Dear Fellow Patriots, As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many blessings we share as a community. Chief among them is the gift of freedom—one we hold dear and continue to protect together through our work at The Virginia Council. With the holiday season about to get underway, we are eagerly preparing for our annual Christmas celebration and this year we are delighted to be hosting the party in one of the most beautiful and historic homes on the former Monument Avenue in Richmond. Those of you who have joined at the $250 dollar Patriot level or above should have already received your invitation to the event on Wednesday evening December 11th. Please RSVP here. If you don’t yet have a Council membership, there’s still time to secure a ticket. Simply become a Virginia Council member at the Patriot level or above for 2025! And you can join here. I know many of you make end of year gifts to groups you support, and I hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Virginia Council for 2024 before the year comes to a close. All of our work is done with the help of volunteers and none of us receive a salary or stipend. This year we have held three Virginia Forums with academic firebrand Dr. Carol Swain, famed Communist dissident Xi Van Fleet and Hollywood actor Kevin Sorbo. We have held 8 monthly meetings with a variety of compelling speakers and special guests. And we have done work to strengthen, expand and support Virginia’s conservative media ecosystem with our third annual Media Summit. We were very fortunate to host speakers from two distinguished conservative organizations – the Leadership Institute and the Media Research Center. We will build on the lessons learned from the summit in 2025. In the coming year we will grow our Virginia Forum series and continue our local programs. Plus, we will expand our efforts to use the law and courts to stop the destruction of priceless parts of the Commonwealth’s historic legacy - public art, monuments and memorials. We need 100 people across Virginia to donate $1000 each this year and pledge $1000 for next year so that we can continue to fight back against Marxist destruction and the denigration of our society. Please help us in our struggle to preserve the Commonwealth’s – and the nation’s – heritage! Thank you for standing up for patriotism and law and order and for standing up for us! Sincerely,   John Reid Founding Chairman of The Virginia Council Virginia Election Updates: Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia says with Trump’s election, ‘we’ve got a friend in the White House’ | Fox News Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares will seek reelection, quelling talk of a gubernatorial bid | AP News How many Virginia registered voters actually voted? Youngkin throws support behind Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia governor race - Washington Examiner Harris carried 8 House of Delegates districts now represented by Republicans - Cardinal News 'Very sane, very solid' Glenn Youngkin’s next act is still being written Locality Turnout Compared to Statewide Republicans optimistic for 2025 elections in Virginia, New Jersey How Virginia’s Latinos voted in the 2024 election | VPM How significant are the Republican gains in Virginia this year? Here's the data. - Cardinal News NOVA Campaigns on X: "Billionaire Michael Bills & wife with their LNG-funded “@clean_virginia” PAC have poured $222,200 into Dem Senate candidate @Kannanforva in under 2 years… Beholden to @vademocrats’ biggest billionaire donor His wife, Jayashree, is his #3 donor at $57K https://t.co/sW7w6toZjG" / X Ousted Virginia legislators run for new seats | WVTF 2024 Congressional Results by Precinct  Virginia Assembly, Senate & Governor updates: Youngkin requests $4.4 billion from the federal government for Helene recovery and mitigation - Cardinal News Youngkin establishes task force to combat negative effects of social media on youth mental health • Virginia Mercury Virginia's migrant labor camps: After more than a year, Youngkin's regulatory management office approves notice to change outdated migrant labor camp rules Judge deems Youngkin’s actions to withdraw Virginia from RGGI ‘unlawful’ • Virginia Mercury School districts across Northern Virginia request delay of VDOE’s new performance plan | DC News Now Virginia joins push to break Google’s search monopoly • Virginia Mercury Va. lawmakers will consider teacher compact to stem shortage • Virginia Mercury Immigrants in Virginia - American Immigration Council Column: The Democrats are losing older Black voters, like us Localities, state rake in casino revenues, but they can’t be sole economic strategy • Virginia Mercury Here’s what the first section of Norfolk’s floodwall could look like Energy policymakers convene for Virginia Clean Economy Act summit • Virginia Mercury Thanksgiving, November 28, 2024 We wish all of you a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. Beginning with George Washington’s initial Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, our nation’s leaders have consistently recognized the blessings that God has bestowed upon our country, including the priceless blessing of freedom. We saw a powerful exercise of that right on November 5, when more than 150 million Americans went to the polls (or had their early votes counted) in our presidential election. While Thanksgiving is a joyous celebration featuring family, food and football, let us never forget our fortunate we are to enjoy the blessings of liberty – a blessing The Virginia Council is committed to preserving. First Thanksgiving | Berkeley Plantation  Articles, News, & Quotes: New census data shows a switch: More people are now moving into Virginia than out - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey 11-year-old Henrico boy sentenced for making