Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club

The next monthly meeting of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club will be held on Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 pm. The meeting will take place at the Seafarer’s Institute, located at the northeast corner of 15th Street and Irving Place.

Please note that due to the scheduling of the Judicial Candidates Event, the March meeting has been moved from Thursday, March 20 to Monday, March 24. The meeting will start at the regular time, 7:30 PM and be held in the regular room on the 2^nd floor of the Seafarer’s Institute (15^th Street at Irving Place) at 7:30 PM.

On Friday morning, March 14, surrounded by her loving family, our dear friend and fellow Tilden Club member Barbara Garodnick passed away. We are saddened by this loss and wish to express our deepest condolences to Barbara’s family and her large circle of friends, which includes the members of Tilden, her neighbors, her students and the many people she touched with her artistic skills, intelligence, grace, charm and dignity.

Barbara and her loving husband David joined Tilden many years ago, and encouraged other community activists to join, including Pat Levenson and Laura Koestler. Barbara’s presence was felt through her participation as Donations Committee Chairperson, Vice President and Chairperson; her personal skills guided us through difficult times and made the Club stronger. During the good times she gracefully encouraged us, helped us grow, and kept us moving joyfully in the right direction.  Barbara was proud of her son, Dan, our former Club President and City Council member.

The members of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club express our deepest condolences to Barbara’s family and friends, and will observe a moment of silence to honor her memory at our monthly meeting on March 24.

In honor of Barbara’s memory, her family established an endowment at Brooklyn College to be given annually to an independent-minded junior or senior specializing in visual arts to purchase supplies.  In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Barbara Riotto Garodnick ’61 Memorial Award Fund (c/o Brooklyn College Foundation; 2900 Bedford Avenue; Brooklyn, NY 11210). The family is planning a celebration of Barbara’s life to be held at a future date.

February 24, 2014

Dear Tilden Member;

In January, the Club held its annual elections, ushering in another year of exciting activities and challenging politics. As your new President, I am asking you to take an active role in the Club by attending meetings, suggesting programs, speakers, and events, and petitioning to help get our candidates on the ballot. (Our first petition pick up for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is Monday, March 3 at 7:30 at Seafarer’s Institute, 15^th Street at Irving Place, 2^nd floor). Join a committee or create one; we just added a Hospitality Committee to hold social brunches and provide refreshments at our meetings.  Please remember that this is your club, so help shape it and enjoy it!  

After last year’s wildly successful 60^th Anniversary Annual Dinner we have planned an equally wonderful Annual Dinner on April 24. The Club will be celebrating the 200th birthday of Governor Samuel J. Tilden, one of United States’ first progressive political reformers, whose efforts helped usher in more democratic elections and transparency in government. The Annual Dinner will be held Samuel Tilden’s former home, which is now the National Arts Club on Gramercy Park South, and we will be honoring our State Senator Brad Hoylman. Watch for an invite coming soon.

It is my personal goal to make our monthly meetings (usually held the third Thursday of the month, the next one is March 20) exciting, informative and productive. Please attend – and bring friends – and meet fellow Democrats, enjoy some refreshments, help build an even stronger community, and advance the principals of what it means to be a Democrat. 

Regards,

Mark P. Thompson

President

The Samuel J. Tilden Democratic is celebrating our 61st year in reform, progressive politics at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South at 20th St. from 6 to 9 pm on Thursday, April 24, 2014. The evening includes a cocktail hour and sit down dinner.  We are also celebrating the 200th birthday of our name sake, New York’s 25^th Governor, Samuel. J. Tilden.

As a point of interest, the National Arts Club is his former residence. We will be presenting the Beth R. Cosnow Award for Democratic Leadership to New York State Senator Brad Hoylman. Jack Taylor will be the recipient of the Millard L. Midonick and Margot Gayle Tilden Humanitarian Award for Community Service. Tickets are $125 for Members, $225 for Guests, $300 for Sponsors and $500 for Patrons.  Corporate Tables of 10 are also available for $1500. Please contact Patricia Levenson at (212) 477-3258 for further details and to make reservation.

3/20/14                meeting

4/21/14                meeting

4/24/14                Annual Dinner at National Arts Club

5/15/14                meeting

6/8/14                  Tilden street fair

6/19/14                meeting

9/18/14                meeting (TBD)

10/16/14              meeting

11/20/14              meeting

12/7/14                Toys 4 Tots Brunch

2014 Executive Committee

President:
Mark Thompson

Vice-Presidents:
Greg Martello
Wilbur Weder
Claude L. Winfield

Treasurer:
Pat Levenson

Recording secretary:
Ellen Imbimbo

Corresponding secretary:
Sandy Hecker

Executive at-large:
Elizabeth Aivars
Ashia Badi
Genevieve Cervera
Jay Stuart Dankberg
Mollie Dunlap
Laura Koestler
Gregory Lambert
Laura Lopez
Janice Plumer
Marcia Robinson
Paula Schaeffer
Sandro Sherrod
Ameilia Smollens
Shelley Winfield
Arthur Wolf
Alicia B. Zanelli

Ex officio members
Louise Dankberg
Steven Newmark
Steven Smollens

SAVE THE DATE

Samuel J. Tilden Annual Toys for Tots Brunch

Sunday, December 8th

12:00 – 3:00pm

Paul & Jimmy’s

123 E 18th Street 

Manhattan, NY

More details to follow! Look for an email soon.

The following is the letter stating Tilden’s support, as decided upon by vote at the June meeting: