Genevieve Cervera

It is with great sadness that I write the news of the passing of one of Tilden’s beloved members, Genevieve Cervera. Genevieve had been a member for many years, and after moving to New Mexico she stayed true to her Club, rejoining when she returned to New York City a few years ago.

Genevieve recently moved to Nashville to be near her family. She stayed in touch with her friends in New York and kept up with Club, local news and activities at Community Board 6 news (she was an active member of CB 6). 

Genevieve had the distinction of being the first person honored with the “Tilden Pen Light Salute” and we will raise our pens in her memory at our next meeting.

Our prayers and condolences go out to her family, as well as all of her friends and Tilden Family.

As soon as I have any additional information I will post it.

With deep sadness,

Mark P. Thompson

President

Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Cub

Primary Day and more!

For those of us living in the Tilden neighborhood, we will not be voting on Thursday in our 74th Assembly District since there are no contested elections. Since you will now have lots of free time on Thursday, please volunteer to help in other areas where there are contested elections.

As of Thursday night, our long-serving Male District Leader, Steve Smollens, will be stepping down from his position. The Club thanks Steve for his years of service; I’d personally like to thank Steve for his educational, insightful and very funny political commentaries during our meetings. Having Steve with me at the table has been an honor. Steve (and his family) will remain active members of the Club.

I would like to welcome Sandro Sherrod, former Tilden President, as our new Male District Leader. He joins the Legendary Louise Dankberg, who is starting her 23rd year as Female District Leader.

Our first Fall meeting will be held at 7 pm on Thursday, September 17. As usual the meeting will be held at the Seamen’s Institute on Irving Place at 15th Street.

Best Wishes,

Mark P. Thompson

President, Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club

 

 

 

 

Best Wishes to VP Greg Martello and Cheers to Charles Sturcken!

All of us at Tilden send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to Vice President Greg Martello, who is at home recovering from a serious bone break. While he has been ordered to stay home and not move for several months due to the severity of the break, we know this can’t keep him down! Greg will be Skyping in to this month’s meeting on the 17th so bring your Tilden Light sabers to wave at the screen!

Cheers to Tilden’s own well-published Charles “Charlie” sturcken whose most recent appeaance was on the New York Times editorial page (9/3/15). Below is his letter to the editor, making another brilliant point.

The Kentucky Clerk Who Denied Marriage Licenses to Gay Couples

 

 

To the Editor:

 

“Under whose authority?” asked the applicant denied a wedding license. “Under God’s authority,” responded the clerk. Elected public servants answer to no higher authority than the public who elected them. When you arrive at work in government, you leave your religion outside the door.

 

CHARLES G. STURCKEN

 

New York

 

Salute to Tildenite John “Butch” Purcell

It’s recognition time for Tilden’s own John “Butch” Purcell, starting with last week’s honor at the Rucker Basketball Award Ceremony. Butch was honored for his contribution to the internationally known Rucker Park basketball tournament and to the many players he coached and steered through life. For readers of Town & Village, this week’s editorial page included a tribute by our former Assemblymember Steven Sanders to four local heroes. Butch was included in the four heroes, while the article highlighted Butch’s work in Stuyvesant Town, his career at Beth Israel, and his guidance to so many people whose lives were changed through his amazing skills. Congratulations to Butch. You make Tilden proud!

 

Mark P. Thompson

President

 

Condolences to our District Leader Steven Smollens

Our condolences go to our District Leader Steve Smollens and his family on the passing of Steve’s mother, Ruth Smollens. The funeral service will be held tomorrow, Sunday August 16, at 11:30 am at Riverside Memorial Chapel (Amsterdam @ 76th Street). Donations may be made to the Brotherhood Synagogue Tikvah Fund (28 Gramercy Park South, NY NY 10003). The Smollens Family is a Tilden Family and their loss touches us all.

Mark P. Thompson

President

Upcoming Community Events for the Club of the Year

Greetings to The Demmy-Award-Winning Tilden Club-of-the-Year!

The NYC Parks Department has launched “Trees Count! 2015” and invites Tildenites to help with a census of our City’s trees. Census takers will traverse neighborhoods in an orderly fashion using the latest in tree counting technology to map every one of the estimated 130,000 trees. Volunteers will receive tools and training. If you are interested visit nyc.gov/parks/treescount or email TreesCount@parks.nyc.gov. There will be prizes and swag!

Bike New York will provide free bike safety classes and programs for everyone at all skill levels. Classes are being held at Robert Moses Playground (East 42nd Street at First Avenue) on 8/23 from 10 am – 1 pm and again on 8/30 from 10 am – 1 pm. Bring your own bike and helmet. For more information contact rconroy@bike.nyc.

This Thursday August 6, Common Cause is cosponsoring a rally to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. The rally begins at noon at Foley Square (easiest route is 4/5/6 trains to Brooklyn Bridge station and walk a block north.

Enjoy Summer!

Mark Thompson

President

TILDEN WINS “CLUB OF THE YEAR!”

