FUNDRAISER FOR BLACK OUT - CANDIDATE BLACK THAT IS - 10/13, 6:30-8:30P​M, LBURG

THE EMERGENCY IS

WE REALLY NEED A BLACK OUT

 

 

And it’s HIGH time for a BlackOut
in Loudoun & Prince William Counties!

ANTI-CHOICE SENATE CANDIDATE DICK BLACK
 
YOU REMEMBER - THE AUTHOR OF THE INFAMOUS PLASTIC FETUS

Please Join the NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC Board for a BlackOut party to keep anti-choice Dick Black OUT 

of the state Senate! 

________________ 

 

Thursday, October 13, 20116:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

At the law offices of Campbell Flannery PC

19 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

(Parking in back of our offices)
____________________

What's at stake .... ?

Plenty!  See, for eg, -  

http://bronxgadfly.blogspot.com/2011/05/gazette-column-women-know-your-governor.html

____________________

You’ll meet PAC Executive Director Tarina Keene
and find out how NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC
is taking on Dick Black and
answering other threats to reproductive freedom
in Virginia.  

 

Also, meet special guests 

Senate candidate Shawn Mitchell 

and

Senator Mark Herring.
____________________

 

Host Committee (still in formation): 

John Flannery • Charlie Jackson • Karen Raschke Catherine Read • John Sherman 

Choice Champion Host: $500

Choice Defender Host: $250 

Guest Suggested Donation Levels:

Choice Power Couple: $125

Choice Advocate: $100

Choice Ally & Young Professional: $50  

 

Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and great political conversation!

 To RSVP or for more information, 

please contact Caroline O’Shea at rsvp@naralva.org or 202-973-3085.

MEDIA WELCOME - PLEASE TRY TO LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE - jonflan@aol.com

Warmest regards,

John

John P. Flannery II
CAMPBELL FLANNERY PC
19 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176
Office: 703-771-8344; Cell: 202-365-5060
www.johnpflannery.com
jonflan@aol.com

[from my inbox. I'll be arriving at this event a bit late, because I have a CSB meeting that same evening. Crossposted @ Loudoun Progress]

Random bullets of a busy weekend

• NARAL Pro-choice VA's LUNAFEST event was splendid! Valdis Ronis and his daughter Shanyn joined us, along with many others. We also got donations from many local businesses, as well as local friends. So here is a thank you to Valdis, Erika, The Reign of Cats and Dogs, and Rouge Spa. Your generosity is appreciated.
• The kick-off for Cliff Keirce was terrific. Bonefish was generous with the food and drinks. I had great conversations with lots of people. People from within and without the new Broad Run were there. Including some people I think Andrea would have expected to be fully with her. I gave a donation, and have pledged to walk with Cliff in Oakgrove and many other precincts. 
• Went to two picnics (one on Saturday with my son's after-school, one on Sunday with the UUs of Sterling).
• On Sunday at church, I was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for being a part of the UUs of Sterling. The members of that church are all community-oriented, politically aware, generally progressive. I realized that leaving the LCDC didn't mean I had left the only community that was involved locally in causes that are important to me. 

While we're discussing the door-knocking season

There's one possible candidate who won't be needing me to canvass for him this year.

Stevens, I couldn't be prouder of all the work you've done for Loudoun and Virginia the last few years. Thank you for letting me be part of it.

Relay for Life 2011

See that button there?
<-------

Please click on it and donate to the American Cancer Society!! Last year I did 20 miles, I'd like to do 26.1 this year!

Where I'll Be

(from epluribus unum's posts on Loudoun Progress and Equality Loudoun)

"Loudoun Out Loud Kickoff:

Leave a comment below if you want to attend.


A bit of background: As recently as 2005, some members of the Loudoun County School Board were discussing a policy that would have prohibited the presentation by our public school drama departments and clubs any work that acknowledges the existence of GLBT people. That ridiculous situation, largely created by former delegate Dick Black and some of his family members, was provoked by a student's original work. See Equality Loudoun archive. Although the policy eventually adopted by the board did not include unlawful viewpoint discrimination, the debate (which included threatening hate mail and some atrocious behavior at School Board meetings) did result in a chilling effect. The message was, as one drama department head put it, "Don't poke the bear." That era of self-censorship has now ended with the announcement that The Laramie Project has been selected as the spring play at Broad Run High School."




As to why we need to do this? Check out the comments at the Loudoun Times Mirror (HT David Weintraub).

EVENT REMINDER!!

