Dear Mathews Dems and Friends,

SETTING DIRECTION FOR MCDC IN 2011: Through the Virginia Association of
Democratic Chairs, we learned that more and more local committees are
engaged in strategic planning. In the past few years we have had two
special planning sessions sometime during the 1st quarter of the year.
This year we're going to begin by doing two things:

1 - Individuals have volunteered to contact 'Strong Dems' and 'Federal
Dems' to invite them to join us in thinking about what we want our
grassroots Democratic Committee to be and do. We'll be calling folks we
know. I'll publicize several small meetings in early January where you
can come and identify those individuals you will contact.

2 - On Saturday, January 29 we'll have an 'envisioning' session at
which we'll think together about what we want our Democratic Committee
to be and do over the next 3 - 5 years. We'll use this 'framework for
the future' to set our objectives and develop our plans for 2011. This
is the next step in increasing our 'sustainability' as a Committee.

2011 ELECTIONS: Our State Senator, Ralph Northam, is up for re-election
in 2011. At our Crab Steam, Ralph stated his intention to run again and
his desire to keep Mathews County in his district. We'll be working on
his re-election throughout 2011. We don't intend to wait to learn
whether we'll be in his district or not. Please let us know if you're
interested in helping to keep our great State Senator in office.

2011 CRAB STEAM: Since our December 4 meeting, Melinda Maddox contacted
me to discuss possibly changing the location of our Steam from the
Ruritan Building to the American Legion Building. We'll discuss this at
our January 8 MCDC meeting.

KEY MCDC DATES FOR 2011

January 8 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
January 29 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM "Envisioning MCDC's Future"
February 5 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
March 5 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
April 2 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
May 1 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
June 4 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
July 2 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
August 6 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
August 13 Our 5th Annual Crab Steam.
September 3 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
October 1 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
November 5 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.
December 3 from 2 - 3:30 PM Monthly MCDC meeting.

Please put these dates on your 2011 calendar and join us in promoting
constructive, civil political action and a just, responsible democracy.

Take very good care,
Cynthia Burton Shackelford
Chair, MCDC