Congratulations to all Tildenites – members, family and friends – on winning the Club of The Year award (aka The Demmy)! During the beautiful awards ceremony held at the American Airlines Theater on 42nd Street, guests were entertained by internationally acclaimed musicians, dancers, and comedians (although maybe that guy really was President Bill Clinton?), speeches were made and awards were presented.

Hosted by County Committee Leader and Assemblymember Keith L.T. Wright, the event featured Special Guest Speaker Governor Andrew Cuomo, who delivered an inspirational and rousing address, including a beautiful tribute to his father, the late Governor Mario Cuomo. Former Governor David Patterson and Speaker Carl Heastie joined Governor Cuomo on stage. A  constellation of other electeds, including former Mayor David Dinkins, Borough President Gale Brewer, Public Advocate Tish James, our own Councilmember Rosie Mendez (who also received an award – congratulations Rosie!), State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. (who spoke to Tilden a few months ago and greeted us warmly), and Assemblymember Dan Quart, to name just a few, were present and cheering for Tilden.

The highlight of the evening was the finale presentation of the BIG Demmy – the Herman D. Farrell Jr. “Club of the Year” award. There were multiple other great clubs up for the award, but in recognition of Tilden’s many activities, growth and impact we were deemed Club of the Year. The actual award will be making a guest appearance at our next Club meeting in September, so be sure to attend and see it in person!

Several dozen Tildenites held an ‘after party’ – a Tilden tradition  of combining hard work with fun – at the beautiful Cafe Un Deux Trois where a festive dinner and lots of celebrating took place. We toasted our members and their contributions to our Democratic Party, our City and our State, and made special toasts to our own Genevieve Cervera and Richard Tsai.

On a personal note, I would like to thank all the members of Tilden for the hard work done to receive this recognition. What you have accomplished is brilliant and inspirational, and is a shining example of what we can do when we come together in the name of Democracy. Let’s keep on doing what we do so well! I am proud and honored to serve as your President.

Sincerely,

Mark P. Thompson

President, Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club

Club of the Year

 

It’s a wrap! And it’s Demmytime!

On Monday evening more than thirty Tildenites braved the beautiful weather to gather and celebrate at Patrizia’s on Second Avenue. But why? Because they had all successfully gathered at least two green sheets of signatures that will help our candidates get onto this Fall’s ballot. Congratulations to everyone who helped with this Herculean effort! Louise Dankberg, our District Leader, is now in the process of binding the petitions and delivering them. (A special thanks to Louise since this is no easy task.) When all was done, Tilden gathered more than 1,500 signatures!

As you have heard, the internationally broadcast (well, maybe just on our smart phones …) Demmy Awards will be held at the American Airlines Theater on Monday July 13. Tilden is a finalist for the Club of The Year Award. While voting has closed, you can – and should – send in your late vote anyway. Send an email to Thedemmys@gmail.com and write “Tilden  Club of the Year” in the subject line. In the text, just write something like “I vote for Tilden as Club of the Year.” Every vote will help push us over the top. Ask all your friends and relatives to do it via a massive email. Let’s win this year! We deserve it!

Warmest Regards,

Mark P. Thompson

President, Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club

 

The Petition Wrap Party – Revised – and more urgent info!

Yes, the Petition Wrap Party at Patrizio’s will be July 6 … not July 22 – so you need to hustle yer bustle to get those two green pages of signatures. Be sure to doublecheck your calendar and bring in piles of names! Remember the top five petitioners get that super-duper prize!

Almost as important (some woulld dare to say even more important) is the voting for the Democratic Club of The Year. Tilden has a good shot at it since we are awesome .. but to win we need to have the most votes. So vote for Tilden and ask all your friends to do so. But how do you vote? It’s easy as betting on even more Republicans running for President. Simply write to Thedemmys@gmail.com and write ‘Club of the Year’ in the subject line. In the email state that you are voting for Tilden.

We have learned that this year’s Demmy’s will include a performance by Grammy Award winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari. Miri has performed with many superstars, including Kanye West, Donna Summer and Patti LaBelle.

We would like to send a big shout-out to Tildenite Richard Tsai, who is recuperating from very serious surgery. Richard is doing well and we send him best wishes and look forward to seeing him at The Demmys and The Petition Wrap Party!

Regards,

Mark P. Thompson

President

Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club

 

 

First Annual Tilden Petition Contest!!!!!

Yes, Tildenites …

Those rumors you’ve been hearing on the streets, in the backrooms of political clubhouses and on buses to Albany are true! All of your hard work gathering signatures on those beloved green petition sheets could get more than just great candidates elected to office. It could get you a free ticket to The Demmy’s! The top five Tildenite signature-getters will receive a ticket to The Demmys (July 13). Can you imagine the excitement this is causing?

So hit the streets, corner your neighbors, and get as many Democrats signed up as possible. Bring those signed petitions to the Petition Wrap Party at Patrizio’s on July 22 (details to follow shortly). Two full petition sheets give you a free dinner! And more than that could get you an evening of Democratic Glamor! Golly gosh, can it get better than this?

Sincerely,

Mark P. Thompson

President

Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club