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AFRW E-News
October 2007
President's Message
"Our party must retain its place as the party that offers the best hope for a future that includes
reduced taxes,
smaller government and a commitment to the core values that unite us.”
Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA)
Twenty-two members of the Alaska Federation of Republican Women joined more than 1,800 other Republican women leaders from across the nation in Palm Springs, Calif., Sept. 27-30 for the 34th biennial convention of the National Federation of Republican Women. This was the largest delegation the AFRW has sent to a national convention in recent memory.
During the four-day event, which was one of the largest national gatherings of Republicans this year, registrants participated in leadership training seminars, campaign management schools, and political and policy workshops taught by nationally-recognized experts. We heard from Republican leaders, elected officials, national security experts, authors and other notable guests, including Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. Other Republican presidential candidates were invited, but did not attend. In addition, 765 delegates voted in the organization’s Republican presidential straw poll featuring nine of the candidates. Slightly more than 50 percent threw their support behind Giuliani, former New York mayor.
As one of the largest women’s political organizations in the country, the NFRW has hosted a biennial convention since its inception in 1938. In addition to participating in convention activities, our Alaska women enjoyed sunny weather, great shopping and wonderful outdoor dining experiences. Best of all, AFRW members from Kenai, Soldotna, Fairbanks, Wasilla, Palmer, Sitka, Juneau and Anchorage all had the opportunity to network with each other and begin solidifying the TEAM that will help elect Alaska Republicans next year.
The next national convention will be in Orlando in September 2009.
Paulette Simpson
National Federation Projects
Several community service projects that the National Federation of Republican Women encourages are programs that SUPPORT THE TROOPS, promote LITERACY, and engage in CARING FOR AMERICA. Click on the links below for a great project that one of your members may be willing to undertake.
SUPPORT THE TROOPS
http://www.nfrw.org/programs/troops/index.html is the list of sites the National Federation has made available for troop projects and includes:
http://www.operationpaperback.org/
http://www.operationiraqichildren.org/
http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html
http://www.nfrw.org/documents/publications/troops_owc.pdf
Armed Services YMCA of Alaska Heroes Home Program - See the attached flier.
LITERACY
http://www.firstbook.org
http://www.reachoutandread.org/
http://www.nfrw.org/documents/publications/MELP_2007.pdf - Mamie Eisenhower Library Childrens Book List pdf
CARING FOR AMERICA
http://www.soles4souls.org/
http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/
Clubs, please let 1st Judicial VP Lureen Stedman (lureen@alaska.com) know of your activities which may support these three program areas. The 1st VP position has been tasked to compile club activities which further National Federation community service projects as well as provide news of projects that clubs may wish to consider. Projects that you have undertaken, developed, or discovered , or ideas that you have found to make such projects successful, would also be valued information to send her. Thanks.
Around Alaska
Anchorage Republican Women – Cathy Giessel, President
A member passes away
ARWC lost a member in the last days of September. Vicki Glenzer, long-time member, passed away. We will miss her!
September Meeting
On September 13, the ARWC had a wonderful monthly meeting. Our speakers included Pete Mulchahy, from the Armed Services YMCA; Paulette Simpson, AFRW president; and - an unexpected treat - Alaska's senior US Senator Ted Stevens.
Paulette delivered a great message with ideas for conservative reading. Senator Ted discussed issues related to financing of education and student loans, as well as General Petraeus' report to Congress. Both these special guests were a treat to hear from.
Pete Mulchahy presented "the rest of the story" about the Heroes Home project. This program assists the families who come to Alaska to be with their wounded soldiers, who are returning home for medical treatment. Pete told about the first soldier and the soldier's sister, whom YMCA assisted with housing. He said the soldier was not expected to walk again for a long time, but, in a matter of weeks, recovered so much, the soldier was able to ascend the two flights of stairs to the YMCA office. Pete attributed this amazing recover in part to the support and love of his sister. His sister was given free housing through the Heroes Home program.
Pete told us that one night of housing cost $50 and donations were gladly accepted. Our ARWC members responded by contributing $860 that day to the program!!! I was so proud of our Club!!
