AFRW Executive Board's Winter Meeting

AFRW's Executive Board held its winter meeting on Feb. 5 at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery. The board convened before the ALGOP Red, White and Blue Dinner with Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Exciting plans for the future were discussed. We've had a huge increase in Camellia Club members! We anticipate an effective and well-attended Legislative Days later this month. Please join us in Montgomery as we visit with Legislators and other elected officials, meet statewide candidates and enjoy dessert and coffee with First Lady Patsy Riley.

The Conservative MESSENGER: Re-igniting America's Passion for Liberty

Last week the Alabama Federation of Republican Women voted to financially support a new Republican cause, The Conservative MESSENGER, with a one-time donation. While we may only be able to bestow one monetary gift upon this organization, our support, prayers and encouragement for the people and vision behind it are ongoing.

The Conservative MESSENGER was created last year by K. Carl Smith.

Smith, an African-American, considers himself a "Frederick Douglass Republican" and has built his organization upon the principles espoused by Douglass himself, namely Respect for the Constitution, Respect for Life, Belief in Limited Government and Belief in Individual Responsibility.

Smith, a gifted and passionate speaker, has been spreading the vision and beliefs of Douglass across the country and has helped many Republicans learn how to recruit African-Americans.

For more information about Smith and The Conservative MESSENGER or to have him visit your local Republican club, visit his facebook page (The Conservative Messenger) or his webpage at http://www.conservativemessenger.com/.

From Ben Franklin...

"Freedom is not a gift bestowed on us by other men; but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature."

The GOP is seeing red!

AFRW was well represented at tonight's sold-out ALGOP Red, White and Blue Dinner with guest speaker Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The dinner was held at Montgomery's Renaissance Hotel.

Gov. Pawlenty encouraged Republicans to get back to basics: God, country and fiscal conservatism. He said we can't allow elected officials to keep extending and expanding our country's debt; he suggested we apply some of the stimulus funds to our national debt.

It's not about being a Republican or a Democrat, he said, it's a matter of mathematics. We can't keep spending more than we have.

He said there are big differences between Republicans and Democrats, and we must articulate those differences in campaigns.

We found Napolitano! She's at the Super Bowl!

After skipping out on the Christmas Day terrorist hearings, Napolitano turned up yesterday at the site of this weekend's Super Bowl. She toured the stadium and pronounced it safe, saying she and her team will thwart any terrorist threat on the big game.

Don't we all feel safer knowing she personally toured the stadium?

Napolitano a no-show for Homeland Security meeting

Did anyone notice that Janet Napolitano, our National Homeland Security Secretary, didn't bother to show up for a recent Homeland Security hearing about the Underwear Bomber?

A Democrat summed up everyone's frustration.

Rep. Chris Carney (Pennsylvania) said, "I am very dismayed that the secretary herself wasn't here. I mean, it's probably fair to ask, where the hell is Secretary Napolitano?"

Join us for Legislative Days 2010

"Get Ready for the Future: 9 and 4 Takes the Floor"

When: Wednesday and Thursday, February 24-25, 2010
Where: Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center, Montgomery, AL

Wednesday, February 24
8:30 am Registration
9:30 am Workshop: How to Get Candidates Elected
10:30 am Workshop: How to Recruit Minorities
12 pm Lunch with Legislators & 2010 Candidates
2-4 pm Candidate Forums
5-6 pm Meet & Greet with Statewide Candidates
6-7 pm VIP reception for Camellia Club members
7 pm Dinner with Gov. Bob Riley

Thursday, February 25
8:45 am Board Bus for Capitol
9-10 am Red Wave patriotic rally
10:15 am Visit House and Senate chambers
1:30 pm Dessert with First Lady Patsy Riley

NFRW responds to the President's State of the Union speech

From National Federation of Republican Women President Sue Lynch:

"Last night, the President had a genuine opportunity to communicate with the American people and to show leadership on the tough issues facing our country. Instead, he resorted to using the same partisan rhetoric to explain his administration's undeniable lack of progress in revitalizing the economy and creating jobs for America."

