THE TRUMPETER - August 2023

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

It feels like summer was just starting and now August is here! School will be starting on Thursday which means our streets will be crowded in the morning and later afternoon hours with student drivers and parents driving or walking their kids to and from school. Please be aware of our school buses as there too will be many driving on our streets. During the summer months, we have gotten used to school being out and not having to slow down as we enter school zones. Our children are our most precious treasure. With the increased traffic, please adjust your schedule to leave earlier than you normally do so you will not be rushing to get to your destination.

Slow down, be courteous to one another, watch out for our Children, and Keep Preskitt, Preskitt - Drive Friendly!

If you didn't attend our July luncheon, it was another great event with many compliments from our members. First, a huge THANK YOU to Arizona Game and Fish Officers Jake Fousek and Mark Hart for their very informative and enlightening presentation. Many of our members thanked me and said how grateful they were to hear the facts regarding living in such close proximity to wildlife, especially our new members who have moved here to rural Prescott from urban areas and are not used to seeing wildlife so close to their homes.

It won't be long after this newsletter is released that we will know who has won the two-year seat or if there will be a runoff in the November general election for the remaining council seats. Of course, Mayor Goode, who was running unopposed, will continue in his position. I am hopeful that whatever the outcome of this election, the elected candidates will come together and work towards implementing Republican values to deal with the difficult issues of the drag shows and non-discrimination ordinances, among other concerns, that are plaguing our town. We will be watching! If you were unable to attend our luncheon and want to view the entire candidate's forum, click the button below.

For the past few months, our 50/50 Raffle Winners have donated back their winnings to RWOP's Scholarship Fund. A HUGE THANK YOU TO MARY SAMPLE, July's 50/50 Raffle Winner. She donated her raffle winnings back to our scholarship fund! I can't tell you how appreciative we all are for Mary's donation. It will increase the number of young Republicans who will receive scholarships in their quest to further their education!

If you were unable to attend RWOP's Day at the Courts, you really missed a great time had by all, including our Judges! Since there were so many of us, we divided into several groups and were treated to a tour of our beautiful Courthouse and had several opportunities to sit in on actual arrangements and trials to see our judicial system in action! We then had lunch with all the Superior Court Judges, who answered our many questions and gave us an insight into what they deal with every day and their efforts to make sure the judicial system is fair and just, while having compassion and wanting to help the individuals who appear before them. A SPECIAL THANKS TO JILL MARTIN, RWOP's 5th VP of Education, her team and JUDGE KRISTA CARMAN for their hard work in putting this event together!

We were also able to visit Judge Mitch Padilla's court. Judge Padilla took office in January and he gave us insight into his duties and how he is transitioning from his private law practice to Prescott's Justice of the Peace.

For further information on the tour and pictures, see Jill Martin's Education section of this newsletter.

RWOP's annual entry into the Prescott Frontier Days Parade held on Saturday, July 1st was a fun time had by all! It was rather warm for the parade but everyone had plenty of water and we all enjoyed being a part of the parade and representing RWOP! The crowds were very receptive to us and it was nice to see the great crowds back in Prescott for this historic and iconic event! Many thanks to all the RWOP members, associate members and candidates that showed up to walk with us. Our beautiful float would not have been possible without LYNN and GREG BECKELHYMER furnishing their big truck and decorations, ELSIE TYREE coordinating the decorating and our many RWOP members who helped decorate and tear down the decorations after the parade. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!! I appreciate every one of you!!

RWOP's event "An Evening with Dennis Prager" is fast approaching. The VIP Reception is sold out but we still have seats available for the main speaking event. Please be sure to tell your family and friends about this great opportunity to hear one of America's most sought-after Conservative radio talk show host and writer. Last Thursday, Mr. Prager did a live telephone interview with Sanford Cohen, host of KQNA's "Talk of the Town." If you would like to hear the live interview, see Joan Lesko's section of the newsletter. RWOP is excited to host Mr. Prager and is looking forward to meeting him and hearing his commentary on the current issues facing our Nation. If you haven't purchased your tickets, please go to ycpac.com, you don't want to miss out on this great event!

Another busy month has come to an end and we are all looking forward to our August luncheon. Please don't forget to arrive early to visit our jewelry counter, speak with and sign the candidates petitions that are preparing to run for political office in 2024. We must elect strong Republicans who will stand up and exhibit Republican values in their critical decision making and continue to keep Prescott and Yavapai County the great, clean and safe place to live!  

