Democrats Abroad Canada

2019 Annual General Meeting

March 31, 2019
MINUTES – Draft pending approval at 2020 AGM
ATTENDEES: Sue Alksnis; Robert Petrusa, Gena Brumitt, Marnelle Dragila, Reg
Charney. Martha Charney, Ed Ungar, Darius Pruss, Annie Parry, David Hoyt,
Heidi Burch, Ken Sherman, Lissette Wright, Starla Goggins, Randi Weitzner,
Michael Stevenson, Tim Smith, Bodil Geyer, Julie Buchanan, David Mivasair,
Hannah Brooks, John Lee, Allenna Leonard, Susan Brennan.
1. Video presented – We are Democrats

2. AGM called to order – H. Burch (on behalf of S. Nardi who was not on call
due to medical issue) at 2:10pm

3. Approval of agenda – M. Dragila

Changes: move treasurer report to later in the agenda after Caucus reports as
Lissette requires more time. Motion to approve by Gena Brumitt; Seconded by
Reg Charney and approved as amended.
4. Chair remarks – H. Burch (on behalf of S. Nardi who was not in attendance
due to medical issue)
Acknowledged and thanked the elected Board members plus those who had
accepted an appointment during this term.
Summary of 2018
DA continues to deliver victories even with a tiny budget. 1 in 25 elections
won by 1% or under. Examples of victories were given.
In Canada, many GOTV events held with many volunteers. Progressive
(ProDA) and Women’s Caucuses launched. Campus DA groups started or
invigorated. 2-3 dozen DA members went to the US to assist with elections,
led by David Mivasair.
Canada operated first voting centre.
5. Approval of June 16, 2018 minutes – M. Dragila
Changes: Annie Perry should be Annie Parry; M40L = March for Our Lives
Motion to approve as amended by Heidi Burch; Seconded by Ed Ungar and
approved as amended.

6. Treasurer’s Report – L. Wright

*Lissette presented multiple slides setting out her report. See Treasurer’s
Report for further details. Lissette will provide further info at next DACA
meeting regarding questions asked.
Motion to approve by Sue Alksnis; Seconded by Julie Buchanan; and approved

7. Membership Report – S. Brennan

Took over from R. Burns in Sept 2018 and thanked her for her service
Canada is second only to the UK in the size of our delegation. Cut off for
verified members is Feb 1 of each year.
As of March 2019, 16,296 verified members and of those 990 will expire by
Feb 1, 2020, i.e. 6% of total. 94% have been verified. Huge increase from last
year.
Next verification will be Jan 2020. Important because we will be voting in
global primary in March 2020.

8. DNC Representative – K. Sherman

DA has 4 votes in Dem national committee. About 450 votes spread across
57 state parties, territories and DA.
 Super delegates were perceived to have undue influence in 2016. DA
unanimously supported Unity Reform Commission recommendations.
Reforms now have been made.

DNC meets twice per year. Next meeting in San Francisco.

Recommendation for Convention of Delegates will be held in Milwaukee
and round of televised debates starts June 26 and 27 (there will be about
10 debates in total). There will be at least 10 candidates in the debates.
Divided into day 1 and day 2. Candidates must have at least 1% in polls
around the country and have 65,000 contributors to their campaigns. Chair
of Convention has also been announced.

9. Chapter Reports
o Vancouver – S. Brennan
Started with Jan 2018 AGM. Focus was voter registration events for US
midterm election. Worked on this at speeches, marches, Pride march,
universities, and big media event across from Trump tower, etc.
Participated in 2019 Women’s March. Two tax seminars have already
occurred. AGM in Jan 2019. Listed officers elected. Will be hosting
debate watches starting in June 2019.

o Hamilton – K. Sherman and D. Mivasair

Ken welcomed David Mivasair as the new Hamilton Chair. Tax seminars
have occurred with about 70 participants. Attended festivals, etc.
Membership has grown about 5% from these activities.
Voter outreach in the area with public events. Social events also held,
e.g., Thanksgiving dinner that more than 20 people attended, some
attending a DA event for the first time. AGM held with new people
attending and some new people elected.
o Toronto – J. Buchanan
AGM held. Danielle Stampley is the new chair. George Polak is vice chair
and Karin Lippert is co-vice chair. Reg Charney is new treasurer.
 Stephanie Perry also added and she was one of top phonebankers from
across the country.
Superbowl and Thanksgiving dinner social events held. GOTV initiatives
at marches, etc. Also a big part of the Voter Centre. Also attended March
for Our Lives in DC. Attended a lot of protests. Had a big election event.
Did some joint events with caucuses.
o Montreal – Randy Weitzner
Per New Chapter Chair, Randy Weitzner: not too much happening in DA
in Montreal in the last few years but hopes to change that. Randy will be
reaching out to other chapters for ideas. McGill is active and outreach
has happened. Concordia will be activated as well.

