

a chance to meet with our East Side members and friends.


to support a millage increase for the non-profit that is on the Aug. 7 Primary ballot.
An average house now pays about $10 annually for the District’s services—
the increase would bump it up to $12.50. Afterwards, we voted to endorse the proposal.


at our picnic in Lake Ann’s downtown park.


voter registration and a free picnic in the park.


Thanks, Jill, for leading our charge into Lake Ann—and thanks, John, for helping to rustle up the grub!


at his farm to support Kathy Wiejaczka’s run for the Michigan House.
Her husband Kent looks happy about that!


She’s running for the state house of representatives, joined here by Amanda and her husband, Kent.
Before squaring off against the Republican candidate, Kathy must win the Aug. 7 primary.


over hot dogs and lemonade at our Lake Ann picnic.


drew big laughs, and reminded us way too much of a certain U.S. attorney general. Thanks to Mary Robling
and Steve Thompson for their fine chilis; Linda Farrell for the salad, and Jim Dulzo for the cornbread.


The Awful Truth amazed us with its irony and prescience about today’s off-the-rail politics,
from health care to guns to sex scandals.


who fixed us up with some good chili while campaigning for office! Thanks, also, to Dodie Fitzgerald for chili,
Lori Hill for cornbread, Deanne Loll for salad, and those wonderful, unsung peeps who brought awesome deserts!


and sign people up as precinct delegates—the key to local party-building...


to go with the bagels, fruit salad, cookies, sausage bites and, of course….coffee!




introduced himself at the meeting and talked about his speciality—economics.
He also chatted with Don Smeltzer (right), formerly a Benzie County commissioner


meeting Caroline Yaste, one of our newest. Welcome, Caroline!


Annie Browning’s one of our newest members, and an increasingly active volunteer!




Go, Mark, Go! Here he is with (left to right) his wife, Virginia, Keira Duvernoy, and Jan Gulliver-Kline

with proceeds dedicated to helping five Benzie Central students travel to Washington for a giant,
week-long civics lesson, called Project Close Up. Lots of Benzie Dems and friends showed up
and we raised some serious cash.


Benzie Central’s civics and government teacher and Close Up coordinator.
The five young women are (left to right) Hannah Lilly, Mercedes Deeren, Ally Heinz,
Thea Grey, and Annabelle Fortine.
With nearly 90 dinners sold, extra donations from many diners, and the Party’s check,
the Benzie Dems’ Close Up Dinner raised close to $2,000!


and shared her excitement about running for the U.S. House seat currently occupied by Jack Bergman.


Close Up student Ally Heinz in the busy Platte River Inn dining room.


had a fine time while waiting for their dinners.




a founder of the Benzie Advocates, and his wife, Jan.


Linda Pepper (left), and Sylvia and Allan McCullough are strong Grand Traverse Democrats,
they read our email blasts, decided to check us out, and said they were mighty glad they did!


enjoyed the hearty chicken dinner.


and said they’re really pleased to see Democrats so active—movies, candidates, meetings, fundraisers.
They were really quite surprised!


Thanks for always being there, you guys (and gals)!

for the march there, but some of us headed to Manistee to support our friends in the next county.
We were glad to be part of the more than 100 folks who showed up, marched around the downtown,
attracted more than a few friendly honks, and then listened to a few speakers.




so that she could thank all of the adults who are so strongly supporting the March for Our Lives movement.
She was deeply moved by our march, and we were touched by her, too!


She talked about how she’s cared for people her whole life,
as a nurse, and that her first priority is the safety and well-being of people across the region,
not big donors, especially the NRA. She’s depending on everyday people like us
to keep her campaign going, and backs the goals of the March for Our Lives movement.


He said that getting more data about gun violence is crucial to figuring out how best to control it.
While he’s glad the new budget bill allows research to resume,
he said far more needs to be done to find best solutions.










and one of her supporters all set to march in Frankfort.
































while Dems parade organizer Sue Koenig surveys her royal realm.









