CMGR report to StateCom – January 20, 2018

Since the October 15, 2017 State Committee meeting, the Central Massachusetts chapter has met three times, with an average attendance of 7.7.  We have attracted one new member, and he intends to run for public office.

The major focus of chapter activity during most of this time was to support CMGR Co-Chair Charlene DiCalogero’s candidacy in the Dec. 5, 2017 Special Election to represent the Worcester and Middlesex district in the Massachusetts State Senate. Charlene received only 1.3% of the vote in the four-way race, which yielded a very close finish between the Republican victor and the Democrat (neither of whom won a clear majority of voters’ support). Despite this disappointing vote total, the campaign featured several bright spots: a) relatively generous and fair press coverage for a Green-Rainbow candidate; b) decent fundraising ($1,591) in a short time frame and with strict limits on contributions; and c) positive encounters with residents during the campaign events and standouts that Charlene and her volunteers held throughout the extensive district.

With great sadness, our chapter also must report the passing of one of our founding members and the only person who ever served as the chapter’s Treasurer, John Helfrick. John died unexpectedly at his home on October 23, 2017, after suffering a very brief illness.

The chapter has begun planning to hold one to two meetings in 2018 with a featured speaker, and invite the public, in order to attract new members to our group.