BROWARD WOMEN’S REPUBLICAN CLUB, FEDERATED

   "Federated Republican Women are the Life of the Party!‛

>>> DUES ARE DUE!- Member: $25.00 / Associate Member: $15.00

Please give  your membership check at our March 3 meeting or mail it to Antonia.

Make check out to: Broward Women’s Republican Club, Federated

Antonia Hyland, Treasurer

427 Deer Creek Run

Deerfield Beach, FL  33442

President: Ginger Eisenrod  (561) 706-2586 /  BocaBrkr@aol.com

Vice-President: Sally Musser   Sally@edco.com

Secretary: Kallie Xenakis  kmx@bellsouth.net

Treasurer: Antonia Hyland  Toniehy@bellsouth.net

Featuring:

* President’s Message

* Memo from Bev

* Calendar of Events

*Application for Membership  

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

               What a great year to be a Republican in South Florida.  We have so many outstanding candidates running for national office this year.  The dilemma is deciding how to use our volunteer time the most wisely.  So far, I’ve made calls, attended meetings, done computer research, set up FaceBook pages, proofed campaign materials, sponsored fundraisers and who knows what else.  The problem is that I lack focus.  In a year where we could possibly win back several House and Congress seats, how do you decide where to put your efforts?  Our speaker this month, Danita Kilcullen, will help us gain some clarity.  Danita does more for the conservative movement than anyone I know, and she does it with grace and diplomacy.  She proves that you can stand up for your beliefs, be an activist and make a difference while remaining a lovely, composed lady.   I don’t use the term “lady” lightly.  As a southerner, all I ever heard from parents and grandparents was “Whatever you do, remember to always be a lady.”  To me that meant always looking good, sitting up straight, speaking quietly, never making waves and never going out without your makeup!  During my “protest” years in the ‘60s, I remember saying many times that it didn’t feel very lady-like.  I’ve seen Danita at a walk for Fisher House, protesting on the corner of Oakland and Federal every Saturday, at numerous meetings and events, and she’s always composed, focused, forceful, and determined.  Thanks, Danita, for my new definition of a lady.

If you missed the February meeting, please remember to put into writing a statement of why you are a Republican.  In this election year, where we are so outnumbered in South Florida, it’s very important for us to be able to be able to explain to our opposition why we believe what we do.  Bring your statements to the March meeting!

Don’t forget that this is the Year of Strong Women for BWRC.  In January, Ana Gomez-Mallada told us about Amelia Earhart and Sandy Steen told us all about Mother Theresa in February.   They chose powerful women who made a difference and did a terrific job of telling us how.   I look forward to hearing about many more this year. 

In late March, we will be holding a White Elephant Sale in conjunction with the Florida Federation of Republican Women.  Part of the proceeds will go to our club and part to the state organization.  Please start your spring cleaning early and collect all those items you don’t need or use and bring them to the sale.  We’re still looking for a location.  A large parking lot on a major street would be ideal.  Please call me with ideas. 

See you on March 3^rd.  Come get to know Danita and find a focus for your passions and beliefs.  Bring a friend!

(Signed) Ginger Eisenrod, President.

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Memo to Newsletter readers from Bev White:

              HOW CAN A REPUBLICAN MINORITY WIN IN BROWARD COUNTY?

Answer: GET OUT ALL THE VOTERS.  There are 1,028,636 registered voters in Broward County.  Democrats number 544,918 or 52.07 % and Republican 243,600 or 23.55%.  The remaining 228,267 are mainly undeclared so they do not vote in primary elections.  I live in the 19^th district which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Our U.S. Representative in Congress, Robert Wexler, who claimed his residence was the small condo in Florida owned by his mother-in-law, but whose wife and children actually lived in a house in Maryland, resigned.  This caused a special election on February 2.  Three Republicans were in the primary and two Democrats.  The winning Republican Edward Lynch will face the winning Democrat Ted Deutch in another special election on April 3.  Only persons living in these precincts vote for this election so you may not be voting in this election. There are 93 precincts in Broward County in this district.  I live in F11 in Coconut Creek. In my precinct there are 1585 registered voters who have declared a party affiliation with one of the two parties.  There are 542 Republicans and 1043 Democrats. Of those, only 39 Republicans voted,  7.2 percent of those registered.  Of the Democrats 94 voted,  9.02 percent.  With 93 precincts voting, Lynch won by only 48 votes in Broward County over the second place candidate–less than ½ vote per precinct made the difference.  In the 2004 election, George Bush, after a final recount paid for by the news media, won by about 500 votes in the state of Florida.  The point is that every vote does count.  We need everyone to be willing to make phone calls to our registered Republicans to get out the vote.  Please make sure you volunteer.   If you are interested in the voter registration statistics check the Broward County Supervisor of Elections web site.  Visit it at www.browardsoe.org .

