Volume 23. Issue 9. September 2022
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Susan Dollar


I've always been a big believer in choices and consequences. It was my daily mantra when raising three boys: you always have a choice - maybe not in what happens to you, but certainly in how you handle what happens. Very often, though, you do have a choice about what happens.

Now we are collectively facing one of the biggest choices of our lives: to vote as Democrats in order to save our country and our democracy.

We all know that life isn't black and white. In fact, it is usually gray. But not this time with the mid-term election. We have stark choices before us and I believe that the consequences of our choices will be black - or white. Good or evil. Democracy or tyranny. Freedom or suppression.

Every single one of us must do all that we can to win in November. I know I am preaching to the choir, but seriously, now it the time to take a stand and do something. Talk to your family members and neighbors. Write letters and postcards to support candidates. Donate to campaigns. Put out yard signs. Proudly wear your Democratic t-shirt to town. These type of activities will at least generate an opportunity for conversations. And in those conversations, maybe - just maybe - you will be able to reason with a person and get him or her out to vote.

Without sounding too much like Polyanna, there is reason to hope for the future. Democrats are already making surprising gains in the primariy elections this summer. In late August a New York Times headline touted "Growing Evidence Against a Republican Wave." Biden's approval rating is up, gas prices are down, and the mood across the country - at least right now - seems promising for Democrats come November. Still, it will take work, lots of work.

Over the next few weeks, we will have many opportunities for you to block walk, make phone calls, send texts, and write postcards urging people to get out and vote. Please join us in these activities so that in the end, we will all know that we made the right choice and did everything we could to save ourselves and our country.

As President Biden said last Thursday, "Our task is to make our nation free and fair, just and strong, noble and whole, and this work is the work of democracy, the work of this generation. It is the work of our time for all time. We can’t afford to leave anyone on the sidelines. We need everyone to do their part, so speak up, speak out, get engaged, vote, vote, vote!"
SEPTEMBER BAD MEETING
in person
Thursday, September 8
6:00 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.

DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR SHIRT - OR WHATEVER - to our meeting on Thursday! For $12, you can get anything (anything flat, like shirts or bags or jackets) embroidered with the new logo!

If you forget to bring your item(s) to the meeting, you can drop them off at the office no later than Friday, September 16. Be sure to pin your name on your items.
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.

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!
BROOKE ORR
Membership

212 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. 
BILLBOARDS ARE UP!
IH-10: about a half mile north (or west, using TxDoT terminology) of the North Main Street exit. On the east side of the highway, facing Comfort. The best view is from the eastside feeder street as you’re driving toward Boerne. If you’re coming back from Comfort to Boerne on IH-10, it’s on the other side of the highway. This sign is not illuminated.
Hwy 46: 1.5 miles east of Ammann Rd, on the north side of the road (so looking across traffic), facing Boerne. It’s very high, and this sign is illuminated. There’s a very annoying tree that partially blocks the view as you approach, but it’s still very visible.  

LAURA BRAY
Kendall County Democratic Party Chair

Notes from the Chair
September 2022

If you missed the President’s speech this past Thursday, you missed a doozy. Here are some highlights:

This is where the United States Constitution was written and debated. With three simple words: we, the people; we, the people. These two documents and their ideas they embody — equality and democracy — are the rock upon which this nation is built. They are how we became the greatest nation on earth. They are why, for more than two centuries, America has been a beacon to the world.

But as I stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault. We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise.

Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal. Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic. there’s no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. And that is a threat to this country.

MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election, and they’re working right now as I speak in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself.

MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards, backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love. They promote authoritarian leaders, and they fanned the flames of political violence that are a threat to our personal rights, to the pursuit of justice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country.

They look at the mob that stormed the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, brutally attacking law enforcement, not as insurrectionists who placed a dagger at the throat of our democracy, but they look at them as patriots. And they see their MAGA failure to stop a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election as preparation for the 2022 and 2024 elections.

They tried everything last time to nullify the votes of 81 million people. This time, they’re determined to succeed in thwarting the will of the people. That’s why respected conservatives like Federal Circuit Court Judge Michael Luttig has called Trump and the extreme MAGA Republicans “a clear and present danger” to our democracy.

