President’s Message:
There is so much going on right now. In a few days we will see what happens if the debt ceiling is not raised. President Obama is predicting the worst, more scare tactics to try to get what he wants. Take a few minutes to call your representatives and let them know how you feel. It does not matter whether or not you voted for them, they represent all of us. We must let our voices be heard.
Catina Hockenberry, President, FRWC
August Luncheon
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, 11 August at Belmont Village. The meeting officially begins at 12 pm. Cost is $15 for lunch and $2 reserved seating charge for those who will not be eating. Reservations for those eating are a MUST. Each member will be responsible to pay for their lunch if they fail to show after making a reservation.
Book Club
The book club will not be meeting over the summer and will resume in the fall.
Bunco
Ladies, mark your calendar for our next Bunco on Thursday 25 August at 7pm. It will be held at Catherine Earle’s house. There are 20 slots, please email Judy if you plan on attending at judygeneser@hotmail.com.
Politics in the Park
Just a reminder that on Saturday, October 22nd, we will hold a fundraiser, "Politics in the Park", at Mazarick Park. There will be great speakers and guests, some entertainment, and a silent auction. Anyone interested in please contact Virginia Kidd at 910-527-5632 or mgkidd@aol.com.
Caring for America
First, I would like to thank all those who donated paper products at our last luncheon. Two months ago, many of you donated children’s books to those who stay at the Jubilee House with young children. We would like provide self help books for the women veterans. Start looking around your house for gently used self help books or if you would like to purchase a new book and we will collect them during our September luncheon.
Picture: Extreme Makeover at the Jubilee House. FRWC member, Linda McAlister, working hard to help out.
Women's Equality Day
Women's Equality Day commemorates the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. It is always celebrated on the 26th of August. This day was selected to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution on August 26, 1920. This amendment granted women the right to vote. This was the culmination of decades of effort by women suffragettes and other groups. Their efforts dated back to first women’s rights convention in 1848 at Seneca Falls, New York.
Celebrate this day in a number of ways. Remember to stop and celebrate the accomplishments made in gaining the right to vote, and towards equality for women.
Women’s Equality Day Quiz
From the National Women’s History Project
1. August 26th is celebrated as Women's Equality Day to commemorate:
a. the work women did during the Second World War
b. the anniversary of women winning the right to vote
c. the flappers of the 1920's
d. the contemporary women's rights movement
b. the anniversary of women winning the right to vote
c. the flappers of the 1920's
d. the contemporary women's rights movement
2. In what year did Congresswoman Bella Abzug introduce legislation to ensure that this important American anniversary would be celebrated?
a. 1992
b. 1984
c. 1971
d. 1965
b. 1984
c. 1971
d. 1965
3. In what year did women in the United States win the right to vote?
a. 1776
b. 1848
c. 1920
d. 1946
b. 1848
c. 1920
d. 1946
4. How many years did it take for women to win the right to vote in the United States?
a. 72 years
b. 120 years
c. 20 years
d. 51 years
b. 120 years
c. 20 years
d. 51 years
5. Women in most of the western states won the right to vote years before the Federal Amendment was secured. 2010 is the 100th anniversary of women in Washington State winning the vote. California will celebrate the 100th anniversary of women winning he vote in 2011. Oregon will celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2012. What other state will celebrate the 100th anniversary of women in this state winning the right to vote in 2012?
a. New York
b. Florida
c. Maine
d. Arizona
b. Florida
c. Maine
d. Arizona
6. What was the name given to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which guaranteed women's right to vote in the United States?
a. Abigail Adams Amendment
b. Sojourner Truth Amendment
c. Susan B. Anthony Amendment
d. Gloria Steinem Amendment
b. Sojourner Truth Amendment
c. Susan B. Anthony Amendment
d. Gloria Steinem Amendment
7. Women who worked for women's right to vote were called:
a. radical
b. immoral
c. suffragist
d. all of the above
b. immoral
c. suffragist
d. all of the above
8. The term suffragist is derived from:
a. one who suffers
b. a voting tablet in ancient times
c. the Constitution
d. the Bill of Rights
b. a voting tablet in ancient times
c. the Constitution
d. the Bill of Rights
9. How many other countries had already guaranteed women's right to vote before the campaign was won in the United States?
a. 6
b. 2
c. 1
d. 16
b. 2
c. 1
d. 16
10. What was the first country that granted women the right to vote?
a. Canada
b. Germany
c. New Zealand
d. United Kingdom
b. Germany
c. New Zealand
d. United Kingdom
Legislative Report
By Heidi Dagg
Upcoming 2012 Elections:
It is never too early to start looking ahead to the 2012 elections, especially when our Democratic leadership’s positions are in peril. The report by Sabato predicts that Governor Perdue may have to put up a fight to keep her position: “If Obama loses North Carolina, Perdue is certainly a goner.” Her challenger is likely to be her 2008 opponent Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.
Unfortunately, Obama has already begun to invest heavily to win popularity in North Carolina. He has scheduled his 2012 re-nomination convention in Charlotte. Now is the time to start looking at the Republican Presidential Candidates. Once we have a Republican Presidential Nominee, we need to press hard in promoting them in our state. You can find a list of the 26 current candidates and background information on each one at ABCNews.go.com: (ABC News Republican Candidates).
Debt Ceiling:
US citizens have been waiting in apprehension as Senate Democrats and House Republicans deliberate with competing plans for dealing with the US budget deficit and debt limit. Right now Congress has until August 2nd to find a solution, and President Obama’s speech on Monday, July 25th shows that they still have not come to a resolution. House Speaker John Boehner (R–OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) both have offered solutions which include raising the debt limit to avoid default on the $14.3tn debt.
Reid’s plan would slash $2.7 trillion over 10 years, which includes no cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid for Democrats, and a $1 trillion in savings from winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boehner’s plan is a two-step approach that reflects the principles of “Cut, Cap and Balance.” It ensures spending cuts that are greater than any debt hike and includes no tax increases. To see a full outline of Boehner’s plan go to the Speaker of the House website.
As this article is being written, Republicans are working together to revise Boehner’s plan since his original plan was disapproved by both Democrats and tea party activists. Furthermore, an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office has uncovered that his plan actually cuts spending by only $850 billion over 10 years rather than the $1.2 trillion as originally promised. The House will hold a vote on Thursday, July 28th, and the outcome of the vote will be known by the time this article is published.
What can you do? No matter what the outcome of the vote on July 28th, as responsible American citizens it is important to encourage the same fiscal accountability in our leadership that we practice in our own personal finances—and that is important during tough economic times and those times of abundance! Always encourage your representatives to work diligently on paying off debt, cutting taxes and not spending our money on pet projects at the expense of taxpayers. Hopefully we will see a plan that adheres to these principles come August 2nd.
