Information below is from the most current date to the oldest date:
Political and 2nd CD Party Organizing Committee:
Duties and Responsibilities:
Cathy Willermet (Chair PPOC) and Committee members have the role of coordinating the CD's activities leading up to the election. Things like, organizing phone banks and canvassing schedules, helping the counties open offices and distribution of signs and literature before the election will be just some of the things that they will do.
**( I am looking forward to a potential zoom meeting for the three of us on April 19th to discuss the May 13th Ice Cream Social - Let me know if April 19th at 4pm will work for you both, if not, what would be a better time?)
1). Cathy Willermet (Chair)-Isabella County D.P. Please read your report if any is needed at this time.
2). Karen Turnbull - Mecosta County D.P.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Duties and Responsibilities:
Cathy Willermet (Chair PPOC) and Committee members have the role of coordinating the CD's activities leading up to the election. Things like, organizing phone banks and canvassing schedules, helping the counties open offices and distribution of signs and literature before the election will be just some of the things that they will do.
**( I am looking forward to a potential zoom meeting for the three of us on April 19th to discuss the May 13th Ice Cream Social - Let me know if April 19th at 4pm will work for you both, if not, what would be a better time?)
1). Cathy Willermet (Chair)-Isabella County D.P. Please read your report if any is needed at this time.
2). Karen Turnbull - Mecosta County D.P.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On Tue, Jul 11, 2023 at 4:26 PM Karen Turnbull <kturnbull72@gmail.com> wrote:
**Hi, Oh, this is just my idea! Let’s talk about it!
from Karen Turnbull
Mary, thank you so much for giving us a kick in the butt to get this started. Cathy and myself had a very great
conversation, and I agree with her whole heartedly - that we must allow THEM TO TAKE THE LEAD, so they
have ownership. I know many of the Democrats from Osceola County as I worked with them through opposing
the Nestle Plant in Evart, and the Potash Plant in Hersey. I also have a history with them politically as I campaigned
in the 102nd district for 10 years which included all of Wexford, the west side of Osceola, and all of Mecosta.
I campaigned for 2 House Rep candidates from Mecosta - Brendan Maturen and John Ruggles - who ran against
Phil Potvin (gravel pit owner from Cadillac - who broke the law so many times - should have gone to jail), and
Michelle Hoitenga - (all women should be open carrying! - she is now the State Senator up in north east part of State.
Osceola county folks are fiercely independent. I think they just feel they got bedoozled by Nate Bailey - who I think
ran for the 100th just to boost his real estate business. He was AGAINST the Gotion plant - because it might
cause housing problems that will not encourage jobs in building and construction right here in this area. Oh well.
Anyway - I am up here in Beaver Island for 2 weeks enjoying every minute with my Grandchidlren. I think later in
month we can Zoom - but this is my idea of a plan - to piggy back on what Cathy said
1. I will contact Tracy from Osceola who works at Ferris - she came to our meeting last month. I will ask her to
come again with friends from Osceola, just because MY BOARD needs to know that NOW is the time to find candidates!
We can talk about the 100th District Candidate that we share with Clare and Osceola counties.
2. I will Contact someone in my party who knows union folks to find out how many Union shops are in Osceola county - they need to be involved.
3. I will contact environmentalists that I know in Osceola and Clare and do my best to motivate them around Water, Land, and Air Quality
4. I will ask Tracy to pull a meeting together with a group of interested folks (including the above) who want to start a party. I will suggest that they invite
someone from Clare, someone from Osceola, and Mary from the 2nd Congressional. The past chair was Jay Pozner, and I have a good relationship with him. He lives up the road from me in Sears. He may have the checkbook, and a copy of their bylaws. I will try my best to get him motivated. It should be easier now that we have a Trifecta. Osceola County can truly benefit from better environmental laws put in place. Because if Gotion treats us like the MDEQ treated us with Nestle, then we are in big trouble.
We can all support them -
5. They set up a Summer PIcnic in August or early September. We will encourage them to invite via postcards all Dems they want in their county.
And off it goes!!! IT WILL because we ALL HAVE HOPE!
I must say that there are many good people in Osceola County. They really need some strong leaders to step forward.
Mary it will be great when you offer to help pay for their venue and hopefully ice cream! The meeting should probably
happen in their county seat. But that should be up to them.
We are on it!!!
Thank you Mary!
So when we meet via Zoom later in July - we can continue to discuss!
Back to the grandchildren.
Take care,
Karen Turnbull
**Hi, Oh, this is just my idea! Let’s talk about it!
from Karen Turnbull
Mary, thank you so much for giving us a kick in the butt to get this started. Cathy and myself had a very great
conversation, and I agree with her whole heartedly - that we must allow THEM TO TAKE THE LEAD, so they
have ownership. I know many of the Democrats from Osceola County as I worked with them through opposing
the Nestle Plant in Evart, and the Potash Plant in Hersey. I also have a history with them politically as I campaigned
in the 102nd district for 10 years which included all of Wexford, the west side of Osceola, and all of Mecosta.
