & Sun 10 - 6

Club News

 

Notes on our Newsletter

The Newsletter is now in the capable hands of Margie Metzler and John Bernier, and I am optimistic that we will have contributions from many more of you in the future. If you want to receive the newsletter electronically only, please contact Margie at margiemetz@hotmail.com. Otherwise, you will get the print newsletter as always, and of course all newsletters are available here.

We would love to have participation from all of you! If you have items to contribute, or suggestions for articles you would like to see, please contact us!

Site Contents:

Here's the lowdown on voting (PDF)

Story appeared in METRO section, Sacbee, Page B1, Oct. 7

To get a voter registration form:

  • Call your local county elections office and request a form.
  • Fill out a voter registration card online (a pre-typed registration form will then be mailed to you).
  • Call the toll-free voter registration hotline at (800) 345-VOTE and ask for a form.

To request an absentee ballot:

Use the application printed on your sample ballot or apply in writing with your signature to your county elections office.

County registrars

Source: Secretary of State, County Web sites

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Let's take our good name back! Margie Metzler is campaigning to take back our name, the Democratic Party, from the Republicans, who have been calling us the Democrat Party for years. The -ic matters! There is no such thing as the Democrat Party (even Democrats have erred, and we want them to stop.) Join the battle at http://www.ourgoodname.com and fight back.
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Past Events

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Other Voter Info

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Radio Stations:

Local Progressive Talk Show Call-in Numbers

    NPR Sac area: KQEI (part of KQED), 90.9 FM. Fresh Air: 1 and 7 pm
    KXJZ - FM (Cap Radio): 89.3 FM. Fresh Air, 9 a.m.; Talk of the Nation, totn@npr.org or 800-989-8255
    KVMR FM 89.5 Sac / 105.1 Truckee - the expanded news at 6:00pm is very informative AND they broadcast Democracy Now! at 7:00pm weekdays. Office phone, (530) 265-9073; Studio Phone: (530) 265-9555 or (800) 355-KVMR (5867) in N. California only; FAX: (530) 265-9077; Mail: KVMR, 401 Spring St., Nevada City, CA 95959; Email: news@kvmr.org for the News department, or office@kvmr.org for everything else.

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About the Town & Country Democratic Club

The Town & Country Democratic Club has a 40-year history of serving Democrats and their candidates and elected officials in the greater Sacramento area. Our club meets monthly and usually invites a public official or political expert on a specific topic to address the group. We also discuss legislation, initiatives and conduct endorsements for each election.

Additionally, we have a vibrant membership that actively represents the Democratic Party in public through voter registration efforts, Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts, precinct walking and phone banking. For more information about our club, please contact us via phone or email!

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Change your Password on the Cadem Website

You may change your password and/or username online on the cadem website, which we recommend, by logging in at www.cadem.org/conv2005 and clicking on "change password" on the left side of the page.

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Meeting Information and Map

Town & Country Democratic Club meets monthly at the clubhouse of Deterding Park (1415 Rushden Drive -- click here for map) at the corner of Rushden Drive and Somerset Road near Watt Avenue and Arden Way in Sacramento. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm. Please join us!

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Cartoon

 

Contact Information

Town & Country Democratic Club
PO Box 1286
Citrus Heights, CA 95611-1286
For more information contact
Margie Metzler at (916) 921-5008
Email: margiemetz@hotmail.com
Webmaster: Margie Metzler margiemetz@hotmail.com; (916) 921-5008
Newsletter: Margie Metzler margiemetz@hotmail.com; (916) 921-5008
Website: http://www.tcdems.org

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