NC General Assembly:
Voter Photo ID: On July 26th the vote to override the Governor’s veto of the Photo ID bill failed 67 to 52. While Republicans have claimed that the bill is meant to ward off voter fraud, Democrats made racism the key issue of discussion during the vote. Representative Rodney Moore, D-Mecklenburg, claimed, “This bill is an insult to me. It’s an insult to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Despite the outcome of the vote, it is not the end of the debate! Republican Skip Stam used political strategy to keep the bill alive and running. WRAL reports: “Under House rules, any member who voted on the side of a bill that won the vote can move to reconsider the vote. Stam’s vote against the override put him on the prevailing side, and that's exactly what he did, recalling the measure and then leaving it in limbo to be reconsidered another day.” Now is the time to call your representative and remind them that they should support what the majority of North Carolinians want—that the Photo ID bill becomes law!
Women’s Right to Know:
Perdue vetoed this bill on June 27th, and the House overrode her veto 72 to 47 on July 26th. Now the vote heads to the Senate and needs three-fifths vote to become law. In the initial vote 29 Senators voted in favor of the bill. This time we only need one more vote to get the 30 out of 50 votes in order to pass the bill, and the two Senators to contacts are Senator Stan Bingham, R-Davidson (who voted against the original Senate bill) at (336) 859-0999, and Senator Richard Stevens, R-Wake (who didn't participate in the vote) at (919) 851-0228.
NC Redistricting:
Deliberations over redistricting our state continue, with the latest map presented on July 21st. This map draws Democratic Representatives Brad Miller and David Price together into Price’s 4th district and puts Democratic Representatives Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell together in Kissell’s 8th district. Continue to watch as the ultimate decision on redistricting may have serious implications for future vote results in favor of Republicans!
Renewed Members
Linda Devore
New / Renewed Associate Members
David Fernandez - Retired, resident of Fayetteville, Regional Director for the NC Romney Leadership Team
Members in the Spotlight
By Judy Geneser
Today the FRWC would like to spotlight one of its most familiar and faithful members, Catherine Earle. Catherine was born in the liberal bastion of San Francisco, CA. Which only goes to prove, conservatives can exist in the land of Pelosi. She graduated from San Jose State University, obtaining her degree in Elementary Education. She met her future husband Richard, better known as Dick, when he had just gotten out of the Navy. The day they met, Dick came to pick up one of Catherine’s five roommates she used to house with. However, Dick quickly noticed he had the wrong gal, and six months later he and Catherine started their 52 ½ years of married life together.
While Catherine’s husband finished up his college degree and was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the Army, Catherine taught school in the Bay Area. During these years together, Catherine and Dick were blessed with three beautiful daughters. Two presently live in California, and one in Asheville. They in turn have given them four grandchildren, ranging in ages from 3rd grade to high school senior.
Like many military wives both past and present, Catherine embraced this new life and enjoyed the numerous duty stations of the Army. They included: New Jersey, Kansas, Germany, Arizona, Virginia (twice), Georgia, South Korea, two tours in California while Dick served in Vietnam, North Carolina (four times), and settling here upon Dick’s retirement after 31 years of military service. Thank you both for your service to our country.
Not only did she follow Dick through all the incredibly numerous PCS’s, Catherine managed to transition the family and continue teaching. She taught in several of the school systems she encountered, to include DOD schools in Germany and Seoul International School in Korea. Catherine ended her career at Fayetteville Academy as the Lower School Librarian teaching instruction or story time for grades Pre-K thru 5th grade for 12 years. However, when called, Catherine continues to substitute teach.
She joined the FRWC in December of 1999 when the club, for those who remember, use to meet at the Prince Charles Hotel. As many of us know, she has held various positions: Volunteer Hours, Awards Committee, and Treasurer for four years, Vice President, and presently Assistant Treasurer. She was also treasurer of the County GOP for three years, and Secretary of the Cumberland County Republican Men’s Club for two years. If that weren’t enough, Catherine is also a member at large of the North Carolina GOP Executive Committee from the 8th District and currently finishing her 2nd term as Assistant Treasurer for the NCFRW.
Catherine is also an active member of her church, St James Lutheran here in Fayetteville, the Ladies of Military Officers of America organization, and as a volunteer with Friends of the Library. She does, however, manage to find time for herself and enjoys reading, bird watching, baking, and walking at the Health Plex every day.
As is Catherine’s way, she is greatly honored for this recognition. Yet, what an inspiration in activism and humble stewardship she is for many of us. We are certainly fortunate to have her as a member of the FRWC and thank her for ‘jobs’ well done.
Answers to Quiz
1. b
2.c
3.c
4. a (from the first Women's Rights Convention in 1848 to 1920)
5. d
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. d (New Zealand (1893), Australia (1902), Finland (1906), Norway (1913), Denmark (1915), USSR (1917), Canada (1918), Germany (1918), Poland (1918), Austria (1919), Belgium (1919), Great Britain (1919), Ireland (1919), Luxembourg (1919), the Netherlands (1919), Sweden (1919)
10. c (1893)
2.c
3.c
4. a (from the first Women's Rights Convention in 1848 to 1920)
5. d
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. d (New Zealand (1893), Australia (1902), Finland (1906), Norway (1913), Denmark (1915), USSR (1917), Canada (1918), Germany (1918), Poland (1918), Austria (1919), Belgium (1919), Great Britain (1919), Ireland (1919), Luxembourg (1919), the Netherlands (1919), Sweden (1919)
10. c (1893)
President’s Message:
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Please remember to take time out to join us over the summer for our luncheons. Before we know it, 2012 will be here.
If you have not checked out our new website, please take a moment to check out the website at fayettevilleRWC.blogspot.com. Heidi Dagg continues to update it and it looks AWESOME!!!
If you missed our last luncheon, you may not know we will be conducting a fundraiser in October. Virginia Kidd is the chairman for this fundraiser. She still needs a few more ladies to help. Ginny has several people already who have stepped up and if you are one of those ladies, I want to say thanks in advance.
Catina Hockenberry, President, FRWC
July Luncheon
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, 14 July at Belmont Village. The meeting officially begins at 12 pm. Cost is $15 for lunch and $2 reserved seating charge for those who will not be eating. Reservations for those eating are a MUST. Each member will be responsible to pay for their lunch if they fail to show after making a reservation.
Book Club
The book club will not be meeting over the summer and will resume in the fall.
