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Democratic Women's Club
Chartered under the Democratic Women's Clubs of Florida, Inc., and the National Federation of Democratic Women
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Democratic Women's Club of Walton CountyDemocratic Women's Club, P. O. Box 2507, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 |
Dr. Jack: "Politics. . . a necessary part of a democracy"
The Democratic Women’ Club of Walton County held their monthly meeting on February 26, 2010 at Mitchell’s Fish House in Sandestin with twenty-seven members and guests in attendance. 
Members were enlightened by a most engaging lecture on "Democracy and Politics" by guest speaker, Dr. Terry Jack, retired political science professor at Gulf Coast Community College.
“There is a reason Dr. Terry Jack was such a popular teacher at Gulf Coast Community College," said Mary Wolfe, DWC President. "Dr. Jack has a wonderful ability to enliven the study of politics and government with commentary and humor."
Citing Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman who observed the growth of democracy in America in the early 1800’s, Dr. Jack discussed the independence of our early citizenry, the absence of the landed and entitled gentry and the necessity of early Americans to be able to work together to discuss and manage common problems. Without the open, public and civil exchange of ideas, our democracy would perish, in de Tocqueville’s opinion.
Fast forward a couple of hundred years in America and the open and public exchange of ideas is ongoing. Dr. Jack discussed the tendency of news organizations to focus on the energy generated by the two extreme positions of each issue. This extremism and its attendant news coverage have made the civil exchange of ideas more difficult. Politics remains a messy but necessary business in a democracy. (photo courtesy Karen McGee)
Club will be involved in two important projects
"Women Build"
Habitat for Humanity in Walton County is sponsoring a “Women Build” house. This is a house built by women for a deserving recipient. Christi Commander Ferry suggested DWC members and guests signup to participate in a Democratic Women’s build day.
In either late March or early April, we will travel to Mossy Head to help complete the house. No special talents or training needed--just a desire to help provide a decent place for a fellow human to live.
E-mail Christie at christicmdr@mac.com for more information.
"Young Adult Books Project"
Walton County Library budget cuts have resulted in a freeze on book purchases. Karen McGee has compiled an excellent list of books to help enrich the young adult’s collection at the Coastal Library.
We will be ordering the books through SunDog books at Seaside.
Once received the books will be donated to the library. If you would like to make a donation or sponsor a particular book, please contact Karen at seajayhawk@mchsi.com to take part in this worthwhile project.
Know a young woman who is interested in politics?
The National Federation of Democratic Women is offering a month's internship in Washington D.C. to a qualified young woman between the ages of 18-25. The applicant should be an active Democrat and can show past involvement in politics. The internship comes with a $3000 cash stipend.
President Mary Wolfe has the official application which should be returned ASAP. Contact Mary at maryinbham@aol.com
Preference Survey
If you did not complete a survey at the February meeting, there is still time to get your two cents worth considered. Tell us what you like about the activities of the DWC, the meeting times, the programs and the meeting places. Later this month, we will meet to examine the results of the survey and to plan programs and activities for the rest of 2010. Email Mary at maryinbham@aol.com with your input.
| Welcome new members: Sheila Wachsman and Jenny Dargarvel |
Past Women's Club Meetings
January 2010 Meeting - Bud n Alleys
The Democratic Women of Walton County held their monthly meeting on January 28th at Bud and Alley’s Restaurant in Seaside with twenty-two members and guests in attendance.
Members and guests enjoyed an enthusiastic campaign update from Florida House of Representative District 7 candidate David Pleat. Pleat has been traveling the entire District 7 since announcing his candidacy in August. He reported that “people are seeking and will support a candidate who is an independent thinker, is not bound by party only ideas, and has and keeps their region’s best interests in mind.”
Organizer Dave Rauschkolb delivered an update on “Hands Across the Sand.” This event is taking place on the beaches of Florida from Miami to Pensacola on February13th at 12 pm CST.
