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Chair: Ginger Blair
Deputy Chair: Kimberly Valdez
Secretary: Carmen McZeal
Treasurer: Natalie Ward
Sergeant At Arms: Marc Meyer
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Click on the Contribute button to help turn Montgomery County Blue!
Please consider becoming a sustaining member at $10 per month (or more!).
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters
704 N. Thompson St. #195
Conroe, Texas 77301
936-703-5841
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters Hours
Hours of operation: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Monday through Friday
Due to the continuing spread of COVID, our policy now is for staff and visitors to comply with social distancing guidelines and masks are optional. To reach us, call MCDP headquarters at 936-703-5841 or email office@mcdptx.org. For urgent matters outside of office hours, please text 713-256-1420 or email chair@mcdptx.org.
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August 1, 2023
Newsletter
National Black Business Month
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Please note: our newsletters contain a lot of links to make viewing the source easier - just click on images or linked text to explore
IN THIS ISSUE:
- National Black Business Month
- In Loving Memory - Pat Voelz
- Democratic Dames - August 3
- Fiestas Patrias - Donors, Sponsors, Volunteers Needed
- TDP - Weekly Talking Points
- Meet New MCDP Leaders
- Commissioners' Court Update
- National Purple Heart Day
- County Non-Profit Spotlight - Hearts of Rescue
- Democratic Party Events Around the County
- Legislative Update
- Joe and Kamala's Corner (click on an image to open)
- Tweets (click on an image to open)
- Blue Store - Show Your Commitment to Democracy!
- Democratic Party Calendar of Upcoming Events
- Other Groups and Community Events
This newsletter is published on or about the 1st and the 15th of every month.
no later than 3 days before publication.
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Black Business Month is celebrated in August — it’s a time to acknowledge and appreciate black-owned businesses across the nation and all that they represent in the country’s continual striving for diversity and equality. Denise Moore, CEO of the Black Business Alliance in Peoria, Illinois, has this to say about the importance of Black Business month: “Black Business Month is exciting because it gives us an opportunity to focus on a community that is far too often underrepresented when it comes to access to capital and opportunities to build wealth.”
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In Loving Memory: A Tribute to Patricia Voelz
Montgomery County has truly suffered a tremendous loss in the passing of Pat Voelz. We bid farewell to a remarkable soul whose unwavering dedication to the Democratic Party and tireless efforts to support campaigns and her county party through volunteerism and donations have left an enduring impact on all of us.
Pat was an exemplary example of what it meant to be a true Democrat. Her commitment to democratic ideals was unwavering, and she held a steadfast belief in the power of collective action to effect positive change in the world. Her involvement in the Democratic Party spanned decades, and she selflessly gave her time, energy, and resources to further the Party’s principles and values.
As an active member of the Democratic Party, Pat was more than just a participant; she was a driving force. Her passion for creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive society motivated her to actively engage in numerous campaigns. From local elections to national races, she was always at the forefront, tirelessly working to promote candidates who championed the causes she held dear.
But Pat’s dedication did not end with her active participation in campaigns. She recognized that financial support was crucial to the Party’s success, and she generously contributed her resources to ensure that the Party could continue its vital work. Her commitment to donating regularly was a testament to her belief in the power of collective action and the democratic process.
Beyond her political activism, Pat was known for her delicious cakes that could warm the hearts of anyone. Pat’s passion for baking was evident in every meticulously crafted cake, each one telling a unique story of love and devotion.
Her love for baking goes beyond the joy of flavors; it was also her way of conveying her emotions, reaching the hearts of those who savor her creations.
As we mourn the loss of our dear friend Pat, let us also celebrate the legacy she leaves behind. Her dedication to the Democratic Party and her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place will continue to inspire us all. We are grateful for the time we had with her and the many lives she touched along the way.
In honor of Pat, let us recommit ourselves to the values she held dear and not let her death be in vain. May her memory continue to guide us as we work towards a future she passionately believed in—a future filled with compassion, justice, and unity.
A small memorial service for Pat and her Democratic friends and neighbors is being planned for some time in September when her family will be visiting again. Please let us know if you would like to attend by sending an email to office@mcdptx.org.
Rest in peace dear Pat. You will be sorely missed.