CCRWC
CCRWC meeting is on the 12th of July at 6:30 at the Highland Country Club. Dinner is $22.00 (dessert $5.00 and seat only $3.00). The speaker for July is Frankie McRae, who is a retired Special Forces Master Sgt. and the Owner of Raidon Tactics Inc. and 37 PSR Gun Club. For information email President Staci Chiomento (schiomento@hotmail.com)
Bylaws
During our July luncheon, we will be voting to approve the amended bylaws that were presented to members at our May luncheon. They were mailed or emailed to those members not in attendance. If you have not reviewed those changes yet, please do so prior to our luncheon.
Bunco
Ladies, mark your calendar for our next Bunco on Thursday 25 August at 7pm. It will be held at Catherine Earle’s house There are 20 slots, please email Judy if you plan on attending at judygeneser@hotmail.com.
Politics in the Park
On Saturday, October 22nd, the FRWC will hold a fundraiser, "Politics in the Park", at Mazarick Park. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend with family and friends. There will be great speakers and guests, some entertainment, and a silent auction. Anyone interested in helping in the planning or on the day of the event, please contact Virginia Kidd at 910-527-5632 or mgkidd@aol.com.
Caring for America
The Jubilee House is in need for more paper products. For those who would like to help, please bring some paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, etc) to our luncheon in July.
History of the 4th of July
Variously known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
Independence Day Quiz
1. Who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner?
a. John Philip Sousa
b. Francis Scott Key
c. Katharine Lee Bates
d. Samuel Francis Smith
2. Which of the following European powers did not fight on the side of the colonists in the Revolutionary War?
a. Spain
b. France
c. The Netherlands
d. Germany
3. What happened on July 4, 1776?
a. The first battle of the Revolutionary War was fought
b. The Second Continental Congress declared independence from Britain
c. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress
d. The Declaration of Independence was signed
4. Which of the following was not one of the thirteen original colonies?
a. Georgia
b. Vermont
c. Virginia
d. Massachusetts
5. The "midnight ride" of which American patriot was later immortalized by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
a. John Hancock
b.Samuel Adams
c.Joseph Warren
d.Paul Revere
6. In 1773, which of the following was thrown into Boston Harbor as a protest against taxes?
a. coffee
b. tea
c. tobacco
d. cotton
7. Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?
a. Benjamin Franklin
b. George Washington
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. John Adams
8. The Second Continental Congress met in which city to draft The Declaration of Independence?
a. Boston, MA
b. New York, NY
c. Baltimore, MD
d. Philadelphia, PA
9. Which of the following did not sign the Declaration of Independence?
a. Samuel Adams
b. Benjamin Franklin
c. John Hancock
d. George Washington
10. After losing New York City to the British, which river did George Washington and his men cross on Christmas Day in 1776 in a prelude to a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison?
a. Hudson River
b. Potomac River
c. Connecticut River
d. Delaware River
Legislative Report
By Heidi Dagg
Republicans saw many victories last month!
This month we celebrate the 4th of July, our Nation’s momentous victory in its fight for national and individual liberty. There is nothing like reviewing our past victories to lift our spirits and encourage us to keep up the fight. Here are a few of our most recent victories:
National Debt Ceiling- On May 31st the House of Representatives voted 318 to 97 against the President’s request to raise the debt ceiling (HR 1954) from $14.294 trillion to $16.7 trillion. Remember to thank all of our representatives who voted against this disastrous proposal, including four Democratic representatives: G.K Butterfield (D-1st), Renee Ellmers (R-2nd), Walter B. Jones (R-3rd), Virginia Foxx (R-5th), Howard Coble (R-6th), Mike McIntyre (D-7th), Larry Kissell (D-8th), Patrick T. McHenry (R-10th), and Heath Shuler (D-11th).
Both Republicans and Democrats alike are seeing the logic of spending less and getting our nation out of debt. The Heritage Foundation recently published the annual Economic Freedom Index, which uses 10 benchmarks to gauge the economic success of 183 countries around the world. This year the United States fell to 9th place, losing points in four of the 10 benchmarks, with the greatest decline resulting from the explosive growth in government spending. This vote will hopefully be the first of many decisions by our government to do what is responsible instead of easy.
NC Budget- On June 4th the NC House passed the Senate’s budget with a veto proof majority in a vote of 73 to 45. Some of the features of the budget are that it fully funds teachers and teacher’s assistant positions, preserves the NC Community Colleges and Universities, cuts one-third of the Department of Public Instruction (education bureaucracy), cuts $1.5 billion in taxes, cuts an overall $1 billion of wasteful spending in the budget, and defunds Planned Parenthood. Perdue argued that Republicans were just “pretending to protect education” and that our legislature was “turning its back on our schools, our children, and our longstanding investments in education and our future economic prospects.” She followed through by vetoing the bill on June 12th. Apparently it is not just Republicans who favored the bill, because five
Democrats came through to help override the Governor’s veto on June 15th.
Woman’s Right to Know- The Woman’s Right to Know bill (HB 854) passed the NC House in a vote of 71 to 48 on June 8th. It has also passed the NC Senate on June 15th in a vote of 29 to 20. This important bill requires a 24-hour-waiting period and a physician to provide information and an ultrasound before a woman can get an abortion. Currently it is being considered by our governor. If she decides to veto the bill, it will be interesting to hear what her reasoning is. If you would like to contact Governor Perdue and urge her to sign the bill you can call her: (800) 662-7952, or email her: governor.office@nc.gov.
Charter Schools- Both the NC House and Senate voted in favor to eliminate the cap on charter schools on June 9th, and was signed by the governor on June 17th. The current version of the bill is more streamlined and eliminates some of the provisions in the previous version of the bill.
Gun-Rights- Governor Perdue has signed a bill (HB650) which gives citizens more "legal standing to protect themselves against unlawful entry into their homes, workplaces and vehicles," effective on December 1, 2011.
Key Legislation Still in Process
Voter ID- On June 16th NC House members voted 62 to 51 in favor of Voter Photo ID (HB 351) that would require voters to present a photo ID at the polls. It was sent to the governor on June 17th, and she vetoed it on June 23rd, despite the state-wide support of the bill from the public.
Various NC polling on voter ID has ranged from a 70% to 84% approving of the legislation and most people do not see the legislation as racist in nature, but rather “a deterrent to those who attempt to vote more than once, or who are not the person they purport to be” (Elon University polling in April 2011).
Governor Perdue’s reasoning for her veto is that the legislation would be an obstacle to voters exercising their right to vote. However, Republican leadership believes she is looking to score political points with the liberals. The House will seek to override Governor Perdue's veto of the Voter ID bill, during its July special session. Keep putting the pressure on Perdue and tell her not to jeopardize the approval of 75% of North Carolinians! Call her today (800) 662-7952.
