The Bray

March 2013 ___Greenville County Democratic Party _____

Greenville, SC

Six Greenville Democrats on State Honors List of African American Trailblazers "In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, the South Carolina Democratic Party is honored to highlight the achievements of 50 African American trailblazers from across the state of South Carolina. Honorees were nominated by members of the South Carolina Democratic Party and selected by a distinguished committee of activists and party officials. Our honorees range from current and former elected officials to grassroots organizers. Please join us in celebrating the achievements and accomplishments of these and so many African American leaders." -- South Carolina Democratic Party, February 2013. Greenville Democrats should be very proud because six of the 50 honorees on this list are from our county! That's 12 percent! They appear alongside national luminaries such as Marian Wright Edelman, Judge Ernest Finney, Jr., astronaut Ron McNair, Jesse Jackson, Sr., and Representative James Clyburn. Our honorees are: State Senator Ralph Anderson, retired Sen. Anderson has a long history of serving the people of Greenville from service on City Council (1983-1991) to service as a State House Representative (1991-1996) and State Senator (1990-2012). In addition to his public service, he has served on numerous boards and civic organizations in Greenville. Lottie Beal Gibson, grassroots leader and County Council Member Ms. Gibson has been a grassroots leader since she started worked with the NAACP in 1959. She supported the protest march from Springfield Baptist Church on New Year's Day 1960 when baseball star Jackie Robinson was not allowed to enter the "whites only" waiting room at Greenville Municipal Airport. She went on to chair the Board of Directors of SHARE (19801996) and has been a member of Greenville County Council since 1992. Xanthene Norris, activist and County Council Member Ms. Norris has been elected to the Greenville County Council for four terms since 1997. She serves on the Public Safety and Human Services Committee and the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. She is the past Vice-Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee. She has been a Greenville Democratic State Convention Delegate since 1997. Lillian Brock Flemming, City Council Member Ms. Flemming was elected to Greenville City Council in 1981. She has also served as President of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, the first Greenville City Council member to do so; has been a representative at several National League of Cities conventions; is a Past Trustee

of the Furman University Board of Trustees; and is Past President of the Greenville County Education Association. Alberta Tucker Grimes, educator (deceased) In 1965 Ms. Grimes initiated the movement that resulted in federal funding of the first Head Start program in South Carolina. She was the first African American guidance counselor in South Carolina (1952) and the first African American woman to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina. She was a charter member of the Greenville Urban League and President of the Democratic Women of Greenville County. Shirley Scott, community organizer Shirley Scott made countless trips to North Carolina to help get President Obama re-elected in 2012. She volunteered at the Democratic National Convention and spearheaded teams in Anderson and Abbeville counties. One of her nominators said, "She has never sought notoriety or recognition for her efforts, so I feel that honoring her at this time seems right." Congratulations to all for this well-deserved honor! ___________

Voter ID Law Requires Photo ID: What It Means for You By Susan Cyr, Second Vice Chair, Greenville County Democratic Party The new SC State Photo ID law, as modified by a Federal Court ruling, was implemented effective January 1, 2013. Voting in person now requires a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID includes: a valid unexpired SC Driver's License; a SC ID Card issued by the SC DMV; a Federal Military ID card (this includes a valid unexpired VA Benefits card); a U.S. Passport; or a SC Voter Registration Card with Photo (available at County Voter Registration office). If you are a currently registered Greenville County voter but do not have one of these acceptable photo IDs, you can get a special SC Voter Registration Card With a Photo free of charge from the voter registration office at County Square, 301 University Ridge, by simply providing your DOB and the last four digits of your Social Security number. An ID card issued by the SC DMV can be obtained at a local DMV office, also free of charge, but with some additional documentation (such as a birth certificate).

If you do not have a photo ID on Election Day, if you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID, you may vote a provisional ballot after showing your non-photo voter registration card. A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond your control, which created an obstacle to obtaining a photo ID. Some examples include: religious objection to being photographed; lack of transportation; disability or illness; lack of birth certificate; work schedule; family responsibilities; any other obstacle you find reasonable. To vote under the reasonable impediment exception, (1) you must present your current, non-photo registration card at the polling place; (2) sign an affidavit stating why you could not obtain a Photo ID; (3) cast a

provisional ballot that will be counted unless the county election commission has reason to believe your affidavit is false. For more information, visit www.scvotes.org. Please note that photo IDs are not required for absentee voting by mail. If you need assistance in obtaining an acceptable form of voter ID, please contact GCDP Headquarters. One of our Party volunteers will be happy to assist you. You may also call the Greenville County Voter Registration Office, Conway Belangia, Director, at 467-7250.

