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Political Calendar for the Week of May 10, 2015:
Sunday, May 10: Mother’s Day.
Monday, May 11, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon’s View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary’s Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr’s Cafeteria). New price: buffet lunch is $10.00 cash, $12 credit; just a drink is $3.50. Featured speaker is Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild campaign update. Next Week: Vin Nitido, CEO Trico Electric on “Future energy concerns of local power utilities.”
Monday, May 11, 7:00 p.m.: Democrats of Oro Valley meeting, at the Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive (SE corner at La Cañada). For more information please contact Mike Dayton at teachers12@msn.com or (520) 742-3774, or visit our web site http://www.demsov.org/.
Tuesday, May 12, 3:30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats meeting, at SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 E. Galveston Lane (Saddlebrooke). For more information please contact Hollace Lyon at Email Us or visit our web site. SaddleBrookeDemocrats.org.
Wednesday, May 13, 6:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting, at Ak-Chin Ultra Star Multi-tainment Center, 16000 Maricopa Road (Maricopa), in the Ten Pins Rock’n Roll Room. For more information please contact jjjudd@live.com or like us on Copa City Dems | Facebook.
Thursday, May 14, 5:30 p.m.: Yavapai County Democratic Party meeting, at the Prescott Adult Center, 1280 E. Rosser Street, Prescott, AZ. Featured speaker is state Sen. Katie Hobbs. $5 if you bring a dish to the pot luck, $10 if you don’t. Please RSVP at yavdem@cableone.net or (928) 541-0413.
Thursday, May 14, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Nucleus Club meeting, at the Viscount Suite Hotel, 4855 E. Broadway Blvd. Guest speaker is Pima County Assessor Bill Staples. For more information please contact Ash Silverburg at (520) 326-3716.
Memorial Services for Governor Raul Castro
There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial for Governor Raul Castro on Saturday, May 16th at 11 a.m. at the State Capitol. In addition, there will be memorial masses held in Nogales May 15th at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Tucson May 15th at 2 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Cathedral and in Phoenix May 16th at 9 a.m. at St. Mary’s Basilica. His ashes will be interred in a private ceremony in Sedona.
Saturday, May 16: Armed Forces Day.
Special Announcements:
DCSRA Discussion Group
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.: Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area hosts a Current Events Discussion Group at the DCSRA Headquarters, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. Join us at the weekly meeting of the Democratic Headquarters Current Events Discussion Group. We’ll talk about some of the major events of the previous week, including but not limited to political topics, and try and go behind the news for a deeper understanding. For more information, please contact Jean Vickers jean.vickers@cox.net.
Drinking Liberally
Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m.: Drinking Liberally. Location TBA. An informal, inclusive progressive social group, and lively discussion. Contact: www.livingliberallytucson.org.
Tuesday, May 19, 11:00 a.m.: Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona meeting, at the Pueblo del Sol Country Club, on St. Andrews Drive in Sierra Vista. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00. For reservations, please contact Kathy Marvin, President of the DWSEA through email at kathleencrafts@gmail.com or by telephone at (520) 803-6697. Visit our web page.Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona.
Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 9 meeting, at Northwest Medical Center, La Paloma Urgent Care Community Classroom, 4001 E. Sunrise Drive. For more information please contact Brian Clymer at brianclymer@yahoo.com or (520) 297-3539.
Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m.: Oracle Democrats meeting, at the Oracle Fire Department, 1475 W. American Avenue (Oracle). For more information please contact Renee Barbaree at reba520@q.com or (520) 896-9054.
Democrats of The Red Rocks – Looking Forward to 2016
Wednesday, May 20, 6:00 p.m.: Democrats of The Red Rocks presents “Looking Forward to 2016 – Restoring Sanity to the Arizona Legislature,” at the Jewish Community Center of Sedona and the Verde Valley, 100 Meadowlark Drive, Sedona (Rte. 179 just south of Chapel Road roundabout). Featuring a panel of Arizona legislators: Senate minority Leader Katie Holmes, Senate Minority Whip Martín Quezada, and former state Senator chad Campbell. Each panelist will discuss current legislative challenges and the 2016 elections. Please RSVP to reserve a seat to this free event by calling (928) 274-6541 or go to Special Event RSVP.
Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 p.m.: Democracy for America – Maricopa County (DFA-MC) monthly meeting will be moving to the 3rd Wednesday of every month, and the new location will be Macayo’s on Central Avenue, South of Indian School. DFA-MC is on the web, Facebook and Twitter. For more information contact DFAofMC@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 10 meeting at Pima County Democratic Party HQ, 4639 E. 1st Street (one block South of Speedway and West of Swan). For more information lease contact Rob Selby at r_ybles@hotmail.com or (520) 790-3024.
Thursday, May 21, 8:00 a.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks Monthly Breakfast, at the Olde Sedona Family Restaurant Bar & Grill, 1405 W. Highway 89A (Sedona), Breakfast is $12, includes buffet and gratuity. Breakfast at 8:00 program at 8;30 a.m. For more information please contact info@democratsoftheredrocks.org or (928) 203-5858.
Saturday,May 23, 10:00 a.m.: Northern Cochise County Democratic Club meeting. Meeting locations rotate between Benson and Wilcox. For more information please contact Kathy Suagee at soprano.58@hotmail.com. Visit our web page Northern Cochise County Democrats.
Sunday, May 24, 2:00 p.m.: Legislative District 11 meeting, at the Wheeler, Taft, Abbett Library, 7800 N. Schisler Drive, Tucson (new location!) For more information please contact Jo Holt at legdist11dems@gmail.com. Find us at www.AZLD11Dems.org.
Monday, May 25: Memorial Day.
Monday, May 25, 6:00 p.m.: [No meeting in observance of Memorial Day; attend fundraiser on May 29] Legislative District 3 meeting, at the Joel Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue (parking under the library). For more information please contact Andrés Cano at andres@canoagroup.com or (520) 304-5778.
Tuesday, May 26, 11:30 a.m.: Blue Tuesday Luncheon Forum, at the Starfire Golf Club, 11500 N. Hayden (Scottsdale). If you want lunch, you must RSVP so we can order for you! Email jctillotson@msn.com. $20 – cash only – at the door! (If you RSVP, and then find you can’t make it, PLEASE LET US KNOW, or we’ll have to pay for your uneaten lunch!)
Wednesday, May 27, 10:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of the Prescott Area Luncheon, at the Centennial Center, 1989 Clubhouse Drive (Antelope Hills). RSVP is required: DWPrescottArea@gmail.com.
Thursday, May 28, 3:00 p.m.: Sunflower Democrats meeting, at the Continental Reserve Urgent Care meeting room, 8333 N. Silverbell Road (on the southwest corner of Silverbell Road and Continental Reserve Loop). For more information please contact democratsofcasagrande@gmail.com or call(520)251-8247.
Education Town Hall – Tucson
Thursday, May 28, 5:00 p.m.: Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas’ “Listening Tour” Education Town Hall, at Pima Community College Center for the Arts (West Campus), two miles west of I-10 on St. Mary’s Road. (St. Mary’s turns into Anklam Road.) Parking is free. The Superintendent is on a “listening tour” for public education. Let your voices be heard! This is especially important for classroom teachers: be prepared to share the reality of what is happening in your schools.
Thursday, May 28, 5:30 p.m.: Maricopa County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting. Meet and greet (and dinner) begins at 5:30. Meeting begins promptly at 6:00 pm.
Thursday, May 28, 6:00 p.m.: Casa Grande Democrats meeting, at Bedillon’s Restaurant (Adobe Room), 800 N. Park Avenue, Casa Grande. For more information please contact Jack Guthrie at democratsofcasagrande@gmail.com and Like Us on Facebook.
Thursday, May 28, 7:00 p.m.: Heritage Highlands/Dove Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Heritage Highlands Clubhouse, 4949 West Heritage Club Boulevard (Marana). For more information please contact Dick Reddy at (520) 579-9460 Richard.Reddy@fredonia.edu.
Friday, May 29, 5:30 p.m.: Legislative District 3 fundraiser, at the home of Joel Feinman, 638 S. Main Avenue, Tucson. Details TBA.
