December, 2007

Dear fellow WFRW Members,

Year end is fast approaching and we have only this one last letter to you in 2007. 

To say it has been an amazing year would be an understatement.

We had wonderful meetings of our Board of Directors with outstanding speakers.  We were honored that Karna Bodman visited with us ... and we used the proceeds from that special fund-raiser to purchase a much needed projector and screen.  We attended the RNC's  Women's Leadership Conference.  We attended WSRP Central Committee meetings and filled an entire table at the WSRP gala dinner with WFRW ladies.  We had a wonderful delegation attend the NFRW convention.  We added four new clubs to the Federation's roster and have ladies in other communities working to form additional new clubs next year.

And as I've traveled the state, I've been fortunate to make new friends and to become better friends with so many women who are committed to the goals and objectives of the WFRW: uniting and empowering women to be a pro-active political force in Washington State.  Working together we can help elect Republicans and influence the future of our state and country.

As we begin 2008, there are a couple of house-keeping details we must not forget.  January 1 is the start of the new dues year and we are all reminded that the NFRW raised their per-member dues -- that means each club must send $13 per member to the WFRW so that we can forward the NFRW's share ($8 per member) to them in a timely manner.  Thanks to WFRW Treasurer Catherine Torkelson and  WFRW Webmaster Patsy Excell, the WFRW forms can now be downloaded directly from our website.  Each club must carefully complete the forms and mail them with the appropriate checks (payable to WFRW) to Catherine at PO Box 2144, Seattle, WA 98111.  Timeliness is important ... but Neatness Counts!!  Please remember that WFRW Membership Secretary Kristi Brown must do a huge amount of data entry into the NFRW's system and it will be a real help if she is not faced with challenges in trying to read the hand-writing.

The other house-keeping detail relates to your club's by-laws.  If they mention the NFRW dues amount, please be sure your by-laws are updated so they are not in conflict with the NFRW.

For many clubs, year end also brings a change in elected officers.  So let me say a huge THANK YOU to the retiring officers and a most heartfelt WELCOME to those who are just starting their terms.  I look forward to working with you all to continue to build and strengthen the WFRW and to elect Republicans.

The Spring Meeting of our Board of Directors is now set for May 2-3.  Please save this date on your calendars and make plans to attend.  The campaign school we held at our recent Fall Meeting was so well received we are moving forward with plans to hold classes for officers at our Spring Meeting.  It is sure to be a fun and educational time. 

Looking forward in 2008 we can see what may be the most important election in our lifetime.  As Republican activists we can make a real difference in the outcome next November. 

We must share with the rest of the country the responsibility for selecting our Party's nominee for President.  Between now and our State's Presidential Primary on February 19th, I urge you to carefully consider each of the candidates.   When the precinct caucuses are held, encourage your Republican neighbors to participate.

And while we are waiting to see what happens at the national level, we can plan to be active in the campaigns of our state-wide, congressional and legislative candidates.   There will be many ways to help: phone banks to help identify Republican voters and then to help Get Out The Vote, envelope stuffing, doorbelling, and sign-waving.  And we must never forget the most basic activity of every campaign: Fund Raising.

If we want to change the direction of our State, we must take back the Governor's Mansion, we must retain the three state-wide offices held by Republicans, we must work to gain another of the state-wide offices, and we absolutely must gain seats in the Washington Senate and House of Representatives.

We cannot depend on someone else to do this for us.  It is Too Important.  We must take action ourselves.

As 2007 draws to a close we can reflect upon a wonderful year.  And we can look forward to an exciting 2008.

                                                                                                  With all best wishes,