Our membership is open to all, regardless of gender. Join us in supporting Democratic women in Texas politics, making a difference in our community with our scholarships to girls and our various service projects, and just feel welcome to be your genuine self with like minded people. Below you will find information about our officers, our committees, and news about our members.
Want to join us?
Click below to go to the TDW ActBlue page to join!
Officers
Our 2023 officers leading the Texas Democratic Women of Hood County are as follows:
PRESIDENT : Sherry Johnson
VICE PRESIDENT : Hannah Bohm
SECRETARY : Peggy Goodell
TREASURER : Tori Beatty
TREASURER ELECT : Sidia Miranda
Committees
We invite all members to join a committee. As a member of a committee, you can take a leading role, or work on small projects here and there, depending on your schedule and availability. We have something for everyone! Once the committees are formed for each TDW Hood County term, the committee members will select a chair and a vice-chair. Alternatively, the President has the authority to appoint the chair. As a group, you will be responsible for each other and for carrying out the functions of your committee. And, the most fun — joining a committee is how you get to know other members!
Standing Committees
Political Issues Committee (National, State, and Local Action)
- Research and stay up-to-date with issues/happenings in the government at the local, state, and national level. This will include attending hearings and debates in Austin and Hood County if possible.
- Keep up with issues that affect women and TDW Hood County members.
- Report current issues at monthly meetings, as appropriate.
- Research and investigate studies or trends that may affect upcoming legislation.
- State Action will monitor and track the progress of bills while the Texas Legislature is in session; report status of bills as they traverse through the Legislature; summarize at a meeting the recent legislation that passed, and bills that did not pass, which affect women and TDW Hood members.
- Provide Communications Committee with information to post.
Communications Committee
- Maintain and continuously update the TDW Hood website and Facebook private group and public page.
- Contact various committee chairs for adding content to our newsletter, website, and social media sites.
- Form relationships with the press and encourage them to write articles about TDW Hood.
- Send press releases about Hood County and State TDW activities.
- Create brochures, flyers, and other printed materials in coordination with other committees.
- Take or arrange for photos to be taken at TDW Hood’s events.
- Maintain TDW Hood’s emailing system, and send email blasts as directed by the Board.
Scholarship Committee
- Coordinate with high school(s) to include our scholarship.
- Select graduating senior girls from Granbury High School to receive TDW of Hood County scholarships.
- Reading essays, conduct interviews to determine the best recipients based on academics, community involvement, and Democratic values.
- Keep in touch with scholarship recipients for updates.
Sunshine Committee
- Responsible for acknowledging members’ special events and giving comfort to the ill or bereaved.
Additional Committees
Action Committee
- Contact elected officials by email, phone calls, letters addressing issues of concern and inform members as to how they might take action.
- Lobby state legislators during biennial sessions of Texas State Legislature.
- Organize attendance at candidates' and political issues-based rallies.
- Monitor and track the progress of bills while the Texas Legislature is in session, report the status of bills as they traverse through the Legislature; summarize at a meeting the recent legislation that passed, and bills that did not pass, which affects women and TDW Hood members.
- Provide Communications Committee with information to post.
Social Event Committee
- Plan and execute periodic social events, such as happy hours, debate watching parties, dinners, and separate group holiday events.
- Research local events of interest to women and suggest attendance at such events as a group from TDW Hood.
- Provide Communications Committee with information to post.
Service Projects Committee
- Determine what local organizations to support with donations and/or volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Member News
A Farewell Tribute to Mary Biggerstaff
There are still a few of us active members who remember Mary Biggerstaff’s early days in TDW. I joined in 2005, so I’ve known Mary for 18 years. I can sincerely say that she is one of the kindest, nicest, most dedicated women that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. And talk about hard-working! In those early years together, our chapter was very small. It was often a struggle to get ten members to come to the meetings. We might have been tiny, but we accomplished great things!
One of our most ambitious undertakings was hosting the TDW Summer Retreat for the State Board and all the Texas chapters, not once, but twice. It was a monumental job, but we worked together and pulled it off very successfully. Mary was one of the major forces behind it. She has always been one of our hardest working members. Through the years, she was always volunteering to do things. If you asked her to hold an office, be on a committee or help with a project, she was always willing to do so.
Mary was also a master decorator. When we first started hosting our scholarship lunches, we held them at Harbor Lakes Country Club. They did zero decorating for us, so we had to do it ourselves. We met at Mary’s house and created all the table decorations. I think her house must have been half full of red, white and blue stuff! She also helped at the State Convention the year our chapter was responsible for all the table decor using fresh flowers. It was a huge job, and Mary and the committee worked until midnight to make sure the convention hall looked beautiful.
But even more than being a hard worker and loyal TDW member, Mary has been a dear friend to so many of us. We’re really going to miss you and your friendly smile, Mary! We wish you and your husband, Jay, the best of luck in this new stage of your lives!!
With love & all the best,
Wendy Davis
A Parting Tribute to Mary Biggerstaff
When I moved to Granbury in the year 2006,
I soon realized that this was a county with many conflicts.
When I passed through Cresson and saw the Confederate flags flash,
I thought that I had gone back in time to a world of the past.
Then came the Presidential election of 2008;
I saw that this was Republican land, one in which I could not relate.
An announcement in the newspaper told of a Democratic meet,
So I thought I would attend to find some people that I could greet.
There I met Democrats who had thoughts and ideas like mine.
I was invited to attend a meeting of women who were my kind.
How delighted I was when the women of TDW welcomed me;
They were friendly and liberal minded, as far as I could see.
So I met Mary Biggerstaff, and we clicked that very day.
Like me, she was a retired teacher who had many interests to display.
We both loved reading, writing and sharing our thoughts,
So we discussed ideas and experiences as we talked.
We worked together as officers of our Democratic club.
We planned meeting and luncheons and how to defeat the Repugs.
We went to Conventions and retreats with fellow Democrats,
And we shared many great ideas during our frequent chats.
We shopped together and went to the beauty shop too.
In the 15 years I have known Mary, our friendship really grew.
Mary, great granddaughter of a Confederate soldier came to understand
That Rose, great granddaughter of a slave, were really two of a kind.
So, Mary, as you leave Granbury for this new phase in your life,
I hope that you find
Peace, happiness and calmness, with very little strife.
Oh, how all of the TDW ladies will miss your smiling face.
We hope that you will be happy as you move to your new place.
Mary, Granbury and TDW will not be the same without you,
But your family is waiting for you to do what you have to do.
So, I am saying so long today, and I hope this is not really good-bye;
I hope that we will always keep in touch, for Georgetown is just nearby.
Your friend,
Rose Simpson