Volume 23. Issue 8. August 2022

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Susan Dollar Richard M. Langworth, Senior Fellow Hillsdale College Churchill Project, said "Without too much argument, we may date 22 November 1963 as the beginning of the end of postwar innocence and absolute faith in our destiny: the grim prelude to Vietnam and Watergate, to the politics of personal destruction. An old friend said to me at a high school reunion: 'That’s when the rot began.'”   I've been thinking a lot about the summer of 1968. I was 13 - a trying and traumatic time for a just-turned-teenager. Even though my home was in the small, rural, panhandle town of Dumas, I was well aware of the unease and turmoil that was building in America that summer.    The prior year, 1967, had seen some of the worst unrest and riots ever, including the 1967 Detroit Riot.  The scale of that riot, which lasted five days, was the worst in U.S. history. Governor George Romney ordered the Michigan Army National Guard into Detroit to help end the disturbance and President Johnson sent in the US Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions. The result was 43 dead, 1,189 injured, over 7,200 arrests, and more than 400 buildings destroyed.   Then came 1968, which is often considered to be one of the most turbulent and traumatic years of the 20th century in the United States.  Many of you probably remember those awful days that portended things to come: January 30: North Vietnamese launch the Tet Offensive  March 16: My Lai massacre March 19–23: Students at Howard University in Washington, D.C. signal a new era of militant student activism on college campuses in the U.S. Students stage rallies, protests, and a 5-day sit-in. Students lay siege to the administration building, shut down the university in protest over its ROTC program and the Vietnam War. April 2: In a television special broadcast on NBC, white British singer Petula Clark touches black American singer Harry Belafonte affectionately on the arm.  That fleeting moment was controversial enough to prompt the program’s sponsor to protest vehemently—turning what one critic would eventually call “a stylish, sophisticated musical hour” into an inter-racial cause célèbre. April 3: Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech in Memphis, Tennessee. On April, he is assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In response, riots erupt in major American cities, lasting for several days afterward. April 11: President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968, an expansion of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. The 1968 Act, known as the Fair Housing Act, prohibits discrimination concerning the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, and sex.  April 23–30: Student protesters at Columbia University in New York City, take over administration buildings and shut down the university. June 5: Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California by Sirhan Sirhan. Kennedy dies from his injuries the next day. August 22–30: Police clash with anti-war protesters in Chicago, Illinois, outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which nominates Hubert Humphrey for U.S. President, and Edmund Muskie for Vice President. November 14: Yale and Princeton announce they are going to admit women. November 5: Richard M. Nixon defeats the Democratic candidate, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and American Independent candidate, George C. Wallace. And then came 1969: January 20: Richard Nixon is sworn in as the 37th President of the United States and Spiro Agnew is sworn in as Vice President. April: A grassroots movement of Berkeley community members seizes an empty lot owned by the University of California to begin the formation of "People's Park. On May 20, the US National Guard helicopters spray skin-stinging powder on protesters. May 15: A teenager known as 'Robert R.' dies in St. Louis, Missouri, of a baffling medical condition. In 1984 it will be identified as the first confirmed case of HIV/AIDS in North America. June 28: The Stonewall riots in New York City mark the start of the modern gay rights movement in the U.S. July 20: At 3:17 pm ET, Apollo 11's Lunar Module Eagle lands on the Moon's surface. An estimated 650 million people worldwide watch in awe as Neil Armstrong takes the first historic steps by a human on the surface. In the spring of 1970, when I was a junior in high school, I was horrified by the shootings at Kent State, which resulted in the killings of four and wounding of nine other unarmed students by the Ohio National Guard. The killings took place during a peace rally opposing the expanding involvement of the Vietnam War and protesting the National Guard presence on campus. The incident marked the first time that a student had been killed in an anti-war gathering in United States history and it shocked me deeply. Then came the Woodstock Festival in August, which embodied the best and worst of the times. I look back on all this after reading an excerpt from The Unraveling of America: A History of Liberalism in the 1960s by Allen J. Matusow (1984). This book documents the rise and fall of 1960s liberalism and explores the connections of culture and politics through the traumatic decade of the 60s. The author deals extensively with the war on poverty, anticommunism, civil rights, Great Society programs, the counterculture and the rise of the new left, and black power. He attributes the rout of traditional liberal assumptions and political power at the end of the decade to the Vietnam War, a white backlash, and disillusionment with unrealistic expectations.   His ultimate message - this book is “intended as a cautionary tale for liberals in the hope that when their hour struck again, they might perhaps be fortified against past error. Now that they have another chance, a look back at the 1960s might serve them well."   Unraveling, to me, seems the perfect way to describe how I feel about the current state of affairs in the United States. In a blue funk, thinking about the concept of unraveling, I came across author Wade Davis, an activist and Explorer-in-Residence at National Geographic, who wrote an article in Rolling Stone (August 2020: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/covid-19-end-of-american-era-wade-davis-1038206/   From his article: “Odious as he may be, Trump is less the cause of America’s decline than a product of its descent. As they stare into the mirror and perceive only the myth of their exceptionalism, Americans remain almost bizarrely incapable of seeing what has actually become of their country.” “The measure of wealth in a civilized nation is not the currency accumulated by the lucky few, but rather the strength and resonance of social relations and the bonds of reciprocity that connect all people in common purpose.” “For the moment, we have only the kleptocracy of Donald Trump. Between praising the Chinese for their treatment of the Uighurs, describing their internment and torture as 'exactly the right thing to do,' and his dispensing of medical advice concerning the therapeutic use of chemical disinfectants, Trump blithely remarked, 'One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.' He had in mind, of course, the coronavirus, but, as others have said, he might just as well have been referring to the American dream.” I urge every one of you to read this article. Although it is two years old, it is as relevant today and then. Read it and ponder our collective future. Then decide what you can do to stop the unraveling and prevent the fall of our democracy. We have 93 days to save ourselves.

