Hanover County Democratic Committee

Special ELECTION COFFEE, Friday, Sept. 30

Calling All Hanover Democratic Women

Please join other Coffee Caucus members at the HDC Early Voting table at the courthouse polls from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30. We'll gather to "party" with coffee and sweets as we welcome our voters to the party. Let's show voters there are many Democrats in Hanover and that we fight for our issues, especially the threats to women's control of their own bodies.

Remember, our Hanover Democratic Women's monthly coffees are for bringing together Democratic women from all parts of Hanover to energize fellowship and form strong relationships to help elect Democratic candidates and promote our Democratic ideals locally and nationally.

The Coffee Caucus is a group of all ages who meet monthly, sometimes in the day and sometimes in the evening, at the homes of volunteer hostesses at different locations around the county. We have no formal memberships or fees. Stay tuned for more information on other upcoming meetings.

For more information, please contact Diane Neergaard at dianeandallen1@gmail.com or 804-304-1951.

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Parent Category: About HDC

JOHN REDD'S DISRESPECTFUL WORDS

by Rita Dowling, Mechanicsville chair

The Hanover County Democratic Committee condemns the disrespectful words directed at a charitable community leader. As reported in the Richmond Times Dispatch, an appointed official characterized the actions of the chair of the NAACP as words from “an angry African American lady.” That statement was rude, harmful and completely disrespectful.

In order to have civil conversations, we demand that our elected and appointed professionals behave in a manner that is respectful to and inclusive of ALL of our community members. Our choice of religion or non-religion, our zip code, our level of melatonin, our gender and everything else that makes us unique should not be a point of conversation as an excuse to exclude our words.

As a point of reference, the harm that calling the chair of the NAACP “an angry African American lady” is multi-faceted. First, it dismisses the efforts of the NAACP chair. She DID NOT raise her voice, she DID NOT say mean words, and she DID NOT do or say or write anything that could be labeled as “angry.” Second, why does it matter if she is African American? He could have identified her as the chair of the NAACP or a citizen who has children and grandchildren in our community. Thus, it calls to question: Why did the Honorable John Redd call her an “African American.” Third, why did he use the word “lady?” Does her gender identity play a role in how he makes decisions?

It took great courage for Pat Jordan to bring public attention to gender, race and cultural issues to the members of the Hanover County School Board. For a public figure to dismiss her courage as words of “an Angry African American lady” has the potential to strike fear into anyone who is already disenfranchised. We need more people to share their experiences. But, when leaders use words like Mr. Redd used, it discourages civil discourse.

The Hanover County Democratic Committee is committed to getting high-quality people elected to government offices where they can make a positive impact on ALL of our lives! We need leaders who care about ALL of us. We need leadership that is respectful of EVERYONE.

At the very least, Pat Jordan, chair of the Hanover NAACP, deserves a public apology and public explanation for what was intended by those painful words.

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Parent Category: About HDC

MEMBERS/PAST MEMBERS, PLEASE RE-UP

Just as a reminder, HDC members must rejoin every 2 years. The new year started in January and many members have yet to rejoin. So just as a reminder, previous members please rejoin and all people who are interested in joining, please join.

You do not need to be a member in order to attend our meetings, but the membership dues pay to keep everything running. The dues are $30 and that covers us for 2 years. If you would like to rejoin/join online please visit this link and you can pay your dues with a credit card via Act Blue.

https://www.hvadems.com/actioncenter/join-today/view/form

A Call to ACTION to all HDC Members

With the first day of early voting in Hanover County set for Sept. 23, time is of the essence. Everyone needs to be laser-focused going forward on doing as much as we possibly can to support our great candidates. Here are just some of the very important actions you can take starting right now to get involved to help guarantee the best possible outcome in November!

MUST-BE-THERE EVENTS:
Meet Herb Jones from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 at Pebble Creek Club House, 6069 Green Haven Dr., Mechanicsville VA 23111. RSVP to wendybrooks82@comcast.net.
Souls to the Polls: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, September 25 at the Wickham Building, 7497 County Complex Rd., Hanover VA 23069

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

We need your help in manning the table at the Hanover Courthouse during early voting. Let's make sure we match the other party with our presence at this critical time. An online sign-up form provides volunteers with an opportunity to tend to the Democratic booth. Two-hour slots are available on Fridays and Mondays, as well as the Souls to the Polls Sunday and the two Saturdays. If these are filled, additional times can be added. Go to 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4daeac2ea1ff2-early

