The September monthly general meeting will be at Bayland Park Community Center from 10AM to Noon on Saturday, September 22.  Our special invited speaker will be the Honorable Al Green ,  US Congressman, Texas 9th CD.  Congressman Green is a terrific speaker and I'm sure he will fill us in on the behind the scenes action from the last congressional session.  This will be a great opportunity to meet your Congressman, hear his views and provide your feedback.  Due to Congressman Green's schedule, the meeting will start promplty at 10AM so don't be late for what is certain to be an interesting and stimulating discussion.  Come early at 9:30AM to visit with club members, share the latest political gossip and enjoy our usual snacks.

Rod Haper called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.  Mike Laster had another political responsibility to attend and was not present.  The pledges were recited by all.  There were 24 people present.

The Minutes of July 28, 2007 were read and approved.  The Treasurer's Report was read and approved.

Candidate guests included Shawna Regin, Robbie Sandoval, rep for Robert Shaefer, Z.Taheed, and Mekisha Murray.  Each candidate said a few words about their candidacy.

President's Report:

Special Projects:

Guest Speaker:  Scott Hochberg, Texas State Rep, District 137.

Scott talked about the legislature which meets 140 days (Jan-May) every two years plus special sessions.  Approximately 4500 pieces of legislation may be filed, with about 1500 passed.  The past session had several issues in particular--Texas Youth Commission scandal, the TXU coal plants, the Texas Tomorrow Fund (now shut down) and the Trans Texas Corridor.

Governor Perry's only initiative was the HPV vaccine and it was a dismal failure.

The TYC scandal was the best bi-partisan committee trying to help an agency in trouble.  New laws were passed but Governor Perry appointed an ombudsman who has a criminal record, breaking TYC's own rules.

TXU's plan to build 15 new coal plants and Perry's plan to fast track them resulted in only three to be built and TXU being purchased by a "group" with goals to make a profit and to get control of the electrical distribution grid for Broad Band internet and TV delivery to customers' homes.

Scott was instrumental in having two bills pass to help enforce nuisance laws, such as clubs allowing criminal activity.  The procedures to shut down a facility or not allow a liquor license renewal were very frustrating and took a long time.  These procedures have now been streamlined.

Questions followed for Scott and the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Thank you to Emily and John  Walker  for substantial snacks for our meeting! 

Mike Laster called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m.  There were approximately 30 persons present.

 Mike introduced guest candidates:  M. Eisenberg, M. Murray, H. Ritchie, F. Cook, S. Regan, J. Jones, S. Kirkland, and M. Barabin.

Our guest speaker was David Crossley , President of Gulf Coast Institute (www.gulfcoastinstitute.org).  Mr. Crossley spoke about a green cities/garden cities agenda that would allow population growth, which is expected to be 3.5 M more people by 2035 in the Houston area, and preserve green space.  The Houston area is the richest ecosystem in North America.  Citizen values are very clear:  they want green space, air quality, improved transportation, and sustainable prosperity.  Houston is very auto dependent and uses the most gasoline and puts out the most carbon of all other cities.  The greatest impact on land use is transportation.  We need to use the land well, making liveable centers, neighborhoods, like Houston's beginnings.  We already have multiple centers available to renew/build--downtown, Galleria, Westchase, Greenspoint, Greenway Plaza, etc., thus we can refine the space we already occupy, rather than expand into farmland.  Mr. Crossley emphasized that zoning is NOT the way to go.  Questions followed.

The minutes of June 23 were read and approved.  The treasurer's report was read and approved.

Emily and John Walker volunteered to be our August hosts and bring the donuts.  The same people on the July phone tree were asked to do the same for August.

 Mike took a poll of Sundays in August that would work to have a pot luck with the Alief Democrats.

Mike mentioned a proposed bylaw change--to change the Sharpstown Democrats Club elections to February or March.  This topic will be expanded as per the bylaws with a possible vote in September.