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CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS

Wednesday March 3, 2010

Broward Women’s Republican Club luncheon meeting

11:30-Noon: Social; Noon: Program

Primavera Italian Restaurant

830 East Oakland Park Blvd.

Lunch:  $25.99 / Cash Bar

Topic: Grassroots Activism:  Yes WE Can!

Speaker: Danita Kilcullen   

RSVP: President Ginger Eisenrod (561) (561) 706-2586 / BocaBrkr@aol.com

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Statewide FFRW “White Elephant Sale‛

Every Federated club in the state will hold a garage or “white elephant‛ sale simultaneously. Profits will go to both club and FFRW. Volunteers needed and donations appreciated.

Wednesday April  7, 2010

Broward Women’s Republican Club luncheon meeting

11:30-Noon: Social; Noon: Program

Primavera Italian Restaurant

830 East Oakland Park Blvd.

Lunch:  $25.99 / Cash Bar

Speaker: Conservative Talk Show Host Jeff Katz

RSVP: President Ginger Eisenrod (561) (561) 706-2586 / BocaBrkr@aol.com

April 13, 2010

Special Election U.S. Congressional #19 

Republican candidate Edward Lynch is running against Democrat Ted Deutch for U.S. Representative to Congress for the seat vacated by Robert Wexler.  Only persons in this district will be voting, not the entire county.  If you make some calls, please contact Bev White or the candidate.  His web site is www.electlynch.com

April 26-30, 2010

Federal & Judicial Election Qualifying

Wednesday May  5, 2010

Broward Women’s Republican Club luncheon meeting

11:30-Noon: Social; Noon: Program

Primavera Italian Restaurant

830 East Oakland Park Blvd.

Lunch:  $25.99 / Cash Bar

RSVP: President Ginger Eisenrod (561) (561) 706-2586 / BocaBrkr@aol.com

* We are trying to hold the April and May meetings open for the Charlie Crist for Senate and the Bill McCollum for Governor Campaigns.

June 11, 2010

In Honour of Jeannette Rankin’s Birthday - A Wine Tasting Reception for

Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff, Candidate for State Senate, District 25

Jeannette Rankin was the first woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She was elected from Montana in 1917. And she was a Republican.

1301 East Oakland Park Blvd.

6:00 - 9:00PM

RSVP: President Ginger Eisenrod (561) (561) 706-2586 / BocaBrkr@aol.com

Maximum Contribution:  $300.00

June 14-18, 2010

Qualifying for State Offices

August 24, 2010

Primary Election

Wednesday September 1,  2010

Broward Women’s Republican Club luncheon meeting

11:30-Noon: Social; Noon: Program

Primavera Italian Restaurant

830 East Oakland Park Blvd.

Lunch:  $25.99 / Cash Bar

RSVP: President Ginger Eisenrod (561) (561) 706-2586 / BocaBrkr@aol.com

October: Election Potluck Series .

We will meet at elections HQ of a given candidate and spend at least 1 hour there doing whatever they need doing within the framework of our members’ tastes and abilities. Different members may bring a dish or drink to share. Please check back for date and place. Elections being what they are, we may do this twice in October rather than once in October and then on November 1^st.

Monday, November 1, 2010 

Possibly Election Potluck Series.

See above.

November 2, 2010

General Election

Wednesday December 3, 2010

Broward Women’s Republican Club luncheon meeting

11:30-Noon: Social; Noon: Program

Primavera Italian Restaurant

830 East Oakland Park Blvd.

Lunch:  $25.99 / Cash Bar

Holiday Celebration. Please bring a wrapped toy for “Jack and Jill‛.

RSVP: President Ginger Eisenrod (561) (561) 706-2586 / BocaBrkr@aol.com

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Membership: If you are receiving this newsletter by e-mail, we strongly urge you to join our group.  The next few years are very important in terms of where our country is headed.  Even if you do not want to attend luncheon meetings, joining the group gives you access to information about the Republican party, its goals, principles and candidates.  Most of the news media give you a liberal leaning spin on political news.  Your dues  will help fund our activities.  There is strength in numbers and if you are willing  to do some telephone calls to help get out the vote, you can make a difference. Women are a strong force in the Republican party.  Please print out the application below and join us today.   WE NEED YOU!   r

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BROWARD WOMEN’S REPUBLICAN CLUB, FEDERATED

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

BrowardRepublicanWomen.org

Please print this form, complete it and send it in with your check

to the address provided below.

Name __________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Telephone/Fax ___________________________________________

e-Mail __________________________________________________

Are you a member of any other Republican club? If so, which one (s)?

