Our club had an incredible month last month! We’re growing! Over 60 people were in attendance at our January FMAD Club Meeting. Four new precinct chairs were recruited. And together we generated a number of fresh ideas for fostering more community within our club that we will be implementing this month and in the months ahead.

In case you missed it… 

We co-hosted an amazing Immigration Crackdown Forum event in collaboration with the Lantana Area Democrats & the Lewisville Democrats. Around 200 people attended this timely event. You can watch the recording here. Immigration Crackdown Forum https://youtu.be/x2AHBzXz9Bo?si=5iktXisk6fWxwNmE

Here are some of the highlights from LAD Chair Gina Daly: “Our three speakers — Lilyan Prado-Carillo (motivational speaker), Angee Andrade (activist), and Maria Macias (immigration attorney) — spoke movingly about their own immigration journeys before sharing the heartbreaking realities faced daily by families across North Texas. They described helping 30 to 70 families every day in the DFW area. Many of these families report that when they appear for required check-ins, one or more family members are arrested and placed in detention under current policies. Some are taken from their cars, others from their homes. Most often, the person detained is the primary breadwinner, leaving families without income, legal guidance, or the ability to make urgent financial decisions. The speakers also shared disturbing accounts from detention centers: 

• freezing temperatures with no heat
• lights left on 24 hours a day
• spoiled or worm-infested food
• unsanitary conditions

Families are frequently misled and treated in deliberately inhumane ways. The speakers emphasized the importance of preparation for these families — including setting up jail funds, understanding financial responsibilities, and securing legal representation in advance.

Angee Andrade works with La Colectiva NTX, a grassroots community organization providing mutual aid and direct support for families separated by ICE at the Dallas field office. She stressed that their greatest need is donations to help provide coats for detainees, rent assistance, and other essential supplies. Please consider donating — especially as a monthly supporter — at: Donate to La Colectivahttps://givebutter.com/dtxbridge

Maria Macias explained our legal rights when encountering ICE and reminded us that everyone is vulnerable under current enforcement practices. She noted that in efforts to meet detention quotas, even U.S. citizens have been detained. 

She made clear that ICE cannot enter your home or private areas of your business without a JUDICIAL WARRANT signed by a judge. The documents they often present may look official but are not the same. (Images attached)

Maria also suggested that we can be trained as legal observers. “Legal observers are trained, neutral, third-party volunteers—often organized by the National Lawyers Guild or ACLU of Texas—who document interactions between police and demonstrators to protect First Amendment rights. They wear high-visibility vests to record police misconduct, which serves as evidence in legal challenges.”  Usually these online trainings are offered from the ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild. We also handed out whistle kits with instructions, pins and know your rights cards.”

— Immigration Forum highlights courtesy of Gina Daly, LAD Chair

And at our January FMAD Club meeting, after hearing from our wonderful Mayor of Flower Mound — Cheryl Moore — about the importance of getting involved in your town’s local non-partisan clubs & town government through the citizens academies & boards & commissions, we brainstormed together as a club and came up with some more ways to bring us together and foster more community. 

Ideas generated include:
1) Ride Share — Small group dedicated to giving rides to club events for those in need.

2) Game Night — Small group willing to host or take turns hosting an evening of game play & fun once a month
3) Dinners With Dems — Small group of members willing to host or take turns hosting dinners or potlucks at their homes.
4) Care Crew — Small group of members willing to organize care packages, meal-trains, well-checks for our members as needs arise.
5) Picnics — We have lots of parks in our area we could organize a gathering at, just to have fellowship & fun. Weather permitting, of course.
6) Book Club — Small group of members willing to host a book club. Can rotate.

7) Hobby Huddle — Small group of members crafting together. 

8) Dems & Doggos — Dog Park Outings with Dems  

9) Coffee & Bagels  — Idea for an inexpensive & casual get together

10) Walking Group — Flower Mound has ~58 trails it would be fun to walk together. 

11) Self-Defense Training — One of our members is certified to host a training 

12) Learn a New Skill/Sport — Get together & learn something new

A number of our members expressed their willingness to host or volunteer to help out with these. If you volunteered, we will be reaching out to you to coordinate. If anyone else would like to host or help, please reach out to us and, we promise we will reach back. 

