CommonWealth Magazine & Boston Globe cover the MA GOP convention

"BOTH OF THE Republican candidates for governor achieved their goals at the Republican state convention Saturday in Springfield – and they did it without ever mentioning the popular GOP incumbent they are seeking to replace, Charlie Baker. 

At a convention where delegates appeared to tilt toward the right, Geoff Diehl, a strong supporter of Donald Trump, cruised to an easy victory, capturing 71 percent of the delegate vote."

Continue reading the CommonWealth Magazine article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/diehl-wins-doughty-advances-at-gop-convention/

"Republican activists Saturday overwhelmingly endorsed a Donald Trump-backed conservative for governor at the Massachusetts GOP convention, where speakers leaned heavily into national themes and culture war debates, railing against abortion, characterizing Democrats as “evil,” and issuing vague yet vulgar warnings about the state of education. 

Geoff Diehl, a former Whitman state lawmaker who’s trumpeted Trump’s false claims the 2020 election was rigged, received 71 percent of the 1,194 votes cast by party delegates, winning the party’s backing for governor. Diehl, also a former US Senate candidate, far outpaced Chris Doughty, a Wrentham business owner running for office for the first time, who cleared the 15 percent threshold of delegate support needed to appear on the Sept. 6 ballot."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/21/metro/massachusetts-republicans-gather-springfield-with-trump-backed-geoff-diehl-likely-get-activists-nod/

Reminder: Franklin Democrats to caucus virtually on March 5, 2022

On Saturday March 5 at 4:00 PM Democrats will convene virtually to elect delegates and alternates to represent Franklin at the 2022 State Democratic Convention.

Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Franklin 16 years old by February 4, 2022 may vote and be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), people with disabilities, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org/convention.

The 2022 Convention will be a hybrid convention, with in-person proceedings taking place alongside virtual participation options on June 3 and 4 at the DCU Center in Worcester. Delegates will convene to endorse candidates for statewide office ahead of the September Democratic Primary. The MassDems are closely monitoring changes in public health guidance and will update plans accordingly.

Those interested in getting involved with the Franklin Democratic Committee should contact Rachel Plukas at chair@FranklinDemocrats.org. 

Franklin Democrats to caucus virtually on March 5, 2022

Franklin To Elect Delegates To Democratic State Convention - July 17, 2021

Registered Democrats in Franklin will hold a caucus on July 17, 2021 at 2 PM to elect Delegates and Alternates to the 2021 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention.  The caucus will take place virtually on zoom. Democrats who wish to participate virtually may register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMocOurqjguHNWRtmkRlT4FNs6GohTkSuJx

This year’s state convention will be held on September 25th at the Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA, where Democrats from across the state will come together to adopt a Party platform, discuss Party business and celebrate our successes as we prepare for upcoming elections. The event will take place in-line with all federal, state and local health guidelines and will include a virtual option for participation.

The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Franklin. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by June 15, 2021 will be allowed to participate and run as a Delegate or Alternate.  Franklin can elect 14 Delegates and 4 Alternates to the Convention.  

Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals who are not elected as a Delegate or Alternate may apply to be an Add-on Delegate at the caucus or at www.massdems.org by August 6, 2021.  

Those interested in getting involved with the Franklin Democratic Town Committee should contact chair@franklindemocrats.org.  

Franklin Democrat Town Committee

“As we all know, the movement started in Worcester in 1850”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin: 

When the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1920, giving women the right to vote, it was after 70 years of hard work that started with a convention in Worcester.

There were other discussions held about women’s rights, including the heralded regional convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848 organized by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but the first national Women’s Rights Convention held in Worcester in 1850 was a foundation to the cause of women’s rights. The convention was organized by prominent women’s rights activists, including Lucy Stone of West Brookfield and Abby Kelley Foster of Worcester. It proved such a success they followed it up the next year with a second national convention in Worcester.

