Flagler County Democratic Party E-Newsletter

Publisher DEC Volume Number 1 Issue Number 3 Date: March, 2011

Message from the Chair:

Hi Everyone, The Republican dominated Florida Legislature and the Florida Governor's Office has drastically reduced funding and aid to local governments. That in turn has led local governments, including Flagler County's governmental entities, to trim the fat and operate as economically as possible. But, if the economy doesn't improve very soon, there will not be enough revenue coming into the local government to maintain services at their current levels. At that time, we will face a difficult choice: reduce services or raise Taxes. I think it is incumbent that all residents of Flagler County take some time and reflect upon those two choices. Inform your elected officials of your heartfelt choices and those services that you are willing to reduce or eliminate. Do not just echo the current knee jerk slogan, "No More Taxes!" Yours Democratically, Dan Parham Chair Flagler Democratic Executive Committee (DEC)

Policy The Flagler County Democratic Executive Committee ( FCDEC) is responsible for discharging Florida Democratic Party affairs within Flagler County.

Location:
One Hargrove Grade Bldg A. Suite 1D Palm Coast, Florida 32164 P.O. BOX 350928, Palm Coast,32135

Dates and Location of DEC and Club Meetings

Our Democratic Executive Committee Meets the 2nd Monday of every month at 7 pm. Please note the change of location indicated below. This change goes into effect with this months meeting, March 14th, 2011, at 7 pm. Hope to see you there. BRING A FRIEND. The Democratic Executive Committee meeting location have changed. Our new Location will be The Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE ( on Clubhouse Drive; between East and Westbound Palm Coast Parkway) IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE THIS E-NEWSLETTER. PLEASE ADVISE THEM OF THE NEW LOCATION Our Flagler County Democratic Club meets the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7pm. This months meeting will be on March 22nd ,2011, at Las Palmas- Palm Coast Senior Living Ctr. Location: 70 Town Court, Palm Coast Fl.. Call (386)-447-3667 for best directions The Womens Democratic Club meets the 1st. Saturday of every month at 11 am. Please call Dem. HQ for time and location. (386)-283-4904 ,Courtney Chaplin, President.

This Months Information :Things you should know.

Florida: State and Local Updates/ Highlights

Voter Registration Locations

Supervisor of Elections Office 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Building 2, Suite 101, Bunnell, FL 32110 (386) 313-4170 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm Department of Motor Vehicles / Drivers License Division, County Tax Collector 1769 E Moody Blvd., Bunnell, FL 32110 (386) 313-4160 OR 7 N. Kings Rd #12 Palm Coast (386) 313-4160 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Parkway Palm Coast (386) 446-6763 Mon-Thu 9am8pm, Fri 9am6pm, Sat 9am-5pm Flagler Beach Library 309 S. 7th Street Flagler Beach (386) 517-2030 Mon-Closed, Tue 1pm-8pm, Wed 10am-5pm, Thu 1pm-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-5pm Florida Department of Children & Family Services 105 S. Bacher Street Bunnell, FL 32110 (866) 301-4382 Flagler County Health Department 301 S. Lemon Street, Bunnell, FL 32110 (386) 437-7350 Mail Registration Applications available at most banks, schools, post offices, libraries, or city halls and the state web site.

Familiar Slogans and More Familiar Questions as 2-Day Economic Development Summit Ends FlaglerLive | March 5, 2011 It was left up to Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon to remind the assembled that slogans dont make economic development policy, and unity of message is still far from a given in a county with diverse interests and constituencies.

Update / Highlights from Washington: Senator Bill Nelson

February 18, 2011 A bipartisan group of the state's political and business leaders have pursued high-speed rail in Florida for decades, because it means more than $2.4 billion in economic aid, thousands of construction jobs and a modern transportation link between several of the states largest cities. Thats why I support it. Im joined by state lawmakers and many members of Florida's congressional delegation, who also question the governors decision to kill high-speed rail. One is U.S. Rep. John Mica, the Winter Park Republican who chairs the House Transportation Committee. Also, federal transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican, has expressed disappointment. If Florida doesnt take the money, another state will. So, some of us will look for ways to save the rail project. Meantime, please dont hesitate to pass along your thoughts.

