PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Susan Dollar
I grew up at a gasoline refinery "camp" in the panhandle. On October 22, 1962, I was almost 10 years old. I vividly remember that fall evening when neighbors with worried faces and grim demeanors gathered to watch a special TV broadcast and talk in hushed voices with my dad about a "situation". I remember being told to "go play outside," which was totally shocking, given that it was a school night. I sat on the porch and listened to the adults discuss the possibilities of the refinery plant being targeted and the residents having to evacuate. Although I didn't understand much of the conversation, it was a frightening experience. Thus began my education in hiding under desks and covering our heads in the event of a nuclear attack.
If you remember that October in 1962, you know that the United States was engaged in the Cuban Missle Crisis. President Kennedy had just addressed the nation about the presence of missiles in Cuba.
Now, fifty years later, watching the news feels we are watching a scene from the Cold War era. We watch with horror at the unprovoked war raging in Ukraine. The utter destruction and annihilation of a county and its people is shocking and appalling. It's hard for me to get my head around the fact that his is happening right now in this day and age. Ukraine, although flawed, is a fledgling democracy and its people are fighting to remain an independent country ruled by the people, for the people. As President Biden says, democracy and authoritarianism are in a global contest.
Professor John M. Owen, the Taylor Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, says " a Russian victory in Ukraine could mean a net gain for authoritarianism. It would show that authoritarian states can win in the 21st century. It would remove a threat to Russia’s own authoritarianism and would put an authoritarian country on the border of some young democracies just to the west – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. It would cast doubt on the power of the liberal international rules and institutions that for decades have helped sustain democracy even in our own country."
What we Americans must keep in mind is that this war is about global security and an attempt to rewrite rules on which the world is based. Democracy is at stake.
Every day that we look at our TVs, we should be further motivated to continue to fight for democracy here at home. In order to maintain our own democracy, we must elect Democratic leaders who support our ideals and values. I urge each and every one of you to do this: every time you turn on your TV, think about what is at stake - and what you can do to help preserve our democracy.
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Do you know what this is? Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the answer! |
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APRIL BAD MEETING
IN-PERSON
Thursday, April 14
NOON
Longhorn Cafe, 369 S. Esser
IMPORTANT:
If you plan to eat at the meeting, plan to arrive early and order in person. DO NOT call in or order online; they do not have enough staff.
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We are pleased to announce that Claudia Zapata, Democratic candidate for TX-21, will be our guest speaker this month!
Claudia is the daughter of a teacher and a product of her extended familia. She was raised in the neighborhoods of South Austin and East Austin, the “rural country” of Kyle and the barrios of Mission, Texas.
She is not a stranger to hard work. She grew up helping her family make ends meet by cleaning toilets and picking citrus. She helped care for her grandfather in hospice. Claudia continued to organize to help communities during the pandemic. She was raised to put family first and help take care of our neighbors.
Claudia believes that our district deserves a representative that addresses the basic needs of the people, instead of playing party politics during a global pandemic. She also believes that we have a real opportunity to win this seat, but as long as we continue to believe that "Republican safe seats" are unwinnable, nothing will change. The establishment in D.C. is ready to give up on Texas, but this fierce Latina is just getting started! Make plans to meet her this Thursday!
Read more about Claudia here: https://www.conclaudia.com/about
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Some of you may remember the documentary, The River and the Wall, that we screened back in 2019. Jay was the producer of the film.
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HEADS UP
FOR A SPECIAL MEETING!
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Thursday, April 28
11:45 a.m.
PHP Library Conference Room
Jay was born in South Texas and raised on his family’s working ranch, the King Ranch. As a sixth-generation Texan, he started working cattle when he was 5 years old. Growing up in an agricultural community taught him the value of hard work and getting the job done right. It also gave him a deep respect for Texas, the land, and people from all walks of life.
As Jay got older, he quickly realized that our individual freedoms do not negate our responsibility to one another. He believes that we have to take initiative and ensure that our great state will thrive for generations to come.
He's running for Texas Land Commissioner because he believes that the science behind climate change is real, and we don’t have time for inaction. We have so many beautiful, vital landscapes in our state - together, we can help protect and invest in the Texas we know and love.
Read more about Jay here:
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Mark your calendars for the May 14 BAD Meeting:
our speaker will be RICARDO VILLARREAL, candidate for Texas 21.
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We currently have 21 recurring donors and we sincerely thank those generous folks. We haven't quite haven't met our goal of 50 recurring donors. Remember...if we can raise enough funds via recurring donations, we will not have to host a fundraiser! So please consider setting up a recurring donation through ActBlue at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/boerne-area-democrats-1
Yu can use a credit card or you can set up an auto-withdrawal from your bank.
If you prefer, you can make a one-time donation to BAD via ActBlue or by donating online on our BAD web page; you can also mail a check to BAD.