Renewed Members
Mary Lewis
Rita Holshouser
Carol Ivey
New / Renewed Associate Members
Ed Williams
Patsy Politowicz.
Members in the Spotlight
By Sherry Grant
1st Vice President
This month we will spotlight Heidi Dagg, one of our newest and very active members!
Heidi was born in Katy, Texas, the oldest of five children. Her family moved to California when she was two and then to the Portland, Oregon when she was five. Heidi lived in Oregon until she married her husband, Alec Dagg and moved to N.C.
Heidi was homeschooled until she was a sophomore and was then enrolled in a private Christian school. Heidi has gone on to receive an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from the College of the Siskiyou in northern California and a Bachelors degree in International Relations from Houghton College in New York. Heidi’s original major was Equestrian studies!
Heidi’s career pursuits include the administrative assistant to the City Manager in Sherwood, Oregon as well as a stint with the Parks and Utilities Department. She interned in D.C. with the Heritage Foundation and also with the Leadership Institute. Her most current career change is as a full time wife and mother to her husband, Alec and son, Jack who was born this past November.
Heidi met Alec during her last semester of college. Their first date was to the ROTC ball. They married in July of 2009. Alec is actively serving in our military.
Heidi’s hobbies include cooking and riding horses. She also runs and enjoys local 5 and 10ks as well as hiking. Heidi found the FRWC through volunteering at the Victory office. She appreciates and enjoys the value the FRWC puts on family, children and faith. She states that she feels very welcome to bring Jack to any event and this is unusually wonderful based on her past experience with clubs in Oregon. Her biggest motivator for staying involved in politics is family and marriage issues. Her dream is to travel to Switzerland one day as Heidi is also part Swiss!
Heidi has been writing our legislative articles for the past six months. She is also our new webmaster and is doing outstanding work! Heidi volunteered for these projects before she had been part of the FRWC for a full year. Heidi first came to the FRWC through our book club and continues to actively attend these meetings as well as our luncheons and board meetings. Heidi is a warm and exceptional young woman with an unlimited amount of talent. We are so excited and blessed to have Heidi on our team!
Answers to Independence Quiz
1. Francis Scott Key
2. Germany
3. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress
4. Vermont
5. Paul Revere
6. Tea
7. Thomas Jefferson
8. Philadelphia, PA
9. George Washington
10. Delaware River
www.townhall.com by Bob Gorrell
President’s Message:
As summer approaches and we take our family vacations, please remember to set time aside for our monthly luncheons. We have several great speakers lined up over the summer to help keep us both motivated and informed.
I would like to thank two members this month who have been a great help to our club. First, I would like to thank Eleanor McGinnis for interviewing Denise Dutcher and writing our spotlight on member’s article for June. I would like to thank Heidi Dagg for volunteering to maintain and update our website. In a very short time, Heidi has made some significant changes on our website. Please take a moment to check out the website at fayettevilleRWC.blogspot.com.
Catina Hockenberry, President, FRWC
June Luncheon
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, 9 June at Belmont Village. The meeting officially begins at 12 pm. Cost is $15 for lunch and $2 reserved seating charge for those who will not be eating. Reservations for those eating are a MUST. Each member will be responsible to pay for their lunch if they fail to show after making a reservation. Hold onto your hats and your seats, FRWC! Dave Taylor will be our speaker on June 9th and this is not a meeting to miss. Dave is an on-air personality at WFNC and he is a dedicated conservative and an unforgettable speaker. He manages to entertain, energize, educate, and electrify all at the same time. Several years ago the FRWC had Dave as a speaker and those who were lucky enough to be present still talk about his visit--and are anxious to see him again. BE THERE!
Book Club
The book club will not be meeting over the summer and will resume in the fall.
CCRWC
CCRWC meeting is on the 14th of June at 6:30 at the Highland Country Club. Dinner is $22.00 (dessert $5.00 and seat only $3.00). The speaker for June will be Fayetteville City Councilman Jim Arp. For information email President Staci Chiomento (schiomento@hotmail.com)
Cumberland County Republican
Men's Club
The Cumberland County Republican Men's Club will be meeting on Tuesday, 21 June at 6:00 pm, pay as you go menu. The meeting will start at 7:00 pm. The guest speakers are Dan Forest, candidate for Lt Governor and Don Talbot, representing veterans and Freedom Park.
Legislative Report
By Heidi Dagg
US Congress
Gas Prices and Energy Policies - With high gas prices that everyone is currently facing, it comes as no surprise that on May 11th the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 1229 “Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act” in a vote of 263-163. Republicans were unanimous in their vote with 28 Democrats joining them. This bill is meant to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration, and requires that the Interior Department act within 60 days on offshore drilling permit applications. Another victory was the passing of HR 1231 “Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act” which passed 243 to 179 on May 12th. This act would have restricted offshore drilling permits in the Outer Continental Shelf areas known to contain the most oil and gas. Specifically, that means southern California, the Arctic, mid-Atlantic and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
The Senate has been dealing with energy legislation as well. On May 17th the Senate rejected a motion to proceed on the consideration of S. 940 “A bill to reduce the Federal budget deficit by closing big oil tax loopholes, and for other purposes.” This was a test vote promised by Senate Democrats and was defeated 52 to 48 with three Democrats voting with Republicans against the bill. This bill would have raised taxes on big oil companies which in turn would trickle down to consumers and raise the gas price for them as well.
It is noteworthy that so many Democrats have voted with Republicans on this issue. Apparently everyone is feeling the strain of high gas prices, regardless of political party affiliation. While the Obama Administration has focused on limiting offshore drilling permits and gaining federal revenue through taxation, Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL) explains the benefits of the Republicans approach: "What we're proposing is to lower gas prices, create American jobs, which ironically will help drive up government revenues, and ultimately, in the wake of all the turmoil we've seen in the world, create an environment in which we are energy independent or on a path to energy independence".
Debt Ceiling - As of now the debt ceiling stands at $14.294 trillion, and the Treasury continues to borrow at a growth rate of $125 billion per month. It is estimated that the Obama administration has until August 2nd to take action, but so far negotiations are still underway between the Democrats and Republicans.
Right to Life - Lately there has been legislation at both the national and state level regarding the abortion issue. On May 4th the House of Representatives passed HR 3 “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” in a vote of 251 to 175, with 16 Democrats joining a Republican majority on the vote. The bill now heads to the Senate. In the North Carolina General Assembly, a bill entitled “Abortion-Women’s Right to Know Act” has been filed and is ready to be presented to the full house. This bill would require a 24-hour waiting period and the informed consent of a woman before she has an abortion. There are several ways to be active in this issue. First is to contact your representatives, and ask them to take a stand again abortion—remember that not all Democrats are pro-choice! The other way is to get involved here in Fayetteville with the local chapter of Right to Life. Contact them at (910) 425-5849.
