Hanover County Democratic Committee

Stay United

by Daniel W. McGraw

We have made great strides in Virginia and across the nation. Even globally, we are seeing cultural shifts from isolationism to globalism. Race relations, health care, the environment, and livable wages are at the forefront of many conversations. Even the idea of “automatic basic income” is starting to be part of significant governmental conversations. Americans across the country are evaluating previous laws and amending them to provide as much equity as possible.

Unfortunately, digital media platforms allow for small snippets of information or taint several gains. Let me give an example: I watched a TikTok video that lasted for about 40 seconds. In it, a person claimed to not have cared about race, sexuality, gender identity and disabilities until too many people were making them into a “big deal.”

In other words, someone who had never experienced or noticed prejudice is now appalled that lawmakers, educators, and news reporters are encouraging these topics to be part of the mainstream media. 

Social issues cannot be whittled down to a 40-second clip. But, that is exactly what happens often when people are unaware of the full context. They build up straw men and then tear them down because any conversation of significance can take place. With every passing day, I see more Americans receiving a true education of our past, present and potential future. Democrats are increasingly finding themselves on the right side of history. Now is not the time to slow down. We need to recharge our efforts.

In the news and on social media, we see many conspiracy theorists blaming election outcomes on fraud, media bias and Critical Race Theory. Many localities have wasted money disproving the conspiracy of election fraud, only to learn that the accusers are unwilling to examine or accept the evidence. Media bias is not the same as “fake news.”  We are not reading the Onion or Mad Magazine and quoting from imaginary sources. But, what has started to give me concern is the growing resentment towards Critical Race Theory.

Until this year, I had never heard of Critical Race Theory. When I attempted to research it myself, I did not find anything that was controversial or extraordinary. The basic premises of CRT acknowledge that White Supremacy was a real movement and that it, along with certain legal actions, worked to suppress minority worldviews. It is a theory of inquiry, not a law.  This theory has been around since the 1970s. It is not a Marxist or Communist or Socialist or racist theory of argument. It is not taught in public schools as a construct of education. However, I fear that some propagandistic media outlets are building a straw man out of the idea of CRT.

Much like the TikTok video, many people are expressing their argument against humanity, by creating a misrepresentation of CRT as well as against other movements like BLM, UBI, and regulations that protect individual rights. We must not fall prey to these tactics. When people call out something that they believe to be negative or controversial ask them for the sources of their information. Do not allow their spread of false information to go “unchecked.” Most of all, do not allow them to create confusion among our Democratic institutions. Our diversity gives us strength, and together we are stronger today than we have ever been in the past. There is no “purity” test for being a Democrat. We should be proud that we stand for human rights and social dignity. Let’s stay united.

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Democratic Women's Coffee - Monthly Gathering for Democratic and Like-minded Women

Jane Lux will be our hostess for our June Hanover Democratic Women's Coffee on Tuesday, June 29, an evening coffee this time. Jane will welcome us at 7 p.m. to her home at 11253 Silverstone Drive (in the Summerset subdivision, located off Sliding Hill Road), Mechanicsville, VA 23116.

Join us for good, in-person fellowship with old and new friends as we enjoy refreshments and catch up with Democratic news. In an abundance of care, all attendees are asked to be fully vaccinated.

Our Women's Coffees are for bringing Democratic women from all parts of Hanover together in an informal way for energizing fellowship with each other. They're great for socializing and forming strong relationships to better help elect Democratic candidates and promote our Democratic ideals locally and nationally. The Coffee caucus is a group for all ages that meets monthly, sometimes during the day and sometimes during the evening, at the homes of volunteer hostesses at different locations around the county. We have no formal memberships or fees.

New friends are always welcome.

To RSVP or for more information, contact Diane Neergaard at daneergaard@comcast.net or 804-304-1951.

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RACHEL LEVY TO SPEAK AT JUNE MEETING

Come to our June Hanover Democratic Committee meeting, virtually of course, and hear from Rachel Levy about her campaign in the 55th House District. Rachel is running for us, to bring our concerns to Richmond and be a strong advocate for the 55th. Wouldn't that be nice for a change? She will be updating us on the state of the campaign and what we can do to help. 

The meeting begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 12. 

