What a great year it is to be a Democrat! We were thrilled to see so many people from Georgia able to attend the many activities surrounding the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. A few highlights of Inaugural Activities are as follows:

* The DNC held a fantastic reception for outgoing DNC Chair Howard Dean at the Smithsonian American History Museum on Saturday, January 17.

*. The Democratic Party of Georgia held a wonderful Jazz Brunch on the morning of Sunday, January 18. Over 700 people attended the event. Students from the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta performed “You Can Vote However You Like” and other songs inspired by President Barack Obama. Ambassador Andrew Young gave a touching and moving speech on the power of Barack Obama’s presidency.

* The Georgia State Society Ball was held on the evening of Monday, January 19 at the breathtaking Smithsonian Natural History Museum . The event was very well executed and very well attended. A great time was had by all.

* We are glad that so many Georgians were able to be in Washington DC on January 20 for the historic Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States , Barack Obama. Click here to see a panoramic view of the Mall on Inauguration Day.

* Many Georgians also attended the Southern States Ball on Tuesday, January 20, at the DC Armory. Late in the evening, Vice President Joe Biden and Mrs. Biden and President and Mrs. Obama stopped by for a dance and brief comments

DNC Winter Meeting Report, January 21, 2009
The DNC held its 2009 Winter Meeting in Washington DC the day after the Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Credentials Committee Report
The Credentials Committee of the DNC met on January 21, 2009 to discuss the 2 challenges to the election of DNC members from the State of Georgia . These challenges were made by Andre Walker and Tony Center et al and were combined into a single challenge at the last meeting of the DNC. The challenges were summarized by the DNC staff and members of the Credentials Committee were given an opportunity to ask questions or make statements. Tony Center was present to respond to questions regarding his challenge. Sally Rosser was also present.

It was the vote of the Committee to continue the discussion until the next meeting of the Committee. The issues addressed in the challenge were complex and there was additional information required by the Committee. The challenge will be heard at the next meeting of the Committee (no date has been set at this time) and the challengers will be allowed to come and present their challenge, answer questions and give further information. Those challenged will also be invited to attend to do the same.

In addition, the Committee voted to seat the elected DNC members from Georgia without prejudice so that Georgia would be represented during the meeting on January 21. Tony Center supported this motion.

DNC Winter Meeting Report
The DNC Members from Georgia who attended the DNC Winter Meeting were Jane Kidd, Page Gleason, and Sally Rosser.
* Howard Dean gave his farewell remarks as Outgoing Chair of the DNC. He pointed out our many victories and successes of the 50 State Strategy over the last four years. He also pointed out the amazing successes we have seen in states such as Utah and South Carolina . While we have not yet seen solid Democratic victories in these states, the gains we saw are extremely encouraging and with continued focused effort, these gains will grow and turn into Democratic victories.

With the development of a nationwide voter file we have moved from being a series of candidates working separately to one unified Democratic Team. Through micro-targeting efforts, we have seen large Democratic gains in strongly Republican areas for the first time in years. The DNC’s year-round voter protection efforts ensure that all votes in all elections are counted.

Howard Dean congratulated President Obama on running one of the absolute best campaigns in American history.

He reminded us that our work is not completed. We must keep new voters engaged and reminded us of Obama’s words four years ago, “There are no Red States and Blue States . There are American States.”

In one election cycle, we have erased the Republicans’ technological advantage, but we must continue our efforts to build our technology and stay ahead.

Howard Dean congratulated Tim Kaine on becoming the new DNC Chair and reminded us that Tim believes that the strength of the party is from the ground up. Howard also thanks all of the DNC staff for the tremendous job they did during his tenure as Chair of the DNC.

* Tim Kaine was elected unanimously to be the next Chair of the DNC. Click here to read Tim Kaine’s message to the members of the DNC.

* Elections for all other DNC officers where also held. The new officers of the DNC are:
Governor Tim Kaine, DNC Chair
Donna Brazile, DNC Vice Chair for Voter Registration and Participation
Linda Chavez-Thompson, DNC Vice Chair
U.S. Representative Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair
U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC Vice Chair
Raymond Buckley, President, Association of State Democratic Chairs, DNC Vice Chair
Andrew Tobias, DNC Treasurer
Alice Travis Germond, DNC Secretary
Jane Stetson, DNC National Finance Chair

* The Report of the Resolutions Committee passed with a few edits. We will send out a complete list of the Resolutions passed at the DNC Winter

A Reception honoring Outgoing DNC Chair Howard Dean and Incoming DNC Chair Tim Kaine was held immediately following the DNC Winter Meeting.

DNC News
* The transition to the new DNC administration will be complete on February 20. Over the following weeks and months we will share with you information concerning the plans for the DNC in 2009 as well as the 50 State Strategy as we receive them.

* DNC Staff Announcements
1. Mitch Stewart has been named Director of Organizing for America .

Organizing for America will work in partnership with the DNC to continue to build, engage and strengthen the unprecedented organization that was built during the campaign and the grassroots network built over the past four years at the DNC. The joint partnership signifies the ongoing commitment to both building and strengthening the grassroots movement, and reaching out to people in all 50 states to engage Americans in this movement for change.

“I’m extremely pleased that Organizing for America will be housed here at the DNC. Working in partnership, we will seek to engage people in new ways, and to broaden what President Obama calls the ‘Coalition for Change’ in America ,” said Governor Tim Kaine. “I know first-hand how important it is to reach out and engage the grassroots all across a state and all across our country.”

“As the election of President Obama has shown, the strength of our country comes from the grassroots -- but we can’t stop now,” said DNC Executive Director Jen O’Malley Dillon. “It’s more critical than ever that people across the country continue to be involved and engaged in their communities and helping to bring change to Washington.”

“The message we heard loud and clear from people across the country is that this movement must continue as we actively support President Obama’s agenda and continue to fight for the change our country needs,” said Organizing for America Director Mitch Stewart. “I’m deeply honored to be a part it of this next phase as the volunteers, grassroots leaders and ordinary citizens continue to drive our organization.”

In addition to Mitch Stewart, the DNC also announced that Jeremy Bird will serve as Deputy Director.

Mitch Stewart served as Iowa Caucus director, Indiana state director and Virginia state director for the Obama campaign. Before joining Obama's campaign, Stewart was the coordinated campaign manager for the Democratic Farm Labor party in Minnesota in 2006, when Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) won her race. In 2004, Stewart served as former South Dakota senator Tom Daschle's field director. He was also a regional field director in Iowa for former senator John Edwards' during his presidential bid in 2004.

Jeremy Bird served as Obama campaign field director in South Carolina during the primaries and general election director in Ohio .

2. DNC Finance team set
The Obama campaign's finance chair, Penny Pritzker, emailed out news of the Democratic National Committee's new top fundraising officials Monday, putting a major supporter and key campaign aides in place as to keep up the traditional, prolific high-dollar fundraising that produced a large portion of Obama's campaign cash.

The new DNC finance chair will be Vermont Democratic activist Jane Stetson, Pritzker wrote. Rufus Gifford will be national finance director, and Hildy Kuryk will be deputy national finance director.

"We didn't simply break every fundraising record in American history We did it in accord with the values and ethical standards of our new President," Pritzker wrote in the email.

The new DNC fundraising apparatus, made up of Obama's networks of small and large donors, may play a role in the 2010 midterms, and it will lay the groundwork for his 2012 reelection bid.

Respectfully Submitted,

The Georgia DNC Team
Jane Kidd, Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia
Michael Thurmond, First Vice Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia
Page K. Gleason, DNC Member
Richard Ray, DNC Member
Sally Rosser, DNC Member
David Worley, DNC Member