Voter ID - Despite the many victories for the Voter ID bill, the battle is not won. Right now the ID bill is sitting in the Appropriations Committee waiting for funding, and a new version of the bill, Senate Bill 595, has been created and submitted to the Senate committee. This bill requires a driver’s license or other evidence of a photo ID to vote in order to avoid fraud. Meanwhile Governor Perdue is threatening to veto the legislation altogether. If that happens we will need at least four Democrats in the House to override her veto. Polls show that 84 percent of North Carolinians are in favor of Voter ID, and it would send an effective message to our Governor if that 84 percent contacted her and told her Voter ID is the people’s choice! Contact her today at governor.office@nc.gov, or call her at (800) 662-7952.
Know Your Representatives!
Right now our state of North Carolina has both a Democratic and Republican Senator, and while their party affiliation gives us a good idea of what they stand for, an even better gauge is their voting record. A very convenient way to look at this is by using the web site Ontheissues.org. It allows you to select an individual politician and will give you their voting record on a range of key issues. Even more convenient is the political philosophy graph included with each politician’s voter profile. To see the record for our Senators, go to the following links:
Senator Richard Burr:
Senator Kay Hagan:
Renewed Members
Rita Breeden (renewed in April) Dora Hettlinger
New Members
Gloria Wilson - lives in Fayetteville, is a retired medical secretary, and heard about FRWC when she worked on Bush's 2004 campaign.
New Associate Members
Cori Horton - lives in Fayetteville, is a student, and heard about the club from her mom, Angela Meredith.
Staci Chiomento - lives in Fayetteville, she is employed, and heard about the club through CCRWC of which she is the president.
Members in the Spotlight
By Eleanor McGinnis
FRWC Historian
This month we are recognizing Denise Dutcher:
Denise was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but at one year of age, she and her parents relocated to the land of their birth, Puerto Rico. They maintained their residence on that beautiful island in the
Northeastern Caribbean Sea until Denise was seven years of age. At that time, in 1965, the family moved to Fayetteville, NC, and Denise has lived in our fair city since that year.
Denise attended Pine Forest High School, and graduated from Methodist College with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education. She taught for a total of 22 years at various schools in our area including: Saint Ann’s Catholic School; Southview JR. High school; and New Hope Christian School.
In 1998, Denise started her own school, Victoria’s Academy, located at that time on Country Club Drive. She had a maximum enrollment of twelve children in grades 4 through 12 using an independent study system known as the “pace program.” In 2006, after eight years at Victoria’s Academy, Denise decided to end her teaching career to pursue other interests.
Denise met her husband, Darryl, in 1979, at the former “skyline” restaurant located in the old Wachovia building. Since Denise never makes any “spur of the moment” decisions, it took her until
1988 to finally accept his proposal of marriage. They will celebrate their 23rd anniversary on June 25, 2011. She and Darryl are avid bowlers and have been members of various leagues. They also enjoy Myrtle Beach, SC. and spend numerous weekends there enjoying many of its various venues.
Presently, Denise describes herself as “a child of Jesus Christ.” She is a member of the “River Community Church;” she is the current chaplain for our club, FRWC; she is vice president of the Fayetteville Fairfield Farms home owner’s association, and also is a member of the neighborhood bible study group. She belongs to the bible study fellowship group at Village Baptist Church. Denise strongly advocates the beliefs of her Christian faith and those of the Republican Party that mirror her values and way of life.
She exemplifies – by continuous examples – her faith and trust in the lord to whom she gives thanks and praise for the many gifts in her life.
www.townhall.com by Nate Beeler
www.townhall.com by Mike Lester
May Newsletter
President’s Message:
During the month of May, there are a few days set aside to recognize GREAT people.
First, Mother’s day is set aside to thank all mothers for their unconditional love and support. A mother’s job is often a thankless one.
Secondly, there is Memorial Day. This day is set aside to celebrate and thank all those service men and women who gave the most….their lives for the freedom we so often take for granted. Take time to remember those loved ones who sacrificed so much.
Thirdly, is Military Spouses Day and is held on the Friday before Mother’s Day. This day was created by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. It was set aside to recognize and honor the real backbone of the military: the spouses of our soldiers. Most people who are not familiar with the military, have no idea what a military spouse goes through. With numerous back to back deployments these days, it makes it even more difficult and stressful for our military spouses. They have to not only deal with the absence of their loved one, but manage everything alone. Please thank all those military spouses that support our country by supporting their “soldier”.
Lastly, Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May. This day is set aside to salute all those men and women who protect our country. They can be called upon at a moment’s notice to put their lives on the line for our freedom. If you come across someone who wears the uniform, please extend your gratitude for their continued service to our country.
Catina Hockenberry, President, FRWC
2011 Membership Dues
We are taking club dues for 2011. Dues are $30 for full members and $20 for associate members.
May Luncheon
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 May at Belmont Village. The meeting officially begins at 12 pm. Cost is $15 for lunch and $2 reserved seating charge for those who will not be eating. Reservations for those eating are a MUST. Each member will be responsible to pay for their lunch if they fail to show after making a reservation. Our speaker is a very special repeat guest, Ilario Pantano, who is a Republican candidate for the 7th District Congressional Seat. He literally lights up a room when he speaks and manages to be informative, motivational, humorous and moving all at the same time! Many of our members worked tirelessly for him in his close loss to a 16 year Democrat incumbent. In 2012, when Pantano replaces this Dem.--he will be the first Republican to hold this seat in over 100 years. You will be moved and motivated--we promise! Bring your friends, neighbors and family--we really want a FULL HOUSE to hear Ilario speak.
Book Club
Our next book club meeting will be May 5th, Thursday at The Coffee Scene on Morganton Road from 12:00-1:30 p.m. We will finish our discussion of Dinesh D’Souza’s, The Roots of Obama’s Rage after some review of current events. We will briefly begin an overview of our new book Escape to Haven by Robert Gable at the end of the meeting.
We are so excited to announce that Mr. Gable has agreed to meet with our book club on June 2 as we finish and complete Escape to Haven! This book may be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and most of the regular venues. You may purchase it on Mr. Gable’s site www.robertgable.net. You may also download a free abridged copy of the audio book on this site. It takes four CD’s. There is a sequel to the first book and it is called Haven and the Circle of Darkness.
Mr. Gable will be on post April 29 and April 30 for book signings. At the time of our communication he was unsure as to which PX he would be conducting the signing. He will have an additional book signing on May 7th at Books-A-Million from 12-6 p.m. We are looking forward to his visit!
