News & Events


October 16, 2019
New Trier Democrats' Events
You're Invited!
New Trier Democrats’ Annual Dinner
With Featured Speakers U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood & U.S. Rep. Sean Casten

This Sunday, October 20, 2019
Reception 5:00pm - Dinner 6:00pm

Lauren Underwood
New Trier Democrats are excited and honored to welcome U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (IL-6) as Featured Speakers at our Annual Dinner and fundraiser. Reps. Underwood and Casten are the newest Democratic representatives from Illinois and they flipped their congressional districts from Red to Blue in 2018.
If you have any questions, please contact our office at [email protected] or 847-446-8030.
Just sharing a few thoughts
This NTD News commentary is simply some recent thoughts I had on some unrelated subjects. — N.H.

This past week , the tragic betrayal of our Kurdish allies in Syria has been painful to watch. Some observers have speculated that what we are seeing is simply a “wag the dog” tactic by Trump and perhaps a few of his team, designed to divert attention from news stories about his impeachment inquiry. And, based on Trump’s lifelong history of betraying associates, contractors, rivals, wives, et al, it sounds quite likely to me.

The Kurds fought side-by-side with our American troops to crush ISIS forces. Then our nation’s president, without warning, removed our military from the area, giving Turkey’s President Erdogan a tacit okay to immediately begin an invasion.

And did this tactic to divert our attention work? There’s little doubt that news stories about this new Syrian chaos will stick around for awhile. But it is a certainty that the stream of sordid revelations further justifying Donald Trump’s impeachment will not slow down at all.

So, here is what Trump’s Middle East maneuver really “accomplished”: Kurd villages have been obliterated, Kurdish men randomly slaughtered and thousands of families are now desperate refugees. The suffering will be far reaching. The regional repercussions will be felt for years.

This is just the latest example of Trump’s historic incompetence as president. His impulsive, ill-conceived actions continue to gravely damage the international position of the United States. — Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi Jinping must be rubbing their hands with glee.

Another thought I wanted to share , was the result of reading about the Fort Worth, Texas woman who was shot by a policeman through a window of her home. He was dispatched to check on the house because its front door was open late at night. He saw a woman (or her silhouette) in a window with its blind down, and literally a split second after yelling a command from outside the house, he killed her. The encounter, recorded on the police officer’s uniform camera sounded like this: “Put up your hands! Put of your hands! BANG!” The time between his first word of warning and the deadly gunshot was about as long as the time it took you to read the words I just typed. And that is not the way a warning should work. A “warning” means “do what I say because if you don’t I will take action.” Enough time must be given to start heeding those words. — The police officer was removed from his job and has since been charged with murder.

I’m not mentioning this incident as one more condemnation of lax police training. Instead it started me thinking about why this kind of virtually instant “I felt endangered” shooting by a police officer seems to be occurring more often than ever. —- I think it is the proliferation of guns, especially in certain cities and regions. With guns so prevalent in our strange country, it is understandable that police have become increasingly on guard with every interaction. There is a real possibility that any person they encounter for any reason has the potential to shoot them. If I were a cop, that thought would always be with me.

Of course the Fort Worth policeman was terribly wrong. Perhaps he was poorly trained. Or maybe he was inclined toward violence. I don’t know. But, what I’m pointing out here is that today’s universally threatening gun environment has not always existed across America, and it can still be returned to a saner level.

The NRA’s mantra that if everyone was armed, we’d all be safer is a fallacy. Just ask almost any police officer.

When satire become reality, we know we’re in trouble. Years ago, I saw the standup comic Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) deliver a tongue in cheek patriotic spiel about America’s international greatness. He said: “When Vietnam had their civil war, we sent thousands of soldiers over there to help them - but when we had our Civil War, how many Vietnamese came here to help us? You tella me!”

Ludicrous satire, right? Then a few days ago, President Donald Trump spoke to reporters and presented some of the thinking behind his abandonment of our Kurdish allies. “They didn’t help us in the Second World War. They didn’t help us at Normandy.” — In fact, back then there was no Kurdish government in existence, although some Kurds did fight the Nazis as Soviet soldiers.

