Kent County Democratic Party

Kent Dems — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:23:12 +0000

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KCDP 2013 Gala

Kent Dems — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:54:08 +0000

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Educational Enlightenment

Kent Dems — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:39:33 +0000

This nation is undergoing a period of “Educational Enlightenment”. There are many theories and presenters as it pertains to its past, present and future. I am writing to you today, for your consideration of attendance and promotion of one of these “Educational Enlightenment” presentations.

This year, the Brooks College Office of Integrative Learning and Advising at Grand Valley State University is proud to announce its 8th annual Community Reading Project (CRP). The Community Reading Project is an interdisciplinary endeavor among the GVSU campuses and local communities. It is dedicated to providing students, staff, faculty, administration and members of our communities with the highest quality engagement of reading and discussing relevant books. Each year a single book by a major author is selected whose themes deal with relevant issues.

This year, the Brook College Office of Integrative Learning is happy to announce the book: “The Element: How finding your passion changes everything” written by Sir Ken Robinson. Sir Ken Robinson will be speaking in the Fieldhouse Arena on the GVSU Allendale campus on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:00pm with a book signing to follow. Doors will open at 6:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. Although, there is no ticket required, nor reserved seating for the general public, please still go to the RSVP link below and inform them of your attendance. They are using this RSVP site to get a count of number of attendees so proper seating arrangements can be made.

The CRP has made “book club kits” available for check out at the GVSU Library for the community, if you are interested in checking one out, feel free to contact Jeff Domagala Graduate Assistant, Office of Integrative Learning and Advising, Grand Valley State University at domagaje@gvsu.edu or (616) 331-8200.

The kits include 10 books and discussion questions which are meant to encourage community members to read and discuss the book. We encourage classrooms, student leadership groups, libraries, teachers, and students to engage in the book before the event!

Henry Pestka

Kent Dems — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:28:36 +0000

Friends – today Kent County has lost a leader, philanthropist, and friend. Henry Pestka passed away this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with Steve, Alicia, Nate, Linda and the entire Pestka family.

The funeral is tentatively set for Sunday February 17th at 1:30 pm at Congregation Ahavas Israel in Grand Rapids at 2727 Michigan NE.

Frank Koller – A Shocking and Shameful Lack of Imagination

KCDP — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:46:17 +0000

Help me out here. I’m baffled.

Is corporate America really unable — or unwilling — to even try to do better for the country?

On Dec. 14, Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ: LECO ) , the Cleveland-based manufacturer of welding technologies and No. 1 in the world since the 1930s, announced the 2012 bonus for its roughly 3,000 American employees.

Read the following five lines slowly.

The bonus has been paid for 79 uninterrupted years in a row.
This year, Lincoln Electric shared $99.3 million of pre-tax profits with employees.
The average 2012 bonus was $33,915 per worker.
The average employee earned $82,300 (including the bonus).
No one was laid off in 2012.
Do you find that impressive? How about this?

In 2011, the picture was essentially the same. Ditto for 2010, 2009, 2008… 1997… 1979… 1956… 1948…

The actual numbers were different, obviously. When the economy did well, the bonus and total earnings tended to rise; in tough times, they shrank. But two things haven’t changed since the 1940s.

First, Lincoln Electric has remained the world leader in its field: profitable, innovative, and steadily expanding across the globe (now 46 factories in 20 countries).

Second, due to the firm’s corporate policy of guaranteed employment, no American worker has been laid off since at least 1948.

Surely, if you’re running a company in America and you have a functioning brain, you’re now asking yourself (at least) two questions: How do they do that? and Can I learn something from Lincoln Electric?

Apparently, no!

Message from the Chair

coordinated2012 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:10:13 +0000

Let me begin with some words of thanks. My thanks to everyone for electing me to lead the county party and for electing what will be an excellent leadership team including Gert Hobson, Dave Tanney, Shirley Kallio, Dennis Feuerstein, Matt Randall and Jeff Winston. Over the next weeks we will introduce our plans for broadening and opening up the party. We will need your patience, input and support.