With heartfelt condolences,
Montgomery County Democrat Party
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Sponsors and donors needed to support
MCDP’s Fiestas Patrias scheduled for
Sunday, September 17, 2023, at
Heritage Place Park in Conroe, Texas
Montgomery County Democratic Party Latino Outreach Subcommittee is hosting a festival and we welcome your involvement and support!
The festival will introduce Montgomery County residents to non-profit organizations and agencies that provide public services, such as health, housing, legal, immigration, shelters, and others. In addition, Voter Registration and information will be available to encourage eligible Latinos and others who are underrepresented in our political process, to register and to vote during all election cycles.
High profile speakers will address problems and issues impacting all communities and bring attention to widespread needs and solutions. Children’s activities as well as food trucks and other vendors will be abundant. Musical venues including mariachis, folkloric dancers and bands will perform.
Sponsored by the Montgomery County Democratic Party, the event will be well publicized within Montgomery and Harris counties.
If you are interested in supporting this event through a donation, sponsorship or by volunteering, please contact the MCDP at 936-703-5841 or by email to office@mcdptx.org.
Se necesitan patrocinadores y donantes para apoyar las Fiestas Patrias de MCDP programadas para Domingo 17 de septiembre de 2023 en Heritage Place Park en Conroe, Texas
¡El Partido Demócrata del Condado de Montgomery está organizando una fiesta y agradecemos su participación y apoyo!
El festival presentará a los residentes del Condado de Montgomery a organizaciones y agencias sin fines de lucro que brindan servicios públicos, como salud, vivienda, legal, inmigración, refugios y otros. Además, el Registro de Votantes y la información estarán disponibles para alentar a los latinos elegibles y otros que están subrepresentados en nuestro proceso político, a registrarse y votar durante todos los ciclos electorales.
Los oradores de alto perfil abordarán los problemas y cuestiones que afectan a todas las comunidades y llamarán la atención sobre las necesidades y soluciones generalizadas. Las actividades para niños, así como los camiones de comida y otros vendedores serán abundantes. Se presentarán actos musicales que incluyen mariachis, bailarinas folclóricas y bandas.
Patrocinado por el Partido Demócrata del Condado de Montgomery, el evento será bien publicitado dentro de los condados de Montgomery y Harris.
Si está interesado en apoyar este evento a través de una donación, patrocinio o voluntariado, comuníquese con el MCDP al 936-703-5841 o por correo electrónico a office@mcdptx.org.
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New Leadership Positions Filled!
MCDP is growing quickly, and we are seeing more involvement by volunteers and attendees at events. Several folks have stepped up to fill new, vacant, or transitioning leadership positions. We are very excited to welcome the following to the teams already doing awesome work! Our heartfelt thank you to each of our dedicated volunteers – new and old! Please join us in welcoming these new MCDP leaders.
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Mariah Missihoun – Mariah is our new Volunteer Coordinator. She replaced Aleta Garcia who has had to step down. First, we thank Aleta sincerely for her work and vision to get the work of this position started! But now, we welcome Mariah! Mariah is a former teacher and has great organizational and technical skills.