Credentials remain the same:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85699040716?pwd=cGtvK0IwbkpZcjFmUUVSS0NPZ0FXdz09

Meeting ID: 856 9904 0716
Passcode: 890597

By Phone
+1 301 715 8592 US

Live Streamed on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8XYH_xdXqcH1xE4kBoXiA

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JUNE MEN'S FORUM: LIVE/IN PERSON - MEET RACHEL LEVY, OUR 55TH DISTRICT DELEGATE CANDIDATE

Welcome to our first live/in-person Men's Forum in over a year, thanks to COVID. Come and actually see, converse, mingle and socialize with your HDC friends again, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23 at Dale Mann's home. The address is 12778 Mount Hermon Road, Ashland. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Now that the primary is over, the real work begins to make sure the Republicans don't take back our government and turn back the great progress we have made recently. We must elect our Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and delegate (senators are not running in this off-year election). Even if your candidate didn't win; the selected candidates, the Democrats and our Democracy need your full support. The Republicans learned that electing the president starts with local politics, so please come to our live Men's Forum at 7 p.m. on June 23, and meet and learn how you can help elect Rachel Levy, the Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates for the 55th District.

Rachel Levy is a public school teacher, parent, education expert, civil rights activist and long-time member of the HDC who already serves the people of the 55th District and now wants to serve them in the House of Delegates. She is running because the people of the 55th District deserve competent, independent-minded and service-oriented leadership. She believes in strong public schools, that healthcare is a human right, that we must protect our environment and conserve our natural resources, and that our criminal justice system must be fair and humane. She looks forward to being the speaker at the Men's Forum in June.

Our monthly Men's Forum, usually scheduled for the 4th Wednesday of the month, provides a candid way for Hanover's Democratic community to stay informed, invigorated and connected, with opportunities to talk politics with expert speakers in our slowly bluing county. We are grateful for your continued support.

Most of us have been vaccinated; anyone who has not been vaccinated, please wear a mask.

SEE YOU IN PERSON AT 7 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 23

Directions to and parking at Dale Mann's home -
1. Off I-95 take exit 92A East onto 54.East Patrick Henry Road toward Hanover Courthouse.
2. Take the first right after the exit, which is Mt. Hermon Road.
3. 1 mile down, on the left, at the white fences, turn left at the American flag and between the rows of trees.
4. Turn right at the house and go thru the gates on your right.
5. Past the shed, you'll see a white fence around the horse paddock. Take another left and you'll see an entrance to the paddock.
6. Please park in there and walk back to the house.
7. GPS may take you in a different way, the farm side of the property. Just go straight ahead (past the farm stand) and take a left into the horse paddock.

In order to give our host a headcount, RSVP to Don Barth at donna.don@comcast.net, or call, leave a message or text to 856-889-5905. This does not mean if you haven't RSVP'd you can't come; we'll fit you in.

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Mimosa Power hour Fundraiser for Rachel Levy at Historic Shrubbery Hill 

Mark the date now: Friday, June 18 at 5 p.m. Come for fun "brunch for cocktail hour" snacks, a mimosa bar, great company at a beautiful, historic location, and a great candidate in the 55th District, Rachel Levy (and meet Rachel's parents!) Please come prepared to donate and bring Democratic friends. See you all soon!

To RSVP- please visit this link: https://www.mobilize.us/rachellevyfordelegate/event/392456. We will send you the address upon receipt of the RSVP.

If you cannot attend but still want to donate, visit this link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friends-of-rachel-levy-1

Ashland Cookout Meet and Greet for Rachel Levy

Please bring your Democratic 55th friends to a cookout meet and greet for Rachel Levy at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. We'll also be launching our new Rachel Runs For Us T-shirts and have them available for purchase. Please sign up at this link to receive the address and more information.

RACHEL LEVY PHONE BANKS

We will be having virtual Rachel Levy phone banks every Thursday from now until the election. We will be talking to Democratic voters that often don't get contacted, so this phone banking is important for Rachel's campaign and for campaigns to come! Please sign up and see you on Thursday!

Voting News

The Democratic primary is Tuesday, June 8. Early voting has already started. It is very important that everyone turn out and vote for the best representatives for the Virginia Democratic Party. The races are close and the candidates are spectacular.

Of note: Rachel Levy is the declared candidate for the 55th District and Stan Scott is the declared candidate for the 97th District. Their names will not be on the primary ballot, but the names of the candidates for Democratic governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general will be decided in the primary elections.