NFRW Convention
Five of our members attended the NFRW Convention in Palm Springs, California, September 28-30. It was a great time, being part of a 21 member Alaska delegation. We enjoyed spending time with the other delegates from Alaska and getting to know each other better, as well as meeting Republican women from around the U.S. The venue was beautiful and everyone learned a lot! There were 5 women who took the Campaign School. Anchorage's delegation included Margaret Brown, Ardy Pozzi, Myrna Maynard, Linda Shafer and myself.
October 11 meeting
Representative Ralph Samuels will present a "Gasline 101" talk, a primer on the issues surrounding the pipeline.
Capital City Republican Women – Connie McKenzie, President
Capital City Republican Women had six women attend the NFRW Convention in Palm Springs. What a great experience: education, fun & sun!. You never know what kind of opportunities will come your way at these kind of events, like riding the hotel elevator with presidential candidate Rudi Giuliani, as Connie & Carolyn experienced. He just had the “man on the street” attitude, the same way he can talk to a crowd as if he is just talking to a bunch of friends. Coming up this fall we have a luncheon, October 8th where David Stone will address our members about the Pebble Mine (he spoke at the AFRW convention in Wasilla), and a luncheon November 12th. Our annual membership renewal Women in Red Tea is in the planning stages for early December.
Fairbanks Republican Women - Linda Manns, President
I am honored to have been voted in as President of the Fairbanks Republican Women. I thank you for your support and trust in me. I am a relative newbie to the Fairbanks club as I moved back to Fairbanks in the summer of 2006. However, Fairbanks is my hometown and I have established deep roots in this community. I attended high school here and the university. Although I am a new comer to FRW I was a founding member of the Capital City Republican Women when we started the club up again in the late 90's. I served as CCRW president for two terms and most recently served as the special events co-chair. I had the great honor of chairing Representative Bill Hudson's (district 4) campaign for 7 years. I've worked on campaigns since the late 80's and haven't missed an election since I turned 18. I am passionate about the Republican party and finding, supporting and campaigning for Republicans for our house, senate and local campaigns. In addition to being elected president, I am also VP of district 8 Republicans.
I invite you to email me with suggestions for agenda items, fund raiser ideas, membership growth, events, party building, sponsoring young women into our club, mentoring a young Republican etc. I am looking for your ideas and will incorporate them into our club. My cell phone is 750-1278 and home 474-0030. If you ever have a thought, question or comment please feel free to contact me in confidence.
I am looking forward to the Membership Tea on October 27. I am also looking forward to us supporting our congressional delegation at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention that Fairbanks is hosting October 22-28.
I appreciate your confidence, and I will work hard and do my best to fulfill your expectations of this seat. Thank you again for this great honor.
First City Republican Women - Sandra Meske, President
The First City Republican Women had not formal meeting for September but we are honored to host US Senator Lisa Murkowski on Oct. 10th for a open house. Our next scheduled meeting will be October 22nd where we will be sending out Christmas boxes to our military personnel and electing officers for 08.
Kenai Peninsula Republican Women – Carol Brenckle, President
Carol Brenckle, Diane DuPerron and Leona Oberts represented the Kenai Peninsula
Republican Women at NFRW’s (National Federation of Republican Women) Conference in Palm Springs. Carol attended the two day “Campaign School” that was offered by NFRW. (The Campaign Manual will provide us with the information we will need as we gear up for next year’s elections.)
State AFRW President, Paulette Simpson, introduced members of the Alaska Delegation to the “real” Palm Springs and made arrangements for us to meet for dinner and socialize after a long day of meetings. Thank you, Paulette!
We were all able to meet and learn from the like-minded, hard-working Republican women in attendance. I, for one, came to the realization that Republican Women are not only the “brains” but the “heart” of the Republican Party. Republican Women have the “passion” to win back the House and the Senate and elect another Republican President.
Rudy Giuliani spoke to the membership on Saturday. Rudy Giuliani was the only candidate to address the convention. He publicly acknowledged the important role Republican Women will play in this next election. I believe he is right! Regardless of who is chosen to be our party’s nominee, Republican Women across the country appear to be united when it comes to Hilary.
We don’t need a “HIL-BILLY” in the White House! It is up to us to see that it doesn’t happen.