To read more from Sue Lynch about the President's State of the Union address, visit her blog at www.nfrw.org.

Mr. Brown Goes to Washington!

Congratulations, Sen. Scott Brown!
Look out Pelosi and Reid - Brown is in town and he's voting NO!

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCPZh2KHyzo

From Sam Adams...

"If ever time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."

Quote of the day!

As an American I am not so shocked that Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize without any accomplishments to his name, but that America gave him the White House based on the same credentials." - - Newt Gingrich

While Troops are dying...

and the president makes a national emergency out of H1N1....there is this story.

Governor Riley always standing up for sound, ethical government

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley promises last fight before Legislature against government corruption

By Chuck Dean -- The Birmingham News

October 20, 2009, 2:25PM

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, shown in this file photo, today told a group of Birmingham community leaders on he will press for passage of a package of ethics reforms when the Legislature assembles in January. (The Birmingham News / Frank Couch)With Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford in the second day of his trail on corruption charges, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley this afternoon came to Langford's town to decry what he said is the continued systematic culture of corruption that has plagued state and local governments for decades.

Speaking to a noontime meeting of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, Riley asked the roughly 100 in the audience to raise their hands if they thought most politicians are honest. Not a single hand rose.

That didn't surprise Riley.

"Tell me the last time you read a newspaper when you didn't see that a legislator, a member of the county commission, a city council member was not being investigated, indicted, tried and convicted of wrong doing and going to jail," Riley said. "I'm here to say we can do better."

Riley told the group that he will make fighting corruption the centerpiece of his last regular session as governor by supporting proposed laws that, if passed by state lawmakers, would go a long way toward making local and state government more open to public inspection and lawmakers and those who lobby them more accountable for their actions.

The package of bills Riley said he will introduce as the governor's Government Accountability Reform package when the legislative session begins in January include:

• Requiring full disclosure of any gifts, meals, travel, tickets to sporting events and other things of value provided by lobbyists to public servants and members of their family.

• Requiring lobbyists to fully disclose to the state's Ethics Commission any and all financial transactions between lobbyist and the public servants and their family.

• Requiring lobbyists who lobby the executive branch of government for grants and contracts to register with the Ethics Commission.

• Requiring public servants and their household members to disclose to the ethics commission all jobs and consulting contracts they have with any business, nonprofit or other entity that receives pubic money, and all household income derived from any state or local government entity or institution.

• Requiring the Ethics Commission to post on the Internet all lobbyist spending on public servants and their household members. The disclosures would be searchable on the Internet by the name of the public servant and the lobbyist.

• Giving subpoena power to the Ethics Commission.

From Azalea City

Congratulations, ACRW members! At the recent state convention, we were awarded two prestigious national awards: one for membership growth (81% over the past two years) and the other a Silver Achievement Award. This award reflects all our activities, achievements, and services, including our service hours.

Come share in the celebration:

AZALEA CITY REPUBLICAN WOMEN
will meet
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wintzell's Oyster House
605 Dauphin Street
6:00 p.m.
Scheduled Speakers:
Candidates
Bill Johnson
for Governor
and
John McMillan
for Agriculture and Industries Commissioner
Members are urged to attend and to bring a prsopect. Guests are welcomed. Any Republican candidate is encouraged to attend and to network with the membership. Dinner will be ordered from the menu at your expense.

October 13, 2009 Press Release from our favorite Governor!

Governor Riley Thanks Alabama Federation of Republican Women for Help on Making Birthdays Special for Alabama’s Foster Children

MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley thanked the Alabama Federation of Republican Women this weekend for making the Alabama Birthday Wish for Foster Children its primary charitable project and congratulated the group for recently winning a “Caring for America” award from the National Federation of Republican Women.

