Minutes of meeting 9-6-22
McCormick County Democratic Party
Meeting September 6, 2022
New Business:
Cherry asked for volunteers to meet at the old football field between 2pm – 5pm to set up a MCDP table to try and encourage new Voters. Jo Ann Ritchie and Renee Finney volunteered. Details of this event can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/911-southern-soul-concert-tickets-326738021217
“Why I Will Vote” Discussion:
Cherry Brown asked that if you are running for an elected position and are asking for funding, please send her a written statement as to what amount of funding you need. Also, if you donate any money to the MCDP you cannot just take up a collection. You must write your name down and how much you donated so that Mary Shirley can report this to the Ethics Commission. We will modify the sign-in sheets so that a donation amount will be noted on the forms.
Joan Stockton – Voting discussion
Joan has put together Voting brochures and has asked that folks review the brochures for her to make changes before she prints them out for distribution to the public. She has also passed around a form for poll watching volunteers and if she needs to train new poll watching volunteers. There are 2 new poll locations in SLV for size accommodation - the Lutheran Church and the McCormick Country Club.
** Early Voting begins October 24 thru November 5th **
Betty Rogge – MCDP Web site discussion
Respectfully submitted,
Renee Finney, Secretary
Meeting September 6, 2022
- Meeting called to order by Chairwoman Brown at 5:30 p.m.
- Prayer/Blessing given by Mr. Banks
- Chairwoman Brown recognized elected and appointed individuals present: County Officials, County Coroner, Ministers and School Board Committee members
- MCDP Fish Fry: Jo Ann Ritchie discussed the Fish Fry and the current status of the planning.
- Date: Oct 8th, 10am – 2pm. At the American Legion Hall
- Need volunteers to sign up for food donations, tasks such as kitchen preparation help and/or kitchen cleanup on the 4 forms that were passed around the group.
- Jo Ann will put together a master list and send this out to everyone. Donations will be collected the day before the fish fry (Oct 7th) at the American Legion Hall. She will also email further details in an email to all.
- General discussion concerning how to advertise the fish fry – through the McCormick Messenger paper? Index Journal? Or radio stations in Greenwood / Abbeville. We also need to look at donors for the Fish Fry as it was brought up that Trav Roberts has been a big donor in the past. Cherry Brown will research further.
New Business:
- Cherry Brown acknowledged the elected officials at the meeting – Miss Anne Parks, Mr. Jennings and Miss Childs. Cherry asked if they had any words to share with the Party.
- Anne Parks from SCDP District 12 addressed the MCDP: Ann thanked the McCormick County for all of their support over the years. Ann mentioned the disheartening news of the abortion bill that was debated last week and she has a bad feeling about the ramifications of this bill – that even more women will not receive needed medical care in South Carolina.
- Mr. Charles Jennings addressed the MCDP: Charles thanks the MCDP for the support and that we all need to encourage people to vote as the word out in the streets is that the GOP are recruiting anyone to run for political positions – just to oppose the MCDP.
- Ms. Verteema Chiles is running for reelection to the School Board of which there are 3 open position and there are 7 people running for the non-partisan position. Ms. Chiles has been on the board (previous Chairman of the board) since 2013 and regularly attends all meetings.
- Cherry asked that we keep Mrs. Jennings in our prayers.
Cherry asked for volunteers to meet at the old football field between 2pm – 5pm to set up a MCDP table to try and encourage new Voters. Jo Ann Ritchie and Renee Finney volunteered. Details of this event can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/911-southern-soul-concert-tickets-326738021217
“Why I Will Vote” Discussion:
- Cherry asked that the MCDP members think about the reasons why we vote prior to the meeting. Cherry read the responses that were posted on the wall of which Cherry read them aloud. “It’s our duty” and “To Save Democracy” were some of the common thoughts.
- It is estimated if we can get 175,000 Democrats to vote in the mid-terms, we can flip the state.
Cherry Brown asked that if you are running for an elected position and are asking for funding, please send her a written statement as to what amount of funding you need. Also, if you donate any money to the MCDP you cannot just take up a collection. You must write your name down and how much you donated so that Mary Shirley can report this to the Ethics Commission. We will modify the sign-in sheets so that a donation amount will be noted on the forms.
Joan Stockton – Voting discussion
Joan has put together Voting brochures and has asked that folks review the brochures for her to make changes before she prints them out for distribution to the public. She has also passed around a form for poll watching volunteers and if she needs to train new poll watching volunteers. There are 2 new poll locations in SLV for size accommodation - the Lutheran Church and the McCormick Country Club.
** Early Voting begins October 24 thru November 5th **
Betty Rogge – MCDP Web site discussion
- Betty discussed the fact that the MCDP Chair, Secretary, Treasurer have been using their own private email accounts for MDCP business. Betty has set up specific MCDP email addresses for the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. She has also set up a primary MDCP email address which is: MCCORMICKDEMOCRATS@GMAIL.COM of which Marion Farina has direct access.
- Betty asked for volunteers to maintain/update the MCDP Facebook account and the Chamber of Commerce – MCDP input account. Ann Marie Smith volunteered for both accounts, however Cherry asked that Renee Finney (as Secretary) work with Ann Marie for MCDP Chamber of Commerce information. Renee agreed.
- Betty announced that she and her husband Ernie are planning on moving back to their hometown in Ohio. They will continue to help the MCDP until they move – which a date is still undetermined. They will definitely be missed!
Respectfully submitted,
Renee Finney, Secretary