Midnight Sun Republican Women - Cathie Straub, President
The Midnight Sun women met on September 25th to elect their new officers and continue brainstorming fun and exciting fundraising and community service ideas. The new officers will take over at our "Changing of the Guard" celebration on October 16th, Tuesday, at 6:30pm, at the home of outgoing Treasurer Lynn Skurla. Congratulations to the incoming Officers: President, Holly Kelty; Vice President, Susan Green; and Treasurer, Jamie Finger ! We sure do appreciate them!
Under our Caring for America Projects, Carol Sturgulewski submitted the following report: This summer, Midnight Sun RWC collected more than 140 pairs of new and gently used shoes for "Soles for Souls." The non-profit, non-denominational charity distributes millions of shoes to disaster victims and economic relief programs across the U.S. and around the world.
The program is a partner with "Dress for Success," a highly successful charity that collects good clothing for women entering or re-entering the work force. "Soles for Souls" collects shoes from around the U.S. and distributes them to the Red Cross and other relief agencies. It was founded to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. According to their web site, the current "hot spots" for footwear needs are Peru, in the wake of the earthquake there, and our American Midwest, which has been hit hard by recent flooding.
Shoes are something we don't automatically think of when it comes to charitable giving, but as S4S reminds us in their web site, they are a very basic need! Midnight Sun RWC members collected new and gently used shoes from their families, friends and workplaces, sorted them, boxed them up and raised money to ship them to the agency's West Coast distribution site. This has been a very simple and effective charity drive for us, and one I'm sure we'll repeat. If you'd like more information on the program, please see their web site at www.soles4souls.org. This ongoing effort is something you can expect to see more of in future years.
Newer member, Cymbre Christianson, presented a report on the concept of providing care boxes to our injured troops in Bethesda, MD at the military hospital there. With the full support of the membership, she will be organizing this project, forming a committee, and presenting more details at our future meetings.
Holly Kelty, as current fundraising Chair, is following up on some excellent ideas that the membership fully supports and will be using the November meeting to work on fundraising. Our buffet meal at Koots for the September meeting, catered by Sal, was excellent as always and the best deal going. Let me know if you want directions to the October Changing of the Guard celebration. Our social events are always a highlight, and I am sure pictures will be posted on the wonderful Alaska Federation website afterwards.
Sitka Republican Women - Karoline Beckeris, President
The Sitka Republican Women are holding a recruitment and informational meeting on Saturday, October 6, at noon, at the home of Kim Crews.
All Republican women, current members or not, are invited to bring a dish to share and join in the fun. Ideas will be discussed and plans will be made for upcoming events to further the mission of the organization.
Key Web Sites
Alaska Federation of Republican Women
http://www.akfrw.com
National Federation of Republican Women
http://www.nfrw.org/a>
Alaska Republican Party
http://www.alaskarepublicans.com/a>
Statewide Contacts
Alaska Federation of Republican Women
Paulette Simpson, President
(907) 770-6797 or (907) 364-3179
Email: paulettem@gci.net
Anchorage Republican Women
Cathy Giessel, President
(907) 345 5470
Email: cgiessel@mac.com
Capital City Republican Women (Juneau)
Connie McKenzie, President
(907) 790-3321
Email: connie-mitch@gci.net
Fairbanks Republican Women
Linda Manns, President
(907) 456-0030
Email: jlmanns@acsalaska.net
First City Republican Women (Ketchikan)
Sandra Meske, President
(907) 225-1060
Email: Sandrajm@kpunet.net
Kenai Peninsula Republican Women
Carol Brenckle, President
(907) 398-8228
Email: carol.brenckle@alaska.net
Mat-Su Republican Women
Alice Massie, President
(907) 376-5667
Email: abm_51@yahoo.com
Midnight Sun Republican Women
Cathie Straub, President
(907) 272-6622
Email: cathie@financialresourcesinc.com
Sitka Republican Women
Karoline Bekeris, President
(907) 747-5804
Email: kbekeris@hotmail.com
Paid for by Alaska Federation of Republican Women, 2504 Fairbanks St., Anchorage, AK 99503
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