THE TRUMPETER - October 2023

RWOP Newsletter Editor: Joan Lesko, RWOP VP Communications, contact@rwop.info

"Fall is Best of All" 

Again, my favorite season!  

With October upon us, it is an important time for RWOP. October is the month we hold the 2024 Executive Board elections. Looking back on the past two years of my presidency, I believe that the last two years have been RWOP's most successful ones yet! The new direction RWOP took under my leadership promoted RWOP to be more involved in our community through our community outreach program. To give our members more opportunities with our candidates, speakers, and programs so they would be better engaged and informed voters, and to honor the MANY speaker requests we received, we set a record for the number of speakers brought into our luncheons. To promote Republican unity locally, I reached out to the other Republican club presidents. Without the support and teamwork of my executive board, these and many other accomplishments would not have happened. The success of RWOP can also be attributed to two other things: first, our dedicated members who are faithful to RWOP and participate in our club functions, and second, our 26 member volunteers who make up our Board of Directors. As President, of a club the size of ours, it is vital that I surround myself with women who work as a "team." It is imperative that the President is involved and is open to the opinions of those who work on her team. As President, I consulted with my Board on nearly every occasion to ensure their ideas were heard and decisions were made based on their input. All the women who currently serve on my Board of Directors have, over this last year, displayed their impeccable individual skills, camaraderie, and loyalty. When difficult situations arose and decisions needed to be made, this Board and I put the betterment of RWOP and the club members first in our decision-making and resolutions.  Every person who holds office or helps in any way as a volunteer gives generously of their time, energy, and dedication, as well as they each bring their valuable skills, knowledge, ability, and experience to their positions. Previous experience, whether in life or having been on the board, is critical in knowing the history of RWOP, preserving the culture, and continuing the camaraderie that makes our club so successful. I am grateful that I have come up through the ranks and have held many different board positions all of which have been extremely valuable to me as President and in helping me make the difficult decisions and hard choices. Previous board experience at different levels is critical in knowing the history of RWOP preserving the culture and continuing the camaraderie needed to continue the success of our club. When you vote for the candidates on October 10th, it will be you making the hard choices for who will put in all the time and effort required to work for the good of the club. Please consider what really matters within our leadership that will keep RWOP the wonderful club that it has been for 81 years!  Our RWOP board is made up of women of faith. Many hours have been devoted to prayer seeking God's guidance on this matter.

Important Reminder: Due to the procedures set up by the current Nominating Committee for our members to vote at our luncheon, the following will be enforced:

• No walk-ups are allowed on the day of our luncheon - you must have a CONFIRMED luncheon reservation prior to the cutoff date to attend

• No mail-in or Proxy ballots for voting are allowed

• To be qualified and receive a ballot and vote, you must have been an Active Member in good standing by August 31, 2023, present at our luncheon with a confirmed luncheon reservation and an assigned seat. This will be confirmed by our RWOP database. ARTICLE IV Section 3 of our Bylaws states:

New members who join RWOP during the next year’s

enrollment campaign (October - December)

may attend meetings but shall not have a vote until January 1.

• No Associate Members (men, women, or students) are eligible to vote

• Reservations for our October 10th luncheon will close on October 5th

Please watch for our RWOP Constant Contact prior to the October 10th date of our luncheon for a full explanation of how our election will be conducted and who will officiate.

Highlights of the NFRW 42nd Biennial Convention

Sherrie Hanna receiving the Diamond Award at NFRW.

Sherrie Hanna with guest speaker Tulsi Gabbard.

Sherrie Hanna receiving 2nd Place for the Armed Services Award.

Sherrie Hanna with guest speaker Gordon Chang.

Sherrie Hanna with NFRW's

President Eileen Sobjac.

A "HUGE THANK YOU" goes out to Dwight and Andrea Kadar for offering free tickets to the movie "Grid Down - Power Up." Dwight and Andrea were instrumental in bringing this very important movie to Sedona along with the producer, director, and Republican politicians who support as well as want to expose more people to the vulnerability of the United States power grid and the power systems around the world. The movie sold out with a great crowd in attendance. 