Thanks surely goes out to Past Chair Jim Rinck and the former leadership team members Gussie Farris, Joe Marckini, Al Abbasse and Pat Miles. The work you did over the last two years to prepare us for the election cycle was terrific and gave us a base to grow from. I personally appreciate the hard work you’ve done for the party and hope I can rely on your expertise as we move forward.

We are all getting ready to enjoy the holidays. Hanukkah has passed and Christmas is upon us. The New Year will be here soon. We’ve all been through a lot these last few months. An exhaustive campaign season made more so by the abrupt departure of a certain legislator and catapulting a brand new face in our party, Representative Winnie Brinks into office. We retained a true leader Representative Brandon Dillon, found relief and satisfaction that our President won re-election and we were able to make gains in the State House. The ballot issues failed across the board and motivated some pretty negative activity in Lansing. All of us share a sense of defeat in the wake of the Lame Duck onslaught and the ridiculous bills that were passed into law. The good news is, as I’ve been going around meeting with people here and in Lansing, I have found that whatever sense of defeat we may have felt is turning into stern resolve. Now it’s time to unite and plan. When I first took the gavel I said that solidarity isn’t a noun, its a verb. We believe in unity because we are Democrats and damn proud of it!

So, with gratitude for the faith you have placed in me please accept my warmest best wishes to everyone for a safe and really fun Holiday Season. Let’s all get rested up and make this New Year a time for personal reflection, renewal and readiness for the tasks ahead of us.

Thanks everyone.

Ed Kettle

Call to Convention

KCDP — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:13:54 +0000

The Michigan Democratic Party 2013 Convention will be held February 23, 2013 at the Cobo Center in Detroit. If you are interested in learning more or attending, a copy of the official call to convention is available here: 2013 OFFICIAL … Continue reading →

Morgan Housel: Who owns our national debt?

KCDP — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:39:16 +0000

Former Sen. Alan Simpson has arguably done more to address our fiscal problems than anyone else in the last three years. He was co-chairman of the president’s deficit-reduction committee, commonly known as the Simpson-Bowles budget plan. He’s a good man on a good mission.

But he doesn’t always get it right. Here’s Simpson last week on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart talking about the fiscal cliff:

There’s a group out there that doesn’t give a damn about Republicans or Democrats or the president, and it’s the people we owe $16 trillion to. Half of that is owned by private people — people in New York or Cody, Wyoming. The other half is owned by feds, and half of that is owned by China.

Time out. I like you, Alan, but let’s get the facts right.

China doesn’t own a quarter of our debt. It doesn’t even own 10%. When the latest data comes out, it probably won’t even be the largest foreign creditor. (That title will go to Japan.) China has actually been a net seller of Treasuries for almost two years.

Read the rest

Right-To-Work Rally Tuesday Needs Marshals

KCDP — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 23:29:11 +0000

We Are Michigan is recruiting marshals for Tuesday’s event at the Capitol. It is critical that we have a diverse coalition of Democrats and progressives showing support. Please consider signing up as an event marshal or please help us recruit trusted individuals to join in this effort.

Trainings will be held in East Lansing Sunday or Monday evening. See below and attached for additional details. If you have questions or would like to sign up, you may use the contact info below or call Erin Butler at 517.588.9630.

Inaugural Information

KCDP — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:37:19 +0000

Tickets

Tickets for the Inaugural ceremony at the Capitol on January 21st are available only from Members of Congress and U.S. Senators. All offices (Democratic and Republican) receive an equal number, and ticket requests should go to those offices.

Hotel Reservations

Unlike the national convention, there is no Michigan hotel, and neither the State Party nor the KCDP have a role in securing hotel rooms. Persons planning to attend the Inaugural should deal directly with a hotel.

Additional Information

Additional information on the Inaugural activities and related events can be found at http://inaugural.senate.gov