The top two essay writers will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. With this year’s awards, the Democratic Women’s Council will have provided more than $20,000 in scholarships since the program began in 2007, according to a press release from the organization.
Essays must be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length. All entrants must be registered voters of Horry County or scheduled for high school graduation by June.
The deadline for essay submissions is March 30.
For a complete list of rules and criteria, or for other details, contact Essay Committee Chairwoman Milly Vaughn by email at mvaughn3@sc.rr.com.
As in past years, the group will publish a booklet with all winning essays.
For more information about the Democratic Women’s Council of Horry County or contributing to the scholarship fund, contact Sally Howard at 455-1936 or by email at SallyPHoward@aol.com.
• The West Side Democrats will meet from 5:50 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Horry County Democratic Party Headquarters, 900 Fourth Ave., Conway.
For more information, call the HCDP office at 488-4237.
• The Horry County Democratic Party has announced that a fundraiser planned for Saturday has been replaced by a Black History Month Commemoration meet-and-greet social.
The guest speaker is “Mother” Laura Grate, who is 104 years old.
People are asked to bring samples of the recipes they’ve submitted for the HCDP cookbook to share, and people with others. If you do not have a recipe in the cookbook, please bring a favorite dish to share, and submit the recipe if you wish to have it included in the HCDP Cookbook addendum.
The event takes place at 6 p.m. at the Masonic Temple C.O.G.I.C. Banquet Hall, 1501 Seventh Ave., Conway.
For more information, call the party office at 488-4237.
• The South Carolina Democratic Party is holding its first Issues Conference on from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Columbia.
There will be panel discussions, breakout sessions and a keynote speaker at lunch, and discuss topics like immigration, education, voter ID, 2012 races, media training, social media training, candidate training, Democratic messaging and more.
Tickets are $10.
For more information, visit www.scdp.org/blog/2012-issues-conference/ or call (803) 799-7798.
• The Horry County Democratic clubs and the NAACP are holding a forum for 7th congressional district candidates as a kickoff for the Democratic primaries, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 11 in the Ocean Reef hotel ballroom, 7100 N. Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach.
There will be a reception following the forum, and dinner will be available.
Seating is limited and tickets are required, although they are free. Tickets can be obtained through local Democratic clubs or the NAACP.
For more information, contact Steve Chand at 424-1715 or beserchand@yahoo.com; Sally Howard at 455-1936 or sallyphoward@aol.com; or Mickey James at 340-2018 or wgjames913@aol.com.
• The 2012 Galivants Ferry Stump, a Democratic event, is scheduled for May 7.
The biannual event has been held for more than 136 years. It takes place at Pee Dee Farms, the community’s century-old general store, along U.S. 501 where it crosses the Little Pee Dee River.
The Stump will follow the traditional festival format of bluegrass music and clogging starting at 4:30 p.m., and the stumping, or speaking, begins at 6 p.m. featuring local, state and national Democratic candidates.
Speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.
Republicans
• The Waccamaw Neck Republican Club offers Coffee with the Candidates from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Applewood’s House of Pancakes, 14361 U.S. 17 next to the Bi Lo in the Litchfield Commons Exchange Center.
Speakers this month are Lane Cribb, candidate for Georgetown County sheriff; Waldo Maring, candidate for probate judge; and Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice, candidate for congressional District 7.
For more information, call President Jerry Rovner at 235-0463, email WaccamawNeckRepublicanClub@gmail.com or visit www.GeorgetownGOP.org.
• Conservatives for Responsible Government meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at T-Bonz Gill Grill on Seaboard Street in Seaboard Commons, Myrtle Beach, for a meet-and-greet with 7th congressional district candidate and Myrtle Beach City Councilman Randal Wallace.
Wallace is the guest speaker at the dinner that follows the social hour.
For more information, call Carol Kinsman at 281-4522.
Tea Party
• The Myrtle Beach Tea Party meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 27, at Rotelli’s restaurant, 201 Graduate Road, Suite 109, Conway, across U.S. 501 from the entrance to Coastal Carolina University.
For more information, email the group at infombtp@gmail.com.