(Once again, the Kerr County Democrats are offering 2 free tickets to BOR readers. Like last year, we'll give them to the best 2 comments on this post saying why they should be yours! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
By popular demand, the Democrats of Kerr County are planning their 3rd annual fundraiser. As in the past two years, it will be held at the Roddy Tree Ranch, on the banks of the Guadalupe River, in Ingram, TX. This year's festivities will be held on Sunday, October 10th, from 5-8pm.
2010 has been an exciting year for the Democrats of Kerr County. While the national media wants to report a general malaise amongst Democrats, nothing could be further from the truth in Kerr County. While still a minority in this very "Red" county, we are a growing organization, filled with enthusiasm and a commitment to providing a better future for all Texans. Under the leadership of our County Chairman, Brenda Harrison, we've hosted successful events, for Bill White, Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Lainey Melnick, Jeff Weems and Rebeca Martinez. Jeff Weems and his wife Dinah were so moved by the enthusiasm of the Kerr County Democrats, that they have made a wonderful donation for the Silent Auction at Democratic Thunder III.......a stay at their weekend retreat in Wimberly.
Democratic Thunder III includes food, entertainment, door prizes, silent auction and a cash bar. The past two years were rousing successes and this year promises to be no different. We welcome Democrats from all across Texas to join us as we pave our path for a brighter future. Tickets are $20. For reservations or information, please call me at 830-367-1246 or Brenda Harrison at 830-238-4179.
J. Mark Ahlstedt
Fundraising Chairman, Kerr County Democratic Party
The "Hill Country Friends of Bill White for Texas" have announced plans to hold a fund-raiser, on Monday, July 5th, from 4:30 to 6:15 pm, at the recently refurbished Riverhill Country Club, in Kerrville. Since we began planning for this event, we have been astounded by the positive responses we have received, not only from area Democrats, but from independents as well as moderate, rational thinking Republicans (there are a few left). For far too long the counties of the Texas Hill Country have been written off as "Too Red" or "Too Small" to warrant attention at the statewide level. Let me tell you that is no longer the case. We here in Kerr County and our sister counties of Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Gillespie and Kendall are thrilled, and engergized, to be hosting this event in support of electing, a proven leader, Bill White, to replace Rick Perry as the Governor of Texas.
We want to welcome Texans from all across the state to help us make this event an even more spectacular success than we know it already will be. Many of you may be considering a few vacation days in the beautiful Texas Hill Country for the 4th of July holiday. We encourage you to consider extending your trip by a day or two with a stop in Kerrville to meet and listen to Bill White. Brenda Harrison, Chairman of the Kerr County Democratic Party, and her staff, are coordinating all activities for this event. The requested donation levels to attend this fund-raiser are $25 or $50. However, we welcome more hosts at donation levels of $100, $250, $500 or $1000. If you want to attend this event, or provide financial support, please contact Brenda at 830-238-4179 or at brenda4179@gmail.com by Wednesday, June 30th at 4 pm.
I'd be remiss in my duties as the Fundraising Chairman for the Kerr County Democratic Party, if I didn't include a plea for donations to help a small, dynamic, yet growing organization maintain a significant presence in a small county with a professionally run (all volunteer) political organization. We've made donating to our cause easy. If you care to help, please click on the the following link and select the method of donating that best suits you:
Electing Bill White as our next Governor is as important to Texas, in 2010, as it was to our nation to elect Barack Obama as our President in 2008. We need to rekindle our passions and redouble our efforts. This is yet another opportunity to make a difference.
The Democrats of Kerr County are proud that Barbara Ann Radnofsky has chosen Kerrville to host an impromptu luncheon and fundraising event to support her campaign to unseat Greg Abbott as the State Attorney General. Greg Abbott is wasting our tax dollars trying to sue the Federal Government over the recent enactment of National Healthcare. The Attorney General will also play a very important role next year when the legislature addresses redistricting. Having an intelligent, thoughtful Democrat like Barbara Ann, as Attorney General, will go a long way in preventing the havoc that Tom Delay wrought upon the State of Texas. When Bill White becomes our next governor, he needs all of the tools necessary to effectively govern the State of Texas. The most effective tool in that toolbox could well be Barbara Ann Radnofsky.
Please join us at noon, this next Wednesday, May 12th at the Mount Wesley Conference Center, in Kerrville, to help support Barbara Ann's campaign. Please RSVP to Brenda at 830-238-4179 or at brenda4179@gmail.com by Monday at 4 pm. We must have a head count.
While the "Tea-Baggers" and Secessionists have gathered all the headlines recently, the Democrats of Kerr County have not lost the enthusiasm with which we proudly supported the candidacy and subsequent election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States. Every time the Democrats of Kerr County get together, whether it's a County Party meeting, a luncheon hosted by the Texas Democratic Women, or just a social gathering of like-minded Democrats, we have visitors expressing an interest in becoming involved in our Democratic activities throughout Kerr County.
Most of you are accustomed to my frequent solicitations for donations to support the local activities of the Kerr County Democratic Party. This time I'm going to ask you to dig a little deeper and provide generous support to the candidacy of Barbara Ann Radnofsky.
Please bring your checkbooks....I'm bringing mine!!
It is approaching two years since my wife and I began our retirement years in Kerr County. Because America was facing such a critical election in 2008, after the failed administration of George W. Bush, I decided to get involved in local Democratic activities. Since then, I've had many thoughts about how to best describe the wonderful individuals I've met in the ensuing process. I've struggled with the appropriate words to most accurately describe the Democrats of Kerr County, many of whom have become, and are becoming close personal friends. If I said they were highly educated - I'd be right. If I said they were well informed citizens - I'd be right. If I said they were caring human beings - I'd be right. If I said they were committed to causes they care about - I'd be right. If I said they were enthusiastic - I'd be right. Yet, there is one word that sums up what best describes the Democrats of Kerr County and that is they are GENEROUS. The Democrats of Kerr County are generous with their time, their labors and their money. This generosity extends across the entire spectrum, from church, civic and charitable activities to humanitarian, environmental and political causes.
Fate has intervened to give me the opportunity to serve as the Fundraising Chairman for the Kerr County Democratic Party. While I've welcomed the challenge and the opportunity to serve, I've had to struggle with how I can morally and ethically ask giving and caring people to give a little more. This is particularly troublesome at a time when our country has been placed in a position of economic peril. I want to broach the subject of donating to a local political entity, such as the Kerr County Democratic Party, versus donations made to specific Democratic candidates, at the state and national levels.
On a weekly, if not daily basis, I'm besieged with requests for funds from Democratic candidates and causes that I strongly support. Here in Kerrville, in the past six months, we've had personal visits from Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Bill White, Lainey Melnick, Rebeca Martinez and Kinky Freidman. As 2010 approaches, more candidates for national and statewide offices will want to enjoy the hospitality, and support, of Kerr County Democrats. In order to provide this critical support, our local organization needs to maintain its current reputation of hosting first class events. Each one of these events requires a firm commitment of funds for the venue, as well as expenditures for advertising and decorations. Every time that Kerr County Democrats host a major event, we gain local and regional media coverage, which helps us attract more local supporters to our cause.
In closing, I want to leave you with one thought. All political organizations that have ever had lasting impact have started at the local grassroots level. Each one of us will have to make critical decisions as to how we apportion our donations to Democratic candidates, causes and organizations across the nation and the state. Please don't forget your local team. These are the troops that host the events, staff the office, write the letters, distribute the signs, make the phone calls and get the voters to the polls. While the multiple efforts of every team member are voluntary, the logistic support they need requires adequate funding.
