December 1, 2023

Newsletter

We wish Peace on Earth for all

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:

• Office Closures and Newsletter Schedule in December
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• TDP Talking Points - Infrastructure Law Benefits Texas
• Abbott School Voucher Scheme Defeated
• Medicare Open Enrollment Info
• Convention Committee Volunteers Needed!
• Precinct and County Chair Application Deadline
• Bridge Issues - Elder Care and Caregiver Issues
• Final Friday Takes a Holiday Break
• Save the Date(s) for Holiday Parties
• Blue Magnolia Holiday Event - Join Us!
• Democratic Party Events Around the County
• Non-Profit Spotlight - Mental Health Resources
• Joe and Kamala's Corner (click on an image to open)
• Tweets (click on an image to open)
• Texas Blue Store - new arrivals for the holidays and more!
• 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.

Email content for consideration to communications@mcdptx.org

no later than 3 days before publication.

The Montgomery County Democratic Party Headquarters will be closed for December holidays on the following dates:

December 18 - January 2

In addition, we will not publish a newsletter on December 15th.

We wish you and yours Happy Holidays and Peace to all!

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Please take care of yourself and others during this joyful but often stressful season.

Learn more about Seasonal Affective Disorder here.

Abbott School Voucher Scheme Defeated

In the recent fourth special session of the 2023 Texas Legislature, the controversial private school voucher, aka Education Savings Account, provision in the education funding bill was eliminated from HB 1 in a bipartisan vote. They also voted to prevent that decision from being reconsidered at the same time.

This provision aimed to divert public funds to private and religious schools, which would have negatively impacted the already underfunded public education system in Texas. The defeat of this provision is a victory for parents, educators, and students who rely on public schools for quality education. It is a step towards ensuring that every child in Texas has equal access to education. The decision by the Texas legislature is proof that the voices of the people can make a difference in shaping public policy.

Even though House Bill 1 was stripped of the voucher program, it has allowances for teacher raises, increased funding for public schools and for student enrollment allotments. However, Greg Abbott has stated he will veto any education funding plan without the rejected voucher scam. The bill has been returned to committee. 

It is important that we stay informed and continue to call and write to our State members of Congress and the Governor to let them know we stand firmly on the issue. We are not fools. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that robbing public schools of vital tax funding is going to hurt our communities and the majority of students' futures. 

Submitted by Carol Ortiz

Communications Committee, MCDPTX

Sources: 

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/16/texas-house-school-vouchers/

https://www.texasdemocrats.org/media/texas-house-democrats-vote-to-defeat-private-school-voucher-scams

https://capitol.texas.gov/billlookup/BillNumber.aspx

Open Enrollment Ends December 7th

Be informed of your options with regard to Medicare. Click here to read an article about options and changes in 2024.

It’s Time for Us to Plan the County Convention

and We Need Your Help!

In March of the even numbered years, after the Primary Election, the Texas State Democratic Party mandates that the County Party hold a County/Congressional District (CD) Convention. The Convention is held on the same day of the week, across the whole state, for the purpose of selecting Delegates to the State Convention, and fulfilling the duties of the Credentials, Rules, Nominations, and Platform and Resolutions Committees. 

2024 is a Presidential Election year. In presidential years, delegates are elected proportionately to the number of supporters for a presidential candidate or uncommitted status at the County/CD Convention and if there are remaining slots unfilled, those may be filled by any presidential preference. The Delegates selected at the County/CD Convention will be eligible to go forward as Montgomery County delegates to the State Democratic Convention at the El Paso Convention Center on June 6-8, 2024.

This year, the County Convention is set for March 23, 2024. 

Because it is a Presidential Election Year, this year will be an especially exciting and interesting year to serve on the County/CD Convention committee. Any Democratic voter in our County can register to come to the County Convention and we hope to have at least 300 attendees. We need to organize guest speakers, select a venue, prepare a program, provide for convention officers, solicit chairpersons for each of the required convention committees, setup registration and credentialling, arrange for refreshments, signage, media, and a myriad of other details. Serving on this Committee is a great way to learn about Party operations and contribute to a critical County event.

If you are interested in joining the Convention Committee, send an email to office@mcdptx.org or call at 936-273-5841. If you have never served on a committee with us, this will be a great place to start. We need every curious, talented, eager, interested Democrat we can muster to help with this amazing event!

Join the Team! Yes, We Can!

Precinct and County Chair

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for election as a precinct chair or county chair is 6 p.m. Monday, December 11, 2023. 

Applications are available in the MCDP office. Or request the application by emailing office@mcdptx.org. 

