This Saturday, May 9, 2009, the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus hosted a “Delegate Registration breakfast meeting” at Versailles Restaurant, located at 3555 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida.
Millie Herrera, immediate Past President of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida requested this meeting because, as she said “Every year the Florida Democratic Party must conduct a Convention or Conference – it is called a Convention on election years, and a Conference on non-election years. This year’s Conference is scheduled for October 9-11, 2009, at Lake Buena Vista, Florida. There are Delegate Selection Rules that have been approved by the FDP Executive Committee that have to be adhered to in order to qualify and be elected as a delegate to the Conference…” Adding “…It is the responsibility of the DEC Chairs, State Committeeman and State Committeewoman who represent the County DEC’s in the FDP Executive Committee to disseminate this information and ensure that their County DEC has a full delegation.” “This has not happened” she emphasized.
The importance of this meeting is because the deadline to turn over the required application, for those who want to serve as delegates to the State Conference, is May 11, 2009. Otherwise, the alternative mechanism is that the DEC of the respective Counties can appoint any delegate by sending their application to the FDP headquarters by certified mail not later than the midnight of May 25, 2009, which could lead to the disenfranchisement of some members of Party, whishing to participate. (See her complete message at the bottom)
Daisy Black, DEC’s First Vice Chair and immediate past president of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida provided detail information on this issue and on important related dates. Forms and loyalty of oath notarization services were also provided.
Millie Herrera introduced Attorney Lisa Lesperance, District 117 State Representative candidate for 2010.
Another guest of honor introduced was Annette Taddeo, past candidate for Congress for District 21, shown standing.
The participants gathered for a picture as shown below.
The following are different views of the attendants to the breakfast meeting while their questions were being answered.
In the background are Attorneys William Pena Wells, in black shirt, and Peggy “notarizing as witnesses” the Florida Democratic Party Loyalty Oath.
At the end of the meeting we can see Eng. Richard Charman, Director of Business Development of Net-tronics.com and founder of the Community Group “IAM4OBAMA, Neighbors of Allapattah”; Millie Herrera, Florida Democratic State Conference Member; Mayowa Odusanya, President FIU’s Student Bar Association, College of Law; Ivelice Gonzalez, Director and Co-Editor of “La Prensa del Sur” and Lisa Lesperance, Candidate for State Representative District 117, sharing a moment.
Entire text of the message of Millie Herrera follows:
Dear Democrats:
Every year the Florida Democratic Party must conduct a Convention or Conference – it is called a Convention on election years and a Conference on non-election years. This year’s Conference is scheduled for October 9-11, 2009, at Lake Buena Vista, Florida. There are Delegate Selection Rules that have been approved by the FDP Executive Committee that have to be adhered to in order to qualify and be elected as a delegate to the Conference. Attached is a copy of these rules. It is the responsibility of the DEC Chairs, State Committeeman and State Committeewoman who represent the County DEC’s in the FDP Executive Committee, to disseminate this information and ensure that their County DEC has a full delegation “…guided by the affirmative action goals and policies in all phases of the Delegate Selection Process in order that the process shall be open and free from all forms of discrimination.”
This has not happened.
Miami-Dade DEC is entitled to 115 delegates to the conference, at least 87 or 75% must be DEC members, and the rest can be registered Democrats non-DEC members. The Qualification rules for becoming a delegate state that “All interested candidates are required to file with their County Chair, Vice Chair, State Committeeman, or State Committeewoman between April 6 and May 11, 2009. Yes, you heard it right, before May 11, 2009, all applications for delegates to the 2009 FDP State Conference must be turned in to the Miami-Dade DEC, otherwise you will not be qualified as a delegate. We have until Monday, May 11, 2009, to turn in our application for Delegate to the 2009 FDP State Conference!
After this deadline, the DEC must certify “…that all candidates possess the necessary qualifications. A list of certified candidates, including names, addresses and telephone numbers must be sent to the Party Headquarters by midnight on May 25, 2009”, which means, our DEC has to verify that all applications come from registered Democrats and that non-DEC members have submitted a Loyalty Oath. (see attached). The certified applications must be sent by our DEC to the FDP Headquarters via certified mail before midnight of May 25, 2009.
“County Democratic Executive Committees are mandated to hold meetings for the purpose of electing Delegates between the dates of June 1 and July 3, 2009”. If there are more than 115 delegate applications, candidates for delegate can give speeches and electioneer before this vote is taken, otherwise the DEC will vote to elect all delegates, unless there is an objection to a particular candidate because of violations of loyalty oath, etc.
The FDP Delegate fees are $35 or $20 for students, and the DEC’s can add $15, BUT to do this it MUST be voted on by the DEC membership. The Delegate fees are not due until Delegate election (between June 1 and July 3). After the Delegate election, “County Chairs must collect the forms and total fees and send them by mail to the Party Headquarters no later than July 20, 2009”.
