Month: July 2012

Categories
Meetings

Authority on religion and politics to speak to club

As has been demonstrated in many ways in the 2012 presidential campaign, religion plays an influential role — for better or worse — in American politics.

Dr. Emile Lester

Dr. Emile Lester, a professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington and a respected authority on religion and politics, will address some of these issues in an appearance at the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club on August 16.

The club will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the Lower Level of the LOW Clubhouse. As usual, members of the public are cordially invited to attend, regardless of political affiliation.

Dr. Lester, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, is author of “Teaching Religions: A Democratic Approach for Public Schools” published by the University of Michigan Press and has published numerous articles in scholarly journals, including The Review of Politics, Polity, Journal of Church and State, Politics and Religion, and Public Affairs Quarterly.

A description of his book is available at the Website of the University of Michigan Press.

He co-authored a research report on religion in public education published by First Amendment Center which was featured in The New York Times, The American Interest, USA Today, on C-Span, on NPR, and in various other media outlets around the nation.

Dr. Lester is the recipient of 2010-2011 Jepson Fellowship and a member of the editorial board of the peer-reviewed journal, Religion & Education.

To view a guest blog by Professor Lester about his book see the Web site of The Washington Post.

Categories
Campaigns Meetings

Kaine staffer says, “We have the better candidate”

Club members listen intently to Tyee Davenport

Tyee N. Davenport, political director for the U.S. Senate campaign of former Gov. Tim Kaine, told the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club July 19 that the more voters get to see Gov. Kaine and his opponent side by side the more likely they are to vote Democratic.

“We will take advantage of every opportunity to get Tim Kaine and George Allen in the same room,” she said. “The more that happens, the better it is for us. We know we have the better candidate.”

Ms. Davenport said the governor is committed to at least eight face-to-face debates, though Allen, a one-term ex-senator closely aligned to the politics of Georg W. Bush, has shown little enthusiasm for joint appearances.

Ms. Davenport said Gov. Kaine has already conducted 67 roundtable conversations with Virginians throughout the Commonwealth, listening to their concerns and responding to questions.

“We can’t let big money buy this election,” Ms. Davenport told club members. She said that the Senate election in Virginia is one of the first tests of the effect of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and that special interest PACs are spending millions of dollars on false television advertising in their attempt to elect a compliant Virginia senator.

She said she looks forward to working with volunteers in Lake of the Woods to spread the governor’s message here.

Visit Tim Kaine’s campaign Web site

Categories
Campaigns Meetings

Club will hear political director for Kaine campaign

Tyee Davenport

Tyee Davenport, political director for Gov. Tim Kaine’s campaign for the U.S. Senate, will address the club on the progress of the campaign at its July 19 meeting.

Ms. Davenport will answer questions about the Kaine campaign and suggest ways in which club members can support Gov. Kaine. His election is a key factor in keeping the Senate under Democratic control.

The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Lower Level of the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse. Guests are welcome, regardless of political affiliation.

Ms. Davenport has served as deputy political director at the Democratic Party of Virginia since April 2010. Previously, she worked as the Richmond and Hampton Roads political director for the Jody Wagner campaign for lieutenant governor. In 2008, she served as political outreach organizer for the state party’s Coordinated Campaign, where she assisted Congressman Bobby Scott’s campaign in Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District. Davenport also brings eight years of private sector experience where she worked for a Fortune 500 logistics company.

Ms. Davenport is a graduate of Strayer University and holds a master’s degree from Virginia Tech.

Categories
Club events In the News

July 7 activities cancelled due to 104-degree heat

The July 7th activities at Clubhouse Point have been canceled due to the forecasted 104-degree heat.

Parade chair Betty Beck reported late Friday that the club’s participation in the LOW Independence Day Parade has also been cancelled. Congressional Candidate Wayne Powell, who had planned to march with the club in the parade, will visit Lake of the Woods at another event at a later time.

The cancellation of events at Clubhouse Point is disappointing, but better not to risk the well-being of our members and the public.