First Torchbearer Gala Promises Hope and Elegance in Dark Times

by Nocona Canady-Flatt | HamCo Dems Events Chair

By now you’ve probably heard rumblings about our new annual event: The Torchbearer Gala. We wanted to share with you the idea behind the event, the goals for it, and the inspiration for what will become an annual fall tradition here in HamCo.

The Name

Why The Torchbearer? Of all the names to choose, why did we land on this particular one? There are several reasons. To start with, we are living in dark times. Every day, a new disaster comes into our awareness via our phones or TVs. From the statehouse to the White House, darkness seems to come from all sides. It’s enough to make anyone lose hope! But, to keep existing and succeeding, we have to have hope. When walking through the darkness, one must be a torchbearer and light the way, the path forward. In addition, the symbolism of the torch is prominent throughout the history of Indiana. A torch exists on our state flag, a beacon of light shines from our Hamilton County courthouse, and those same beams of light are reflected in our Hamilton County Democratic Party logo. All of us come together as torchbearers for the future: the political future of our country, the futures for our families, and lighting a way forward for those who come after us.  Finally, on a personal note, there is a statue on the campus of the University of Tennessee, my alma mater. It is one of a torchbearer. It has an eternal flame and bears the quote, “One that beareth a torch shadoweth oneself to give light to others.” That quote is abundantly present in this event. None of the work we do is about the self, but rather others.

The Vibes

You have probably gathered that this is an elegant affair. The vibes are essential in an event and this one is luxury—not because we want to flaunt wealth or don’t enjoy a jeans and t-shirt affair, but rather to show that in this still-free society everyone is entitled to celebrate and experience moments of joy. While being a fundraiser, a meaningful event, and an elegant experience, we want this event to inspire moments of familiarity, connection, and hope: a lighted path through the dark and into a more hopeful tomorrow. This is a time to dress up, don your black ties and sequin gowns, and embrace an elegance most of us do not often experience. In America, luxury isn’t reserved for royalty or spoiled “businessmen turned politicians.” Opulence is for us all.

With it being a late fall, early winter event, we want the room to feel like sitting in front of a warm fire, being held by a soft blanket, and seeing the rich jewel tones of the season all around. Cocktails, plated dinners, and a level of sophistication that for most of us will be a relief from the constant go, go, go or the quick dinners and takeout. A level above our normal daily experiences. So schedule those hair appointments (with your favorite liberal business) and order the dress you’ve been eyeing and join us at The Hawthorns Country Club in Fishers, because the vibes will deliver.

The Cause

A good name and strong vibes mean nothing without a worthy cause to support. Our goal is to support Democratic candidates for all the offices in Hamilton County, including local, state, and federal. Our “war chest” is already filling up because of your generosity, but we are working on a slate of fantastic candidates, and we want to be able to support them like never before. The Republicans outspend us at every turn, but they haven’t experienced HamCo at its absolute best. We have raised money for a full-time Executive Director, secured recurring donations for a full-time office (stay tuned for the location), and have built a strong infrastructure of PCs and Vice PCs and volunteers to help us get out the vote, fundraise, plan events, and communicate effectively.  We continue to grow, achieve, and succeed. Other counties and the INDems have noticed, and we don’t plan to stop now. The Torchbearer Gala allows us to host a speaker-filled event with a VIP cocktail hour, sponsors, and donors who perhaps are getting involved for the first time. It allows us to welcome friends who have been in our corner for years, and it unequivocally states that Hamilton County Democrats are not playing games. We are here to elect Democrats, help restore democracy, and not back down in the darkness, but to be the ever-bright, everlasting, eternal flame–bearing torchbearer for generations of Hoosiers. Join us, share in the vibes and the cause, and enjoy our inaugural fall event, The Torchbearer Gala.

Find Out More

• Purchase tickets, tables, or sponsorships here.

• Check out our Pinterest inspo board here.

• Share and like our social media posts here.

• Find updates about T

  he Torchbearer Gala here.

• For any other questions, please contact Nocona at events@hamcodemsin.org or Raleigh at ed@hamcodemsin.org.