| Fourth Annual Don Jennings Memorial Award Dinner |
On Saturday, April 28, 2007 the Manistee County Democratic Party
hosted the "Fourth Annual Don Jennings Memorial Award Dinner" at
the Little River Casino Resort Conference Center. We hope you had
the honor of joining us for this annual event that honored those who
have worked for social justice through the Manistee County
Democratic Party.
hosted the "Fourth Annual Don Jennings Memorial Award Dinner" at
the Little River Casino Resort Conference Center. We hope you had
the honor of joining us for this annual event that honored those who
have worked for social justice through the Manistee County
Democratic Party.
| Guest Speaker: Dan Scripps |
Law Project, a group that works to counter voter intimidation and is
spearheading research efforts for the reauthorization of the Voting
Rights Act.
Dan is committed to preserving our environmental heritage. This
quote from his 2006 speech to the Benzie County Democratic Party is
just one example:
spearheading research efforts for the reauthorization of the Voting
Rights Act.
Dan is committed to preserving our environmental heritage. This
quote from his 2006 speech to the Benzie County Democratic Party is
just one example:
"The beauty of our shoreline - the solitude of our
forests and streams; they're the building blocks of
our long-term economic success. Our competitive
advantage lies not in the exploitation of our
natural resources, but on their conservation. To
create the type of pro-business environment
needed to sustain our region we must first protect
our natural environment. They go together - and
we can't have one without the other."
forests and streams; they're the building blocks of
our long-term economic success. Our competitive
advantage lies not in the exploitation of our
natural resources, but on their conservation. To
create the type of pro-business environment
needed to sustain our region we must first protect
our natural environment. They go together - and
we can't have one without the other."
As in the past, funds raised at this dinner will be used to support the
mission of the Manistee County Democratic Party; "To promote social
justice, protect the environment and create world peace".
mission of the Manistee County Democratic Party; "To promote social
justice, protect the environment and create world peace".
| 2007 Don Jennings Memorial Award Recipient: Sylvester C. “Buck” Flarity |
Sylvester C. “Buck” Flarity has been voted as the recipient of the 2007
Donald Jennings Memorial Award.
Buck, a nickname since early childhood, and Rosemary, his wife of 67
years, have three children and six grandchildren. Buck served in the
U.S. Coast Guard and Army, Cavalry, and was discharged in 1946. He
was named Veterans of Foreign Wars Walsh Post No. 4499’s
“Manistee’s Outstanding Citizen” in 1962 and served as Post
Commander 1965-66. He was a dedicated employee of Consumers
Power for 34 years, until health problems forced an early retirement in
1982.
A registered Democrat since 1948, Buck’s public service and political
involvement has touched local, regional, state, and national spheres.
Buck served as Democratic Party Chairman for Manistee County for 13
years and as a member of the State Central Committee from 1958-
1961. Working with President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, Buck helped
in the sale of Manistee Drop Forge Company, saving 300 jobs; 100
jobs on each 8-hour shift. He has also been recognized by the
Manistee County Labor Federation for his many years of assistance.
Buck was Manistee’s Mayor from 1966-67. The Manistee City Council
honored Buck on June 6, 1981, formally declaring that day as “Buck
Flarity Appreciation Day.” Buck was also presented with a
Distinguished Service Award in 1982 from the Manistee Jaycees for
outstanding community service. He was on the State Building
Committee for four years under Governor Blanchard. Buck made
appointments for Senate delegates to appear in Washington, D.C. in
support of grants to fund Century Terrace and local low-cost housing.
This also allowed for the development of the Industrial Park in
Manistee. Buck has also served for 19 years on the Manistee County
Road Commission.
As a member of Clinton’s “Americans for Change” Presidential Task
Force, Buck was invited to be part of a special group of Clinton pre-
convention team members viewing the “A Call for Reunion” opening
ceremony. Buck was a regional Response Team Captain for Clinton
prior to the primaries.
