http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/index/ en timjday@charter.net Copyright 2010 2010-03-16T23:30:53-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/whats_on_deck/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/whats_on_deck/#When:18:26:39Z Back in early January, as we began to plan activities for 2010, we developed a list of various issues we thought would be appropriate to explore and emphasize, that would appeal to the membership of OTM Dems, and be worthy of our attention and efforts.  We discussed ways and methods to educate ourselves, as well as carry our concerns and views to the general public. It is, after all, part of OTM Dems purpose to plant more “Blue” flags in our predominantly “Red” neighborhoods. We asked for input and ideas from the larger group at our meeting in the 3rd week of January. I highlighted those initial ideas, and added those generated from the “floor”, on my technology-challenged, wooden easel- mounted, butcher-paper flip chart. (Thanks for your remarkable patience!) We’ve made progress on a few of those ideas, I’m glad to say. We reviewed area politics and issues at a standing-room-only meeting in February with our guests local newspaper columnists John Archibald and Kyle Whitmire.  As I write this, we’re just a few days away from our March meeting and an appearance from Alabama Arise’s Kimble Forrister. He’ll coach us on how to take effective action to encourage our legislators to remove the state portion of sales tax on groceries – an issue deemed critical by a large number of our members.  We’re planning now for events in April, May, and beyond, that you’ll hear more about in the near future. Member Linda Cohn is organizing a service opportunity to aid less fortunate citizens of our community – more to come in the next few days.  On April 13th, the Faith & Politics Roundtable will screen “Open Secret”, a short film based on the actual transcripts of the 1901 Alabama Constitutional Convention. The filmmaker, Melanie Jeffcoat, will join us. Even as we work at this ambitious pace, that list of issues that we developed in January remains long. It has lots of good ideas that deserve our attention. Front Page 2010-03-13T18:26:39-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/welcome_our_new_board/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/welcome_our_new_board/#When:21:05:01Z Starting this week we will feature a weekly column by one of our recently elected board members.  Up this week--The Original OTMDem--Chair Emeritus--John Crenshaw re-introduces himself and shares his thoughts on the OTMDems, the rest of the Dems and the world at large. Check back Friday and the first Friday of each month for John’s words of wisdom. Chair:  Craig Niedenthal – craigniedenthal@gmail.com Vice Chair:  Bob Parker VP of Membership – Patty Warren VP of Finance – Norman Berk Chair Emeritus – John Crenshaw VP Issues & Programs – TBD About Us 2010-03-02T21:05:01-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/join/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/join/#When:17:13:36Z Use the links below to pay for your membership through PayPal.  You may use any major credit card, or your PayPal account. There are no geographical restrictions to membership in OTMDems. All good Democrats everywhere welcome! Dues are $25 per year per individual.  Please consider inviting your spouse or partner to join as well. No part of any dues payment, donation, or special contribution of any kind to OTMDems is ever tax-deductible. All dues go directly to OTMD. Your credit card will show a charge to Over The Mountain Democrats. You will receive a confirming email from OTMD. OTMDems assures you that the personal information submitted here will be treated with the utmost confidence and under no circumstances will be shared with anyone outside this organization, with the sole exception of PayPal, an on-line financial transaction services company, for the purposes of facilitating our dues payment process. PayPal, in turn, is legally obligated to treat the information you submit with the strictest confidence and privacy. Applicant for membership to Over The Mountain Democrats hereby agrees to and acknowledges the following: 1.  this application is subject to the exclusive review and approval of the membership and executive committees of Over The Mountain Democrats, 2.  dues payments submitted with this application are held pending said review and approval, with applicant entitled to full and timely refund if application is rejected, 3.  my membership, if accepted, is subject to the on-going review and approval of said committees, 4.  through my words and actions I am in agreement with and will work to fulfill the mission statement of Over The Mountain Democrats, 5.  I will conform through my words and actions to the commonly accepted standards of decorum and courtesy towards my fellow OTMDems members. Failure to meet any of these conditions may subject the applicant/member to rejection or expulsion from this organization, at the sole discretion of the membership and executive committees of Over The Mountain Democrats. If you prefer you may send your name, street address, email address and check to: Over The Mountain Democrats P.O. Box 430114 Vestavia Hills, AL 35243 Thanks for your support Questions?  