PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Susan Dollar
While watching MSNBC last week, one of the segments was a reference to Representative Adam Schiff's comments on the Supreme Court case regarding Trump's claim of immunity. Here was his post:
If they instead send the case back to the lower court as a means of stalling,
The flaw is not with the constitution.
Or the Court itself.
But with the character of the justices serving on the Court.
That got me to thinking about the meaning and importance of 'character'. Intuitively, we know that our individual personal character is important but in the bigger picture of our democratic society, we need to give some thought to the character of our current - and future - leaders.
char·ac·ter /ˈker(ə)ktər/
noun
- the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
Our character is made up of our beliefs and principles of what is right and wrong. It is our moral compass, our core values. There are several traits that make up a person's character, including:
- Compassion - the ability to feel and express sympathy for others. Compassionate people act with empathy and have the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
- Conscientiousness - exhibited by someone who acts carefully and takes purposeful actions. They "do the right thing" and are aware of their duty not only to fulfill a job but also to set an example.
- Honesty - speaking and acting in a truthful manner. Being an honest person implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way. and includes an active regard for the standards of one's position.
- Integrity - behaving in an ethical, noble manner. People with integrity act according to their principles and moral judgments; they understand what is right or wrong, just or unjust.
Character is personal - and building that character requires intentional deliberation of actions and thoughts. Our experiences, including successes, failures, and challenges, contribute to our character development. We have opportunities to develop character traits over our lifetime and as we engage in authentic self-reflection and growth, we come to develop our own core values and moral compass.
Character is also relational. Our interactions with family, friends, and social networks strongly influence our character development. We learn social norms and acquire our values and beliefs through these interactions. It is crucial to have exemplars who demonstrate the qualities of good character, not only for us personally, but for the betterment of our society.
So where am I going with all of this?
So many people say to me that they don't like either one of the presidential candidates. They don't like Biden. They don't like Trump. However, it's really not important who we like or dislike. The real question is this: who is the best person for our country?
Who personifies the exemplary traits of good character? Who lives their life as a moral, conscientious person? Who displays empathy and compassion for others? Who is honest and acts with integrity?
The next time you are in a conversation with friends, foes, or family (using your newly developed conversational skills!), bring up the question of character. Encourage a dialog about the character qualities of a leader...and see where the conversation takes you. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a moment of reflection...and realization...that character is crucial.
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MAY BAD MEETING
Thursday, May 9, 2024
12:00 p.m.
Longhorn Cafe, 369 S. Esser, Boerne (upstairs)
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Dr. Merrie Fox is a veteran educator, having worked in public schools for 31 years as a teacher and campus principal. After retiring in June 2023, she now works as the Executive Director for Circle Arts Theatre in New Braunfels.
Dr. Fox earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Texas State University in 1992, majoring in Exercise and Sports Science with a minor in biology; a Master’s degree in 2003 from Texas State University in Education Administration; and a Ph.D. from Northcentral University in 2018 with a focus on Educational Leadership. During her tenure as a public school principal, all three of her campuses were rated as ‘Recognized’ or ‘A’ schools under the Texas school accountability system. In 2009, she was selected by Raise Your Hand Texas, a non-partisan organization that advocates for public education, to attend a Summer Institute at the Principals’ Center at Harvard. In 2018, she was selected to serve as a Principal Advocacy Fellow for the 86th legislative session.
Merrie has lived in the Texas Hill Country for more than forty years. She and her wife, Lisa, have raised two children who graduated from Comal ISD. She volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Family Promise, and Riverside Pride. She is an active member of her church choir and in her free time, she enjoys playing cards and laughing with family and friends, attending the theatre, listening to live music, and kayaking the beautiful hill country rivers. Learn more about Merrie here: https://drmerriefox.org
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LOST & FOUND
This Fitbit was found in the Dem office. If it is yours, please go by the office and claim it.
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TALKING POINTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
If you want to understand more about hot-button political issues or learn more about major issues facing our country, then take a look at these talking points - simple, concise summaries on the major topics listed below. You can find them on the Boerne Area Democrats website: at https://www.boerne-area-democrats.com/ - click on "More" in the top right corner or click on the individual topics below:
Also of importance:
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LAURA BRAY
Kendall County Democratic Party Chair
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR
May 2024
We Need Your Help!
We all know this election season is gonna be a doozy! We need everyone’s help to get every Kendall Democrat out to vote. Find out how you can help here.
Local Election Results
Residents of City of Boerne (CoB) and Boerne ISD (BISD) voted on City Council and School Board races yesterday. Here are the results:
· CoB Place 1: Ty Wolosin (incumbent and a good guy)
· CoB Place 3: Quinten Scott (incumbent), but only by a 108-105 margin. May change. Some ballots are still outstanding.
