Return of your green Democratic petitions to put our endorsed candidates on the ballot in the Democratic Primary in September.
If you cannot attend but have signed petitions to return, please call 460-9896 to make arrangements for receiving your petitions.

• Discussion of any possible changes in the by-laws regarding term limits
• Discussion of terms, size and duties of the executive committee
• Discussion of setting up scheduled times for upcoming meetings
• Discussion of governance and oversight of the webpage

DID member, Jeff Kurzon, is serving on Barack Obama's Tri-State Finance Committee. He is holding a Downtown Fundraiser for Barack on Saturday, June 28th at 7 pm at 108 Wooster Street, SoHo. If you are interested in attending this or other Obama campaign events, or helping out on the Obama campaign, please contact Jeff at jeffkurzon@gmail.com

Downtown Independent Democrats will be electing club officers and at-large members of the executive committee for the remaining 2008 term.

To be qualified to vote, members must have paid 2007 dues and have paid their 2008 dues prior to or at this meeting; new members who live in the DID district and have paid their 2008 dues prior to Feb. 29, or new members who live outside the DID district and paid dues prior to Nov. 29, are also eligible.

Nominations for candidates for the officer positions must be received no later than the DID Endorsement Meeting on May 29. The officer positions are as follows: President, Vice Presidents (2), Treasurer, and Secretary.

With the September primaries rapidly approaching and petitioning season just weeks away, the Downtown Independent Democrats will be hearing from the candidates for the various offices and voting on club endorsements.

DID's District Leaders Adam Silvera, Jean Grillo, David Reck and Linda Belfer invite you to meet:

• US Congress, NY-8, Jerrold Nadler (incumbent) and Carla Nordstrom
• US Congress, NY-14, Carolyn Maloney (incumbent, unopposed)
• NYS Senate, 29th Dist., Tom Duane (incumbent, unopposed)
• NYS Senate, 25th Dist., Martin Connor (incumbent) and Daniel Squadron
• NYS Assembly, 64th AD, Sheldon Silver (incumbent), Luke Henry and Paul Newell
• NYS Assembly, 66th AD, Deborah Glick (incumbent, unopposed)

There are also judicial vacancies in the Surrogate and Civil Courts for which there will be elections, but until the candidates are reported out of the screening panels, we don't know who will be on the ballot for these positions. This will be announced later.

Other elected positions that will appear on the ballot in September are NY State Democratic Committee and County Judicual Delegates.

All members of DID are urged to attend and share their views of the various candidates. Members who are qualified to vote in club elections will determine the club's official endorsements. To be qualified to vote, members must have paid 2007 dues and have paid their 2008 dues prior to or at this meeting; new members who live in the DID district and have paid their 2008 dues prior to Feb. 29, or new members who live outside the DID district and paid dues prior to Nov. 29, are also eligible.

This will also be the final opportunity to nominate candidates for club officers for the remainder of the 2008 term in advance of the June 4 club officer elections. If you cannot be present for the meeting yet would like to serve, please make known your willingness by emailing us at sweeney@downtowndems.org. Your name will be added to the list of candidates. The officer positions are as follows: President, Vice Presidents (2), Treasurer, and Secretary.

At the 2008 Annual General Meeting, Downtown Independent Democrats will be electing club officers and members of the executive committee for the upcoming year.

If you cannot be present for the meeting yet would like to serve, please make known your willingness by emailing us at sweeney@downtowndems.org. Your name will be added to the list of candidates.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a member of DID and not current with your 2008-09 membership payment, you may renew your membership at this meeting.

This month’s featured speaker at DID will be NYC Councilmember David Yassky of Brooklyn.

Councilmember Yassky’s district includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Dumbo, Boerum Hill and Park Slope. Prior to being elected to the City Council, Yassky served as chief counsel to the House Subcommittee on Crime, chaired by Rep. Charles Schumer. He was also previously a member of the faculty of the Brooklyn Law School.

David is running for NYC Comptroller in 2009, so now is a good time to meet the candidate in an intimate setting, where he will speak about his accomplishments and plans for the future, as well as take insightful questions from DID membership.

Discuss the aftermath of the Super Tuesday Primaries and meet your elected officials for a Q&A and to get their updates on our schools, waterfront, parks and pier developments, WTC progress, and traffic issues like congestion pricing and bridge tolls.

Food and beverages will be served.

Downtown Independent Democrats invite you to our annual holiday party! Join your friends for a fine old winter time.

Free buffet and open bar - Our gift to you.

All welcome.