The Buck Dinner: Chair Deatrick Connects with Michigan Progressives

Chair Deatrick attended the 97th annual Buck Dinner, one of Michigan's longest-running progressive traditions. Held in metro Detroit since 1929 — when labor lawyer Maurice Sugar first gathered friends over a venison dinner and passed the hat for jobless workers — the invitation-only event raises funds each year for organizations advancing justice, equality, and civil rights across the state. Chair Deatrick spent the evening connecting with progressive allies and friends old and new, and met people from all over Michigan, sharing the Council's work.

Chair Deatrick was seated at the Mike and Gail Whitty table with her guest, Christy McGillivray, Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians. McGillivray leads Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) — a grassroots ballot initiative to ban political contributions from regulated utility monopolies and major state contractors and to strengthen donor disclosure across Michigan. Just over a week later, on May 27, the MMOP campaign delivered more than 562,000 signatures to the state Bureau of Elections. This is well above the threshold required, moving the measure toward Michigan's November ballot.