In the meantime, we’ve got a great calendar of events for the month of February, including a Democratic Primary Candidate Forum for you to attend and a Democratic Primary for you to Early Vote in. This our best chance yet to take back control of our state legislature & Congress, and keep the very worst from happening. We need each other to do this and more. We need community.  And we need YOU.  

As one of the longest serving Democratic clubs in the county, we pride ourselves on offering a variety of events & activities, consistently, each and every month. We offer monthly club meetings, so you can come and socialize with your fellow Dems and be informed by speakers on a variety of relevant topics, hear from candidates running for office, and learn how you can get involved. We offer training opportunities. We offer volunteer opportunities. We offer community. We offer hope. 

Below & attached is our FMAD February Club Calendar. You can also find all of this information and more on our website: www.flowermoundareademocrats.org and DCDP’s event page DCDP Eventshttps://www.dentondemocrats.org/events

Scroll to see our upcoming events & make your plans to jump in & join us!

First Fridays Happy Hour

When: Friday, February 6th, 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Where: Guitars & Growlers, 400 Flower Mound Rd., Suite 160, Flower Mound, TX 75028

What: Come join your like-minded fellow Dems for a few pints, some good eats, and good times. It’s always a good time. Come get connected! The food is good and the beer selection is fabulous. You can check out their menu here: Guitars & Growlers Menu  And let us know you’re coming: First Fridays Happy Hourhttps://mobilize.us/s/wbfnFe

FMAD Democratic Primary Candidate Forum

When: Sunday, February 15th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm 

Where: FM Senior Center 2701 W Windsor Dr, Flower Mound, TX 75028

What: Come hear from some of your local, county, & statewide candidates who will be on your ballot for the upcoming March 2026 Democratic Primary. Mark your calendars now, then come listen & learn for yourself where these candidates stand on the issues that matter to you. Our strength as a nation and as a community is in our voters. And that strength depends on our voters being well-informed. Space is limited, so sign up to let us know you’re coming: FMAD Democratic Primary Candidate Forum  https://www.mobilize.us/dentondemocrats/event/888709/

***Check out our website under Upcoming Elections for a list of Democratic Candidates relevant to our County & Area; www.flowermoundareademocrats.org ***

Early Voting Democratic Primary

When: Tues, Feb 17– Fri., Feb 20, 8am-5pm. Sat. Feb 21, 7am-7pm. Sun, Feb 22,11am-5pm. Mon, Feb 22-Fri Feb 27, 7am – 7pm

Where: Early Voting Locations within Denton County

What: Early Voting for the mid-term Democratic Primary begins 2/17 and goes through 2/27. Election Day is March 3rd, 7am-7pm, and the location is precinct-specific. Go to www.votedenton.gov to see your precinct number, check your voter registration, find out who your current representatives are, see your sample ballot, and confirm your precinct’s polling location for election day. It’s important to vote early versus waiting until election day. 1) With early voting you can vote at any early voting location within the county. 2) Election day voting is precinct specific. If you show up at the wrong polling location, you will be turned away. It is also important that Democrats vote in Democratic Primaries. It is NOT strategic for Dems to vote in a Republican primary. 1) It NEVER works. Like ever. 2) It skews the data. Primaries produce data. When Dems vote in Republican primaries instead of their own, it makes it look like there are more Republicans in your precinct, your area, your county than there actually are. Money for elections & money from state & national parties then follows that data. It tells the Republican party that you’re one of them, so you will get their literature, their texts, their door-knocks instead of information from the Democratic party about the Democratic candidates on your ballot. So vote in Democratic primaries. Identify yourself as a Democrat along with all the other Dems in your area. Let the data show you support the Democratic party and Democratic candidates. Help Democratic candidates get elected. The blue wave is you!   