RWOP members Judy Blake, Jill Martin, and Linda Nichols accompanied me. Our LD1 State Legislators Senator Ken Bennett and Representative Selina Bliss also attended the movie. 

After speaking with members of the movie's production team, Judy Blake and Jill Martin were able to secure Tina Falcone, Chief Operating Officer for "Save Our Grid", as our January 2024 luncheon speaker. Since this group is touring the country making this movie available to groups and theaters, it was a huge accomplishment to receive a commitment from Ms. Falcone and her team to come to Prescott. More information about the movie can be found here: https://griddownpowerup.com/

Have you ever considered being a Precinct Committeeman (PC)? The PCs are the boots on the ground, going door to door, helping with phone calls to registered voters. As 2024 is a presidential voting year, it will be a critical time for our state and nation. NOW is the time we need to act to return Arizona to a red state. The Independent vote will play a huge role in determining which direction our state will go. Please reach out to our Yavapai County Republican Party (YavGOP) and find out how you can help. ALL HANDS ARE NEEDED as we head toward the 2024 elections. If you aren't interested in being a PC, find out how you can fill vacancies in our YavGOP office by answering phones, helping the walk-in traffic register to vote, and informing them on the Republican candidates that are seeking election. Yavapai County has been a Republican stronghold for many years, but with our demographics changing and more Democrats moving into our area, we have to work hard by stepping up to do whatever we can to keep Yavapai County red! Contact YavGOP at 928-776-4500 or https://yavgop.org/become-a-pc/ to see how you can help!

Thank you all for being a member of the Republican Women of Prescott! Together we make a difference in our city and county! I look forward to seeing you and giving you an update when I return from Oklahoma City.

Regards,

Sherrie Hanna

2023 RWOP President

Please note this luncheon will be held on

TUESDAY, October 10, 2023!

NO SUBSTITUTIONS ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT

$35 per person​

Reserve your spot online: HERE

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

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

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

HEADS UP FOR THE 2023 COAT & BLANKET DRIVE

Start cleaning out your closets. 

We will be collecting coats at the October 10th Luncheon. 

Tuesday, October 10th RWOP Luncheon

FEATURED SPEAKER:

GUEST SPEAKER:

2023-24 Nominating Committee Update

October 10^th is a special day for RWOP. That’s the day the membership votes for the Executive Committee which will carry RWOP through an important political year - 2024. We need good leaders to unite our party locally and assist Republican candidates to victory.  

Our own RWOP elections are a little different this year – in fact, it’s the first time that we’ve had a contested ticket for President and 5^th VP of Education. The Presidential candidates are Judy Blake and Sue Davis, both very competent leaders and proven conservatives. 

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The 5^th VP contenders are Charlotte Berryman and Michele Hamer, both hard-working individuals and devoted Republicans. Please read the bios of these four very talented individuals. 

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The remainder of the slate will be voted into office on the 10^th. The Nominating Committee is proud to announce the following nominees:

Bio

Bio

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Please plan to arrive early for the October luncheon. When you register to get your table, you will be screened as to whether you are a “full, active member in good standing”.  You will then receive a ticket and will be directed to the ballot table where you will receive an envelope with two ballots in it – one for the President and one for the 5^th VP of Education. 

You will then proceed to your luncheon table and “let the fun begin”. Your vote is most important. Please sign up for the luncheon as soon as you can.

See you soon.