________________________________________________________

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Date ________________I am interested in helping on the following committees: (Please check all that apply):

___Campaign/Legislative ___Phone Tree

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Dues: MEMBER: $25.00 ASSOCIATE MEMBER: $15.00

Please make check payable to Broward Women’s Republican Club, Federated and mail to:

Antonia Hyland

427 Deer Creek Run

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Memo: There is a lot of hostility in the present campaign between the Republican candidates for the U S Senate seat.  For   those of you interested, following is a letter from Rubio to the Florida GNC leader:

MARCO RUBIO TO RPOF CHAIRMAN JOHN THRASHER: CREDIT CARD STATEMENT LEAK IS APPALLING ACT OF DESPERATION FROM CRIST CAMPAIGN

Miami, FL – U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio tonight delivered a letter to Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher regarding the Crist campaign’s leak of Rubio’s American Express credit card statements during his time as Speaker.  The full text of the letter follows:

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Honorable John Thrasher

Chairman

Republican Party of Florida

420 E. Jefferson Street

P.O. Box 311

Tallahassee, FL 32301

TRANSMITTED VIA EMAIL AND FACSIMILE: (850) 681-0184

Dear Speaker Thrasher,

Congratulations again on your election as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Our Party needs your leadership now more than ever.  I have every confidence in your ability to repair the financial mismanagement that occurred under the previous administration, and restore the confidence of the staff, donors and most importantly the grassroots of our party.

As I mentioned to you on Monday, I applaud your call for a full forensic audit of the RPOF. Our Party’s generous donors deserve to know how their money was spent, and often misspent, during the previous administration.  We must do this not to simply rehash what has already happened, but instead to learn from the mistakes of the past so they will never be repeated.

I have always agreed with your position that these issues are internal party matters which must be decided by the Republican Party of Florida, and not in the court of public opinion through selective information leaked to the media. As you know, I have maintained that I would not unilaterally disclose my personal American Express statements. I made this decision out of respect for any internal review process a new chairman might initiate, and to avoid creating a media circus that at best would be a distraction, and at worst could actually hurt our Party.

However, as I told you Monday, at least one Florida media outlet is now in possession of my statements.  No one other than the previous RPOF administration and myself had access to this information. It is clear these internal documents were taken from the RPOF by former Chairman Jim Greer, or someone working for him, and were leaked to the media by the Crist Campaign.

These actions are an appalling act of political desperation. The idea that the former chairman of the RPOF, or those working for the Governor, would selectively leak internal RPOF documents is disturbing.  But sadly it is not surprising because these are the very men who put the party in the mess it is in today.  The Florida GOP under Jeb Bush was never run with this sort of arrogance, mismanagement, lack of integrity and lack of leadership.

During my leadership at the party, my efforts focused on promoting a strong conservative agenda and raising more than $12 million dollars to protect Republican seats. In order to accomplish these goals, I had an American Express card from February of 2005 through November of 2008.  While that card is commonly referred to as an “RPOF AMEX,‛ it was in fact secured under my name, my Social Security number, and my personal credit through the Corporate Division of American Express. On its website, Americanexpress.com, the company clearly outlines the billing practices for the corporate card as follows:

“Each Cardmember submits an expense report in accordance with your company policy. Your company issues a single check to American Express for all authorized charges, streamlining your payment process. Cardmembers can pay American Express directly for unapproved and personal charges.‛

In accordance with this procedure, each month, the RPOF would approve and pay only those expenses related to my role with the Republican Party.

When it came to incurring expenses, I erred on the side of caution and maintained two operating principles: If it was questionable as to whether the expense was state or Party related, I tried to err on the side of saving taxpayer money by charging that expense to the Party.  If it was a question between Party expenses or personal expenses, I tried to err on the side of protecting Party money by paying personally for those charges directly.

During the 25-month period covered by the leaked documents, the Party authorized and made payments of $109,618.45 for my charges directly related to my work for the Party.

As you will see, 89% of my Party expenses were for travel, lodging, fuel, car rentals and meals related to my official work for the party. During this time I crisscrossed the state countless times for Lincoln/Reagan dinners, GOP fundraisers, and other party business. In all, more than half of my expenses were transportation costs: 40% for commercial airline travel and 14% for car rentals, tolls, parking and fuel.

As a point of reference, during this time period, the charges on my card amounted to approximately 3% of the Party’s total American Express expenditures.  In fact, I had fewer expenses in two years than my opponent’s handpicked RPOF Executive Director spent in just one month.

During the period in question, there was no formal process provided by the Party regarding personal charges made on an AMEX account.  At no time during my four years as a cardholder did the party ask me to provide additional information about, or personally pay, any of the charges I submitted for payment.  I always took it upon myself to identify and directly pay American Express for all non-official expenses. During the two-year period in question, I made $16,052.50 in direct payments to AMEX to cover non-party related expenditures.

To the greatest extent possible, I made sure the Party never paid for any personal charges. In fact, all of my statements were- at least I certainly hope they were- reviewed and approved by former Chairman Jim Greer or others designated by him.

Thank you again for taking on this new leadership position in our party.  It is a huge responsibility and a tough task.  And while I wish you didn’t have to deal with politically motivated distortions and distractions like this, I’m confident that we as Republicans will overcome and quickly get beyond them.

Our party is much bigger than any one administration, person or problem.  With common sense, conservative reform, and simple honesty and integrity in our operations, I believe the principles that define our party can once again fix it too.

Sincerely,