A letter from the SDC President to the Membership ...

Thank you for joining the Sharpstown Democrats Club in 2006.   The executive committee and I hope that you can attend our first meeting in 2007.  This meeting will be set aside strictly for club business -- but I’m sure we’ll all like to hear each other’s opinion about the best presidential nominee for 2008.  Hum, the possibilities …. Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Biden, Feingold, Gore, Gingrich …   Oops, did I say Gingrich?  Better come to the meeting and straighten me out:   January 27, 2007 at Bayland Community Center, 10:00 AM!

            Last year we had an interesting assortment of guests and panels, including the head of the H.C. Hospital District, David Lopez, and an all-star panel on immigration as well as local crime.   We hosted a fund-raiser for Barbara Radnofsky and a close-up and personal meeting with Al Green where all had a chance to get their concerns heard by our congressman.

            It’s always a challenge for us to prepare interesting programs while still feel as if we are actively serving our mission of helping with Democratic candidate elections.  Another challenge, which we hope to improve in 2007, is motivating members to take an active role in club events and planning.

The beginning of the New Year is a time for change and resolutions.   Therefore we would like to propose in 2007 that we have program oriented meetings every other month (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct).   With 2 months planning, surely we can foster larger turnouts for our guest VIP’s.  On the odd months we can do other activities such as the memorial firemen’s feast, block-walk, volunteer to help campaigns or just get together at a quiet restaurant to talk politics and plan political activism.  

Another suggestion for your consideration is that we have a budget set at the beginning of the year.  Expenses for certain items can be pre-approved within specified parameters, such as:  Mailings $500 per year; Johnson-Rayburn $125 or going rate; other contributions to Democratic Party causes $200; Firemen’s Feast or similar civic minded gesture $150; Website hosting $50.

Rather than tell you the current amount of the treasury, I would like to encourage all of you to get into the habit of visiting www.SharptownDemocrats.Org for such information.  Alternately, you can phone a club officer whose phone numbers are published on every meeting’s agenda.

Please come to the January meeting prepared to elect new officers.  We need new people to volunteer and step up to the challenge of leading the club.  

Thanks to all who served on the executive committee 2006:   Jane Vidales, VP; Rod Haper, Treasurer (and webmaster); Sylvie Adams, secretary; and board members Lena Brooks, Mary Haper and Bob Prater.

Good-bye for now, and good luck in the New Year.  See you Saturday, Jan 27, 10am at Bayland.  

Your Club President 2005-2006,  

            Alice Bergeron