NEW YEAR - NEW CHALLENGES

Lest you think the need for involvement is over with the end of the 2008 elections, pick up your newspaper, turn on the radio/TV or surf the internet to see what challenges are facing us. The aircraft industry is experiencing declines; environmental threats from coal fired plants still loom and yes, there are coal ash storage ponds in Kansas! Budget cuts are a sure thing.

Legislators, both state and federal will be making decisions that will have long term impact on us all. You can be assured that rant radio is out there firing up the faithful to blitz lawmakers with their views and preferences and these listeners do take action and make waves. Common sense and the proper course of action can be overwhelmed by a flood of messages from right-wing activists. So unless you want you future determined by Dittoheads, do your part to make YOUR thoughts and wishes known.

There will be several opportunities to be involved and informed in the next few weeks: the Democratic Womens's Club is meeting at noon, Tuesday January 13th at the Airport Steakhouse. The speaker is Heidi Unruh who has hosted several gatherings to encourage input from Democrats as to actions they can take to influence decisions that will affect us all.
The Big 1st District reorganization meeting will be held in Hutchinson, Saturday January 17th at the Grand Prairie Hotel from 10:30 to 4 PM. The $15 registration fee includes lunch.
Reno County Democrats will resume the Last Wednesday Meetings on Wednesday January 28 at the Great Wall/Mongolian Buffet from 5:30 to 7 PM. Bottom line: you can particpate and take action or sit back and wish someone had spoken out on your behalf. Unforturnately, one voice speaking the truth and offering the right solutions can be drowned out by distortion and wrong ideas if they are in the majority. It's not right but it's the way the world works!

YOUNG DEMOCRATS TO HIT THE ROAD TO D.C.

They've been there to help since the group formed in '07. They made and sold buttons like crazy along with the other assistance they gave during the campaigns across Reno County. Now the Young Democrats are fulfilling a dream that started back in January last year when many attended the Obama rally in El Dorado. Several members along with sponsor Kam McEwen and her husband Randy will be making the trek to our nations capital to be party to the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

The tickets were purchased with proceeds from button sales but they will be sightseeing at several attractions while in D.C. Meals, transportation and incidentals may be pricey especially at a high tourist traffic time so they are asking our help. There will be a fund raising event held Wednesday, January 7 at the Metro Cafe at 17th and Lorraine from 6 to 8 p.m. Several area legislators have accepted an invitation to meet with attendees. There will be a special Obama Inauguration Watch Party Basket filled with goodies raffled off that night. It would be terrific if there were a big turnout to wish them well and possibly donate a dollar or so to their travel fund.

OBAMA HEALTH CARE MEETING WELL ATTENDED

Drove into town thinking I might see a few familiar RCDem faces at the meeting that was announced in the Hutch News. The moderator, Bunny Czarnopys applied to the transition team for a position and was accepted. I later found out she is acquainted with Trish Rose and Kam McEwen. Yes, there were several in the crowd I recognized, but most encouraging is that there was a CROWD! It was obvious from overheard comments that there were representatives of a broad spectrum of the political arena. Still there was actually a lot of concensus as to problems and even a few solutions.

It's my hope that there will be even more of these town hall forums in time to come. This is what we voted for; it's what we need and it appears it may be what Obama's administration is going to deliver. The election may be over but the work has just begun and we should be willing to stay committed to the change we all supported.