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BROOKE ORR
Membership
The Boerne Area Democrats club now is now 200 members strong! If your membership is up for renewal, you will receive an e-mail from me, so be sure to add bko57bko57@yahoo.com to your contacts. Also, be sure to check your SPAM folder for messages from BAD.
To become a member of BAD or to renew, you can pay online with PayPal by following this link to https://www.boerne-area-democrats.org/become-a-member. Fill out the payment form and submit and also complete the application and submit it. You can also mail your check to BAD Membership, PO Box 2132, Boerne, TX, 78006. Dues are $40 a person for those under age 60, $25 a person for those aged 60 and older, and $10 for students. If you have already submitted your payment, thank you very much for your support of the club.
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LAURA BRAY
Kendall County Democratic Party Chair
TWO MORE ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON
ATTENTION: Boerne ISD residents who live in Bexar County. See important note below in red about how you’ll vote in the May 7 election.
Wait…..didn’t we just finish an election? Yes, yes we did. But now that the March 1 Primary is behind us, we have two more elections coming right up in May, and both deserve your full attention.
The General and Special Election on Saturday, May 7 will include one race for Boerne ISD (BISD) School Board Trustees—Place 4. Although candidates run for specific places, they do not represent specific geographical areas. Rather, each represents BISD as a whole. So all BISD voters can vote on this race. The two candidates for Place 4 are Maritza Gonzalez-Cooper (Incumbent) and Armando Trevino, while Garrett Wilson (Place 5) is running unopposed. Unfortunately, there is little information online about either candidate for Place 4.
Also on the ballot—bond propositions for BISD; you’ve probably seen the black and yellow signs around town. These bond propositions include funds for additions and expansions (including funding for the district’s eighth elementary school) and technology. The BISD website has terrific information on the bond propositions. I encourage you to Google it and learn more. We also have details on the Facebook page of the Kendall County Democratic Party.
Also on the ballot are two amendments to the Texas Constitution. (Yes, we voted on amendments back in November. But the Special Sessions of the Texas Legislature passed new ones, which must now be voted on.) Both amendments are about property taxes. You can find more information on these amendments, including arguments for and against, at the non-partisan site www.vote411.org , sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
The May 7 election includes a logistical challenge for BISD residents who live in Bexar or Comal Counties. These residents need to vote in both elections being held. Bexar/Comal BISD residents will need to vote at Van Raub Elementary (open during early voting and on Election Day) for the BISD race/bond issue, and also at a separate Bexar County location for the two state Constitutional Amendments. (The Bexar County voting locations have not yet been published by the Bexar County Elections Dept.). We recommend these voters cast their ballots during early voting, to allow more time to visit two separate voting sites and avoid having to visit two polling locations on Election Day. If you have questions or need further information, call the Kendall County Elections office at 830-331-8701 or the Bexar County Elections office at 210-335-8683.
Early voting runs from Monday, April 25 through Tuesday, May 3 (including Saturday, April 30) at the Kendall County Courthouse Annex (221 Fawn Valley Dr., Boerne). Van Raub Elementary (8776 Dietz Elkhorn, Fair Oaks Ranch) is open for early voting and on Election Day for BISD residents who live in Bexar and Comal Counties ONLY (see previous paragraph). On Election Day, Kendall County voters can vote at any one of eight polling locations. To find a list, visit the Kendall County Elections website (Google it), click on the “May 7th, 2022 General & Special Election” link at the left under “Upcoming Elections,” then scroll down to “Election Day Vote Centers.”
Hot on the heels of the May 7 election comes the 2022 Primary Runoff on Tuesday, May 24. Democrats have five races on the ballot; Republicans have four. The deadline to register to vote in this election is Monday, April 25. I’ll have more details about this election in the May newsletter. After that, we can all take a breather until the mid-term election in November.
For more information on voting/elections or how to get involved, call our office at 830-331-1243 or visit www.kcdems.us
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$1,000.00 Scholarship from BAD
The deadline for the BAD scholarship is fast approaching! The scholarship is open to any senior graduating from a public high school in Kendall County that plans to attend an accredited vocational-technical school, community college, college, or university in the fall of 2022.
Requirements: Write an essay (500-600 words) in response to the following prompt:
Consider the challenges facing our country today, such as censorship, civil rights, domestic extremism, and immigration. Pick one issue that you think is the most critical, explain its importance/implications, and describe how you would advise our government address this challenge.
Due date: April 15, 2022. Contact Brooke Orr for more information.
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35 local Dems enjoyed pizza and the wonderful spring weather at Z's Wood Fired Pizza on March 30. A good time was had by all! |
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MANY THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS! |
A heartfelt thank you to the 15 people that worked at our booth at Market Days over the weekend! It was great exposure and we actually had several people stop by to chat. It seems that there really are more of us than you think! We heard comments from many that they were so glad to know that there were Democrats in Kendall County!
