Check-in: 6:30pm
Meeting: 7:00pm
Monthly Meeting Business
LGBTQ+ HISTORY PRESENTATION
VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS
PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATION
by Todd Delmay
LGBTQ+ HISTORY PRESENTATION
VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS
PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATION
by Todd Delmay
We have put together an exciting panel discussion that will briefly recap the legislative session – and then shift focus to “what’s next?”. You will have an opportunity to Listen, to Speak Out and to Take Action as we move forward.
Bring a Guest!
by Todd Delmay
To be truly successful, we must do some of our most critical work in coalition with other organizations. On April 12th we will host several other organizations so that you will have an opportunity to meet them. We are inviting them as our guests to understand their work and find common cause.
Bring a Guest!
by Todd Delmay
Please join us as we welcome the new Board of Directors and begin laying the foundation of our work for the next two years.
On Wednesday February 8, 2023, at their Annual Membership Meeting, the Dolphin Democrats members elected Todd Delmay to President, Sabrina Javellana to Vice-President, Zachary Eakins-Durand to Secretary, Jason Gad to Treasurer, James Oaksun to Director, Charles Baran-Bookman to Director and Bud Beehler to Director. All these elected board members will serve until February, 2025.
The above mentioned board member will be joined by current Directors Adrianna Tender, Jose Cedeno, Mark McKenzie & Marc Martorana whose terms will end in February, 2024
We wish the new board the best, and we look forward to seeing their work in the community. In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to outgoing Directors Nic Zantop, Emma Collum, Lorenzo Robertson, Kyle Turner & Nicky Vasquez as well as outgoing Secretary Tina Jaramillo, outgoing Treasurer Hillary Dougherty, and outgoing President Alfredo Olvera for all of their time, talent and treasure they dedicated to the betterment of the Dolphin Democrats in the last few years.
Congratulations to all!
The Dolphin Democrats will be holding a Board of Directors election at the Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 7:00pm
Seats Up For Election (2 year term):
Executive Officers (Current officers are termed-out):
3 Directors
Who Can Run For Office?
Any registered Democrat living in Broward County who has renewed or joined the Dolphin Dems as a voting member no later than December 30, 2022
How Can I Participate?
Please email our Nominating Committee: Adrianna Tender, Mark McKenzie & Jose Cedeno at [email protected] to submit your nomination. Please attach a brief bio with a headshot photo.
Any qualified member interested in running for any of the open seats and would like to be on the ballot, must submit their nomination no later than Friday, January 27, 2023. Floor nominations (write-ins) will be accepted from the floor the day of the meeting.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT
– Shall preside at all meetings of the organization and Board of Directors.
– Shall be a member ex officio of all committees (except the Nominating and Elections Committee and the Audit Committee).
– Shall appoint the Chairs and members of all standing and special committees (except as provided in these bylaws).
– The President, or the President’s designee from among the Board members, shall represent the organization at county, district, state, and national meetings and functions and shall act as spokesperson for the organization.
– The President shall serve as chief executive and administrative officer and shall provide guidance to the committee Chairs.
VICE-PRESIDENT
– The Vice President shall assist the President in the discharge of the President’s duties and shall assume that office in the absence, or inability to serve, of the President.
– The Vice President shall serve as Co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.
SECRETARY
– Is the recording officer of the Board and general membership meetings and is custodian of all records of the organization like the minutes of all meetings, committee reports, the official membership roll, lists of committees and their members, bylaws, special rules of order, and standing rules.
– Shall issue the call of meetings, prepare an order of business for the presiding officer, and in the absence of the President or Vice President shall call a meeting to order, until a Chair pro temp is elected.
TREASURER
– Shall be the custodian of all funds of the organization
– Shall keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures
– Shall present a statement of all income, expenditures, accounts payable, and income receivable, in a format acceptable to the Board, at each meeting, occurring since the previous meeting
– Shall make such interim reports as directed by the Board or organization, and shall prepare and present an annual statement of expenses and receipts.
– Shall present a written summary financial report, including cash balance on hand less outstanding obligations, at each regular general membership meeting, and shall have the detail available for member review.
– The Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee.
DIRECTORS
– Directors shall provide top level oversight and strategic direction to the organization. They also serve to advise and consult with the President.
– Every member of the Board of Directors shall actively serve on a committee.
To renew or join please follow this LINK
Join the Board of Directors and help us make a difference in our community!
The Dolphin Democrats Campaign & Election Committee, the Board or Directors and members have endorsed and recommended the following candidates for the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General Election.
IMPORTANT DATES:
ENDORSEMENTS
FEDERAL CANDIDATE
STATE CANDIDATES:
BROWARD COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES
BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
RECOMMENDATIONS
JUDICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
BROWARD COUNTY CHARTER QUESTIONS
Here is a printable version of all our endorsements and recommendations: 2022 General Election_ Endorsements Recommendations
Press Release:
WILTON MANORS, FL – MARCH 11, 2022 – The Dolphin Democrats, Florida’s oldest
LGBTQ+ political organization, unanimously passed a resolution at their Wednesday
membership meeting calling for Fort Lauderdale Police Department Chief Larry Scirotto
to be immediately reinstated, following his dismissal on March 3 by City Manager Chris
Lagerbloom.
