Alamogordo Public Land Rally

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Members of the Democratic Party of Otero County (DPOC) gathered at the Southeast corner of Tenth Street and White Sands Boulevard to protest in favor of keeping public lands public through the efforts of the United States Forest Service.

An organization called "Stand By Me For Liberty" was joined by a local group of ranchers and Republicans speaking out against the United States Forest Service on the Northwest corner of White Sands Boulevard and Tenth Street.

There were many colorful signs carried by both groups espousing their arguments for and against. Also supporting the DPOC group was Democrat Merrie Lee Soules who is running for Congress against Republican incumbent Steve Pearce. Merrie Lee strongly believes we need to protect our public lands not only for New Mexico, but for the entire nation.

Also attending was Democratic State Senator Bill Soules (Merrie Lee's brother) who was instrumental in helping get the Organ Mountains designated as the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. He had the honor of going to Washington and meeting with President Obama when this designation was made. Soules said, "I'm hoping the general public will pay close attention and the public will choose the federal government role as protecting this legacy for all of us, not just a few, but for the many."

Rancher Jeff Swanson said, "I believe if these lands are transferred to the states and counties, they will soon be privatized and sold. They will go to rich corporations, they will go to rich global investors and the American public will be locked out. I think it is crucial to protect our national heritage by fully funding the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Interior, the BLM, the local fire agencies including the fire departments, county and state fire departments - so that we have the resources to care for this land."

Nadia Sikes, DPOC Chair, creating another sign

Denise Lang, running for State Representative New Mexico House District 51 with her campaign dog

Karen Hutchison carrying on with her protest

Rancher and Democratic activist Jeff Swanson

Donna Swanson expressing her views

Rosanna Heath doing her bit to save our public lands

Nadia Sikes with her newly created sign

Another shot of Rosanna

L to R: Unknown lady, Denise Lang and Merrie Lee Soules

Merrie Lee Soules addresses the DPOC rally

Merrie Lee continuing her address to the group

State Senator David Soules addressing the group

I will say it was hot out there, but we had fun. A lot of car horns were honked in solidarity and I saw many "thumbs up" as people drove by. When I got home I went to the couch for the rest of the afternoon!

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters in Mescalero, New Mexico for July 2, 2016 Parade

July 2, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society of Alamogordo, New Mexico attended the big celebration and parade in Mescalero, Saturday, July 2, 2016. None of us had been to this event before and we were in shock as we arrived to see cars lined up along the highway overflowing the provided parking. We did manage to park near the street where the parade passed by.

The parade was great fun and the girls' and boys' Indian attire was exquisite. The parade theme was all about the children, the future of the Mescalero-Lipan-Chiricahua Apache Tribe. When the parade was over, we drove towards the area where the ceremonial dancing was to take place, but were told they were canceled for that day. However, the rodeo was going on. By this time, we were getting hungry and decided to head back to Tularosa, New Mexico for lunch at  Grill 49. We later heard that a very young medicine man had died the night before and this is why the decision was made not to hold the dancing that day out of respect for him.

We had a lovely lunch and a delightful time visiting with each other. No matter how few or how many, Red Hatters always seem to find the positive in every experience and that's what it is all about anyway.

Vice Queen Donna and new Red Hat transfer from Roswell, New Mexico, Rosanna Heath

L to R: Gail, Jean and Trudy

L to R: Rosanne, Queen Ladybird aka Carla, VQ Donna, Gail, Jean and Trudy (a lady volunteered to take our picture)

Two very beautifully dressed Indian maidens

Two more lovely young ladies. Love their attire.

One of the children's floats

Miss Mescalero - just beautiful

Handsome young braves dancing

Two more lovely Indian girls in fabulous suede ensembles

This is a more usual form of dress for Apache women

Beautiful Folkloric Dancers

A beautiful example of riders and horses

These dancers broke out of formation to come say hello to their parents

Navajo Princess Tenisha Alonzo

Love her yellow suede ensemble

These official drummer-singers kept the beat going

Two lovely girls leading the Inn of the Mountain Gods float

A section of the Inn of the Mountain Gods float

There were a number of really hot cars in the parade (Apache Horsepower)

Miss New Mexico

There was a big break in the parade here and we thought it was over, but later on more floats came through along with Stephanie DuBois' vehicle advertising her candidacy for Otero County Clerk and right behind her was Merrie Lee Soules, running for U.S. Congress from District 51, in her huge RV. We were too far away by that time to even yell hello to them. The people around us were so friendly and it was very pleasant parade watching although warm. However, ever so often there was a little breeze.

