Kent County Democratic Party

We have lost the greatest United States Senator of our time

Wed", "26" "Aug" "2009" "09:30:00" "-0400

The Lion Sleeps Tonight. A sad day, but The Cause Endures

The Work Goes On

You're Invited to Sweet September with Granholm and Cherry

Wed", "22" "Jul" "2009" "22:30:00" "-0400

Sweet September with Jennifer Granholm and John Cherry

You are invited to an evening with Michigan's Governor and Lt. Governor

September 24, 2009

General Reception
at Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center
301 W Fulton St
Grand Rapids, Michigan
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Ticket: $100

Post-Party Reception
Host Reception: $1000
Cherry Champion: $3400
6:30 – 8:00 pm at home of
Matt & Lois Tomasiewicz
2567 Hunter Green Court SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Host Committee in formation.
Deadline August 5th to be listed on invitation.
Please contact Traci 635-0900 or westmichigan4cherry@gmail.com for more details.

From the Second Congressional District

Wed", "20" "Jan" "2010" "22:30:00" "-0500

The Second Congressional District is interested in getting more active members from Kent County. If you live in Tyrone, Sparta, Alpine or most parts of Solon township you live in the 2nd District (the rest of us live in Vern Ehler's 3rd District). If you wish to get involved in the 2nd District Party, contact Denise or Lance.

November 2009 Election Results

Wed", "04" "Nov" "2009" "08:00:00" "-0500

Congratulations KCDP-endorsed Grand Rapids Commissioner Rosalynn Bliss (Ward 2) and new Grandville Commissioner Steve Kauffman.

Thanks for all you have done for the people of Grand Rapids Commissioner Jendrasiak, we'll see you out there doing what you've always done -- fighting for people, neighborhoods, and public safety.

Charity Poker Volunteers Needed

Tue", "15" "Dec" "2009" "11:30:00" "-0500

We have a great opportunity to have the Kent County Democratic Executive Committee host a charity poker event from 21-24 January. We should be able to make several thousand dollars for our non-partisan work (same as bingo). We're looking for volunteers to work shift (you just have to do administrative work at the door). Please contact Phil.

More Information soon.

Thanks to all the Volunteers at Labor Fest

Tue", "08" "Sep" "2009" "07:30:00" "-0400

Huge thanks to all those great Democrats who volunteered at the KCDP-OFA Booth on Monday for LaborFest:

Birthdale Archie
Adam Bakker
Jim & Ginny Cronover
Eric Foster
Cherie Giles
Shirley Kallio
Steve Kaufmann
Ric Maycroft
Donna Monro
Lupe Ramos-Montigny
Nathan O’Connell
Eileen Rios
Barb Smoyer
Bob Synk
Phil Skaggs
Diane Ward
Jim Wesholski

Former Democratic Congressman Dick VanderVeen's Memoir Published

Tue", "08" "Dec" "2009" "13:30:00" "-0500

A press release from the publisher:

Words and Actions: The Writings of Dick VanderVeen (AuthorHouse, 2009)
Selected and Edited by Amy Pattullo

A memoir of former Grand Rapids Congressman Dick VanderVeen has recently been published, titled Words and Actions: The Writings of Dick VanderVeen. A Democrat from a strongly Republican district, the author was first sent to Washington in a 1974 Special Election to fill the seat vacated by Gerald R. Ford, when Ford became vice president. VanderVeen’s campaign calling for Richard Nixon's resignation at the height of the Watergate scandal riveted the city's attention and put Grand Rapids in the national spotlight. His election was read in Washington as a sign of widespread erosion of support for President Nixon, and it contributed to Nixon’s resignation six months later.

Many area residents knocked on doors and stuffed envelopes for that campaign, and remember their participation with nostalgia and pride. Dick VanderVeen, who died in 2006, is remembered for his dedicated constituency service during his three years in office and for his continuing leadership over a lifetime. He founded one of the largest law firms in the city, helped to establish Grand Valley State University, spearheaded the Ryerson Library Foundation, and served governors of both parties on state highway and mental health commissions.

His selected writings, taken largely from journals and letters, show a man who never stopped wrestling with how to live and how to make his life count. “Every human,” he wrote, “has within him a spark—an ability to climb out of himself—to rise above the daily struggle and to do—occasionally—what he conceives he was created to do.” He expressed frustration with the institutions he was most invested in, church and government, especially during the social upheavals of the 1960s and ’70s, asking, “How can it be that so much good will, scholarship, ability—is so ineffectual?” Ultimately, though, he cherished a “deep-seated humanitarian instinct in American people . . . something unique and distinct and which can be called American Civilization.”

In addition to his political activities, Dick VanderVeen was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, a graduate of Harvard Law School, an amateur sailor and world traveler, a businessman, and a reader and book collector. The richness of his experience adds color and authority to his writings. Anecdotes and commentary about such local and national figures as Jerry Ford, Bill Seidman, Martha Griffiths, Charlie Rangel, Phil Hart, Lee Hamilton, and George H. W. Bush make this a fascinating book for the political aficionado.

These reflections on politics, leadership, religious faith, and American ideals are of particular interest today, as the country faces stresses at home and abroad in an atmosphere of extreme political polarization. The author served in Congress during an equally troubled period in our history, when the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War contributed to a climate of public disenchantment and cynicism. But he saw his 1974 Special Election victory as an affirmation of democratic ideals, “a triumph for young people,” he called it, “who could see that it was possible to accomplish great things within the political process.”

