WIXLIB

Newsletter of the Democratic Club of the Conejo ValleyMARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAYLUNCHEONOn Monday, January 21, 2008, at noon the DCCVwill celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.with a luncheon held at Marie Callender’sRestaurant & Bakery located in the Paseo MarketPlace, 3635 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., WestlakeVillage.We are fortunate to have three wonderfulspeakers: Elda and Ron Soderquist and ColonelWallace Dailey (ret.).The Soderquists’ presentation, “Carrying Coffinsto the Capitol Steps in Montgomery, Alabama,1965” will describe their experiences during theCivil Rights Movement – particularly when theyjoined the walk on Montgomery. The organizersprepared ten black-draped coffins to symbolize themurders of civil rights workers and the four younggirls who died when a bomb exploded at theirchurch. The Soderquists and others accompaniedthe coffins to Montgomery and laid them on thesteps of the Capitol.January 2008VOLUNTEER RECOGNITIONDINNER BENEFITS HOSPICE OFTHE CONEJO VALLEYThe DCCV’s Volunteer Recognition Dinner onDecember. 12 benefited the Hospice of the Conejoin the amount of 1,555. About 100 members andguests gathered to recognize volunteers, enjoymusical entertainment and hear Claudia Bill-de laPeña, keynote speaker and Maria Prescott, executivedirector of Hospice of the Conejo.The event at the Thousand Oaks Inn includedcocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner.The evening started with musical memories by clubmembers Charles and Marilyn Davis, and theirdaughter, Maripat sang. They were accompanied byBob Erickson on piano. A DVD coveringHospice’s 30 years in the Conejo Valley was shownduring dinner.To some, slavery is ancient history. But it isn’tmany generations ago that slavery existed in ourcountry. Colonel Dailey’s grandfather was born aslave and had many conversations with his grandsonabout that time. Colonel Dailey will share thosememories in his talk “Martin Luther King, Jr.’sImpact on Our Lives.” As a member of King’sfraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and the Martin LutherKing, Jr. Memorial steering committee, ColonelDailey will also give us an update on the Memorial.The cost is 12.00 per person (pay at the door)and includes a beverage, tax, gratuity and one of thefollowing: Lemon Chicken Luncheon, Roast Turkeyon Ciabatta with Fresh Coleslaw and ChickenCaesar Salad. Please make your reservations fromJanuary 7 – 18, 2008 by calling 805-675-8785.Remember to leave your name, phone number and email address.Presenting a check to Maria Prescott, (right) ExecutiveDirector of Hospice of the Conejo is Tom MUllens, (center)President of the Democratic Club of Conejo Valley with JerryClein, (left) Treasurer of the club assisting.(continued on the following page)

(continued on the preceding page)Volunteer RecognitionPresident Tom Mullins MC’d the event andintroduced our special guests. Sandy Emberlandspoke on the importance of volunteers in our cluband the many organizations that depend onvolunteers, such as Hospice of the Conejo Valley.Don and Rickey Katz, long-time members, receivedspecial recognition. All members who helped withclub events this year were presented with a donkey“volunteer” pin to wear proudly in their futureendeavors. In all, 45 members were recognized.By Sandy EmberlandClaudia Bill-de la Peña, Thousand Oaks CityCouncil member, spoke on the importance ofvolunteering in the city and how much of a financialimpact it has on the city budget. We greatlyappreciate her joining us.Maria Prescott, joined by a dozen HospiceVolunteers, showed some projects that volunteershad developed and shared. Being a volunteerhospice means that they must raise money throughdonations to fund their activities. Tom Mullens andJerry Clein, treasurer, presented a check to Maria. Intotal, the evening netted hospice about 1,555.Between speakers, Penny Strowger and hercommittee drew raffle winners for a 50/50 raffle,won by Kathy Smiley, and for a variety of rafflebaskets. Kathy generously donated her half of theraffle to Hospice.Jim McIntyre conducted a live auction of a oneweek vacation on the Mexican Riviera near PuertoVallarta, donated by Ingrid Van Eckert. After livelybidding, the week was won by the Gunther family.This was the first volunteer recognition eventsponsored by the club, and by all accounts was a bigsuccess. We will have plenty of opportunities tovolunteer next year, which is a three election year.No organization runs without its volunteers, and theDCCV honored those club members who have doneso much to keep our club going at a VolunteerRecognition Dinner benefiting Hospice of theConejo.We have had a busy year – precinct walking,tabling at various events and The Oaks Mall, a Winefor Winners wine tasting fundraiser, a pancakebreakfast to kick off our voter registration drive,followed by a registration roundup barbeque, our 5thannual Garden Party, and our first VolunteerRecognition Dinner benefiting the Hospice of theConejo Valley. I think it is appropriate that weteamed with Hospice because they are anotherorganization that runs because of its volunteers.Don and Rickey Katz, long-time activemembers of the DCCV, were brought to the stageand singled out for their volunteer efforts. Nearly10 years ago when I attended my first meeting, witha handful of people, I first met Don and Rickey.Don is a past president of the club, a member of thecentral committee for 10 years, a member of thestate Democratic party’s executive board, the State’sveterans’ caucus, Ventura County transportationadvisory council, ACLU and a strong supporter ofthe Separation of Church and State. Don alsovolunteers as a docent at the Commemorative AirForce Museum in Camarillo. In spite of bouts of illhealth, Don continues to find interesting speakersand entertainment for our meetings and staysinvolved. And wherever Don goes, Rickey is by hisside, supporting him and keeping him on track.When I asked Don what he felt was the biggestproblem in politics today he said it was that religion istoo involved. He also thinks we should all know moreabout the Preamble to the Constitution. If you ask him,he can recite it for you without hesitation.This year Jody Avery-Smith has been ourcorresponding secretary, Director of our TV-show, Eyeon the Issues and worked at the Conejo Valley Daysbooth and at the Ventura County Fair booth. She alsohelped coordinate the Recognition dinner.Marilyn and Maripat Davis singing during dinner.Penne Letson is the editor of our monthlynewsletter, hosts the folding and mailing of thenewsletter and gets them in the mail. She makes themost incredible sourdough pancakes which we enjoyedat the club’s Pancake Breakfast which kicked off ourvoter registration drive. Penne is an invaluablevolunteer.

