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SUSAN DOLLAR
President
2026! Wow, 2026 already! It's so true that time flies - whether you are having fun or not.
When I was a little kid, I used to think about the year 2000. That seemed like forever to me and I wondered if I would even be alive by then. Now that the year 2000 is long gone, I think about the past...and the future.
Looking back over the years that my life has spanned (so far!), I think of all the significant events that made a huge impression on me as a child and later as an impressionable young adult. I was nine years old during the Cuban Missile crisis and I distinctly remember the hushed conversations and worried looks among the adults in my life. I remember sitting on the front porch, wondering if the world was going to end. Believe it or not, when I was 11, I helped my parents campaign for Barry Goldwater. This was my first foray into politics and I remember being so curious about why Goldwater was such a big deal (turns out that he was running against a Democrat, which was the kiss of death in my family). In 1967, I spent the summer in Colorado and was fascinated by the reports of the "summer of love". I wanted to grow up and be a hippie.
The year 1968 made a huge impression on me for many reasons. At age 14, it seemed like the world was falling apart. The television news was filled with images of Vietnam and the TET offensive, Martin Luther King was assassinated in April, Robert Kennedy was shot in June, and I remember watching the riots at the Democratic National Convention that summer.
In July 1969, when I was 15, there was good news about the Apollo moon landing, followed by Woodstock in August (which diminished my desire to become a hippie after seeing the living conditions at the festival on TV). I was finishing up my junior year in high school when the shootings at Kent State happened. I was shocked and couldn't get my head around the fact that college students had been shot by the National Guard on a university campus. My college years were filled with horrific images of the Vietnam war and protests along with the Nixon/Watergate scandal. It was easy to lose faith in the United States and its government then.
All this reflection on years past - what was lost, what was gained, what changed the course of history - gives me pause to consider what is to come. History does repeat itself and maybe by looking back and learning from the past, we can change the future.
That future hinges on what happens in 2026. Now is not the time to look away, dwell on the past or shy away from reality. And it is not the time to remain silent. As Albert Einstein said, "If I were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity."
Although it may feel scary and risky, we must stand up, show up and speak out. We cannot remain on the sidelines and sit this one out. It's going to take everyone doing something - anything - everything - to win the elections this year and chart a new course in history.
The Boerne Area Democrats will remain true to our mission: “To inspire, inform, and involve like-minded individuals in an inclusive community to grow in political awareness and activism while promoting democratic ideals.” To inspire and inform, we will host state and local candidates, hold forums, and engage experts on timely topics at our monthly meetings.
To involve people, we will continue foster a strong sense of community by hosting social events for our BAD members and new folks moving here that are looking for like-minded people in a safe space. Plans are to conduct monthly events like Wine Down Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Finally Friday, and Saturday Night Socal Club.
We will also increase our visibility through participation in community events, protests and boycotts, and through local volunteer work. Additionally, we will coordinate with the Kendall County Democratic Party to get out the vote by writing postcards and making phone calls.
So as you can see, it will be a busy and critical year for us. I am happy to be returning as your 2026 president and am grateful for your support. Please join me and the Boerne Area Democrats in working together to make the year 2026 the best ever!
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