I campaigned for 2 House Rep candidates from Mecosta - Brendan Maturen and John Ruggles - who ran against
Phil Potvin (gravel pit owner from Cadillac - who broke the law so many times - should have gone to jail), and
Michelle Hoitenga - (all women should be open carrying! - she is now the State Senator up in north east part of State.
Osceola county folks are fiercely independent. I think they just feel they got bedoozled by Nate Bailey - who I think
ran for the 100th just to boost his real estate business. He was AGAINST the Gotion plant - because it might
cause housing problems that will not encourage jobs in building and construction right here in this area. Oh well.
Anyway - I am up here in Beaver Island for 2 weeks enjoying every minute with my Grandchidlren. I think later in
month we can Zoom - but this is my idea of a plan - to piggy back on what Cathy said
1. I will contact Tracy from Osceola who works at Ferris - she came to our meeting last month. I will ask her to
come again with friends from Osceola, just because MY BOARD needs to know that NOW is the time to find candidates!
We can talk about the 100th District Candidate that we share with Clare and Osceola counties.
2. I will Contact someone in my party who knows union folks to find out how many Union shops are in Osceola county - they need to be involved.
3. I will contact environmentalists that I know in Osceola and Clare and do my best to motivate them around Water, Land, and Air Quality
4. I will ask Tracy to pull a meeting together with a group of interested folks (including the above) who want to start a party. I will suggest that they invite
someone from Clare, someone from Osceola, and Mary from the 2nd Congressional. The past chair was Jay Pozner, and I have a good relationship with him. He lives up the road from me in Sears. He may have the checkbook, and a copy of their bylaws. I will try my best to get him motivated. It should be easier now that we have a Trifecta. Osceola County can truly benefit from better environmental laws put in place. Because if Gotion treats us like the MDEQ treated us with Nestle, then we are in big trouble.
We can all support them -
5. They set up a Summer PIcnic in August or early September. We will encourage them to invite via postcards all Dems they want in their county.
And off it goes!!! IT WILL because we ALL HAVE HOPE!
I must say that there are many good people in Osceola County. They really need some strong leaders to step forward.
Mary it will be great when you offer to help pay for their venue and hopefully ice cream! The meeting should probably
happen in their county seat. But that should be up to them.
We are on it!!!
Thank you Mary!
So when we meet via Zoom later in July - we can continue to discuss!
Back to the grandchildren.
Take care,
Karen Turnbull
July 11th, 2023 email from Cathy Willermet
Hi Mary,
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to write you this weekend and I had to go out of town unexpectedly. Karen and I had a conversation right after our CD2 meeting this weekend. We applaud the desire and efforts to grow the Osceola Dems, but we have some concerns about this that we'd like to share with you.
It's been our experience with efforts such as these that the most effective strategy is to bring together likely influencers -- those folks in Osceola County who have been active in democratic efforts in the past -- and offer them the tools (expertise, funding) for which they can develop on their own. Karen and I don't feel that a big picnic organized by all the other counties for Osceola guests invited via a large postcard blast is the best way to do that.
Instead, we encourage you instead to invite a small, curated list of likely active democrats, and they can suggest a date/time/location for a conversation. That way future Osceola Dem party members are more likely to feel ownership in the structure, not feel that it is imposed from without.
We do have some suggestions about card verbiage and artwork, should you decide to continue.
Unfortunately, I will be in CMU orientation on July 18 at 1pm.
Best,
Cathy Willermet
Hi Mary,
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to write you this weekend and I had to go out of town unexpectedly. Karen and I had a conversation right after our CD2 meeting this weekend. We applaud the desire and efforts to grow the Osceola Dems, but we have some concerns about this that we'd like to share with you.
It's been our experience with efforts such as these that the most effective strategy is to bring together likely influencers -- those folks in Osceola County who have been active in democratic efforts in the past -- and offer them the tools (expertise, funding) for which they can develop on their own. Karen and I don't feel that a big picnic organized by all the other counties for Osceola guests invited via a large postcard blast is the best way to do that.
Instead, we encourage you instead to invite a small, curated list of likely active democrats, and they can suggest a date/time/location for a conversation. That way future Osceola Dem party members are more likely to feel ownership in the structure, not feel that it is imposed from without.
We do have some suggestions about card verbiage and artwork, should you decide to continue.
Unfortunately, I will be in CMU orientation on July 18 at 1pm.
Best,
Cathy Willermet
Political and 2nd CD Party Organizing Committee April 19th Meeting at 5pm with Cathy Willermet:
**This General Meeting is only going to go for an hour (10am-11am).
1). Please arrive at 9:00am to help setup the tables and chairs.
2). Please help setup the breakfast table and District Officers Table.
