Speaker: Debora Allen, Local Business Leader, Contra Costa Taxpayers' Association, "Lightning Rod of the BART Board," Past BART Director

Debora Allen spent over 30 years in financial management as a CPA, Chief Financial Officer, and business owner, primarily in real estate and construction. Debora served 6 years as an appointed Trustee on the Contra Costa County employees pension board and central Contra Costa as an elected BART Board Director from 2016-2024. 

Nicknamed the “lightning rod of the BART board” by Bay Area media, Debora’s activism is in “good governance” of public agencies. For decades, Debora worked tirelessly for fiscal transparency, taxpayer accountability and cost effective improvements to the services local government should deliver with our tax dollars.

Debora is now a member of the board of the Contra Costa Taxpayers’ Association, a political and business consultant, and continues with an active role in her family business.

Check-in: 5:30pm | Dinner served: 6:35pm

Opportunity Drawing

Six bottles of wine and a $25 Piatti's gift card. Total value is approximately $200. Tickets are available at the meeting by cash or check - 5 tickets for $20 or 2 tickets for $10. There will be one winner.  

Wine Donation for Future Fundraisers

Please donate a bottle of wine for future fundraisers.  Simply bring a donated bottle of wine to the meeting and give it to the volunteer at check-in.  The wine should have a value of at least $25, and also should be newly purchased (fresh). You will be given two tickets for the Opportunity Drawing as a  thank you for your donation. Thank you for your support!

Spread the word and mark your calendars!

We are thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered with Virtue+Vice in Danville for our annual fundraising event, "Dine for a Cause." This is a wonderful chance for our club to raise funds through the amazing generosity of Virtue+Vice and the support of all attendees!

Delicious Dinner Menu - click here

Download Detailed Promotional Flyer - click here

How does it work?

The restaurant will generously donate 10% of all food and beverage sales, whether you choose to dine in or take your meal to go. Plus, 100% of the tipsfrom guests will go directly to MDRC.

To reach our fundraising goal of $2,500 for this event, we need a fantastic turnout and generous tipping. We encourage you to invite your family, friends, and anyone else who wants to enjoy a fabulous evening with us. The more participants we have, the greater our success! Treat yourself to a delicious meal without cooking while supporting a meaningly cause. Let’s make this event unforgettable!

If you cannot attend but wish to contribute, kindly click the link to make an online donation.

Online Donation Link - Click Here

Seven Volunteers Needed! 

We are seeking seven volunteers to assist as servers for the event. If you're interested in helping, please contact Catherine Logan at [email protected] for more information. If you're unable to attend but would still like to contribute, donations are welcome, with further details on reservations, ordering, and donation options available closer to the event.

Speaker: Lynne Leach - Former State Legislator (AD-15, 1996-2002), Community Leader/Activist, Small Business Owner

Lynne has been a businesswoman and involved in sales all of her adult life. In 1978, she started her own business, Applied Business Communications, Inc. The firm specialized in sales, customer service and communications training. In 2003, she launched Lynne Leach Presents… offering informative, inspirational speeches and practical, common sense programs on sales – customer service, communications and leadership to the business and political communities.

In 1996, Lynne was elected to the California State Assembly becoming the first woman ever to represent the combined Alameda/Contra Costa Counties 15th Assembly District. She was reelected in 1998 and 2000 by commanding margins and term limits in 2002.

While serving in the Assembly in Sacramento, Lynne’s top priorities were to make California more business friendly; return our schools to their premier status; address the transportation challenges of the Bay Area and provide some relief for the harried taxpayer.

Lynne made her mark as a leader in the Legislature, serving as Chair of the Assembly Republican Caucus in her first term and Vice Chair of the Assembly Education Committee in her second and third terms. Other Committee assignments were: Transportation, Insurance, Business and Professions, Jobs and Economic Development, Aging and Long Term Care, Joint Legislative Audit and the Master Plan for California Education (Kindergarten through Higher Education).

