NEWS FROM THE COCONINO COUNTY DEMOCRATS
May 4, 2024
In this edition: Hear from and about this year’s award recipients, honored at the Roosevelt – Kennedy Gala event. Put this month’s Action Meeting on your calendar. Help us recruit energetic organizers for the upcoming campaign, or sign up yourself for volunteer voter protection. We continue to collect signatures for the reproductive rights petition, serve our community at the Flagstaff Family Food Center, and more in our work to defend democracy – join us!
Letter from Our Chair
Dear Community,
Hooray, hooray, it’s the first of May and the tulips have had their first snow bath.
I’m still basking in the glow of our beautiful and wildly successful 24th annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Gala. Thank you to our co-chairs Harriett Young and Karan English, and the entire RK Committee, for all the hard work and many hours you donated to the effort. Thanks to 1st Vice Chair Nancy Branham; she organized the Day Match Donor fundraiser which raised more money than any other effort in our history. Altogether, the RK event raised over $60,000 and has put us in a great position to elect more Democrats in 2024.
The Coconino County Democratic Party is run by volunteers and fueled by donations. If you are still looking for how and where you can help, be assured we have a place for you. We offer in-person volunteer training at our office at 12:00 on the second and at 5:30 on the fourth Tuesday of every month. The Flagstaff Community Farmers’ Market starts this weekend and we’ll be fielding Arizona for Abortion Access circulators every Sunday through June, until petitions are due. We need volunteers to meet our commitment to serve meals at the Family Food Center once a month. Our first event of the season was Earth Day, and we will continue to need volunteers throughout the summer for tabling at festivals and fairs. Do you like to meet people and answer the phone? Consider volunteering a few hours a week to increase our outreach capacity.
Let’s be ready when the Coordinated Campaign opens their Flagstaff office. Let us know if you want to canvass, phone bank, text bank, or be part of the site launch team for the coordinated effort to elect Democrats from the bottom of the ballot to the top. If you are interested in paid work for Coconino County Elections, click here. If you want to learn about serving as a volunteer Poll Observer, click here and contact us at info@coconinodemocrats.org.
Blue Arizona 2024,
Laura
A highlight of each year’s Roosevelt – Kennedy Gala evening is our recognition of outstanding leaders and contributors through the presentation of awards from the County Party. Hear from this year’s honorees and about two special awards given to recognize lifetime achievements.
Susan Shapiro of Indivisible Northern Arizona received the Chair’s Award.
“I was honored to accept the Chair’s Award at the Coconino County Democratic Party R-K Gala on behalf of Indivisible Northern AZ, in recognition of our partnership in establishing the AZ for Abortion Access Petition Hub. This undertaking required a lot of resources, and the Coconino Dems and Indivisible NAZ each had components of what was needed. We also had an organizing team ready to go from our work together on the Flagstaff Abortion Alliance (which also includes the AZ Student Association and Flagstaff Women’s March). The key ingredient to our success has been the understanding and trust that our organizations don’t compete – we complement each other. And that together, we have more combined power to get abortion access on the ballot, and to win elections in November. Thank you again for the partnership and for bestowing this honor upon Indivisible Northern AZ.”
Adam Shimoni received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award.
“I am deeply honored for the recognition of my work in creating a culture of engagement. Eleanor Roosevelt is an inspiration to me and I am humbled in receiving an award in her honor. From my early days of activism with my group “Speak Up: bridging the gap between local people and local politics” to my international efforts with Ultimate Peace, I have been amazed by what can be achieved when a small group of dedicated individuals work collaboratively. The City Council looked very different in 2013 when I first engaged with Council as an activist and I am very proud of our current Council – we have come a long way. Since completing my service on the City Council, I have been fortunate to join a number of non profit boards. I serve as the board secretary for Native Americans for Community Action (NACA). I serve as a board member of Flagstaff Biking Organization and I serve on the leadership team of Ultimate Peace.
I continue to encourage locals to use their voices to speak up and engage in local government. All politics are local and we have lots of work to do. That being said, I feel that we are heading in a good direction with good people in office.
A big thank you to the Coconino County Democrats for the award and an even bigger shout out to all of you who are doing your part to be engaged. At times the work can seem daunting, but if we each do what we can, I believe we will thrive.
