Volume 22 . Issue 12. December 2021

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Stacey Gilfillan The December holiday season is upon us, and with it brings the hustle and bustle of gift shoppers and carolers and travelers--oh my! It is always my very favorite time of the year, made more special this year as we look forward to actual "in-person" (not Zoom) gatherings and holiday Fa La La festivities galore! (Ok, but maybe-still-with-a-mask-for-indoor-close-contact-with-strangers-because-now...Omicron? Ugghh.) And as we also wind down this calendar year and welcome our new incoming board members, please know that it has been my sincere pleasure and a great honor to serve as the president of the Boerne Area Democrats in 2021. Our club membership and engagement continue to grow. Our slate of high-quality, high-caliber Democratic candidates running in local and statewide races continues to expand. Our economy continues to bounce back, and we have garnered some legislative wins at the federal level. So we have much to celebrate as we close out 2021. In between sips of eggnog, my friends, be sure to reflect on what we've accomplished together this year. Rest up. Recharge your body, mind, and Democratic spirit as we get ready for the mid-term elections in 2022! We have much work still to do. Cheers!

Please note: There is no December BAD meeting. We hope to resume in-person gatherings at the first meeting of the year on Thursday, January 13, 2022.

In lieu of our usual holiday party, we are once again conducting a gift card donation drive. Plan to drive by the Patrick Heath Public Library on Sunday, December 12, between 1:00-3:00 to drop off your gift cards and meet the 2022 BAD Board of Officers. All gift cards will be donated to Hill Country Family Services. We hope to see you there!

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BROOKE ORR Membership  We currently have 191 members It's time to 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.

Speaking of membership...are you looking for that perfect stocking stuffer or Christmas gift? How about purchasing a membership to BAD for your friends and family?!? Regular memberships are only $40; seniors over 60 are only $20 and students are only $10. Help us reach 200 members by 2022! Go online and purchase your gifts today!

Many thanks to BAD member Mary Richards, who donated these three beautiful wreaths in the name of BAD. The funds raised from the auction of the wreaths go to support the Friends of the Patrick Heath Public Library.

KRISTA BERMEJILLO-VASQUEZ Social Media 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: @BoerneDemocrats

SUSAN'S SUGGESTIONS Past President Happy holidays! Enjoy some quiet time, rest up, and be ready to roll in 2022! We have a lot to do!

LAURA BRAY Kendall County Democratic Party Chair

Stuart Williams, the Executive Director of The 134 PAC, tweeted this recently: “I'm tired. I'm beleaguered. I'm pissed. I'm frustrated. So many rural Democrats and good Texans are. But you don't diffuse that, you CHANNEL it into action, agitation, organization. We can either be angry about the pattern or break the pattern. It's up to us.”   The Other Side is *trying* to wear us out, wear us down, make us throw up our hands and give up, so They have free rein to impose their regressive views on the state and country. NO. I refuse to cede the field to them. When you get worn out or worn down, take a break, refuel, then come back and let that energy fuel your activism….in whatever form you choose to be active.   I also love this quote from James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless it is faced.”   We’ll need all hands on deck to make sure every Democrat in Kendall County votes in the March 1 primary. To get involved, please email Peg Layton at layton.peg@gmail.com

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: Stacey Gilfillan Vice President: Marilyn Harrington Secretary: Donna Peacock Treasurer: Brenda Schmidt Membership: Brooke Orr Activities: Teresa Somal Publicity: Natalie Schun Newsletter: Judy Dewey Social Media: Krista Bermejillo-Vasquez Past President: Susan Dollar 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.