By Catherine Ripley, PCDP Executive Director
The 8th Annual Udall Dinner totally happened! The Tohono O’odham Nation hosted the stellar event, which packed the Desert Diamond Casino ballroom to capacity with 420 people on April 13. We had 36 sponsored tables and six tables for single-ticket holders. The University of Arizona Studio Jazz Ensemble played us in and out. We featured four youth activists in a powerful video presentation. The three Spirit of Arizona honorees – Ward 4 Tucson City Councilwoman Shirley C. Scott, the Pima Area Labor Federation, and Represent Me AZ – were gracious and eloquent. Young Dems mixed with PCDP veterans, elected officials and dignitaries to create a lively and diverse crowd. We posted a gallery of some photos taken that night on our website. Click here to go to the photo gallery.
Keynote speaker Nancy MacLean filled us with hope and inspiration, in spite of the shocking history she shares in her book, Democracy in Chains, regarding the insidious nature of “those whose names shall not be spoken.”
All thanks and credit go to the volunteers at HQ, at the event itself, and the many who contributed endless hours to planning and executing the largest and tiniest details for this record-breaking fundraiser, making it a spectacular success. A special shout-out to Ellen Toigo, Mary Keerins, Jenise Porter, Tamar Rala Kreiswirth, Cheryl Cage, and Paul Stapleton-Smith. Last, but not least, big thanks to Dick Fisher, who produced the wonderful videos of Nancy MacLean and the youth activists.
Two weeks later, we had another packed weekend of training, which the Arizona Democratic Party held at HQ for about 45 PCs. The ADP folks shared strategies and goals for us in light of our “battleground state” status. We’re planning a Tucson mayoral-candidate debate, a patriotic Fourth of July celebration, and more. Check our calendar for events to attend and volunteer opportunities. Nearly every day and evening, clubs, caucuses, committees, trainings, strategic-planning sessions and social events fill HQ. It’s a lively place these days as momentum builds to elect more Dems!
In Solidarity,
Cat