More information on the book is available from the publisher at http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62617

Contact:
Amy Pattullo

Announcing the Annual Gala Dinner

Tue", "04" "Aug" "2009" "19:30:00" "-0400

KCDP Gala Dinner

The Fundraising Committee is pleased to announce the date for the annual party gala.

Thursday, 15 October

evening dinner

Back at Noto's Old World Italian Dining

Tickets will remain at $50 for a regular happy hour (cash bar) and dinner ticket.

We'll have more information on our speakers soon, but for now, mark your calendars and we'll see you in October.

You can already by tickets
securely online at
http://www.actblue.com/page/kcdpgala2009

If you are interested in being a Table Sponsor ($500) or Host ($750 and $1000 levels) contact Maggie Simmons at masimmons988@comcast.net or 443-4090 or Phil Skaggs at 446-2280 or philskaggs@kentdems.com

We may also have a pre-dinner reception with the guest speakers for an additional ticket.

RIP Jim Riekse

Thu", "13" "Aug" "2009" "10:00:00" "-0400

With deep sadness, we pass along the news that democratic activist and KCDP Executive Committee member Jim Riekse passed away yesterday morning. Jim was involved in progressive politics going all the way back to 1968 before becoming a television journalist in Muskegon and then for WZZM and then returning to run the coordinated campaign for the Democratic ticket in 2004. Jim was also active in the Grand Rapids Service Corps, the Grand Rapids Youth Boxing Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy. Jim was 63.

Visitation will be at the Central Reform Church at College and Fulton Street on Friday 6-8 pm and Saturday 1-3 pm.

Funeral services are at 3 pm, Saturday, also at Central Reformed Church.

Out thoughts and prayers are with his daughter Jamie and son Jim and his entire family.

Press Article on a Possible Future Leaning Democratic Congressional District

Thu", "12" "Nov" "2009" "10:00:00" "-0500

The Grand Rapids Press ran an article this past Sunday speculating on the creation of a Kent-Muskegon Congressional district after the 2010 census that would lean about 52% Democratic. It's a dream that can only become a reality if we work hard to gain the people's support and win elections in Kent County in 2010. Eyes on the prize, but feet on the ground working.

Thanks to Camp Millie Organizers and Attendees

Thu", "12" "Nov" "2009" "09:30:00" "-0500

Thanks to the organizers from the Justice Caucus and everyone who attended the Camp Millie Grand Rapids training this past weekend. If you missed, it we'll have more trainings coming through town in the future. Get to one and get elected (or help a friend).

Photos from the Gala

Mon", "26" "Oct" "2009" "01:00:00" "-0400

Photos from the KCDP's Fifth Annual Gala are up on facebook (I'll have them here later today)

Thanks to all the Volunteers at the Eastown Street Fair

Mon", "21" "Sep" "2009" "06:00:00" "-0400

Thanks to everyone who volunteered at the Kent County Democratic Party & Organizing for America booth at the Eastown Street Fair on Saturday. It was a beautiful day with a great crowd. We passed out healthcare lapel stickers, met hundreds of people and signed lots up for volunteering and getting on the newsletter list, and had new bumper stickers available. Thanks everyone:

Adam Bakker
Dee Benner
Teresa Burns
Linda Cherrette
Richard Erdman
Gussie Farris
Eric Foster
Cherie Giles
Cheryl James
Steve Kaufmann
Joseph Makuach
Nathan O'Connell
Lance Penny
Phil Skaggs
Barb Smoyer
Ann Sullivan
Jim Talen
and Michael

Clean Water Action Hiring Part-Time Organizers

Mon", "16" "Nov" "2009" "08:30:00" "-0500

Clean Water Action in Grand Rapids is hiring for part time organizers to help make Clean Energy a reality. Are you interested in making some money to protect the environment?

Email Marta Johnson at mjohnson@cleanwater.org

Thanks to all Hosts and Volunteers at the Fifth Annual Gala

Fri", "16" "Oct" "2009" "09:30:00" "-0400

Thanks to everyone who volunteered to make the Gala such a success:

Maggie Simmons -- the Fundraising Committee Chair
Elizabeth Lykins
Lupe Ramos-Montigny
Cheryl Warner
and all the members of the Fundraising Committee who helped out:
Fred Clowney
Jim & Ginny Cronover
Ida DeHaas
Hal Froot
Traci Kornak
Sue Levy

and the young Democrats who volunteered during the event

And thanks to our Gold Sponsors
UAW Region 1D
Celia Said

Our Speakers Circle Hosts
Steve Pestka
Roy Schmidt
RWDSU
Tim Burns & Richard Doud
Elizabeth Lykins & Phil Skaggs

And all our Table Hosts
Rosalynn Bliss
Brandon Dillon
Greand Rapids Education Association
Walt Gutowski – and also to his Friends in the band and for donating the programs
IBEW Local 275
Kent County Education Association
David LaGrand
Sue Levy (who was unfortunately left off the program, Thanks Sue!)
Lupe Ramos-Montigny
Teamsters Local 406
Lois Tomasiewicz
West Michigan Plumbers & Pipefitters UA Local 174
Fred Clowney, Maggie Simmons & Cheryl Warner
Craig & Freeman Haehnel
Carol Hennessy & Janice Yates, and
Iron Workers Local 340 & Bruce Hawley

Thanks to our two fabulous speakers: Professor Jocelyn Benson and State Senator Gretchen Whitmer.

and, of course, thanks to everyone who attended.