In South Sarasota County we are the
Venice Area Democratic Club
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, ALL In-Person Meetings Postponed until further notice. Check your our Events page or your Email for notification of Virtual Meetings!
Click here to Pay Your 2021 Dues or Order a Name Badge
About Us
Our Mission
• Stimulate active interest in political and governmental affairs
• Strengthen and further the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party
• Provide reasonable and ongoing financial support to the county Democratic party
• Promote participation among Democrats
• Support and elect the duly selected nominees of the Democratic Party in national, state, and local campaigns
• Foster good fellowship among Democrats
Our History
It was election year 2000. Remember Bush v Gore. There were a lot of people who felt the election was stolen from the Democrats. Some people in Venice who had worked on that election felt frustrated and wanted to do something positive about it. Jackie and Lowell Jones organized a meeting with this small group of dedicated workers to discuss starting a Democratic club in Venice. During that election many people had said that “they were the only Democrats in the neighborhood”.
Our goal was to encourage people not to be afraid to admit they were Democrats. We needed to speak up! Lowell chaired the first meeting at Pelican Pointe. He stated that bylaws would be written, and a slate of officers would be presented. Monthly meetings would attract like-minded Democratic members. One of our goals, as stated in the bylaws was to, ”foster good fellowship among Democrats”. To this day, it is a treat going to meetings knowing we will be able to express opinions freely, without worrying if one is being “politically incorrect”. A further goal was to create some interest in the community, so we could encourage Democrats to run and be elected to office.
On February 24, 2001, the VADC held its first formal meeting. We adopted our bylaws and elected a slate of officers. The picture of the initial board was printed in the Herald Tribune. In March of 2011 a 10 Year Anniversary party was held to commemorate this milestone. We are very proud of the work the VADC has accomplished. We now have almost 500 members and after moving from Pelican Pointe to the Holiday Inn to the Venice Library, we have been meeting monthly in Naar Hall, 620 Shamrock Blvd, Venice, since 2005.
Membership
Voting Membership in the Venice Area Democratic Club is available to all Registered Democrats in the State of Florida. Non-Voting Friends are also welcome to affiliate with our club. There are four dues categories as follows:
Individual Membership - Provides membership with voting privileges: $25/year
Family Membership - Provides membership with voting privileges for two adults living at a single location: $45/year
Sustaining - Includes recognition on our web site and voting privileges for two adults living at a single location: $100/year
Friend - Provides non-voting membership to Democrats not registered to vote in Florida and Non-Party Affiliated Voters: $25/year
Dues are payable January 1 for the Calendar Year. New members joining starting October 1 are considered paid through the end of the following year
For additional membership information or to ask questions please fill out the form below and we will contact you or
Call us at 941-275-3244
To Join or Renew Online go to Pay Dues
You can also join or renew by mail by downloading a Membership Form by clicking here. Send your check payable to VADC along with the completed membership form to:
Venice Area Democratic Club
P.O. Box 1743
Nokomis, FL 34274-1743
Welcome to the Venice Area Democratic Club Store
Scroll down to Join or Renew Membership or Purchase Name Badges.
Annual Dues should be paid by January 1. Dues paid starting on October 1 are credited through the end of the following calendar year. Name Badges can take several weeks. For payment questions contact us at vadcmembership@gmail.com.
Upcoming Events
ALL MEETING WILL BE VIRTUAL OR OUTDOORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
January 2021 Meeting
Meet Alice White
Saturday, January 16, 11AM
Mark your calendars for our January 2022 Virtual Membership Meeting featuring North Port City Commission Candidate Alice White!
Register Today at the following link:
https://www.mobilize.us/sarasotacountydec/event/368002/
Democrats in South County will have two local elections to focus on this year. The first is a Special Election to fill a vacancy on the North Port City Commission. Join us in welcoming Alice White, our Commission Candidate! Alice will be giving us an update on her campaign as well as a review of the push to de-annex the West Villages from North Port. She will also talk to us about her 20+ year old 501c(3) organization, People for Trees, Inc.
Club Event Photos
Vote By Mail
We encourage all Democrats to Vote By Mail because it is easy, it is Secure, it Guarantees that last minute unforeseen events do not prevent you from voting, it makes the Party's Get Out the Vote efforts more efficient. It is easy to Register to Vote by Mail. Simply click on the seal below to be connected to the Supervisor of Elections Office.
Formulario Para Votar Por Correo
November General Election Recommended Candidates
Bylaws
Download the Bylaws of the Venice Area Democratic Club
Officers & Directors
President - Mike Shlasko
Vice-President - Vacant
Treasurer - Kevin Johnson
Secretary - Susette Bryan
Parliamentarian - Ed Farrell
Director - Gillian Beck
Director - Drew Ermelin
Director - Greg Gannon
Director - Maureen Graybill
Director - Michael Gruenberg
Director - Madeleine Havlick
Director - James Hickerson
Director - Scott Hughes
Director - Mark Lutsky
Director - Marilyn Taylor
Director - Norman Wirtz
Thank you to our 2021 Sustaining Members!
Ardis Boch
Susette Bryan
Barbara Brydan & Michael Gruenberg
Elaine Carson
David Chivas
Leslie Curley
Bruce & Norma Dayton
Ron Feinsod & Denise Gastineau
Beth Feldman
Joanne Feldman
Patricia Fjetland
Maureen Graybill
Karen Hoffschmidt
Henry & Carol Jorgenson
Harry & Judy Kaplan
Liz & Philip Kramer
James Lees
Matt & Maureen Leugers
Gretchen Lienhop
Ed & Peggy Martin
Tom O'Donnell
Edward & Dorothy Segowski
Andrea & Mike Shlasko
Frances Storey
Contact Us!
Tell us how we can help you and we will respond promptly!
Copyright 2019, Venice Area Democratic Club
P.O. Box 1743, Nokomis FL 34274-1743
941-275-3244