This past Saturday, November 19th about 40 SFKossacks and Board Members of California One Care gathered in the Wine Country home of Andrew & Kae McGuire for our Annual Holiday Party. Andrew is Executive Director of California One Care.
THANK YOU Andrew and Kae for opening your home to us and inviting two great speakers, Norman Solomon and Arlene Blum. It was a great progressives evening.
This was our extraordinary view, vineyards and a spectacular Wine Country skyscape:
Many more photos below the fold...
A special thank you to maggie jean for providing a summary of the presentation Norman Solomon gave:
Norman Solomon spoke about the importance of having true progressives in Congress. His principle opponent is Jarred Huffman, who has been endorsed by blue dog Mike Thompson. Solomon has been endorsed by Rep. Raul Grijalva and Dolores Huerta. You get the picture.
In this very blue area the democratic party machine is behind Huffman. For the most part, this was Lynn Woolsey's district and for many of us it is important to replace a progressive with a progressive, not a blue dog democrat. As Norman Solomon said, he is running for the progressive wing of the progressive caucus.
Norman Solomon speaking to our group at the end of the evening
Andrew invited his friend Arlene Blum, we had her speak to our group about her activism. Below is maggie jean's synopsis of her words:
Arlene Blum was a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, in the late 1970s, Arlene Blum’s research contributed to the regulation of two cancer-causing chemicals used as flame retardants on children's sleepwear. Blum taught at Stanford University, Wellesley College, and the University of California, Berkeley.
After a long hiatus, Blum returned to science and policy work in 2006 — when her daughter started college — and her memoir Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life was published. She discovered that the same Tris her research had helped remove from children’s pajamas was back in California couches and baby products.
In 2007 Blum co-founded the Green Science Policy Institute (GSP) with the goal of bringing scientific research results into policy decisions to protect human health and the environment from toxic chemicals. As executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute, Blum and her team have lead several successful national and international campaigns against the use of toxic chemicals.
Arlene Blum is the author of two books, "Breaking Trail, A Climbing Life and "Annapurna A Woman's Place."
Andrew introducing Arlene to our group, that's Arlene sitting next to him
Our Host Andrew McGuire stoking his bbq with Malacandra, elfling and BentLiberal in the background
side pocket and our Hostess Kae McGuire
maggie jean and jotter! courtesy Smiley Creek
Shockwave! toasting! courtesy Smiley Creek
remembrance, Glen the Plumber and BentLiberal
Progressive license plates or what
I think I know who's license plate this is
Andrew and Kae's salmon smoking on the grill, it was delicious!
jotter cannot wait for my Chipotle Skirt Steak to come off the barbie
Andrew sneaking a bite of my Chipotle Skirt Steak
Oh yeah... that's what I'm talking about...
Ham slicing steak (h/t Miss Love)
We ALWAYS have TERRIFIC potlucks
L-R: ebby, Mr. Cali Scribe, Cali Scribe, Buster Girl and side pocket
ebby courtesy maggie jean
Richard Lyon, Organizer for Occupy Santa Rosa with Hunter there in the background courtesy maggie jean
JPMassar, cooper888 and Mr. cooper888 aka Mooney courtesy Smiley Creek
Smiley Creek, jotter and Shockwave courtesy Smiley Creek
kimoconnor courtesy Smiley Creek
Paradise5150, just kidding, Paradise50 serving cookies with Malacandra in the background
courtesy Smiley Creek
maggie jean showing off her earrings she purchased from Aji and Wings
Lara and our hostess Kae McGuire
L-R: Mr. Cooper888, jotter, Gina Cooper and Cooper888
<
ceebee7 and Meteor Blades
remembrance and Smiley Creek
norm and Lara
A surprise birthday cake for Meteor Blades and to celebrate his return to the Front Page
side pocket and Kae light candles on Meteor Blades's cake
♪♫♪ Happy Birthday dear Meteor Blades, Happy Birthday to you! ♪♫♪
And a balloon bouquet from Land of Enchantment and jnhobbs
SFKossacks listening to Norman speak