Barbara Ernst and the Nominating Committee



Caring for America - Nancy Grigas

Charity of the Month

Yavapai Exceptional Industries has been providing work services for individuals with disabilities since 1973, and we currently provide jobs for 140 clients across 3 facilities in the Quad City area. Our longest-running facility, open since 1981, is on Washington Avenue in Prescott, but over the last ten years, we have opened Ruger Airpark Industries and Antelope Point@Eastridge in Prescott Valley. In addition to work services, we provide housing opportunities for 24 individuals with disabilities (12 men and 12 women), with 2 homes within walking distance of our Washington Avenue office and 2 within walking distance of our Eastridge location, under what we call the family home model, with assistance with daily living skills provided by live-in houseparents.

We phrase our mission statement in a number of ways. The official one is: “To provide services to individuals with disabilities in order to assist them in becoming as independent as their condition allows.” But on a day-to-day basis we are more likely to say “we make happy people happier,” and I think if you see what we do in person that is how you would describe it. The long version is that YEI provides work opportunities with adults with disabilities, both in-house and in the community with assistance, by partnering with a variety of local companies who need light manufacturing/collation/fabrication, as well as by running our own woodshop that makes patio furniture. Some of YEI’s business partners include Ruger (part assembly), Yavapai County Contractor’s Association (mailers), The Lookout (packaging of seed), and PureWafer (cleaning and sterilization of containers).

- Bill Bazzell

Cloudy Days

If anyone knows of a RWOP member or family member that is ill, passed away or just needs a note of encouragement please contact me with their address so a personal card can be mailed.  

Marla Bassler, 480-330-8150 or drop her an email at marlabassler7@gmail.com

We have 15 tickets available,

reserve your spot today before they sell out.

Do you have a signature baked item or scrumptious treat you would like to donate to our annual Christmas Bake Sale?

October 1, 2023, is the official launch of our 2024 Membership Campaign:

All RWOP members must renew their membership every year. You need to fill out a new Membership Application for the 2024 year, so we can make sure all your information is current and correct in our database. Active members your information is also turned into the State level, AzFRW, and the National Level, NFRW. You may renew your membership online at www.rwop.info or you may renew your membership at the October Lunch Meeting.

Renewing or starting a membership in October 2023 really gives you fifteen months of membership through to December 31, 2024. Please encourage your friends and family to become members of the “Largest Federated Republican Women’s Club in the Nation”.

High Achievers

At the September meeting, we recognized the members who referred the most new members to us during 2023. They were:

• 1st Place KK Wiler with 13 new members joining us
• 2nd Place Debra McVey with 11 new members joining us
• 3rd Place Judy Blake with 9 new members joining us

Congratulations Ladies! They received gift certificates to the Luncheon meeting and/or the RWOP Mall in varying amounts.

Renew your membership in September or October and be entered into a drawing for $10 off your membership. There will be six (6) lucky winners announced at the November meeting.

Have you ever wondered where all our members reside? At the close of our membership on August 31st our members resided in the following areas this year versus last year at the same time:

New Website Page

Select HERE for the 2023 RWOP Luncheon Schedule!!

ESA will be a big focus for 2024

Now is the time to get familiar with the facts of ESA!

Click here to watch more from Arizona Federation for Children

ATTENTION NEW MEMBERS AND SEASONED MEMBERS!

Sign up for the last RWOP 101 Class of 2023!

 If you have any questions, email Linda Nichols lknichols360@yahoo.com

DID YOU KNOW….what Riley Gaines is doing now?

I wrote about Riley in my July “Did You Know?” column. You might recall that she is leading the effort to defend women’s sports from participation (and, ultimately, dominance) by transgender men. 

Since gaining national prominence, Riley has continued to speak out in favor of maintaining women’s sports for biological women.  She testified before the United States Senate’s Judiciary Committee on June 21, 2023 on the topic. 