We thank the following volunteersfor their hard work in 2007:Miriam AlbertAdrienne AndersonShelly AustinLinda BrownArlene & Jerry CleinMichael DalyMary Kay DonahoeDave EttingerMary FreedBruce GardnerElinor GustafsonJudy JordonJay & Linda KapitzDeb KelnerJared LawsonJim McIntyreSylvia & Cleo NavarroSean RichardsRochelle SechoolerTeri SmolarskiKaren & Seth StevensSharon ThomasMary WallinWalt WilkeKara AltshulerMelanie AshenDebbie BirenbaumSusie CanfieldLiz & Alfred CohnGeorge CorbinCharles & Marilyn DavisSandy EmberlandGerda FaddenMark GageRick & Sue GuntherElaine HerzogSteve KaneDon & Rickey KatzRichard KolberGene MarksTom MullensMillie ReinaSuzy SealKathy SmileyConstance StarkeyPenny StrowgerIngrid Van EckertLoretta WalshDAPPER SERVERSRE-NEW YOUR MEMBERSHIPHAPPY NEW YEAR! It is time to RE-NEWYOUR MEMBERSHIP for 2008. Join up and helpus get this nation back on the right track. Pleasefollow the simple directions on the membershipform and send it in or, better yet, bring it with youto the next meeting! 2008 is going to be an excitingand essential year for our club, our party and ourcountry. Debbie Birenbaum,ginso350@roadrunner.com. You can pay yourdues online at www.conejodemocrats.com.Do you have neighbors or friends who areDemocrats and would like to join the most activeand progressive club in the valley? EYE ON THE ISSUESEye on the Issues is now airing on Wednesdays at7:30 p.m on Channel 25. The subject discussed inDecember is Women in the Military, a shocking andinformative program. For January we arererunning the Dennis Kucinich show in order togive all the volunteers who make this programpossible, the month of December off. Thevolunteers include: Constance Starkey, Host andwriter of all the scripts, Teri Smolarsky, Asst.Producer, Sue Gunther, Producer and Jody AverySmith, Director. The new year promises to beslanted more to our politicians as we move towardthe election. Club Cookbook ContinuesWow!Thank you to our servers – Roy Emberland, BruceGardner and Jim McIntyre. They looked dashing intheir tuxedo shirts and helped by serving salads forour recognition dinner. Bill Solomon not pictured.We have some good cooks among themembers of the Democratic Club of the ConejoValley. Many, many thanks to those of you whohave submitted recipes for inclusion in the clubcookbook. But we haven’t heard from all of you,and know there are more members who haveintended to be included, but just haven’t found thetime. So we have postponed publishing and arecontinuing to take recipes with plans to put the booktogether in spring. Please call Sharon Thomas at805 499-2423 with questions, or e-mail her atsharonannethomas@roadrunner.com if you needthe submission form.