Republican Roundtable news--September 2010

Vicki Doolittle, President

September 2010

WKGC producer to speak at September 14 meeting

     Tom Hoots, producer of WKGC’s Somewhere in the Middle, will speak at the September 14 meeting of the Roundtable about his interest in and subsequent research into environmental issues.  He will try to help us understand how America’s long debate about the environment got us to where we now are in that often heated conversation.

     Tom is co-owner and chief engineer at Studio 812 in Lynn Haven, as well as part owner and design engineer at Sunelectro LLC.  In addition to producing Somewhere in the Middle, he produces and sometimes hosts WKGC’s Emerald Coast Studio.  In his spare time, he’s an instructor of an electric vehicle design and build class at Gulf Coast Community College.  He also serves as a volunteer instructor at the college for various classes in music production technology.

     Editor’s note:  This program will be a nice change of pace from politics.  That’s our story, and we’re sticking with it.  J 

Meeting and dinner reservations info

     The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, 218 Bunkers Cove Rd., in Panama City.  A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15.00 per person, including tax, tip and non-alcoholic beverage.  Reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club staff can plan for adequate food and seating.  To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at Melissa@efileamerica.com or 527-7384.  A short business meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m.  Bring a guest and your opinion!

Congratulations to Primary Election winners!

     Marco Rubio – Republican Primary, U.S. Senate

     Steve Southerland – Republican Primary, U.S. House, FL Congressional District 2

     Rick Scott – Republican Primary, Florida Governor

     Pam Bondi – Republican Primary, Florida Attorney General

     Adam Putnam – Republican Primary, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture

     Greg Evers – Republican Primary, Florida Senate, District 2

     Jimmy Patronis – Republican Primary, Florida House, District 6

     Marti Coley – Republican Primary, Florida House, District 7

     Pete Mallory – 14^th Circuit Judge, Group 2

     Guy Tunnell – Republican Primary, County Commission, District 4

     Joe Wayne Walker – School Board, District 1

     Steve Moss and Jim Barr – runoff, School Board, District 5

     Great job, candidates and campaign volunteers!  You ROCK!

Candidate soapbox at every meeting

     All Republican candidates are invited to take to the candidate soapbox for three minutes at every Roundtable meeting.  This is a great opportunity for candidates to get out their message and interface with voters.  Candidates, remember to bring your campaign stuff!

Roundtable membership

       If you would like to renew your membership or become a new member, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to the Roundtable’s treasurer:  Melissa Thompson, P.O. Box 15044, Panama City, FL 32406.  Or you may simply turn in your dues at the September 14 meeting.  All new and renewed memberships after September 1 will be applied to 2011.  Thank you for your support!

Subscribe to Roundtable newsletter   

     Simply click this link:  http://republicanroundtable.com/subscribe.html.

Panhandle Federated Republican Women

     The Panhandle Federated Republican Women will meet on Wednesday, October 13, at the Golden Corral on 23^rd Street in Panama City.  The lunch buffet begins at 11:00 a.m. and costs $10.00 per person.  The meeting begins at 12 noon.  For more information, contact President Lorraine Odom at lorraineodom@marykay.com or 850-630-5678.

Bay County Republican Executive Committee

     The Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) will meet on Monday, September 27, at 6 p.m. in the School Board meeting room at 1311 Balboa Ave.  For more information, contact BCREC Chairman John Salak at 850-276-2872 or john.salak@L-3Com.com.

Republican HQ needs volunteers

     If you’d like to help staff the Republican Party’s headquarters during the election season, please contact HQ Manager Glen Leirer at geleirer32@comcast.net or 276-2168.  The number at HQ is 763-8656.

. . . . .

For more information about the Bay County Republican Roundtable,

contact Vicki Doolittle, President, at 319-0105 or doolittlg@comcast.net.

Other Roundtable officers are:

Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President, Programs Chair

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President, Events Chair

James Waterstradt, Secretary

Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

. . . . .

