News for Democrats in Upper Perkiomen Valley

As always, fall is a busy time, when people start paying closer attention to political news as the November election grows closer, and opportunities for local political action increases.

While it is true that the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club has gone dormant (more on that in an upcoming post), many, if not all, of the same people will be involved in the same activities, and welcoming all local democrats to be part of the process!

The Upper Perkiomen Area 2 Democratic Committee (the local Democratic political party) has big plans for this fall, including hosting our Montgomery County (Democratic) Commissioners, Val Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence tomorrow, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at their scheduled monthly meeting, to which all democrats are invited. Their meetings are held at Open Link Senior Center, 517 Jefferson Street, East Greenville, PA, from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

For nearly twenty years, the UPDC had a voter registration and information table at Community Day on the first Saturday in September in East Greenville. A few years ago, the Upper Perkiomen Area 2 Democrats (UP Area 2 Democratic Committee) began also offering information on voter registration, absentee ballot request forms, and information about candidates and local party activities – last year their table was right across the street from the UPDC table! Rather than duplicate efforts, this voter registration and information effort will now be organized by the UP Area 2 Democrats. Stop by and say hello (or volunteer to help out for an hour or two – contact Area 2 Leader Elaine Hannock at area2dems@gmail.com if you can  help out on Saturday, September 7, 2019).

Over the last few years, both the UPDC and the UP Area 2 Democrats have paraded one after another down Main Street in the annual Upper Perkiomen Halloween Parade. It is our understanding that the Area 2 Democratic Committee  will continue this tradition of representing Democrats in our community in the parade.

While the presidential election is still a year away, the 2019 November election is important – among other decisions to be made on the ballot this fall, 5 out of 9 school board seats are up for election this year!

Stay informed, stay involved, and vote!

“Hate Has No Home Here” Signs

People were happy to see us at East Greenville Community Day on Saturday. We made some new friends, several of whom signed up to be on the UPDC mailing list, and one or two who needed new voter registration forms. The “Hate Has No Home” signs were a big hit – we ran out of signs before we ran out of folks who were hoping to get one for their front yard!

If you were hoping to get a sign for your yard, please email us and we’ll order a few more (it generally takes about a week). While I can’t promise that we can afford to give more away, I can promise that the sign will only cost $5.

 

Fall Plans for UPDC!

The start of fall is not just when pumpkins, and pumpkin spice, becomes all to prevalent, but when the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club (UPDC) becomes more of a public presence in the Upper Perkiomen Valley. Despite what some in our area might think, there are many democrats living and working (and voting) in the area and we need to let folks know we are here!

As we have for nearly 20 years, UPDC volunteers will be setting up a Voter Registration and Information Table on Main Street in East Greenville for Community Day. Community Day this year is on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Stop by and say hello, and pick up a balloon, or a pen, or a Hate Has No Home here sign!

All local democrats are invited to join us on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 for our first UPDC meeting of the fall at the Upper Perkiomen Public Library, 350 Main Street, Red Hill, PA (in the lower level; parking available in the back lot, as well as street parking on Main Street). The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Items on the agenda include the upcoming Halloween Parade and the November elections.

The UPDC has had an entry in the annual Upper Perkiomen Halloween Parade since 2000! Last year, instead of walking alongside our donkey, we rode on the float, and that is our plan again this year.Thousands of people line the parade route along Main Street from Red Hill to East Greenville and this is one more opportunity to make it known that the Democratic Party is still here, still fighting and standing up for what we believe, and to let local democrats know that they are not alone. And yes, we’ll also be giving away a lot of candy to the kids along the sidelines!

East Greenville Community Day, September 9, 2017!

Unlike other states in our country, it looks like Pennsylvania will have sunny days and dry weather over the weekend. Which means, among other things, that the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club will be setting up our Voter Registration Table first thing Saturday morning, September 9th, along Main Street in East Greenville (no, we don’t know exactly where – the borough likes to surprise us by assigning spots that day; probably between the borough hall and Art on Main). Look for the signs, bunting, canopy, and balloons – yes, we’ll be handing out blue balloons again this year, along with UPDC pens. We have voter registration forms (for your neighbor, friends, and relatives who meant to vote last year or just turned 18 or just moved into the area) and absentee ballot request forms. We also bought a dozen “Hate Has No Home Here” signs to give away tomorrow – first come, first serve!