Her Senate Testimony is available here: https://www.iwv.org/2023/06/senate-judiciary-committee-hearing-riley-gaines-pride/ It’s worth viewing, even though it’s a 2-hour and 38-minute recording. Riley’s testimony begins at approximately the 47-minute mark.  After her testimony, I skipped ahead to the Republican Senators on the Committee. At the 1:04 mark, Riley answered a question from Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. At 1:15, Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri discussed Riley’s appearance at San Francisco State University when she was physically threatened, and Riley offered some details about her experience. Sen Hawley also asked Riley about attempts to silence her, which Riley recounted in some detail. At 1:29, Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who famously asked then-Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, “What is a woman?” during her confirmation hearing, addressed Riley. (The now-Supreme Court Justice replied that she could not define a woman, as she was not a biologist.) Senator Ted Cruz of Texas brought up Title IX and the importance of its preservation. Senator Mike Lee of Utah asked Riley if she was transphobic! Riley had a great response. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana tried to get a Democrat witness to admit there are only two sexes. She evaded the question and then asserted that Serena and Venus Williams (professional female tennis players) can beat male tennis players. He asked Riley about it, who astutely pointed out that the Williams sisters had once been beaten by a man ranked 203rd in their sport.

The Committee’s Democrats did not have the courage to address any questions or comments to Riley, with the exception of its Chairman, Dick Durbin of Illinois. He lectured Riley about finding a way to tolerate the inclusion of transgender men in women’s sports.

She has appeared on many conservative talk shows and podcasts. She is an advisor to the Independent Women’s Voice, an organization that advocates for women from a conservative, freedom-oriented perspective.

More recently, she has founded the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute. https://rileygainescenter.org/ Her goal is to use it as a resource to support female athletes and others who, like her, want to preserve women’s sports for women only, and to train grassroots organizers and leaders.

Here’s another fantastic article about Riley: https://www.iwf.org/people/riley-gaines-2/  

A final thought from Riley, which all of us should adopt: “When they want you silent…..speak louder!”

On September 30th at midnight, the fiscal year 2023 (FY2023) expires and FY2024 begins. Negotiations on Capitol Hill remain constant, and the schedule is in flux, but conservative lawmakers are working to identify the best path forward for the country that can both reduce spending AND secure the border.

State of Play: Spending Fight

As of this writing, members are negotiating a proposal developed by the House Freedom Caucus and the Main Street Caucus that would cut non-defense discretionary spending to pre-pandemic levels for 30 days and enact permanently the policy changes included in the House-passed H.R. 2 border security package.

It’s important to remember, during the pandemic, Congress increased spending during the “Covid-Era” which sent federal spending on an unsustainable trajectory and has fueled the Left’s radical agenda.  

The current short-term spending proposal would achieve major, permanent border security policy victories while giving the House the best possible negotiating position for long-term spending cuts and reforms.

This short-term spending proposal is fiscally responsible while incorporating policies that secure the border. It also enables the House to pass the 11 remaining appropriations bills required to fund the government and strengthens conservatives' hand for reining in weaponized federal agencies. (Remember: they passed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs spending bill in July.) The short-term spending proposal reduces the topline non-defense discretionary spending from the current FY2023 $1.60 trillion to $1.47 trillion - a meaningful reduction in federal spending.

There can be no question that the economic struggles many Americans are experiencing today is in large part due to the federal government’s spending spree. From March of 2020 to today the United States has spent more money than in the first 215 years of the nation’s history.

This creates inflationary pressure which has resulted in financial stress for millions including the 61% of Americans who are living paycheck to paycheck as a consequence.

But this spending package is not just about spending. Conservatives in the House are working to attach H.R. 2 (The Secure the Border Act) to the short-term spending package. It’s important to remember: If enacted, the funding provided will expire at the end of the 30 days but the Secure the Border Act would become a permanent victory for border security.

Christmas Cards for Deployed Military

October 5, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

U.S. VETS – Prescott, 1040 Whipple St. in Prescott

RWOP is hosting a Christmas Card writing event in the dining room of U.S. VETS – Prescott! We hope to have some of the veterans that live there join us. Anyone who has been deployed knows what a boost in morale it is to get cards from home! Cards and pens are provided at this event, but feel free to bring Cards as well. Angela Smith, an RWOP member, has generously offered to also bring craft supplies for those who would like to make cards. If you want to join us, please contact Deb Robbins at phxlass@cox.net  to sign up so we can ensure there is enough space. 