3). Please setup the tables by the front door and set Chair's Report, Treasurer's Report, Agenda, Secretary's Report, donation tub, name tags and Sign-in Sheet
with Pens.
When the General Meeting ends, we need to move quickly to transition to the Ice Cream Social Fundraiser.
1). Pick up all the front table literature, sign-in sheet and pens etc.... Give them all to Mark Everhart.
2). Work with Dallas to get his stuff out of his van. He will have a load to bring in.
***Special Request Discussed Today: When Cathy has some free time between now and November 2024, we will work at putting together a Osceola County Democratic Party. We both agreed that we should bring in her Project 83 (Kody Vitale i believe) and my Project 83 ( Jeff Winston) together on a Zoom Meeting and get their help on how to start a new county party. I know of a dozen people in Osceola that have made inquires about getting a party together. I will ask Karen Turnbull about her feelings on helping us too tomorrow during my zoom meeting with her.
Political and 2nd CD Party Organizing Committee April 20th Meeting at 5pm with Karen Turnbull:
**This General Meeting is only going to go for an hour (10am-11am).
1). Please open the door with the passcode (making sure Mary didn't change it) at 9:00am so we can get the coffee maker started (Mark Everhart will make the coffee).
2). Please make sure to have the WIFI password ready for us to sign-in. Mary may have changed it.
3). Make sure garbage cans are out and bags are in them.
4). Help Dallas with the Microphone and Speaker (test to make sure they are working).
5). Help cleanup and lockup when the last person has left the hall.
When the General Meeting ends, we need to move quickly to transition to the Ice Cream Social Fundraiser.
1). Help move tables by the front door with Cathy Willermet against the front wall.
2). Get literature from Michael Lynch and (possibly) Hill Harper and set them out on those tables against the front wall.
3). If K.P.Mahoney has auction items, please help her by putting those items on that same table against the front wall.
4). Help cleanup the hall after 12:30pm.
**Mark Everhart will take down the breakfast bar and put it away in our truck after the General Meeting.
** I will run the zoom during the General Meeting, the agenda and introduce Michael Lynch at 11am.
** Lily Cheng-Schulting will introduce Hill Harper after Michael's speech.
** Dallas Dean will be collecting ticket money and handing out ice cream at the same time.
** K.P. Mahoney will handle the auction and collection of money with Ken Mahoney.
Cleanup will begin after 12:30pm when everyone has left.
**This General Meeting is only going to go for an hour (10am-11am).
1). Please arrive at 9:00am to help setup the tables and chairs.
2). Please help setup the breakfast table and District Officers Table.
3). Please setup the tables by the front door and set Chair's Report, Treasurer's Report, Agenda, Secretary's Report, donation tub, name tags and Sign-in Sheet
with Pens.
When the General Meeting ends, we need to move quickly to transition to the Ice Cream Social Fundraiser.
1). Pick up all the front table literature, sign-in sheet and pens etc.... Give them all to Mark Everhart.
2). Work with Dallas to get his stuff out of his van. He will have a load to bring in.
***Special Request Discussed Today: When Cathy has some free time between now and November 2024, we will work at putting together a Osceola County Democratic Party. We both agreed that we should bring in her Project 83 (Kody Vitale i believe) and my Project 83 ( Jeff Winston) together on a Zoom Meeting and get their help on how to start a new county party. I know of a dozen people in Osceola that have made inquires about getting a party together. I will ask Karen Turnbull about her feelings on helping us too tomorrow during my zoom meeting with her.
Political and 2nd CD Party Organizing Committee April 20th Meeting at 5pm with Karen Turnbull:
**This General Meeting is only going to go for an hour (10am-11am).
1). Please open the door with the passcode (making sure Mary didn't change it) at 9:00am so we can get the coffee maker started (Mark Everhart will make the coffee).
2). Please make sure to have the WIFI password ready for us to sign-in. Mary may have changed it.
3). Make sure garbage cans are out and bags are in them.
4). Help Dallas with the Microphone and Speaker (test to make sure they are working).
5). Help cleanup and lockup when the last person has left the hall.
When the General Meeting ends, we need to move quickly to transition to the Ice Cream Social Fundraiser.
1). Help move tables by the front door with Cathy Willermet against the front wall.
2). Get literature from Michael Lynch and (possibly) Hill Harper and set them out on those tables against the front wall.
3). If K.P.Mahoney has auction items, please help her by putting those items on that same table against the front wall.
4). Help cleanup the hall after 12:30pm.
**Mark Everhart will take down the breakfast bar and put it away in our truck after the General Meeting.
** I will run the zoom during the General Meeting, the agenda and introduce Michael Lynch at 11am.
** Lily Cheng-Schulting will introduce Hill Harper after Michael's speech.
** Dallas Dean will be collecting ticket money and handing out ice cream at the same time.
** K.P. Mahoney will handle the auction and collection of money with Ken Mahoney.
Cleanup will begin after 12:30pm when everyone has left.