RWC Newsletter - August 2011

We have been working hard to create new ways for us to encourage more women to join us. On October 9, we will be having a Membership Pink Tea at the Lakeland Yacht Club from 3 to 5 in the afternoon. We will be having a dessert bar, a mini fashion show, a live purse auction and a small silent auction. Lots to fit into one afternoon! We will also be inviting our local elected officials to join us. The price of entrance is one prospective new member, both of you will get in free. If you want to come, but don't know anyone that would like to attend with you, we will charge a fee of $12.00. I hope you will all come out and enjoy a Sunday afternoon with us at the club.

I want to encourage you all to attend the luncheon this month and please wear red. We are celebrating Women's Suffrage this month and since we are good Republican women we thought it fitting to wear red in honor of the Suffragettes that sacrificed so much for us. Our right to vote and participate in politics today is directly due to those brave women.

One of our guest speakers this month, although not from our area, is very important to all of us. Her name is Karen Harrington, and she is running against the DNC Chairman, Deborah Wasserman-Schultz. Karen is making a tour of Florida asking for support from Republican women around the state. If you feel you are able to, please make a donation to her campaign, we will all benefit if she wins her race.

This month we will be making the final payments to the schools that were chosen to receive money from our Spring from Education fund. We will also be presenting Southwest Elementary School with the supplies that you all have donated this month. If you would still like to donate, please bring your donation to the luncheon. There is a list printed in this newsletter of items that you can donate. We all thank you for your generosity.

I will not be at this month's luncheon. My husband and I are taking a few days off and flying off to Westchester County, New York to visit family for a couple of days. I will miss seeing you all this month. I look forward to seeing you again at next month's luncheon.

Dena

President

Colonel Mike McCalister and Karen Harrington are our Speakers this Month!

Mike McCalister is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, entrepreneur and businessman, university instructor of graduate business management, and conservative U.S. Senate candidate. Colonel McCalister has 33 years total military service in the Army National Guard, Reserves, and Active Duty in both Enlisted and Commissioned Officer ranks. He is a political outsider, competing for the nomination against, primarily, three establishment Republicans. Colonel McCalister is an unapologetic conservative. His number one priority will be to get Floridians back to work by cutting spending, reducing the deficit, lowering taxes, and protecting our products and proprietary technologies and investments against unfair foreign competition.

Karen Harrington is running for U.S. Congress against DNC chair Debra Wasserman-Schutlz. Karen and her family have owned and operated Rickey's Restaurant and Lounge since 1974, and Karen has managed the business herself for almost 30 years. Since the restaurant's founding, Karen and her sister have expanded the business into three locations. Presently residing in Davie, Karen has been an active member of her community and its civic life. Through her small business, Karen has given back to the people that have been so generous to her over the years by sponsoring hundreds of youth and adult programs during the past four decades. She has also sponsored the Police Athletic League in Pembroke Pines, raising thousands of dollars for a youth sports basketball court that is now utilized by after school programs so that local children can play in a safe environment. Karen is strong advocate for both Cancer and Autism Awareness, and she actively promotes both of these worthy causes at every opportunity.

Make your reservations today to hear these great candidates talk about their campaigns!

Wear RED to the Meeting this Month!

In order to honor women's suffrage, we would like our ladies to wear red to this month's meeting. August 26th is the official date known as Women's Equality Day or Women's Suffrage Day. It was instituted by Rep. Bella Abzug and first established in 1971 as a date to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Woman Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave U.S. women full voting rights in 1920.

Supporting Education!

This month, we will be giving checks to Berkley Middle School & Harrison School for the Arts! Please welcome them as they come to our luncheon to accept the checks!

We have been collecting supplies for Southwest Elementary School. If you have any last minute donations, please let the board know as soon as possible. We will be presenting the supplies to the school during the August meeting. Items they need are as follows:

dry erase markers
sheet protectors (smooth glossy surface)
#2 school pencils
baby wipes
clorox wipes
glue sticks
colored pencils
facial tissues
hand sanitizer

These schools really appreciates your help!

Pink Tea Membership Drive!

Mark your calendars for October 9, 3-5pm for the Pink Tea Membership Drive at the Yacht Club! Current plans include a Stuffed Purse Auction (featuring Scott Ogelsby), mini Fashion Show, small Silent Auction, and visits from elected officials.

Bring a prospective member as your guest and you both will get in FREE! Otherwise the cost is $12. stuffed purse

In order to have a successful Stuffed Purse Auction, we will need any new or gently used purses and things to stuff them with!

Plans are still in the works so stay tuned for further details!

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.

We can only accept cash or check for luncheon payments at the function!

PayPal is now available for making your reservations on our website! If you prefer to pay for lunch by credit card, this is the way to go.

Please be aware that all PayPal transactions will include a $1 handling fee.

Miss the Lincoln Day Dinners?

The PCREC hasn't put on the Lincoln Day Dinner this year. So, like any group of fabulous women would do, the RWC has decided to put on their own! Plans are still being ironed out; but keep an eye out for information about the new Celebration of America Dinner!

July General Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 12:10PM.
Michelle Robare gave the invocation, Dena DeCamp's sister Debbie Bolf led the Pledge of Allegiance
City Commission candidate Elliott Dorsch was recognized. Colleen Burton, candidate for Supervisor of Elections, County Commissioner Ed Smith were also recognized.
Check were presented from the Spring for Education fund.
Dena Decamp introduces Senator George LeMieux.
Senator LeMieux spoke on his candidacy for US Senate.
Minutes from June's meeting are presented; Paula Dimbath moves to accept, Gay Harlowe 2nds, motion carries.
Treasurer's report is presented; Janell Hendren moves to accept, Lynne Breidenbach 2nds, motion carries.

OLD BUSINESS

A treasurer is needed. Pat Rideout is being considered but anyone interested should see Dena.
Pam Bell was named Assistant Treasurer.
Michelle reports on the upcoming speaker line-up of Karen Harrington & other US Sen cand for Aug, Bart Hudson from FL House in DC, Congressman Dennis Ross, & Fmr Majority Leader Adam Hasner.
In recognition of Suffrage Day (Aug 26), ladies are asked to wear red to the August meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Members are asked to attend a redistricting hearing on July 25 from 2-5PM at the Polk State College auditorium. Please register online in advance to speak.
Members are encouraged to write letters to the editor in support of Congressman Ross.
Expired coupons are requested for the military families overseas. They can still utilize them.
The FFRW annual convention will take place in conjunction with Presidency 5. Our club gets 10 delegates and we have more than that attending P5 so the P5 delegates are strongly encouraged. The convention will not interfere with P5 activities. The times are from 2-5PM on Thursday Sept 22 & 8:30-11:30 Friday. A shuttle will take ladies from FFRW convention to the Presidency 5 debate.
A Pink Tea Membership Drive will be held October 9th from 4-6PM at the Lakeland YCC. It will feature a dessert buffet, live stuffed-purse auction, silent auction and mini-fashion show. Members may attend for free if they bring a prospective member, otherwise the cost is $12.

Barb Castillo won the free lunch for July.

Meeting adjourned at 1:02PM

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