PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Susan Dollar
What a year this was! Ups and downs, highs and lows. In spite of the crazed four years of Trump and the months of the pandemic, what a great year the Boerne Area Democrats have had! Below is a brief recap of 2020 - one for the books!
This will be my last newsletter column. After 3.5 years of serving as president of the Boerne Area Democrats, it is time to pass the torch to a new board. Thank you all for your suport, encouragement, and hard work that made all our accomplishments possible. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve as your president. I have loved working with all of you and am so proud and grateful to call you my friends. I have full confidence in the excellent 2021 board and know that we will contiue to grow and that Democrats will continue to gain ground in this fading red Hill Country.
Have a very happy, safe and healthy holiday!
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New Board members were sworn in by Justice Rebeca Martinez.
Bunny Bond, League of Women Voters, was our guest speaker at the January meeting.
Members participated in the Martin Luther King March and the March on Texas.
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Little did we know that February would be our last in-person meeting for the year!
SBOE candidates Lettie Bresnahan and Rebecca Bell- Metereau were our guest speakers. Rebecca (pictured at left) won the District 5 position!
Several members participated in the Empty Bowls event benefitting Hill Country Family Services.
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The evening meeting was cancelled due to the beginning of the pandemic.
The Primary Election was held; more Democrats than Republicans turned out to vote!
We had a joint election watch party with KCDP at the Democratic headquarters.
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With the virus still continuing to spread, our April meeting was cancelled. |
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We held our first club meeting via Zoom.
A vote was taken to donate $750 to Hill Country Family Services.
Several members attended vigils for George Floyd and Black Lives Matter.
We awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Champion High School senior Alexandra Purchatzke (pictured at right).
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At our evening meeting via Zoom, we watched the documentary, "Suppressed: the Fight to Vote."
Several members participated in the peaceful march honoring George Floyd.
The Texas Democratic Convention was held online. Several B.A.D. members serve as precinct chairs and attended the onlune convention.
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No meeting was held this month, as the virus continued to rage.
Members approved a $500 donation to Sisters United Alliance for their "Get Out the Vote" efforts.
$3,000 was donated to the Kendall County Democratic Party. A portion of the money was to help fund a billboard on I-10 west of Boerne.
The Primary Run-Off Election was held; in Texas, the number of Democrats voting doubled compared to the 2018 number. Several club members worked at early voting and at the polls.
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At the August Zoom meeting, a Volunteer Training workshop was held to train members to work on the upcoming presidential election.
We co-hosted a virtual town hall with KCDP to meet the eight judicial candidates running for state office.
The Virtual Fundraiser began and ultimately surpassed the $10,000 goal. Funds were donated to 5 federal candidates, 8 judicial candidates, 16 state candidates, and 3 organizations.
August 26 marked the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.
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Cliff Walker, Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party, was our guest speaker at the September Zoom meeting.
Members staffed the Market Days booth, where we picked up several new members, sold merchandise, and showed Boerne that TAMOUTYT.
A Peace Train was held in Boerne on a fall Saturday morning and over 150 cars participated.
Another billboard on I-10 just south of Boerne was funded, thanks to the generosity of club members.
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Staci Decker and Rebecca Finke, Kendall County Elections administrators, gave a Zoom presentation on the new voting machines and processes.
B.A.D. had another booth at the October Market Days.
A pop-up pizza party was held at Z's Wood-Fired Pizza; in addition to the 30 members, 14 new people showed up and everyone enjoyed the world famous Jowers Brothers musical performance.
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The Presidential Election was held; dozens of members worked during early voting and at the polls on election day.
We helped staff the Democratic tent at early voting. Wendy Davis and Rebeca Martinez paid us a visit!
At our November Zoom meeting, the guest speaker was Beto O'Rourke, who spoke about the election outcomes and plans for the future.
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Although we didn't have a December meeting or our usual holiday party, we did have a hugely successful Drive-By Donation event.
Thanks to the generosity of the 36 members and 12 boad members, we raised over $3,200 in gift cards that was donated to Hill Contry Family Services. Thanks to all who participated!
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Meet your 2021 Board Members!
Pictured on back row, from left to right: Marilyn Harrington, Vice President; Brooke Orr, Membership; Krista Bermejillo-Vasquez, Social Media; Donna Peacock, Secretary; Natalie Schun, Publicity; Brenda Schmidt, Treasurer.
Seated, left to right: Stacey Gilfillan, President, Susan Dollar, Past President; Laura Bray, Kendall County Democratic Party Chair.
