Above L to R: Charlin Wallin, 5th District Democrats Chair; Brandon Anderson, 45th District Senate Candidate and Wilkes Party Chair; Reverand Ray McKinnon, DNC member and social warrior; and Wayne Goodwin, NC Democratic Party Chair.
Saturday, February 3rd heard some impassioned orators in the town of Wilkesboro for the Wilkes Democrats' Annual Century Club Dinner. Wayne Goodwin reminded us, that to create the blue wave we need in the midterm elections we are ALL going to have to do all we can - and then some - to make history happen, and that the Governor and state party are working to support rural areas like ours in our challenges.
Then Rev. Ray McKinnon of Charlotte took the stage and gave us some truths. In a reference to our current Congresswoman, Virginia Foxx, he said,“We do NOT say ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ to people never even had BOOTS!” referencing her philosophy that the programs that once helped her achieve are coddling North Carolinians.
McKinnon then spoke about his time as a pastor in rural Caldwell county,...he knows that it's hard being a Democrat in a red county. “We must organize and energize our rural counties! What you are doing IS righteous,” and “Stand up, speak up, and speak out. Speak out abt injustice. Speak out abt unfairness. And be proud & know you ARE NOT ALONE.”
Then Rev. Ray McKinnon of Charlotte took the stage and gave us some truths. In a reference to our current Congresswoman, Virginia Foxx, he said,“We do NOT say ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ to people never even had BOOTS!” referencing her philosophy that the programs that once helped her achieve are coddling North Carolinians.
McKinnon then spoke about his time as a pastor in rural Caldwell county,...he knows that it's hard being a Democrat in a red county. “We must organize and energize our rural counties! What you are doing IS righteous,” and “Stand up, speak up, and speak out. Speak out abt injustice. Speak out abt unfairness. And be proud & know you ARE NOT ALONE.”
Below, clockwise from Upper Left : Jenny Marshall, 5th District Congressional Candidate; Gretchen Barelski, Wilkes Democrat; Drew Christy, Governor's Office Western Region; DD Adams, 5th District Congressional Candidate; Overview of 1/2 the crowd from February 3rd's dinner; Wilkes Democrats Ann Willardson and 1st Vice Chair, Sandy Forrest being honored for organizing this annual event.
Our favorite part of the night was when Rev McKinnon brought up an old saying that seemed particularly appropriate for the evening, “The best way to eat an elephant,...is one bite at a time!"
Thank you to all the people that worked so hard to made the 2018 Century Club dinner a success. And thank you to all our Century Club members who are the lifeblood of the party in Wilkes. Thank you for your support.
Thank you to all the people that worked so hard to made the 2018 Century Club dinner a success. And thank you to all our Century Club members who are the lifeblood of the party in Wilkes. Thank you for your support.