Even though these are dark political times, it is important to let people know we aren’t going away and we are taking a stand for what we as a party and country believe in. And also remember, local elections matter! From school board to town supervisors to local and state judgeships to state races to House and Senate races to the White House – they all matter! So vote in November (and next year in the primaries and again in November 2018, and beyond!). And stop by the UPDC table between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday to say hi to our volunteers!

September UPDC Events

The first big event for the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club (UPDC) is our Voter Registration table at East Greenville Community Day on Saturday, September 10, 2016. We will have forms for new voter registration and absentee ballot application forms (if you know of any college students who will be out of town on November 8th, or if you will be out of town when the polls are open in PA, be sure to pick up, fill out, and mail in an absentee ballot application!) We also have campaign literature and signs; and will be handing out balloons, stickers, pens, and more. Community Day is held on Main Street, between Pennsburg Square and 4th Street, East Greenville, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Our first club meeting this fall will be on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, beginning at 7 p.m. Our meetings are open to all Democrats and are held in the Upper Perkiomen Public Library (lower level), 350 Main Street, Red Hill, PA. (There is street parking as well as parking in the lot in the back of the building.) Items on the agenda for September’s meeting include local phone banking, Debate Watch Parties, GOTV activities, and our participation in the Upper Perk Halloween Parade.

The first Presidential Debate is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. on Monday, September 26th, 2016. The UPDC will be hosting a Debate Watch Party in East Greenville that night. Before the debate begins, we invite folks to come by early to do some phone banking (we’ll provide the cell phones if you prefer not to use your own phone) from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., and then stay to watch the debate with a friendly Democratic group. (Oh, and did I mention there will be snacks and beverages?)

Keep an eye on this blog and/or click to follow the blog and receive notifications of new posts, to learn about more events, candidate rallies, volunteer opportunities, and other election news.

 

Community Day in East Greenville on Saturday

Once again, the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club will have tables with voter registration forms and absentee ballot request forms at East Greenville Community Day – this year on Saturday, September 10, 2016, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

We will be giving out “Stronger Together” helium balloons, UPDC pens, Clinton stickers, candidate information, signs, and maybe a few other goodies. And some Democratic candidates are expected to drop in, and walk around Main Street – so be on the lookout and wish them well!

Stop by, say hello, and pick up some swag – we’d love to see you!

 

 

County Commissioner Val Arkoosh in Upper Perkiomen Valley

The rain held off, and one of the Democratic candidates for Montgomery County Commissioners, our current County Commissioner, Dr. Valerie Arkoosh  (wearing khakis and a dark blue polo shirt) walked along Main Street greeting potential voters and visiting with members of the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club; Bill, Kathy, Kathy and Greta, this past Saturday at East Greenville/Pennsburg Community Day. Montgomery County Treasurer Jason Salus is the gentleman at the far right of the photograph.

We filled and handed out dozens of red and blue helium balloons, along with campaign buttons and magnets, literature, and tootsie rolls (everyone needs a snack now and again)

Shapiro/Arkoosh campaign staffers also came by the UPDC table, and stayed to help out and greet our neighbors in East Greenville and Pennsburg. They also left some more buttons and magnets that we’ll be happy to hand out at our next UPDC meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2015; 7 p.m. at the Upper Perkiomen Valley Library, 350 Main Street, Red Hill, PA.

Community Day – September 12, 2015

Here’s hoping the thunderstorms hold off until tomorrow evening, giving everyone a chance to come out and walk down Main Street in East Greenville and Pennsburg to celebrate Community Day. I expect there will be good music, good food, good neighbors, and a chance to find out what’s happening with local volunteer organizations, non-profits, and businesses.

For more than a few years, the Upper Perkiomen Democratic Club (UPDC) has set up a table in East Greenville, handing out literature, voter registration forms, and absentee ballot request forms. Often we have buttons, pencils, signs, and other UPDC and candidates’ swag.

Thanks to the Josh Shapiro/Val Arkoosh Campaign for County Commissioners, we have a tank of helium to fill up Shapiro/Arkoosh balloons, which we will be giving away along with buttons, bumperstickers, and more, at our UPDC table tomorrow. AND Josh Shapiro and Val Arkoosh (Democrats who are currently serving as Montgomery County Commissioners, and running for re-election this fall) are both planning on coming out to Community Day and walking all along Main Street, introducing themselves and getting to know our neighborhood and neighbors. They are hoping to get to town between noon and 1 p.m.

So stop by, say hello, and pick up a balloon and other swag between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (look for us between the East Greenville Borough Hall and Java Good Day Cafe).