THE TRUMPETER - February 2026

Newsletter Editor: Morgan Swift-RWOP VP Communications, contact@rwop.info

As President of the Republican Women of Prescott, I regularly receive suggestions on to how our club should function. In fact, I am “should” on quite frequently. Most are sincere and thoughtful. Some are snarky or judgmental, while others venture far outside our mission—such as asking why RWOP is not at the Courthouse Plaza with signs challenging the so called “Prescott Indivisibles”.  

Allow me the opportunity to restate, clearly and unapologetically, who we are and why we exist.

RWOP as a group is not called to confront disruptors at Courthouse Plaza.

We are not called to organize counter-protests, endorse candidates during a Republican primary, or publicly battle fellow Republicans over differing opinions.

As the largest Republican women’s club in the nation, we are a powerhouse with purpose, and we are uniquely positioned to carry this responsibility forward.  But our strength is not measured by numbers alone.  It is measured by participation in good governance.

Our Mission—Clearly Defined

“The Republican Women of Prescott is dedicated to promoting the principles of the Republican Party through an informed electorate by educating and empowering its members, and by electing Republicans to local, state, and national offices.”

Our objective is to educate and empower our members with contextually accurate information so that members can engage in civics, responsibly and effectively.  This is the work of RWOP—and it matters.

Our mission is carried out through:

• Education on legislation—pending and permanent
• Candidate speakers to support informed decision-making
• Understanding the voting process
• RWOP Academy and Day at the Capitol
• Encouraging women to seek elected and appointed leadership positions
• Promoting patriotism, Americanism, and the history of our freedoms
• Volunteering in schools, providing scholarships and sponsoring community events
• Honoring and supporting our veterans, law enforcement, and first responders

Freedom is not self-sustaining. It must be defended, taught, and lived. When faith is removed from public life, liberty erodes. When history is forgotten, gratitude fades. And when God is dismissed, the moral compass that guided our nation is lost. 

Through RWOP, this legacy is carried forward through informed voting, civic engagement, and principled participation. These are modern expressions of gratitude for freedoms secured at great cost.

We owe profound gratitude to:

• Our Founding Fathers
• The men and women of our military
• Law enforcement and first responders who protect our communities
• Election workers, volunteers, and civic leaders who uphold the rule of law
• And citizens who quietly serve, educate, and vote with integrity

Their dedication ensures liberty remains a lived reality—not merely a historical ideal. History is not distant. It is standing right in front of us.

One of RWOP’s commitments through Americanism is preserving and teaching the history of our freedoms. The United States will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence—a milestone that calls for reflection, gratitude, and renewed responsibility.

At the heart of this commemoration stands one of our most enduring symbols of freedom and faith: the Liberty Bell.

Prescott is the first stop of a 30-stop tour around the State of Arizona, and it is significant that opening day for the museum is also Arizona Statehood Day!

This is why Republicans must fight—And What Happens If We Don’t?

Freedom requires participation—not passivity.  The greatest threat to America has never been external—it is internal complacency.

The Founders understood this. John Adams warned:

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Voting was never viewed as a convenience—it was understood as a moral responsibility, an act of stewardship grounded in conscience and character.

If Republicans do not fight—by voting, serving, organizing, and leading—future generations inherit fewer freedoms, heavier burdens, and diminished opportunity.

There is something every RWOP member can do to protect our state, our country, and our freedoms:

• Are we preserving the liberties entrusted to us?
• Do we understand the price paid to secure them?
• Are we passing on faith, history, and responsibility to the next generation?
• Are we staying informed?

1. Volunteer your time or talents
2. Support candidates and causes
3. Engage respectfully in your community
4. Most importantly—commit to vote!

What are you stepping up to the plate to do for your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren?

Let us rise to meet this moment—together—engaged, informed, and committed to preserving the republic entrusted to us. No role is too small when the future of liberty is at stake.

For God, Country, and Republican Principles,

Sue

We have 12 spots open for our February 19th session.

To participate, attendees must be registered voters in Yavapai County. This information helps us ensure accurate records for our mock election, where you’ll also have the opportunity to review your own voter registration details.

Registration deadline: February 15.

I’m sharing the love this Valentine’s season by donating this purse for a special drawing, as a heartfelt thank-you to our Active Members at this month’s luncheon. 

Luncheon - Tuesday, February 10, 2026

NO SUBSTITUTIONS ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT

​ $35 per person

GREAT NEWS

*Paying online by credit card is the same as paying cash at the door—and it’s the fastest option. Online payments are strongly encouraged and will improve efficiency. *

Click here to RESERVE

Reservations are on a first-come-first-served basis!

A reservation made is a reservation paid...thank you!

If you have any questions, please contact:

Elsie Tyree 

928-778-0235

tyree200@msn.com

To help speed up our check-in process:

• Prepaying for the luncheon is encouraged - online or by check mailed prior to luncheon
• Arrive early and allow time for parking
• No large bills accepted
• Have your payment ready – CASH or CHECK (made payable to RWOP for $35 - already filled out

Featured Speakers

Judge John D. Napper

​Bio

Judge Henry Whitmer

​Bio

Judge Michael McGill

​Bio

Justice of the Peace

Douglas J. Suits

​Bio

Judge Anna Young

​Bio

Attorney Josh Butner

​Bio

Michelle Burchill

Yavapai County Recorder

Bio

Dana Lewis

 Pinal County Recorder

Bio

Constable Ron Williams

Bio

Charity of the Month



HONOR FLIGHT ARIZONA

The Republican Women of Prescott has been supporting Honor Flight Arizona for many years. Thanks to the amazing generosity of RWOP members, Honor Flight Arizona can continue their very important mission of sending Veterans to Washington D.C. to see their Memorials. This Spring, there will be three flights, April 7-9, an all-female DAR flight, April 22-24 and their first Charter, May 18-20, allowing them to take over 100 Veterans plus Guardians, Staff and Medics. Thank you to all who always give so generously!

