Who should I try to get speek at our first meeting?

Here are a few people I've thought of.

1) One of the congressmen from Contra Costa County. This would be either George Miller, Jerry McNerney, or Ellen Tauscher. The positive would be that these are really the most official people from our county and it would be a very strong start for the club. The negative is that they are all in DC meaning we'd be scheduling our first meeting to work for them not for us.

2) One of the state senators or assemblymen from Contra Costa County. This would be either Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, or State Senator Tom Torlakson. The positive is these people are more localized than our Congressmen and more likely to come when is convenient for us. The negative is that it will still be difficult to get them when we want them.

3) Hyim Ross. This was an idea of mine and you guys can decide whether it's good or not. Hyim is a local activist. He received a good deal of press for doing a 5 day hunger strike against the War in Iraq. Additionally, he is a wonderful musician who was been nominated for the California Music Awards in 2004, Yamaha Corporation's March 2005 Spotlight Artist, and a KFOG Local Scene Artist in 2005. The positives would be that I'm nearly 100% sure he'd be able to come, he'd attract people who otherwise might not come, isn't really from any one part of the county, works in Walnut Creek and Richmond, and could talk first hand about activism. The negative is he is less "official" than the previous two groups.

4) Local activist. This could be from East Bay Young Democrats, Lamorinda Democratic Club, or else where. My three first thoughts were Edie Irons, president of East Bay Young Dems, Eden James, member of East Bay Young Dems and was the Online Content Coordinator for the McNerney Campaign, or Matt Lockshin, Vice President of East Bay Young Dems and creator of the blog SayNoToPombo. They would all have the positive of availability, experience with Young Dems, and grassroots activism. Their negatives would be the less "official" aspect.

5) Other. Tell me someone else. If there is interest in someone we can get than we will try to get them.