Candidate Political Rally

Thanks to John Suddarth, Ashley Hall, Joette Mitchel, Rita Dowling, Toni Radler, Ethan Lynne, and many other Democratic leaders for helping to make the Political Rally in Ashland a success. Supervisor Faye Prichard was our emcee, and she was fabulous. The musical group Premiere Duo, John and Jeanette Creger, kept us hype and set the mood. The candidates were very appreciative of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center.

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97th House District Call to Caucus and Candidate Filing Form

Hanover Dems in the 97th District: here are the documents pertaining to the Call to Caucus and Candidate Filing Form. Reach out to Stan Scott at 804-833-8831 or rstantonscott@comcast.net with questions.

Call to Caucus

Candidate Filing Form

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CARE ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT? THEN JOIN TEAM RACHEL

Dr. Rachel Levy is running for the House of Delegates in the 55th District. The 55th covers Hanover west of U.S. 301, almost all of Caroline County and a slice of Spotsylvania County. 

Rachel is a long-time member of the HDC, a teacher, a community activist and a leader with a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy. She lives in Ashland with her husband and 3 children. She wants to strengthen public education, increase access to health care (she believes this is a human right), preserve our environment, ensure that working people are paid fairly and enact tax reforms
. 
How can you help? Glad you asked. Check out Rachel's website (a work in progress), her Facebook page, her Twitter feed and her Instagram.
 
Please (please!) donate to her campaign here. Finally, please sign the digital petition to get Rachel or Sarah and the Democratic statewide candidates on the ballot (Thanks to Rachel and the campaigns of six other Democratic House of Delegates candidates, delegate candidates can gather signatures electronically).

Have questions? Contact Rachel's campaign manager (another HDC member!) Ashley Hall at info@rachelfordelegate.org. Help Rachel put Buddy Fowler into the retirement that he already practices as a member of the House!

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED

The Hanover Democratic Committee will be awarding scholarships of approximately $500 or more to graduating seniors from each of our county high schools. 

The Melissa J. Dopp/Bobby Ostergren Scholarship is awarded yearly by the Hanover Democratic Committee to graduating Hanover County seniors with the highest level of participation and involvement in Democratic campaigns and activities. The scholarship was established to honor the late Bobby Ostergren, the former Hanover County registrar for many years, and the late Melissa Dopp, a longtime activist in the Hanover Democratic Committee. 

The scholarship is not needs-based or for academic merit; it is for students who have participated in Democratic campaigns, supported Democratic candidates, helped the Hanover Democratic Committee or participated in/started a Young Democrats Club. 

More details about the scholarship along with the application form can be found on the Hanover County Public Schools scholarship website. 

Applications are due on April 10th. We were so happy to award 13 scholarships in the past three years and look forward to awarding more this year. We encourage you to share this information widely, especially with families of Senior students. In addition, if you would like to donate funds for the scholarship fund for this year, please contact Andrea Ferment at aferment@comcast.net.

UPDATED VACCINE INFO

You can sign up for a vaccine at the new vaccinate.virginia.gov link. All individuals who have previously filled out a survey or form or signed up for a waitlist to be vaccinated through their local health district will be automatically imported into the new statewide system.

If you prefer to speak to someone, you can call the Hanover County COVID-19 call center to sign up by phone: 804-365-3240 or Virginia Department of Health’s statewide vaccination hotline at 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).  Someone from the health department will contact you to set up your vaccination appointment once it is your turn (based on the phase and vaccine supply).

For more, go to www.hanovercounty.gov/1104/COVID-19-Hanover-Information

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FEBRUARY TWO CENTS - THE NOTORIOUS RVG

By Jen Chambers

Three amigos from Central Virginia — Jen Chambers, Christiane Riederer, our fearless driver, and Lorna Charlton (aka Thelma, Louise and Coffee) — assisted with voter registration, awareness and getting out the vote both in key states prior to the November election and in Georgia for the Senate run-off by bringing a big lavender RV to locally organized events.  

This article explains the mission and how it was adapted for the pandemic, the progress made on the three trips and the local organizations and events that reached voters. Thank you to Dan McGraw for asking us to share our journey and being our cheering squad to welcome us back to the Center of the Universe!

It's long, so please take the time to download the PDF from here: The_Notorious_RVG.pdf

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2021 SESSION OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Please join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 for our second Men's Forum of 2021 where HDC's own Morgan Goodman offers a review of the General Assembly's current session. The Democratic trifecta in the House, Senate, and Governor's mansion accomplished so much in 2020, and all of us are eager to learn what's next on the agenda. 