10. Caucus Reports

o Progressive (ProDA) Caucus – S. Alksnis
Went through multiple slides. See presentation for more information.
o Women’s Caucus – B. Scott (not on call/no report given)

11. Election of Officers & Proposed Bylaw Amendments – NEC

NEC = Bodil Geyer (Chair), Randy Weitzner (Teller of Elections) and Starla
Goggins

Per Bodil Geyer: IT manager position is open.

Acclamation of officers: Chair – Steve Nardi; Exec Vice Chair – Julie

Buchanan; Vice Chairs – Marnelle Dragila and Ed Ungar; Treasurer -
Lissette Wright; Secretary – Sue Alksnis; Counsel - Danielle Stampley;
Membership Secretary - Susan Brennan

Per Randy Weitzner (Teller of Elections):

Total ballots = 133 and of that 9 considered spoiled but 3 then validated so
only 6 spoiled. 21 provisional ballots, 20 confirmed as valid, so only 1
considered provisional.

Members At Large: top 3 elected = Sofia Misenheimer, Darius Pruss, Chris

Shaw

Called for nominations for IT manager:

Julie Buchanan nominated Tim Smith as IT manager. No other nomination
from the floor or indicated to Bodil Geyer. Tim Smith acclaimed as IT
Manager

Due to gender parity rules and the results of the election of the Members at
Large and IT Manager positions, there will be 5 female and 7 male DPCA
representatives needed.

Female DPCA voting group elected: Tracey Hudson, Rachel Eugster, Gena
Brumitt, Heidi Burch, Denise Roig – top 5 with most votes among Female
DPCA voting rep candidates.

Male DPCA voting group elected: Louis DeLamarter; J. David Markam,

David Mivasair, Robert Petrusa, Engin Polar, Ken Sherman – Motion to
acclaim by Gena Brumitt; Seconded by Heidi Burch and acclamation –
approved.

Short 1 male DPCA voting representative. Call for nominations from the
floor. Susan Brennan nominates David Hoyt (he spoke on his behalf).
Lissette Wright nominates David Schellenberg (not on call but he has
accepted the nomination – Lissette spoke on his behalf).
Motion to close nominations by Reg Charney; Seconded by Ken Sherman
and approved.
Motion for those in attendance to vote for 1 male DPCA voting
representative by private chat message to Randy Weitzner on Webex by
Susan Brennan; Seconded by Ken Sherman and approved.
 Results: David Hoyt elected DPCA representative. 13 votes for David Hoyt
and 7 votes for David Schellenberg.

Bylaw amendments results: all bylaws approved.

See complete election results below.
Office + DPCA Voting Representative Name
Country Chair Steve Nardi*
Executive Vice Chair Julie Buchanan*
Vice Chair Marnelle Dragila*
Vice Chair Ed Ungar*
Secretary Sue Alksnis*
Treasurer Lissette Wright*
Membership Secretary Susan Brennan*
Counsel Danielle Stampley*
IT Manager Tim Smith*
Member-at-Large Sofia Misenheimer
Member-at-Large Darius Pruss
Member-at-Large Chris Shaw
* = ACCLAIMED
Member-at-Large # of votes
DeLamarter, Louis [M] 25
Misenheimer, Sofia [F] 101
Mivasair, David [M] 57
Pruss, Darius [M] 64
Shaw, Chris [M] 59

DPCA Voting Reps [Female] # of votes

Brumitt, Gena 69
Burch, Heidi 72
Busch, Earlene 45
Castillo, Ivelisse 44
Eugster, Rachel 75
Hudson, Tracy 78
Roig, Denise 54
Schneiderman, Heidi Withdrawn
Scott, Brook 53

DPCA Voting Reps [Male] # of votes

DeLamarter, Louis Acclaimed
Markham, J David Acclaimed
 Mivasair, David Acclaimed
Petrusa, Robert J Acclaimed
Polar, Engin Acclaimed
Sherman, Kenneth Acclaimed
DPCA Voting Reps [Male] # of votes
Hoyt, David 13
Schellenberg, David 7

Proposed Bylaw Amendments Yays Nays

Should proposed amendment 4.1 be adopted? 109 7
Should proposed amendment 6.2 be adopted? 103 13
Should proposed amendment 6.4 be adopted? 111 8
Should Article 12 be renamed Article 11 118 2
Should Article 11 be renamed Article 12? 117 3
Should proposed amendment 18.3 be adopted? 111 5
Should proposed amendment 19.6 be adopted? 114 4
Should proposed amendment 20.1 be adopted? 117 2

Motion to conclude election: Julie Buchanan. Seconded by Gena Brummitt

and approved.

12. Other Business

o Recommendation by Gena Brumitt for folks to review Robert’s Rules
of Order.
o Ken Sherman – re Mueller Report being released and call to action
for protest if not released. DA Toronto and Vancouver will take
action.
o Sue Alksnis – reminder of global DA meeting in DC and hotel price
will be extended briefly to April 3.

13. Chair remarks – none (Chair not on call)

14. Adjournment – Motion by Marnelle to adjourn; Seconded by Lissette
Wright.