These are the rules by which we must abide. I have highlighted the most important aspects of the process, but please review the full document attached for more detailed information.
As a member of the FDP Central and Executive Committee, and the FDP Affirmative Action Committee, it is my duty to ensure that ALL Democrats are represented in official Party events and that we have a voice. Conferences and Conventions are official Florida Democratic Party events that afford us the opportunity to weigh in on issues, receive important information and training, meet our elected and statewide Party officials, and vote on Party platforms. These events invigorate grassroots activists like us to continue giving of our time and money to elect Democrats. Therefore, I urge all of you to take action TODAY, complete the attached Delegate Application form so that Miami-Dade County DEC has full representation of 115+ delegates (there are additional appointed delegates to ensure we meet affirmative action goals, please review the attached Rules).
Seeing that our DEC has not followed the mandated procedures for informing and actively recruiting Delegates for the 2009 FDP State Conference, I have asked our First Vice Chair Daisy Black to help us meet the May 11th, 2009, deadline. This Saturday, May 9, 2009, the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus is hosting a Delegate Registration breakfast meeting at Versailles Restaurant, 3555 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida. First Vice Chair Daisy Black and Immediate Past President of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida will provide us information, forms and notarization of loyalty oaths, as needed. We invite and welcome all Democrats to join us, DEC and non-DEC members, African Americans, Asian Americans, Haitian Americans, Hispanics, Whites and Others, to PLEASE complete and turn in your Delegate applications so we can be proudly represented at the Conference this October. Please forward this information to other DEC members, club members and Democrats you know that do not have email or you know did not receive this information since I do not have a complete list of DEC members.
The cost of the breakfast is $15, and you are welcome to have breakfast with us or not, just make sure you attend and turn in your Delegate form.
Please RSVP by Friday, May 8th, 2009, via email or phone 305-275-0807, and indicate if you are attending and if you will be having breakfast. I need this to notify the restaurant so they can prepare the back meeting room, by the mirrors.
Democratically yours,
Millie Herrera
Immediate Past President of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida
FDP Central and Executive Committee Member
FDP Affirmative Action Committee Member
Millie Herrera, immediate Past President of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida requested this meeting because, as she said “Every year the Florida Democratic Party must conduct a Convention or Conference – it is called a Convention on election years, and a Conference on non-election years. This year’s Conference is scheduled for October 9-11, 2009, at Lake Buena Vista, Florida. There are Delegate Selection Rules that have been approved by the FDP Executive Committee that have to be adhered to in order to qualify and be elected as a delegate to the Conference…” Adding “…It is the responsibility of the DEC Chairs, State Committeeman and State Committeewoman who represent the County DEC’s in the FDP Executive Committee to disseminate this information and ensure that their County DEC has a full delegation.” “This has not happened” she emphasized.
The importance of this meeting is because the deadline to turn over the required application, for those who want to serve as delegates to the State Conference, is May 11, 2009. Otherwise, the alternative mechanism is that the DEC of the respective Counties can appoint any delegate by sending their application to the FDP headquarters by certified mail not later than the midnight of May 25, 2009, which could lead to the disenfranchisement of some members of Party, whishing to participate. (See her complete message at the bottom)
Daisy Black, DEC’s First Vice Chair and immediate past president of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida provided detail information on this issue and on important related dates. Forms and loyalty of oath notarization services were also provided.
Millie Herrera introduced Attorney Lisa Lesperance, District 117 State Representative candidate for 2010.
Another guest of honor introduced was Annette Taddeo, past candidate for Congress for District 21, shown standing.
The participants gathered for a picture as shown below.
The following are different views of the attendants to the breakfast meeting while their questions were being answered.
In the background are Attorneys William Pena Wells, in black shirt, and Peggy “notarizing as witnesses” the Florida Democratic Party Loyalty Oath.
At the end of the meeting we can see Eng. Richard Charman, Director of Business Development of Net-tronics.com and founder of the Community Group “IAM4OBAMA, Neighbors of Allapattah”; Millie Herrera, Florida Democratic State Conference Member; Mayowa Odusanya, President FIU’s Student Bar Association, College of Law; Ivelice Gonzalez, Director and Co-Editor of “La Prensa del Sur” and Lisa Lesperance, Candidate for State Representative District 117, sharing a moment.