I look forward to seeing you all at our August lunch.

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, August 8, 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

Tuesday, August 8th RWOP Luncheon

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Sheriff Mark Lamb - Candidate for U.S. Senate

Bio

Remembering the Fallen of September 11, 2001

The Healing Field in Prescott Valley, Arizona

Speaking in support of the Healing Field:

Photo Credit - Chris Kissling

Caring for America - Nancy Grigas

Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation is our charity of the month for August. CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, are volunteers appointed by a judge to speak up for abused and neglected children in court and to help these children find secure, safe and permanent homes.

In Arizona alone, an average of 25 children per day are taken from their families and placed in foster care. There are 400 of these kids in Yavapai County. They are traumatized and need attention, care and help. That’s where CASA for Kids comes in. After securing a safe home for them, our CASA’s help to make their childhood as normal as possible, with birthday parties, bikes to ride, prom dresses, and much more.

In 2022, Yavapai Casa for Kids Foundation served 350 foster youths, awarded $111,000 in grants for kids, spent $136,000 on clothing and emergency assistance, and offered 942 hours of family visits at their visitation center.

The needs are great and growing. Please stop by the Caring for America booth at the luncheon and make a donation so these foster children can find some comfort and normalcy in their lives.

Thank you.

Nancy Grigas, CFA Chairperson

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]

Hello members of RWOP. . . it is my pleasure to inform you that we are entertaining new officers for the 2024 slate. Applications are available for all seven offices which include President, 1st VP of Programs, 2nd VP of Ways & Means, 3rd VP of Membership, 4th VP of Communication, and 5th VP of Education and Secretary and Treasurer. Job descriptions are listed in your RWOP Directory. 

These are volunteer positions and they each require time, energy, teamwork, and your full commitment. All these positions are for one term but five may run for two consecutive terms. The other two – Communications and Treasurer -- may serve up to four consecutive terms. For all positions other than President, you must be a full member for one year. President must be a full member for two years and on the Executive Committee for at least one year. 

Applications are available on the RWOP website – here. 



Each year we conduct many wonderful luncheons with informative speakers, fundraise through several events annually, honor our law enforcement, first responders as well as veterans, and give to community charities and sponsorships to our Republican high school seniors. This is all made possible by our EC and Board officers and their committee members. 

Please consider joining the RWOP Executive team and reap the benefits of this great organization. You won’t be disappointed.  The deadline is August 14^th.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected].

Barbara Ernst

Nominating Committee Chair

…….how RWOP’s officer nomination and elections process works?  You probably do if you’ve been a member for some time, or attended Linda Nichols’ excellent RWOP 101 class. In case you don’t know, here’s the outline:

1. Our bylaws stipulate that one of the RWOP’s president’s duties is to appoint the seven members of the Nominating Committee. That duty has a deadline of June 30 each year, and is subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. No more than two current elected officers may serve on the Nominating Committee, provided they aren’t candidates for re-election (usually because of term limits).

2. Once the president has named the Nominating Committee, she steps aside and lets them perform their duties.  The Committee is bound by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and their work is to be performed with maximum privacy.

3. The Parliamentarian is an ex-officio member of the Nominating Committee. She advises and instructs the Nominating Committee, as necessary, on RWOP’s

nomination and election procedures. Typically, she attends the Nominating Committee’s first meeting and provides them with useful information about the process. Then she departs, and the Committee chooses its chair and begins its work.  The Parliamentarian remains available for consultation.

4. Candidates apply or are recruited for the various officer positions. The Committee conducts interviews with the candidates.  Once they have agreed on a slate of candidates for each office, that slate is reported to the membership during the September luncheon meeting.

5. Elections are held at the October luncheon meeting. There are procedures in place for nominations from the floor.

6. The Nominating Committee also acts in the event of a vacancy in an RWOP elected office during the calendar year of that officer’s term.  They work to find a qualified replacement to fill the remainder of that term.

7. More details about the nomination and elections process may be found in your RWOP 2023 Directory.  (You did pick yours up, right?)  The back section of the book contains our current Bylaws, Standing Rules, and the Financial Procedures for reference.  

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.