Teresa Eaton, Newsletter Editor

. . . . .

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” 

John Philpot Curran, Dublin, 1808

Republican Roundtable news for August 2010

by Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

Gainer to speak at August 10 meeting

County Commissioner George Gainer, recently reelected without opposition to his third term on the Commission, will be the speaker at the August 10 meeting of the Roundtable. He will present an update on the Commission's activities and will take questions from the floor.

Meeting and dinner reservations info

The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, 218 Bunkers Cove Rd., in Panama City. A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15.00 per person, including tax, tip and non-alcoholic beverage. Reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club staff can plan for adequate food and seating. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at Melissa@efileamerica.com or 527-7384. A short business meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Bring a guest and your opinion!

Candidate soapbox at every meeting

All Republican candidates are invited to take to the candidate soapbox for three minutes at every Roundtable meeting. This is a great opportunity for candidates to get out their message and interface with voters. Candidates, remember to bring your campaign stuff!

Roundtable membership

The Roundtable's annual dues are $30.00 per person. If you would like to renew your membership or become a new member, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to the Roundtable's treasurer: Melissa Thompson, P.O. Box 15044, Panama City, FL 32406. Or you may simply turn in your dues at the August 10 meeting. Thank you for your support!

Subscribe to Roundtable newsletter

Simply click this link: http://republicanroundtable.com/subscribe.html

.

Panhandle Federated Republican Women

The Panhandle Federated Republican Women will host a Meet and Greet for Republican candidates--local, state and federal--on Tuesday, August 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Language Arts Building at Gulf Coast Community College. For more information, contact President Lorraine Odom at 624-2544 or lorraineodom@marykay.com.

Bay County Republican Executive Committee

The Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) will meet on Monday, August 23, at 6 p.m. in the School Board meeting room at 1311 Balboa Ave. The REC is hosting a pancake breakfast for Republican candidates on Saturday, July 24. For more information about the REC and the breakfast, contact BCREC Chairman John Salak at john.salak@L-3Com.com or

276-2872.

Coffee, donuts and great conversation

Roundtable member Ken Ford opens the Republican Headquarters, located at 1607 Lisenby Avenue in Panama City, every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your coffee cup and your point of view for any part of the three hours you can spend there. You'll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656.

Republican HQ needs volunteers

If you'd like to help staff the Republican Party's headquarters during the election season, please contact HQ Manager Glen Leirer at geleirer32@comcast.net or 276-2168.

. . . . .

For more information about the Bay County Republican Roundtable,

contact Vicki Doolittle, President, at 319-0105 or doolittlg@comcast.net.

Other Roundtable officers are:

Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President, Programs Chair

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President, Events Chair

James Waterstradt, Secretary

Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

Waffle Breakfast on Saturday, July 24

The BCREC is sponsoring this event:

Who: Republican Candidates for U.S. Representative (Congressional District 2), State Representative (Districts 6 & 7), 14^th Circuit Judge (Group 2), County Commission (District 4) and School Board (Districts 1 & 5)

What: Waffle Breakfast

Cost: $1.00 per person

When: Saturday, July 24

7 – 10 a.m.

Where: Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q

2400 St. Andrew’s Blvd. , Panama City

This event is open to the public. The candidates will be serving waffles, but they’ve been asked not to waffle on the issues. Don’t miss these two opportunities to meet the Republican Party’s great field of candidates in this year’s Primary Election cycle!

Bay Co.Republican Roundtable update--July 2010

by Vicki Doolittle, President

July 13 meeting: everything you wanted to know about Bay County politics but were afraid to ask . . .

By Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President and Programs Chair

You and your questions will be the stars of this month’s meeting. You will have the opportunity to ask questions of your favorite Republican candidates. First of all, we have invited the two candidates for 14^th Circuit Judge, Pete Mallory and Mike Reiter, to give a brief statement, followed by a few of your questions. Next, we will have a question and answer period with any of the candidates who attend the meeting. This will be in addition to our usual candidate soapbox. Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know our great Republican candidates! Keep reading to find out how you can make dinner reservations.

