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THE VOICE
Volume 27 . Issue 3. March 2025
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WHITNEY WHITE
President
Speak up! Stand up! Show up!
This week, I saw a post by AOC where she mentioned how many calls she receives from the opposition. She said, ultimately, she began to appreciate those opposition calls because it let her know what she was up against. Keep making those calls.
A post from @shabbycreekcottage validated the work BAD is doing to provide reliable resources by highlighting eleven accounts to follow that are working to keep democracy intact.
· ACLU(@aclu_nationwide) – “Protecting civil rights, free speech and reproductive right.”
· NAACP (@naacp) – “Fighting for racial justice, voting rights and economic equity.”
· Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) – “Tracking hate groups and holding them accountable.”
· Brennan Center for Justice (@brennancenter) – “Defending democracy and voting rights.”
· ProPublica (@propublica) – “Investigative journalism exposing corruption.”
· Human Rights Watch (@humanrightswatch) – “Defends the rights of people worldwide by investigating abuses and holding abusers accountable.”
· FactCheck.org (@factcheckdotorg) – “Fighting political misinformation.”
· The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (@civilrightsorg) – “Focuses on voting rights, economic justice, and criminal justice reform.”
· 5 Calls (@5calls) – “A simple but powerful tool that helps you take political action in under a minute. Choose an issue, get a script, and call your reps – because your voice matters.” (Also, recommended to me by our very own Robin Prescott.)
· Heather Cox Richardson (@heathercoxrichardson) – “A historian breaking down today’s chaos through the lens of history. Her Letters from an American newsletter is a must-read for understanding the bigger picture.” (A personal favorite.)
· Aaron Parnas (@aaronparnas) – “A Gen Z attorney-turned-independent journalist giving real-time, no BS updates on major political events. Smart, sharp, and unapologetically pro-democracy.”
We’re seeing more and more protest opportunities – so many that Laura Bray is spending an inordinate amount of time tracking them for all of us. There’s nothing like protesting with friends!
As we all work to balance our need to know what’s happening in the world with maintaining our mental health, BAD will continue to provide information, resources and a sense of community. Please continue to support our BAD Rapid Response Team. Find what works best for you to make your voice heard.
Right now, I can safely say I am not finding the balance so I appreciate the community we find at BAD. I hope you do, too!
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Make plans to attend the BAD meeting on Thursday, March 13
at 6:00 p.m.
at the Longhorn Cafe (upstairs)
Our speaker is Staci Almager,
CEO of Hill Country Family Services.
She will talk about local immigration impacts.
Please plan to arrive early so that we have time to visit and food orders can be received in time for the meeting to begin at 6:00 p.m.
HEADS UP:
Our next BAD meeting will be on on April 10. Our speaker will be Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, who will provide a recap of the 89th Legislative Session.
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SPEAK UP!
SIGN UP FOR THE BAD
RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
Though not an election year, there remain urgent and important legislative issues at the local, state and federal level requiring our attention. Thanks to long-time BAD member Cindy Offutt, we are implementing a RAPID RESPONSE TEAM to contact our elected officials as critical issues and votes arise.
We are asking all interested BAD members to sign up to receive texts and/or emails from Cindy. As urgent matters come up in Austin or Washington DC, Cindy will send out a brief recommendation on how to proceed.
When you receive an alert from Cindy, follow her directions to send out your own texts or emails, go online and sign petitions, or make phone calls.
Everyone can do this!
If you would like to join this effort, please send your name, email address and cell number to fcoffutt@yahoo.com. There is strength in numbers, so the more we can hammer our legislators, the more likely things may change.
BAD RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!
Please note: We will not release or share your email or cell phone number with anyone.
This is a strictly voluntary, opt-in effort. You can opt-out at any time.
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40-Day Target Boycott: Now through April 15. Boycott Target in protest of their elimination of DEI programs. CNN story here: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/business/target-boycott-jamal-bryant/index.html
School Voucher Press Conference & Community Rally: Saturday March 15th, 11:00 a.m., San Pedro Park. Hosted by the Bexar County Democratic Party and the Texas House Democratic Caucus. Bring a carload of people and let's fill the park! RSVP here:
https://www.mobilize.us/bexardemocrat/event/761833/referring_vol=43846&rname=Martha×lot=5228861&referring_participation=37061694&referring_data_signature=v11eaae1dbebc388c6&share_medium=native_share&share_context=signup-form-modal
"Musk or Us” Campaign: Indivisible is promoting a “Musk or Us” campaign in mid-March. Members of the House of Representatives AND the Senate will be home from Saturday, March 15-Sunday, March 23. They have guidance on what we can do to make our voices heard during that time. Info here: https://indivisible.org/muskorus (I am unaware of any specific events in our area at this time.
Comfort Democrats Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, March 18, noon, Comfort Library. Guest speakers will be Deborah and Michael Hawkins, publishers of the Comfort News. They will share their decision to publish a series of articles by a progressive writer, Mr. Roy Quillian, and their interest in encouraging more dialog with readers in the "letters to the editor" section of the paper founded on factual information and civility. We have also asked if they will share what the response has been from the Comfort community.