AUGUST BAD MEETING in person Thursday, August 11 12:00 p.m. Longhorn Cafe Remember to arrive early and order in person if you plan to eat. The cafe is not taking phone or online orders.

POSTCARD PARTY! At our August meeting, we will hear about the Texas Democratic Party Convention from the County Chair, Laura Bray. We will also be actively engaged in getting out the vote! We are going to write postcards to newly registered likely Democrats in Kendall County, so bring your pen and be ready to write! Postcards, stamps, and sample messages will be provided. See you Thursday!

Heads up on our fall meetings: we have contacted Rochelle Garza, candidate for Attorney General, and Luke Warford, candidate for Railroad Commissioner, to speak at our future meetings. Stay tuned for details!

REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO OUR MEETING

We received a very nice thank you letter in June from The Center for Refugees Services for our past donations of food and personal items. Since April 2022, the CRS has assisted over 2,600 Afghan refugees and are continuing to serve new arrivals from around the world. All of the Center's money comes from donations and grants - they do not receive any goverment funding, so whatever we can do to help goes a long way.

They still need backpacks and school supplies, so if you'd like to donate, bring your items to our August 11 BAD meeting. Jessica Veilleux will deliver them to CRS. They also take cash donations.

A sincere thank you to the 26 recurring donors that we currenly have - we appreciate your support!

BECOME A RECURRING DONOR! We still need more recurring donors! Remember that we are trying to avoid the expense and effort of hosting a fall gala so please consider setting up a monthly donation to BAD. Just $5 a month will help! Think of it as giving up a cup of coffee at Starbucks in the name of democracy! The easiest way to donate is via ActBlue; simply click on the ActBlue logo on the left and enter your donation information. You can also donate via a credit card, an auto-withdrawal from your bank, or by mailing a check. We also love one-time donations! With the November election only 4 months away, we need to continue to support candidates and causes , so please become a recurring donor.

BROOKE ORR Membership 210 MEMBERS STRONG! 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.

LAURA BRAY Kendall County Democratic Party Chair Notes from the Chair August 2022 Why do you fight? For my grandsons. If I don’t fight, they won’t have a world to grow up in. It isn’t enough to believe in equality and peace and human rights—one must work at it. —paraphrased from “The Diamond Eye” by Kate Quinn Have you donated to our billboard fund yet? (See the photo of a draft “mock-up” of the billboard above). We want to place two billboards, one on IH-10 and one on Hwy 46. We received a $1,500 grant from The 134 PAC to provide seed funds. I am hopeful that the membership of the Boerne Area Democrats will approve a generous donation at their August 11 meeting. I’m asking YOU—our most loyal supporters—to kick in for this worthy project. The best news: we are already over halfway toward our goal of $12,000 (in actual donations and pledges). We need your support to cross the finish line. This year, we’d like to feature photos of Beto, of Attorney General nominee Rochelle Garza, and our own Kevin Henning on the billboard, to let people know that there ARE local Democrats on the ticket. Please consider making a donation to this worthy cause. (And a huge THANK YOU to those who already have.) You can make a one-time donation via our website using ActBlue (click on the “Donate” button at the top right) or send a check (made out to KCDP) to PO Box 2321, Boerne, TX 78006. Whether or not you’re able to donate—I truly appreciate your support of our fight for equality, justice, compassion, and diversity. THANK YOU!

