Chair’s Message - Nick Bennett
The recent Placer County Democratic Party’s 12th Annual Roosevelt Kennedy (RK) Dinner on August 8, 2025, at Sun City Roseville, Timber Creek Ballroom, has left me with a tremendous sense of hope and encouragement knowing that we have successfully engaged people who also want to rise to save our democracy and who want to stand with us as we confront the federal government authoritarian dangers facing our nation. We had a sold-out crowd of 300 people in attendance, and we deeply appreciate the enthusiasm of all who participated in our annual dinner.
We owe a deep gratitude to our sponsors for their generous donations: Democratic Club of Lincoln, Operating Engineers Local 3, California Teachers Association, Stationary Engineers Local 39, Democrats of Sun City Roseville, RATT Pack, and the Alex Clemens Family. I want to also acknowledge the generous wine donation for our RK Dinner wine pull given by Cathy Rodgers, founder of RiverCrest Ranch.
As many of our Placer County Democratic Central Committee (PCDCC) members know, the Placer County Democratic Party’s 12th Annual Roosevelt Kennedy Dinner was a resounding success in many ways. California Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire gave a no holds bar inspirational call to action in defending our Democracy and elevating California as the economic and political powerhouse of the nation. Guest speakers included Gayle Garvolino-Mojica who spoke as the Placer County Superintendent of Schools giving an update on the continuing advocacy of quality education for all students in Placer County. We also heard candidate speeches from Betty Yee, running for Governor, Josh Newman, running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Neva Parker, running for Assembly, and Heidi Hall and Tyler Vanderberg, both running for Congress.
As previous acting Chair for the Fundraising Committee, which included many of the volunteers who were responsible for the ultimate success of the event, I deeply appreciated how they made it a special night. The volunteers worked as a dedicated and effective team. As Chair of the Central Committee, I want to defer to the words of Noelle Filice-Smith, who is now the Fundraising Committee Chair for the PCDCC:
“I want to commend all our Fundraising Team for the dedicated work
you did to create an event that successfully entertained 300 guests
at the Roosevelt/Kennedy Dinner 2025.
Thank you to Lynne Snyder and company who set a lovely and festive
table that thanked our generous guests for their attendance and
donations. I want to thank Charlie Riley for the multiple creative
and very successful fundraising ideas, especially the "Do You DEM?"
fundraiser. He was also instrumental in making the Wine &
Chocolate Pull sales so productive.
Tiffany Sickler graciously took on the Registration Table and volunteers and
made a complicated seating system work seamlessly. I want to commend
Deana for the attractive cloth gift bags she made, more than 100 of them,
that decorated our wine and chocolate gifts.
Thank you to Julann Brown who worked tirelessly to create an attractive
program that met the criteria our committee required (not an easy task).
We had the pleasure of Debra Skolnick’s presence, who coordinated the
message we wanted to create for our guests with the Communications
Committee. They did a great job at the event and, thanks to their tireless
announcements on social media, we had a sell-out crowd.
While dealing with 100 degrees plus weather, I want to thank Evan, and
my close friends Arleen, Vicky, and Laureen, and several other volunteers
who delivered the wine, chocolate, and flowers in good condition!
Not an easy feat.
Most importantly, thank you to Nick for chairing this remarkably successful
Fundraiser team!”
Noelle Filice-Smith
Chair, Fundraising Committee
Placer County Democratic Central Committee
The RK Dinner gives the PCDCC an opportunity to recognize our volunteers in several categories of achievement: Joanne Croghan - Volunteer of the Year Award, Charlie Riley - Molly Ivins Give em’ Hell Award, Lincoln Democratic Club’s Political Action Team - Community Activist Award, and Liz Moore - Democratic Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lynn Synder spoke eloquently in memory of Bill Lauritsen and Horace Snowden, longtime and dedicated Democratic activists. Joe Mlakar made sure that we represented with our “Another Placer County Democrat!” magnets and swag.
Last but not least, I want to thank all of our attendees, those who donated to sponsor a young Democrat to attend, and our Blue Legacy Donors for making the work of the Placer County Democratic Party possible. Our success relies on supporters like you.
As we gear up to take back our nation from this corrupt administration and complicit Congress, we need you in the fight to pass Proposition 50 to counter Texas’ redistricting scheme. Please commit to volunteering to help pass Proposition 50. Because, together, we rise!