“The City of Fort Lauderdale has a history of racism in the police department and it
needs to continue to address those issues to create a more inclusive department. The
firing of Police Chief Scirotto not only impacts the department but also the residents of
our city,” said Alfredo Olvera, President of The Dolphin Democrats.
Hired in mid-August of 2021, following a nationwide search, Chief Scirotto came to the
city with a stellar record culminating in serving as assistant chief of Pittsburgh with an
extensive background in patrol, investigative, and administrative assignments. As the
city’s first LGBTQ+ police chief, and only its second non-white chief, he joined the
Department at an important moment in law enforcement in the city as work was needed
to build community trust, bring accountability, and ensure fair treatment for everyone in
interactions with officers.
Prior to Chief Scirotto’s hiring as Chief of Police, the City of Fort Lauderdale struggled
with the issue of race and law enforcement for years, including the firing of three
officers for sending racist text messages and videos and most recently with the decision
to fire tear gas and rubber bullets during a Black Lives Matter protest over the George
Floyd killing in Minneapolis, the grievous injury of a peaceful participant in that protest,
an officer shoving another peaceful protester to the ground, and the prior police chief’s
public statements defending his officers’ actions that day.
The investigatory report that the city manager relied upon for his decision to remove
Chief Scirotto is of questionable value in that he retained attorney Gregg Rossman on
the advice of the city attorney even though Mr. Rossman is not an employment law
expert and has a history of right-wing statements.
The membership of the Dolphin Democrats resolves that:
1. The Rossman Report be set aside as of questionable value.
2. Chief Scirotto be reinstated to office and the city manager consider imposing
less severe punishments for any missteps that he made, such as a 30- to 60-day
suspension without pay and a requirement to be retrained in equal employment
opportunity law.
3. The city look to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its
findings on the promotional decisions and take any necessary action to align the
promotions with the findings of the commission.
4. The city manager and City Commission recommit themselves to addressing the
need to improve diversity in the Police Department and the issues of use-of-force
and racial bias.
About The Dolphin Democrats: Founded in 1982, the Dolphin Democrats is the
oldest LGBTQ+ Political Organization in Florida. Our goal is to educate voters,
advocate for LGBTQ+ people, support our community, and elect pro-LGBTQ+
Democratic candidates.
Dolphin Democrats Media Contacts:
Alfredo Olvera, President of the Dolphin Democrats
[email protected]
Communications Committee: Emma Collum & Nic Zantop
[email protected]
This has truly been a sad week for our Democracy. There have been continuous attacks from the GOP across the country and in Florida, our home. After several packed days:
HB 1557 (Don’t Say “Gay” or “Trans” Bill) or “Parental Rights in Education” The Republican-backed bill, which would restrict teachers and school districts from openly discussing gender identity and topics surrounding sexuality in the classroom passed the House on Thursday in a 69-47 vote. This bill now moves to the Senate, where a similar piece of legislation is already being debated (SB 1834).
HB 7 (Stop W.O.K.E. Act) was rushed through both second and third committee readings this week and passed yesterday with a 74-41 vote (and yes, Chip LaMarca voted in favor). If signed into law, the bill would limit protected speech in workplaces with more than fifteen employees and classrooms by censoring honest dialogue about systemic racism, gender, and race discrimination. It would also change Florida’s employment discrimination statutes to give employees the ability to file discrimination claims against an employer engaging in trainings or discussions about Black history, LGBTQ+ issues, and other concepts of injustice and discrimination. its Senate companion, SB 148, is expected to be rushed also in the upcoming weeks.
SB 524, the Governor’s effort to extend voter suppression beyond last year’s SB 90, was amended to include protections against voter fraud after recent allegations of Miami-Dade Democratic Residents having their party statuses changed to Republican by Republican-led organizations misleading the public. The amended bill passed the Appropriations Committee with a 12-8 vote. Its companion, HB 7061, still waits for its hearing in its ONLY Appropriations Committee, but will most likely include such protections before its hearing.
All the bills that we supported in our Legislative Slate did not make the deadline to be scheduled for first committee hearings, and are ‘dead for the session’. But remember, the fight continues beyond a vote. It is the work that we continue to do in protecting our Democracy that allows us to implement change.
We encourage each of you to reach out to your local and state representatives, who voted in favor of these dangerous bills, and hold them accountable.
“Let’s not deny the impact that we have had and agree also that there is a whole lot more work to be done. And it is not easy to do, and we will not give up’’ ~ Madam Vice President Kamala Harris
Anthony Ginsberg & Matthew Eaton
Co-Chairs – Legislative Committee