From 1988 to 1996, Lynne was actively involved in the Contra Costa County Republican Party and served as its Chairman from 1991-1995. During her tenure, she introduced the successful Bootcamp (an annual candidate training program) and the R.E.V.O.L.T. (Republicans educating voters on lower taxes) Committee.

A Chicago native and lifelong Cub fan, Lynne was raised in a blue-collar family. Her father was a sheet metal worker and union member. Her mother was a full time homemaker. She worked her way through college and in 1963 graduated from Roosevelt University (Chicago) with a degree in Psychology.

In 1964, she and her husband, Bob, moved to California. In 1967 they settled in Walnut Creek where they raised their now grown children and enjoy their granddaughters.

Community Service and Activities include: 

- Member/President: Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce

- Member/President: Walnut Creek Professional and Business Women’s Club

- Member: Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Posse

- Member: Alameda/Contra Costa Counties 100 Clubs

- Member, Executive Board, Mount Diablo Silverado Council, Boy Scouts of America, Council President 2010-2012

- Member, Walnut Creek (Host) Lions Club

- Member, Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, Session Elder, 2014-2017

- Advisory Board Member, Assistance League of Diablo Valley

- Advisory Board Member, Chinese-American Political Association

- 1991-1995 Member/Chair of the Contra Costa County Republican Party

Since 1988, she has produced and hosted cable television shows: Make it Your Business, At Issue, Behind the Headlines and Focus 15.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION - In 1998 Lynne was named “National Freshman of the Year” by the National Republican Legislators Association and “First Term Legislator of the Year” by the California School Boards Association.

Honors came from: The California Chamber of Commerce (Small Business Advocate 2004), The National Tax Limitation Committee, The Association of California School Administrators, The Walnut Creek Education Foundation, Save Mount Diablo, The Association of California Water Agencies, The Contra Costa Breast Cancer Partnership, California Senior Housing Assoc., The Association of Low Wealth Schools, Contra Costa County Adult Education and ROP, California State PTA’s Honorary Service Award, The California Small Business Association and California Small Business Roundtable, The Tri-Valley Exchange Club’s Book of Golden Deeds Award, Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow Recognition, Boy Scouts of America "Silver Beaver" Award (2007), California Council on Adult Education "Friend of Adult Education" Award (2009), California Women Leaders Association "Woman Achiever" Award (2009), California Republican Women's Caucus Power Award (2001), and Seneca Network "Fire in the Belly" award (1997).

Opportunity Drawing

Six bottles of wine and a $25 gift card to Piatti's Italian Restaurant in Danville gift card. Total value is approximately $200. Tickets are available at the meeting by cash or check - 5 tickets for $20 or 2 tickets for $10. There will be one winner.  

Wine Donation for Future Fundraisers

Please donate a bottle of wine for future fundraisers.  Simply bring a donated bottle of wine to the meeting and give it to the volunteer at check-in.  The wine should have a value of at least $25, and also should be newly purchased (fresh). You will be given two tickets for the Opportunity Drawing as a  thank you for your donation. Thank you for your support!

Speaker: Kristian Fors, Independent Institute - "Cracked Foundations: What’s Behind California’s Housing and Insurance Collapse"

Kristian Fors is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and Director of the California Golden Fleece® Awards. He is from La Cañada Flintridge, California. His research focuses on public policy and economics, with an emphasis on government waste and inefficiencies in California. He earned a BA in Economics from Utah State University, an MA in International Relations from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), and an MSc in Behavioral Science from the London School of Economics.

Free Door Prize Drawing  - Surprises!

The Mt. Diablo Republican Club has a special lineup of giveaways for everyone attending our upcoming event. Each guest will receive a ticket at check-in for a chance to take home one of the following: a bottle of wine, a selection of conservative books, or a cozy Danville-themed throw. Don’t miss out on the fun and the chance to walk away with something great!

Wine Donation for Future Fundraisers

Please donate a bottle of wine for future fundraisers.  Simply bring a donated bottle of wine to the meeting and give it to the volunteer at check-in.  The wine should have a value of at least $25, and also should be newly purchased (fresh). You will be given two tickets for the Opportunity Drawing as a  thank you for your donation. Thank you for your support!