THE TRUMPETER - July 2023

RWOP Newsletter Editor: Joan Lesko, RWOP VP Communications, [email protected]

July 4, 2023, marks the 247th anniversary of the independence of our great United States of America! The Founding Fathers of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject and subordinate to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2nd and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4th, 1776. On June 28, 1870, Congress passed a law making Independence Day a federal holiday. The most famous section of the Declaration of Independence states the following:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

As we celebrate July 4th, let's take a moment to appreciate our most celebrated national holiday. In 1776, a courageous, brazen group of men took the bold step of drafting a document that would sever the ties with the most powerful realm of the time, the British Empire. Through an independence declaration, they aspired to form a new nation in pursuit of self-government and freedom. Freedom is a precious gift. So, on this holiday that celebrates our independence from a foreign power, it is completely appropriate to honor our military members and our veterans who have volunteered, fought, and died to accept that responsibility to keep us free.  By remembering our military and those who have served and died, we recognize their willingly endured hardships, sacrifices, and fears, taken upon themselves and their families, so that we could live in peace.

If you were unable to attend our June luncheon, you missed our moving tribute to the Fallen 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots. Many from the firefighter community were in attendance, along with the Central Arizona Fire & Medical Authority personnel. Pictured above being honored by RWOP are Sherrie Hanna, President of RWOP; John Feddema, Chief Operations Officer from CAFMA; Jeff Sheaer, Yarnell Fire Chief; our local Prescott Fire Chief, Holger Durre; Karen Norris, mother of Scott Norris one of the Fallen 19 Hotshots; John Marsh, father of Eric Marsh another Fallen 19 Hotshot and Judy Blake, RWOP 1st VP of Programs.

Congressman Eli Crane was unable to attend our luncheon but sent this video tribute honoring the 10th Anniversary of the Fallen 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots.

RWOP continues to be extremely active in supporting our community. On June 12th, RWOP's Membership team and our Community Outreach team held their annual RWOP 2023 Directory distribution and local food drive at the Prescott Resort. (Pictured are Anne Orel, Linda Bray, Leslie Neneman, Beth Buckingham, Jody Allione, Barbara Orloff, & Barbara Phillips.) 

THANK YOU to all who participated, either by passing out our directories or if you donated food. It was a great time and the hard work paid off! Over 700 pounds of food were collected, split, and delivered to the Yavapai County Food Bank, Prescott Food Pantry, and US Vets. A total of $80 was also collected and divided among the groups named. Once again, our members stepped up to support us and support those agencies to assist the needy in our community! WELL DONE!

Also, RWOP was able, due to the generous contributions from our members, to donate a check to US Vets in the amount of $1,500. Pictured receiving the check is Michelle Brien, Volunteer Coordinator from US Vets along with Deb Robbins, RWOP's Armed Services Chair, and Sherrie Hanna, President of RWOP.

RWOP's Mission Statement states. .." by educating and empowering our members. . ." On Saturday, June 17, 2023, RWOP held our first Quad City School Choice Event. WHAT A GREAT, SUCCESS IT WAS! THANK YOU to Jill Martin, RWOP's 5th VP of Education, Michele Hamer, RWOP's 2nd VP of Ways & Means, and their teams, who set up and coordinated this great event. Our goal, in response to requests from our members and the public, was to host an informative, educational event that would give parents and the public access to resources in support of school choice. Jill and Michele produced a beautiful, printed program that listed the many school vendors, along with other resource contact information to help everyone who attended our event get the support they needed. A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Christine Accurso, Executive Director of the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) who traveled from Phoenix to be at our event to help parents and guests with their questions on ESA. Also, Quang Nguyen, our LD 1 Representative, spoke at the event in support of school choice and support for parents in choosing a school that best fits the needs of their children. Many people in attendance requested that this be an annual event!

On Monday, June 19th, many RWOP members were treated to a tour of the newly opened Yavapai County Justice Center. The tour was conducted by Sheriff David Rhodes and several of his deputies. What an impressive facility! I would like to thank Sheriff Rhodes and his deputies for taking the time in guiding us through the facility and answering our many questions! 

In closing, RWOP is excited to host a second main event which will feature "An Evening with Dennis Prager." A VIP Reception will be held where 150 guests will have an opportunity to meet, and get a photo or book signed by Mr. Prager while enjoying Hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets have gone on sale for the VIP Reception and Main Speaking Event. Please get your tickets early so you don't miss out on another great RWOP event!!!

My sincere appreciation to my Executive and Full Boards and the many volunteers that have stepped up to make each of our RWOP events successful. It is a pleasure and inspiring to work with all of you ladies and allows me to get better acquainted with our wonderful members. I look forward to a great July luncheon and seeing you all there!

