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What's Inside?
- “Together, we are the change” President's message - Marely Ramirez
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"Juntos, Somos el Cambio" President’s message in Spanish – Marely Ramirez
- "A man for all seasons" - Susan Marrinan
- GO Team and voting in the primary – Frank King
- Join us in July 4th Parade! - Patti Flores-Charter
- Connecting with the future - CHS Dems lunch in the park
- Let's Do Coffee - Coffee in the Cays
- June – Inclusion and Diversity Calendar – Marely Ramirez
- Save the Dates – Marely Ramirez
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Together, We Are The Change
by Marely Ramirez
Greetings fellow Democrats!
Words fail to describe the sadness, anger, and despair so many of us feel about gun violence in our country. It is incomprehensible how anyone can witness the horrors of precious children being gunned down and NOT demand gun control legislation. It is clear that even in the face of these horrific and heartbreaking recurring tragedies, those devoted to gun lobbying will continue to block all efforts to even initiate a dialog on the subject.
The Republican party’s hypocrisy to embrace the NRA as the mass shooting rampage across America becomes one horrific blood-shedding tragedy after another is disgraceful! If Republicans don’t have the courage to protect our children, we do! We must lead the nation to demand the Senate take action and pass H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021. As alarmed citizens of this nation, everyone should read Senator Feinstein’s comprehensive document on the Assault Weapons Ban which educates and encourages all of us to take action.
Engage your friends and family throughout the country, and appeal to every parent and grandparent you know. Insist they join our demand to protect our children and put an end to gun violence! Demand they take action to demand their Republican Senators support common-sense gun legislation or commit to vote them out.
• Call or write Representatives and Senators and urge them to cosponsor S.736 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 and pass H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021. You can reach them by phone at 202-224-3121.
• Write letters to the Editor of the local newspapers to make others aware of the need to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
• Ask the local District Attorney, Police Chief, Sheriff, and State Attorney General for their formal endorsement of S.736 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2021.
Once again, since the Republican party sides with the NRA, we must side with the protection of our youth, their emotional health crisis, and their demand for change: Do Something, March for Our Lives, and Never Again.
It is a shame that these ongoing tragedies overshadow the joy of June’s Pride Month when we celebrate “Who I am” instead of “Who you want me to be.” Even if we don’t fully understand the LGBTQIA+ community, we must support them because individuality matters! Let’s learn about pronouns and become part of this global acceptance.
With much gratitude,
Marely Ramirez
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A Man for All Seasons
By Susan Marrinan
You may know Brian Trotier, our past Vice President and Program Chair. You might not know that for the past 16 years, Brian has been volunteering to help the unsheltered. He recently implemented an inventive approach to the issue of trash. This project was featured in a Union-Tribune article, and in May, Emerald Keepers selected Brian as their Emerald Keeper of the Month.
When most of us drive by the homeless, we see a collection of make-shift tents and bodies in sleeping bags, surrounded by trash. Then, we cross the bridge and forget. Brian hasn't forgotten. He saw the people and how hard it is to remove trash without dumpsters or trash pickups.
Years ago, while his Coronado home was being remodeled, Brian lived in downtown San Diego. He was teaching a night class at USD and often bought pizza for his students. After class, he would head home with leftovers, stopping to give them to the unsheltered. And so, a relationship began. This eventually resulted in The Triangle Project, currently underway to remove trash from the area. Brian's plan is elegant in its simplicity. With funding from the Lucky Duck Foundation, he arranges for dumpsters to be dropped off two times per week, buys trash bags and gloves, and pays the residents $2.00 per full bag. The bags go into the dumpsters and are picked up by EDCO. In the past 20 days, over 3700 bags of trash, over 23 tons, have been collected. The residents of the streets in the Triangle are eager to participate and pleased that they have a chance to clean up the neighborhood. It's a win-win.
Brian inspires by example. Just because we don’t have unsheltered sleeping in Spreckles Park doesn’t mean we don't have a stake in solving the homeless problem. Seven out of 10 Americans are one paycheck away from homelessness. Pope Francis observed, “These things become the norm: that some homeless people die of cold in the streets is not news. In contrast, a temporary drop in the stock markets…is a tragedy.”
Let’s focus on the real tragedy: seeing someone in need and failing to stop and help. If everyone was like Brian, who responded to the needs of the unsheltered with compassion, wouldn't the world be a better place?
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GO Team and Voting in the Primary
The GO Team thanks Patti Flores-Charter and her husband, Chuck Charter, for hosting our kickoff event, which was held on May 2. Most of our volunteers attended this event, where they obtained their materials, received a final briefing and enjoyed some great food and beverages, courtesy of our hosts.