In addition, Mariah has agreed to work with Margie Kremer as the Office Manager as Margie transitions from that position. Mariah and Margie have been working together the past couple of weeks. Mariah may be reached at volunteercoordinator@mcdptx.org or office@mcdptx.org. |
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Diane Whiteley – Diane has recently taken the position of Social Media Coordinator. This is huge and welcome news for MCDP. We have a social media presence that is strong thanks to Carol Ortiz, Ambryn Kroll and David Kroll but we need to put some processes and technology in place to further increase our visibility in the social media world! Diane is well equipped to do this and has exciting plans and ideas! Diane may be reached at socialmedia@mcdptx.org. |
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Ben Hendrickson – Ben just signed up to be IT Coordinator. Chris Powell has overseen IT for MCDP for years and has done a great job keeping things going! Ben comes with a strong IT background, and he will work with Chris to implement best practices, update technology, and build our future IT environment. We are very fortunate to have Ben working with us. IT may be reached at IT@mcdptx.org. |
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Michele Lightfield – If you have been to the office in the past months, you probably have met Michele! She has been handling promotional materials, graphics, and much more. She has volunteered to be the Marketing Coordinator and will be responsible for promotional materials and a public marketing program. Michele has extraordinary expertise and resources to implement a strong, technology-driven marketing plan. Michele may be reached at marketing@mcdptx.org. |
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Christopher Powell – After years of volunteer work with the Montgomery County TX Democratic Party, Chris is assuming the very important role of Precinct Chair Support Team Coordinator. Chris is currently one of our two Texas State Democratic Executive Committee reps, so he has great insight into the workings of the State Party and expectations for Precinct Chairs. He is also the Chair of Precinct 108. Chris is committed and excited about building a team and program to train and empower Precinct Chairs to be effective in their positions. He will soon be reaching out to Precinct Chairs to get started. Chris may be contacted at pcst@mcdptx.org. |
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Charlotte Riser Harris – Charlotte has stepped into the new position of Operations Coordinator. Charlotte has professional experience building departments and teams, preparing, and implementing processes and procedures, and developing workflows and checklists – all things that will get us organized and more efficient. Charlotte is excited about the possibilities, the future of MCDP, and the goal of turning Montgomery County Blue! She may be reached at operations@mcdptx.org. |
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If you would like to be involved with any of these teams reach out to the lead directly or email Charlotte at operations@mcdptx.org. There are also lots of opportunities to volunteer to work with teams – some that are already set up and others that are being created. And there are more leadership positions to be filled! Reach out to Charlotte or Ginger if you want to talk about what might be a good fit for you! |
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COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT REPORT
by Benjamin Hendrickson
As usual, Ginger Blair, MCDP Chair, attended Commissioners' Court to represent us. The July 25th session was a fairly quiet one. There were, however, a couple of notable items on the agenda. The first and foremost being the FY 2023-24 county budget, the budget workshop of which will be starting next week. Budget Officer Amanda Carter presented the budget office’s proposed 423-million-dollar FY 2023-24 budget, an overall increase from FY 2022-23’s 397 million. Carter explained that a combination of high inflation impacting the county’s financial commitments and soaring medical costs primarily account for the 6.5% overall increase. Carter also noted that across the board county salary increases would be proposed by the budget office due to retention issues stemming from the non-market competitive nature of current county salaries. Including benefits, the overall increase to county salaries is proposed to be 5 million dollars. Some other increases include economic development payments increasing by 3.7 million, employee insurance up 2.5 million, and equipment rentals and leases increasing by 1.2 million. Some notable departmental increases include the Sheriff's budget increasing by 7 million, IT budgets by 2.1 million, and Commissioner budgets up 1.5 million. The revenue to cover these increases will have to come from somewhere, so buckle up for next year's tax bill folks.
Public hearings revolved around concerns regarding drainage issues stemming from development around Willis Way off Cumberland Pkwy. and Old Conroe Rd. The citizens who came to speak seemed to feel that promised water mitigation infrastructure had not been installed, resulting in the flooding of several of their properties in recent rain events. Commissioner Riley responded that these re-plats weren’t ready yet, and that when they were he would ensure that the petitioners would get to see them. The citizens in question did not appear satisfied with the court’s response (or lack thereof) to their concerns.
The final item of note was a motion to consider, discuss, and take appropriate action regarding the rules of procedure and for public comment. The actual rules in question stipulate 3 minutes for each member of the public to petition the court, and no more than 30 minutes to be allotted to public hearings in total. This is likely a response to the recent lively debate regarding the public library which went a bit off the rails to put it mildly.
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August 7 – National Purple Heart Day
Purple Heart Day is an important occasion that honors the courage and sacrifices made by our brave military personnel. Celebrated annually on August 7th, this day serves as a poignant reminder of the selflessness exhibited by those who have been wounded or killed in combat while serving our nation. It's a time to reflect on the resilience and bravery of our Purple Heart recipients, and to express our gratitude for their unwavering dedication and sacrifice. Let us come together as a community to honor and support these heroes, ensuring their legacy lives on for generations to come.
The Purple Heart medal was first created on August 7, 1782 by General George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
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County Non-Profit Spotlight
Each month in 2023, we will share information about non-profit resources in Montgomery County in hopes that those in need receive assistance and to make everyone aware of the great resources in our County.