But while the threat to American democracy is real, I want to say as clearly as we can, we are not powerless in the face of these threats. We are not bystanders in this ongoing attack on democracy. There are far more Americans, far more Americans from every background and belief, who reject the extreme MAGA ideology than those that accept it. And folks, it’s within our power, it’s in our hands, yours and mine, to stop the assault on American democracy.

You can read the entire speech here. It’s well worth your time. And since “we are not bystanders,” please sign up to help. Contact me (laurabray61@gmail.com) or Peg Layton (layton.peg@gmali.com).

Thank you for everything you do to work for equality and justice in Texas.
A message from Gilberto Hinojosa
Texas Democratic Party Chair

In July, Republicans at the Texas GOP Convention adopted new additions to their platform that are among the most extreme political doctrines that this country has seen in decades. Texas Republicans showed us that they live in a parallel universe full of conspiracy-fueled hate -- and that they have a truly twisted view of our democracy and Constitution.
In a radical act of regression, Texas Republicans chose to boldly display their hatred as they’ve never done before:
  • They say that our LGBTQ+ siblings are living an ‘abnormal lifestyle choice’ just for living as God created them.
  • They spread even worse transphobic trash that deserves no ink.
  • They want to require students to listen to live ultrasounds.
  • They aggressively rebuke even the mildest of gun safety legislation.
  • They say that President Biden’s election is illegitimate.
  • They even want us to secede from the country that we all love so dearly -- making them more anti-American than we previously thought.
The Texas GOP has shown that they have gone beyond the pale -- and that they are too extreme to govern this beautiful, diverse state.

AARP VOTING GUIDE: aarp.org/electionguides

BALLOTPEDIA:

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS:

VOTE SMART:

Last Day to Register to Vote: Tuesday, 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.
DON'T FORGET YOUR YARD SIGNS!

You can pick up yard signs at the Democratic headquarters, 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201,
between 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

State Election Code Rules:
BETO BUDDIES
Beto is on his 49 day Drive for Texas tour. Some of our BAD members were lucky enough to get to catch him on the road trip!

When this newsletter went out, the O'Rourke-Abbott Debate is tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 30, some time in the evening. It is supposed to be televised statewide, so watch the news for more info.
Susan caught up with Beto and two high school friends in Gainesville on August 13.
KCFA LABOR DAY PARADE

Thanks to all the hardy folks that came out to build the float on Friday and to those brave souls that walked in the parade on Saturday. We had a great time - and got lots of thumbs up and smiles - not too many boos. At least we let them know that TAMOUTYT!
THE BUILDERS!
THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS!
We still need lots of volunteers our BAD/KCDP booth at the September 10-11 Market Days. This is 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 to volunteer for September:
WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS!

We will also need volunteers for the October 8-9 Market Days, which will be held near the courthouse on W. San Antonio Avenue & Saunders Street.

Sign up to volunteer for October:
BAD BOOK CLUB

The next meeting of the BAD Book Club will be on Wednesday, September 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the Democratic Headquarters. The book selection is America Dirt by Jeanine Cummings.

R.S.V.P. to Janice Bloodworth at 210-632-6974.
SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB
Saturday, September 24
5:30 p.m. at La Hacienda Scenic Loop
R.S.V.P. to 361-455-1265 by Thursday, September 22.
Remember to bring $5.00 per person to leave as an extra tip for the wait staff.
The BAD Board voted to donate $100 to the Patrick Heath Public Library, along with a suggested list of culturally sensitive, diverse books suitable for young adults.
NATIONAL BANNED BOOKS WEEK
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
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
NEW HOURS!
Our Democratic Headquarters at 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201, is now open on Monday-Saturday 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 City Hall, 447 N. Main Street, Boerne.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are held on the first Monday of each month in the Ronald C. Bowman Council Chambers at City Hall, 447 N. Main Street, 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 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

Email: BAD@boerne-area-democrats.com
Web: boerne-area-democrats.org
Facebook: facebook.com/boerne.area.democrats

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