June 2 will be our last book club meeting until September. We will break for July and August to allow for summer vacation and time off.
We hope you will join us! The Coffee Scene also appreciates a purchase of a snack or drink while we enjoy our meeting.
Above: Picture taken at a recent book club meeting.
CCRWC
The Cumberland County Republican Women's Club will meet at the Highland Country Club on Tuesday May 10th at 6:00. The guest speaker will be Dan Forest who is an announced republican candidate for Lt. Governor of NC in 2012. Dinner is $22, for only dessert and drink $5.25, and a seat is $3. For reservations, email Sue Dennis at Sue3315@aol.com.
Legislative Opportunity
The RED COATS are coming. NCFRW Legislative Day is scheduled for May 17, 2011 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Joyce Krawiec has arranged the following schedule:
10:00 am - Meet in the Legislative Building lobby, 16 West Jones St , Raleigh .
10:30 am-Attend the Marriage Rally at Halifax Mall, behind the Legislative Building.
The keynote speaker is Dr. David Gibbs Jr., founder of the Christian Law Association and host of”The Legal Alert."
12:00- 2:00 pm - Lunch, meet with legislators, and present "Marriage Amendment" petitions in the Legislative Building auditorium.
Lunch is $10 and reservations are needed by Wednesday, May 11th. If you are interested in attending this event and getting involved please contact Sherry Grant, grantk2@embarqmail.com. She will keep a running list of names of those who wish to attend and connect everyone for travel purposes as the day draws closer.
Tornado Report
The tornadoes that devastated parts of Cumberland County on Saturday, April 16th directly and greatly affected two of our members. Both Grace McGrath and Eleanor McGinnis suffered extreme damage to their homes and neighborhoods. Many of our members reached out to these women personally, and will continue to offer help and moral support until both of their lives have returned to normal. Please keep both Grace and Eleanor in your prayers, as well as all of our members who suffered less serious loss and damage from these storms.
Memorial Day Quiz
Test your knowledge. Answers are on the last page.
1. Memorial Day was founded to honor military personnel who died in:
a. The Revolutionary War
b. The Civil War
c. The Spanish-American War
d. World War I
e. World War II
2. Which community was proclaimed in 1966 by the U.S. government as the birthplace of Memorial Day?
a. Springfield, Pennsylvania
b. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
c. Arlington, Virginia
d. Waterloo, New York
e. Bunker Hill, Massachusetts
3. On what date was Memorial Day first observed?
a. May 30th, 1856
b. May 5th, 1866
c. May 25th, 1889
d. May 29th, 1901
e. May 15th, 1919
4. Memorial Day originated with another name. What was it?
a. Honor Day
b. Old Soldier’s Day
c. Decoration Day
d. Remembrance Day
e. Bravery Day
5. Since the end of World War I, Memorial Day is also called which of the following?
a. Poppy Day
b. War Heroes’ Day
c. Armed Forces Day
d. Military Day
e. Old Soldiers’ Day
6. Memorial Day is different in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, and Tennessee. How?
a. These states celebrate Memorial Day on Jefferson Davis' birthday
b. Instead of a somber, solemn observance, these states celebrate the memory of the fallen with gala festivals
c. Memorial Day in these states excludes the Union dead in the Civil War
d. These states choose to honor Confederate dead in the Civil War on a separate day
e. In these states, the Confederate flag is flown alongside the American flag
7. In which war did the most U.S. service people die?
a. The Revolutionary War
b. The Civil War
c. World War I
d. World War II
e. The Vietnam War
8. Which war had the highest percentage of U.S. casualties based on the number of troops served?
a. The Revolutionary War
b. The Civil War
c. World War I
d. World War II
e. The Vietnam War
9. According to the Department of Defense, how many U.S. service men and women have died in battle in all wars in which the U.S. was involved?
a. 186,203
b. 575,377
c. 923,846
d. About 1.4 million
e. They don't even estimate
Legislative Report
By Heidi Dagg
The Budget and Debt Ceiling
The threat of government shutdown had many people holding their breath as the House and Senate debated on Friday, April 8th over the budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. At 12:40 am on April 9th the House voted 348 to 70 on a motion to “Concur in the Senate Amendment” which allowed funding through the remainder of the fiscal year. A huge victory for Speaker Boehner is the $38.5 billion in spending cuts including cutbacks to the Environmental Protection Agency ($1.6 billion), and a high-speed rail program ($2.9 billion). Originally the House had intended to make cuts on Planned Parenthood as well, but the Democrats managed to protect it during the negotiations.
Now Congress is working on the 2012 budget and must tackle the out of control debt that is predicted to hit the current $14.3 trillion debt limit by mid May of this year. The House passed a Concurrent Resolution (H Con Res 34) to establish the 2012 budget in a vote 235 to 193 (all Democrats voted against the bill). This legislation is based on a proposal from Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) who has devised a plan to cut spending by $5.8 trillion over the next 10 years while also attempting to decrease the current US debt.
Democrats have their own proposal for the 2012 budget. President Obama has devised a plan which relies on raising taxes on the wealthiest 2%. Democrats are also counting on being able to raise the debt ceiling, which would eliminate the need to seriously cut spending in the upcoming budget. However, a recent tally by the National Journal found that at least 50 Senators are against raising the debt ceiling unless it is tied to deficit-reduction measures. The Democrats are afraid that not raising the debt ceiling would have catastrophic results, but Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) counters: “What is catastrophic is continuing to spend money that we don’t have on things we don’t absolutely need.” The Concurrent Resolution is now scheduled to go to the Senate where it is expected to be defeated by the Democrats.
The first week of May is a great time to contact your Senators about the 2012 budget because they will just be returning from recess. It is important to let them know that they need to make budget cuts and to stop spending money that neither the government has nor us tax payers have to give them. If they raise the debt ceiling, they are only delaying what our future generations will eventually have to face. You can contact Senator Burr at (202) 224-3154 and Senator Hagan at (202) 224-6342
North Carolina General Assembly
Voter ID
The Voter ID Bill was approved in the Elections Committee on April 6th in a vote of 18 to 14. The next step for the bill is to go to the Appropriations Committee since the bill includes $600,000 in funding for public information purposes. One of the main opponents to the Voter ID Bill is the Black Caucus. Democratic Senator and Chairman to the Black Caucus Floyd McKissick has stated, “Any obstacle to the polls we think is unjustified.” Yet, the majority of NC residents want this legislation to pass and have made sure that their voice is louder than single interest groups such as these. Now that is what grassroots activism should look like!