The Birthday Wish project was created by First Lady Patsy Riley to provide birthday gifts and birthday cards for Alabama’s 6,000 foster children. Members of the Greater Birmingham Republican Women chose the Birthday Wish as their primary charitable project and quickly got Republican Women’s clubs from across the state to assist in the project. The club also recruited others to help, including members of the Alabama Democratic Women’s Federation, churches, women’s clubs and individuals.

Governor Riley spoke at the annual conference of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women on Saturday in Birmingham.

“A birthday is such an important event in the life of a child. We want all children to have the opportunity to be recognized and celebrated on their birthday, and the Birthday Wish project is working to make sure every foster child in Alabama experiences the special feeling that comes with a childhood birthday,” said Governor Riley. “I commend the Alabama Federation of Republican Women for making this project their primary charitable cause and honor them for the recognition they received at the national level for their work.”

Bobbie Lou Leigh, President of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women, Sallie Bryant, NFRW Board Member, and Margie George, AFRW Third VP, accepted the award from NFRW Caring for America Chair Arla Jeanne Murray at the national group’s convention in Florida.

For information on the Alabama Birthday Wish for Foster Children visit www.alabamabirthdaywish.com.

AZALEA CITY REPUBLICAN WOMEN
will meet
Tuesday, September 29,
12 noon
Heron Lakes Country Club
3851 Government Blvd.

Scheduled Speaker:
Chip Beeker
Candidate for Public Service Commission

All members are urged to attend and invite a prospect. Republican candidates and potential candidates are invited to make a reservation and attend! In addition to the speaker, business will be conducted.
The lunch buffet will be $20 each. Reservations are required, by Friday, September 25. Those making reservations will be responsible for paying (or for sending another to take their place) since we need an exact count.

Reservations may be made by calling
Virginia Lott 344-2016
Jeanette Greene 675-4094

Meet the candidate opportunities

Click on invitation image to make larger and easier to read.

The Cullman County Republican Women invite you to a luncheon
All Steak Restaurant, 3rd Floor

Friday, September 18 11:30am

State Treasurer Kay Ivey is the guest speaker.
Come and hear her ideas as a candidate for Governor in 2010.

AZALEA CITY REPUBLICAN WOMEN
will meet
Tuesday, September 29
12 noon
Heron Lakes Country Club
3851 Government Blvd.

Scheduled Speaker:
Chip Beeker

All members are urged to attend and invite a prospect. In addition to the speaker, business will be conducted.

The lunch buffet will be $20 each. Reservations are required, by Friday, September 25. Those making reservations will be responsible for paying (or for sending another to take their place) since we need an exact count.

Funeral for Robin Blake

Funeral for Robin Blake will be
Wednesday, September 9
The family will be receiving friends at 10:00am
Memorial Service at 11:00am
Covenant United Methodist Church in Dothan, Alabama.

The AFRW family expresses our deepest condolences to Robin's family.

Robin Blake

With a heavy heart we share this email from AFRW President Bobbie Lou Leigh.

It is with much sadness that I report that Robin Blake lost her battle with cancer Sunday afternoon. She was 4th Vice President for the Federation and a past President of Coffee County RW. Funeral arrangements are pending. I will post the information when I receive it.

May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Bobbie Lou Leigh

Passionate, loving, involved, caring, dedicated, excited. If you were one of our members who was blessed to spend time with Robin, you know these are words that describe a friend full of life. I met Robin at my first big AFRW function. I was immediately aware of her passion for doing things right. She had no fear in getting involved, making her voice for the conservative fight heard and having a good time. Her excitement and dedication to the cause of liberty and freedom could only be topped by her passion and exuberant love for her family....and football. Robin and I had some fun discussions on our favorite sport.

The Alabama Federation of Republican Women has lost a friend.

An Invitation

click to make larger

Opinion from a Concerned AFRW Member

Regarding the president talking to our children and some parents taking kids out of class. First I must stay I have never disliked or disapproved of a president any more than Obama. I try not to use the word hate but I find myself using it when I speak of his policies. That being said. If I had a school aged child I would send him to school to hear the president BUT I would insist on being there also so I could engage in conversation with said child about the policies. Keeping kids out of school and hiding is no answer. Just my opinion. Use it if you see fit. If not - no problem. But I think it would be neat if we made a showing of support of our values by attending with our children and then talking about it over the dinner table.

