2012 Boxford caucus date set

At its October 27 meeting, the Boxford Democratic Town Committee voted to hold its annual caucus on Sunday, February 26 at 2 pm, with coffee- hour and sign-in beginning at 1:30 pm.   The caucus will be held in the second-floor meeting room of the Boxford Community Center, 4 Middleton Road, Boxford.  All Boxford Democrats registered by December 31 of this year are welcome to attend.  A brief business meeting will follow the caucus, at which time any new members who wish to join the committee will be voted onto the committee.

October meeting scheduled

The next meeting of the Boxford Democratic Town committee will be held on Thursday, October 27 at 7:30 pm at the Boxford police station first floor meeting room, 285 Ipswich Road.
Required signature papers will be available for Democrats who wish to renew their committee membership and be listed on the Democratic primary ballot in February, 2012.

Fall meeting date

Please save the date:  The Boxford Democratic Town Committee’s next meeting will be on Thursday, September 8, at 7:30 pm at the Boxford Community Center’s second floor meeting room.  On the agenda:  welcome new members, plan for our October 15 Fifth Annual Barn Dance.

In Memoriam: Franklin Pierce Pomroy

Franklin Pierce Pomroy, a popular and well-known resident of Boxford, a decorated World War II veteran, and a fondly remembered member of the Boxford Democratic Committee, passed away June 11 at his home in Boxford.

Many of us count our first recollections of Frank from our committee’s Citizen’s Circle event on the war in Iraq in March, 2007.  During the open round-table discussion, with emotion in his voice Frank told us that very recently he’d changed his party registration from life-long Republican to Democrat as a protest to President Bush’s Iraq war policy.  As a veteran, this could have been no easy step for him to take.  Frank became a member of the Boxford Democratic Town Committee that same year, and we elected him a delegate or an alternate to the state Democratic convention every year since that time.

Frank loved those conventions.  He went out early to attend the parties, attended the delegates’ breakfast sponsored by the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, and relished meeting Governor Patrick in person.  We missed Frank Pomroy’s cheery presence at this year’s convention — so much so that it has suggested to us a particularly appropriate way to remember him.  We plan to name a delegate’s seat at each year’s state convention after him:  The Franklin Pierce Pomroy Honorary Delegate from Boxford will commemorate the enthusiasm with which Frank celebrated his new-found political home in the Democratic party.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

Marianne Rutter, Chair

5th Annual Barn Dance scheduled

Boxford Democrats are inviting local friends and those from surrounding towns near and far to put on their dancin’ shoes:  this year’s 5th Annual Barn Dance will have a harvest theme, scheduled for Saturday, October 15th at 7:30 pm in the Gould Barn, 1 Howlett Street in Topsfield.  As in years past, musical entertainment will be provided by 2120 South Michigan Avenue.  Appetizers and desserts, beer and wine will be served.  Early-bird prices for tickets will save you $5:  $30 per couple and $20 for individuals  Tickets go on sale June 1, and the early-bird price will be in effect until Labor Day.   Contact Marianne Rutter, mariannerutter@yahoo.com for more information.

March meeting scheduled

The Boxford Democratic Town Committee will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 10, at 7:30 pm in the Boxford Police Station meeting room, 285 Ipswich Road.  All are welcome to attend.

Boxford Democrats Hold Caucus

Boxford Democrats caucused on Saturday, February 5, to elect a slate of delegates to represent the town at the 2011 Massachusetts Democratic Convention.

Elected as delegates were Frank Pomroy, Mill Run Road; Cheryl L. Hoyt, Ipswich Road; and Joan Campbell, Pinehurst Drive.  Elected as alternates were Donald Bumiller, King George Drive; Maureen Malcolm, Main Street; and Susan Toleos, Sunrise Road.  The chair of the Boxford Democratic Town Committee at the time of the June convention will complete the delegation, serving ex officio.  Marianne Rutter, King John Drive, is currently the committee’s chair.

The state Democratic convention will be held on Saturday, June 4 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.  Democrats from across the state will gather to vote on an Action Agenda and participate in training on party-building, electoral techniques and issue-based organizing.

After the caucus, the committee held a brief business meeting.  Its next meeting will be on Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 pm.

The Boxford Democratic Committee meets regularly at various public venues in town and welcomes any Democrat registered to vote in Boxford to attend. For more information, visit the committee’s website at www.boxforddems.wordpress.com.  For general information on the Convention, please contact the Democratic State Committee at 617-776-2676.

A word of thanks

In this season of thanks, it is fitting to recognize the members of Boxford’s Democratic committee and other neighbors who put in many hours during the election season just past.   We had a vigorous get-out-the vote effort locally, thanks to the leadership of  Louise Kress.   Joan Campbell, Sharon Heller, Susan Toleos and others stepped to various tasks, from distributing lawn signs to making voter-ID phone calls to poll-checking on election day.  We have these good friends and neighbors to thank for their part in the historic statewide effort that re-elected a governor with vision and purpose and that retained a talented, progressive all-Democratic Congressional delegation.

Even more important, this mutual dedication of effort large and small strengthens our civic life, reminding us that the right to vote is not to be taken for granted and the right to disagree is part of the bedrock of our freedom.  If you care about community and these important shared American values, please join us.

Committee honors Masconomet senior

Members of the Boxford Democratic Town Committee held their annual breakfast meeting on Saturday, May 15.  The guest of honor was Masconomet senior Jake London, who just completed an internship on Beacon Hill with the staff of Rep. Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover), whose district includes Precinct 2 in Boxford.

Pictured on the deck of the Community Store in east Boxford are, from left to right: front row: David Woodruff, Frank Pomroy, and Susan Toleos; back row: Marianne Rutter, honoree Jake London, and Sharon Heller

London and two other Masconomet seniors, Josh Nichols and Tom Bonanno, will also receive books during graduation week from the Boxford committee to honor their internship service with Democrats in the state legislature.  Bonanno was an intern with Rep. Theodore Speliotis (D-Danvers), whose district includes Topsfield.  Nichols’ internship was with Rep. John Rogers (D-Norwood), whose district includes Norwood and part of Walpole.

The Boxford Democratic Town Committee coordinates each year with Masconomet faculty member Deborah Shapiro to help enable internships for Masconomet seniors with Democratic members of the state legislature.  The legislative internship program is one of many work-study initiatives that form an important part of the senior-year curriculum at the high school.

Committee holds elections

Elections for officers for the two-year term beginning April 1, 2010, were held on March 24.  Re-elected were Marianne Rutter, chair, and Sharon Heller, secretary.  Susan Toleos was elected Affirmative Action  and Outreach Officer, and David Woodruff was elected treasurer.

Action was also taken to move forward on adopting a formal set of by-laws for the committee.  Recommendations will be made and referred for vote at the next meeting.

The committee’s next meeting will be a breakfast gathering on Saturday, May 15, at 9:45 am at the Boxford Community Store, Elm Street, East Boxford.