Message from the Chair

From the Chair, Val Torrens

Hi all,

Today is a time for thank-yous. First, thank you to all of you who attended our annual salmon dinner & auction. We had a great turnout – if I heard correctly, this was the largest attendance we’ve had yet. Way to go, 23^rd LD! We show up when it counts!!

I don’t have the final totals but our treasurer is working hard to get all the funds distributed in the appropriate places for the PDC (Public Disclosure Commission) so I know we definitely brought in some monies to our account . This will enable us to help our candidates and their campaigns this year and next year. I am always proud and thrilled to know that our LD is able to support our candidates financially. It is a very important part of why we exist. It enables our candidates to run campaigns that are viable and with the expectation of winning.

Of course, we would not be able to raise funds without all the gracious donations our LD members provided for the auctions – both silent and live. We know people like experiences and events so there are always places to go and things to do from a fishing trip to seeing a ballet to attending a professional sports game. So, thank you to all of you who provided those items! And, well done to Mary Bryant who led the work to get the offerings for us to bid on!

But, the biggest thanks goes to our LD members who did all the work to make this dinner/auction such a success!! First, we have Patrick R. Wright, decked out in his hand-crafted salmon attire. He provided the creative spark that infused and coordinated our dinner/auction. Check out your bidding program to see his handiwork. Thank you, Patrick! Then we have the dynamic duo of white/dark chocolate better known as Daria Ilgen and Shannon Turner. They kept the evening moving along and folks entertained – yum, yum Next, we have our auctioneer who stepped into the role at the last minute and did a great job! Thank you, Chad Enright!

And, we have our folks who support all this by setting up of the auction tables, handling the ticket sales, auction items/bid numbers, assisting with technology and addressing whatever issues arise so that the event runs smoothly. Many thanks to Greg Relaford, Danialle Turner, Colleen Taylor, Kathy Canderle, Ginger Sommerhauser, Leiyomi Preciado. And thanks to Adi Hayuk for bringing people who might not have come without that personal invitation. We are much better with more diversity in our gatherings! My apologies to anyone I have missed.

Of course, no list would be complete without recognizing those who spoke to us sharing their thoughts on the direction of the party and what we can do to make the Democratic vision a reality and what is happening now. So many thanks to our dynamic state party chair and national vice-chair, Shasti Conrad, outstanding state treasurer keeping our state finances in order, Mike Pellicciotti, and our stalwart LD state senator Drew Hansen who always listens to us – THANK YOU!! Here’s to a blue November!!

On another very important note, Thursday is the anniversary of 9/11. I know there will be observances and I encourage folks to attend one if they can.  Sadly, with the state of things in the world today, people need to be more vigilant than ever. May peace persist at this point,