Thanks to Karen McGee for her donation of the proceeds from the sale of her very unique handmade Valentines
December 2009 Meeting - Mitchell's Fish Market
The Walton Democratic Women’s Club held its December meeting at Mitchell’s Fish House at Grand Boulevard on December 17th. President Mary Wolfe welcomed 29 members and their guests.
Following a brief business meeting and reports, the program began with a report by Judge Tom McGee on the status of the beach restoration case, Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. vs Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Tom gave a brief history of how the case of a handful of beachfront homeowners’ challenge to the beach restoration project made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court concluded the hearing earlier this month. He offered readings and insight from the arguments on both sides of the issue. A ruling on the case could come as early as this summer or take as long as a year. More information on beach restoration is available on the www.thedestinlog.com
Dave Rauschkolb, creator of “Hands Across the Sand,” a statewide protest to the pending legislation allowing oil drilling in the Gulf, outlined the plans for the upcoming event. “It’s just what the name conveys. . .simply put-- all those opposed to off shore drilling congregating and joining hands on the beautiful clean, white sand beaches of Florida. The goal is to form a line of people from Pensacola to Key West.
This protest is to occur on February 13, 2010 at 12:30 CST. Obama-type house parties are being planned for January to get people " fired up and ready to go" to organize their neighborhoods and get the message out. Posters for your neighborhood as well as up-to-date information can be found on the website www.handsacrossthesand.com
Sandra and Ray Padgett were honored for their past service to the Walton Democratic Party and the Walton Democratic Women’s Club with a farewell tribute by Sharon Hazleton. They are moving to NE Alabama and will be greatly missed by their fellow Democrats. Read their tribute►
And in the spirit of Christmas, guests and members gave a generous donation of cash, canned goods and diapers for the benefit of Caring and Sharing.
Message from President Mary Wolfe
Every now and then a candidate and an issue come together with the power to galvanize citizens to make unprecedented changes. We were lucky enough to live that convergence in 2008 when Barack Obama and the desire to make a dramatic change in our country’s direction came together to elect a new
transformational leader to the White House.
We have that same convergence on a local level now. Our environment in Florida and especially in the Panhandle is a world class treasure. An effort to drill for oil, an increasingly obsolete energy source, immediately off the beaches in our pristine waters is under strong consideration. Politicians and some business groups are supporting efforts that will undermine the most basic of our resources.
We are very fortunate at this point in time to have a candidate for District 7 representative, David Pleat, who is strongly opposed to coastal drilling. David is a strong candidate with a business and law background and understands how detrimental coastal drilling would be to our area’s main economic driver, tourism.
We have the candidate and we have the issue. Support David with your volunteer efforts and your donations. This is a critical time in our area and we need to organize and defeat this disastrous legislation.
STOP COASTAL DRILLING! ELECT DAVID PLEAT!
2009-2010 Officers
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Title |
Name |
Phone Number |
Email Address |
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President |
Mary Wolfe |
850-231-3892 |
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Vice-Chair North Walton |
Sabra Martin |
850-892-2718 |
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Vice-Chair South Walton |
Susie Arnold |
850-622-9796 |
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Treasurer |
Sylvia Alf |
850-880-6355 |
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Secretary |
Alice Butela |
850-534-0504 |
History of the Democratic Women's Clubs
The Democratic Women's Club of Florida, Inc. had its official beginning in 1956, although there had been individual Democratic women's clubs in our state for many years.
The organizational meeting for a state club took place at the Princess Margaret Hotel in St. Petersburg on May 24, 1956, which was the day chosen by Eleanor Roosevelt as Democratic Women’s Day. Eighteen active Democratic Women gathered to do business as the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida and to receive a Charter from the Secretary of State. From that small beginning in 1956, the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, Inc. now consists of nine regions, representing over 40 clubs.
Walton County's Democratic Women's Club was formed in the fall of 2006 with ten founding members. Since that time, the club has grown to 70 dues paying members. Meetings are held once a month -- usually the last Thursday of the month-- in alternating locations between North Walton and South Walton. Locations and times can be found monthly on our Club Events calendar.
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