Democratic Women of the Desert: News

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The Democratic Women of the Desert are dedicated to promoting social, economic and political policies that reflect the priorities of women. We serve the entire Coachella Valley of California.

Our May Meeting

Update

May 8, 2012
Update

Honoring Special Women

DWD’s second annual Women Honoring Women event is 11:30 a.m. Sun., May 20, at Mission Hills Country Club. We hope you’ll join us—and bring friends. It’s our annual fundraiser at which we’ll recognize five outstanding women (see the attached flyer for details). Individuals, retailers and restaurants have been very generous, so we have some great silent-auction items and opportunity-drawing prizes. Please bring cash or checks.

Mission Hills will serve us a fabulous luncheon. The event is $35 for all who pays in advance—a one-time special offer to guests, to encourage them to attend, to support DWD, and to join. We’ll be glad to reserve a table for large groups. Please RSVP by Mon., May 14, to Ingrid Pratt (760/218-0377; ingrid2r@yahoo.com). See you there!

In case you didn’t see it, Dolores Huerta, one of the honorees, will soon receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. The White House announced the award on April 27. We remain hopeful her schedule will allow her to join us.

ACLU Speaker on Immigration

Dr. Ruben Rumbaut, professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine, will speak at an ACLU meeting, 1:30 p.m. Sun., May 20. His speech is: “Paradise Shift: Immigration, Mobility, and Inequality in Southern California.” Unitarian Universalist Church of the Desert, Rancho Mirage. Free and open to the public.

Ruiz Campaign Gains Attention

Dr. Raul Ruiz, candidate for U.S. Congress, recently received some good news. His race moved to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red-to-Blue” list. The Red-to-Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. If you want to support Dr. Ruiz, please donate and contact his campaign HQ. www.drraulruiz.com

Upcoming Events

• Elizabeth Toledo, candidate for the Riverside County Board of Education, is holding a supporter’s gathering 6-8:30 p.m., Tues., May 15, at the DeAztlan’s home. $35 donation suggested. RSVP to: elizabethforrcbe@gmail.com.

• Mark Orozco, candidate for California Assembly, is holding a Fundraising Fiesta 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at Toluca’s Mexican Restaurant, Beaumont. $40 donation suggested. www.markorozco.com

• Veterans for Peace will recognize Indio City Council member Sam Torres at its Memorial Day Awards Luncheon, 12 noon, Mon., May 28, at the Rainbow Bar & Grill, Palm Springs. Other veterans also will be recognized. Dr. Ruiz is the guest speaker. $18. Call Tom Swann at 760/324-5670.

Our Reps at Dem Convention

Thanks to those who voted in the April 29 election to select representatives to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., in early September. Our congratulations to: Paula Kozlen, Vern Kozlen, Greg Rodriquez, Mary Jane Sanchez, Robert Westwood and Jennifer F. Wilson.

Point, Counterpoint

The Desert Sun invited a Democrat to write an op-ed piece on why President Obama should be re-elected. I opted to write the piece, and you’ll see it soon in the newspaper. U.S. Representative Mary Bono Mack will make the case for Mitt Romney.

Dori Smith, president

Photos of Our April Meeting

At the April meeting, Jess Stoddart, a board member of the Desert Chapter of the ACLU, discussed "Safe California," the initiative to abolish the death penalty that will be on our November ballot. Her presentation dealt with the death penalty's exorbinant costs for taxpayers, the extreme delays in the appellate process, and concerns regarding the possible execution of innocent persons. At the conclusion of the meeting there were brief presentations by candidates for the Riverside County Central Committee and the 2012 national Democratic convention.

Photos of our March Meeting

The 2012 Women's Forum, co-sponsored with the Democrats of the Desert, attracted a large crowd for the meeting held at the Date Palm Country Club. A number of issues of concern to women were explored by a speakers panel that included: Dr. Paula Caplan, Harvard Fellow and noted author; Dr. Raul Ruiz, emergency room physician and our candidate for Congress in the 2012 election; Vincent Hall, a vice president of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest; and Amalia DeAztlan, a women's issues activist and political campaign consultant.

For pictures of other Club events, click on "Photo Album" in the blue menu bar at the top of this page