Regards,

Sherrie Hanna

2023 RWOP President

**PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THE NAME CARDS PLACED ON THE LUNCHEON TABLES**

Please note this luncheon will be held on

TUESDAY, July 11, 2023!

LUNCHEON MENU

(Choose one entree)

• Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich, Potato Salad, Fruit Cup
•  ~NEW~ Roasted Summer Vegetable & Grilled Chicken Salad, Red Quinoa, Mandarin Oranges, Tossed in Grilled Lemon Vinaigrette on Bed of Romaine & Butter Lettuce
• Vegetable Cobb Salad ​

Dessert: Apple Pie

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

Tuesday, July 11th RWOP Luncheon

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Mayor and Candiates for City Council

Mayor

Mayor Phil Goode -

Running Unopposed

Bio

Two-year Candidate

Connie Cantelme

Bio

Two-year Candidate

Tony Hamer

Bio

Four-year Candidates

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Constantin Querard - Founder and president of Grassroots Partners, LLC,

Bio

Jake Fousek -

Wildlife Manager

Arizona Fish & Game

Mark Hart -

Public Information Officer

Arizona Fish & Game

Bio

Caring for America - Nancy Grigas

Our Charity of the Month for July is the Community Pregnancy Center in Prescott. The center provides unplanned pregnancy services including a free pregnancy test, ultrasound confirmation and answers to questions about abortions, planning and adoption.



The center DOES NOT offer or refer for pregnancy terminations or birth control, information is provided as an educational service and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional or medical advice.

The center gets no government funding and relies on donations and volunteers for support. Please help us support this worthy cause.

For more information call 928-778-7654.

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 [email protected]

2023 AzFRW Biennial Convention

Casino Del Sol Casino – Tucson, AZ

Dates: Oct 19-21, 2023

This is a wonderful opportunity to attend an AzFRW meeting.

Would you like to be a delegate? – RWOP has a spot for you!

Let me know if you would like to attend.

Contact: Elsie Tyree – AzFRW Region V Director

A big thank you to Susan Bettcher, Linda Larner, Leslie Neneman, Anne Orel and Barbara Ann Powell from the Membership Committee that worked the Directory Pick Up and Food Drive event in June. They handed out 28 directories yet together with Community Outreach received almost two hundred more pounds of food than last year. 

As of the printing of this newsletter for the 2023 membership year, we have:

Total Members: 955

Active Members: 749

Associates: 203

Student: 3

New Active Members:

Joan McComb

Stephanie Morgan

Brenda Smith

Cathie A. Weber

New Associate Members:

Anthony David Hamer

2023 Directories are available at the Membership Table, before and after the Luncheon. New members, please pick up your new member packet and order your name badge.

If you already ordered a Badge, please pick it up at the Badge table. 

Please keep encouraging your friends and family to join RWOP as we are the largest Federated Club in Arizona and the Nation.

A MUST-SEE MOVIE

"Sound of Freedom" is an inspiring story based on true events that sheds light on the grim reality of child sex trafficking. It is the true story of a man who risks everything to bring a ray of light and hope to the most hidden corners of our world, seeking to save children chained in the dark. It is not just a movie, "Sound of Freedom" is a cinematic experience that will be part of a global movement, destined to end the trafficking of minors.

Select HERE for the 2023 RWOP Luncheon Schedule!!

Do you have questions?  

Email Jill Martin - [email protected]

Thank you to the multitude of volunteers who helped with the School Choice Event on June 17th!

We have gotten GREAT feedback from the event!

We are continuing to follow-up and connect

local resources with attendees.

….that women’s collegiate sports are under attack?

You probably do, if you follow political and/or sports news.

A couple of my past columns have featured personal heroes of mine. I have a new one: Riley Gaines.  

Riley Gaines is an American former competitive collegiate swimmer, who competed for the University of Kentucky NCAA swim team. She was the 2022 Southeastern Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Riley gained national prominence when she began speaking out against the

participation of trans-gender men in women's sports.  She did this at considerable personal and career risk. The Left has attacked her relentlessly, mostly in the mainstream media. She was also physically attacked when she spoke at a Turning Point USA event at San Francisco State University in April of this year.  She and her security team had to take shelter for several hours before she could safely depart the campus. She has spoken openly about having to share locker rooms with the supposedly trans male, formerly known as Will Thomas, who now calls himself “Lia” Thomas. “Lia” was permitted to switch from the men’s to the women’s team at the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, and began competing against other collegiate women’s swim teams.   