Arizona Democratic Party Heritage Dinner
Friday, May 29, 5:30 p.m.: Arizona Democratic Party Heritage Dinner, at the Talking Stick Resort, Sat River Ballroom, 9800 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. Keynote Speakers DCCC Chairman Congressman Ben Ray Lujan (NM) and former DCCC Chairman Congressman Steve Israel (NY). Tickets: Dem-AZ and PC Dinner ticket $125, Individual dinner ticket $250, Individual Sponsor $1000 (1 VIP and Dinner Ticket, Listing in the Program), Free Dinner Ticket for CSLC Members (with RSVP). Purchase tickets today to ensure you have a spot! Just follow this link: 2015 Heritage Dinner. For table and dinner sponsorships, contact Herschel Fink at 602-234-6808 or hfink@azdem.org for more information.
Saturday, May 30 [Time TBD]: Cochise County Democratic Party general membership meeting at HQ, 1234 E. Fry Blvd., Sierra Vista. For more information please contact cochisecodems@gmail.com or (520) 458-9467.
Sunday, May 31, 7:00 p.m.: Laughing Liberally Tucson returns to lampoon the national, state and local political scene. Come out and enjoy Tucson’s best and brightest comics as we try our best to save democracy…one laugh at a time. it’s FUN…it’s FREE…it’s Sky Bar Tucson. Last Sunday every month.
Monday,June 1, 6:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting.
2nd Annual PALF Awards Dinner & Silent Auction
Thursday, June 4, 5:30 p.m.: 2nd Annual PALF Awards Dinner & Silent Auction, at the El Casino Ballroom 437 E 26th Street (Tucson). Sponsorships levels are now available. Individual tickets and raffle prize tickets are available at the PALF office. Raffle tickets are $10 each, or 3 for $25. Please RSVP to awards.palf@gmail.com or call (520) 388-4139 to purchase by credit card.
Saturday, June, 10:00 a.m.: Legislative District 2 meeting,at the DCSRA Headquarters, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. For more information please contact Tom Prezelski at fusilero@aol.com.
Saturday, June 6: Maricopa County Democratic Party 2015 Summer Convention. Save the Date! Details TBA.
Monday, June 8, 7:00 p.m.: Democrats of Oro Valley meeting, at the Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive (SE corner at La Cañada). For more information please contact Mike Dayton at teachers12@msn.com or (520) 742-3774, or visit our web site http://www.demsov.org/.
The Lily Shafer Rights Restoration Project
Tuesday, June 9, 3:00 p.m.: The Lily Shafer Rights Restoration Project, at the Pima County Public Defenders office, 33 N. Stone Avenue, 10th Floor, Conference room, Tucson. A free workshop for people with Arizona and Federal Convictions at the Pima County Public Defender’s Office. Event hosted by Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court, the Civil rights Restoration Clinic of the James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona, the Office of the Pima County Public Defender, Second Chance, Primavera Foundation and the African American Democratic Caucus, Pima. For more information please call (520) 241-8408.
Tuesday, June 9, 3:30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats meeting, at SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 E. Galveston Lane (Saddlebrooke). For more information please contact Hollace Lyon at Email Us or visit our web site. SaddleBrookeDemocrats.org.
Wednesday, June 10, 6:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting, at Ak-Chin Ultra Star Multi-tainment Center, 16000 Maricopa Road (Maricopa), in the Ten Pins Rock’n Roll Room. For more information please contact jjjudd@live.com or like us on Copa City Dems | Facebook.
Thursday, June 11, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Nucleus Club meeting, at the Viscount Suite Hotel, 4855 E. Broadway Blvd. For more information please contact Ash Silverburg at (520) 326-3716.
Saturday, June 13, 9:00 a.m.: Tanque Verde Valley Democrats meeting, at Risky Business, 8848 E. Tanque Verde Road. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild campaign update. For more information please contact Lucy Messing at (520) 591-7615 or visit our web site. Tanque Verde Valley Democratic Club.
Saturday, June 13, 9:30 a.m.: San Tan Valley Democrats meeting, at the SRP Service Center, 3735 E. Combs Road (San Tan Valley). For more information please contact Dwight Snyder at dsnider@cox.net or (480) 331-9386, or visit our web site santanvalleydems.org and Like Us on Facebook.
Saturday, June 13, 10:00 a.m.: Mule Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Community Y, 26 Howell Avenue, Old Bisbee. For more information please contact John Viverto at vivertos@aol.com or visit our web page
Mule Mountain Democrats.
