June 10, 2007
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WHCDC Minutes for 5/15/2007 Meeting
Western Howard County Democratic Club Meeting Minutes - May 15, 2007
- Special Guest – Brad Heavner, Executive Director of the Maryland Public Interest Research Group (MaryPIRG)
- Brad started by noting that MaryPIRG has divided into two groups to allow one to focus on environmental issues. MaryPIRG is continuing under that name and Environment Maryland (web site: www.) is the new group.
- He reported on the outcome of environmental issues in the recent Maryland legislative session, saying it could be called the “environment session” because of the success of the session – they got most of what they lobbied for.
- The biggest success was the Clean Cars Act making our state standards consistent with California’s and a consortium of northeastern states.
- A global warming bill was defeated, but it was considered a success to get it to the floor for a vote this session – it will be brought up again in the future.
- The governor has formed a commission, to meet this summer, to look at global warming issues.
- A couple of bad Smart Growth bills failed and the governor is also creating a task force on Growth Management Issues this summer.
- A Stormwater Management Act was passed to control runoff from new developments and require environmental design plans through zoning codes.
- With this bill Maryland joins New Jersey with the strictest standards.
- A bill was passed to require increasing solar power as part of the electric grid – the third strongest solar energy legislation in the country.
- Another celebration was around the budget for Project Open Space – the program received all of the money collected from real estate transfer taxes this year. In the past monies have been diverted to other budgets.
- There was no opposition to appointees by the governor to environmentally sensitive positions.
- Club business
- The Nominating Committee put forward a slate of officers that were elected without opposition. The officers are:
- President: Clyde Robinette
- Vice-President: Bill Hudock
- Secretary: Mearl Grabill
- Treasurer: Jim Mellicant
- The Nominating Committee put forward a slate of officers that were elected without opposition. The officers are:
- The Executive Board will be made of the officers and Chairs of the Standing Committees
- The Standing Committees are:
- Issues/Platform: This committee will bring forward issues for the club to consider and provide resources for meeting programs.
- Ways and Means: This committee will be responsible for fundraising to collect and distribute money.
- Voter Services: This committee will be responsible for voter outreach, including working with the Neighborhood Contact Program, voter registration and coordination with the Central Committee.
- Membership: This committee will be responsible for outreach to increase membership in the club.
- Communication: This committee will be responsible for managing the web site, working on public relations activities, letters to the editor, and press releases.
- Please let us know if you are interested in working with one of these committees.
- The Standing Committees are:
- Announcements
- Jefferson-Jackson Dinner –Mearl provided a final update before the dinner. He is short on the funds he needs to cover the students he invited to attend. Please see Mearl if you are interested in sponsoring one of the students.
- Blood Drive – The Blood Drive is scheduled for Saturday, June 16th at the Howard County Conservancy – please contact Jim Adams to schedule a time – more information will be on the web site
Our next meeting is Tuesday June 19th at the Howard County Conservancy. Our special guest will be Racheline Bonacci, Director of Howard County Tourism Office. We will also hear about the Neighborhood Contact Program that will be a top project for WHCDC. Please join us if you can….
Submitted:
Clyde Robinette and Romayne Smith, Club co-founders.
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