· CoB Place 5: Joseph Macaluso (incumbent)
· BISD Place 1: Carlin Friar (incumbent)
· BISD Place 2: Dallas Pipes
· BISD Place 3: Courtney Darter-Bruce (Thomas Nordstrom spoke to us at the May BAD meeting)
Boerne has a population of 20,000 (BISD is somewhat larger). Fewer than 4,000 people went to the polls. Which is disappointing to say the least. Thanks to everyone who voted and to the election workers who staffed the polls. Since there is no runoff for the Democratic Primary, the next election is the Big One on Tuesday, November 4. Early voting opens Monday, October 21.
Thanks for everything you do to work for equality and justice in Texas!
Upcoming Events
o Comfort Area Democrats, Independents and Others: Tuesday, May 14 at noon at the Comfort Library conference room.
o Parade Float Volunteer Committee: Thursday, May 23, 11am, office.
o 2024 TDP State Convention: June 6-8, El Paso. More info: https://texasdemocraticconvention.com
o Note on Litter Pick-Up: It’s too hot to pick up in the summertime. We need to do two more pick-ups in 2024, and we will schedule those this fall when it’s cooler. Plus that’ll give TxDoT time to finish the repaving work on FM3351.
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Laura is Running for National Delegate! |
Laura has filed as a candidate to be a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in August in Chicago. National Delegates will be voted on at the Texas Democratic Convention in June. Wish me luck! |
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We are happy to announce the winner of our BAD 2024 Scholarship! SAMUEL HURON, a senior at Boerne High School was the outstanding choice for the $1,500 award. Samuel plans to attend the University of Texas in Austin, with plans to become a civil rights lawyer. Congratulations, Samuel!
BAD also donated a $1,500 scholarship to the Center for Refugee Services, to be awarded to a student of their choice. Stephanie Pollom, BAD member, presented the check to Jean Sherrill, CRS Assistant Director, and Naqibullah Ehsas, CRS Office Manager and Case Worker.
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Thank you to Nina Zemel for chairing the BAD Scholarship Committee and to members Suanne Pyle, Gilda Duffy, and Angela Kirby, for serving on the committee. Also - a sincere thank you to all our generous BAD members who donate money to make these scholarships possible! We couldn't do this without you! |
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KEEPING AN EYE ON GOVERMENT
Click on the links below to learn more!
If you only click on one item in this newsletter, make it this one!
This one is really good, too!
Watch this documentary on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, or Google Play:
Contact your Representatives! Speak up on the issues impacting our democracy.
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PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A RECURRING DONOR!
It’s 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 annual dues ($10 for students, $35 for those 60 or over, and $50 for everyone else), you can do so online by clicking here: https://www.boerne-area-democrats.com/membership and by completing the online payment form. You can also mail a check or pay in person at a BAD meeting.
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SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB IS BACK!
Saturday, May 11
5:00 p.m.-???
Z's Pizza, 118 Old San Antonio Road
Reserve your spot(s) here:
Be sure to call in your order ahead of time - 830-331-1212 - and tell them that you are with the BAD/Susan party. We will be in the back yard, so come on out and join us!
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BAD BOOK CLUB
The BAD Book Club will meet on Wednesday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dem headquarters, 216 E. Blanco, Suite 201.
The documentary, Against All Enemies, will be shown, with a discussion to follow.
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2024 CONCERT SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 18
Saturday, June 22
Saturday, July 20
Saturday, August 17
Saturday, September 21
Music begins at 7:30
PRICING
$15/person
Kids 12 & under are free
BYO
Bring a chair
Ice chests are welcome
Food truck on site
Click here to purchase tickets:
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THIRSTY THURSDAY
May 30
5:00-???
Random Beer Garden
11 Upper Cibolo Creek Road
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Make plans to come out and join the
BOERNE PRIDE WALK
Saturday. June 8
9:00 a.m.
Patrick HeathPublic Library
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We had another good turnout at our
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Our June BAD meeting is on Thursday, June 13, at 6:00 p.m. Our speaker will be Raquel Saenz Ortiz, candidate for the State Board of Education District 10. Make plans to attend this evening meeting and learn more about public education in Texas! |
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Announcing new office hours! The office is now open on Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Stop by and visit - or better yet, stop in and help work on getting out the vote! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 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: Susan Dollar
Vice President: Whitney White
Secretary: Robin Prescott
Treasurer: Michele Smith
Membership: Shawn Bonner
Publicity: Gloria Villanueva
Webmaster: And
Ex Officio member: Laura Bray, 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 let others
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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
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