Our biennial reorgaization got off to a great start on Saturday, December 3, as 30 people participated in the caucus and were voted into membership of the HDC for the 2011-2013 term. What a great start for the next two years! Now we need you to join at the next meeting on Saturday, January 14 at 10 a.m. at Ashland Coffee & Tea.

We closed the 2011 term with 94 members, a healthy treasury and an election effort marked by team work and good organization. We are looking forward to re-electing President Obama, electing Time Kaine to the Senate, electing a Democratic Governor and defeating Eric Cantor. We can only do that with your help.

Please note, we have changed our meeting time to 10 a.m.

HDC Executive Committee

At the reorganization meeting, Gordon Silver was re-elected to serve another two-year term as chair of the HDC. Other officers include: Toni Radler, vice chair, outreach; Clark Mercer, vice chair, technology; Jaime Kannan, vice chair, fundraising; Sonya Arrington, treasurer; Lakisha Greenhow, Recording Secretary; Pamela Fay-Williams, Events Coordinator; Martha King Anderson and Yvonne Walker, minority outreach.

District Chairs for 2011-13:
Beaverdam--Willie Mills
Chickahominy--Therese May
Cold Harbor--Diane Neergaard
Henry--Mo Moretz
Mechanicsville--Steve Sneed
South Anna--Mary Knight

Well, our Democratic candidate for the Board of Supervisors, Kevin Damian, didn't win the Ashland District. The independents whom individual HDC members supported didn't win. But the HDC did come out a winner. We worked like Trojans and we were a well oiled machine staffing the polls and conducting an afternoon GOTV ("get out the vote") phone bank. Overall we were involved in campaigning, strategy and planning for Kevin and some of the independent candidates.

Of course, we are greatly disappointed that Kevin and several great independent candidates didn't win seats on the Board of Supervisors. We are concerned that Hanover will be worse for wear (see Steve Sneed's Monthly 2 Cents Worth below). But what we are pleased about was the HDC's ability to campaign, financially support and be a real presence in the November elections. This is practice for 2012, when we will be dedicated to unseating Eric Cantor and getting Tim Kaine elected to the Senate against George Allen.

Thanks to all of you who organized precinct polling, canvassed, contributed money, attended special candidate events, made phone calls, wrote letters to the editor, staffed phone banks, and enthusiastically supported our HDC efforts. There are many, many members who deserve special attention for the work they did, throwing heart and soul into this race....too many names to recount here. Special mention must be made about our District Chairs who really stepped forward and organized special events, staffing at the polls, special phone efforts, etc. In addition, the visibility of the HDC was greatly increased through these events, and our tents at the Ashland District precincts. To these folks and to all of you, we really are grateful for your work and dedication. It was amazing! Remember, we're just getting started. The real battleground is next November 2012. And we're ready to go again, this time, with more experience and more purpose than ever.