The DemVets
A Little History
Late December of 2011, there was a conversation in the Democratic Party of Sacramento County (DPSC) office. Present for this conversation were Kerri Asbury (Chairwoman of the Central Committee '11-'12), Andres Ramos (Parliamentarian of the Central Committee) and Lawson C. Stuart (Founding President of DemVets). The conversation was centered around the different clubs of the DPSC and where needs were possibly going unmet. It came to Lawson's attention that there was not a club that was specific to Veterans.
Lawson and Andres immediately turned the conversation into the different things that would be needed for the formation of any new club in the DPSC, the writing of bylaws, etc. Lawson set to work on the bylaws and announced his intentions to form the club to the Executive Board of the DPSC at their January meeting. The Executive Board unanimously approved, tentative to the meeting of the DPSC requirements, approval to form the new club at the next Central Committee meeting the next week.
Once bylaws were finished, Lawson set to work to organize enough people to meet the minimum requirements of formation of a new club. The inaugural meeting of the club took place at the DPSC office on January 10, 2012. There, 7 people signed up to be members, paid their dues and approved the Constitution and Bylaws by signing them. Thus, the chartering members of the DemVets was established. This was followed through with two days later at the meeting of the Central Committee of the DPSC, where the DemVets, after signing up a few more members, were officially charted through the DPSC as the Democratic Veterans Club of Sacramento County. Although not officially chartered until the Central Committee meeting, the signing of the Constitution and Bylaws is considered the official formation of the club, therefore making the DemVets birthday January 10, 2012.
Lawson Stuart went on to become the Chair of the Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party in April of 2013. He resigned the Presidency of the club during the middle point of his second term, effective June 30, 2013.
Dana Ferry, a Navy Veteran, was elected to succeed Lawson as President of the Club. She chose not to run for election to a full term and instead took an appointment to the Political Committee of the Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party.
Cres Vellucci, the founding Treasurer of the Club who went on to serve as Vice President, ran for and was elected the third President of the Club for the 2014 term.
The Mission
Through the adoption of the Constitution and Bylaws, the mission of the DemVets was formed. The mission officially is: It shall be the mission of the VDCSC to work within the Democratic Party of Sacramento County (DPSC), providing a strong voice and representation within the party structure, promoting the welfare of Veterans through effective legislation and encouraging Veterans to participate fully as Democrats at all levels of policy making and public service. Strong support of candidates who are equally supportive of the rights and care of Veterans shall be available, as shall strong opposition to candidates who fail to support the Veterans causes.
Who Are The DemVets?
We are a unique Veterans organization because of two things:
1) We do not require our members to be Veterans or family of Veterans. Anyone who is desiring to assist with our mission is encouraged to join. The only Veteran requirement in existence with this organization is this: Our President and Vice President must be Veterans in good standing whenever possible.
2) We are specifically partisan in nature, giving a voice to the Veterans in the Democratic Party that they have not had before. In doing so, we are allowing the process to exist through which candidates for office will now be held accountable to the Veterans issues they often can afford to pay less attention to during campaigns due to the mainstream Veterans organizations being non-partisan in nature. It is our goal to become the political 'strong-arm' of the veterans organizations in the Greater Sacramento area, thus filling the 'Partisan Politics Gap' for the veterans once and for all.
The DemVets' Values
As we continue to develop this organization into a strong voice in our community, we always remember that we are able to exist because of those who never had the chance to join an organization like this. They made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and we shall carry forward in their honor. In each branch of the service, the troops learn their branch's core values and are trained in how they should guide their actions.
With the adoption of their bylaws, the DemVets chose the following Values:
Late December of 2011, there was a conversation in the Democratic Party of Sacramento County (DPSC) office. Present for this conversation were Kerri Asbury (Chairwoman of the Central Committee '11-'12), Andres Ramos (Parliamentarian of the Central Committee) and Lawson C. Stuart (Founding President of DemVets). The conversation was centered around the different clubs of the DPSC and where needs were possibly going unmet. It came to Lawson's attention that there was not a club that was specific to Veterans.
Lawson and Andres immediately turned the conversation into the different things that would be needed for the formation of any new club in the DPSC, the writing of bylaws, etc. Lawson set to work on the bylaws and announced his intentions to form the club to the Executive Board of the DPSC at their January meeting. The Executive Board unanimously approved, tentative to the meeting of the DPSC requirements, approval to form the new club at the next Central Committee meeting the next week.
Once bylaws were finished, Lawson set to work to organize enough people to meet the minimum requirements of formation of a new club. The inaugural meeting of the club took place at the DPSC office on January 10, 2012. There, 7 people signed up to be members, paid their dues and approved the Constitution and Bylaws by signing them. Thus, the chartering members of the DemVets was established. This was followed through with two days later at the meeting of the Central Committee of the DPSC, where the DemVets, after signing up a few more members, were officially charted through the DPSC as the Democratic Veterans Club of Sacramento County. Although not officially chartered until the Central Committee meeting, the signing of the Constitution and Bylaws is considered the official formation of the club, therefore making the DemVets birthday January 10, 2012.
Lawson Stuart went on to become the Chair of the Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party in April of 2013. He resigned the Presidency of the club during the middle point of his second term, effective June 30, 2013.
Dana Ferry, a Navy Veteran, was elected to succeed Lawson as President of the Club. She chose not to run for election to a full term and instead took an appointment to the Political Committee of the Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party.
Cres Vellucci, the founding Treasurer of the Club who went on to serve as Vice President, ran for and was elected the third President of the Club for the 2014 term.
The Mission
Through the adoption of the Constitution and Bylaws, the mission of the DemVets was formed. The mission officially is: It shall be the mission of the VDCSC to work within the Democratic Party of Sacramento County (DPSC), providing a strong voice and representation within the party structure, promoting the welfare of Veterans through effective legislation and encouraging Veterans to participate fully as Democrats at all levels of policy making and public service. Strong support of candidates who are equally supportive of the rights and care of Veterans shall be available, as shall strong opposition to candidates who fail to support the Veterans causes.
Who Are The DemVets?
We are a unique Veterans organization because of two things:
1) We do not require our members to be Veterans or family of Veterans. Anyone who is desiring to assist with our mission is encouraged to join. The only Veteran requirement in existence with this organization is this: Our President and Vice President must be Veterans in good standing whenever possible.
2) We are specifically partisan in nature, giving a voice to the Veterans in the Democratic Party that they have not had before. In doing so, we are allowing the process to exist through which candidates for office will now be held accountable to the Veterans issues they often can afford to pay less attention to during campaigns due to the mainstream Veterans organizations being non-partisan in nature. It is our goal to become the political 'strong-arm' of the veterans organizations in the Greater Sacramento area, thus filling the 'Partisan Politics Gap' for the veterans once and for all.
The DemVets' Values
As we continue to develop this organization into a strong voice in our community, we always remember that we are able to exist because of those who never had the chance to join an organization like this. They made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and we shall carry forward in their honor. In each branch of the service, the troops learn their branch's core values and are trained in how they should guide their actions.
With the adoption of their bylaws, the DemVets chose the following Values:
- Leadership- In compliment to the overall mission of the VDCSC, an element of leadership development shall have a presence in all that is done by the organization.
- Honor- The honor developed within the careers of those who have and are serving, shall not be forgotten by those who participate with this organization. Honor shall always have its place in our actions and activities.
- Service- This organization shall maintain the service to the country carried out by those who have served by serving them in return, and consequently serving the local communities in the same stead.