RWC Newsletter - March 2011

Our club had good attendance at this year's FFRW Board Meeting in Tallahassee. Six of your board members attended, Michelle Robare, Kay Cobb, Kathy Fritz, Janell Hendren and Elaine Mitchell and of course myself. There was an all star line up of speakers as well. We heard from CFO Jeff Atwater, our own Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner, Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, RPOF Chairman David Bittner, and best of all, our Governor Rick Scott and his lovely wife Ann attended our banquet. We had classes on expanding our reach through social media, how to fundraise and how to form a PAC. I was elected as chair of the nominating committee and was put on the committee to assist the FFRW with the RNC convention in 2012.

Monday night was the annual Legislative Gala, and we want to thank all of our elected officials for attending. Rep. Kelli Stargel, Rep. Ben Albritton and Rep. Seth McKeel were all in attendance, we thank them for taking the time to network with us. A huge thanks to Rep. Kelli Stargel and Senator Paula Dockery for donating their gallery passes to us for the opening session. This year it was very difficult to get those passes as there were many newly elected members trying to get extra passes for their families.

Chairman Bittner announced that Presidency V will be held in Orlando on Sept 22 - 25 and encouraged us all to attend. The weekend following Presidency V will be the NFRW convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

On Thurs. March 17 we will hold our 28^th annual Spring for Education Dinner & Fashion Show, I hope you have made your reservations and invited your friends to attend with you. This year, most especially, the teachers will need our help as the budget crisis continues and all levels of government spending are being cut. The more money we raise, the more we can contribute to the classrooms to help our teachers and students.

Ann Suden and Victoria Meares are heading up the committee to gather requests from educational programs and schools. If you know of anyone that would like to request a grant, please contact these two ladies.

Thank you all for your support of our club and your board of directors. Because of you, we have a vibrant and active club!

See you on the 17^th!

Dena

President

Spring for Education Dinner & Fashion Show

If you have not made your reservations for the Spring for Education Dinner & Fashion Show, please do so ASAP! In order to make the check in process move quickly, please pay for your ticket in advance as we are anticipating a long line. Click here to pay using PayPal!

Luncheon Updates

Everyone attending the luncheons must check in with the ladies at the front table. This includes both members and guests. We appreciate your assistance with this, as it helps us with our record-keeping.

Don't forget that the price for lunch will increase in April to $17.

We will begin accepting credit cards for luncheon payments as well!

Annual Charity Donation

Lighthouse Ministries was chosen for our annual charity. The club will donate $25 per month to the ministry.

Lighthouse Ministries is a life and learning campus for men, women, and children. Lighthouse Ministries, Inc. is set apart by the Spirit of God to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to meet the physical, emotional, and other needs of the poor and at-risk population. For additional information, visit http://lighthousemin.org/.

Tax Day Tea Party

Plan to attend the Tax Day Tea Party on April 15th! Our guests are going to be Senator George LeMieux and Rep. Adam Hasner. We're looking forward to this being a very positive event! More details to come.

Upcoming Speakers

April

Rebecca O'Dell Townsend (Constitutional Attorney)

May

Sen. Paula Dockery, Rep. Kelli Stargel, Rep. Seth McKeel (legislative update), Ally Robare (experience as a page)

June

Dr. Alan Snyder, Educator, Southeastern University

July

Sen. George LeMieux

August

Sen. Mike Haridopolos

September

Bart Hudson, President, Florida House

February General Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 12:00 pm by President, Dena DeCamp. Lynn Breidenbach gave the invocation and Cathy Phillips lead the pledge.

Minutes and Treasury Reports: Gaylene Pope presented minutes to members (copies made available on tables). Michelle Robare made a motion to accept the minutes as is. Elaine Mitchell seconded the motion and it passed with vote.

Kathy Fritz presented Treasury Report. There is a reconciled balance of $7,396.15. Michelle Robare made a motion to accept the Treasury Report. Janell Hendren seconded the motion and it passed with a vote. Kathy and Dena worked on a 2011 Budget for the Club and copies were made available on the tables. There were no questions. Rose Spurlock made a motion to accept the 2011 Budget as presented. Irma Dietert seconded the motion and it passed with vote.

Vice President, Michelle Robare Report: Upcoming speakers include,Rebecca O'Dell Townsend, Constitutional Attorney in April; Legislative wrap-up with Sen. Paula Dockery and Rep. Seth Mckeel in May; Dr. Snyder of PSC in June; and Senator George LeMieux in July. Surveys regarding our luncheons at the Lakeland Yacht Club are on the tables to be turned in after the lunch.

2^nd Vice President, Kay Cobb Report: The Club has 109 members, including associates. New name tags for members were given out. To replace your name tag will cost $10.00. Also, directories are still available if you haven't received yours. Extras will be $3.00.

Old Business: Dena reported on progress for the Tea Party Rally at Overlook Park on April 15^th. The RWC will pay for the insurance and deposit on the park. We will go to local businesses to help fund the Tea Party. Costs are approximately $2,500 to $3,000. We are inviting Congressman Dennis Ross to speak if there is no conflict with his schedule.

Dena asked for a vote on the charity we will be funding for the year, and it was decided that the Lighthouse Ministries would receive our donations. A check for January and February will be mailed this month. Carol Goldenhill is still working on information for the Gold Shield Military charity and will report next month.

Dena informed members that items for the Silent Auction part of the Fashion Show need to be collected soon.

New Business: Dena reported that starting in March we will be taking charge cards for the Fashion Show and luncheons. We need volunteers to staff committees, including the Literacy Committee and Scrapbook Committee. The night meeting will be held at Fresco's Bakery & Deli at 5:30 pm on February 22^nd and Paul Senft, National Committeeman, will be the speaker. There will be Committee Chair meeting on the Fashion Show at Panera's Restaurant on South Florida Ave., next Thursday . Dena invited Theresa Bright of the South Lakeland Relay for Life group to speak regarding her organization's need for volunteers for their event on May 16^th and 17^th. The Club's Board of Directors discussed the upcoming budget at their last meeting and because of rising costs and the move to the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club, the Board approved raising the cost of the monthly luncheon from $16.00 to $17.00 starting in April.

Dena welcomed and introduced our speaker, Mayor Gow Fields of Lakeland.

Dena introduced a special guest. Long-time member, Ann Suden, who was celebrating her 90^th birthday, was made our "Queen for the Day". Dena and Michelle presented Ann with: a key to the City of Lakeland from Mayor Gow Fields, birthday cards from Gov. Rick Scott, Sen. George LeMieux, state Sen. Paula Dockery, state Rep. Seth McKeel, the FFRW, Commissioner Melony Bell, an autographed picture of Speaker of the House John Boehner, and Congressman Dennis Ross flew a flag in her honor over the capitol. Steve Maxwell of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee presented Ann with a bracelet. Ann will receive the free lunch in April.

To see pictures, go to:

http://www.lakelandrepublicanwomen.com/photoalbums/anns90thbirthday.html

The meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Gaylene Pope, Recording Secretary

Newsletter Sponsors