Meeting and dinner reservations info

The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, 218 Bunkers Cove Rd. , in Panama City . A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15.00 per person, including tax, tip and non-alcoholic beverage. Reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club staff can plan for adequate food and seating. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at Melissa@efileamerica.com or 527-7384. A short business meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Bring a guest and your opinion!

Candidate soapbox at every meeting

All Republican candidates are invited to take to the candidate soapbox for three minutes at every Roundtable meeting. This is a great opportunity for candidates to get out their message and interface with voters. Candidates, remember to bring your campaign stuff!

Roundtable membership

The Roundtable’s annual dues are $30.00 per person. If you would like to renew your membership or become a new member, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to the Roundtable’s treasurer: Melissa Thompson, P.O. Box 15044 , Panama City , FL 32406 . Or you may simply turn in your dues at the July 13 meeting. Thank you for your support!

Subscribe to Roundtable newsletter

Simply click this link: http://republicanroundtable.com/subscribe.html

Panhandle Federated Republican Women

The Panhandle Federated Republican Women will host a Meet and Greet for Republican candidates—local, state and federal--on Tuesday, August 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Language Arts Building at Gulf Coast Community College . For more information, contact President Lorraine Odom at 624-2544 or lorraineodom@marykay.com.

Bay County Republican Executive Committee

The Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) will meet on Monday, July 26, at 6 p.m. in the School Board meeting room at 1311 Balboa Ave. The REC is hosting a pancake breakfast for Republican candidates on Saturday, July 24. For more information about the REC and the breakfast, contact BCREC Chairman John Salak at john.salak@L-3Com.com or 276-2872.

Coffee, donuts and great conversation

Roundtable member Ken Ford opens the Republican Headquarters, located at 1607 Lisenby Avenue in Panama City , every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your coffee cup and your point of view for any part of the three hours you can spend there. You’ll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656.

Republican HQ needs volunteers

If you’d like to help staff the Republican Party’s headquarters during the election season, please contact HQ Manager Glen Leirer at geleirer32@comcast.net or 276-2168.

For more information about the Bay County Republican Roundtable,

contact Vicki Doolittle, President, at 319-0105 or doolittlg@comcast.net.

Other Roundtable officers are:

Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President, Programs Chair

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President, Events Chair

James Waterstradt, Secretary

Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

. . . . .

Bay Co. Republican Roundtable News --June 2010

Vicki Doolittle, President

Supervisor of Elections to address June 8 meeting

Bay County's Supervisor of Elections, Mark Andersen, will be the guest speaker at the June 8 meeting of the Roundtable. A former U.S. Navy SEAL, Mark is the current President of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections, as well as an adviser for the National Standards for Elections Office Management Board. Under his leadership, the Bay Co. Supervisor of Elections office was the first in the country to earn ISO-9000 elections quality certification. We are fortunate that Mark will be spending an evening with us!

Meeting and dinner reservations info

The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, 218 Bunkers Cove Rd., in Panama City. A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15.00 per person, including tax, tip and non-alcoholic beverage. Reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club staff can plan for adequate food and seating. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at or Melissa@efileamerica.com or 527-7384.

A short business meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Bring a guest and your opinion!

Candidate soapbox at every meeting

All Republican candidates are invited to take to the candidate soapbox for three minutes at every Roundtable meeting. This is a great opportunity for candidates to get out their message and interface with voters. Candidates, remember to bring your campaign stuff!

APO addresses needed

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President and Projects Chair, has collected many items for our men and women in service overseas. If you know APO addresses where these items would be appreciated, please contact Sue at 271-4092 or mikespeaks@knology.net.

Roundtable membership

The Roundtable's annual dues are $30.00 per person. If you would like to renew your membership or become a new member, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to the Roundtable's treasurer: Melissa Thompson, P.O. Box 15044, Panama City, FL 32406. Or you may simply turn in your dues at the June 8 meeting. Thanks for your support!