Redistricting
Keep watching as the NC General Assembly works on redistricting our state. Right now they have formed a Senate Redistricting Committee, and a bill (H824) has been introduced that will be modeled after an Iowa bill. The proposed bill has support from both the conservative John Locke Foundation and the liberal AFL-CIO. You can read a copy of the bill at the NC General Assembly’s web site: www.ncga.state.nc.us.
Charter Schools
Our new Republican majority in the NC General Assembly continues to make headway—despite our Governor’s continued barrage of vetoes. On April 11th the NC House passed Senate Bill 8, “An Act to Remove the Cap on the Number of Charter Schools” in a vote of 68 to 58. Now up to 50 chartered schools can be added to our state each year. This legislation is just another step toward giving parents more input in their children’s education.
Renewed Members
Heather Harrison (Associate) Zan Bunn (Associate)
New Members
Debbie Fisher
Answers to Quiz
1. The Civil War
2. Waterloo, New York
3. May 5th, 1866
4. Decoration Day
5. Poppy Day
6. These states choose to honor Confederate dead in the Civil War on a separate day
7. World War II
8. The Civil War
9. 575,377
www.townhall.com by Michael Ramirez
www.townhall.com by Bob Gorrell
==============================
FRWC APRIL NEWSLETTER
President’s Message:
This month I would like to reflect on “selfless service”. I would like to thank Suzanne Rucker for her selfless service on behalf of our party. At the same time, I want to thank Heather Harrison in advance for be willing to step up and do the same.
Looking at these two ladies, we should ask our self, how someone would rate “our” selfless service. Are we doing everything we can do to allow us to be the strongest club ready and prepared to make a difference in 2012? Have you invited a friend, colleague or neighbor? Have you discussed with friends what is going on and how they can make a difference by getting plugged in? These are just a few ways, YOU can make a difference for 2012.
Catina Hockenberry, President, FRWC
2011 Membership Dues
We are taking club dues for 2011. Dues are $30 for full members and $20 for associate members.
April Luncheon
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, 14 April at Belmont Village. The meeting officially begins at 12 pm. Cost is $15 for lunch and $2 reserved seating charge for those who will not be eating. Reservations for those eating are a MUST.
Each member will be responsible to pay for their lunch if they fail to show after making a reservation. Hold onto your hats, ladies! The speaker for the April meeting is pretty incredible! I believe most of us know, respect and revere the Heritage Foundation. It is the most prominent Conservative public policy research organization (or "think tank") in all of the US. They "draw solutions to contemporary problems from the ideas,
principles and traditions that make America great". They believe in "individual liberty, free enterprise, limited government, a strong national defense, and traditional American values". This wonderful, bedrock organization has very recently decided that North Carolina should have a Representative right here in Raleigh! (As you have probably guessed...) Our speaker for April is the Heritage Action for America NC State Director. Her name is Jessica Anderson, and I do believe the FRWC is the first organization in Fayetteville at which she has appeared--lucky us! She may live in Raleigh--but is tied to Fayetteville in a way which is familiar to many of us, her husband is on active duty in the US Army stationed at Ft. Bragg. We need to all be at
this meeting to hear Mrs. Anderson speak. Her topics will include a recap of what the Heritage Foundation is and does and what she will do for us here in NC. She will also share some pertinent data from the Foundation with us. Let's pick her brain to arm ourselves with facts and figures to win those discussions with our "opposition"! And let's show her the FRWC is very appreciative of the Heritage Foundation and grateful to have Mrs. Anderson here in our state!
Book Club
Come join us on 7 April from 12 to 1:30 P.M. at the Coffee Scene. We will be discussing The Roots of Obama’s Rage by Dinesh D’Souza. We look forward to a rich discussion! We also take the opportunity to talk 'inside politics' on current events before discussing the book. The newest book can be purchased from Barnes and Noble & B&N online (cheaper) as well as in the store. Amazon also has gently used books in good condition available for as low as $11.00 and up in hardcover! Paperbacks in this book are not yet available. The Coffee Scene hopes you will purchase a coffee and/or dessert while visiting their establishment. For more information, please contact Sherry Grant at grantk2@embarqmail.com.
Caring For America Project
This month we will be collecting household paper products to donate to Jubilee House. Please remember to bring an item with you to the April meeting to donate. We will be collecting them at that time and delivering them afterwards. Suggested items are: paper towels, paper napkins, toilet paper, and facial tissue. Let's all contribute something and support Jubilee House!
Cumberland County Republican Women's Club
The Cumberland County Republican Women's Club will meet at the Highland Country Club on Tuesday April 12th at 6:00. The guest speaker will be 7th District GOP Frank Williams. Dinner is $22, for only dessert and drink $5.25, and a seat is $3. For reservations, email Sue Dennis at Sue3315@aol.com.
Duck Derby
There will be a Duck Derby on May 7th at Campbelton Landing. The ducks will be thrown in the water with codes on their feet indicating their owners. You can buy a duck beforehand or multiple ducks. You buy the ducks and indicate what non profit you would like the money to go towards. For more information, please see Linda McAllister.
ACT! For America
Maureen Yearby will be starting the Fayetteville Chapter of ACT! For America! They will show a video on April 19th at 7 p.m. in the Pate Room of the HQ library. Nationally recognized Brigitte Gabriel will be making a trip to Fayetteville in the near future. She has been on Fox with Hannity and many more shows. She is Lebanese and started ACT! For America after suffering through terrorism. Their contact info locally will be: actforfayetteville@yahoo.com.
Political Outings
If any members attend any political events in association with the FRWC, please take photos on behalf of the FRWC. This will allow us to capture more events for our scrapbook.
Legislative Day
We will hold a legislative day on Monday, April 11, 2011. The club plans to attend the Fayetteville City Council Meeting which begins at 7 p.m. We will obtain the agenda beforehand. If you wish to attend, I will be the point of contact. Please email me at grantk2@embarqmail.com and I will keep a running list of attendees.
One meeting each month allows for a public forum and this meeting is one. There are rules for speaking at a forum. If anyone wishes to address an issue with city council, please let me know beforehand as I must register us as speaking and list our issue. They will need to include us on the agenda as well which is usually available the Friday before the Monday meeting. During public forum we do not respond to issues, but present our issue to the council.
Some of the goals they have listed for 2011-2012 are: Greater Tax base diversity, more efficient government, Growing city, Livable neighborhoods, more attractive city, Greater community unity and a revitalized downtown.
Again, email me if you are interested in attending and PLEASE let me know ASAP if you would like to address the city council with an issue.
Sherry Grant
1st Vice President/ Legislative Committee /FRWC
Parking is available on the street, behind City Hall and in the Amtrak lot. http://www.cityoffayetteville.org/
U.S. Citizenship Test
Test your knowledge. Answers are on the last page.
1. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution?