This is all I have to say for now.

2016 Democratic State Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico

June 25, 2016

One more meeting to go to find out who is going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the end of July, 2016. Doug and Carla drove to Albuquerque on Friday, June 24, 2016 and stayed in a motel to make sure they would be at the convention timely.

There was quite a crowd in attendance as you can imagine. Once the Pledge of Allegiance was said and the National Anthem was sung, announcements were made, speeches ensued and Bernie supporters went to a separate room from the Hillary supporters for the voting process. I will say that some of the Bernie supporters were quite rude for no reason. The loud remarks they were making were not regarding anything that could possibly be solved in this setting. One needs to choose their battles carefully to be successful.

Unfortunately, I was not successful in my bid for delegate to the Democratic National Convention, but I met a lot of really nice people and had a great time. Several people told me if they had been voting for the hat, I would have won!

We left right after the convention was over and headed back to Alamogordo in time to attend the play auditions at the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill at NMSU-A.

Carla Kerr just arriving at the convention

Carla in conversation with the "fashion police"

Deb Haaland, Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico

Nancy Denker from Bernalillo County, New Mexico with her very well-behaved parrot

Gentleman introducing Deb Haaland

Merrie Lee Soules, Candidate for U.S. Congress from New Mexico Congressional District 2

Remarks by New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller on behalf of Maggie Toulouse Oliver, candidate for Secretary of State

Guest Remarks from State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez

Joe Kabourek explaining voting procedures

Carla Kerr letting everyone know she is running for delegate to the Democratic National Convention

Carla standing in line waiting to cast her votes

Joe Kabourek (center) holding a ballot, calling out "Kerr" as they count the votes

I'm not saying I wouldn't try this again in four years, but I'm certainly not getting any younger and it will definitely depend on my physical and mental condition. The people I met were wonderful and I had a great time. The excitement was electrifying and makes me want to try it one more time!

Congratulations to Donna Swanson on being elected a delegate for Bernie Sanders. I know she will have a grand time in Philadelphia.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for all the photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

CD2 Democratic Convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico

June 25, 2016

The Congressional District 2 Democratic Convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico was quite an experience. Many people were in attendance and campaigning to be delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania taking place the last week of July, 2016.

Merrie Lee Soules, running for Congress from Congressional District 2 was there with her big RV passing out t shirts, buttons and water. Maggie Toulouse Oliver, running for Secretary of State, was unable to come, but her staff was in attendance with really cute signs, taking pictures of everyone who would hold up a sign.

Donna Swanson, her husband, Jeff, Carla Kerr and husband, Doug were there from Alamogordo, New Mexico along with CD2 officer Stephanie DuBois also from Alamogordo. It was also good to see the sisters from Mescalero, New Mexico, Donalyn Torres and Myrna Torres there.

Merrie Lee Soules

Merrie Lee Soules' RV parked in background while her staff hands out freebies to attendees

Donalyn Torres from Mescalero

Donna and Jeff Swanson

Jeff Swanson with Carla Kerr

Bernie delegate Donna and Hillary delegate Carla

L to R: Delegate Priscilla Chavez, Jeff, Delegate Carla Kerr and CD2 officer Stephanie DuBois

Priscilla and Carla

Stephen Jones, CD2 officer

#ImWithMaggie Carla Kerr is definitely with Maggie

Delegate Steve Duffy

Carla soliciting votes from attendees

DNC Committeewoman Joni Guttierrez is definitely a fireball, with Stephanie looking on

Merrie Lee Soules speaking to the attendees

The convention was a lot of fun and Carla met some wonderful people interested in making our government work for all of the people, not for just a few. Now, it is onward and upward to Albuquerque. Carla filed as a candidate for Delegate-At-Large to the Democratic National Convention in high hopes of being elected at the Democratic State Convention in Albuquerque on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.