Buck set the county pole vault record in 1937 of 13’6”, which lasted for
39 years, and won the state pole vault in 1936, ’37 and ‘38. He’s an
avid sportsman, having coached and refereed basketball and football
for 34 years as a Michigan athletic official. He was also on the Michigan
Boxing Commission for nine years, from 1954-63. Another of Buck’s
many talents, he cooked dinners for the local Democratic Party for
many years and remembers serving more than 3000 people at one
annual picnic years ago.
On a more personal note, Buck was a close personal friend of Don
Jennings and knew him well. “I looked on him as a good, smart
attorney, a kind that you could go to for immediate help and advice,”
said Buck. There are those that say Buck is also the kind of person
you can go to for help and advice.
Donald Jennings Memorial Award.
Buck, a nickname since early childhood, and Rosemary, his wife of 67
years, have three children and six grandchildren. Buck served in the
U.S. Coast Guard and Army, Cavalry, and was discharged in 1946. He
was named Veterans of Foreign Wars Walsh Post No. 4499’s
“Manistee’s Outstanding Citizen” in 1962 and served as Post
Commander 1965-66. He was a dedicated employee of Consumers
Power for 34 years, until health problems forced an early retirement in
1982.
A registered Democrat since 1948, Buck’s public service and political
involvement has touched local, regional, state, and national spheres.
Buck served as Democratic Party Chairman for Manistee County for 13
years and as a member of the State Central Committee from 1958-
1961. Working with President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, Buck helped
in the sale of Manistee Drop Forge Company, saving 300 jobs; 100
jobs on each 8-hour shift. He has also been recognized by the
Manistee County Labor Federation for his many years of assistance.
Buck was Manistee’s Mayor from 1966-67. The Manistee City Council
honored Buck on June 6, 1981, formally declaring that day as “Buck
Flarity Appreciation Day.” Buck was also presented with a
Distinguished Service Award in 1982 from the Manistee Jaycees for
outstanding community service. He was on the State Building
Committee for four years under Governor Blanchard. Buck made
appointments for Senate delegates to appear in Washington, D.C. in
support of grants to fund Century Terrace and local low-cost housing.
This also allowed for the development of the Industrial Park in
Manistee. Buck has also served for 19 years on the Manistee County
Road Commission.
As a member of Clinton’s “Americans for Change” Presidential Task
Force, Buck was invited to be part of a special group of Clinton pre-
convention team members viewing the “A Call for Reunion” opening
ceremony. Buck was a regional Response Team Captain for Clinton
prior to the primaries.
Buck set the county pole vault record in 1937 of 13’6”, which lasted for
39 years, and won the state pole vault in 1936, ’37 and ‘38. He’s an
avid sportsman, having coached and refereed basketball and football
for 34 years as a Michigan athletic official. He was also on the Michigan
Boxing Commission for nine years, from 1954-63. Another of Buck’s
many talents, he cooked dinners for the local Democratic Party for
many years and remembers serving more than 3000 people at one
annual picnic years ago.
On a more personal note, Buck was a close personal friend of Don
Jennings and knew him well. “I looked on him as a good, smart
attorney, a kind that you could go to for immediate help and advice,”
said Buck. There are those that say Buck is also the kind of person
you can go to for help and advice.
This year we were privileged to have Dan
Scripps, Democratic candidate for the
Michigan House of Representatives in the
101st District with us. His legal career
included practicing environmental law at a
top national law firm in Washington, D.C.
Dan is an active member of the American
Constitution Society for Law and Policy
(ACS), a national network of progressive
lawyers, judges, and individuals. With
Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senator Carl
Levin, and former Detroit Mayor Dennis
Archer, Dan helped kick-off the Michigan
lawyer chapter of ACS in March 2005. He is
also co-founder of the Michigan Elections
Scripps, Democratic candidate for the
Michigan House of Representatives in the
101st District with us. His legal career
included practicing environmental law at a
top national law firm in Washington, D.C.
Dan is an active member of the American
Constitution Society for Law and Policy
(ACS), a national network of progressive
lawyers, judges, and individuals. With
Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senator Carl
Levin, and former Detroit Mayor Dennis
Archer, Dan helped kick-off the Michigan
lawyer chapter of ACS in March 2005. He is
also co-founder of the Michigan Elections
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