SOUTH COUNTY BLUE TIGERS
Michigan Becomes First State to Adopt Blue Tiger Democrats
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer announces that his state will become the first in the nation to adopt the Blue Tiger Democrats program as a part of its permanent mission starting in 2007
Jackson Hole, Wyo. — Determining that the Democratic Party must embrace civic engagement in order to further restore credibility and respect among citizens, Mark Brewer, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party and Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee, announced today that Michigan will become the first state in the nation to adopt the principles of the Blue Tiger Democrats organization and make it a permanent part of their state organizational structure.
Brewer made the announcement Friday before the post-election meeting of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, of which he is the President, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
At the meeting, Brewer and Bill Samuels, founder of Blue Tiger Democrats (www.bluetigerdems.com), made a presentation to the state chairs reviewing the organization’s 2006 programs and plans to implement the next phase of civic engagement.
Frank Houston, who spearheaded the initial Blue Tiger Michigan pilot project, was named as the Civic Engagement Organizer (CEO) for the MDP’s Blue Tiger Democrats activities in Michigan.
Brewer also announced that he would form a Blue Tiger advisory board that includes Democratic state chairs, vice-chairs, executive directors and elected officials to provide input on Michigan’s new program. To start, Brewer named the following officials to the advisory board:
Terry Lierman, Chairman, Maryland Democratic Party; David Waid, Chairman, Arizona Democratic Party; and David Paterson, New York State Senator and Lt. Governor-elect “Despite the gains the Democratic Party made in the midterm elections, many people still do not believe either party cares much about them. Our goal is to regain respect for the Democratic Party and for the political process.” Brewer said. “The Michigan Democratic Party is committed to making civic engagement an integral part of our state organization. By giving Democrats things to do between elections and providing meaningful services we Democrats can show citizens that parties want to engage them more than just on election day.”
The Michigan Democratic Party and Blue Tiger Democrats perceive the lack of respect and credibility for politicians and political parties to be a paramount problem. Consider this:
From 2000 to 2004, there has been a 21% increase in the number of self-identified independents;
Membership in state and local political organizations has been cut in half over the past forty years while financial contributions have increasingly replaced time commitment; 70% of all funds raised go to television advertisements that generally hurt the credibility of political parties; and $1.6 billion in 2004 campaign contributions went to political advertisements while nearly nothing went to local civic engagement. Collectively these facts have led to a trend where citizens’ alienation from the political parties and elected officials is at a high water mark.
Samuels, founder of Blue Tiger, said, “We are excited that Michigan has agreed to be first in the nation to become a full-fledged Blue Tiger state. In addition to civic engagement helping to regain trust for the party in communities, we believe that community projects will provide young, idealistic people enormous opportunities to enter the world of public service. Mark Brewer recognizes that and is why he is such a visionary.”
“Blue Tiger’s approach of civic engagement, campaign finance reform and greater accountability and transparency in government can go a long way to helping address the respect gap between people and party. It’s time to put the self back in self-government.”
About the Michigan Democratic Party
The Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) is chaired by Mark Brewer. Active in the Party for 25 years, Brewer has an extensive record of successful grassroots activity. A 1973 graduate of Mount Clemens High School, Brewer obtained his A.B. with Honors from Harvard College in 1977 and his law degree from Stanford University Law School in 1981. After working for two years for federal and state courts, he joined Sachs, Waldman, O’Hare, Helveston, Hodges and Barnes, PC in 1983, becoming a shareholder in 1989. He resigned from the firm upon becoming Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.
In 2006, MDP ran a Blue Tiger pilot project, designed to help low-income families to become more energy efficient and show them ways to lower the cost of their utility bills. The program reached over 28,000 people helped to save many working families over $1,000 each.
About Blue Tiger Democrats
Blue Tiger Democrats is a not-for-profit corporation whose goal is to energize Democrats and Progressives through the promotion of community based initiatives. Blue Tiger was founded in 2005 by Bill Samuels a longtime activist in Democratic and Progressive causes.
Besides from the program in Michigan, Blue Tiger is currently promoting activities such as: running veterans benefits drives to collect “wish list” items for local VA hospitals, holding briefings on emergency preparedness with certified experts and teaching senior citizens to use email, download digital photographs and surf the Internet for the best price on prescription drugs.