Contact: Elsie Tyree – AzFRW Region V Director

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

Total Members: 983

Active Members: 772

Associates: 208

Student: 3

New Active Members:

Sandra Danielsson

Debra Shawn Demko

Wendy Elizabeth Equitz

Cynthia Forester

Shirley Fox

Karen Louise Mordhorst

Sally Joanne Nagamatsu

Donna Kristine Odle

Carole S. Ribley

Mary Gabriela Sample

Sharyn Taylor 

New Associate Members:

Dennis Dorgan

Michael Wayne Odle

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.

Who is Dennis Prager?

Tickets are available at YCPAC.COM. Search PRAGER.

You DO NOT want to miss this event!

Select HERE for the 2023 RWOP Luncheon Schedule!!

A BIG Thank you to our

Yavapai County Superior Court

Judges and Justice of the Peace!

The July 27th Tour was a big success with 75 of our members in attendance. We divided into smaller groups and sat in on some very interesting court proceedings and then enjoyed over an hour of educational discussions with the judges over lunch. 

How can you support our local Justice System?

#1 - Serve as a Juror

#2 - Sit in on Court Cases

#3 - Support the Courts Educational Programs

 RWOP for Families has a BOOTH!!

August 19th is Prescott Hope Fest!

We need volunteers to hand out resources to

local families. Email Jill Martin at [email protected]

Click here for more information on the event.

https://www.hopefestaz.com/

On June 8, 2023, Governor Greg Abbott signed a series of border security legislation passed during the 88th Regular Legislative Session into law at the Texas Capitol. This package of six bills expands Texas' unprecedented efforts to hold the line and protect Texans from the record level of illegal immigration, weapons, and deadly drugs pouring into Texas from Mexico caused by President Biden's refusal to secure the border. 

I am creating a committee to study the bills passed in Texas with the goal of bringing similar bills to Arizona. 

Are you as concerned as I am about the unprecedented number of Illegals crossing into Arizona? If we work together, we can make a difference!

The link below gives information about the Texas bills.

Contact me if you are interested.

 https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-signs-sweeping-package-of-border-security-legislation

Christmas Cards for Deployed Military –

October sounds too early to think of Christmas Cards, but it’s timely for our deployed service members! Last year RWOP was able to mail over 300 Christmas Cards to AdoptaPlatoon (along with a check for $1,540 to sponsor care packages for an entire platoon of 40 people). Those cards were all written by just a few of our Veterans and Veteran volunteers. This year all RWOP members and associates are invited to participate. Each volunteer should write a minimum of 2 Christmas Cards, and bring them to the November luncheon where there will be a box to collect them. Deb Robbins, the Armed Services Chair, will then mail them to AdoptaPlatoon who will send them overseas with care packages. 

In addition, RWOP will host a Christmas Card writing event at U.S. VETS – Prescott, 1040 Whipple St in Prescott on October 5, 2023 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in their dining area. The goal is to have an RWOP volunteer at each table to interact directly with the Veterans who live at U.S. VETS – Prescott. Also, if you have extra Christmas Cards that you don’t plan to use, please bring them to the September luncheon to donate to the cause. Angela Smith, an RWOP member, will donate “craft” items for those clever and talented folks who want to create their own cards! Sign up with Deb Robbins, 602-402-7069 text or call, or [email protected] by September 23.

NAVACHS – Northern Arizona VA Health Care System—Receives High Ratings!

The NAVACHS Medical Facility leaders were thrilled about the 5-star rating they received on their medical care to veterans. They also received a 4 star rating on Medicare’s patient-satisfaction survey. Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough made the following statement:

“At VA, veterans are the ultimate judges of our successes or failures — so we’re very proud to be this highly rated in a survey of veterans. Our goal at VA is to deliver world-class care to every veteran, every time, and we will continue to invest in VA health care and the patient experience until we make that goal a reality.” Congratulations to all those hard-working folks! They do all this even though they need more volunteers. If you have time to help, please call VA Volunteer Services at 928-776-6013.

The First Amendment to our Bill of Rights gives everyone – citizens and non-citizens alike – the right to express their opinion. To censure American country singer Jason Aldean’s latest song, “Try that in a Small Town,” is an example of what Hitler did to his political opponents – he censured them, and then he took their guns and put them in boxcars.

This song is a direct reflection of Jason Aldean’s love for our country and how “we take care of our own.” There is nothing racist about it, but the left would like you to think otherwise. Think back and you’ll see that this song transcends all American small towns, including what happened here in Prescott on September 4, 2020. God bless us and keep us safe.

There will be collection boxes at our October 10th luncheon.

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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