I am not athletic and I don’t care much about sports. That being understood, I find it profoundly unfair that women should be forced (coerced, really, by their universities and the athletic league governance bodies) into competing against biological men, who are gifted by God with generally greater lung capacity, muscle mass, bone density, and upper body strength. Women’s sports are actually handicapping the biological women, instead of ensuring a level playing field.  Beyond that, though, the inherent privacy and safety violations of sharing close quarters, including locker rooms, with biological men is deeply offensive. 

A few courageous women athletes are joining Riley in trying to stop this, but many of the female athletes have been cowed into silence. Here are a couple of good recent articles about this issue:

https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/06/riley-gaines-testifies-before-senate-about-competing-against-biological-male-lia-thomas/

https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/06/26/women-are-being-asked-to-move-over/

I hope you’ll join me in keeping an eye on this issue, and praying for common sense and reality to prevail, sooner rather than later.

Hobbs vetoed several election bills this week including legislation to ban ranked-choice voting. She rejected a bill that would have required cities to tear down homeless encampments and allow people living in them to be charged with trespassing saying it effectively criminalizes homelessness. She also vetoed legislation to make it a crime to film pornography in schools and other government buildings.

Many bills were signed and vetoed this week. I counted 35 bills vetoed and 21 signed. Of the 21 signed, none were election bills. 

Here are some of the significant bills regarding elections vetoed:

SB1598 - Allows a candidate for federal office to designate a representative who may act as an observer at a counting center. Prescribes requirements relating to the conduct of party representatives, challengers, and observers. 

SB1596 - Requires a state, county, city, town, or school district office to provide sufficient space for use as a polling place for an election when requested by the officer in charge of elections. 

SB1471 - ballot tabulation; hand count comparison

SB1595 - early ballots; identification; tabulation

SB1175 - registrations; observers; counting procedures; verification

SB1095 - early ballot envelope; notice

The following bill was transmitted to the Secretary of State and will be on the ballot.

HCR2039 - Subject to voter approval, constitutionally terminates a Governor-proclaimed state of emergency and any emergency powers granted to the Governor during the state of emergency 30 days after the proclamation, unless extended by the Legislature.

Exempts a state of war emergency from the 30-day termination and related requirements. Caps each extension of a state of emergency at 30 days.

HCR2001 - Allows school districts to exceed the aggregate expenditure limitation (AEL) by $1,385,809,642 in FY 2023

HCR2033 - Prohibits any election law in Arizona that is contrary to the direct primary election law as outlined in the Arizona Constitution.

The Legislative House Committees approved several of Hobbs’ stalled executive nominees this week, and now move to the full Senate for confirmation. Because Hobbs is doing excessive vetoes Senate has not approved her Executive Nominees.

CITY OF PRESCOTT VOTING INFORMATION

Monday, July 3, 2023

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Friday, July 21, 2023    

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Last day to register to vote

In-person voting begins

Ballots will be mailed

Last day to request and be mailed a ballot

Last day to vote in person

All registered voters that reside within the Prescott city limits are eligible to vote in this Election.



Call the County Recorder at 928-771-3248, Ext 9.

U.S. VETS Tour on June 6 was well received. We had 7 eager participants for the 1.5 hour tour who had many questions and enjoyed seeing the campus. Matthew Phillips, the Development Manager, did an excellent job showing us the multi-faceted approach they take to help heal the homeless Veterans. U.S. VETS supplies temporary and permanent housing, food (over 50,000 meals in 2022), career help with training and clothing, counseling, on-site nurse, showers, computers they can use, to name a few. RWOP donated $1,500 to U.S. VETS at the June luncheon and donated $3,000 in 2022. If you’re interested in volunteering, they welcome people to help serve food, sit one-on-one with a Veteran to play a game, read, teach a class if you’re great at something, and of course they need help during their Stand Down in September and Food Drive in November. The contact for volunteering is Michelle Brien, 928-356-2771 or [email protected]. If you volunteer for them, or any organization, please give the number of hours to Deb Robbins, Armed Services Chair at [email protected], so you can be counted and identify yourself as a volunteer from RWOP. If you want to personally donate items to them, they accept new sheets, sleeping bags, toiletries, towels, food, and more. To donate items, contact Justin Price, the Community Outreach Coordinator, at 928-379-1763. 

Proper Disposal of American Flags — RWOP collected 7 American Flags and 1 Blue Flag to be retired properly. Thank you for brining them in and thank you, Judi Kay Williams, for taking them to the American Legion Post 6!

Meet and Greet for RWOP Veterans — We are hosting a Meet and Greet for RWOP Veterans on August 29^th. This year we will open it for all Veterans that are members of RWOP. If you’re a Veteran, mark your calendar. More details to come!

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

SELECT BUSINESS CARD BELOW TO GO DIRECTLY TO THEIR BUSINESS WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE

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