At last Saturday's Jefferson Day Dinner, this donkey danced with Crystal Lake's Ashley Beese and Jessica Coates, plus Margi Tinberg of Woodstock. Photo credit: The First Electric Newspaper.
The McHenry County Democratic Party reported having $7,620.53 on hand at the end of March.
That number reported spending $1,047 for the invitation, but a number of contributions for last Saturday’s event don’t seem to have been booked by March 31st…unless they are among $1,300 unitemized contributions.
There were two $500 union contributions from
Carpenters Local 2087 PAC
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 117 PAC
Local Republicans have $7,200 in the bank after depositing Lincoln Day Dinner receipts.
McHenry County Democratic Party Chairman talks about giving to food pantries as a way of advancing "social and economic justice."
Here’s an article on the web site of the McHenry County Democratic Party.
Re-printed with permission, it tells of Chairman Mike Bissett’s fast to benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank from last Wednesday until his party’s annual Jefferson Day Dinner on Saturday, April 14th.
Hunger is not a game
“Do you know what real hunger is? Have you ever wondered if you’ll eat today, or tomorrow, or even next week?
“Nearly 50 million Americans wake up every day wondering if they will have enough to eat. One out of every 8 people in Illinois need help from a food pantry just to get by.
“Those statistics are shocking. Those facts are shameful. This is America, the richest country on Earth. Why is there so much hunger? What can WE do to fix this?
“We can do two things.
“First, we can work to elect leaders who care about the poor and the hungry, and who recognize our collective responsibility to ensure a life of dignity for every American. That’s what makes us Democrats.
“Second, we can help the hungry by supporting local food pantries and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. If you really believe in social and economic justice, there is no better way to prove it than by helping to make life a little better for your neighbors in need. That’s what makes us human.
“I’ve decided to help raise awareness of this issue by fasting for 10 days. I haven’t had anything to eat since the morning of Wednesday April 4, and I won’t eat again until the evening of Saturday, April 14. I’ll be posting a daily video blog during my fast, and I will use that as an opportunity to tell you more about the problem of hunger in America.
“April 14 is also the evening of the Democratic Party’s Thomas Jefferson Dinner. Our keynote speaker will be Pete Schaefer, the president and CEO of the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
“I hope you will join us. Supporting our party’s mission is one of the most important things you can do. Thank you.”
The McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee is holding a dinner April 14th.
The Jefferson Day Dinner is a counterpoint to the annual Lincoln Day Dinner Republicans run.
This is the message on the address side invites people to "Take a Stand for Justice." The affair will be held at Village Hall Banquets, 8512. S. Union Road in Union.
Reservations are due by April 7th.
The price is $75, $600 for a table of eight or $750 for a table of ten.
McHenry County Board member Paula Yensen has her number on the invitation as the contact person: 815-404-3918.
Pete Schaefer, CEO of the Northern Illinois Food Bank will be the keynote speaker. Food donations are solicited.
The McHenry County Building Trades Council will be given the Robert McGarry Award for Community Service.
The McHenry County Democrats' Jefferson Day Dinner invitation features Occupy Wall Street demonstrators, as well as other iconic images of downtrodden people, plus quote from President John F. Kennedy.
I thought the McHenry County Democratic Party moved its annual Jefferson Day Dinner last spring from Crystal Lake’s Holiday Inn to Sun City’s Prairie Lodge to protest the Holiday Inn’s not having workers who belonged to a labor union.
It just occurred to me that last night McHenry County Democrats gathered at the same Holiday Inn to watch U.S. Senator Barack Obama accept his party’s nomination for president.
But, I’m confused.
Why was it unacceptable to hold the Thomas Jefferson Day Dinner at the Holiday Inn this past spring, but it is OK to hold the Barack Obama nomination blow-out there a couple of months later?
One holdout from the McHenry County Dem party is Dave Bachmann, candidate for McHenry County Coroner.
Bachmann provided this statement to McHenry County Blog:
“Strong ‘Core Beliefs’ are not beliefs that you stand on from time to time based on a ‘Political Wind’ or for photo or press opportunities.
“The facts that caused the McHenry County Democratic party to pull out of its plans for its annual Jefferson Dinner Party Fundraiser to be held at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn are still in play today.
“It is ‘unconscionable’ to me that Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the McHenry County Democratic Party Chair, has shifted her position, so soon and so easily, by supporting this Historic Event being held at a facility she just months ago chastised for its lack of supporting a Democratic cause.
“She allowed the official McHenry County Democratic web sight as access for publication of this incredible, historic national event. The same web sight, just four short months ago, she utilized to publicize her distaste for the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn venue.
“This election is about Integrity and standing firm on core beliefs that the American workers should be supported unconditionally.” Bachmann stated.”Rather than sacrifice my core beliefs and values towards our hard working American men and women, I will not attend this event.”
I confirmed that the Holiday Inn is still a non-union employer.
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I thought the McHenry County Democratic Party moved its annual Jefferson Day Dinner last spring from Crystal Lake’s Holiday Inn to Sun City’s Prairie Lodge to protest the Holiday Inn’s not having workers who belonged to a labor union.
It just occurred to me that last night McHenry County Democrats gathered at the same Holiday Inn to watch U.S. Senator Barack Obama accept his party’s nomination for president.
But, I’m confused.
Why was it unacceptable to hold the Thomas Jefferson Day Dinner at the Holiday Inn this past spring, but it is OK to hold the Barack Obama nomination blow-out there a couple of months later?
One holdout from the McHenry County Dem party is Dave Bachmann, candidate for McHenry County Coroner.
Bachmann provided this statement to McHenry County Blog:
“Strong ‘Core Beliefs’ are not beliefs that you stand on from time to time based on a ‘Political Wind’ or for photo or press opportunities.
“The facts that caused the McHenry County Democratic party to pull out of its plans for its annual Jefferson Dinner Party Fundraiser to be held at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn are still in play today.
“It is ‘unconscionable’ to me that Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the McHenry County Democratic Party Chair, has shifted her position, so soon and so easily, by supporting this Historic Event being held at a facility she just months ago chastised for its lack of supporting a Democratic cause.
“She allowed the official McHenry County Democratic web sight as access for publication of this incredible, historic national event. The same web sight, just four short months ago, she utilized to publicize her distaste for the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn venue.
“This election is about Integrity and standing firm on core beliefs that the American workers should be supported unconditionally.” Bachmann stated.”Rather than sacrifice my core beliefs and values towards our hard working American men and women, I will not attend this event.”
I confirmed that the Holiday Inn is still a non-union employer.
= = = = = Any image can be enlarged by clicking on it.
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