Linda Dyer Hart of Tega Cay has a history of planning events for the public.
But over the past few months, she’s had her “hands full” organizing several events on the periphery of this week’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.
In addition to being a key organizer of the Experience South Carolina festival – aimed at showcasing South Carolina culture on South Carolina soil – Dyer Hart also helped organize two caucus events in Charlotte.
Before she even knew what they were, she had already reserved a place to have them.
As a member of the nonpartisan National Women’s Political Caucus, Dyer Hart helped organize a welcome reception preceding the convention for caucus supporters, female candidates, officeholders and convention-goers.
“It’s the perfect storm of all of it coming together,” Dyer Hart said. “It’s right here that you can make things happen.”
Dyer Hart sees the women’s caucus as a way to educate younger women who “have been taking for granted they haven’t really had to fight for women’s rights.”
She also has been pleased with the interest men have shown in attending the event.
Another organizer, Bonnie Wallsh of Charlotte, said the caucus is “open to anyone who is pro-choice, favors equal pay for equal work for men and women” and supports the passage of an equal rights amendment to the Constitution.
The reception – at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant, 208 N. Tryon St., Charlotte – will feature a Southern menu and several female speakers, including Ellie Smeal, president of The Feminist Majority and publisher of Ms. Magazine, and Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women.
The event is $75 by registration only. Fundraising will go to support female candidates and raise awareness for women’s issues. Tickets will be available at the door until they sell out.
To register, email Bettina Hager at bettina@nwpc.org.
Dyer Hart has tapped her Irish roots to bring another option to convention goers.
A founder of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Charlotte and Rock Hill, Dyer Hart has also helped organize an Irish-American Democrats convention party for Wednesday night.
Dyer Hart is expecting many leaders from the African-American community to attend to launch a super political action committee called the MCBLACKPAC, which draws on the “shared history of African Americans and Irish Americans” to work to elect Democratic candidates.
The event will begin at 10 p.m. at Ri Ra Irish Pub. Tickets are $75. Register with Stella O’Leary at irldems@erols.com or 202-362-9064.
Chester man to protest imports
Chester’s Ed Messer, a 76-year-old retiree and U.S. Army veteran is heading to the DNC to protest imports of foreign-made goods into the United States.
Messer hopes to have company when he climbs on the speakers’ platform at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Charlotte to deliver a speech he has been preparing.
He also has signed up to march at noon that day along the designated parade route, which begins at Pearle Street Park and ends in Marshall Park.
Jamie Self 803-329-4062