This month we spotlight Hearts of Rescue which is devoted to advocate for the homeless, hungry, and under-represented members of our society. According to their website:
"We are a nonprofit organization that thrive to support those that are overlooked and neglected. We provide mobile showers, essential hygiene items, and spiritual support. Our aim is to restore self worth, hope and dignity back into all those we serve."
To read more about Hearts of Rescue and their great work click here.
To read more about area Black-led Nonprofit Organizations click here
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Democratic Party Events Around the County
psst: you're missing a lot of fun if you aren't joining us!!
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Make and Take
On July 27th, about 8 volunteers came together at headquarters to make vertical wreaths and spend some time socializing. Each volunteer took a wreath home and donated one to the Blue Texas Store. A total of 12 wreaths are now available in the BTS for purchase!
Stay tuned for more Make and Take events! You may just find the perfect craft for you!
Thanks to Carol Stromatt and Michele Lightfield for organizing these events and providing all the materials.
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Final Friday
A Recap of the 88th Legislative Session of the Texas Legislature
On July 28th Ryan Garcia, the Political Director at the Texas Democratic Party provided information about results from the last legislative session. Although many of the results were sobering, there were silver linings. It is clear that the Texas Democratic Party is taking action to positively influence the outcomes of draconian legislation. Although many scary laws passed, they would have been much worse without the efforts of activist groups, families, our Democratic representatives and the TDP. It is important to stay informed and involved.
Ted Weisgal also joined us to talk about Guerilla Campaigning, his unique and effective method of reaching the public about issues and events. He has had lots of success by attending public events and passing out literature directly to those in attendance. Ted shared many stories about how he has done this with great results! It was clear that there are many creative ways to implement his method and we will be looking for ways to incorporate this into our outreach.
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Blue Magnolia
On July 27, 2023 committed Magnolia Dems met again for breakfast and great discussions. We were honored that Laura Jones, candidate for US House of Representatives Texas District 8, joined us. (If our morning social photos look similar, it's because we love to meet at 5 de Mayo! Great food, great service, a local business to support!)
Ernie Halsell, Precinct 18 Chair, has organized a collection of items needed by the Life Skills teachers in Magnolia ISD. He is collecting items requested by the teachers including hand sanitizer, facial tissue, wipes, men's and women's deodorant, tooth brushes, and tooth paste. All the other requested items have already been donated.
Please join us for our next event which is an evening social on August 9 at 6:30 pm at Lone Pint Brewery and bring a donation to benefit the MISD Life Skills teachers and their students.
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Legislative Update
As the main session and special session ends, the question is, “What comes next?” With the impeachment of Ken Paxton and the question of a second special session up in the air, what do the upcoming months look like?
Starting with the next thing on the calendar, the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton. To recap, Paxton was accused by the House Judiciary committee of corruption and abuse of office. He had interfered with many business dealings on behalf of a friend. The trial is set to start on September 5th. The Senate has already agreed on the rules for the trial. It’s now up to the lawyers to present their cases.
After the trial, it’s likely that Governor Abbott will call for another special session. A consistent goal of Abbott has been to enact a system of vouchers to move public education funds to people who switch their kids to private schools. The legislature has repeatedly rejected this plan with rural Republicans joining Democrats in supporting it. It’s unknown when this will start, only that it will be after the impeachment trial.
The future for the legislature is dependent on how fast can Paxton be found guilty or innocent. Then it will be up to the Governor to see if he can get his voucher programs passed. Time will tell, as always, when it comes to the legislature.
Submitted by
Fritz Houston
MCDP Intern
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JOE and KAMALA'S CORNER !
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Lots of new and great items to show your commitment to Democracy and support MCDPTX!
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Event Calendar - For more details, click on the image and follow link to the MCDPTX.org website; click on the date to view event.
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Other Groups & Community Events |
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Democratic Club of The Woodlands Virtual Meeting
Wednesday, TBD, 2023
6:30 pm on Zoom
RSVP HERE
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Democrats and Progressives of Montgomery County
Morning Breakfast MEETUP
Saturday, Aug. 12 , 9:00 am
11133 Interstate 45 S · Conroe, TX
Hosted by Karen Cavanagh
Dog Days of Summer MEETUP
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 6:00 PM
3091 College Park Dr Ste 290 · The Woodlands, TX
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Paid for by the Montgomery County Texas Democratic Party, www.mcdptx.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
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