93 days and counting! It's not too early to begin planning for the election! Below are important dates about voting.

Last Day to Register to VoteTuesday, October 11, 2022 First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance: Monday, October 24 Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked): Friday, October 28 Last Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance: Friday, November 4 Last day to Receive Ballot by Mail: Tuesday, November 8, 2022 (Election Day) at 7:00 p.m.

Political yard signs can be posted beginning on Wednesday, August 10 (90 days before the election). Note that an HOA cannot stop you from posting signs: Texas Election Code, Sec. 259.002. REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNS BY PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION. (a) In this section, "property owners' association" has the meaning assigned by Section 202.001, Property Code. (b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a property owners' association may not enforce or adopt a restrictive covenant that prohibits a property owner from displaying on the owner's property one or more signs advertising a candidate or measure for an election: (1) on or after the 90th day before the date of the election to which the sign relates; or (2) before the 10th day after that election date. (c) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or adoption of a covenant that: (1) requires a sign to be ground-mounted; or (2) limits a property owner to displaying only one sign for each candidate or measure. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.259.htm Get your yard signs at the Democratic headquarters! 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201, open Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.

BAD DONATIONS Thanks to our generous members and donors, BAD was able to donate $5,500 to these candidates: Beto O'Rourke (Governor) Mike Collier (Lt. Governor) Rochelle Garza (Attorney General) Janet Dudding (Comptroller) Jay Kleberg (Land Commissioner) Luke Warford (Railroad Commissioner) Susan Hays (Ag Commissioner) Claudia Zapata (US House Dist. 21) Angi Arambura (TX House Dist. 122)

We also donated $1,500 to KCDP to help with the cost of the two billboards for I-10 and Hwy. 46, and a $250 donation was made to Mothers Against Greg Abbott. Thank you to all the donors who made this possible!

TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION Laura Bray/KCDP Chair, Brooke Orr, Michelle Smith, Jackie Petty, and Marilyn Harrington attended the state convention in Dallas on July 14-16.  Pictured at left is Laura and two members from PAC 134. KCDP was awarded a $1,500 grant from the PAC to fund billboards during the election season this fall.

BETO TOWN HALL Wednesday, August 17 6:00 p.m. Fredericksburg, TX RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/betofortexas/event/478001/

BAD BOOK CLUB  The next meeting of the BAD Book Club will be on Wednesday, August 17, at 5:30 p.m. at the Democratic Headquarters. The book selection is The Age of the Strongman by Gideon Rachman. R.S.V.P. to Janice Bloodworth at 210-632-6974.

Kendall County Fair Association Labor Day Parade We need volunteers to decorate our Democratic float on Friday, September 2, and we need volunteers to ride/walk in the parade on Main Street in Boerne on Saturday, September 3. Let's show Boerne that There Are More Of Us Than You Think! Sign up here to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094DA9AE29A2F94-badseptember

We will be participating in the September 10-11 Market Days and will need lots of volunteers to assist with the booth. September is always one of the biggest weekends for the market and tons of people will be there. This is prime time going into the campaign season. We will have candidate collateral, merchandise, t-shirts, and voter registration cards, so it will take a lot of volunteers to man the booth. Sign up here to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094DA9AE29A2F94-badseptember

PLAN AHEAD FOR SEPTEMBER MARKET DAYS!

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

GOOD NEWS! Our Democratic Headquarters at 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201, is now open on Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Stop by to visit with other Dems and pick up campaign materials and goodies.

Click on any of these icons to be taken to their web pages.

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY! Let your voices be heard by attending these community meetings. Click on any of the icons for more information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at 9 Topperwein Road, Boerne.

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

Connect with us! JOIN THE BOERNE AREA DEMOCRATS Membership Form 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 or email us at bad@boerne-area-democrats.com.