Christmas Cards for Deployed Military from Home!

Let’s support our deployed service members by writing Christmas Cards to send with holiday stockings through AdoptaPlatoon! All members, please write at least 2 cards and bring them to the November 14 luncheon where we honor our Veterans. 

Do not seal the envelopes. The salutation if you choose to use one, can be Service Member, Soldier, Hero.

I will have a box to collect them and get them mailed overseas. You don’t need to address the outer envelope.  Last year just a few people wrote over 300 cards; the goal this year is 1,000 since the invitation is open to the entire membership to write cards from home! Thanks in advance for anything you can do.

Veteran's Quarterly Business Mixer

November 6, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

This event is specifically tailored towards Veteran-Owned Businesses and the Veteran Community, however EVERYONE is welcome to attend. These mixers provide a unique opportunity to connect with Veteran business owners, learn about Chamber initiatives for Veterans and discover how Veterans in Prescott help local businesses. There will be a short announcement to welcome all attendees and the hosting location will discuss their business. Attendees are welcome to a tour of the location afterwards.

This event is being hosted by US Vets and sponsored by Team RWB

U.S.Vets – Prescott, 1040 Whipple St #400, Prescott, AZ 86305, USA

For Assistance with Registration please contact Crystal Christ

Crystal@prescott.org or (928) 445-2000 ext 117

Veteran’s Day Parade

November 11

Plan to join RWOP as we march in the Veteran’s Day Parade on Saturday, November 11! Details will be forthcoming.

Susan Cohen, Americanism Chair

Oct. 2023 RWOP Newsletter

Below is an actual email I received from the Office of the Arizona Governor after I

emailed her wanting to know what she was doing to stop the influx of illegal aliens

entering our southern border. With all the resources available to her, she just seems

hellbent on having the criminal element come into our country. In her email, it says,

“Governor Hobbs is committed…to provide meaningful relief for Arizonans suffering the consequences of decades of federal inaction.” I have three words for her: Finish

Trump’s Wall!

There are now 2 enemies at the gate – The cartels, and our very own state government.

Response from the Office of the Arizona Governor – Case # 627586

From: Office of the Arizona Governor engage@az.gov

Sent: Fri, Sep 1, 2023 at 11:07 am

To: susancohen@reagan.com

Dear Susan Cohen:

Thank you for sharing your concerns with the Governor’s Office.  

Governor Hobbs is committed to using all the tools at her disposal to bring resources to our border communities and provide meaningful relief for Arizonans suffering the consequences of decades of federal inaction. The Governor has prioritized providing resources and assistance to those on the ground including local law enforcement, nonprofits, and health care providers.  

Additionally in the new state budget, more communities will be eligible for $12 million additional dollars in local border support after a matching requirement was removed to meet their critical needs. Governor Hobbs understands that the border crisis is a humanitarian crisis. She has streamlined the process of transporting asylum seekers to nonprofits and their final destinations to shift the burden of care from our already stretched border communities. Governor Hobbs also has prioritized drug interdiction – dedicating $17.1 million to the Department of Public Safety with the flexibility to make the most impact on stopping criminal behavior. Issues that start at the border can impact all of Arizona and ensuring that state, local and federal law enforcement have the resources and the ability to stop cartels, smugglers and other dangerous criminals is top of mind for the Governor.

The Governor knows though that there is more work to be done and has brought United States Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas to Arizona’s southern border to bring attention to the need for more action to secure our border from illicit drug trafficking and to fix our broken immigration system. The Governor has called for the passage of comprehensive immigration reform legislation to secure our border, strengthen our economy, and provide an efficient and fair path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the United States.  

Thank you again for sharing your concerns with the Governor’s Office.

Sincerely,

Office of Constituent Engagement

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs

And what does the White House say?

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