When Rex Tillerson was Secretary of State he was reported to have summed up one of his meetings with President Trump with these immortal words: ”What a (blank)ing moron!” — You got that right, Rex.

Nels Howard
NTD Member Since 1973

P.S. See you at the NTD Annual Dinner this Sunday, October 20? Hope so.
Other Events of Interest
Inclusion in our "Other Events of Interest" List – whether it’s a fundraising event for a specific candidate or an event concerning a particular issue – does not mean that the New Trier Democrats have endorsed that candidate or adopted that position on an issue. 
Tomorrow, October 17, 2019: We Will Legislative Luncheon

When : Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 11:00am to 1:30pm
Where : Maggiano’s Little Italy, 4999 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie
What : Join WE WILL’s 5th Annual Fundraiser celebrating their accomplishments, legislative collaborations and women having a voice and being heard. This year’s panel is about Women of Color with confirmed panelists Donna Miller, Cook County Board Commissioner; Xza Higgina, MommyCon Founder, coalition builder; Sol Flores, Illinois Deputy Governor and Josina Morita, Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. For additional information or to RSVP,  register online.
Pete Buttigieg
This Friday, October 18, 2019: A Conversation With Mayor Pete Buttigieg

When : Friday, October 18, 2019 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Where : The Lincoln Park home of Dan and Anke Tierney, address provided upon RSVP
What :  An early evening reception with Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Democratic candidate for President of the United States. For additional information or to RSVP,  register online . For questions, email [email protected].
Lauren Underwood
This Saturday & Sunday, October 19 & 20, 2019: Weekend of Action With Team Underwood

When : Saturday & Sunday, October 19 & 20, 2019 from Noon to 3:00pm each day
Where : St. Charles & Oswego – Sign up for more details on location
What : Team Lauren Underwood is hosting a Weekend of Action on October 19th and 20th in IL14. They’ll be gathering petition signatures to get Lauren on the ballot for this election – and they need YOUR help. Will you join them?

Monday, October 21, 2019: EMILY’s List Annual Ignite Change Midwest Regional Reception

When : Monday, October 21, 2019. Registration: 5:00pm; reception: 5:30pm; panel discussion: 6:30pm
Where : Fig & Olive, 104 East Oak St., Chicago
What : Join EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock and featured guests, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, discussing the crucial role of EMILY’s List and women candidates in the 2020 election. Panelists include: Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and Congresswomen Elissa Slotkin (MI-08). For additional information or to RSVP,  register online . For questions, email McCaul Nelson at [email protected].
Monday, October 21, 2019: Women’s Night Out With the Candidates

When : Monday, October 21, 2019 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Where : Oliverii Trattoria, 1358 Shermer Rd., Northbrook
What : State Representative Jen Gong-Gershowitz, Committeeperson Tracy Katz Muhi and representatives of the Warren and Harris campaigns talk about the Democratic women running for office in 2020. Sign petitions and learn how to get more involved. Admission and appetizers are free and open to all Democrats. To RSVP,  register online . For questions email [email protected].
Robyn Gabel
Tuesday, October 22, 2019: Reception Supporting State Rep. Robyn Gabel

When : Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Where : The Home of Merrilee & Richard Redmond, 34 Canterbury Ct, Wilmette, IL 60091
What : Join fellow supporters for a reception in honor of Robyn Gabel, State Representative, 18th District. For questions, or to RSVP, please contact Katy Langenfeld at [email protected] or (312) 600-9496.  Register online here .
Tuesday, October 22, 2019: EMILY’s List Hosts Cocktails for Change

When : Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 5:30pm
Where : Hubbard Inn, 110 W. Hubbard St., Chicago
What : EMILY’s List hosts Cocktails for Change featuring Marie Newman, candidate for U.S. House (IL-03).
Tuesday, October 22, 2019: Indivisible Evanston’s Monthly Meeting

When : Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where : Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, Parasol Room, 4th Floor, 2100 Ridge Ave, Evanston
What : Join Indivisible Evanston for its monthly meeting and hear two powerful speakers: Jill Wine-Banks, MSNBC Contributor/Legal Analyst & Former Watergate Prosecutor – “An Insider’s View on the Political Environment”; and Willie Shaw, Political Action/Civic Engagement Chair, NAACP Evanston/North Shore Branch (President Dr. Michael C. R. Nabors) – “Voting is Emotional.”
Wednesday, October 23, 2019: Postcard Party With Sister District New Trier

When : Wednesday, October 23, 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where : Tudor Wine Bar, 338 Tudor Court, Glencoe
What : Sister District New Trier is postcarding to FLIP the Virginia House of Delegates. Join them for an evening of postcarding for Virginia Democrat Ghazala Hashmi. They’re going to flip Virginia with your help. It starts with states! Have a fun evening with fellow progressives and join the fun. Please bring $5-$10 for postcards and stamps and we’ll get you all set up! Please RSVP to Lisa Keipert at [email protected] or  register online .
Saturday, October 27, 2019: Knock Doors for Elizabeth Warren in Waukegan

When : Saturday, October 27, 2019 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Where : Assemble at Bowen Park, 1800 N. Sheridan Rd., Waukegan
What : A door-to-door canvass for Elizabeth Warren, Democratic candidate for President of the United States. For additional information or to RSVP,  register online .
Saturday, November 2, 2019: Wisconsin Voter ID Canvass With Indivisible Evanston

When : Saturday, November 2, 2019 – see signup for time options
Where : Kenosha, Racine & Elkhorn, WI – see signup for meeting location options
What : Join Indivisible Evanston on November 2 as they canvass in THREE different counties as part of the WI Dems weekend of action. The WI Dems have requested that they send canvassers to all three locations, so please take that into account as you choose where to go. All predictive lists concur that Wisconsin, with just 10 electoral votes, could easily be the state that determines the 2020 presidential winner; our boots on the ground are needed to flip it! Sign up to CARAVAN with them from the DPOE to Racine or DRIVE DIRECTLY to either Kenosha, Racine or Elkhorn, WI on 11/2:  Sign up here.
Bob Morgan
Monday, November 4, 2019: State Rep. Bob Morgan Fall Event

When : Monday, November 4, 2019 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Where : Glencoe home of Stacey Sher Michelon and Jon Michelon (Address upon RSVP)
What : Representative Bob Morgan of the 58th District’s final 2019 event in the district.  Link to RSVP online . For more information or to RSVP, please contact Joey Slater at [email protected] or (312) 448-8014.
Saturday, November 11, 2019: Northwestern Football Tailgate Extravaganza With State Sen. Laura Fine

When : Saturday, November 9, 2019 (Game time to be announced; tailgate opens 90 minutes before kickoff)
Where : Mustards Last Stand, 1613 Central St., Evanston
What :  Tailgate before the Northwestern Wildcats face the Purdue Boilermakers. Tickets for just the tailgate, and for both the tailgate and the game, are available. RSVP required: [email protected].  Link to purchase tickets/sponsorships online . For more information, please contact Carly Halstead: [email protected] or 312-630-7700
Looking For Something To Do Now?

Help Text Bank For Democratic Candidates In Virginia State House Races With Sister District

Text Banking is here!

You can sign up at  this form . They expect high demand for texting lists.
Please sign up to text ONLY for the two candidates, Alex Askew and Ghazala Hashmi, that our local Sister District is supporting!

Some things to know:

You need to do some reading and training on your own. This is done online. Texting will be done at specified times. You will sign up for a texting “event” and at the scheduled time, a batch of numbers will be released. Sign-up is available now. Texting began August 17 and will continue through Election Day. You must sign up and complete all training steps at least one week before your first texting event.

More details can be found in this Sister District/Red2Blue  Texting Guide .
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