The Registrar of Voters office mailed ballots to all registered voters; we should have received them on or about May 9. If you haven't received your ballot, please contact the Registrar's office online at www.sdvote.com or by calling (858) 565-5800. Vote by mail ballots may be returned by mail, dropped off at one of the Ballot Drop Box Locations, including the Coronado Public Library (closed May 30 for Memorial Day), or you may vote at one of the Vote Centers. In Coronado, our only Vote Center will be the Abalone Room of the Community Center, 1845 Strand Way. It will be open starting on Saturday, May 28 through Monday, June 6 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Tuesday, June 7 (Election Day) from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Our 13 volunteers are already canvassing their neighborhoods; some have completed their initial lists and have asked for more lists and door hangers, which are on order as of this writing. This primary election gives us a chance to practice our GOTV skills in preparation for that all-important general election in November, when state government runoffs will be held; candidates for Coronado City Council and CUSD Trustees will be on the ballot, as will all statewide initiatives and measures put before the voters by the Legislature.
We hope to double or triple Coronado Democratic Club members' participation rate in our grassroots GOTV effort for the general election in November. Please volunteer -- it's fun!
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Join Us in July 4th Parade…Don’t Miss Out!
Remember, the Coronado 4th of July Parade’s theme is “An American Pageant Dream.” So bring your patriotic tiaras! Our goal this year is 100 people participating. We need you to meet this goal!
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RSVP to Patti Flores-Charter (619) 206-7450. If you need to ride in a car or golfcart, just let Patti know.
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Paint-In: Come Saturday, July 2 at 11 a.m. to 442 I Avenue for our second annual “Paint-in.” We’ll make signs to carry in the parade. We provide materials and eats; you come and have fun!
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Decoration Pick-up: Beginning June 24, get your decorations on Patti’s porch at 442 I Avenue for bikes, cars, and people walking. Just grab what you want!
Watch your email in late June for the time and location to meet on the 4th of July. Remember, our club and community need you to represent our values and ideals! Come have FUN, FUN, FUN!
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Connecting With the Future – CHS Young Dems
On Thursday, May 26, the Coronado Democratic Club hosted “Lunch in the Park,” an opportunity for our Board members and Committee Chairs to meet the members of the Coronado High School Young Democrats Club. Our fabulous Hospitality Committee set up a warm welcome and provided a delicious lunch in Spreckels Park (sandwiches, chips, soft-drinks and Jill Rooney’s special home-made cookies) in anticipation of having a few students spend their lunch hour with us. Imagine our surprise and absolute delight when 25 students showed up!
Introductions were made, including the Young Dems’ current and incoming board members. When asked what issues they were passionate about, the students listed reproductive rights, the environment, equity and inclusion, and not surprisingly, they mentioned concerns about gun control. They are ready to take action and work with us to ensure we don’t lose our democracy. Many of them are registered or plan to register to vote this year. They specifically requested the opportunity to “shadow” our club members to learn how to become effective Democratic leaders. So here it is: our opportunity to empower the next generation.
We look forward to many more events with this amazing group of students.
Immediately following the lunch event, we received a heartfelt note from Riley McGrath, President of the CHS Young Dems:
“WOW! Thank you so much! The Young Dems were all so excited to meet all of you and we had such a great time. Thank you all so much for your generosity and kindness towards all of us. We felt very special and we are so excited to have this connection with the Democratic Club of Coronado in the future! WE ADORE YOU!”
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LET’S DO COFFEE!
Last October, around 30 club members and guests enjoyed a fun club-sponsored event -- Coffee in the Cays – which proved to be a huge success. Those in attendance had a wonderful time socializing and enjoying a delicious breakfast spread at the Jamaica Village Clubhouse. We even gained several new members! At your request, we are doing it again on Saturday, June 11 at 10:30 a.m. Please join us and bring your friends and neighbors. You don’t have to live in the Cays to come; everyone is welcome (including Village people). Many thanks to Tom Bernitt and our Hospitality Committee for arranging, organizing and hosting.
COFFEE IN THE CAYS
SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022
10:30 a.m.
JAMAICA VILLAGE CLUBHOUSE
14 JAMAICA VILLAGE ROAD
CORONADO CAYS
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SAVE THE DATES!
Upcoming CDC
Meetings and Events
("Proof of vaccination required")
Thursday, June 9 – General meeting: social 6:30 p.m., meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Program Speaker: Angelle Maua. Topic: BIPOC/QTPOC Mental Health and Homelessness Disparities. Winn Room, Coronado Public Library.
Saturday, June 11 - Coffee in the Cays, 10:30am at the Jamaica Village Clubhouse, 14 Jamaica Village Rd., Coronado Cays
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Not a Member of our Club? Ready to Renew?
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2022 – 2023
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President: Marely Ramirez
Vice President: Bill Seager
Secretary: Alexia Palacios-Peters
Treasurer: Patrick Callahan
Member at Large: Susan Marrinan
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Programs: Pro Tempore Brian Trotier
Hospitality: Jenna McIntosh
Membership: Tom Bernitt
Legislative: Alexia Palacios-Peters
Go Team: Frank King
Communications: Laura Wilkinson
Scholarship: Patti Flores-Charter
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