The women’s movement grew out of efforts to abolish slavery for which both Stone, Foster and Foster’s husband, Stephen Symonds Foster, were all active. Stone gave her first address on women’s rights three years before the convention from the pulpit of the Evangelical Congregational Church in Gardner, where her brother, the Rev. William Stone, was minister.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)   https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200817/since-1850-worcester-heart-of-fight-for-womens-rights?rssfeed=true

 

Franklin Democrats to Caucus May 18

Registered Democrats in Franklin will be holding a caucus at the Franklin Public Library located at 118 Main Street on May 18 to elect delegates and alternates to the 2019 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention.

Registration begins at 1:00 PM, and the Caucus opens at 1:30 PM You must be registered no later than 1:45 PM to vote or be considered as a delegate. Voting will begin at 1:45 PM.

This year's state convention will be held Saturday, Sept. 14, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield for the purpose of amending the Party Charter.

The caucus is open to all registered and preregistered Democrats in Franklin. New this year, preregistered Democrats who will be 16 years of age by May 11, 2019, will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. A Franklin voter may register as a Democrat with the Town Clerk or at the caucus and then run for a delegate slot. Delegate candidates must be present or have informed a co-chair of the Franklin Democratic Town Committee prior to the Caucus of their intent to be nominated.

At the caucus, Democrats will elect 14 delegates and 4 alternates to the convention. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women with one any-gender delegate, and all ballots will be written and secret.

In the spirit of inclusion, youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as a delegate or alternate may apply to be an add-on delegate at the caucus or at www.massdems.org. The deadline to apply to be an add-on delegate is July 8.

The Franklin Public Library is handicapped accessible.

For more information on the caucus and the Franklin Democratic Town Committee, please contact Chair Tonya Price at Chair@FranklinDemocrats.com, find us on facebook, visit our website at FranklinDemocrats.com

Franklin Democrats to Caucus May 18

Franklin Democrat Caucus - Feb 12 - Note Change in Location

Registered Democrats in Franklin will hold a caucus on February 12, 2018 at Hawthorne Suites, Upper Union Street. Registration starts at 6 PM, and the caucus itself starts at 7 PM to elect delegates and alternates to the 2018 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention.

This year’s state convention will be held June 1-2 at the DCU Center in Worcester, where thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to endorse Democratic candidates for statewide office, including Constitutional Officers and gubernatorial candidates.

The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Franklin. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 18 by September 18, 2018 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. 

VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE CAUCUS.

Franklin can elect 14 delegates and 4 alternates to the Convention.

Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as a delegate or alternate may apply to be an add-on delegate at the caucus or at www.massdems.org.

Those interested in getting involved with the Franklin Democratic Town Committee can contact the committee at web@franklindemocrats.com.

http://www.franklindemocrats.com/
https://www.facebook.com/franklindemocrats
on Twitter @FranklinDems

Franklin To Elect Delegates To Democratic State Convention - Feb 12

Franklin To Elect Delegates To Democratic State Convention - Feb 12

Registered Democrats in Franklin will hold a caucus on February 12, 2018 at 7 PM at the Franklin TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street to elect delegates and alternates to the 2018 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention.

This year’s state convention will be held June 1-2 at the DCU Center in Worcester, where thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to endorse Democratic candidates for statewide office, including Constitutional Officers and gubernatorial candidates.

The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Franklin. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 18 by September 18, 2018 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. 

VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE CAUCUS.

Franklin can elect 14 delegates and 4 alternates to the Convention.

Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as a delegate or alternate may apply to be an add-on delegate at the caucus or at www.massdems.org.

Those interested in getting involved with the Franklin Democratic Town Committee can contact the committee at web@franklindemocrats.com.

http://www.franklindemocrats.com/
https://www.facebook.com/franklindemocrats
on Twitter @FranklinDems

Franklin To Elect Delegates To Democratic State Convention - Feb 12

Franklin Democrats to elect delegates to state convention

Registered Democrats in Franklin will be holding a caucus at the Union Street Grill on Monday, March 13th at 7:00 PM to elect 15 delegates and 4 alternates for the 2017 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will gather to adopt a new Party Platform. The convention will be held on Saturday, June 3rd at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.

