Our next general meeting is our Just Desserts Friend-Raiser. Our keynote speaker is Bryan Berghoef who has run for 2nd District Michigan Congress in the past. In 2016 Bryan founded Holland United Church of Christ, the first UCC congregation in Holland. Bryan always has a thoughtful and positive message for all of us. There will be music by Ruth Miller, and we will eat THE BEST CHERRY PIE you will find. Suggested donation for tickets is $5 per person, but additional amounts are always appreciated. We are meeting at http://www.cherrypointmarket.net/.

RSVPs are REQUIRED, to Chris VanAntwerp at vanantwep@yahoo.com, no later than 8/26/25 please. We hope to see you all there!

In lieu of tip jars at the event, you can submit your donations through ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/justdesserts2025

We won! We did it!

We stopped the book banning at the Hart Public Library! Thank you to all who attended and helped support the freedom of information.

Image source: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/books

There were many more people attending to prevent book banning, than the one person who tried to ban the Gender Queer book at the library on August 11 at the Hart Community Center. Folks gave fabulous speeches in support of people having the ability to read what they want. The library board voted unanimously to keep the book on the shelf! This is democracy! This is what it looks like and how powerful it is!

Pizza for the People was a hit, again!

Close to 100 adults, plus kids enjoyed beautiful weather, great music and fantastic Laughing Tree Bakery Wood-Fired pizza pies, salads, tea and lemonade. Video courtesy of Mariann Kwiat: Director, Writer, Camera, Editor.

We had a fabulous turnout yesterday in in front of the Ocean County Courthouse, for Good Trouble Lives On, the national day of nonviolent action that celebrates the life and social justice efforts of Congressman John Lewis, and emphasizes the need for resistance to the current administration's unjust, harmful social and political practices. Several folks spoke about their concern and fear, including a lifelong Republican who expressed that it terrifies him that the administration is swiftly destroying the rights of "we the people." This includes the right to protest, as well as the right to due process and bonds for immigrants. The weather was perfect, faces were smiling and one talented gentleman even sang us a beautiful song he wrote about the state of humanity.

“VIRTUAL” POSTCARD WRITING EVENT

PLEASE JOIN YOUR FELLOW OCEANA COUNTY DEMOCRATS IN THIS ACTION

“It would only take a couple of Republicans to defect to begin the end of this administration."

– Adam Kinzinger
Former Republican Representative

With Republican Senators Collins and Murkowski, both expressing fear and concern about the administration…imagine if we all flooded their mailboxes with postcards urging them to put country over party!! 

So…..Let’s do it!!
Let’s all write postcards to each of these two Senators. You can do it in the comfort of your own home, two postcards, one to each Senator.

Here are suggestions of what you might write on the back of your postcards to each Senator:

Dear Senator_______,

1) You are not alone in your fear, there are millions of Americans who are afraid too but who will support you if you make a stand for the rule of law, the constitution and for what is morally right. We so need a heroine right now! Please be our heroine, put country before party!
or
2) It would only take you and a couple of your Republican colleagues to stop this madness. Millions of Americans would cheer you on, we are with you! Have courage, change the course of history, and put country before party!
or
3) Please make a stand, put country before party and begin to end the madness. Millions of Americans will support you. Have faith & courage

Then sign it, “Your fellow American, ______”

And on the return address on the front of the postcard put your state with your zip code.

Here are the addresses for each Senator:

Senator Collins, 68 Sewall St., Room 507, Augusta, ME, 04330
Senator Murkowski, 510 L Street, Suite 600, Anchorage, AK 99501

Let us know how it goes, so we can keep a count of how many postcards we send! Email us at oceanacountydems@gmail.com when you have completed your Virtual Post Card Writing.

Thank you! Let’s take action! Together WE can make a difference!

P.S. You can purchase blank, prestamped postcards at your local post office!

2 Easy Ways to Use Your Voice to Effect Change. We are stronger than we think!

1. Download the ‘5 Calls’ app to your phone and start calling your congressional members with your concerns. The app gives you categories/issues to call about and your reps’ phone numbers, and a tracking system to record what you’ve done.

2. Check out https://www.goodsuniteus.com, the blue handbook on how to fight back with your dollars.