Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out (I won’t back down). The 1989 words of the late Tom Petty are particularly applicable to the current political crisis. We keep asking ourselves how we’ll get out of this mess. Guess what? There’s no simple answer; there’s no single answer.

Here’s the thing about the new administration:

• We’re meant to feel powerless.
• Lies and threats are repeated until they are almost believable.
• Make America racist again is happening right in front of our eyes.
• The global order is being re-ordered.
• Faith in the US Dollar is decreasing. Just look at bond market volatility.
• The potential for corruption is huge, think Insider Trading.
• Criminality has been allowed to become the norm. Immigration is just one example.
• They’re slashing the federal workforce by quantity rather than necessity.
• Environmental protections are being terminated. Clean Beautiful Coal and Drill Baby Drill are the new buzzwords.

We are not fine. The country is not fine.

What to do? Preaching to the choir here, but to have an effective opposition, we need to work with the three “izes,” organize, strategize and mobilize. The first step is recognizing that this will be a long-term effort and it has to start yesterday. No one is going to ride in on a white horse to save us. We need to save ourselves.

Each one of us has to dig deep to find our inner strength. It’s there. We have to gather as often as we can to share our voice. We have to protest as often as we can to show our strength and solidarity. We have to call and write our elected officials as often as we can to let them know we’re in this fight to win. Don’t give up. As Corey Booker told us, “Generations from now will look back at this moment and have a single question. Where were you?”

Kathy and Carol

Letters to the Editors

We are starting a Letter to the Editor Campaign in partnership with Indivisible. We want to get an ongoing chain of letters to the local newspapers. It is one of the best ways we can reach people who don’t agree with us. The plan is that when someone in the circle writes a letter, they will send it to the rest of the volunteer writers. Then one or two people will commit to writing a follow up letter and so on. If you want to participate, email Joan at beachyogi@me.com. We will then send you further information. (See letters in OC Today/Dispatch by Joan Roache 3/7 and Susan Buyer 3/14).

Education Budget

1. Write a postcard to your County Commissioner – get postcard at the DWC meeting.
2. Attend and/or testify at the County Commissioner’s public hearing on Tuesday, May 6^th at 6 pm. Sign up to speak by calling the County Administration office at 410-632-119 or submit in writing via email to wchearing@co.worcester.md.us  
3. Write a letter to the editor. send letters to Bayside Gazette at editor@baysidegazette.com or Ocean City Today/Dispatch at editor@oceancitytoday.net

Take Two

Every Week call Andy and Adopt a vulnerable Republican

1. Call Andy Harris - Phone: 202-225-5311
2. Adopt a congressman where you have family and friends in their district, and call them with the same message. For a list of congresspersons who are vulnerable click on this link: https://conta.cc/3EbkOBX

The most recent call was about tariffs but call about what you are most concerned about each week.

Immigration

We are continuing to monitor the situation on the Shore. Currently donations would be welcome at:

Rebirth Resource & Support Center, Salisbury

Supports the immigrant and vulnerable worker communities through advocacy, education, and outreach. Serves Haitian and Hispanic populations with resources for social adjustment and workers' rights. Donations also support a culturally specific Food Pantry. https://www.rebirth4hope.org

Next meeting: May 12, 2025 at 2 pm by zoom.

Call Andy Harris about tariffs. For details go to https://conta.cc/3EbkOBX

Support a fully funded Worcester County Public Schools Budget. For details go to https://conta.cc/42rOFhh

Putting Your Politics into Your Purchasing Power

There are many apps out there to help you make educated purchasing decisions based on your political leaning. One of the very best is Goods Unite Us. Their stated goal is to empower people to become political consumers and to help slow down or shift corporate political contributions.

Use the app to search for a brand or company, then educate yourself about their political contributions. Besides displaying the percentage of their contributions as Blue or Red, the app also gives a Campaign Finance score for each company ranging from -100 to +100. A negative score indicates that purchasing from that brand or company will keep corporate money in politics.

If you modify your purchasing decisions based on your research, you will be making your voice heard, voting with your wallet, and investing with your values.

Check out the website at https://www.goodsuniteus.com, then download the app and start searching.

The following letter was sent to Bayside Gazette and OC Today Dispatch.

To the Editor,

The recent closure of the Department of Education (DOE) by the Trump administration, and supported by our Congressman Andy Harris, will adversely affect our Worcester County schools. Rural schools and Title One schools are expected to be most affected by the loss of DOE funding. Worcester County is a rural school district with 3 Title One schools - Pocomoke Elementary, Showell Elementary, and Snow Hill Elementary. According to the DOE these schools have a 40% student poverty level. DOE funding provides these students with extra instruction in reading and math, additional teachers, materials, after-school and summer programs. In addition, Worcester County Schools spent $512,000 on pandemic recovery programs that the DOE promised to reimburse. Now the DOE has informed Maryland school officials that the money will NOT be reimbursed! 

If the Trump administration truly wants to usher in a new “Golden Age” for America, then why are they shutting down the DOE? Our Founding Father Thomas Jefferson established a public education system for America. He believed that “no republic could maintain its strength without the broad education of its people.” According to the National Education Association 90% of US students and 95% of US students with disabilities learn in public schools.

Trumps’ executive order to dismantle the DOE will inflict educational damage to 50 million public school students. Why? So billionaires can have tax cuts? 

I urge all citizens to contact their Congressional leaders and demand the DOE remain intact.