Entire text of the message of Millie Herrera follows:
Dear Democrats:
Every year the Florida Democratic Party must conduct a Convention or Conference – it is called a Convention on election years and a Conference on non-election years. This year’s Conference is scheduled for October 9-11, 2009, at Lake Buena Vista, Florida. There are Delegate Selection Rules that have been approved by the FDP Executive Committee that have to be adhered to in order to qualify and be elected as a delegate to the Conference. Attached is a copy of these rules. It is the responsibility of the DEC Chairs, State Committeeman and State Committeewoman who represent the County DEC’s in the FDP Executive Committee, to disseminate this information and ensure that their County DEC has a full delegation “…guided by the affirmative action goals and policies in all phases of the Delegate Selection Process in order that the process shall be open and free from all forms of discrimination.”
This has not happened.
Miami-Dade DEC is entitled to 115 delegates to the conference, at least 87 or 75% must be DEC members, and the rest can be registered Democrats non-DEC members. The Qualification rules for becoming a delegate state that “All interested candidates are required to file with their County Chair, Vice Chair, State Committeeman, or State Committeewoman between April 6 and May 11, 2009. Yes, you heard it right, before May 11, 2009, all applications for delegates to the 2009 FDP State Conference must be turned in to the Miami-Dade DEC, otherwise you will not be qualified as a delegate. We have until Monday, May 11, 2009, to turn in our application for Delegate to the 2009 FDP State Conference!
After this deadline, the DEC must certify “…that all candidates possess the necessary qualifications. A list of certified candidates, including names, addresses and telephone numbers must be sent to the Party Headquarters by midnight on May 25, 2009”, which means, our DEC has to verify that all applications come from registered Democrats and that non-DEC members have submitted a Loyalty Oath. (see attached). The certified applications must be sent by our DEC to the FDP Headquarters via certified mail before midnight of May 25, 2009.
“County Democratic Executive Committees are mandated to hold meetings for the purpose of electing Delegates between the dates of June 1 and July 3, 2009”. If there are more than 115 delegate applications, candidates for delegate can give speeches and electioneer before this vote is taken, otherwise the DEC will vote to elect all delegates, unless there is an objection to a particular candidate because of violations of loyalty oath, etc.
The FDP Delegate fees are $35 or $20 for students, and the DEC’s can add $15, BUT to do this it MUST be voted on by the DEC membership. The Delegate fees are not due until Delegate election (between June 1 and July 3). After the Delegate election, “County Chairs must collect the forms and total fees and send them by mail to the Party Headquarters no later than July 20, 2009”.
These are the rules by which we must abide. I have highlighted the most important aspects of the process, but please review the full document attached for more detailed information.
As a member of the FDP Central and Executive Committee, and the FDP Affirmative Action Committee, it is my duty to ensure that ALL Democrats are represented in official Party events and that we have a voice. Conferences and Conventions are official Florida Democratic Party events that afford us the opportunity to weigh in on issues, receive important information and training, meet our elected and statewide Party officials, and vote on Party platforms. These events invigorate grassroots activists like us to continue giving of our time and money to elect Democrats. Therefore, I urge all of you to take action TODAY, complete the attached Delegate Application form so that Miami-Dade County DEC has full representation of 115+ delegates (there are additional appointed delegates to ensure we meet affirmative action goals, please review the attached Rules).
Seeing that our DEC has not followed the mandated procedures for informing and actively recruiting Delegates for the 2009 FDP State Conference, I have asked our First Vice Chair Daisy Black to help us meet the May 11th, 2009, deadline. This Saturday, May 9, 2009, the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus is hosting a Delegate Registration breakfast meeting at Versailles Restaurant, 3555 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida. First Vice Chair Daisy Black and Immediate Past President of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida will provide us information, forms and notarization of loyalty oaths, as needed. We invite and welcome all Democrats to join us, DEC and non-DEC members, African Americans, Asian Americans, Haitian Americans, Hispanics, Whites and Others, to PLEASE complete and turn in your Delegate applications so we can be proudly represented at the Conference this October. Please forward this information to other DEC members, club members and Democrats you know that do not have email or you know did not receive this information since I do not have a complete list of DEC members.
The cost of the breakfast is $15, and you are welcome to have breakfast with us or not, just make sure you attend and turn in your Delegate form.
Please RSVP by Friday, May 8th, 2009, via email or phone 305-275-0807, and indicate if you are attending and if you will be having breakfast. I need this to notify the restaurant so they can prepare the back meeting room, by the mirrors.
Democratically yours,
Millie Herrera
Immediate Past President of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida
FDP Central and Executive Committee Member
FDP Affirmative Action Committee Member
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Richard Charman, Director of Business Development
Toll Free: 1(866)635-1306
Miami Local: (305)636-4400
On Call Manager: (786)210-4967
Faxsimile: (786)879-8855
eMail us: Supportservices@net-tronics.com
Site suggestions: webmaster@net-tronics.com
Richard Charman, Director of Business Development
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