Wichita County Democratic Association

June 2009

Volume 1, Number 6

Next Meeting

Thursday, July 16th

Luby’s Cafeteria

1801 9th Street

6-8 pm

Program:

Health Care Reform

Brian Hull, MD

Fish Fry

Our FISH FRY is scheduled for July 11^th at Lucy Park, 10 AM to 3 PM. Tickets are $8. Approximately 500 tickets already given out to sell. Hotdog plates will be sold July 11^th for $5.

Call Annetta at 322-5307 or Stephanie at 569-1866 to obtain tickets and to volunteer your time.

Officers:

President:

George Senn

696-1434 or 882-1600

Vice President:

Mary Cantrell

781-0736

Secretary:

Frieda Rodriquez

337-3361

Treasurer:

Joe Ballog

Membership Info:

? Dues $10 Per Year

? Pay at the meeting or                                      mail to:

WCDA

PO Box 4161

Wichita Falls TX

76308               

Websites:

http://www.txdemocrats.org/

Texas Democrats-Moving Texas Forward-lots of great information & other good links

http://tdw.org/

Texas Democratic Women

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

The White House – see the latest news from Washington

http://www.texasyds.org/

Texas Young Democrats

Contact Us

wichitacountydemassoc@

yahoo.com

Phone: 696-1434

Other Democratic Organizations

Texas Democratic Women

2^nd Monday each month

Luby’s Cafeteria 11:30-1

Next Meeting: July 13th

MSU Democrats

Todd Hensley-214-502-9007

For more information

Texas  Young Democrats

Contact John Richie for time and place of meeting:

jrichie3692001@sbcglobal.net

704-5256

SMALL RESULTS CAN ACHIEVE AMAZING BENEFITS!

The story is told of a high school boy who attended the school’s annual district track meet. His school, with less that 200 pupils from grades 1-12, had never won their district track meet since he entered high school. Toward the end of the school year, the eight schools met and their competition was on. As it happened, his school needed another boy to compete in the High Jump Event and his coach asked him to participate in an event for which he never practiced. However, he said “yes!” The time came for the High Jump causing him great anxiety. To his surprise when all the boys completed their final jumps, he tied two other boys for third place, giving each school 1/3 of a point toward their final tally in winning this “meet”. The young boy participated in his other scheduled events, performing quite well, and completely forgetting about his high jump experience. At the end of the day, all athletes, coaches and fans gathered to hear the announcement as to which school won the District Track Meet. When the announcer called out his school as the winner, everyone was stunned, to their amazement and joy; they won the District Track Meet by 1/3 of a point.

As we move forward preparing for the 2010 / 2012 elections remember: your vote counts, that one conversation, one phone call, one e-mail or one contribution may be the very act, which changes the outcome of an election. The next person you share your positive ideas with, or the person you invite to join our Association or to be a Democrat for change, may be the person who becomes a huge catalyst for Wichita County. More people are accepting the challenge of participating and being involved. Even when, at first, we do not comprehend how our efforts would ever make a difference, remember: “the results may just astound you”.

Thanks to all you for being involved and making change possible. 

George Senn – President WCDA

TOM SCHIEFFER FOR GOVERNOR!

BY John Bradshaw

Tom Schieffer of Fort Worth will announce his candidacy for Governor of Texas June 24^th. Tom was born in Fort Worth in 1947 and graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1966. In 1970 Tom received a BA degree with a major in Government and a minor in History from UT Austin, followed by a Masters Degree in International Relations in 1972.

While at UT, Tom worked in the legislative office of Senator Don Kincaid and the office of Governor John Connally. Political activities also included working with the campaigns of Lloyd Bentsen, Mark White and Pete Geren. In 1972 Texas voters elected Tom to the Texas Legislature at age 24, where he served two terms. During this period of his life Tom attended law school and gained admittance to the practice of law in 1979.

Tom’s law practice in Fort Worth included business, plus oil and gas related activities. He remained active in political affairs as well as holding board positions with several firms along with board positions in several educational and charitable organizations. Tom was very involved with the Texas Rangers Baseball Club, including managing the construction of the Ball Park in Arlington, which Tom completed on time and on budget, and eventually became president of the organization.

In 2001, President Bush appointed Tom, a lifelong Democrat, to become United States Ambassador to Australia. While serving in Australia he received major recognition for extraordinary leadership and organizational skills. In 2005, Congress unanimously approved Tom's appointment as United States Ambassador to Japan where he served until 2009. Again, Tom received multiple awards for outstanding service and recognition of his excellent performance as Japanese Ambassador.

Tom has a firm commitment to public education, extensive roots in the Texas Democratic Party and the ability to rise above political partisanship to serve his state and country effectively.

Tom married his wife Susanne, 29 years ago, and his brother is Bob Schieffer of the CBS program “Face the Nation.”

(This article is not an endorsement of Bob Schieffer by John Bradshaw or the WCDA)

New members:

Salis O’Salis, Bob Estrada, Troy Farris, Bobby and Delores Ingram, Robert Garnett, Marjorie Tilford, William and Minnie Young, Miriam Jensen

Contact Stephanie to turn in funds from Fish Fry ticket sales or to obtain or purchase tickets. 569-1866.

2010 Texas Democratic Candidates

For Governor: Tom Schieffer (Fort Worth lawyer), Kicky Friedman (Austin personality)

For US Senate: Bill White (Houston Mayor), John Sharpe (possible)

For Texas Attorney General: Barbara Ann Radnofsky (Houston Lawyer)

Did you know Italians settled in Montague in the 1880’s?  In the 1880s, Italian immigrants begin to arrive in Texas in large groups. These were mostly farmers who settled in three areas: the Brazos Valley around Bryan, mainland Galveston County, and Montague County in the Red River Valley.

The Montague group was from northern Italy. Never large in number, they engaged in agriculture, including planting some vineyards, primarily to supply the family table, but a few small wineries operated until Prohibition.

Source: http://www.texasalmanac.com/culture/groups/italian.html

Ancient Ovens Italian Restaurant (http://ancientovens.com/) – Located about 7 miles North of St. Jo is a great place to eat.  Call ahead for reservations: 940 366-4255.