Saturday, June 13, 3:00 p.m.: Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area meeting, at the DCSRA Headquarters, Continental Shopping Plaza (second floor meeting room), 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. For more information, please contact Pam Duchaine at pamduchaine@gmail.com
LD 24 Sweet Synergy: Vegas Edition
Saturday, June 13, 7:00 p.m.: LD 24 Democrats Sweet Synergy: Vegas Edition, at Club Palazzo, 710 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix. Games, Entertainment, Celebrity Guests, and even some SURPRISES. For $25 you will start the night with $250 worth of chips. Use your chips to enter to win some of the fabulous raffle prizes that will be given away throughout the night, or risk all or some of it, for more chances to win. Try your luck at Blackjack, Roulette and Craps, while trying to increase your winnings throughout the night. Run out of chips, no problem. Cashiers will be available all night, offering you additional chances to buy in.Get your tickets now! Don’t miss out, cause you won’t be able to get the details the next day…’cause remember, “What happens in 24, Stays in 24”! Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE!
Sunday, June 14: Flag Day.
Tuesday, June 16, 11:00 a.m.: Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona meeting, at the Pueblo del Sol Country Club, on St. Andrews Drive in Sierra Vista. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00. For reservations, please contact Kathy Marvin, President of the DWSEA through email at kathleencrafts@gmail.com or by telephone at (520) 803-6697. Visit our web page.Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona.
Tuesday, June 16, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 9 meeting, at Northwest Medical Center, La Paloma Urgent Care Community Classroom, 4001 E. Sunrise Drive. For more information please contact Brian Clymer at brianclymer@yahoo.com or (520) 297-3539.
Tuesday, June 16, 6:30 p.m.: Oracle Democrats meeting, at the Oracle Fire Department, 1475 W. American Avenue (Oracle). For more information please contact Renee Barbaree at reba520@q.com or (520) 896-9054.
Wednesday, June 17, 6:30 p.m.: Democracy for America – Maricopa County (DFA-MC) monthly meeting will be moving to the 3rd Wednesday of every month, and the new location will be Macayo’s on Central Avenue, South of Indian School. DFA-MC is on the web, Facebook and Twitter. For more information contact DFAofMC@gmail.com.
Wednesday, June 17, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 10 meeting at Pima County Democratic Party HQ, 4639 E. 1st Street (one block South of Speedway and West of Swan). Please bring your items for the St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser to the meeting. For more information lease contact Rob Selby at r_ybles@hotmail.com or (520) 790-3024.
Sunday, June 21: Father’s Day.
Monday, June 22, 6:00 p.m.: Legislative District 3 meeting, at the Joel Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue (parking under the library). For more information please contact Andrés Cano at andres@canoagroup.com or (520) 304-5778.
Wednesday, June 24, 10:30 a.m.: Democratic Women of the Prescott Area Luncheon, at the Centennial Center, 1989 Clubhouse Drive (Antelope Hills). RSVP is required: DWPrescottArea@gmail.com.
Wednesday, June 24, 5:00 p.m.: Dia de San Juan Fiesta, at Mercado San Agustín, 100 S. Avenida Del Convento, Tucson, AZ. A traditional start of Tucson’s summer, Dia de San Juan celebrates the coming monsoon rain season and honors St. John the Baptist (patron saint of water). Highlights include a ceremonial procession and the blessing of an altar–the public is welcome to join in the procession. Activities include a charreada (Mexican rodeo events), performances by mariachi bands and folklorico dancers. Mexican cowboys and trick horse-riders (charros and escaramuzas) perform on horseback. There are games and activities for children and families, and vendors of food and refreshments for sale and free information. Staged at the corner of Congress Street and Avenida del Convento, west of downtown Tucson, at the Mercado San Agustin retail and restaurant plaza. Admission is free For more information please call (520) 861-4504 or Visit Facebook Page.
Thursday, June 25, 8:00 a.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks Monthly Breakfast, at the Olde Sedona Family Restaurant Bar & Grill, 1405 W. Highway 89A (Sedona), Breakfast is $12, includes buffet and gratuity. Breakfast at 8:00 program at 8;30 a.m. For more information please contact info@democratsoftheredrocks.org or (928) 203-5858.