You may also download and print the form at the SOS website https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/pol-sub/2-3f.pdf

Applications must be notarized which you can do at your bank or places such as UPS stores.

NOTE: There will be a notary available at Headquarters on Thursday, December 7 from 2 to 6 p.m. and on Monday, December 11 from 3 to 6 pm.

Bridge Issues



Remember the days when Democrats and Republicans could agree on issues and have civil discussions?  We do and we miss them. We believe a strong two-party system is critical for Democracy to thrive and even survive. 



We believe there are still issues on which we can agree, and we would like to use the newsletter to talk about them.  We call this Bridge Issues! Let us know if you have ideas about bridge issues that we can talk about here.  

Elder Care and Caregiver Issues

Elder care and caregiver issues are reaching a crisis point. The financial, emotional and physical toll is enormous for families across the United States. Other countries have found ways to address it - why can't we?

Family caregivers have long labored in obscurity, often overlooked by policymakers and health care providers despite their critical role in helping loved ones live with independence. 

But their status is starting to change, and recent federal policy actions point to an encouraging trend: Increasingly, the invisible army of 48 million family caregivers is becoming recognized for its integral role in the health care landscape. Read more of this article from AARP

Final Friday Takes a Holiday Break

Final Friday falls right in the middle of the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays so we will be taking a break for a couple of months. But you can look for us again in January when we will be back and full of energy and information for the New Year. 

Save the Date(s)!

MCDP invites you to two holiday events we have planned this season and we hope you will join us for both!

December 15th - Headquarters Open House from 10 am to 4 pm. This is the last day the office will be open for the year and we will be welcoming visitors to drop by and share in treats and good cheer with us. We know 2024 is looming and it will involve a LOT of work for all of us so take this opportunity to relax with others as we prepare for the hard work of 2024.

December 30th - Between the Years Open House. Rick Blummer and Carsten Angermann will host a Zwischen Den Jahren (Between the Years) party at their beautiful home. We will send more information including RSVP instructions and an explanation of this special German tradition.

Blue Magnolia Holiday Event

December 13, 2023

5 - 7 pm

Blue Heron Farm

29625 Bunting Rd, Waller, TX 77484

Please join Magnolia and Waller County Dems for a fun evening at Blue Heron Farm's Beer Garden. We welcome Dems from around the county to join us to celebrate the holidays in a unique way.

The farm has goats that may still be up for petting (they put themselves to bed at dusk so come early)! Santa and Mrs. Claus just might drop by!

You will be responsible for purchasing your own food and beverages which include goat cheese made on the farm and s'mores! Check out the Beer Garden and its offerings here.

Come by for a fun, relaxing evening and meet Dems from Montgomery and Waller Counties!

Democratic Party Activities Around the County

psst: you're missing a lot of fun if you aren't joining us!!

The MCDP Virtual Auction held on

Cyber Monday was a success!

Thanks to everyone who worked hard to put the auction together, who donated items for the auction, and who purchased! There are still a few items available but they are going fast! If you are interested in what is available, please email office@mcdptx.org for a link.

County

Non-Profit Spotlight

To close out 2023 we would like to reshare links to agencies in Montgomery County that provide mental health services.

MC Constable Precinct 1 Mental Health Division and Crisis Intervention Team

Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare

Interfaith Community Clinic

MC Sheriff's Office Crisis Intervention Team

Mosaics of Mercy

Tweets!

Blue Texas Store

Consider shopping for holiday gifts and ornaments at our own Blue Texas Store! Visit headquarters to shop and check out what's available and where the store has been on Facebook. Thanks to Judy Trosvig for the creation of the Blue Texas Store and of many of the beautiful items available in it!

Recurring meetings, and related events

TUE, DEC 5 – MOCO COMMISSIONERS COURT, 9:30am, 501 N. Thompson 77301

WED, DEC 6 – WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD, 6:00pm, 2801 Technology Forest Bl. 77381

TUE, DEC 12 – CONROE ISD BOARD, 6:00pm, 3205 W. Davis Street, Conroe 77304

TUE, DEC 12 – LS GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION BOARD, 6:00pm, 655 Conroe Park N 77303

TUE, DEC 19 – MOCO COMMISSIONERS COURT, 9:30am, 501 N. Thompson 77301

Democrats and Progressives of Montgomery County

Holiday Party

Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 2:00 pm

Start the season right - with friends

Romano's Macaroni Grill

1155 Lake Woodlands Dr · The Woodlands, TX

This Saturday meetup seems to be a good time for many of you to come out and visit with other like-minded Democrats/Liberals/Progressives.

These are the kinds of things that are easy for most of us to do, throughout the year.

Hosted by Karen Cavanagh.

RSVP