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Our membership has grown from 54 members in 2018 to 192 today!
Our "open rate" on the Voice newsletter averaged 58.5% - way above the non-profit industry average of 19.8%.
We raised $12,000 from our virtual fundraiser, all of which was donated to candidates and causes.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won!
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I am stepping down from the duties of secretary. Whew - a job I'm not sure I was cut out for. But I will stay on to work on the newsletter each month.
So.... keep going out there doing noteworthy things like all good Dems and we will keep writing about you!
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JUDY DEWEY
Secretary & Newsletter Chair
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BROOKE ORR
Membership
We currently have 192 paid members! It's time tp pay December dues, so if your membership is up for renewal, you will receive an e-mail from me. Please be sure to check your SPAM folder for messages from BAD.
To become a member or renew, pay online with PayPal or go to our BAD web page, click on the Become a Member link, and fill out the application. Don’t forget to click on the submit button! Also, you can mail your check to BAD Membership, PO Box 2132, Boerne, TX, 78006. Your dues help us to support candidates and sponsor our yearly college scholarship.
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SHARON NOACK
Treasurer
I would like to thank Susan Dollar and all of the current officers for a wonderful experience as BAD treasurer the last 2 1/2 years. It has been a tremendous learning experience and quite rewarding to be able to contribute to the Democrat cause in Kendall County. I plan to stay active in the club and am very grateful for all of the new friends I have made within the club. Thanks all!
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BRENDA SCHMIDT
Activities
The Holiday Drive-By was a smashing success! Thanks to the 36 members and 12 old/new board members for your donations! Although we couldn't host our usual holiday party, the drive-by gave us all a chance to visit briefly and enjoy each other's company.
We raised over $3,200 in gift cards that were donated to Hill Country Family Services. Thank you to all the donors!
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LAURA BRAY
Publicity
December marks my final month as Publicity Chair for BAD. I’ve enjoyed making sure our monthly activities and community involvement are recognized in our local newspapers. The incoming chair, Natalie Schun, will do a remarkable job in keeping that coverage going.
But I’m not going far! Next month, you’ll see me in the “Notes from the Chair” column, as I take over as Chair of the Kendall County Democratic Party on January 1. We’ve accomplished so much in the last three years under Kevin Henning’s leadership, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
I look forward to staying involved with BAD throughout 2021.
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KRISTA BERMEJILLO-VASQUEZ
Social Media
I will be continuing as the Social Media Chair. Be sure to check out our web pages, Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter!
Web: boerne-area-democrats.org
Facebook: Boerne Area Democrats
Instagram: @boerneareademocrats
Twitter: @BoerneDemocrats
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Peaceful Transfer of Power
Kevin Henning
Kendall County Democratic Party Chair
As you may have heard, I am stepping down as County Chair and Laura Bray has been elected by the KCDP Central Executive Committee to take my place. Also, Susan Dollar’s term as BAD’s President ends this year and Stacey Gilfillan was recently elected by BAD’s membership to take her place. No doubt Susan and I could have hired Rudy Giuliani to lead a fraudulent legal effort to keep us in our positions. We could have solicited Ken Paxton to file a suit in the US Supreme to throw out legal votes. But alas we chose to allow a “peaceful transfer of power” and we do not plan any counter inauguration events.
So much for a bit of sad humor. How wonderful to have two inspired leaders take on these responsibilities. I wish them well as there is much work left to do. I know they are up to the task.
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Also, I am so very proud to have witnessed the growth of two strong and dynamic organizations that are more than any single person. You should all be proud that together we have built a Democratic Party in Kendall County that is here for the long run!
Thank you and have Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Engaged New Year.
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KENDALL COUNTY DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS
As of December 19, our Democratic headquarters will be closed. Given the virus situation that prohibits most in-person gatherings, it was decided that the office should be closed for now. A new, more suitable office location is being scouted and hopefully, can open next summer. Thank you to all who volunteered to work at the office and/or donated funds to pay for the rent!
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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: Amy Lambiase
Secretary/Newsletter: Judy Dewey
Treasurer: Sharon Noack
Membership: Brooke Orr
Activities: Brenda Schmidt
Publicity: Laura Bray
Social Media: Krista Bermejillo-Vasquez
Ex Officio member: Kevin Henning, 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 klet others know of our events. In addition, local news organizations may hear of our evengts, and BAD may allow them to record events for news reporting. If youdo not wish to bein photos/videos, please let the photographer/videographer know in advance.
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