“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up … discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.” – E. Roosevelt
The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords, retired Congesswoman, received the inaugural Spirit of Democracy award.
The 2024 Presidential Election presents us with an unprecedented challenge to American Democracy and provides every voter with an unparalleled opportunity to preserve it. The Roosevelt-Kennedy Gala committee created a new award in recognition of the immense courage and effort it takes to keep our country free from the forces that would tear down the institutions and laws protecting our human rights and dignity. The inaugural winner of The Spirit of Democracy is former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Her husband, Senator Mark Kelly, received the honor and thanked the Coconino County Democratic Party on her behalf via video.
The award is a professionally framed photograph of Vishnu Temple in the Grand Canyon, a fitting image for a woman whose enormous efforts to serve constituents challenged her very life, and whose work continues to promote the grand ideals of Democracy. Michael Collier is a well known photographer, capturing some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Southwest. He donated his art in appreciation of the work and dedication of Representative Gabby Giffords.
Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen, in her final year of service, received special commendation for her dedication to democracy.
The Coconino County Democratic Party was pleased to honor County Recorder Patty
Hansen for her many years of exemplary service to the voters of Coconino County.
Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett presented Ms. Hansen with a proclamation citing her record of clean, fair, transparent, safe, and legal elections and awarded her a key to the city of Flagstaff. Former County Recorders Helen Hudgins Farrell and Candace Owens joined them on stage at our 24th annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Gala in a moving tribute to the lifelong efforts of County Recorder Hansen to ensure that every eligible voter casts their ballot, and every vote counts. Thank you, Patty Hansen, for your commitment to Coconino County and the democratic values we hold dear.
2024 Roosevelt – Kennedy Gala Dinner
Energy filled the High Country Conference Center on Saturday, April 20, as Coconino County Democrats and their friends celebrated democracy at the Roosevelt – Kennedy Dinner. Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes joined us, along with many other elected officials and candidates. We don’t have space here for the scores of great photos from the evening – but you can visit our new photo gallery on Flickr here to relive the many moments and faces!
Coconino Democrats’s albums | Flickr
Clean Elections Funding
For the price of a latte at your local coffee shop, you can help one of our Clean Elections candidates earn their campaign funding! We have Democratic candidates for LD 7 and for the Arizona Corporation Commission running under the Clean Elections rules. That means they are collecting a minimum number of $5 donations in order to qualify for base funding – while committing NOT to take PAC or corporate funding. $5 for some genuine choice on our ballot – a great deal, right?
Go to the Secretary of State website where these donations are collected (link below) and donate to any of our candidates you want to see out on the campaign trail!
Clean Elections Funding
For the price of a latte at your local coffee shop, you can help one of our Clean Elections candidates earn their campaign funding! We have Democratic candidates for LD 7 and for the Arizona Corporation Commission running under the Clean Elections rules. That means they are collecting a minimum number of $5 donations in order to qualify for base funding – while committing NOT to take PAC or corporate funding. $5 for some genuine choice on our ballot – a great deal, right?
Go to the Secretary of State website where these donations are collected (link below) and donate to any of our candidates you want to see out on the campaign trail!
Join Us in Outreach to Our Community
The 2024 Event season is underway! Local favorite Flagstaff First Friday Art Walk is May 3rd and the Coconino County Democratic Party office in the Historic Ice House will be open for Arizona for Abortion Access petition signing and friendship bracelet making, 5 -7 pm. The Flagstaff Community Farmers’ Market opens this weekend. Due to construction at City Hall, you will find our booth at a new location near the library. On May 8th we’ll be registering new voters all day at Flagstaff High School. Hullabaloo is our first festival, June 1 and 2, with Flagstaff Pride in the Pines and Juneteenth following on June 15. We warmly encourage circulators for the AAA petition and voter information tablers to sign up for shifts on Mobilize (go to mobilize.us and enter “Coconino” in the search box) for events and volunteer opportunities all summer long – or write us at info@coconinodemocrats.org to indicate your interest.
