Hasty speaks on human trafficking

Bandera City Councilwoman Darcy Hasty spoke to the Bandera County Republican Women on June 3 about her experiences as the Medina County Director of Indigent

Defense and Pretrial Services and about how human trafficking effects South Texas.

Hasty quoted statistics reporting that at any given time 313,000 people are victims of human trafficking in the state of Texas. Of that number, 234,000 are involved in labor trafficking, and 79,000 are involved in sex trafficking. Hasty also said that between 14,000 and 17,000 immigrants are victims who have been brought to the United States to be trafficked.

Vice President for Programs Dede Skoglund gave a report on the programs scheduled for the next two meetings.

Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth, BISD Superintendent, will speak to the club in July, and Hunter Beaton of Day 1 Bags will speak in August.

Skoglund also gave a wrap up report on the Millie Radar Memorial Scholarship.

In new items on the agenda, President Caroline Rutherford called for two or three members to join the scholarship committee.

Vice President for Legislation Susan Junker gave a report on which bills the legislature has passed to the Governor and which initiatives failed.

Vice President for Campaign Activities Susan Real called for members to turn in their volunteer hours for the second quarter of the year.

The Republican Women committed to having a booth with Republican materials at the Lakehills Community Days on the last Saturday of the month.

Even though the club did not participate in the Memorial Day Parade in Bandera, there was discussion about participating in the American Legion 4th of July Parade in Lakehills, which is scheduled for Saturday July 3.

Treasurer Alma Baker gave a report on the club’s finances. Girls’ State will be held in a virtual format this year, so the club is deferring funding the spots for participation until next summer, when the event will return to an in-person format.

Vice President for Membership Melanie Burns reported that the newsletter went out to all members and would be published quarterly. She also reported on her search for a storage space for the club.

Club President Caroline Rutherford encouraged members to sign up for the TFRW Biennial Convention on October 13-16 in Round Rock. Rutherford also explained the duties of the nominating committee for the club.

Club membership discussed the feasibility of securing a headquarters for the distribution of Republican information and the possibility of sharing the rental costs with the Bandera County GOP. There was also discussion about the feasibility of manning the headquarters on a regular basis.

Rutherford reminded members to bring donations of school supplies to the next meeting in July for distribution to Bandera ISD and Medina ISD.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, July 1, at the Silver Sage Community Center.