Category: Meetings

Dave Leichtman, director of global elections for Microsoft Corp., will be guest speaker at the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club’s January 9 meeting.

The meeting will begin with a gathering period at 1 p.m. in Classroom I at the LOW Community Center. The program will start at 1:30 p.m.

Leichtman’s experience has given him a informed perspective on the state of democracy throughout the the world and expertise on the accuracy and security of elections in the United States.

As part of Microsoft’s Democracy Forward program, Leichtman leads nonpartisan civic engagement efforts and works with election officials and those upholding democracy worldwide to address tech, security, and AI needs. He also leads the company’s internal U.S. and international election strategy.

According to its website, the goal of the Democracy Forward program is “to preserve, protect, and advance the fundamentals of democracy by safeguarding open and secure democratic processes, promoting a healthy information ecosystem, and advocating for corporate civic responsibility.”

Leichtman has held this and similar roles for 10 years at Microsoft. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at several U.S. political technology firms. He also served as state leadership of Virginia Democrats for over a decade. Dave holds a B.S. degree in physics and computer science from the College of William and Mary and an M.S. degree in particle physics from the University of Washington. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Microsoft’s Democracy Forward Program

The LOW Democratic Club will meet on Thursday, August 8, in Classroom 1 of the LOW Community Center. A meet-and-greet session starts at 1 p.m., and the program starts at 1:30 p.m.

A video about Project 2025 and other threats from MAGA Republicans will be shown. It’s important that we all understand what is at risk in the November election so that we are prepared to defend American freedoms and elect Kamala Harris president.

Please plan to attend.

Meet fellow Democrats for a drink, a meal or casual conversation at the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club’s first Social Hour on March 14 at Clearwater Grill restaurant.

The club’s Steering Committee has designated alternative monthly meetings throughout the year for an informal evening social gathering instead of our usual formal daytime meetings. Expectations are that some folks who cannot attend daytime meetings will want to join us for some light-hearted fun.

The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the back upper dining room near the bar. The space has been reserved for club members during this time.

Sure, you can discuss politics if you like, but there will be no agenda and no pressure.

More formal club meetings will continue to be held in alternative months at 1:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at the LOW Community Center. Always check the club’s web site for up-to-date information on club meetings and activities.

Col. Eugene Vindman, candidate for the Democratic nomination to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, spoke to a large and enthusiastic crowd at the Feb. 8 meeting of the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club. Vindman was welcomed by Club Chair Karen Newman.

The speaker at the first meeting of the year of the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club will be Col. Eugene Vindman, who is running for the Democratic nomination for the House of Representatives from the 7th District.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. in Classroom 1 of the LOW Community Center.

Vindman was born in Soviet Ukraine and immigrated to the United States at the age of three in 1979. After attending public school in the U.S, he joined the military after graduation from Binghamton University, where he was enrolled in ROTC. He has spent 25 years in the military in positions which had increasing responsibilities. He has served all over the world as a paratrooper, an infantry man, and after graduating from law school, as an officer in the JAG Corps.

In 2016, he was assigned to the Pentagon and later joined the national security council as a legal advisor. Eventually, he became the NSC senior ethics official in the White House. He, along with his brother Alexander, reported Donald Trump‘s attempt to extort Ukraine, resulting in part to Trump‘s first impeachment. Repercussions from this cost him his military career.

Vindman’s new mission is to represent the people of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Come hear his vision and be prepared to ask questions.

Other candidates for the 7th District Democratic nomination are Margaret Franklin, Elizabeth Guzman, Clifford Heinzer, and Briana Sewell. The party’s nominee will be chosen in the June 18 primary.

Vindman for Congress web site