swatting calls to Florida schools By WTVR CBS web staff Letter: Richmond officials request mediation with VCU Health in dispute over failed development deal By Graham Moomaw City threatens litigation, requests mediation in VCU Health tax payments spat - Richmond BizSense By Jonathan Spiers Former Richmond Fed bank examiner charged with insider trading - Richmond BizSense By Michael Schwartz Fairfax police chief addresses spread of Venezuelan gang in DMV region in 7News interview By 7 News Staff Ex-student pleads guilty to fatally shooting 3 University of Virginia football players in 2022 | AP News By Ben Finley and Denise Lavoie Virginia's in-state college tuition and fees among nation's highest - Axios Richmond By Sabrina Moreno Nick Minock on X: "Fairfax County Public Schools called the police on journalists who were on public property covering an alleged high school football recruiting scandal. When the police arrived, officers said the journalists could be there. https://t.co/8AlvsG9lj1" / X UVa student says he was bullied for being Jewish before his housemate pulled a gun on him By Hawes Spencer 800 kids are waiting to be adopted in Virginia By Jenna Zibton Virginia now 8th worst in the country for mail, report shows By Luca Powell Richmond among top cities for remote workers - Axios Richmond By Karri Peifer Why is it so hard to use opiate settlement funds in rural communities? - Cardinal News By Emily Shabacker Picture This - Style Weekly “Edmund Archer: Perspectives on Black Dignity” opened at the Valentine, featuring ten works by the Richmond native. Shenandoah Valley man helped negotiate first formal U.S. treaty with Native Americans - Cardinal News By Eric Gorton Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade | December 7, 2024 Scottish Walk for Lafayette Fredericksburg's Lafayette Bicentennial to culminate with full weekend of events - Fredericksburg Free Press By FFP Staff  Interviews of Interest LISTEN: Lafayette weekend in Fredericksburg-the beginning - Fredericksburg Free Press The 200th anniversary of General Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Fredericksburg is being marked this weekend. By Ted Schubel JASON MIYARES Discusses His Re-election Campaign CLETA MITCHELL Addresses 2024's Downballot Vote Special episode on RGGI - by Brandon Jarvis An interview with the lead attorney Nate Benforado from the Southern Environmental Law Center on the case against Youngkin's RGGI removal. Civil Rights Attorney NOAH HURWITZ on His Recent COVID Legal Victory Addressing the Pitfalls of Social Media With NICKI REISBERG The Jefferson Council on X: "Last night at the UVA Student Oratory Competition, Sidney Sebold gave a speech about how a Thomas Jefferson reenactor at @colonialwmsburg undid the four years of anti-Jefferson propaganda she learned at UVA. "My professors and fellow students taught me to hate founding fathers https://t.co/ognguqFzxS" / X Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press Issues House committee hears free speech vs. campus safety testimony ahead of possible 2025 legislation | WVTF By Brad Kutner Va. House lawmakers lay potential legislative groundwork in response to campus protests • Virginia Mercury By Nathaniel Cline UVA student reported for wearing ‘Make America Christian Again’ hat | The College Fix By College Fix Staff NOVA School Districts Attack English Learner Civil Rights | Bacon's Rebellion - Democracy Thrives in Sunlight By Todd Truitt Morning Joe’s Hopeless Hypocrites Turn Off Both Left And Right — Kerry: By Kerry Dougherty Constitutional amendment gets a vote of confidence at Restoration of Rights Forum - Fredericksburg Free Press By Joey LoMonaco Majorities Still Back Stricter Gun Laws, Assault Weapons Ban By Megan Brenan Virginia is one of the top states in the nation for book bans - Axios Richmond By Karri Peifer Judge denies Loudoun parents' plea to speak at school board meeting on safety By Nick Minock Archivist urges maximum sentences for climate activists who vandalized founding docs By Chris Harris The Virginia Council has been blessed with unwavering support from the community since its founding a few years ago. And we decided to add some new ways to thank you for your ongoing assistance in our efforts to educate and inform Virginians. "Announcing The Virginia Council membership reward program. Sign up today on our website for the various levels of support!" Member level: Simple membership is free when you sign up for our email newsletter or attend a monthly meeting. Liberty level: For an annual contribution of $100 you get the newsletter, access to our monthly meetings and a commemorative Virginia Council lapel pin. Patriot level: When you step up to make an annual contribution of $250 you receive first access to tickets to our annual Christmas and Patriot Parties, the commemorative Virginia Council pin, and the newsletter and monthly meeting access. President's Council level: For a commitment of $1000 you receive the newsletter, access to our monthly meetings, 2 lapel pins, 2 invitations to both of our annual parties, and 2 VIP tickets to one Virginia Forum lecture of your choice. We hope you'll find these rewards an added incentive to help fund our efforts to restore a full view of Virginia's history, monuments & role that government plays in our lives. We appreciate all your support and encouragement and look forward to bringing you more compelling voices of liberty, freedom, and conscience over the next year. To become a Liberty, Patriot, or President's Council member, please make a contribution here. To volunteer, click here. The Executive Board of the Virginia Council The Virginia Council Preserving Virginia’s history and creating a more prosperous future for all Virginians. Stay Hopeful. Stay Connected. P. O. Box 5 Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103, United States |