Karen Friddle is Caring for America’s February luncheon speaker representing Honor Flight Arizona for which she is a Board Member and Secretary. She retired from the medical industry where she spent the last 10 years of her career in Corporate Training and Development. She has also been a volunteer for hemophilia and genetic emphysema organizations for the past 25 years. She became involved in Honor Flight Arizona to honor her father, a career Army WWII/Korea veteran and her husband Tom, a Vietnam veteran, as well all other veterans.

YAVAPAI FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER (YFAC)

Following up on the moving talk given by Missy Sikora at the January luncheon, RWOP is

collecting items to support the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center (YFAC) at the February

Luncheon. All items must be new. The items requested are listed in the January Newsletter.

RWOP is collecting items to support these individuals at the February Luncheon.

All items must be new. We are asking for any of the items listed below:

• A variety of adult sizes of sweats, and a Zip-up jacket
• Sports bras, underpants, and socks.
• Hard Bottom slip-on footwear that can be worn outside.
• Small to medium stuffed animals.
• Boxes of Individually wrapped snacks for kids.
• Gift cards to stores such as Amazon, Target, Fry’s and Walmart for YFAC to purchase items as needed.
• Gift cards given to victims for gas (Fry’s) and fast-food restaurants.
• Straight Talk phone data card – can be purchased at Walmart.

Copies of this list will be at the Caring for America table in the lobby at the January Luncheon.

The 2026 membership year started October 1, 2025



Total Members 2026:  766

Active:  646

Associate: 118

Student: 2

New Active Members in January:

Grace Albright

Gayle Carter

Mitzie Kingsley

Nancy Mohr

JoAnn Montefusco

Chi Potter

Beverly Reiman

Marian Stone Shepherd

Deborah Teubert

Videos are available from the December 2025 Luncheon

PUSD Superintendent

Clark Tenney

Arizona Hometown Radio

Sanford Cohen

Candidate for Legislative District 3

Data Orbital

George Khalaf

Click the button below to view

 other videos from 2026

Click here for the 2026 RWOP Luncheon Schedule!

Calling All RWOP Members!

March 12th - The RWOP Academy!

Adult Center of Prescott - 1280 E Rosser St.

Free - No Cost!

RWOP Academy Agenda will include:

• How to Navigate RWOP

• What RWOP has to offer

• Meet the Board

• Volunteer Opportunities

• Helping with Campaigns

• How RWOP is involved in

our Local Government

• What is AzFRW and NFRW

• NEW - Navigating the Website

Learn how RWOP is involved in our local government, NFRW, AzFRW and how YOU can make a difference! No cost!

Agenda will include a Technology Class on Navigating our new Website. Plus, learn how to submit volunteer hours, register for events and much, much more!

As a member you are getting early notification that Scholarship Applications for College

bound students graduating in the spring of 2026 are now on our website. If you have

High School students in your life, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or neighbor please

have them look at the application and apply if they are so inclined. All completed

applications must be received by March 2, 2026. Scholarships are awarded on a

student’s Merit not on financial need. Students going to University, College and Trade

Schools are eligible to apply.

Any questions call me.

Heather Densmore

Scholarship Chair

949-293-8149

The One Big Beautiful Bill Falls Short in Arizona

We all know that Katie Hobbs needs to go, but she continues to give us more reasons

why. She has beat the record on the number of vetoes she signed last year, and this

year is off to a roaring start.

The One Big Beautiful Bill where Arizonans could have enjoyed a $1.1 billion tax break

over three years has been effectively scratched. The Republican plan would have

removed taxes on tips and overtime pay, increased the child tax credit, made tax filings

easier for small businesses, and increased deductions for childcare and retirement

income. This would have fully aligned Arizona’s tax code with Trump’s changes,

including a bigger standard deduction and other breaks that would cut state revenues

significantly — roughly $440 million in the first year.

Republican House Speaker Steve Montenegro said the plan would have helped

workers, families, small businesses, and seniors. Gov. Hobbs vetoed that bill because

she said parts favor the wealthy and big businesses and disagree with her own middle-

class tax cut priorities.

While Hobbs vetoed the proposal a few weeks ago, she released a budget that includes

roughly $650 million in new taxes and fees and wants to partially conform to the new

federal tax codes, which would result in a smaller reduction in state income tax

revenues. She argued that these larger cuts shouldn’t be adopted as a whole without

clearer protections for essential state services and fairness in distribution. Fairness in

distribution?

Our legislators are going to have to deal with her for another 11 months, and vetoes like

this could be the very reason we bring back a Republican to the 9 th floor. As Arizonans

will see whether state leaders can agree on a tax plan that will ease costs, we can only

hope that Arizona taxpayers will feel that one-sided ‘distribution’, and vote accordingly in

November. Stay tuned.

Sponsor Business Card Ads are $100 for 12 months of inclusion in the monthly newsletters. Your ad will also be highlighted on the RWOP website. If you are interested in highlighting your business, please contact 

The Communications Team - contact@rwop.info

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