Trey Martinez Fischer Town Hall: Saturday, March 29, 10am, Alamo Colleges District Headquarters Ballroom. RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclEEnmeQWECmz7Oh06DqgWRUeTsMvF81p8PKpBGJFjsvYniw/viewform
Remove, Reverse, Reclaim Events: Saturday, April 5. Times/locations to be announced. The group 50501 is calling for nationwide protests and sit-ins on that date. Their website will have a list of events, or you can sign up to organize an event (they have guidance on how to do so). More details at https://www.fiftyfifty.one/ or on their BlueSky account. @50501movement.bsky.social
KCDP/BAD Headquarters Open House: We want to be sure everyone knows Democrats are still alive and well in Kendall County and the KCDP/BAD headquarters is open for business! So grab a friend and/or neighbor and join us for a KCDP/BAD Headquarters Open House on Sunday, April 6 from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. (Office is at 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201.) Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided. Feel free to bring a side dish or a dessert, if you wish. Also bring lawn chairs for sitting outside where we will have music and games for the kids. We'll even have drawings for cool bumper stickers and t-shirts. Note: Parking is very limited so please park across the street or down the street at the old Municipal Building. RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/kendalltxdems/event/761922/
“What’s the Plan?” Weekly Discussion with Indivisible’s Co-Founders: Every Thursday at 2pm. The onslaught of news, the chaos coming out of the White House – it’s all meant to overwhelm us. It’s a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote: Coming together in community to process what’s happening, to sift through what’s important and what’s just noise, and coalesce around strategies for fighting back. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week, as we carve out an hour to discuss what’s happening and – more importantly – what’s the plan. Submit questions in advance and register here: https://indivisible.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7cOI25QrRqC-YS9q_0m0jg#/registration
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LAURA BRAY
KCDP CHAIR
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR
Not even 48 hours after the Texas Democrats demanded that Abbott, Trump, and his staunch anti-vaccine propagandist Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr, take the Texas measles outbreak more seriously, RFK Jr flip-flopped and urged Texans to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, from Gov. Abbott: CRICKETS. According to the Texas Tribune, “Neither Gov. Greg Abbott nor lawmakers from the hardest hit areas have addressed the outbreak publicly in press conferences, social media posts or public calls for people to consider getting vaccinated.” Shameful.
Texans across the state are facing a growing measles outbreak. In West Texas alone, confirmed cases have surged to 158. Texas Republicans’ failure to implement a strong outbreak response has allowed the virus to spread to major population centers — resulting in the tragic death of a child.
Notorious anti-science, anti-vaxxer RFK Jr. shouldn’t be leading on measles vaccines any more than our governor — but Abbott is too busy throwing a temper tantrum online about his billionaire-backed school voucher scam.
Vaccines save lives — the Texas GOP’s disinformation puts kids and communities at risk.
Now is the time to step up and RESIST! KCDP is sending extra issues of our newsletter as we hear about protests and events. If you’re not already subscribed, you can sign up here: https://kendalltxdemocrats.org/subscribe-to-newsletter/
Thanks for everything you do to fight for equality and justice in Texas!
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BAD NEEDS RECURRING DONORS!
Donations are still critical so that we can continue to support important causes, our scholarship program, and our Democratic office. Please consider becoming a recurring donor!
It’s really easy to set up your recurring donation via ActBlue. Simply go to https://secure.actblue.com/ and click on Sign In to enter your information. You can also donate via a credit card, an auto-withdrawal from your bank, or by mailing a check to BAD, P.O. Box 2132, Boerne, TX, 78006.
If you prefer to pay regular dues ($10 for students, $35 for those 60 or over, and $50 for everyone else), you can do so online by clicking here:
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BAD BOOK CLUB
Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dem headquarters, 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201.
The book selection for March is Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point, by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt.
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THIRSTY THURSDAY
March 27
5:30 p.m.
28 Songs Brewery & Kitchen
110 Market Avenue, Boerne
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We did it! Many thanks to the 125+ people that showed up on Saturday, March 1, at the Tesla dealership on I-10 W for the Tesla Takedown to protest Elon Musk's takeover of the federal government! People came from Comal, Blanco, Gillespie, Kerr, Bexar, Bandera, and Kendall Counties to protest. It was a great show of support for our democracy and the many super signs sent clear messages to our elected leaders.
Many thanks to Telemundo TV for covering the event and to Texas Public Radio and Jack Morgan, the Arts and Culture reporter who interviewed several people and posted the event on the TPR web page. You can listen hear:
https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2025-03-02/protesters-take-on-musk-trump-outside-leon-springs-tesla
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A special THANK YOU to this nice (anonymous!) couple who drove by and saw us standing in the 85 degree sun and came back later with a case of cold water for us! | |
The 'after protest party' at The Lion & Rose Pub
was as much fun as the protest!
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There was a packed house at our Saturday Night Supper Club on February 22! 50 Democrats showed up to enjoy a seafood dinner - a good time was had by all! | | | |
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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 Tuesday 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.
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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 Fair Oaks City Council meets on the 1st and 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 4th 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: Whitney White
Vice President: Rachel Kilgore
Secretary: Robin Prescott
Treasurer: Michele Smith
Membership: Shawn Bonner
Publicity: Corrine Castillo
Webmaster: Andy Wine
Past President: Susan Dollar
Ex Officio member: Laura Bray, KCDP
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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
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The Boerne Area Democrats captures photographs and/or audio/video recordings during our events.
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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
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