TDW of Ellis County
July 15, 2025 Meeting
The meeting was called to order by Nancy Post at 6:05 p.m. with 21 members and 7 guests in attendance. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Meeting Minutes and Treasurer Report:
The June meeting minutes are available on the TDWEC website. Becky Kauffman made a motion to approve. Tam Burks seconded. All ayes.
Treasurer Joanne Hunt reported a PAC account balance of $4,299.83 and a Scholarship balance of $6,915.42.
Special Presentation:
2025 Emma Wilson Memorial Scholarship Essay – Lynda Begnaud introduced Bruce Wilson who spoke about his wife, Emma, and the strong impact she made in students’ lives. TDW-EC is honored to have the scholarship in her name. Lynda then introduced MaKenzi Harden, one of the recipients of the 2025 Emma Wilson Memorial Scholarship. MaKenzi will be attending UTA in the Fall. She read her award winning essay about the importance of a strong teacher in her life, Ms. Coleman from Red Oak High School. Ms. Coleman, along with MaKenzi’s mother, Tiffany Harden, attended the meeting.
Priscilla Clore spoke about the importance of building community and starting by just talking with your neighbor. She said that she is “striking” and that real power is with the people. We should all love our neighbors and help take care of them. She stated that we need to stop treating the other side as the enemy. Freedom begins at your doorstep. Ask your neighbor how you can help them and what they need. These types of efforts will make us a well-connected community.
Committee Reports:
Program – Lynda Begnaud
Speaker for August will be Kelly Blackburn, Ellis County Democratic Party Chair. She will discuss GOTV (Get out the vote) and voter registration efforts and upcoming elections.
Speaker for September will be Vicki Goodwin who is running against Dan Patrick for Lt. Governor in 2026. She hopes to join us in person. If not in person, then via Zoom.
Advocacy – Mary Lou Shipley
No Report.
Scholarship – Lynda Begnaud
No Report. When September arrives, the committee will begin the process of notifying Midlothian ISD that 2 scholarships will be available to a MHS graduate from TDW-EC.
Community Outreach – Julie Mendenhall
Meeting soon to discuss next event and will have a report next month.
Fundraising – Nancy Post
No report.
Refreshments/Social – Carol Young
Thank you to Kathryn Mossum for providing snacks.
Voter Registration – Mary Brooks, Devita Ross
Mary stated that more VDRs are needed. It is easy to do online.
Program:
Topic: The Importance of Historic Preservation in our Communities
Nancy introduced Becky Kauffman and Kathleen Bowen. They spoke about how important historic preservation is in order to maintain strong communities. Ellis County has many historic organizations. Historic Preservation is under the National Park Services (NPS) umbrella. NPS funding is being cut because of the Big Beautiful Bill. This means that many important historic preservation tasks – such as grants for restoration and rehabilitation, education and documentation – will not be able to be done. We are at risk of losing important history.
Barbara Fudge stated that years ago TDW planted a tree at Freedman Memorial Park on Dr. MLK Blvd. in Waxahachie in honor of Barbara Jordan. Freedman Memorial Park has many memorials and plaques honoring important Ellis County residents.
Nancy Post mentioned a film called “Iron Jawed Angels” about the suffrage movement during the 1910s as a good historical film to watch about women’s right to vote.
Kelly Blackburn suggested getting a historic plaque for the Democratic HQ. Kathleen and Becky will look into this further.
What can you do?
- Write to you representatives and tell them that we do not want to lose our history. Our history matters and the NPS must be funded. savingplaces.org and www.ncshpo.org have sample letters that you can use.
- Be an advocate and get involved in local, state and national historic preservation organizations such as the Ellis County Museum, Ellis County Historical Commission, City of Waxahachie Heritage Preservation Commission, and Historic Waxahachie Inc., Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, Texas State Historical Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
- If you see a resource (building, site, person) that deserves historic recognition raise the issue with your local representatives. Do what you can to save our history and ensure it is not lost.
Other Business:
Nancy Post stated that the Defend Democracy demonstration at the Ellis County Courthouse on June 21st went well and was attended by 25 people. Great job by Priscilla Clore and Ginger Cole organizing and marketing/advertising the event. She stated that other towns in Ellis County may also consider hosting a demonstration. We can share our learnings and help. It is important that we let people know there are active Democrats in Ellis County.
TDW is hosting its annual SumHER Retreat August 1-3 in Corpus Christi. Consider attending. Go to tdw.org to register.
Kelly Blackburn discussed the Democratic Party HQ building. Inside demo work is complete. She and Becky are looking at obtaining up to $50K grant from the City for historic preservation. Once the grant process is complete, they will begin asking other organizations for donations.
Becky Kauffman made a motion to donate $500.00 from TDW-EC to the Democratic Building HQ. Joanne Hunt seconded. All Ayes.
Kelly also stated that 220 people expressed interest to run as Democratic candidates. 35 people reached out and 15 showed up to Kelly’s house for a candidate event. On Sunday, July 20th at Noon at the Comfort Inn there will be a candidate recruitment event.
Refreshments:
August Refreshments – DeVita Ross
Next Meeting:
August 19th at the Chamber of Commerce
Adjournment:
Kelly Blackburn made a motion to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded by Barbara Fudge. All ayes.
Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
The minutes were prepared by Kathleen Bowen.