From East Alabama

You are encouraged to join us and other concerned citizens on the front steps of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on Saturday Sept. 12th 2009 from 9AM to Noon.

We would like to gather in prayerful support for those who are attending the 9-12 Taxpayers March on Washington. We would also like to take this opportunity to prayerfully lift up our local political leaders and restore Christian values in our government. For more information or if you would like to speak at this event, please contact drkimwest@yahoo.com or bigstickpatriots@gmail.com

Please join us because we are a CHRISTIAN NATION!!!!

Preparing for Sept. 11 Remembrances

On Friday, September 11th, 2009, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this eighth anniversary of one of our country's worst tragedies. We do this to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds

Action Plan:

So, here's what we need you to do .
(1) Forward this email to everyone you know (at least 11 people). Please don't be the one to break this chain. Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.

(2) Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.
Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America!

Be sure to check the campaign links

We are adding campaign links daily. Check back often.

ALLI PAC Holding Townhalls Across the State

Click on image to make larger.

KEEPING YOU INFORMED
From the office of Governor Bob Riley
August 31, 2009

ISSUES IN FOCUS…

• Securing Southern Economic Success
• Honoring National Guard Heroes
• Alabama Leads Nation in AP Results
• Accountability in Government a Must

Securing Southern Economic Success: I was honored last week to become chairman of the Southern Governors’ Association, which is made up of the governors of 16 southern states. Combined, these states are the world’s third largest economy. During the year I’ll serve as chairman, I want us to work together to use our influence to promote and protect our mutual economic interests. As I told the southern governors at our conference, we need to take a hard look at what’s going on in Washington. Many of the proposals being discussed in Congress will negatively impact the South and hurt our ability to compete in the world economy. As governors, we need to use our collective influence to benefit our region, collaborate on economic development, and take part in ongoing discussions about federal policies. The Times-Journal wrote an editorial about this, which you can read here: http://tiny.cc/3cncm To learn more about the Southern Governors’ Association and to watch my video statement, visit www.southerngovernors.org.

Honoring National Guard Heroes: On Friday, I presented the Alabama Commendation Medal to 47 Alabama National Guard soldiers whose quick, selfless actions saved lives last month. The soldiers were on a bus returning to Alabama from drill at Camp Shelby, Mississippi on July 12 when a bus in front of them carrying members of the First Baptist Church of Shreveport suffered a tire blowout and rolled over three times. Coming upon the crash site almost immediately, the Alabama Guard members lifted the 30-passenger bus so trapped victims could be freed. The Guard members also directed traffic and provided medical assistance to the injured until=2 0local emergency personnel could arrive on the scene. Incredibly, part of the military training they had recently undergone included how to upright an overturned vehicle and provide emergency medical assistance. These soldiers from Detachment 1, 2101st Transportation Company are heroes and I am immensely proud of them. They’re preparing for deployment early next year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. To me, nothing crystallizes the difference between us and those we fight in this War on Terror than that incident on Interstate 20 last month. The terrorists we fight kill innocents. They don’t save them. The terrorists have been taught there is a “right” way to die. We’re taught that there is a right way to live.

Alabama Leads Nation in AP Results: Alabama Leads Nation in AP Results: A report released last week shows that Alabama schools had the nation’s largest increase in student participation and performance on Advanced Placement tests. The number of Alabama students taking AP tests rose almost 25% compared with a 7.5% rise nationally. Our students also posted a 21% increase in test scores high enough to qualify for college credit. That compares with a 9.4% increase for the rest of the nation. These results are phenomenal and show that our focus on expanding access to AP courses is working to raise student achievement in Alabama. You can read more about these results here: http://tiny.cc/U1K5R

Accountability in Government a Must:

It was great to be back in Decatur, where I spoke last week to a combined meeting of the Decatur Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. One of the topics I stressed was the need for the Legislature to pass serious accountability and ethics reforms in the next session. We must have a sweeping re-write of the state’s ethics code to stop corruption, make=2 0government more transparent and hold public servants accountable. Nothing will do more to reduce the power of special interests than requiring full, public disclosure. For years now we have tried to convince legislators to do this. You’ll be hearing more about this in the coming months because I am going to talk about it everywhere I go. Alabama must become the state with the cleanest, most open and most accountable government in our nation. The people of Alabama demand it and they deserve it.

