In December we host our local legislative delegation before they go back into session in January. The state budget is in free fall and all state funded programs, schools, and essential services are facing significantly diminished resources – some may even disappear. It will take great minds, creativity and cooperation, and the will to make tough choices in order to survive this very difficult economic period. Your legislators need to hear from you and we all need to consider their priorities and how they plan to approach them. Please join us for this important discussion.

RSVP (yes only) to Sharon Conley at rsvp.dwbc@gmail.com, or call her at 303 554 0960 no later than Monday, December 7, at 8:00 AM. If our lunch is sold out before you make a reservation, or if you prefer to listen to the program and forgo lunch, seating in a “Program Area” may be available for $10.00, beverages included. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions with your RSVP. We acknowledge every reservation, so give Sharon a call if you have not received a confirmation.

Meeting details:

When: Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Where: The Spice of Life Event Center, located at the Flatirons Golf Course, 5706 Arapahoe Road, Boulder, CO.
Time: Doors open at 11:00 AM. Buffet opens at 11:30 AM. Program begins promptly at 12:00 PM and wraps up at 1:00 PM. Cost: $18 for lunch and program. $10 for program only.

Thanks to all of you who supported our Small Donor fundraiser last month – it was a great success!

We look forward to seeing you on the 9th.

Mark Cavanaugh, Director of the Governor’s Economic Recovery Team will be our guest on Wednesday, November 11. Mark oversees the management and reporting of the 5.7 billion dollars Colorado is receiving from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Some of this money goes directly to local organizations while other funds are allocated through state agencies.

Stimulus funding comes to Colorado through more than 140 different programs including higher education, energy efficiency and weatherization, private businesses, unemployment benefits, and home buyer tax credits. The Recovery Team tracks spending for every county in Colorado, including loans and grants, through the official national Recovery Act website, www.recovery.gov. While this diverse funding is helping to stabilize – and in some cases grow – Colorado’s economy for now, there are many challenges ahead. A concern Governor Ritter raised at our September meeting is what happens in FY 2011 when the stimulus funds supplementing higher education run out? Our November program is a great opportunity to explore more fully these challenges, and scrutinize how the money is currently being spent.

RSVP (yes only) to Sharon Conley at rsvp.dwbc@gmail.com, or call her at 303 554 0960 no later than Monday, November 9, at 8:00 AM. If our lunch is sold out before you make a reservation, or if you prefer to listen to the program and forgo lunch, seating in a “Program Area” may be available for $10.00, beverages included. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions with your RSVP. We acknowledge every reservation, so give Sharon a call if you have not received a confirmation.

Meeting details:

When: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Where: The Spice of Life Event Center, located at the Flatirons Golf Course, 5706 Arapahoe Road, Boulder, CO.
Time: Doors open at 11:00 AM. Buffet opens at 11:30 AM. Program begins promptly at 12:00 PM and wraps up at 1:00 PM. Cost: $18 for lunch and program. $10 for program only.

The BlueFlower Project works to educate the public about the importance of women’s leadership. They are a voice in the progressive community that ensures growth in the number of women elected to state and local office. Click on the link below to view an invitation for their annual event.

BlueFlower Project Invitation

Please join us on Wednesday, October 14 for a Boulder County Candidates forum.We will be hosting the Boulder Valley School District School Board Candidates, Boulder City Council Candidates, and City Council candidates for Longmont, Lafayette, and Louisville. Our Boulder County Commissioners will address local ballot issues. We will also vote on a resolution being offered by the Board of Directors of the DWBC in favor of national health care reform legislation that includes a strong public option to be presented to our congressional delegation:

PROPOSED DWBC RESOLUTION (Thanks to the Broomfield County Democrats for the language!)

Be it resolved: The Democratic Women of Boulder County declares its support for President Obama’s call for a robust Public Option health care plan, one that is an integral part of comprehensive reform that ensures that all in America have affordable access to quality basic health care, irrespective of health condition, socio-economic status, or employment status. The present opportunity for true health care reform that meets the above objectives is too fragile and too important to our nation for it to be lost to the politics of special interests. We strongly urge our elected officials and candidates to evidence their clear support for the public option in health care reform.

After an introduction of all candidates, hearing from our school board candidates, our Commisioners, and voting on the resolution, candidates from Louisville, Lafayette, and Longmont will form a panel in a separate room moderated by Connie Gay, one of our Board members from Louisville. If you are from one of these communities and would like to participate, you are invited to join them. Residents from the City of Boulder will remain in the main dining area and take part in a panel discussion with their city council candidates. Due to the number of speakers, we are extending the program by one half hour, from Noon until 1:30PM.

RSVP (yes only) to Sharon Conley at rsvp.dwbc@gmail.com, or call her at 303 554 0960 no later than Monday, October 12, at 8:00 AM. After this deadline, we may not be able to provide a lunch for you due to the popularity of some programs. When this is the case, or if you prefer to listen to the program and forgo lunch, seating in a “Program Area” may be available for $10.00, beverages included. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions with your RSVP. We acknowledge every reservation, so give Sharon a call if you have not received a confirmation.

Meeting details:

When: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Where: The Spice of Life Event Center, located at the Flatirons Golf Course, 5706 Arapahoe Road, Boulder, CO.
Time: Doors open at 11:00 AM. Buffet opens at 11:30 AM. Program begins promptly at 12:00 PM and wraps up at 1:30 PM. Due to the number of candidates we are extending our program by one half hour.
Cost: $18 for lunch and program. $10 for program only.

Please join us on Wednesday, September 9 for a dinner program featuring Governor Bill Ritter. On September 1st the Governor submits an Executive Order to the Legislative Joint Budget Committee wherein he outlines 100 cuts he will make in the State budget to fill  the $320 million budget hole.  The cuts will be painful, but there is also good news including new and continued growth out of green energy investments, and new programs such as the Connected Care Telehealth Network that brings audio and video health care clinics to rural communities that lack doctors and hospitals. So come take the good with the bad and bring your questions and concerns on September 9th in this unique forum with our Governor.

RSVP (yes only) to Sharon Conley at rsvp.dwbc@gmail.com, or call her at 303 554 0960 no later than Monday, September 7, at Noon.   After this deadline, we may not be able to provide a dinner for you due to the expected popularity of this program.  If you prefer to listen to the program and forgo dinner, seating in a “Program Area” is available for $10.00, beverages included. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions with your RSVP.  We acknowledge every reservation, so give Sharon a call if you have not received a confirmation.

Meeting details:

When:  Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Where: The Spice of Life Event Center, located at the Flatirons Golf Course, 5706 Arapahoe Road, Boulder, CO.
Time:  Doors open at 4:30PM.  Buffet opens at 4:45PM.  Program begins promptly at 5:30 PM and wraps up at 6:30 PM.
Cost:  $18 for dinner and program.  $10 for program only.

Thank you for supporting the DWBC in its efforts to bring you the most interesting, influential, and informed speakers on the important public policy issues of the day.  Hope to see you all on the 9th!