Morgan's presentation will review the Assembly's progress on Democratic policies to date as well as addressing the bills still to be voted on. The session tentatively ends on February 27. As usual, the floor will open for questions towards the end of the program, but for time's sake, please forward them in advance if possible so our speaker has the opportunity to incorporate them into her talk. RSVP with your questions to Don Barth (donna.don@comcast.net) no later than Feb. 17.

Our monthly Men's Forum provides a candid way for Hanover's Democratic community to stay informed, invigorated, and connected, with opportunities to talk politics with expert speakers in our slowly bluing county. We are grateful to be back to our regularly scheduled programming despite the ongoing pandemic, and thank our members for their continued support. 

Join the ZOOM Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85699040716? 

pwd=cGtvK 0lwbkpZcjFmUUVSSONPZ 0FXdz09 

Meeting ID:  856 9904 0716 
Passcode:  890597 
By Phone  +1 301 715 8592 US 

RSVP to Don Barth at donna.don@comcast.net, or call his cellphone or text 856.889.5905, or leave a message on his landline 804.299.3160

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Shop with Democrats

The Hanover County Democratic Store is now up and running correctly. You can access the store here: https://www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/HanVADems.

.You may need to copy and paste it into your web browser. The T-shirts and sweatshirts will have the new Hanover Democratic logo across the middle of the front and the polos will have the logo on the top left of the chest. 

The store will be open till January 4. When the items come in, they will be hand-delivered to your front door. Place your orders soon. These are the lowest prices that the items will ever be.

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HCDC has a team store!

The Hanover County Democratic Committee apparel is now open! Find items that we've picked out specifically for our team. There is also spirit wear available for your family and friends. Check out the shop details below.

OUR SHOP DETAILS
- Shop Now: https://www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/HanoverDem
- Store Open From November 23 - December 21, 2020

Items will be delivered to the house of Chair Daniel McGraw. We will then distribute them to the members. Get your orders in now! These are the lowest prices that they will ever be. The expected arrival of the items is from late January to early February.

PROBLEMS WITH YOUR EMAIL? a possible fix ...

Many of you on Comcast platforms have not been getting recent emails because Comcast has updated its mail server. It is blocking forwarded mail unless you contact your email postmaster. This affects you because we forward emails through HVAdems.com. We know this is going on because we're getting a ton of bouncebacks. As best we can tell, it appears that Comcast has increased their security to require e-mail addresses to be pre-approved.

Mary Laymen has created a quick video on “How to approve emails from a person or organization in Comcast." It is located at this link: https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cYXv2XNnEw.

Please watch and review the video even if you do not use Comcast internet because other Internet providers are moving to new systems. This video shows a skill that is becoming an industry standard. Share this with friends.

Appointed School Board vs. Elected School Board?

We want to hear from you about whether you believe one version of the board is preferred to the other one. Currently, we have an appointed school board. Please take this two (2) question survey and let us know your thoughts. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QWM9J7D

we need your support!

There are two runoff elections on Jan. 5, 2021, in the Georgia elections. Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff really need your support. This election is crucial to all of us and especially crucial to the success of the Biden administration. If we can win these two seats, we will break Mitch McConnell's chokehold on the Senate. Please go on Warnock's and Ossoff's websites and donate to their campaigns: https://warnockforgeorgia.com/ and https://electjon.com/

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Hanover Democratic Women's Coffee Caucus

All Democratic and Like-Minded Women Are Welcome!  

Faye Prichard, Hanover County's only Democratic member of the Board of Supervisors will be the special guest at our February Hanover Democratic Women's Coffee at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 18. Please join in — by Zoom, of course — to hear Faye give us an update on our local government happenings.  

Our Coffees are great for energizing fellowship with other Democratic Women. Come to learn, but come to talk, too, as we maintain connections while observing social distancing. There's plenty of room for a really big group at these virtual Coffees and new friends are always welcome. For more information contact Diane Neergaard at daneergaard@comcast.net or 804-304-1951. 

Our Coffee Caucus is a group of Democratic women of all ages who, in non-Covid times, meet monthly, sometimes in the day and sometimes in the evening, at the homes of volunteer hostesses at different locations around the county for the pleasure of being with other Democratic women and to make bonds so we can better work together. During this pandemic, we are grateful to continue to meet by Zoom. We have no formal memberships or fees.

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