Blue Tiger believes that civic engagement must be a priority of local Democratic and Progressive organizations across the country. By performing civic engagement, local party organizations will regain respect in their communities and therefore be able to play a larger role in vetting and grooming new Democratic candidates and workers. Learn more at www.bluetigerdems.com
Principles
A Party isn't a Party if it's built top-down or supported primarily by large individual and corporate donors.
A Party isn't strong if it only debates the major issues or refines a concise message that can be communicated in a thirty-second commercial.
A Party is only as strong as its number of involved and dedicated members who believe in individual responsibility and demonstrate it by working in their communities.
A Party must not just debate the issues of the day, but demonstrate its values by individual actions.
A Party is strong if it is connected to its community through day-to-day work solving problems that exist in that community. People working outside the government, outside the bureaucracy, connect the Party to the voters.
For Politicians to be Respected, we must free them from the humiliating and enormously time-consuming task of fundraising.
Civic Engagement is a two-way street: it not only benefits individuals in the community, but it ensures that the Party is in touch with communities across America.
POSTED 11/20/06
POSTED 5/31/09
From John Klimek:
Fellow Democrats I am so proud of what we accomplished
Saturday with our forum. The professionalism and integrity we projected throughout the day makes me proud to be associated with this fine group of people. Eddie Minks proved without a shadow of a doubt that not only is she well suited to lead our club, but she is also the glue that holds us together. I believe that we had a great learning experience with our hands on speaking engagement, and I heard nothing but compliments and kudos. So now I believe it is time to press on! I don't think we could have done it any better.
John Klimek
POSTED 7/7/09 moved 7/19/09 SCDC Forum Press Release:Food and More for Less
|
POSTED 5/1/09 FORUMS HOSTED BY
|
POSTED 5/20/09 COMMISSIONER KLIMEK TO HOST FREE ECONOMIC FORUMS
The forums are offered to the public free of charge. Following each presentation will be a break-out session for those who have questions. All of the forums will begin at 1:00 PM and last until all questions have been answered, probably two hours, or so. Food and beverages will be available. Commissioner Klimek said, “We live in tough economic times. When you consider those listed as “officially” unemployed in Michigan, those who have given up looking for work and those who have lost part time jobs we are facing an unemployment figure of about one worker in five. We are living in an economic crisis unmatched in generations. Partisan bickering has gotten us nowhere. Our first priority is to offer relief to the families in greatest need and some of that help comes in the form of information that can be used to weather this economic storm. I support this nonpartisan program because it reminds me of what our forefathers did during hard times; they banded together – Democrats and Republicans – and helped one another survive. This is a survival series that will give families living in economic peril real, practical, common sense information that will help them endure.” “Weathering the Storm – Finance 101” will cover “nuts and bolts” subjects by experts in their fields from MSU Extension and GreenPath. These will include credit rebuilding, debt strategy, mortgage and housing, and budgeting. Also there will be presentations on reducing stress cause by these difficult times and information presented where to find governmental help. The emphasis of this forum series is relevancy – help that is meaningful. The series is co-hosted by the Blue Tigers Civic Action Group of South County Democratic Club, office location: 1990 South 11th Street, Niles (269-684-6030). Edie Minks, Chair of South County Club explains the club’s involvement in this nonpartisan forum: “South County Club’s involvement is solely to facilitate the presentation of these forums. The harsh economic times has hit our membership extremely hard. I estimate that as many as six or seven of our member families now have one or both bread-winners out of work. Times are tough and when discussion began on this forum, our membership was quick to respond that we wanted to help. Our involvement is based on compassion for those families living in economic danger and our only goal is to help families find common sense solutions to the economic problems facing them.” |
POSTED 1/1/09 Blue Tigers on Prowl in Southwest MichiganHelp to Homeless Veterans in Niles.