Subscribe to Roundtable newsletter

Simply click this link: http://republicanroundtable. com/subscribe.html

.

Panhandle Federated Republican Women

The Panhandle Federated Republican Women do not meet in the summer. However, the club will host a meet 'n greet for Republican candidates on August 19. For more information, contact President Lorraine Odom at lorraineodom@marykay.com or 624-2544.

Bay County Republican Executive Committee

The Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) will meet on Monday, June 28, at 6 p.m. in the School Board meeting room at 1311 Balboa Ave. Candidates for contested School Board seats will debate. For more information, contact BCREC Chairman John Salak at 276-2872 or john.salak@L-3Com.com.

Coffee, donuts and great conversation

Roundtable member Ken Ford opens the Republican Headquarters, located at 1607 Lisenby Avenue in Panama City, every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your coffee cup and your point of view for any part of the three hours you can spend there. You'll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656.

. . . . .

For more information about the Bay County Republican Roundtable,

contact Vicki Doolittle, President, at 319-0105 or doolittlg@comcast.net.

Other Roundtable officers are:

Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President, Programs Chair

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President, Events Chair

James Waterstradt, Secretary

Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

. . . . .

When the people rise in masses in behalf of the Union and the liberties

of their country, truly may it be said,

"The gates of hell shall not prevail against them."

A. Lincoln, 1861

Bay County Republican Round Table, PO Box 15044, Panama City, FL 32406, USA

Republican Roundtable Update for May 2010

Doc Washburn to moderate at May 11 meeting

The open forum at the May 11 meeting of the Republican Roundtable will be moderated by popular conservative talk radio host Doc Washburn (Fox News Radio 94.5 WFLA). Doc is a regular at Roundtable meetings, frequently contributing spice and humor to our free-for-all discussions. Don’t miss this great opportunity to enjoy Doc in person.

Meeting and dinner reservations info

The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, 218 Bunkers Cove Rd. , in Panama City . A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15.00 per person, including tax, tip and non-alcoholic beverage. Reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club staff can plan for adequate food and seating. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at 527-7384 or Melissa@efileamerica.com.

A short business meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Bring a guest and your opinion!

Candidate soapbox at every meeting

All Republican candidates are invited to take to the candidate soapbox for three minutes at every Roundtable meeting. This is a great opportunity for candidates to get out their message and interface with voters. Candidates, remember to bring your campaign stuff!

Roundtable membership

The Roundtable’s annual dues are $30.00 per person. If you would like to renew your membership or become a new member, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to the Roundtable’s treasurer: Melissa Thompson, P.O. Box 15044 , Panama City , FL 32406 . Or you may simply give your check to Melissa at the May 11 meeting. Thanks for your support!

APO addresses needed

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President and Projects Chair, has collected many items for our men and women in service overseas. If you know APO addresses where these items would be appreciated, please contact Sue at 271-4092 or mikespeaks@knology.net.

Subscribe to Roundtable newsletter

Simply click this link: http://republicanroundtable.com/subscribe.html

Panhandle Federated Republican Women

The Panhandle Federated Republican Women (PFRW) will meet on Wednesday, May 12, at 11:00 a.m. at the Golden Corral Restaurant on 23^rd Street in Panama City . The cost of lunch is $10.00, payable in the room reserved for the club. (Do not pay at the cash register.) The guest speakers for the May 12 meeting are Congressional District 2 candidates. For more information, contact President Lorraine Odom at lorraineodom@marykay.com or 624-2544.

Bay County Republican Executive Committee

The Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) will meet on Monday, May 24, at 6 p.m. in the School Board meeting room at 1311 Balboa Ave. For more information, contact BCREC Chairman John Salak at 276-2872 or john.salak@L-3Com.com.

Coffee, donuts and great conversation

Roundtable member Ken Ford opens the Republican Headquarters, located at 1607 Lisenby Avenue in Panama City , every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your coffee cup and your point of view for any part of the three hours you can spend there. You’ll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656.