We will have a booth again at the May 14-15 Market Days , so stay tuned for the volunteer opportunities.
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BAD BOOK CLUB APRIL 13
The first meeting of the BAD Book Club will be on Wednesday, April 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Democratic Headquarters. The book selection is Betrayal by Jonathan Karl.
R.S.V.P. to Janice Bloodworth at 210-632-6974.
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SPRING BLOCK PARTY, SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Claudia Zapata invites everyone to attend!
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Get outdoors and get some fresh air while enjoying good music and great company with your fellow Democrats, Independents, and Progressives! Make plans to attend the CIBOLO NATURE CENTER MOONDANCE CONCERT, SATURDAY, APRIL 23. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. The Almost Patsy Cline Band will be playing, so bring your chairs, eats and drinks, and enjoy the evening!
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The SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB will meet on Saturday, April 30, at 6:00 p.m. at La Fogata on I-10.
Because we are a large group, the restaurant is offering a fixed price menu that includes an appetizer, three choices of entrees, dessert, and non-alcoholic drinks for $23.95. Remember to bring an extra $10 per person to leave as an extra tip for our server. And don't forget to wear a blue Dem shirt!
RSVP to Stacey at 413-265-3426 or stazzinaro@gmail.com.
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The Kendall County Democratic Party invites everyone to attend their event on Saturday, May 7, from 11-2, at the Comfort Park. In additon to food, music, and fun, you can meet candidates Mike Collier (running for Lt. Governor), Kevin Henning (running for Kendall County Commissioner Place 4), Claudia Zapata (running for US House District TX 21), and Ricardo Villarreal (running for US House TX 21). |
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Know what that photo was?!? If you guessed 334 straws, you would be correct! That is how many straws Susan received during a period of not quite two years - and those years were during the pandemic! Yes, 334 straws - and only 19 of them were recyclable or made from biodegradable material.
INVEST IN OUR PLANET
From the Earth Day website: This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods… together, we must Invest In Our Planet.
Because a green future is a prosperous future.
We need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet. And while there is still time to solve the climate crisis, time to choose BOTH a prosperous and sustainable future, and time to restore nature and build a healthy planet for our children and their children, time is short.
And don't use plastic straws. Click on these articles to understand why:
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Just a reminder: there are always interesting and informative posts on our social media pages so be sure to check them out - and Like them!
Web: boerne-area-democrats.org
Facebook: Boerne Area Democrats
Instagram: @boerneareademocrats
Twitter: @BerneDemocrats
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Our Democratic Headquarters at 216 E. Blanco is now open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Stop by to visit with other Dems and pick up campaign materials and other goodies.
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Click on any of these icons to be taken to their web pages. |
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GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY!
Let your voices be heard by attending these community meetings.
Click on any of the icons for more information.
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Boerne City Council meets at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at 9 Topperwein Road, Boerne. |
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The Kendall County Commissioner's Court meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday at 9:00 a.m. in the County Courthouse, 201 E. San Antonio Street, 3rd floor.
The Planning and Zoning meetings are held on the 1st Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Boerne Police/Municipal Court, 124 Old San Antonio Road.
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The Fair Oaks City Council meets on the 1st Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and the 3rd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the FOR City Hall, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn Road, FOR. |
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The Comfort ISD Board of Trustees meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the CISD Central Office, 327 High Street, Comfort. |
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The Boerne ISD Board of Trustees meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in the Administrative Offices,
235 Johns Road.
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The Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at 9 Topperwein Road, Boerne. |
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BOERNE AREA DEMOCRATS BOARD
President: Susan Dollar
Vice President: Jerry Terry
Secretary: Robin Prescott
Treasurer: sharon Noack
Membership: Brooke Orr
Publicity: Natalie Schun
Newsletter: Judy Dewey
Social Media: Krista Bermejillo-Vasquez
Past President: Stacey Gilfillan
Ex Officio member: Laura Bray, KCDP
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Connect with us!
JOIN THE BOERNE AREA DEMOCRATS
Email: BAD@boerne-area-democrats.com
Web: boerne-area-democrats.org
Facebook: facebook.com/boerne.area.democrats
Notice Regarding Photography and/or Audio/Video Recording
The Boerne Area Democrats captures photographs and/or audio/video recordings during our events.
Such photographs and recordings may be used in BAD's advertising and social media relations to let others
know of our events. In addition, local news organizations may hear of our events, and BAD may allow
them to record events for news reporting. If you do not wish to be in photos/videos,
please let the photographer/videographer know in advance.
This newsletter is intended for people interested in the work of the Boerne Area Democrats and the Democratic Party in general. To be removed from this mailing list, please click on Unsubscribe below
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