Nancy Reynolds (author)

*****************

Gail's Final Letter to the Editor:

Is this what we voted for? Reducing government waste and eliminating redundant positions in federal agencies makes sense. However, in private industry when a new CEO takes over they usually take some time to look at the organization understand what different functions it has and what different departments do and then the costs of these functions. Only Elon Musk goes into an organization and makes cuts indiscriminately and without any understanding of the inner workings of that organization. That’s why we are seeing cuts, made, and positions eliminated, and then supposedly reinstated because they are actually necessary.

We voted for prices to be lowered. Instead, prices are going up because of this administration’s policies.

Did we vote for abandoning long time, allies, and aligning ourselves with Russia? This new foreign policy is not what most Americans want. Our veterans who fought for democracy are probably turning over in their graves.

Gail Jankowski (Author)

Over 500 people attended the 'Hands Off' Rally on the Ocean City Boardwalk on April 5!!

Democratic Woman

A tapestry woven, threads bold and bright, 

An American woman, bathed in truth's light. 

Democratic spirit, a fire within, 

Where justice and equity forever begin.

With strength as a mantle, conviction's keen edge, 

Through corridors of power, I stand on the ledge. 

Intelligence sharp, a mind ever keen, 

To challenge the status, the unseen, the mean.

Resourceful and steady, a hand to extend, 

To lift up the fallen, to help them transcend. 

A voice in the chorus, a force to be heard, 

Where progress and change are the spoken word.

I walk through the shadows, I rise with the sun, 

My work is not finished, my journey's begun. 

For freedom and fairness, I'll stand and I'll fight, 

An American woman, illuminating the night.

©️2025 Debra Linette Wood

DWC Membership Meeting - March 24, 2025

Co- President Carol Pauley - Welcome + Welcome New Members

Introduction of speaker – Judy Wixted by Susan Buyer, VP

Judy Wixted -Eastern Shore Democrats -Working Together

• recruit, train speakers and leaders, support for LOCAL office holders
• data found that 70% of the work to recruit candidates and inform the public is done in off-election years

• Three Actions We All Can Take Now

1. Jamie Raskin website Go to FOIA – “DOGE you can’t have my data”
2. Facebook -Check out “Crabs on Shore” (Lana Foley, Administrator)
3. Sign up for Eastern Shore Democrats.com

• Q and A

Message for “April 5^th Hands Off”

If you want to act locally, early indications are that this March and Rally on the Ocean City Boardwalk will be one of the largest anti-MAGA demonstrations on the Eastern Shore since 2017.

Hands Off Our Democracy!

Hands Off Our Health Care!

Hands Off Our Social Security!

Hands Off Our Data!

Hands Off Our Public Schools!

Hands Off Our Bodies!

Hands Off Our Wallets!

Hands Off Our Public Lands!

Sponsored by Indivisible Worcester MD and the Democratic Women's Club of Worcester County

Remembering Gail Jankowski

Bev Thomas, Linda Linzey, Debra Fisher-Reynolds

PAC Report - Joan Roache

• Letter to Editors Campaign
• Postcards continue
• Monitor ICE Activity; can support Haitian Community Salisbury
• Continue to check County Commissioners on School Budget (May 6^th)

Business Meeting:

• Minutes summarized in March newsletter approved as posted
• Treasurer’s Report/attached.
• Kathy Emert motion to accept as reported. Seconded by Tish Michaels. Vote unanimously accepted

Poem by Debbie Wood “Democratic Women”

Committee Reports:

● Beth Lake - Publicity Communications meeting; March 31. 9AM Pines Cafe

● Joan Esworthy - Membership 242 + 2 new

● Pat Tarr - Hospitality Thanks to the many bakers

● Carol Pauley - Della’s Closet Big thank you for generous donations

● Debi Doyle - Book Clubs

● Cherie McNett - Central Committee

• Kennedy King dinner-October 9^th
• Blue Pledge going on now

Updates:

• Andy Harris (MIA) Town Hall: Starring Jamie Raskin, US House of Represenatives, MD 8^th District. Exciting event well-attended by DWC
• Cindy Dillon reported on continuing Action on MD Bottle Bill
• Economic Boycotts:
• March 21-28 - Nestle
• April 7-14 - Walmart
• April 18 - Economic Blackout 2
• April 21- 28 - General Mills

Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday, March 26th - Last postcard party (for now) 1-3:30 PM - Ocean Pines
• Library
• Thursday, March 27th - DCWC “Night Club” 6 PM @ Ocean Pines Library
• Nancy Howard - Presentation on the historic Henry Hotel in Ocean City
• Thursday, April 3rd - Drinking Liberally 5-7 PM @ Residence Inn, Ocean City
• Saturday, April 5th - “Hands Off” Rally and March, 1 PM Ocean City Boardwalk
• Tram Station (near inlet)
• Monday, April 14th - PAC via Zoom 2-4 PM; email Joan at beachyogi@me.com for information.
• Tuesday, April 15th - Deadline for newsletter submissions
• Tuesday, April 15th - School Board Meeting 12:30 PM @ WC Board of Ed Building

Next meeting:

Monday, April 28th - General Meeting 10 AM @ Berlin Library

Nicole Hollywood - Moms Demand Action

**Note date/location change for May meeting: Monday, May 19th, Worcester

County Technical School

**Save the date: DWC Spring Luncheon - Monday, June 16th 11:30 AM - 2 PM,

Sophia’s, Ocean City

New: Announcing AGH + AARP Health Fair at OC Convention

Wednesday April 16 -- 8:00AM-noon

Adjourn:12:05

Respectfully submitted Debra Fisher-Reynolds