Expectations for Conduct and Responsibilities for Members of the Cheshire Democratic Town Committee and Democrats serving in local and state offices or on Town Boards and Commissions
​(Amended and revised, July 2020)

The Cheshire Democratic Town Committee (CTDC) recognizes that open discussion of the views, ideas and suggestions of all people is important to the work of improving the effectiveness of the Cheshire Democratic Party and respecting the differences among its members and the general public. Therefore, the CDTC calls on its membership and all Democrats who serve in elected office or on Town Boards and Commissions to adhere, in all public interactions, to the standards of decorum set forth below:  

• Demonstrate respect, consideration, and courtesy through words, tone of voice, body language, and actions.
  • Respect the abilities, experience, and dignity of each individual.
  • Be an engaged and open-minded listener.
  • Provide thoughtful, timely, and articulate responses.

• Promote a culture respectful of diversity, inclusion, and equity.
  • Welcome and support the participation in public office or public forums of all who wish to share their views and perspectives. Any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any other protected class is not acceptable nor in keeping with Democratic values and shall be subject to appropriate consequences.
• Model and encourage behavior that is civil and professional. 
  • Be willing to acknowledge that difficult questions and challenges are likely to elicit a variety of responses, some of which may be antithetical to one’s own ideas and perspectives.
  • Exhibit behavior befitting of those who hold a position of public trust, when participating in meetings and discussions.
  • Encourage members of the group to patiently hear and weigh the various perspectives that may be expressed.
  • Collaborate to solve problems effectively and in a way that ensures that everyone has a reasonable opportunity to be heard and understood.
• Be mindful that even private conversations have a public presence. Technology, including email, videoconferencing and social media, magnifies the risk of unintended distribution of casual comments between individuals.
  • Be aware that elected officials are always on display—our language and actions are monitored by people around us, even without our knowledge. Lunch time conversations can be overheard, virtual conversations can be recorded even after the meeting is over, parking lot debates may be monitored.
  • Exercise honesty, respect, and courtesy in posting comments online;  concealing one’s identity by using a false name or account is unacceptable.  Each of us represents the CDTC and the Cheshire Democratic Party.

Additional Expectations for Members of the Cheshire Democratic Town Committee are as follows:
A strong Democratic Party in Cheshire begins with an effective Democratic Town Committee.  CDTC effectiveness is strengthened when each member understands the expectations of membership, which are to

• Attend and participate in the scheduled general meetings. Come to meetings having read documents that were sent in advance of the meeting. If you cannot attend, please contact the chair or the secretary to request being excused.
• Join and actively participate in the work of a subcommittee that interests you.
• Contribute financially to the work of the CDTC in one or more of the following ways while complying with all regulations and paperwork governing such contributions:
  • Pay the annual voluntary assessments;
  • Support and contribute to CDTC fundraising events and initiatives;
  • Make donations to candidates’ campaigns;
• Sign up for and attend at least one Town Council, Board of Education, or Planning and Zoning meeting per year. As a follow-up, offer your comments at a subsequent CDTC meeting or via the CDTC website or Facebook page.
• Express your views on local issues and support Democratic candidates via letters to the newspapers, the CDTC website, Facebook page, or other social media.
• Actively participate in campaign activities annually such as phoning, going door-to door with candidates, posting signs, mailings, attending or hosting political events, virtually or face-to-face.
• Identify and recruit interested Democrats to work with the CDTC as volunteers for    various activities and events, to assist in campaign work, and/or to become nominees for elected or appointed offices, or for membership on the CDTC.
• Welcome and support the participation of underrepresented segments of the population including but not limited to women, people of color, millennials—so that the CDTC and Town Boards and Commissions more closely reflect the diversity of the Town.

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