To receive all the latest news from my office, go online to http://www.governor.alabama.gov. You can also follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GovernorRiley.

NAM Releases Analysis of Economic Impact of Cap and Trade on Alabama

The National Association of Manufacturers has released an analysis of the economic impact on Alabama from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454, proposed legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Highlights from the study: Alabama loses an estimated 27,940 by 2030 under the low cost analysis, and 38,052 jobs by 2030 under the high cost analysis. Alabama would see disposable household income reduced by $77 to $181 per year by 2020 and $588 to $1,010 by 2030. By 2015, gasoline would increase between 6% and 8%, electricity between 1% and 2% and natural gas between 15% and 23%. By 2030, gasoline prices increase between 20% and 27% while electricity prices increase by up to 64% and natural gas by up to 73%. You can find the full text here. For more information on energy issues click here. The US House of Representatives has already passed this bill with all seven members of the Alabama delegation voting no. The Senate is set to consider it in late fall. Thankfully, our two Senators have committed to vote against the legislation.

August 17, 2009

For Release: Immediately

Judge Carole Coil Medley Addresses

Shoals Republican Club August 26th

Lauderdale County District Court Judge Carole Coil Medley will be the guest speaker at the next Shoals Republican Club meeting on Wednesday, August 26th, 12:00 noon at Ryan’s Family Steakhouse Restaurant on Cox Creek Parkway in Florence.

As a judge, mother, and wife, Judge Carole Medley knows the dangers facing today’s families. She is committed to preserving and protecting Lauderdale County families and children. Since becoming district court judge, Medley has been responsible for establishing a specific day on her court calendar for the prosecution of domestic violence cases. She is a conservative judge dedicated to following the rule of law.

Judge Carole Medley was appointed Lauderdale County District Court Judge by Governor Bob Riley to replace Judge Deborah Bell Paseur. Prior to her judicial appointment, Judge Medley served as an assistant district attorney in Lauderdale County. Medley is a former small business owner. She began practicing law in Lauderdale County in 1996. Her private practice focused primarily on family law.

Judge Medley is married to Keith Medley. They have one son, John, age 7. She is a member of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, Florence Rotary Club, and Killen Church of Christ. Medley holds a masters degree in Secon dary Education from the University of North Alabama and a law degree from Jones School of Law. Judge Medley is a member of the American Judges Association, a graduate of the National Judicial College, former board member for AGAPE and the executive board of the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar.

The Shoals Republican Club meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month. All meetings of the Shoals Republican Club are open to the public. For more information, contact Buel Springer, 256-766-3461, or bspring@comcast.net.

From Tea Party Warrior.com

People showed up in droves to collect free money from the public treasury. No surprise there. It's also no surprise that the government badly mismanaged it's auto trade-in program from start to finish. Rushed into service before kinks had been ironed out, the Cash fro Clunkers website constantly crashed. Dealers were required to complete reams of paperwork for what could have been designed a relatively uncomplicated voucher transaction. Weeks after selling their first Cash for Clunkers cars, some dealers have still not received payment. Unsure if they would ever be paid, many withdrew from the program before it officially ended.

Other badly mismanaged bureaucracies in a legacy of Big Government: Social Security, Medicare, Medicad, VA Hospitals, Amtrack, the Post Office, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Keep up the pressure on your members of Congress.
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Other contact opportunities

Say NO to government run healthcare.