INVITE DETAILS
"Cherish Choice - A Woman's Constitutional Right Under Attack in Virginia"
-
What you need to know that's happening, and an opportunity for action to defend a woman's right of choice. So please join us for champagne, hors d'oeuvres, a concert violinist, and an informal conversation on a most distressing issue -- Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's current attacks on a women's basic reproductive rights here in Virginia -- and how we can fight back.
-
John and Holly Flannery will host and introduce: NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Executive Director Tarina Keene, so Tarina can update us on the status of Choice in the commonwealth, what's at stake in the upcoming General Assembly session and 2011 election, and what you can do to make a difference.
-
DATE AND TIME: Saturday, December 11, 4pm-6pm
PLACE: The home of John and Holly Flannery
Ithaca Manor, 38469 Triticum Lane, Lovettsville, VA 20180
SUGGESTED DONATION: $50 to support NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia

Back to School Nights!

The weather outside is delightful. Sunsets, balmy breezes, that slight rustle from leaves preparing to change. And that happy refrain, "Hi! I'm Liz Miller! My friend Jeff Barnett is running for Congress!"

Farmers Market Round Up

It was a fun time, but short. The Ashburn Farmers market is open from 8 to noon Saturdays. Produce, eggs, meat, DELICIOUS cupcakes (also available at a kiosk in Dulles Town Center), beautiful breads and pies.

I saw a woman who was toting a Chico bag, and complimented her on it.

Had several great conversations - with vendors, with shoppers, and with Catherine.

There wasn't much of a crowd there, so from a leafleting POV, Leesburg's market is a better bet, but the people were great.

On my way to hand out lit with Catherine Barnett

At the Ashburn Farmers Market!! It's on the corner of Farmwell and Ashburn Village, behind the Fuddrucker's.

Come by and say hi!

Did you know I've got four parents?

Mom and David came in to town last weekend, Dad and Roz are coming this weekend.

Dad and Roz are on strict medical diets, so I won't be taking them to Jimmy's or Joe's, but I will bring them to Hama Sushi and possibly Jackson's (or Sweetwater) or maybe American Flatbread.

Do you have any suggestions of places you like to take your out-of-town relatives?





As always, these links are here because I love these restaurants. I'm not being compensated for putting these links on my page. I hope you support these wonderful local businesses.

VOTE TODAY!!!!

Virginia town elections are TODAY! TUESDAY! MAY 4! Go vote!

Leesburg: Marty Martinez.
Herndon: Cesar Del Aguila.

I'll be working the Brandon Park polls at Loudoun County HS from 4 PM till closing. See you there!

On my way...

...To my first NARAL-VA board meeting.

WOOT!

Phone banking for Cesar del Aguila

That's what we'll be doing a bit later this afternoon. Why don't you join us?

I'm now on the board of NARAL Prochoice Virginia

This makes me very happy! I'll be attending my first board meeting on the 23'd and, of course, will be at Luna Fest on April 7th.

It's no secret that I'm pro-choice. I mean, it's not like I haven't written about it several times.

Most women I know have had at least one time in her life where she has waited desperately for her period to come --- and thought every moment until it did about what she would do if it didn't.

Other women, like Cecily, have desperately wanted the children they were pregnant with, and faced a choice of abortion or death.

Abortion must be kept safe and legal. Contraceptives must be kept safe and legal. And everybody should be taught (age appropriately) how babies are made. And if they are in puberty: how contraceptives ACTUALLY work, and how to use them.

I'll be posting a link to NARAL's site in my sidebar later, along with a link to donate to them.

From the inbox

Time for our region's Democrats and open minded people to get organized!

Networking Reception

February 24th, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.

For this evening networking reception, DAD is excited to feature:

Terry McAuliffe

Please join DAD for this exciting event!
This is the chance to hear

Terry McAuliffe
talk about the future of the Democratic Agenda in Virginia.

Location:

Home of Cesar del Aguila

Fort Nightly Square

126 Fortnightly Blvd

Herndon, VA 20170

Cost:

$50 - Supporter

$100 - Patron

$250 - Sponsor

$500 - Host

Purchase Tickets

(Special rate for Young Democrats: $25)

Directions: From Toll Road, head north on
Elden Street, drive through five stop lights, the next street: turn left on Center Street, Turn Left
into Fort Nightly Square. There is plenty of parking available on Center
Street, Fortnightly Blvd and Grace Street.

Dulles Area Democrats mission is to be a hub of information, coordinator, organizer, and supporter of the Democratic Party at the local, state and national levels within our region. We are open to bringing together the diversity of thoughts and interests within the progressive spectrum. The goal is to build a community of united Democrats in the Dulles region to have an impact on local and state politics.

We hold monthly breakfast meetings with guest speakers, build an online community to inform and cultivate the Democratic Party, and support other Democratic related activities. Please come out and support this very important community development effort.

Please
RSVP:

Allison Dickert

allisondickert@gmail.com
or
571-213-8578
www.DullesAreaDemocrats.org

Email authorized by Dulles Area Democrats, a non-affiliated Political Action Committee Robert Haley, Chair, www.dullesareademocrats.org

Email Marketing by

Dulles Area Democrats PO Box 10 Herndon VA 20170

Where I come from

I come from a neighborhood in Brooklyn that probably has the highest concentration of gay and lesbian parents of any place in this country.