"Our caucuses are a great opportunity to strengthen our Party's organization and to welcome new participant who are interested in getting involved in our Party", commented Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford. "Delegates will be voting on the Party Platform in Lowell, and we want to make sure that every Democrat has a voice in this process. This is a time for all of us to come together and speak to our shared Democratic values."

This caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Franklin and the Democratic Committee welcomes all eligible participants. Any person who is not 18 years of age at the time of the caucus but will be 18 by the 2018 Primary date (September 11, 2018) may pre-register to vote with their Town Clerk. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written in secret. In the spirit of inclusion, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add on delegates, either at their caucus or on line at www.massdems.com

The Franklin Democratic Town Committee normally meets on the third Monday of the month at the Union Street Grill. 

Facebook image of Union St Grill

For more information on the caucus or committee, please contact John May at 508-488-9299 or JohnTMay55@gmail.com

"cyber art is at its best when it appears almost to be magic"

"The marquee is just an amazing thing. It is an LED sculpture unique in the world in its size, in its shape, in its multiplicity of screens. Every artist who does work on it, when they first see it on the marquee, their eyes widen and their jaws drop. I think it’s the most spectacular public art medium in the entire city. It really runs the gamut of artistic expression you can do in a 30-second piece."

You can read the full article in the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine here
http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/05/26/lighting-them/XKT6YvXnNj12lIHfY2MhPK/story.html


The marquee outside the Boston Convention Center is sure to catch your eye. What is that? A rotation of photos, advertisements, and works of art scroll across the expansive surface.


From April 2015, two views of the marquee:

fun facts touting the ladybug as the state insect (Yay, Franklin!)

honeybees working in the hive

Franklin Democrats to Elect Delegates To State Convention - Mar 26

Registered Democrats in Franklin will be holding a caucus in the Community Room at Franklin Public Library on March 26th at 10am to elect 13 delegates and 3 alternates to the 2016 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will gather to adopt a new Action Agenda. 

The Convention will be held on Saturday, June 4th at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.

"There is much at stake in 2016 as big, outside money targeting our Democratic legislators has already been pledged," said Chairperson Denise Schultz. "Our June convention will focus on building up our Democratic Party's grassroots around the values and ideas that improve the lives of working Bay Staters - ensuring we send strong Democrats to Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill and the White House."

Franklin Democrat Town Committee

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Franklin, and the Democratic Committee welcomes participants. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. In the spirit of inclusion, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be "add-on" delegates.

The committee normally meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of the month at the Union Street Grill. For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact Denise Schultz at deniselynnschultz@gmail.com / 508-612-5950 or check out their website at FranklinDemocrats.com

Franklin Democrats to Elect Delegates To State Convention

Registered Democrats in Franklin will be holding a caucus in the Community Room at Franklin Public Library on March 26th at 10am to elect 13 delegates and 3 alternates to the 2016 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will gather to adopt a new Action Agenda. 

The Convention will be held on Saturday, June 4th at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.

"There is much at stake in 2016 as big, outside money targeting our Democratic legislators has already been pledged," said Chairperson Denise Schultz. "Our June convention will focus on building up our Democratic Party's grassroots around the values and ideas that improve the lives of working Bay Staters - ensuring we send strong Democrats to Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill and the White House."

Franklin Democrat Town Committee

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Franklin, and the Democratic Committee welcomes participants. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. In the spirit of inclusion, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be "add-on" delegates.