Thursday, June 25, 3:00 p.m.: Sunflower Democrats meeting, at the Continental Reserve Urgent Care meeting room, 8333 N. Silverbell Road (on the southwest corner of Silverbell Road and Continental Reserve Loop). For more information please contact democratsofcasagrande@gmail.com or call(520)251-8247.
Thursday, June 25, 5:30 p.m.: Maricopa County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting. Meet and greet (and dinner) begins at 5:30. Meeting begins promptly at 6:00 pm.
Thursday, June 25, 6:00 p.m.: Casa Grande Democrats meeting, at Bedillon’s Restaurant (Adobe Room), 800 N. Park Avenue, Casa Grande. For more information please contact Jack Guthrie at democratsofcasagrande@gmail.com and Like Us on Facebook.
Thursday, June 25, 7:00 p.m.: Heritage Highlands/Dove Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Heritage Highlands Clubhouse, 4949 West Heritage Club Boulevard (Marana). For more information please contact Dick Reddy at (520) 579-9460 Richard.Reddy@fredonia.edu.
Saturday, June 27, 10:00 a.m.: Northern Cochise County Democratic Club meeting. Meeting locations rotate between Benson and Wilcox. For more information please contact Kathy Suagee at soprano.58@hotmail.com. Visit our web page Northern Cochise County Democrats.
Sunday, June 28, 2:00 p.m.: Legislative District 11 meeting, at the Wheeler, Taft, Abbett Library, 7800 N. Schisler Drive, Tucson (new location!) For more information please contact Jo Holt at legdist11dems@gmail.com. Find us at www.AZLD11Dems.org.
Cochise County Democratic Party Wine Tasting
Sunday, June 28, 2:00 p.m.: Cochise County Democratic Party Wine Tasting, at Coronado Vineyards, 2909 E Country Club Drive, Wilcox. Guest Speaker is Rep. Victoria Steele. Individual tickets are $40, for PCs and Blue Cochise members $35. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.
Sunday, June 28, 7:00 p.m.: Laughing Liberally Tucson returns to lampoon the national, state and local political scene. Come out and enjoy Tucson’s best and brightest comics as we try our best to save democracy…one laugh at a time. it’s FUN…it’s FREE…it’s Sky Bar Tucson. Last Sunday every month.
Tuesday, June 30, 11:30 a.m.: Blue Tuesday Luncheon Forum, at the Starfire Golf Club, 11500 N. Hayden (Scottsdale). If you want lunch, you must RSVP so we can order for you! Email jctillotson@msn.com. $20 – cash only – at the door! (If you RSVP, and then find you can’t make it, PLEASE LET US KNOW, or we’ll have to pay for your uneaten lunch!)
Saturday, July 4: Independence Day.
Netroots Nation 2015
Thursday, July 16 – Sunday, July 19: Netroots Nation Convention at the Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix. This is the largest annual gathering of progressives in the Nation. For Netroots Nation 2015, we’re choosing to go to Phoenix and make immigration a central issue to the progressive agenda. We haven’t won on this legislation. We’re mindful that we are about to launch into the 2016 presidential cycle, and it’s time to step up as a movement on this issue. We want everyone aspiring for office in 2016 a from the President to Congress to local offices – to know that if you don’t support taking real action on immigration reform, you won’t win our community’s support. There’s a burgeoning progressive infrastructure in Arizona that could use more support, and there is a lot to discuss from a policy perspective. It’s time to start talking about how militarizing our police forces and borders is problematic, how trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have created the economic conditions for the migration from Central America, and how this issue ultimately comes down to family. For more information please contact desiree@netrootsnation.org and visit Netrootsnation.org.
Thursday, August 6: 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it easier for Southern blacks to register to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes, and other such requirements that were used to restrict black voting are made illegal. In June 2013, the “Felonious Five” of the conservative activist U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, reasoning that it was no longer responsive to current conditions. The very same day, Southern states imposed new restrictions on voters, proving the court wrong.
Saturday, August 15: VJ Day. 70th Anniversary of Victory over Japan, ending WWII.
Wednesday, August 26: Women’s Equality Day.
Monday, September 7: Labor Day.