RWC Newsletter - May 2011

As summer approaches and the weather turns warmer, our club takes a little break in activities. Our speakers have all been scheduled through the summer and we hope to see you all at our luncheons, supporting our club.

We sat down with the Lakeland Yacht Club after lunch last month and asked about switching our luncheons to the buffet every month. The club agreed this would work so from now on, we will be eating at the prime rib buffet, including the dessert bar every month. Don't forget the cost of lunch went up to $17.00 per person that's an increase of $1.00.

Kathy Fritz pointed out at our board meeting that the charge card company is charging us more than we originally thought we would be charged. We've discontinued using charge cards for luncheons. We do have the option for using it during special functions, but the day to day cost of having this benefit was too costly for the club.

Kay Cobb is on a membership drive. She's asking each member to bring a prospective new member to lunch. With the Presidential Election cycle gearing up, there should be lots of Republican Women wanting to get involved. Bring a Republican friend to lunch and help us grow our club.

As many of you know, the board has been discussing the possibility of becoming a 501c3, tax deductible organization. After much research and thought, the board voted to table this move to be discussed in the future. The cost of this endeavour could have exceeded $1500 and the long and complicated process were the reasons for the vote.

The board received a resignation from Gaylene Pope our Secretary. Gaylene has been experiencing health problems and she will be unable to participate for a few months. She promises to come back to the club when she's able. If anyone is interested in serving on the board please contact me.

The night meeting will be cancelled for the remainder of this year. We've had only a couple of people turn out and we feel that our speakers deserve more than 3 or 4 attendees. Your board did discuss starting them again next year during the Presidential election cycle. We found that many of the people attending were not members, just interested Republicans that wanted to know what was happening in the county for the elections.

I hope to see you all, happy and healthy at our next luncheon. We look forward to having Senator Paula Dockery and Representative Kelli Stargel give us the legislative wrap up for this session.

Dena

President

Sen. Paula Dockery & Rep. Kelli Stargel are our Speakers this Month!

Please welcome our guest speakers, Senator Paula Dockery and Representative Kelli Stargel, to our meeting this month! They will be discussing the legislative wrap-up for this session.

Reminders!

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.

The cost of the luncheons has increased to $17 beginning with the April meeting.

We can only accept cash or check for luncheon payments!

Storage Unit

We now have a storage unit to hold any and all items belonging to the Republican Women's Club of Lakeland, Federated. If you have items that are in your home (for example, decorations, paperwork, etc), please let Dena or Kathy know. They will make arrangements for you to move it into the storage unit and free up that space in your home!

Scenes from Counter-Protest at Representative Seth McKeel's Office

Seth McKeel protest

Seth McKeel protest 2

Congratulations Colleen Burton!

Congratulations to our member Colleen Burton! Colleen recently announced her candidacy for Supervisor of Elections against Lori Edwards.

Colleen currently is Executive Director of PolkVision

Military Family Coupon Project

Have expired coupons?

Go to

http://www.grocerysavingtips.com/expiredgrocerycoupons.htm

to learn how to help the military families with your expired coupons.

Care Corner

Keep in your prayers...

Kay Cobb, whose husband is having surgery. Additionally, her sister-in-law passed away recently.

Betty Rust, who has been in the hospital.

April General Meeting Minutes

President Dena Decamp called meeting to order at 11:58 AM.

Kay Cobb gave the Invocation; Ann Suden led the Pledge of Allegiance

Dena began with reading of minutes from February meeting since they were not available in print. Error in minutes noted: lack of documentation on vote about Tea Party. Jean Burt motioned to accept the minutes as amended, Kay Cobb 2nd, unanimously passed.

Treasurer Kathy Fritz presented the March treasury report, briefed on current account status & finances related to recent Fashion Show event. Michelle Robare moved to accept report as presented, Rose Spurlock 2nd, unanimously passed.

Kathy said the numbers related to the Tea Party were not available because the event was just the Friday before the meeting but will have them available in May. The City of Lakeland had waived our insurance fee due to the safe record of previous events hosted by Lakeland RWC. A question was posed as to turnout, the response was approximately 200 attendees due to nearby, higher-profile events.

Dena recognized elected official Commissioner Melony Bell & introduced speaker Rebecca O'Dell.

A presentation of checks was made: Jane Gavin of Pinewood Elementary accepted a grant of $200 to be used towards technology; Dale Terrell of Crystal Lake Middle accepted $270 for general use.

Speaker took the podium.

Meeting resumed at 1:05 PM.

Melony Bell made a motion to grant $100 to speaker, Jean Burt 2nd, motion passes.

OLD/CONTINUING BUSINESS

1st VP Michelle Robare gave report: May's speakers will be State Reps McKeel & Stargel and State Senator Dockery for legislative wrap-up & Ally Robare to speak on her page experience in Tallahassee. Our June speaker will be Dr. Snyder from SEU, July speaker is Senator George LeMieux, Senate President Mike Haridopolos is invited to speak at our August meeting.

2nd VP Kay Cobb issued a challenge to members to have each member recruit just one new person to lunches to help grow the club.

A list of military charities was presented but deemed incomplete so a vote on adoption was postponed. Kay Cobb talked about coupons for troops: they are accepted on bases for up to 6 months after the expiration date & she would collect them.

Volunteers are needed for various committees. Elaine Mitchell & Kay Cobb will be on the Literacy Committee.

NEW BUSINESS:

A climate-controlled storage unit has been rented for the club's belongings at a rate of $19 per month, prepaid for 12 months. Please bring any club belongings to a board member. We would also like a donation of steel shelving for the unit if a member has it to spare, otherwise it will be purchased.

A summary of our current underlying documentation problem was given: no documents have been filed with the IRS for 7 years and we need to renew our 527 status. The club has been unsuccessful at obtaining any financial records relating to the last 3 years from previous treasurer. Discussion ensued: lawyer deemed an unnecessary expense that would likely be ineffective. Jean Burt proposed a committee to reconstruct the records, Dena concurred, Ann Suden agreed to volunteer with Jean. Committee to be finalized later. Statement made to clarify that there is no implication of wrong-doing on the previous treasurer's part, simply a need for records.

Board is pursuing the possibilities of incorporating our Spring for Education charity as an official 501(c)3. Edie Yates and Ben Darby have agreed to donate time to prepare paperwork & file. Filing fees are approximated at $175 to incorporate with state, $475 to file with the IRS. Fees are one-time and there will be no preparation charge except in the unlikely event that staff needs to be used. A quorum will be required to vote on this subject at a future meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Mayor's Prayer Breakfast is at the Lakeland Center on May 5th at 7:30AM.

The club will not be buying a table but will make arrangements if members would like to pay $15 to attend.

Dena is chairing the FFRW Nominating Committee and reports Cindy Graves is running for another term as Chair.

Presidency 5 is September 22-24 in Orlando. Please see www.Presidency5.com for info & sign-up.

NFRW Annual Convention is September 29-Oct 2nd in Kansas City.

FFRW Annual Convention is in early November in Tampa.

Meeting adjourned at 1:29 PM

Minutes presented by Janell Hendren, 4/29/2011

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