Lincoln-Reagan 2010 ignites victory fervor

Over 125 guests enjoyed the annual fundraiser of the Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC), Lincoln-Reagan 2010, on Saturday, April 24, at the Edgewater Convention Center in Panama City Beach . U.S. Congressman Adam Putnam, Republican candidate for Florida ’s Commissioner of Agriculture and the evening’s keynote speaker, delivered a stirring message about the Republican Party’s conservative founding principles and was enthusiastically received. Onward to victory in November! . . . . .

For more information about the Bay County Republican Roundtable,

contact Vicki Doolittle, President, at 319-0105 or doolittlg@comcast.net.

Other Roundtable officers are:

Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President, Programs Chair

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President, Events Chair

James Waterstradt, Secretary

Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

Republican Roundtable Update March 2010

Sheriff McKeithen to speak at March 9 meeting

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen will be the guest speaker at the March 9 meeting of the Roundtable. Sheriff McKeithen is one of Bay County's most popular elected officials, primarily because he does his job so well. Sheriff McKeithen plans to discuss the following topics: Illegal Immigration, Meth Checks and Pill Mills. He will explain what his office is doing and how Bay County is affected by these activities. The Roundtable meets at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, 218 Bunkers Cove Rd., in Panama City. A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15.00 per person, including tax, tip and non-alcoholic beverage. Reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club staff can plan for adequate food and seating. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at Melissa@efileamerica.com or 527-7384.

A short business meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. Bring a guest and your opinion!

Gubernatorial candidate Dockery speaks at Feb. 9 meeting

Florida Senator Paula Dockery was the guest speaker at the Feb. 9 meeting of the Roundtable. Dockery was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002 and has served as Majority Whip. She was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000, where she also served as Majority Whip.

Sen. Dockery is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor. Her primary opponent is Attorney General Bill McCollum. Her speech to the Roundtable emphasized her areas of expertise--water management and the rail system in Florida. She was well received and fielded the usual tough questions from the Roundtable audience.

Candidate soapbox at every meeting

All Republican candidates are invited to take to the candidate soapbox for three minutes at every Roundtable meeting. This is a great opportunity for candidates to get out their message and interface with voters. At the February meeting, Derrell Day and Dan Estes, candidates for County Commission, and John Reichard, candidate for Panama City Beach City Council, took advantage of the soapbox.

Membership drive underway

Each year the Roundtable conducts its membership drive from January 1 to March 31. Annual dues are $30.00 per person. If you would like to renew your membership or become a new member, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to the Roundtable's treasurer: Melissa Thompson, P.O. Box 15044, Panama City, FL 32406. Or you may simply give your check to Melissa at the March 9 meeting.

Thanks for your support!

Trivia Questions

Anyone wishing to provide the Trivia Questions for any of our meetings should Contact:

Richard Plantec 236-1830 or Rgplant1@aol.com

Subscribe to Roundtable newsletter

To subscribe to the online Roundtable newsletter, simply click this link:

http://republicanroundtable.com/subscribe.html

(You may also copy and paste the link into your Internet browser.) When you click the link, you will see the Roundtable logo and a very brief subscription form. Just type in your name and email address and then click "Submit."

When you return to your email account, you'll find a confirmation email in your Inbox. Simply accept the confirmation, and that's it--you are subscribed to the newsletter!

Bay County Republican Executive Committee

The Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC) is comprised of Republican precinct leaders. If you're interested in being active in your precinct this election year, or if you just want to learn more about the activities of the local Republican Party, please plan to attend the next BCREC meeting on Monday, March 22, at 6 p.m. in the School Board meeting room at 1311 Balboa Ave.

For more information, contact BCREC Chairman John Salak at 276-2872 or

john.salak@L-3Com.com.

Lincoln-Reagan 2010 set for April 24

The annual fundraiser of the Bay County Republican Executive Committee (BCREC), Lincoln-Reagan 2010, is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, at the Edgewater Convention Center in Panama City Beach.

