West Side Dems to Meet on June 26

MEETING INFO:
Monday, June 26th
6:00-7:30 pm

Taylor Ranch Library
5700 Bogart St NW
At this meeting we will hear from guests why the upcoming APS School Board Election is so important and how we may work as individuals to support our Democratic candidates in Districts 1 and 2 here on the West Side!

Our July meeting will be on July 24 at the Taylor Ranch Library.
WHAT MOTIVATES ME….
A message from WSD Secretary, Sue Wolinsky

I work hard every single day to involve voters in our political process. My passion is grassroots organizing. By involving voters, we learn together what we need to do to:
 
  • Protect our rights - to control our own bodies, to take guns out of the hands of people who kill our kids in school, at the front door, in our markets, and to vote unhampered.
  • Protect our democracy - to return our elections back to the people, out of the hands of huge corporate donors; to protect the wall of separation between church and state; to allow our democratic processes to continue unfettered; to keep books from being banned in our schools; to keep the religious right from telling me how to live.
  • Keep the West Side Blue.

This is my mantra. Join me!
A Reflection from Bob Kuning
for Flag Day, 2023

How many of you knew that Wednesday, 14 June was flag day? I saw that pop up on my calendar and was determined to display my flag to commemorate the day. My flag was given to me by my step-mother, and was awarded to my late father, who fought in WWII in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters on board a Navy destroyer, his campaign ending when his ship was sent back to the USA from Okinawa after sustaining heavy damage from a kamikaze attack. His commitment to defending our freedoms makes me more determined to not allow our flag to be the standard for those who would take our country back in time to the days when freedoms were granted based on race, color, sex or other human attributes.

As Democrats, we have been guilty of allowing the MAGA Republicans take over our symbol of what our many veterans have fought to uphold and protect. As a Viet Nam Veteran, I am determined to reverse that image. We cannot allow the symbol of our country to be co-opted by radicals. Instead, we must take extra measures to proudly fly and display our flag and take it and its symbology back from those with extremist viewpoints.
 
Bob Kuning is a West Side Democratic and Ward Chair for 17B, an active member of WSD and of the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County. Bob is also a member of the DPNM Veterans and Family Members Caucus (VMFC).
A Time to Celebrate one of our own!
There are many reasons to be thankful for during the summer months, starting with the unofficial start of the season: Memorial Day, honoring the fallen who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, Independence Day, and later, Labor Day, honoring and recognizing the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. 
 
There is yet another reason to be thankful during this time — our own Ivan Pfeifer! Very few realize the dedication Ivan has to the Community. Here are just some of the organizations that benefit from Ivan’s work:
 
West Side Dems [WSD]
Adelante Progressive Caucus
Democratic Party of Bernalillo County
Environmental Justice Caucus (initial setup)
Fuerza Unidas Caucus
Veterans & Military Families Caucus

Now, how do we celebrate this wonderful man?! A group of friends has arranged a Birthday Party on Sunday, July 9th from 2-5pm at O’Niell’s Pub, located at 4310 Central Ave, SE in Albuquerque. Appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Come and join in the celebration and raise a glass to Ivan!

Please check out the WSD on our website: https://westsidedems.org/  There, you may keep up to date on our activities and renew your membership or contribute to our efforts.
 
If you have a Facebook account, check out the WSD by clicking here.
 
If you wish to reach one of the Executive Committee directly, you may do so at:

· Joe Sinico: chair@westsidedems.org
· Dorothy Wilkinson: vice.chair@westsidedems.org
· Sue Wolinsky: secretary@westsidedems.org



Dues are $10.00 per calendar year.
You may donate any amount.