Joyce Akins told us about a National Night Out event on August 7 in Sharpstown area and distributed fliers.  Joyce also has contacted the government teachers at Sharpstown High School and did a voters registration at Lee High.  We anticipate helping with Democrat clubs at each school.

We signed petitions for the judicial candidates present and discussed club participation in a signing bee. Petitions are due by the end of December.

Mike adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m.  Thank you Matt for the donuts!

Mike Laster called the meeting to order at 10:08 a.m.  We recited the Pledges of Allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas.  We had 27 present at the meeting.

Mike introduced our guests:

Leslie Taylor, judicial candidate with no Primary opponent; she also is responsible for the auction details for the Johnson-Rayburn-Richards dinner this year.

David Malansky, 152nd judicial district candidate.

Gerry Birnberg, HCDP Chairman,  announced we have a full slate of judicial candidates for the county this year.  He is asking each club to pick a candidate or two and see that the candidate(s) secures enough signatures on petitions.  He also brought petitions for us to sign during the meeting.

Garnet Coleman, Texas House District 147 State Representative , was our honored guest speaker.  He mentioned that Scott Hochberg was named one of the 10 best Texas legislature members by Texas Monthly.  He discussed the issues in tthis last session's state legislature with Craddick, Dewhurst and Perry.  Coleman has a district that encompasses many neighborhoods of Houston from Montrose to Third Ward.  He spoke about problems in the legislature because of the denial of the fact that although Texas' population has grown, less money has been funded per capita.   He thinks the Republicans are starting to see the ineptness and corruption of the Craddick group.  He stated that we think the Texas Trans Corridor is dead, but it is only crippled and it includes rail, pipelines, roads and the  potential to turn our corridors into franchises being sold to private entities. The Republicans see government as a way for their friends to make money.  Many questions were asked of Coleman but due to time restrictions, we had to get on with the meeting.

The minutes of April 28, 2007 were read and accepted.  The Treasurer's report was given; our balance is about $2009.23 and July 16 is the next TEC filing. This report was approved.

We distributed envelopes and labels for members to assist in the next mailing.  In addition, Mike assigned phone tree responsibilities to four volunteers--Linda Smith, Matt Nickson, Ray Driskill, and Margaret Buckhorn.  These volunteers will make calls prior to the July 28 and August 25 meetings.

Matt Nickson volunteered to bring donuts to the next meeting.

A proposal to have a social committee was tabled for future discussion.

Mike discussed ideas for having a joint event with the Alief club in July or August, he will follow up with their president.  The group is ok with having a Sunday afternoon event and some Democrat reps will be invited to the event.

The high school clubs idea will be further developed at the next EC meeting and then will be presented to the entire group.

It was mentioned that the HCDP needs notaries to attend the Judicial Signing Bees being organized.  Also mentioned was the upcoming November election for city council and mayor.  We are considering collecting judicial petition signatures at Early Voting locations, especially Bayland Park.  In addition, teams to collect signatures at Sharpstown Mall was suggested.

Mike asked that we think creatively regarding voter registration and petition signatures and we will offer to help a particular candidate or two as requested by the HCDP.

Mike announced the next Sharpstown Civic Association meeting is Thursday, June 28 and the topics are gang activity in the neighborhood and the new Flood Control maps.

It was mentioned that there are 6 vacant precinct chairs in our area--335, 421, 433, 835, 836, and 869.  Linda Smith suggested that phone tree volunteers mention this in their calls to get some interest in filling these chairs.  (Note: precinct chairs must live in their precincts.)  Linda also suggested that these calls be used to update email and other addresses.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:38 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary D. Haper

The June monthly general meeting will be at Bayland Park Community Center from 10AM to Noon on Saturday, June 23.  Our special invited speaker will be Garnet Coleman,  Texas State Representative District 147.  Garnet will share his unique inside perspective on the victories and defeats of this last legislative session.  If you've heard Garnet speak at meetings before, you know we are in for a lively and informative treat.  Come early at 9:30AM to visit with club members, share the latest political gossip and enjoy our usual snacks.