State Representative Will Weatherford, originally scheduled to be the event's keynote speaker, was forced to decline due to Florida House rules that prohibit legislators from speaking at political fundraisers during session. That's the bad news.

The good news is that U.S. Representative Adam Putnam, Republican candidate for Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture, has accepted the invitation to be the keynote speaker. Rep. Putnam held the Republican Party's third highest leadership post during the 110^th Congress in 2007 and 2008. During his five terms in Congress, he has become an influential leader on cyber security and federal technology policy.

For more information, contact LR2010 Chairs Vicki Doolittle at g.v.doolittle@live.com or 319-0105 or Teresa Eaton at ardentheart@bellsouth.net or 832-5689.

CD2 forum maxed out!

All 450 free tickets to the May 18 forum for Republican candidates in the Congressional District 2 race are spoken for! The forum will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Martin Theater in downtown Panama City.

Candidates who have confirmed their participation are Dianne Berryhill, Eddie Hendry, Barbara Olschner, Charlies Ranson, David Scholl and Steve Southerland. The CD2 seat is now held by Democrat incumbent Allen Boyd.

For more information, contact Forum Chair Jonathan Hayes at 785-2857 or hayesjh@gmail.com.

Panhandle Federated Republican Women

The Panhandle Federated Republican Women (PFRW) will meet on Wednesday, March 10, 11:00 a.m. at the Golden Corral Restaurant on 23^rd Street in Panama City. The cost of lunch is $10.00, payable in the room reserved for the club. (Do not pay at the cash register.)

The guest speaker for the March 10 meeting is Bob Wells of Soldiers' Angels.

For more information, contact PFRW President Lorraine Odom at 624-2544 or lorraineodom@marykay.com.

Coffee, donuts and great conversation!

Coffee and donuts are a bonus, but the real reason to come to the Bay County Republican Headquarters on Saturday morning is the great conversation and camaraderie. Recent topics of conversation included the CD2 race, the foreseeable problems with nationalized health care, the messed up state of Florida's homeowners' insurance market and how the two might be related, plus other topics of interest to a bunch of grassroots Republicans.

BCRR member Ken Ford opens the Headquarters, located at 1607 Lisenby Avenue in Panama City, every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your coffee cup and your point of view for any part of the three hours you can spend there. You'll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656.

For more information about the Bay County Republican Roundtable,

contact Vicki Doolittle, President, at 319-0105 or doolittlg@comcast.net.

Other Roundtable officers are:

Richard Plantec, 1^st Vice President, Programs Chair

Sue Bynum, 2^nd Vice President, Events Chair

James Waterstradt, Secretary

Melissa Thompson, Treasurer

If you would like to donate items for the monthly raffle, please contact

Mike Speaks, Raffle Chair, at 271-4092 or mikespeaks@knology.net.

"It only stands to reason that where there is sacrifice, there is someone collecting the sacrificial offerings. Where there is service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master." ~ Ayn Rand

The Mount Vernon Statement

The Mount Vernon Statement

Constitutional Conservatism: A Statement for the 21st Century

We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding.Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.

These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world. They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings to tyrants and despots everywhere.

Each one of these founding ideas is presently under sustained attack. In recent decades, America’s principles have been undermined and redefined in our culture, our universities and our politics. The selfevident truths of 1776 have been supplanted by the notion that no such truths exist. The federal government today ignores the limits of the Constitution, which is increasingly dismissed as obsolete and irrelevant.

Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down? Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?

The change we urgently need, a change consistent with the American ideal, is not movement away from but toward our founding principles. At this important time, we need a restatement of Constitutional conservatism grounded in the priceless principle of ordered liberty articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The conservatism of the Declaration asserts self-evident truths based on the laws of nature and nature’s God. It defends life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It traces authority to the consent of the governed. It recognizes man’s self-interest but also his capacity for virtue.

The conservatism of the Constitution limits government’s powers but ensures that government performs its proper job effectively. It refines popular will through the filter of representation. It provides checks and balances through the several branches of government and a federal republic.

