Congratulations to Sallie Bryant and Holly Lollar

GREATER BIRMINGHAM REPUBLICAN WOMEN

PROMOTING AN INFORMED ELECTORATE THROUGH POLITICAL EDUCATION

In This Issue

Officers

Upcoming Events

February Luncheon

Message from Sallie Bryant

Message from Holly Lollar

OFFICERS

Mary Windsor Saggus

President

Janie Dollar

First Vice President

Rhonda Hethcox

Second Vice President

Kay Harlow

Secretary

Elene Stovall

Treasurer

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, February 11th

GBRW February Luncheon

12:00 p.m.

B&A Warehouse
Birmingham, AL

Quick Links

Thank you sponsors

for supporting

GBRW

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Newsletter February

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GBRW February Luncheon

Our meeting this month will be held on Monday, February 11th. We are glad to welcome Governor Robert Bentley and are looking forward to hearing his goals for the 2013 Legislative Session.

Lunch is $18 with reservation and $25 without. To RSVP please email Rhonda Hethcox at rhondahethcox@yahoo.com and please feel free to invite any of your friends.

Letter from GBRW President

Mary Windsor Saggus

Dear :

"The supreme quality of leadership is integrity."

--Dwight Eisenhower

We are blessed with strong leaders among our membership and the state Republican Party as a whole. I am so proud that three members of GBRW stepped up to run for offices with the State Party. Sallie Bryant is Secretary of the Party again and Holly Lollar is now Chairman of Districts 3, 6, and 7. Phyllis Davis did not win her race for Treasurer but that makes her no less a hero in my eyes. All three of these ladies have served the Party for years with the character, integrity, and determination that made them the leaders they are today. Kudos to each of you!

"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy. " --Norman Schwarzkopf

I have been thinking about the impressive leaders among our membership. We are judges, board members, politicians, aspiring politicians, business leaders, moms extraordinaire and for most, a combination of roles. Our members certainly have the character to be leaders. If we do not have the strategy we have the intelligence and experience to create and develop it.

I hope that those of you just beginning to think about offering your service to the Party will step up. I ask you to use your considerable skills to support conservative principles with strategies that are focused and smart. Now is the time.

Thank you all for your support of the Republican Party and conservative principles.

Sincerely,

Mary Windsor

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Serving The Grand Old Party

Sallie Bryant

I have been active in the political process since I was in high school. Growing up in Louisville, KY was pretty much like growing up in Alabama. Everyone was a Democrat, but there were a few of us enlightened teenagers who were "conservatives," opposed to the welfare state, anti-communists, and concerned about the interference of the federal government in state affairs. I couldn't vote in a presidential election until I was 22, but I sure was active in politics long before then. (The 26th Amendment mandating the voting age of 18 was not passed until after I was 18.)

Since moving to Alabama in 1977, I have been active in a number of political organizations. The first was a Republican Women's group. In meetings, I learned a lot about the issues, met all the elected officials from our area and our state, and learned that my opinion counted. I learned early on that not only did I need to "learn," I needed to "do." It's just not good enough to sit in meetings; we need really need to get involved. I worked in Republican headquarters, volunteered for candidates and began to move into leadership positions, not only Republican Women, but in the Republican Party in the county and the state.

We are at a very critical time in our nation's history. The debt is absolutely beyond comprehension and we have a President, who seems to be taking us down a path to bankruptcy. Entitlements are growing and spending is totally out of control. Our participation at this time is more important than ever. I am not sure if what I do is making a difference, but I do know I cannot back down now. We cannot let the Democrats gain control in Alabama and we certainly cannot stand by and see Hilary Clinton take over the nation in January of 2017. We lost every race in Jefferson County in November, so we need to arm ourselves for the battles here in our county in the future.

I am very proud to serve as the Secretary of the Republican Party and I am thrilled to see Holly Lollar come on board as the District 3, 6, and 7 Chairman of the ALGOP. I encourage each of you to get involved in campaigns, accept leadership positions in our club or the Federation, volunteer at the ALGOP headquarters or for the county, whether it is Jefferson or Shelby County. I cannot tell you how rewarding it is to do something that makes a difference for our county, our state and our nation.

Secretary Sallie Bryant

Message from Holly Lollar

As a wife, a mother, a business owner, I am disturbed, like you at the direction our country is headed.

However, when I look at the Alabama Republican Party, I am energized and enthusiastic about the progress we have made just in the last ten years!

A record 329 Republicans elected in 2012, more Republican women than ever holding statewide offices, the list goes on and yet there is still more to done.

Republicans in Alabama have laid the groundwork; our passion and dedication have made the party what it is today. In fact, recently Alabama was named the most conservative state in America!

As the new Vice Chairman of Districts, 3, 6 and 7 for the Alabama Republican Party, I have four action items that I am implementing right away.

Creating a website for Districts 3, 6 and 7 with a password for each State Executive Committee member. Members will be able to log in and see what fundraisers are taking place across our three district area and needs for these fundraisers. The website will include current talking points on key Republican issues and ideas on how to recruit solid Republicans to run for statewide office.
Working with ALGOP to host (in the districts of 3, 6 and 7) a grassroots development session on ideas for local campaigns.
Designing an e-mail blast that goes out once a quarter that recaps everything that is going on the three districts.
Planning events for candidates in our districts to speak to the general public about key Republican issues.

The job responsibilities of Vice Chairman include being a liaison between the 21 counties in my three district area and the state steering committee.

Doing this requires being a good communicator and listening. It means reaching and sharing best practices- learning from one another.

One of my favorite quotes is:

"You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across your ideas won't get you anywhere."

We have to work harder and smarter than the Democrats.

We have to create our five year goal now, and strategize on how we will get there.

2014 is right around the corner. We have no time to waste!

We will have open senate seats and more in the house, as well as the positions of State Auditor and Secretary of State.

Our messaging will be so important. The country is watching what Republicans will do next.

Republican women will help lead this charge!

I look forward to serving you!

Holly

GBRW Objectives:
· To promote an informed electorate through political education.
· To increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government through political participation
· To foster cooperation among Alabama Women's Republican Clubs.
· To support objectives and policies of the Republican National Committee and The Alabama Federation of Republican Women.
· To work for the election of Republican Party nominees.

Greater Birmingham Republican Women meet the second Monday of each month at B&A Warehouse, 1531 1st Avenue South.

We welcome articles and announcements to be considered for this newsletter. Please e-mail them to Megan McIllwain at greaterbhamrepwomen@gmail.com .