Category: Club events

The Lake of the Woods Democratic Club will hold its annual Christmas luncheon at noon on Dec. 2 at the Bonefish Grille restaurant in Central Park.

The cost is $30 per person, including tax and gratuity. Checks should be in by November 25 made out to Anne Boyd and mailed or dropped off at her house at 710 Gold Valley Road. Her telephone number is 972-0674. The checks may also be collected by Chris Carr at the Nov. 20 meeting.

Participants will have a choice of oak grilled salmon, chicken marsala or Maryland crab cakes. The choice of entree need not be made until the day of the luncheon.

New officers for next year will be introduced at this meeting.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…”

— Declaration of Sentiments
Seneca Falls, N.Y., Convention
1848

The nationwide movement to make women the equal of men in all aspects of public life began in Seneca Falls, N.Y. in 1848 continues today with renewed interest in the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.

The Lake of the Woods Democratic Club will review the history of the Women’s Suffrage Movement at its meeting at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20 in the LOW Community Center. Club member Diane Sibley will lead the program.

There will be a short film, discussion and refreshments.

Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of political affiliation.

The links below are useful for those who want to familiarize themselves with the history of the Suffrage Movement in the United States:

• The Fight for Women’s Suffrage — The History Channel
• Women’s Suffrage Timeline — National Women’s History Museum
• Women’s Suffrage — Crash Course in U.S. History (video)
• “Ain’t I a Woman?” — Sojourner Truth

Democrats and friends from throughout Lake of the Woods, Orange County and Central Virginia kept the Independence Day spirit going with the club’s first Independence Day Bash at the LOW Community Center on July 14.

Traci Dippert, our party’s choice for the Virginia State Senate for the 17th District, was a special guest. Though the election isn’t until next year, Traci is already mounting a campaign that will make us proud.

The Demettes, songstresses and political satirists, entertained picnic goers with a memorable number to the tune of “The Hokey-Pokey.”

The club provided plenty of delicious fried chicken, and club members provided a table full of other picnic favorites.

Tables were loaded with door prizes and no one who bought a ticket left without a prize or two.

Chris Carr and Lois Powell, special events chairs, and their hard-working committee are to be congratulated for their work in organizing another successful club event.

View a slide show of the fun at the Independence Day Bash

Don’t let your Independence Day celebration end with the fireworks! Attend The Lake of the Woods Democratic Club’s Independence Day Bash and keep the party going.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 at the cool, air-conditioned comfort of the LOW Community Center. There will be catered fried chicken and homemade side dishes and beverages provided by club members.

Beautiful door prizes and a Blue Donkey raffle will give attendees the opportunity to go home with something more than full tummies and smiles on their faces. The “Demettes,” will perform some of their traditional political satire for your entertainment.

Special guests will include Traci Dippert, Democratic candidate for the Virginia State Senate in 2015.

Tickets are $5 per person and are available at the door. Youngsters under the age of 12 will be admitted without charge.

“We need to know that suicide happens,” warned Alan C. Rasmussen of the Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services Board at the March 16 community forum sponsored by LOW Democrats. “Life has its twists and turns and sometimes it may seem to be unbearable.”

Rasmussen’s message to about 60 members and guests at the LOW Community Center was to be prepared to step up when someone we know is considering suicide and not to shy away because we are afraid or unsure what to do.

In a program he called “Saving Lives,” Rasmussen advocated an three-step emergency procedure he called QPR:

• Question the person: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
• Persaude: “There are other ways to deal with your problems.”
• Refer: “Let me take you to someone who knows how to help.”

Rasmussen said that 30,000 people commit suicide in the United States each year. That’s one person every 15 minutes.

A little empathy from a loved one, a friend or even a stranger can save lives, he said. Being aware of the signs of potential suicide and knowing how to respond is critical.

The risk factors for suicide are:

• Previous suicide attempts
• Current talk of suicide
• Preoccupation with death or dying
• Depression
• Substance use disorder
• Suicide or attempted suicide by a friend or relative
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Assault or bullying

In Orange County the number to call for help for someone considering suicide is 540-672-2718.

•  On the Web: “Helping via mental health first aid,” The Free Lance-Star