Resident Services has a budget, yet it is dependent upon the generosity of citizens to make contributions of food stuff, clothing, and items for personal hygiene. The South County Democratic Club’s Blue Tigers came to their aid this holiday season. The club, which maintains its office in Buchanan, conducted a food drive and raised approximately $600 worth of non-perishable food, laundry detergent, items of personal hygiene and clothing. In addition, South County Club purchased prepared holiday meals for the veterans – with all the “extras.” Members of the club baked pies and cakes that were included with these meals. Also, at the December membership meeting of South County Club, the members donated food items and money for another hardship case of a veteran in need. This gentleman, a veteran of the Korean War, recently moved into southwest Michigan suffering health and financial problems. Like the veterans at Resident Services, he too received a holiday meal compliments of South County Club. The “Blue Tigers” are the civic action wing of the South County Democratic Club. The rationale behind the Blue Tigers is basically trying to change the public perception of politics: Despite the huge voter turnout in the November election, most people are rather reluctant to participate in party politics. To counter this negativity towards political parties/clubs, the Michigan Democratic Party and South County Democratic Club have embraced the Blue Tiger concept which basically translates into putting Democratic ideals into action. Jess Minks (Chair of South County) said, “Sponsoring civic action projects not only helps those in need but also gives our membership things to do between elections.” “South County Club is not only visible and active at election time; we are here to help – all of the time.” |
“Blue Tiger” Democrats Restore Activist Roar to Michigan Democratic Party “I’m happy to report that the Blue Tiger Democrats are successfully returning the Democratic Party to its roots of community service and civic engagement,” said Brewer. “One-third of our local party organizations currently have community service projects and more are coming aboard every day.” Blue Tiger Democrats, a national non-profit as well as a project of the MDP, has rekindled community service projects as a core purpose of Democratic Party organizations across Michigan. Branded with a blue tiger as a new symbol (or historic one according to national founder Bill Samuels), “Blue Tiger Democrats have awakened activist efforts to support their community through service across the State,” Brewer continued. “Every day, Democrats see the struggles of veterans, seniors and working families,” said Frank Houston, CEO (Civic Engagement Organizer) of Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats. “For many activists, being able to run a charity drive for a veteran’s hospital or a food bank for those in need gives them a way to live their Democratic values every day,” Houston stated. Brewer and Houston unveiled a new, Michigan-specific Blue Tiger Democrats website, www.michiganbluetigerdems.com where Party organizations, activists and leaders can highlight the service projects, volunteers and civic engagement activities they are undertaking or have worked on.
“Often, volunteers from political campaigns struggle to discover a place to channel their passion and dedication to the issues and politics they are concerned with between elections,” said Brewer. “Blue Tiger Democrats has helped create a renewed sense of commitment for many leaders to get organized and stay active even when the next election may be several months a way,” Brewer concluded. To learn more about the work of Michigan Blue Tiger Democrats, go to www.michiganbluetigerdems.com, or contact Frank Houston at (734) 624-3555 or fhouston@bluetigerdems.com. POSTED 10/27/07 MOVED 11/18/07 |
a free forum, “Food and More for Less,” to be held on July 18, 2009, 1-3 pm at the Greater Niles Senior Center. This forum is the second in a series devoted to “Weathering the Storm: How to Live Through Difficult and Uncertain Times.” An open Coupon Swap is planned to immediately follow the forum.
foods, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies and more, and some tips on handling stress caused by rapid change. 
Storm” series is especially designed to for area residents who may have been negatively affected by the current economy and are looking for ways to better handle their household needs. The Greater Niles Senior Center is located at 1109 Bell Road in Niles, Michigan. Admission to Food and More for Less is free. Donations will be gladly accepted.
John Klimek, Berrien County Commissioner for the 13th District (primarily the City of Niles) will host a series of forums, “Weathering the Storm -- How To Survive These Difficult and Uncertain Economic Times.” Three forums have been planned: the first is “Finance 101” and will be held at the Niles Senior Center, Saturday, May 30, 2009, starting at 1:00 PM. 
Resident Services of Southwest Michigan (located in Niles) acts as a relief center for needy veterans of Berrien County and provides services for them. The emphasis of Resident Services is returning the veteran back to the work force. All clients have at least two years service with one of the branches of our military and they can only remain at the Resident Services’ dormitory for two years to turn their life around. There are four apartments shared by four veterans for a total of 16 clients at any one time.
LANSING - Today, Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Mark Brewer provided an update on a pledge he made a year ago to “regain respect for the Democratic Party and the political process” from the public by supporting local efforts to provide meaningful services and support for issues in their community beyond politics.
Paid for by South County Democratic Club
1990 South 11th Street
Niles, MI 49120
Copyright ©2009 South County Democratic Club
1990 South 11th Street
Niles, MI 49120
Edie Minks, Chair