Saturday, May 11, 10 am – noon
Murdoch Center, 203 E. Brannen, Flagstaff
or via Zoom (link below)
We’ll hear from Deb Harris about the history of Southside and the Murdoch Center, where we are privileged to meet each month. And we will be organizing for the upcoming primary and general elections. Join your fellow Defenders of Democracy for a fun and energizing morning!
CC Dems is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Monthly Action Meeting
Time: April 13, 2024 10:00 AM Arizona
Monthly:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88520216983?pwd=MFBHVDdEMHo1cVkwNTNKL3VhRi9nQT09
Meeting ID: 885 2021 6983
Passcode: 121050
Observing at the Polls and in the Elections Center:
Helping and Representing Voters
Help keep our elections safe, secure, legal, and transparent! Learn more about roles with the ADP Voter Protection Team here. Poll observers are the eyes and ears ensuring that any difficulties at a polling place are detected and corrected quickly. Meanwhile observers who watch the receiving of ballots on Election Night, and the tabulation of ballots at the central Elections Center, are our best defense against distrust in our elections. The Arizona Democratic Party supplies training and excellent support for our observers. Our huge county has dozens of diverse polling places – help us cover the ground so that all registered voters can exercise their right to vote! Contact info@coconinodemocrats.org about your interest.
Help the Coordinated Campaign recruit effective organizers!
The Arizona Democratic Party seeks to hire full-time organizers to fuel its Coordinated Campaign through this election cycle. People with deep connections to local communities and commitment to our democracy are being hired now. If you know of good candidates – or if you are interested yourself in stepping up! – use this link to learn more and to apply.
Arizona for Abortion Access Ballot Initiative
As you know, the Coconino County Democrats office has been circulating the Arizona for Abortion Access (AAA) ballot initiative petitions. We serve as a home for the alliance of groups gathering signatures and promoting this key proposal for reproductive rights. And as you also know, the Arizona Supreme Court last week highlighted the urgency of this measure by ruling that the virtual ban on all abortions (even those stemming from rape or incest), dating back to before Arizona’s statehood, is current law in the state.
We continue to collect signatures for this initiative, not just to ensure it makes it onto the November ballot, but to inform and activate voters to build turnout in the general election. If you haven’t yet talked to friends and neighbors about the initiative, please consider filling just one petition page and returning it to us to be notarized and submitted!
The AAA Campaign requires that all petition circulators must first complete an official petition circulator training. Right now there are online trainings available by registering with Healthcare Rising and/ or Arizona’s List. The Coconino Democratic Party and Indivisible NAZ are hosting a monthly in-person training. The next will be at 11am, March 23, 2024.
Check out Arizona’s List, Healthcare Rising, our website calendar & our Mobilize page for news, updates, and training information.
- You can stop by on TUESDAYS and Fridays between 11:30 AM-1:30 PM to pick up petitions and also to have them notarized.
- May 11 1pm – 5pm, please help!Volunteer to circulate your AAA petitions at Dark Sky Brewing
- New approach! Indivisible provides a free tool that gives you a list of 10 neighbors who are likely to sign the petition. You do not need to be a member to use this tool! You’ll get a sample script and optional print out to leave behind if no one is home. Here’s the link to get your list: https://indivisibleproject.formstack.com/forms/neighbor_to_neighbor_az_signatures
New this spring: First Fridays with the Coconino Democrats!
- Visit us at the Historic Ice House May 3, from 5PM-8PM, to view the ongoing art displays, and stop by the Coconino County Democratic Party office to SIGN THE ARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACCESS PETITION and learn how to get involved. Pick up a temporary tattoo or make a button from one of our designs!
Getting this initiative onto the 2024 ballot will be key to turning out the vote and winning all races from re-electing Biden to flipping our legislature. We value your help!
Coconino County Democrats volunteer to serve dinner at the
Flagstaff Family Food Center Kitchen on the First Thursday of each month.
We serve meals from 3PM to 6PM at their kitchen,
located at 1903 N. 2nd Street, Flagstaff, AZ.
We’re looking for folks to serve meals on
May 2 and June 6, 2024.
Sign up here!
To share an upcoming event in our bi-monthly newsletter or the monthly events calendar on our website, please email us the details by Friday prior to each newsletter.
Fight for Democracy. Protect our Freedoms.
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