The committee normally meets at 7:00 PM on the third Monday of the month at the Union Street Grill. For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact Denise Schultz at deniselynnschultz@gmail.com / 508-612-5950 or check out their website at FranklinDemocrats.com

Franklin Democrats To Elect Delegates To State Convention

Democrats in Franklin will be holding a caucus on Monday, May 18 at 7 pm at the Alumni Restaurant, 391 East Central Street, Franklin to elect 14 delegates and 4 alternates to the 2015 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across the state will gather to meet fellow activists and hear from elected officials. Registration will begin at 6:30 pm. The convention will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

"This convention will be unique as we build on experiences from many competitive elections these past few years and look to strengthen the party for the future," said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman, Senator Tom McGee. "Caucuses are an important step in growing our party engagement at the local level."

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Franklin, and the Democratic Committee welcomes participants. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. Youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be "add-on" delegates. The Alumni Restaurant building is handicapped accessible. Details on the rules can be found at www.massdems.org.

The Franklin Democratic Town Committee normally meets on the third Monday of the month at the Union Street Grill. For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact Denise Schultz at DeniseLynnSchultz@gmail.com / 508-612-5950 or check out their website at www.franklindemocrats.com. 

For general information on the Convention or the Democratic Party please contact 617-939-0800 or contact@massdems.org.

Democrats to elect delegates to state convention (2014)

Democrats in Franklin will be holding a caucus at the Franklin Public Library, in the Community Room on Saturday, March 1st at 10:00 am to elect fourteen (14) delegates and three (3) alternates to the 2014 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will vote to endorse candidates for statewide office. The convention will be held on Friday June 13 and Saturday, June 14, 2014
at the DCU Center in Worcester. Check-in for the caucus will begin at 9:30 am.

Candidates running for statewide office need 15% of the delegates elected at the caucuses to gain a place on the primary ballot. Attending the convention is a great way to network with Democrats and progressive organizations across the state.

Franklin Democrat Town Committee

"This is going to be an exciting year as we build on our recent successes and prepare for the elections in 2014," commented Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman Senator Tom McGee. "Caucuses are the next step in growing our community organizing strategy for victory. People who were part of candidate campaigns in 2012 and 2013 have the opportunity to become part of their local Democratic Party organizations."

"We have a lot of great candidates running for statewide office," Senator McGee added. "Anyone who is interested in getting involved in a campaign for Governor, Lieutenant Governor or any other statewide office, can attend their local caucus and learn how to get involved.

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Franklin, and the Democratic Committee welcomes participants. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. Youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be "add-on" delegates. The Franklin Public Library building is handicapped accessible. Details on the rules can be found at www.massdems.org.

The Franklin Democratic Town Committee normally meets on the third Monday of the month at the Franklin High School, in the media center. For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact the committee Chair, Denise Schultz, at 508-612-5950 or DeniseLynnSchultz@gmail.com or http://www.franklindemocrats.com/.

For general information on the Convention or the Democratic Party please contact
617-939-0800 or contact@massdems.org

"the convention is really half-time"

More than 4,000 Democratic delegates, from all corners of the Bay State, will converge on the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield on June 2. 

And it’s their job to decide which of the three candidates looking to run as a Democrat against U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., will appear on the ballot for the September primary.
... 

“I haven’t seen this level of excitement over caucuses and Democratic issues in a long time,” said Franklin Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x219669795/Democrats-are-ready-to-choose-delegates#ixzz1mpLOnbZw

In the news: Davis Thayer Invention convention

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 07, 2008 @ 12:01 AM

---

FRANKLIN —

Where can you find a Rabbit Elevator, two versions of a humane mouse trap, a Pet-o-matic, and the Trash Carrier 2008?

The fifth-grade Invention Convention at the Davis Thayer School lays exclusive claim to these ingenious contraptions, along with 44 other inventions, dreamed up by fifth-graders over the last several weeks.

Fifth-grade teachers Jennifer Alger and Caitlin Colahan instructed students to invent a product using three of a number of simple machines which would solve one of life's daily problems, including a lever, pulley, hinge and inclined planes.

Read the rest of the article here.