A new user feature, Member Forums, has been added to the SDC website. This new feature allows users to easily engage in discussions on topics of interest to the SDC general membership. You access the discussion forum feature from the 'Member Forums' button on the MAIN MENU. To start, we only have the one General Discussion forum but we can easily add others as necessary for special topics.
Anyone can read the discussion messages but if you want to add your own messages to the discussions, you must register which is painless and fast. To register, click the 'register' link at the top left of the initial forum page and follow the directions. You will automatically receive an email with a link that you must visit to activate your SDC forum account. Once you have activated your account, you may logon to the forum and post your messages.
This new forum feature has been added to provide members and interested visitors a way to freely and easily engage in discussions of interest to them and the SDC general membership. But it will only be as useful as you make it so please register and try out the new forum features.
If you have any questions or suggestions about the forum features, please follow the Contact Us -> Officers -> Rod Haper links on the SDC website to leave me e-mail with your comments.
The weather was stormy, traffic snarled and attendance low but Congressman Al Green, Texas CD9, certainly didn't stint on his time and effort to provide us a stimulating discussion of the last congressional session, current election politics and plans for the next Congress - hopelfully with Democrats back in control! Those of us who attended got a great chance to meet our Congressman up-close and personal. The Congressman fielded extensive one-on-one questions from the audience. Our congressional district is truly fortunate to have Al Green as our Congressman.
Gerry Birnberg, Harris County Democratic Party Chairman, was in the audience and gave a short discussion of the county races and how we can help elect our Democratic candidates. Gerry also introduced Congressman Green. Thanks Gerry!
Pictures from the meeting are posted on the SDC photo gallery here [Remember: you can click on the pictures to get the full-sized image.]
We are lucky to have our Democratic congressman, the Honorable AL GREEN to meet with us again. We are changing our meeting to Thursday evening, October 26 at the IHOP on 59 near Gessner, 8607 Southwest Fwy. Please join us in the evening at 6:30PM.
Be sure to arrive early to order dinner -- bring your family or friend to dinner if you wish. Have your questions and suggestions ready.
For November we are planning a garage sale on Nov. 18. Please continue to collect the things you would like to donate. Call Alice at 713-270-6473, or await an email for more details.
The meeting was opened by Alice Bergeron with a request to approve a $400 expenditure for a mass mailing in June for the Radnofsky event. A motion was made and approved.
The balance in the treasury as of this date is $1,577.49. Alice mentioned that there would be a garage sale fund raiser in early November and that we should start saving items for the sale.
Our topic for the meeting was Crime Prevention. The speakers were Councilman M.J. Khan, Councilman Ron Green and police officer Joe Esquivel. Mr. Kahn said that there were 500 more officers on the street and that a mobile unit was in place in Southwest Houston.
A new ordinance will be in place to help improve the maintenance and safety of apartment buildings. Apartment owners will be responsible for safety problems. If improvements are not made, fines can result.
Officer Esquivel discussed the PIP program and urged citizens to attend the monthly meetings. He can be reached at 713-981-5041 for more information. He also shared the following 'phone numbers:
713-773-7908 Gang Unit 713-773-7910 Debbie Lorance, Graffiti Abatement Program 713-773-7812 Jerome Moon, Citizens on Patrol
There were several questions from the audience directed to Ron Green asking how to contact the City of Houston and/or the police with non-emergency calls. The answer was to call 311.
Mr. Kahn gave his contact numbers: 713-247-2002 or 713-398-4829.
Our regular meeting is cancelled this month... September is the time for our Candidate's serious campaigning and they need our help, see contact info below ...
Please volunteer this month to register voters for at least 2 hours.
Scott Hochberg's scheduled voter registrations:
SEPT. 16, between 11am and 7pm, at Kroger's, 5610 Gulfton, register voters while celebrating Fiesta Patrias.
9/19: school 6-8 pm9/20: school 5:30-7:30 pm
Scott Hochberg's Campaign Office
Manager, Anna Martinez 7011 Harwin, Suite 182 Ph: 713-981-8683 E-mail:
Congressman Al Green's Campaign Office 3003 South Loop West, Suite 321 Houston, TX 77054 Phone: 713-494-5087, 713-383-9234
Senate District 17 Voter Registration Project Jennifer Hubbs, 713-858-2663,
ALSO: HCDP Fundraiser, Johnson-Rayburn Dinner will feature Russ Feingold this year -- $125 per person. Saturday, September 30. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact HCDP, 713-802-0085 or www.hcdp.org
HCDP is also accepting donated items for a silent auction that is held at the same event.
The Sharpstown Democrats cancelled their regular 4th Saturday meeting in order to have the opportunity to volunteer for HISD's "Expectation Graduation" program designed to encourage dropouts to return to school.
Our volunteers assisted teachers and other HISD volunteers on Saturday morning knocking on the doors of dropouts. Sometimes the student has hardships such as the need to help with childcare or financial support of the family. Information about social programs ,flexible scheduling and night classes can sometimes help students overcome these hurdles. Other times, just having someone come by is enough to encourage students to return.
For me, the biggest eye opener was the condition of the apartment complex next door to Sharpstown High School. I walked over mud puddles bubbling from garbage, cooked rice settling on broken sidewalks and soiled diapers in the courtyard. Most disturbing was a second floor guardrail only being held to its vertical support by a 1/4 inch rope. We smelled natural gas both times we passed by one of the buildings. For some reason I thought there was a heath ordinance against these types of things.
This is the fourth year of the Expectation Graduation program. This year, Mayor White was one of the Sharpstown High School volunteers, as well as city council member MJ Khan, state Senator Rodney Ellis, District 13 and Representative Scott Hochberg, District 137. Many corporate sponsors donated food, t-shirts and services as well as recruiting volunteers from the community.
Mayor White gave a compelling speech at Sharpstown, concluding with the suggestion that as a matter of homeland security, it is imperitive that America invests in its brain.
The Scott Hochberg Campaign HQ is open for business and actively registering voters gain. Campaign manager, Anna Martinez, welcomes any and all volunteers for doing door-to-door work on Saturday mornings and also some registration tables at schools and apartments on various evenings. The opposition has been quiet so far but we can't count on her to stay that way. One way or another we need to register and turn out Democrats for all of our races.
8:00 PM the connection: Red, White and Blue -- (HoustonPBS Production)
Join hosts David Jones and Gary Polland as they talk with Democrat Chris Bell about his run for governor. Many may remember him as the man who filed a congressional complaint against Tom De Lay in 2004. So what are his plans for ending the culture of corruption in politics and how is he going to re-build public education in Texas? We hope you'll join us.
PAPPAS BBQ, 7007 S.W. Freeway (hwy 59), near the Bellaire exit
6:30 PM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23
All club members and family are invited to an informal social gathering at Pappas Barbeque. Please join us for food, fun, drinks and political discussion.
Note: We will not have our regular Saturday meeting this month.
Be sure to arrive early to order dinner -- bring your family or friend to dinner if you wish. Have your questions and suggestions ready.
Please volunteer this month to register voters for at least 2 hours. 