2. How many amendments does the constitution have?
3. What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?
4. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the U.S?
5. What is the rule of law?
6. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
7. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. Name at least two powers of the federal government?
8. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
9. When was the Constitution written?
10. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
11. Who was President during World War I?
12. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
Legislative Report
By Heidi Dagg
Budget for the 2011 Fiscal Year
US Congress:
On March 17th the US Senate passed the Continuing Resolution to extend the funding of the government for three more weeks (to April 8th), in a vote of 87 to 13. The House passed the CR two days earlier 271 to 158. Unlike the previous CR, this one has no riders such as cutting Planned Parenthood funding’s or defunding Obamacare. Despite conservative organizations urging Republicans to vote against the CR, both NC Senators Burr and Hagan voted for the bill. This fiscal year we have seen our nation’s largest deficit at $1.65 trillion. Remember to contact your representatives and urge them to be fiscally responsible, starting with a no-nonsense budget and a plan to get us out of debt!
NC General Assembly:
The North Carolina General Assembly has also been working on a balanced budget. On March 9th the Senate voted to override Governor Perdue’s veto of SB 13, the “Balanced Budget Act of 2011.” This bill gives Perdue the authority to reduce the current year’s spending by $400 million and to divert funds from business incentive programs in order to reduce the estimated $2.4 billion deficit. The House has yet to vote to override the governor’s veto. Contact your NC House members and ask them to vote to override the governor’s veto. Perdue needs to know that North Carolina citizens do not except irresponsible management of their tax dollars!
Voter ID:
On March 15th the North Carolina General Assembly’s House Elections Committee held a meeting to discuss Voter ID legislation for North Carolina. The bill would require voters to show a valid photo ID card; for example, a NC driver’s license, a special ID card for non-operators, a US passport, a military ID card, a valid employee ID card issued by a branch of the US Government, or a valid NC voter ID card. The vote for the bill was expected to be on March 15th, but was delayed for a week, and the outcome will not be known until this article is published. A recent poll has shown that 84% of North Carolinians favor this legislation. Part of the reason this legislation is so important is that it protects against voter fraud and helps guarantee that voters are valid US citizens. Keep tracking with local NC news to see how our legislators vote.
Health Care:
Our Republican representatives are still exploring their options to end the healthcare bill that has been imposed by the Obama administration. Currently Governor Perdue has vetoed HB2 “Protect Health Care Freedom,” but NC House Representatives are working on a vote to override the veto. The latest concern which will be of interest to our national representatives has been brought up in an article published by The Heritage Foundation which explains both a possible road block to defunding the healthcare bill, and how to get around it. What most people do not realize is that the healthcare bill already has its bases covered financially. The article explains that buried within Obamacare is a $105 billion slush fund that assures its implementation. Heritage Fellow Ernest Istook explains, “Making year’s worth of spending decisions in advance is an attempt to handcuff the current Congress and prevent it from determining current levels of spending…” The solution is for our legislature to go through each page of the bill and cut spending from every program one by one.
Myrick Confronts Home-Grown Terrorism
By Heidi Dagg
Those of us who live in Fayetteville are all too familiar with our military community among us. In fact, many of us are here because we are part of the military, which is why the recent report presented by Senators Joe Lieberman (I- Connecticut) and Susan Collins (R- Main) in February of this year will be of interest. The report presents evidence that the shootings at Fort Hood by Major Hasan in November 2009 could have been prevented.
Specifically, the report stated: “Although neither DoD nor the FBI had specific information concerning the time, place, or nature of the attack, they collectively had sufficient information to have detected Hasan's radicalization to violent Islamist extremism but failed both to understand and to act on it.” No matter if the failure to act was out of political correctness or simply negligence, suspicion of Islamist radicalization within our military should be taken seriously since it stands in opposition to the military’s goal of protecting US soil and citizens.
Fortunately, Congresswoman Sue Myrick who represents North Carolina’s 9th district (east of Fayetteville) has decided to do something about it. She has started an agenda, Wake Up America 2.0, to confront homegrown terrorism. The aim of her agenda is to “create Congressional counter-terrorism priorities to better address and combat radical Islamists and self proclaimed jihadists who threaten our country with violence and through more subtle infiltration techniques.” Recently she has written President Obama expressing to him the need for this agenda and for a meeting to discuss counter-radicalization with the Administration.
Continue to watch and support her agenda as she moves forward to take action. You can read full details of Wake Up America 2.0 at the following link:
A Spotlight on FRWC Members
This month we are recognizing a long time FRWC member….Marian Caldwell.
* She was born in New Haven, Connecticut. When she was 4, her parents relocated to Melbourne, Fl.
* Graduated from Gordon Keller School of Nursing in Tampa, Florida.
* Marian joined the Army Nurse Corps serving 26 years between active duty and the reserves attaining the rank of LTC.
* She met and married her husband, Herschel, while at Fort Benning, Georgia, also an officer in the U.S. Army. During her army career, she has been stationed at Fort Sam Houston, TX; Fort Riley, KS; Ft. Lewis, WA; Neubruken, Germany; Shape Headquarters in Belgium, and a one year tour in Viet Nam during the war from 1967 to 1968.
* Both she and her husband have been settled here in Fayetteville since 1979.
* Since 1979 to the present, Marian has worked in public health for ten years. She has been involved in two different research programs, the first at the u. of NC at Greensboro referencing the advancement of child health; the 2nd at the u. of NC at Chapel Hill – involving the maternal child health program.
Additionally, Marian has worked for the V.A. for 6 ½ years as a community health coordinator, and currently has volunteered for the past six years at the airborne museum.
* Her education pursuits include an advanced nurse practitioner degree; a master’s degree in public health supervision and a 2nd masters degree in occupational health.
* Hobbies/interests: She like reading many subjects, some TV programs such as NCIS and CSI, enjoys travelling; watching movies, theater, etc.
Marian has been a member since 2006, and has served on the board under several past presidents. Marian is the go-to person when you need someone to do something either for this club, the Republican Party, or for personal reasons. She does not know how to say no to anyone in need of assistance. She prefers to stay in the background, but one cannot help but notice this remarkable achiever.
Renewed Members
Thanks to the following members who have renewed their membership in March:
Marla Finn Grace McGrath Lillian Krahl
New Members in March
Greg West (Associate Member)
Answers to U.S. Immigration Quiz
1. Bill of Rights
2. 27
3, Louisiana
4. Communism
5. Everyone must follow the law; Leaders must obey the law; Government must obey the law; No one is above the law.
6. 435
7. Any of these two: to print money; to declare war; to create an army; to make treaties
8. American Indians or Native Americans
9. 1787
10. George Washington
11. Woodrow Wilson
12. Communism
