Seeing Lights on a Horizon

It may be cold, and, darn, it is still COVID, but your Democratic Party has been busy – settling into our new HQ, participating in the Catawba County Branch NAACP’s “Martin Luther King Jr. Let Freedom Ring Parade,” planning February’s precinct meetings, finalizing the strategic plan to present at the Feb. 22 meeting, and more.

On that note, as reported recently, Gavin Gabriel submitted his resignation as CCDP 1st Vice Chair effective Jan. 25. He’s taking on a new role with the NC NAACP and as it’s nonpartisan he needed to step down as a political party officer. Here’s what Gavin, a wise, empathic servant leader, said in his resignation letter: “…it has been a pleasure to work with all of you wonderful, liberal-minded, climate-loving folks. Though I will be at a different table, I look forward to what we may be able to accomplish together in the future.”

Per the NC Democratic Party’s Plan of Organization, we must fill this vacancy within 30 days. One of the items of business, then, at our Feb. 22, 7 pm Zoom meeting will be to elect a new 1st Vice Chair. We’ll have a reminder before the meeting, but we’ll accept nominations from the “Zoom floor” on Feb. 22.

Many thanks to Kim Naff and Nancy Miller, who sketched out an approach to efficiently – and effectively – conduct the precinct meetings on Zoom and also in the Feb. 5–19 timeframe called for by the NC Dem Party. And, many thanks to Flavia Dietrich, Lake Norman chair and Strategic Plan committee chair, for stepping up to provide vital help with organizing, scheduling, and supporting these meetings.

We have reached out to the leaders of the precincts that were organized last year and are also promoting the meetings on social media to encourage interest as well as to help identify prospective precinct activists.

Precinct organization is important work: It is grassroots organization and we need all hands-on-deck to help elect a Democratic Senator from North Carolina in 2022.

If you do not know your precinct, you can find it through the North Carolina State Board of Elections’ Voter Search tool. And, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at lynndorfman@gmail.com. All currently scheduled meetings are on the calendar with precinct names attached, but if you think you can get 4 of your fellow Democrats with you from your precinct or yours and an adjoining unorganized precinct, we still have room to schedule more meetings.

Stay warm. Stay healthy. I look forward to “seeing” you on Feb. 22.

In the coming weeks after precinct organization, we'll plan and announce the county convention as well as a ribbon cutting and open house for our new headquarters. Look forward to a coming post with pictures and more info, but regulars to meetings have already seen the space and how well it's coming along. Many thanks to Joanie Gardner (our new landlord and longtime CCDP activist) for helping to make it happen!