Click here. Membership 2008-07-26T17:13:36-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/about_otmdems/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/about_otmdems/#When:03:51:10Z Over The Mountain Democrats is one of the fastest-growing organizations of Democrats in the South, with more than 500 members since its inception less than two years ago. Over The Mountain Democrats is dedicated to advancing through grassroots political activism its values of fairness, integrity, compassion, and economic opportunity for the benefit of every citizen in Alabama. About Us 2008-07-21T03:51:10-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/general_meeting/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/general_meeting/#When:23:30:53Z At our upcoming General Meeting, March 16, 2010, Kimble Forrister, State Coordinator for Alabama Arise, will come to discuss actions we can take to effectively work for removal of the state tax on groceries.  Mr. Forrister will also address other issues on the Arise Issue Priorities for 2010.  Come join us @ 6:30PM, Homewood Library, Room 101. Many members expressed an interest in learning more about local issues and things we can do to effect change in Alabama. Removal of the state portion of tax on groceries was named as a top priority. Come and learn from one of the most effective and respected organizers in our state.  More importantly, come make a difference. For more information, see Alabama Arise’s website:  http://www.alarise.org Calendar, Front Page 2010-03-16T23:30:53-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/service_opportunity/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/service_opportunity/#When:00:10:51Z We hope to see everyone working together with the Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the Homeless on April 10, 20100.  Email for more information and to fill out volunteer form. Click here for more information:  SCN_0007.pdf Front Page 2010-03-15T00:10:51-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/in_the_beginning/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/in_the_beginning/#When:20:48:06Z As the third generation of leaders for OTMDems gets a solid start out of the gate, we would do well to revisit briefly our original purpose and design.  In the immediate aftermath of the 2004 election it seemed that our party had fairly well reached its nadir in these parts.  Party-switching raged, spirits were abysmal, and most everyone of our stripe was feeling thoroughly discouraged, isolated and powerless.  As W, Dick, and Donald gloated, those were dark days indeed.  However, there existed here any number of generally ordinary and anonymous folk who believed they might go stark-raving mad if they didn’t do something more than continue to argue with their televisions and lecture their kids at the supper table.  We were pediatricians and teachers, realtors and retailers, accountants and lawyers, bankers and business people, from every walk of life.  More importantly, we were little league coaches and scout leaders, PTA committee chairs and deacons, too.  What we shared was that we were Democrats, and we felt a call to action. Front Page 2010-03-05T20:48:06-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/malpractice_reform/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/malpractice_reform/#When:23:39:44Z Here is a video featuring Senator Durbin discussing malpractice reform. Front Page, Health Care 2010-02-27T23:39:44-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/faith_and_politics_roundtable_lunch/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/faith_and_politics_roundtable_lunch/#When:16:30:43Z Faith and Politics Roundtable Lunch. Tuesday, February 23, 11:30 AM @ Formosa Chinese Restaurant, Lorna Road, Hoover. Eat some great Chinese food and talk faith and its workings within the political world (yeah, we talk about that in between barbs about Alabama vs. Auburn football).  Recurring Events 2010-02-23T16:30:43-06:00 http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/a_lottery/ http://www.otmdems.org/index.php/site/comments/a_lottery/#When:03:04:14Z A few years back we had a gubernatorial candidate who ran on a platform of “Lottery, Lottery, Lottery!”.  He won.  But when it came time to get the lottery going he got turned down.  Well, even though we did not want the lottery, this guy was still a better choice for governor than the alternative.  (Who was that alternative, anyway?) Well, it has come to my attention that there is another gubernatorial candidate running on a lottery platform.  Why do we think that the people are now more ready for a lottery than they were all those years ago.  Apparently they have come to realize the facts: Blogging, Tim's Blog 2009-12-16T03:04:14-06:00