BE for CHANGE

J-J Dinner photos...

...are here, thanks to Marian Shapiro, her sharp eye and quick finger on the camera button.

You can download the pictures you like to your computer, but if you use them elsewhere, please be sure to credit Marian as the photographer.

And if you took any pictures you'd like us to post, just e-mail them to Ellen.

Sad news

It is with sadness and regret that I tell you this: Glenn Smith will not be speaking at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner tonight. His older brother, Mack, died in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, and the funeral is today. Glenn, always the most generous of men, wrote me a touching e-mail -- in the midst of his terrible grief -- expressing his dismay at disrupting our plans.

I hastened to reassure him, and to offer him the condolences of all of us.

Glenn had written the most extraordinary speech to deliver tonight. I asked for a copy to post here, and I encourage everyone to read it -- to study it, in fact. It is rich in information, in humanity, in profound political and personal observation.

The title of his speech is "Do Americans Believe in the Wisdom of the Public? The Promise of Popular Democracy." After reading it you will be eager to meet Glenn, to bask in his warmth and to explore with him the propositions he puts forward -- the products of a huge intellect and a huge heart. You will surely want to incorporate those propositions into your own thinking, and take action on them now.

I have promised Glenn, and I promise you: we will make sure to give us all, later in the year, that opportunity.

Our prayers are with Glenn and his family.

The speech

Online resources for our J-J Dinner participants

— this list is a work in progress at February 23 — please come back

Debra Bowen
California Secretary of State

John Dean
at FindLaw.com's The Writ
buy John's books

Glenn Smith
at the Rockridge Institute
at MyDD (includes a clear explication of the tortuous Texas primary/caucus arrangements)
buy Glenn's books

Henry Vandermeir
California Democratic Council

Red-to-Blue Coalition
Vote Blue -- the website seems to be down
Take Back Red California
CDP Rural Caucus
Speak Out California!

The J-J Dinner is SOLD OUT!!!

Last time we kept reservations open through the event date, and ultimately 470 people crowded into Warren Hall. The turnout was deeply gratifying, but there was just too much of a crush. So this year we decided to hold the number to 400, and as of today, we are SOLD OUT!

This is really remarkable, and we thank with all our hearts the great Santa Barbara Democratic community for showing such tremendous support for our grassroots activists.

We have also received an unprecedented amount of underwriting money, which means, of course, that more dollars than ever before can be distributed not only to the Democratic Service Club but to our partners in the Red-to-Blue Coalition, who are working so hard to register more and more Democrats and to get more and more Democrats elected to office in this historic election cycle.

We are excited, energized, mobilized -- and what a treat it will be to come together on February 23rd and share the vibe!

Love,

Barbie and Ellen
BE for Change

P.S. If you want to be wait-listed, in case a couple of slots open up, please send an e-mail to Barbie.

Debra Bowen on board for the J-J Dinner

More great news: Secretary of State Debra Bowen will join John Dean, Glenn Smith and Henry Vandermeir as honored guests and speakers at the February 23rd Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Ms. Bowen is a zealous protector of individual liberties, and hers is a cherished voice in the progressive community.

Be sure to reserve your tickets now. The price goes up (from $55 to $75) on January 26, and they're going fast!

Reserve for the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner online

It's the moment you've been waiting for: we're now accepting reservations online for the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner!

Please click here!

Glenn Smith, Henry Vandermeir join John Dean as speakers at J-J Dinner

Glenn W. Smith, Senior Fellow at the Rockridge Institute and Henry Vandermeir, president of the California Democratic Council, will join John Dean on the podium at the February 23rd Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

We're sending out an e-mail update today, with (among other pieces of important information) links to biographical information about our stellar speakers. If you don't get an e-mail, please click on the "JJ Dinner Update" button in the right sidebar and we'll make sure to send it along.

JOHN DEAN will keynote next Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, February 23, 2008

From the e-mail we sent today...

We are so pleased and excited! Yes, it's still several months away, but we wanted to tell you, the minute he'd confirmed it, that John Dean will join us in Santa Barbara on Saturday, February 23, 2008 to keynote the next Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

We wanted so much for John to do this that we postponed the dinner (twice) until we could find a date that worked for him.

Please put February 23, 2008 on your calendar now and plan to be with us at the Earl Warren Showgrounds for what promises to be the best J-J Dinner yet -- with a wonderful mix of A-list speakers, fabulous food, smart conversation and, of course, rousing Democratic solidarity.

As always, we have a few more tricks up our sleeve, but you'll just have to wait for our next e-mail to know what they are...

In the meanwhile, mark your calendar, buy John's new book, and be prepared to mobilize!

Sincerely,

-- Ellen & Barbie --