My best friends had gay parents, my 5th grade teacher was a gay parent...so coming here it was kind of a shock to find out that there are people who think that gay people shouldn't get married, shouldn't have kids, shouldn't teach school.

Now, the folks I grew up with are just plain folks. Living their lives. Going to the grocery store. Wiping their (grand)children's noses, and kissing their scraped knees, and making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches on 7 grain bread (just kidding about that, they make almond butter and jelly sandwiches on 7 grain bread).

In no way are the parents of my friends ever confrontational about their lives, they just live them. They are people...who happen to be gay and lesbian...living lives exactly like those of the straight folks next door.

And it seems, from comments on John Stevens's blog, that just having a conversation about it is disrespectful of the commenters' reading of the Bible.

Well, okay, not one person who didn't want to talk about it showed up. Which is fine. We had a great discussion anyway, and I'll post a link to the video when it gets posted. (To start, here's a podcast of Anna Holmes's sermon from Sunday morning's services.)

But I'm going to say this here, now. My friends' parents, my fifth grade teacher, my cousin...they have a right to live their lives. They should be allowed to get married. They should be allowed to adopt children, together with their spouses. They should never have to worry that if one of them gets sick, the other won't be allowed to visit her spouse in the hospital. They should not have to worry that if one of them dies, the other won't be able to stay in their house. This is not about religion, this is about basic justice. This is about human dignity.

Great LCDC Meeting Last Night!

• LCDC has a facebook page!


• We had a brief visit from Bill and Tracee from ENDependence. They're really happy with us for being aware of accessibility issues.


• Jeff Barnett and Dennis Findley both spoke (Rich Anthony was at our December meeting). I love that we have such a great set of candidates to run against Frank Wolf this year. My intention is stay neutral in this primary, because they all have strengths I think we can use in Congress. The thing I like best about all of them? They follow the five rules of campaign speaking:


1. Tell everyone who you are.
2. Tell them what you're running for.
3. Tell them why you're running.
4. Ask them to help you.
5. Tell them who you are.

I will be posting campaign updates from all candidates as they send them to me.

• We had a visit from a guest speaker who forgot that this was not a group concerned about an unduly speedy gov't takeover of healthcare, we're a group who wanted Single Payer Healthcare - yesterday. Steve, thank you for joining us! I hope we weren't too rough on you! Please tell everyone back on the Hill that we want Medicare for Everybody NOW.


• I asked everybody to call or canvass for Eileen Filler-Corn.


• Several new members joined us, and several lapsed members returned!


• We got updates from the chairs of the various committees


• We got times and places for district and full committee meetings (I'll post them here, too!


• We were reminded of various volunteering, and civic involvement opportunities


• Stevens asked the membership to join us next Sunday at the UUs of Sterling for the Standing on the Side of Love forum. More on this later.
  
• And I got several people signed up to join the Membership Committee! YAY!

Goings on About Town

LCPS has bought the first hybrid school bus in Virginia, one of 12 in use nationwide. On the one hand, yay! Environmental responsibility! On the other, yow! Expensive! On the third hand (if you have one), we could expect to see a savings over 12 years due to efficiency. I'm leaning towards yay! but need to wait and see if we really do see a fuel cost savings.

The Virginia Senate passed a bill (37 to 3!) that prohibits HOAs from banning the use of clotheslines, though HOAs still have the ability to limit size and placement. I'm really happy about this, and hope that the House follows suit.

Cliff Keirce got sworn in as Dulles Planning Commissioner. Let me hear a WOO-HOO!!!

The LCDC will meet in the Board Room at the Loudoun Government Center on Thursday, February 4th at 7:00 (6:30 gathering for chatter and whatnot).

Town elections are coming up soon. I'm excited about the folks I know about who are running for Herndon and Leesburg. I need to buy a new pair of sneakers though. My old ones are walked through.

Reminders:

Tomorrow, Saturday January 9th is the LCDC Reorganization Meeting. It starts promptly at 2:00 at Heritage High School. Nominations for officers will be accepted from the floor and officers will be elected. I'll see you there!

On Sunday, we'll be canvassing for Marsden. I hope you'll join in as well. You can also do phone-banking (even virtual phone-banking from home!). The election's on Tuesday, people. Let's make it work.

Thank you!

Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. I really appreciate them!

Where I'll be tonight: CSB program review task group meeting (talking about how to maximize our Medicaid billing - please join us if you've got insight into this issue!). And then on parent duty while Teh Spouse is at a town hall meeting in South Riding.

If you're going to be at the town hall meeting, please remember that the BOS gives a bucket of money to the School Board, but it's the School Board who decides how to spend that bucket of money. If they don't choose to spend it on teacher raises, that's not something the BOS can control.