This article was take from Senator Bill Nelsons E-Newsletter . Contact the Senator by email at: billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm or local number 1-(888)-671-4091 Small Business Update:
The www.treasury.gov/SBLF web site has been updated with additional guidance concerning Initial and Quarterly Supplemental Reports required from participating institutions. Templates of these reports are now available on the site. Questions? Contact Us

If your links are not working copy and paste them into your browser and hit enter.

STATEMENT FOR AMERICA SAVES WEEK J. Mark Iwry Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury and Deputy Assistant Secretary (Retirement and Health Policy) Saving is fundamentally important in helping American families achieve economic security. As President Obama has said, Having too little in savings not only leaves people financially ill-prepared for retirement, but also for whatever challenges life brings. It places in jeopardy so many dreams, from owning a home to attending college. And, importantly, by increasing funds available for investment, saving also contributes to the long term growth of our economy. We can become a nation of savers. Employers can do their part by sponsoring workplace plans for employees that make saving easier and more automatic, expanding automatic enrollment and automatic increases in 401(k) plans, extending automatic saving to the tens of millions of middle- and lower-income workers who have no plan at work, and, as our economy continues to recover, restoring and increasing employer matching and other contributions. And government can do its part, on a bipartisan basis, by expanding the range of choices for workers who want to save and making saving easier as the Administration has been doing for millions of American families. The government maintains a website that has the basics about financial education, including guidelines for saving, investing, and planning for retirement. Savers can visit MyMoney.gov to learn more.

Information from February 2011 Letter

THE VOICE OF CWA LOCAL 1180 RETIREES

HOW TO RESPOND WHEN SOMEONE SAYS Social Security is burying our children in mountains of debt!
Social Security has not added a single cent to the federal budget deficit. The federal government doesnt fund Social Security- American workers do. Think about it: Social Security is funded directly by payroll contributions divided equally between workers and their employers. As such, it has its own dedicated source of revenue and it is fully financed for years to come. Todays youth are falling behind their parents generation due to a decline in quality, American jobs and a failure to adopt policies that help young families balance their roles as workers and parents.

Gov. Scotts Budget, Moveon.org

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206571&id=26416-14521039-BGSQ3Xx&t=1 Gov. Scott's budget, combined with devastating proposals from the legislature, would cut billions from our public schools, harm the quality of health care Floridians receive, and cut thousands of jobs.1 Gov. Scott's plan is so extreme that even top state Republicans have criticized it.2 And just last week Gov. Scott pushed things even further by admitting on national television he would be in favor of amending the Florida Constitution to get rid of collective bargaining rights for public employeesthe exact same measure that sparked so much outrage in Wisconsins

Events/ Outreach: Reminder: Regular scheduled Meeting of DEC is Monday March 14, 2011@ 7pm. New location: Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE ( on Clubhouse Dr. between East and Westbound Palm Coast Parkway) Staff Meeting: Wednesday March 23, 2011 @11 am. One Hargrove Grade, Bldg A, Suite 1D. Palm Coast. Reminder: Regular scheduled Meeting of The Democratic Clubs is March 22nd @ 7 pm. 2011, Las Palmas - Palm Coast Senior Ctr. ( for best directions call (386)447-3667) This notice from the Democratic Executive Committee continues to be an URGENT! matter: Please be advised that many Precincts are still in need of Captains. Contact the DEC at Office Mon.-Fri. 11am to 2pm. to sign-up to cover your Precinct. ( 386) 283-4904.

Phone number, Web-Site & email

(386) 283-4904> http://wwwflaglerdemocrats.us flaglercntydem@gmail.com

About the Ambassador Club In 2006, Democrats recognized the need to provide permanent facilities and substantive support for the day-to-day operations of the Flagler County Democratic Party. The idea was to present a consistent and a viable presence of Democrats year round and year-to-year. With the support of its membership, the Ambassador Club generated the funds to locate a permanent site, support its day-to-day operational costs, and , consequently, allow access to Flagler County Democrats via a central facility. This central facility has become a response center and has provided Democratic candidates with communication media access as well as a variety of support services. The site also is a hub for leadership training, small group meetings, and strategy sessions. Membership in the Ambassador Club entitles you to special discounts and VIP seating and identifies you as one, committed to the overall success of the party and its candidates, who has provided an extra boost . HOW DO I JOIN? The Membership fee is $120 per person annually. Payment may be made to the Flagler County DEC by check or credit card This amount may be paid in full or in installments and should be directed o the address on the membership form MEMBERSHIP FORM Name_________________________ Phone/ e-mail________________________ Adress_________________________________________________________ _check. Flagler County DEC. P.O. Box 350928 Palm Coast, FL.032135 Phone: (386)283-4904 Email: flaglercntydem@gmail.com

SIB-lings on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=157655541546&ref=search&sid=1168422153.2665596190..1

Follow the SIB-lings on Facebook. Check out their Web-site above. All content on this Web-site is for your information only.

