Labor Day Picnic -- Success

Democrats Abroad Guatemala held a successful Labor Day Picnic in La Antigua, Guatemala on Saturday, August 30, 2008. It was a marvelous day for an outdoor event with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. A perfect day made even more spectacular by the beautiful grounds of Casa Convento Concepción, which were opened to Democrats Abroad Guatemala by Jay and Mary Lou Ridinger, who currently administer the property. The spacious colonial ruin was ideal for an event honoring those who labor for our benefit, and to honor our party’s inspiring presidential ticket.

Our membership will be happy to know that Jay and Mary Lou rent out office space in the Casa Convento Concepción, and have a couple of units vacant. If you are in need of office space in Antigua, or know of someone who does, then Casa Convento Concepción is the ideal place. Contact Jay and Mary Lou at 7882-4553 or 7832-0356 for details.

Just over 100 members and visitors attended the picnic, which featured all-American hot dogs and hamburgers, garnished with potato salad, baked beans, pickles, a choice of beverages and other picnic fare. There were games and activities for the kids, and for the adults there were Obama T-shirts for sale by a committee member, and another committee member organized a fabulous raffle. Both sellers had committed to making personal contributions to Democrats Abroad for all earnings beyond cost.

And there was political talk, lots of it. An upbeat and optimistic feeling was shared by all following the DNC’s successful four-day national convention which had wound up just two days before. The other item of political interest, of course, was the McCain campaign’s efforts to steal some of the Democratic thunder by revealing as a running mate, a little known governor from Alaska with no national level profile, and a thin résumé to boot. Was McCain’s emotional and impulsive move to select the youngish woman from Alaska a real game changer that will earn him the keys to the White House, or an act of electoral vote desperation? The latter seemed to be the consensus, in that as we learn more about the Alaskan governor, the more drastic and more impulsive the selection will appear. Given that McCain is actuarially challenged for such a grueling job, he turned 72 on August 29^th, the idea that Governor Palin and her rolling soap opera may be called upon to run the country on conceivably any day after assuming office, is a disquieting and sobering thought. Others have suggested that the absurdity of the selection will hit a Harriet Miers-like head wind, and McCain will be forced to find a way to replace the novice governor with someone less ludicrous. All in all, McCain has done the Democrats a favor. Even if his first choice is replaced by a more seasoned individual, the Tom Eagleton affect will be in play, and McCain’s image as a serious and thoughtful decision-maker will be more damaged than it already is.

The successful picnic gives momentum and resources to continue our Get Out the Vote efforts in support of the Obama/Biden ticket, and to encourage our membership to pay attention to House races in their districts, and where relevant, important Senate races as well. Members and friends should be sending their absentee ballot requests to their voting authorities back in the states as early into September as possible. We have said all along that it should have been done by September 1^st. A few more days won’t hurt, but once past the 10^th or so of the month, mail snags could impede the arrival of absentee requests on time at voting precincts.

A long list of acknowledgements and appreciation is in order. Again, we cannot thank Jay and Mary Lou enough for making Casa Convento Concepción available as the venue for the Labor Day Picnic. Others who contributed time, effort, money, goods and services include Judy Sadlier, who in addition to tending to picnic details, organized on her own behalf a very successful raffle. In her role as Democrats Abroad Guatemala fundraising contact, Judy decided that a raffle based initially on some of her own possessions would be one way of leveraging her personal contribution to Democrats Abroad. Other friends then chipped in including Jades, S.A. (Jay and Mary Lou Ridinger), Orestes Sanchez (sculpture), Century 21/Casa Nova (Brian Wilson, gift certificate to DeCameron resort in El Salvador), Jan Ramirez, (clothing designs), and art work from Len Clark. The Obama T-shirt sale was organized by Gail Terzuola, with support from Diana Diaz Granados and Paul Graddon. We also must thank our Democrats Abroad Guatemala treasurer, Rae Leeth, who made sure all the bills were paid, and the accounts kept in order. And finally to Norma Gifford, for assistance not only as counselor with the legal issues, but also for helping with food preparation, and to Vera Richardson, who helped voter registrants during the picnic. And we must give thanks to Deet Lewis, who labored from early in the day until the end of the event without a break, selling entrance tickets and greeting all comers.