Second Annual Issues Conference Offers In-Depth Look at Vital Matters The South Carolina Democratic Party invites all interested Democrats to attend its second annual Issues Conference, March 23 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at West Ashley High School, 4060 W. Wildcat Boulevard, Charleston. The registration fee of $50 covers coffee and bagels, lunch, and facility costs. Please check www.scdp.org for updates on confirmed speakers. Discussion topics include: healthcare and Medicaid expansion; education in South Carolina; media training; unions/working in SC; voter ID-educating the base on the new laws; rural counties, environment/energy; 46-county strategy; women in politics; messaging/utilizing new media; young people in politics; fundraising and budgeting. Attendance is encouraged for any interested person, from potential candidates for office to the person who wants to bolster his/her understanding of a given issue. Please call Headquarters if you would be interested in forming a carpool to drive to Charleston for this event. March Calendar: Plan to Participate! Monday, March 11 Dinner meeting, Democratic Women of Greenville County, 5:30 pm, Runway Caf, 21 Airport Road Extension at the Greenville Downtown Airport. Buffet dinner, $15. Reservations by Thursday, March 7. Program: Focus on Prevention of Gun Violence. Speakers-Greenville City Police Chief Terri Wilfong and Jack Logan, Greenville Tech student and president of Put Down the Guns Young People, a grassroots organization. Call Democratic Headquarters at 232-5531 or email your reservation to headquarters@greenvilledemocrats.com. Saturday, March 23 SCDP Issues Conference, 8:30 am-5:00 pm. W. Ashley High School, 4060 W. Wildcat Boulevard, Charleston. Reservation required. $50 registration fee includes light breakfast and lunch. Register at www.scdp.org. See article, p. 2. Thursday, March 28 Inaugural Happy Hour Democratic Party Event, A Conversation with Senator Vincent Sheheen, The Loft at Ford's, 631 S. Main St., Greenville. 5:30-7:30 pm. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks, $20.

Reservations: Call Democratic Headquarters at 232-5531 or email your reservation to headquarters@greenvilledemocrats.com.

Looking Ahead to April Saturday, April 6 Satirist Bill Maher, Koger Center, Columbia, SC. 8 pm show. Also pre-show reception/fundraiser. Contact SC Democratic Party, 803-799-7798. Sunday, April 14 Heads up! Democratic Party Celebration and Special Event, 5:00 pm. Mark your calendar. Save the date. Stay tuned for details.

Greenville Democratic Office Runs on Volunteer Power Our Greenville County Democratic Party headquarters office is a rarity for county party organizations in South Carolina. First of all, we have an office and second, we keep it open five days per week. How do we do it? Volunteers! Maintaining a staffed office encourages Democratic Party supporters to vote and get involved; most important, the office is the vehicle to support Democratic candidates on the local, state, and national level. It's not all work and no fun at headquarters: the office is a lively place where likeminded people gather to get things done, from stuffing The Bray into envelopes to making crucial telephone calls prior to elections and planning events for the party. Holding it all together are three crucial people: Kaye Martell, office manager, and Ann Funderburk and "Boss" Joanne Montague, longtime headquarters and party stalwarts, also known as The Collective Historical Memory of the GCDP. The weekly volunteer office staff consists of Ed Jones and Sharon Cherry (Monday); Sapp Funderburk and Linda Neeley (Tuesday); Laurel Melson and Jessie Wofford (Wednesday); Stan Crowe and Ann Funderburk (Thursday); Saleem Shabazz and Linda LeBlanc (Friday). Substitutes are Joanne Montague and Candace Colquit. These folks work a three-hour shift each week. Steve Schwartz takes The Bray to the post office every month. Others help out as needed. Our newest volunteers are Jed Daughteryand Catherine Norman. Welcome to them and to any reader who would like to join this happy company. Call 232-5531 for details. "Last summer the GCDP asked its supporters to help bring the office into the 21st century with updated computer equipment," Kaye Martell said. "We're happy to report that two new computers, a laptop, a printer, and updated software have been installed and the transition from old systems to new is almost complete. Thanks to Kevin Davidson for recent help with the transitioning of our files." The office is open Monday through Friday 9 am to 3 pm (at least).

Thank You to Recent Contributors Many thanks to the following Democrats who have contributed to the party treasury this month. Their generosity helps us accomplish our goals-to reach out to Democratic supporters throughout our county and to provide a communication channel for Democratic candidates. Contributors are: Susan Abdoul-Nasr, Sarah C. Beasley, Harry Chapman, Joe Erwin, Ann Funderburk, Eric and Helen Graben, Frank and Anne Holleman, Allan Jenkins, James Mattos, James Patterson (in honor of Johnnie Fulton and Andrew Barr).

Everybody Come! A Conversation with Senator Vincent Sheheen Ushers In New Happy Hour Format We're on a new routine for getting together as a Party. In alternating months, you can attend a Democratic Party luncheon at the Golden Corral or a Happy Hour at Ford's Loft downtown. We got off to a good start with a well-attended luncheon on February 21. Now, on March 28 at 5:30 pm, we're ready to roll with our first Happy Hour featuring a sought-after and important speaker: State Senator Vincent Sheheen. Senator Sheheen was the Democratic candidate for governor in 2010 and is the likely Democratic candidate for that office in 2014. Join us for delicious hors d'ouevres and drinks to satisfy your late afternoon hunger and a conversation with Senator Sheehen to satisfy your intellectual and political appetites. See you there! Please reserve at Headquarters, 232-5531, or headquarters@greenvilledemocrats.com. Cost is $20 per person.

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The Bray is published monthly by the Greenville County Democratic Party (GCDP), 1300-J Washington St., Greenville, SC. 864-232-5531, www.greenvilledemocrats.com. County Chairman, Eric Graben. Editor, Karen Tannenbaum, Production and distribution, Kaye Martell, Kate Franch, and dedicated volunteers. Know someone who would like to receive The Bray? It is available by email or traditional mail. Call HQ with their contact information or contact headquarters@greenvilledemocrats.com. Contributions to the GCDP are welcome and needed! Please send your check to the address above. If contribution is $100 or more, please include your profession (or retired) as required by the SC Ethics Commission.