___________________________________________________________________________________ ARTICLE SUBMITTED BY: SANDRA PARKS I wrote this article as a guest column for the St. Augustine Record. Please send this along to anyone interested. Thanks Sandra Merit pay bill presents too many problems. On March 9 the Florida Senate will vote on SB 736, which will specify state-wide policies for teachers' and administrators' evaluation, compensation, and employment. 50% of such evaluations will be based on student performance on FCAT over a 3-year period. While the Senate Education committee chaired by Senator Steven Wise has allowed more input from educators and the public than last year's more seriously flawed SB-6, it contains many of the same problems: . Over-reliance on a single high-stakes test that was not designed for the policy decisions for which it is used. Because teachers, parents, and children know that students cannot show what they have learned on one examination, their stress and resentment of this test will only be intensified as students know that their teachers' livelihoods will now depend on their scores. Race to the Top requires that the 50% of teacher evaluation must be based on student achievement; it does not require that either teacher evaluation or compensation must be based on one test! FCAT should be one of several measures (achievement tests, end-of-unit tests, graphics, writing assignments, term papers, projects, and media presentations) to give a more adequate, year-long evaluation of student learning. . Prohibits advanced degrees from being a factor in determining salary, unless it is in the individual's area of certification. Elementary teachers often secure a master's degree in reading, special education, and gifted education because these specialties are not offered at the undergraduate level. These degrees offer more background and require more evaluation than renewing certification by staff development or taking a few courses. Few undergraduate programs offer sufficient subject content to adequately prepare secondary science or social studies teachers to teach either general or advanced courses. In rural counties secondary teachers often have to teach three or four science, social studies, or mathematics courses for which they are unprepared and may seek a masters' in the related subjects in order to be qualified. . Requires school districts to develop assessments for grades and subjects not tested by FCAT. Duval County spent millions

developing 900 such tests. At a time when the legislature intends to cut state funding, this un-funded mandate places an undue financial burden on each county to develop end- of-grade tests whose validity will be untested. . Lacks research basis. This bill assumes that performance pay results in improved student learning. Reports about the results of merit pay are mixed. The first experimental/controlled research on the effects of bonuses, reported in 2010 by the National Center for Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt University, showed that merit pay had no effect on student achievement. Across the country school districts and state legislatures are grappling with this issue. It is too soon to know the effects of such policies on student learning or the teaching profession. . Eliminates professional service contracts for teachers hired after July 1, 2011. There has to be a middle ground between career tenure and an annual contract. In what other field would professionals commit to a position with one year's job security? An illness, a divorce, or teaching an unusually challenging group of students may cause a teacher to be dismissed! Senator Wise's committee gave conscientious consideration to this complex bill and, with the Race to the Top incentives, has moved this whole issue forward. But SB-736 has too many serious consequences for teachers and local taxpayers to merit passage. Stop this bill now and give DOE and this committee a year to fix it before this legislation has a chilling effect on Florida's teaching profession, requires additional property taxes, and creates greater distress for our children and families. For over thirty years Sandra Parks has been a curriculum and professional development consultant, serving school districts and universities in forty states, Canada, Mexico, and the UK. She holds advanced degrees in curriculum from the University of South Florida and the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Please make note of the change in e-mail address for the Flagler County Democratic Party ( DEC) . This change is due to the expansion of Democratic Contacts. The new e-mail address is :flaglercntydem@gmail.com

VOLUNTEER/DONATE
Please note - All other web-sites listed are being sent for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement from Flagler County Democratic Party. This information is being sent to those parties who have requested newsletters, announcements, meetings and information from the Flagler County Democratic Party.

Paid for and authorized by the Flagler County Democratic Party.