Louise Evans is managing both the voter protection program, as well as the poll greeters outside for the early voting effort. Contact her at 804-896-5370 or at lsmithevans@comcast.net.
Poll Greeter on Election Day – Rita Dowling: ritadowling@att.net

JOSH THRONEBURG, 5TH CD CANDIDATE:

A shared Throneburg-Jones Canvass Launch will be held at 10 a.m on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Ashland. Speakers include Dr. Rachel Levy, Dr. Clara Scott, Supervisor Faye Prichard, Jones Campaign Manager Lucy Hartman and Josh Throneburg, our candidate for the 5th Congressional District. Join us for doughnuts, drinks, and great speakers, and knock on some doors for some great candidates, either in Western Ashland (the 5th) and the town of Ashland (the 1st) To get the location, sign up using the Mobilize link below:

https://www.mobilize.us/joshforvirginia/event/495090/

Vote early on Hanover's only day of Sunday voting. Josh will be in attendance for Hanover's only day of Sunday early voting at Souls to the Polls Sunday, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the courthouse at 7497 County Complex Road # 119, Hanover, VA 23069.

Canvassing in Western Hanover: Email Ashley at ashley@joshforvirginia.com
For a yard sign, email Ashley at ashley@joshforvirginia.com
Phone Banking for Josh’s campaign:
Wednesday evenings: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/451266/
Sunday afternoons: https://www.mobilize.us/joshforvirginia/event/450644/
Text banks on Sunday late afternoons, starting at 4 p.m.: https://www.mobilize.us/joshforvirginia/event/481291/
To donate to Josh: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joshforva5?refcode=websiteheader

HERB JONES, 1ST CD CANDIDATE:
Writing postcards for Herb Jones – Colleen Berry
Canvassing for Herb Jones - email Stephen Rast at rast5602@gmail.com
To donate to Herb: https://herbjonesforvirginia.com/

RACHEL LEVY, 2023 HOUSE CANDIDATE:
Get a jump on 2023 at https://rachelfordelegate.org/

EARLY VOTING

Election Day voting is from 6 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Nov. 8
Early voting is available at the Election Office at the government complex in Hanover at the following times:
Weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. from Sept. 23 thru Nov. 4
Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.-5 p.m. on October 29 and November 5
Sunday, Sept. 25 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Vote by mail is still available.

HANOVER NAACP HEALTH FAIR

Hanover NAACP Health Fair runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Pole Green Park. There will be health screening and information, job opportunities, fun kid activities, featuring the Any K Any Way where you can walk a kilometer in someone else’s shoes or just meet your own personal fitness goal. The event is sponsored by Hanover NAACP, Chickahominy Health District and the Chickahominy Baptist Association.

DRINKING LIBERALLY MEETING

The Mechanicsville Chapter of Drinking Liberally, a social organization made up of progressives and liberals, meets at 6:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (Sept. 29, in this case) at Mexico Restaurant on U.S. 360 in Mechanicsville. No meeting, just good conversation. Please join us.

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Parent Category: About HDC

'RESPECT' IS THE FOCUS OF OUR SEPT. 10 HDC MEETING

Our next monthly meeting of the Hanover Democratic Committee will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Iron Horse, 100 S. Railroad Avenue in Ashland, and we have a special guest speaker.

The guest speaker is RESPECT.

Aretha Franklin's words echo in our hearts and minds right now. She was singing these words in the 60s when Black men and women were being beaten and threatened because they dared to go to the voting booth. She said these words that seemed too simple to think, believe and achieve. But, recent events have shown us that the problems we face are just like Rodney Dangerfield said, "I can't get no respect anymore."

This is no joke. People are dying because they are not receiving respect. The very lives of ourselves and our children are at stake. Our grandchildren are being affected by the lies that people are spreading and the hate that is spewing from those lies. That's the next generation!

Please attend our September meeting so that we can come together as a community and figure out why so many leaders are disrespecting our community members and how we can respond to this lack of respect. We also will hear from Robert Barnette, president of the Virginia NAACP, while Pat Jordan, chair of the Hanover NAACP, has been invited. They know a little something about RESPECT, based on recent unfortunate events.

Bring a friend. And remember, the coffee is on us!

Based on traffic patterns, we are not going to use Zoom or YouTube. Instead, we will go live on Facebook. People who do not have the Facebook app should still be able to watch it live using this link: www.facebook.com/HanoverDems.

Details

Parent Category: About HDC