FMAD Breakfast Club

When: Saturday, February 21st, 9:00 – 10:30 am

Where: Texas Star Cafe, 1901 Long Prairie Rd, Flower Mound, TX 75022

What: Come eat breakfast and socialize with your fellow Democrats. Look in the back room for a long table of fellow Democrats drinking coffee and ordering up all the breakfast goodies. Let us know you’re coming here: FMAD Breakfast Club https://mobilize.us/s/bfGsc6  And join us immediately afterward (weather permitting) as we head over to our club’s Adopt-a-Spot to spend a couple minutes tidying it up. It takes less than 30 minutes to clean, it helps keep Flower Mound beautiful, and many hands make light work.

FMAD Adopt-a-Spot Clean-Up

When: Saturday, February 21st, 11:00 – 11:30 am (Weather Permitting)

Where: FMAD’s Adopt-a-Spot located at NE corner of Dixon Ln & Long Prairie Rd. 6000 Long Prairie Rd, Flower Mound, TX 75028 

What: Join us to help Keep Flower Mound Beautiful by picking up trash at our Adopt-a-Spot. We will have everything you need (gloves, trash bags, trash pickup grabbers). It doesn’t take long, and many hands make light work. 

FMAD February Club Meeting

When: Wednesday, February 25th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm ***NEW MEETING DATE DUE TO 18TH BEING ASH WEDNESDAY***

Where: Creekwood Christian Church, Great Room/Common Area, 2660 Forest Vista Dr., Flower Mound, TX, 75028

What: Join us for our monthly club meeting. Our very own Kendall Scott will be giving us a presentation on “Corruption in the Family Court System — Domestic Violence, the Judicial System, & the Texas State Legislature.” We will also be doing an ICE Warning Whistle Kits assembly activity, courtesy of Solidarity Warriors, Michelle Wright, & other generous members who are 4D printing the whistles for us. We will also have a last look at some of our Democratic Primary Candidates, as Early Voting starts on Feb. 17th and Election Day is March 3rd. Come hear from Vikki Goodwin for Lt. Governor, your candidates for Justice of the Peace, Trista Willeford for JP3 for Lewisville & Will Robertson for JP4 for Flower Mound, and one or two candidates more. As we did in November, December, & January, we are finishing up our Winter Donations Drive, so please be sure to bring non-perishable items, pop-top canned goods, and/or clean/new blankets. Beth Porter Varma with Denton Basic Services will come to collect our donations. Like every monthly club meeting, the first half hour is for socializing & eating brownies. The presentation portion of our meeting will start at 7pm. Sign up through the mobilize link & let us know you’re coming!  https://www.mobilize.us/dentondemocrats/event/898300/

FMAD MahJong Game Night

When: Friday, February 27th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Where: Laurie Appelbaum’s house: 2917 Oak Bend Court, Flower Mound, TX

What: Calling all MahJong lovers! Join us for a night of Mahj and friendship! Bring your card and your set. (We may not need your set, but want to ensure we have enough)  All are welcome so, if you don’t know how to play MahJong, you are welcome to observe & see how it is played. Depending on level of interest, another event may be offered at a later date for those who want to learn to play. Limit 12 players. Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/dentondemocrats/event/898320/

Look Ahead…

First Fridays Happy Hour

When: Friday, March 6th, 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Where: Guitars & Growlers, 400 Flower Mound Rd., Suite 160, Flower Mound, TX 75028

What: Come join your like-minded fellow Dems for a few pints, some good eats, and good times. It’s always a good time. Come get connected! The food is good and the beer selection is fabulous. You can check out their menu here: Guitars & Growlers Menu  And let us know you’re coming: First Fridays Happy Hourhttps://mobilize.us/s/wbfnFe

FMAD Book Club

When: Saturday, March 21st, 3:00 – 4:30pm

Where: Josh Hatfield’s home 1662 N. Valley Pkwy, Lewisville, TX 75028

What: Josh Hatfield has volunteered to start up & host our next book club. “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder is the first selection, so start reading now and come ready to discuss it at the March book club meeting. 

“The first duty of a man is to think for himself.”― Jose Marti

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” —Thomas Jefferson

“A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy.” — Thomas Jefferson 

Join us!

The FMAD Leadership Team

www.flowermoundareademocrats.org