A Constitutional conservatism unites all conservatives through the natural fusion provided by American principles. It reminds economic conservatives that morality is essential to limited government, social conservatives that unlimited government is a threat to moral self-government, and national security conservatives that energetic but responsible government is the key to America’s safety and leadership role in the world.

A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.

• It applies the principle of limited government based on the rule of law to every proposal.
• It honors the central place of individual liberty in American politics and life.
• It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
• It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that end.
• It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood, community, and faith.

If we are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.

We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.

February 17, 2010

*Thanks to the heritage Foundation for this

Republican Roundtable news for January 2010

Roundtable begins new year on January 12
The Bay County Republican Roundtable’s first meeting of 2010 will be held on Tuesday, January 12, at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club in Panama City.
A dinner buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $15 per person (non-alcoholic beverage, tax and tip included). Dinner reservations are necessary so that the Yacht Club can prepare for adequate food and staff. To make your dinner reservations, please contact Melissa Thompson at 527-7384 or Melissa@efileamerica.com
Schools Super to be Roundtable’s First Speaker of New Year
Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt will be the special guest speaker at the Roundtable’s January 12 meeting. Bill is a longtime supporter of the Roundtable and will welcome questions following his presentation. Bill will begin speaking at about 7:10 p.m., following a brief business session.
Changing of the Roundtable Guard
The Roundtable’s bylaws call for the election of new officers at the January meeting. Officer elections will be the first order of business on January 12, and all nominations will come from the floor. All contested races will be decided by secret ballot.
2010 Roundtable Dues are Due !
The Roundtable’s annual dues of $30 per person became due as of January 1. If you joined the Roundtable after September 1, 2009, your $30 dues payment has been applied to 2010, and you owe no further payment for this year. If you are a renewing member, please plan to pay your annual dues at the January 12 meeting.
To pay your dues by mail, please make your check payable to BCRR and mail it to Melissa Thompson, the Roundtable’s treasurer, at this address: 136 Queens Circle, Panama City, FL 32405. Thanks, everyone, for your support!
Subscribe to the Roundtable’s e-newsletter
During recent weeks, Roundtable member Sven Thompson has worked diligently to set up a Web site for the Bay County Republican Roundtable that will be an awesome communication tool for BCRR members and for outreach.
As part of this new Web site set-up, you will receive an invitation to subscribe to the Roundtable’s e-newsletter. That invitation will come from ardentheart@bellsouth.net, which is Teresa Eaton’s email address.
Please follow the simple instructions in Teresa’s email to subscribe to the Roundtable newsletter. Eventually, after the new Web site is completely set up and operational, you will not receive the newsletter unless you have subscribed.
Republican Christmas Party Brings 2009 to Joyful Close
Over 100 Republicans attended the Bay County Republican Christmas Party at the Edgewater Beach Resort on December 11. Special guests were Bill and Dorothy Randall, who were honored for their many years of volunteer work for the Republican Party. Entertainment was provided free of charge by Roundtable member Jim Lawson, who is well-known in Bay Co. the area’s premiere DJ. Thank you, Jim!
The party’s guests included elected officials Frank McKeithen (Bay Co. Sheriff), Mark Andersen (Bay Co. Supervisor of Elections), Pat Sabiston (School Board), Walter Kelley (Lynn Haven Mayor), and Roger Schad (Lynn Haven Commissioner).
Candidates in attendance were Derrell Day and Dan Estes, who are running for the County Commission seat being vacated by Jerry Girvin, and John Reichard, candidate for the Panama City Beach City Council.
BCRR Presents Funding to Bay County JROTC We had the great pleasure of presenting $100 checks to each of the four Jr. ROTC units in Bay county at the packed December Bay County School Board meeting. The public and School Board were very impressed and there was an audible gasp in the room when we
told them the amount of the checks. We also thanked the Superintendent and the School Board for keeping this wonderful program in our schools. The Jr. ROTC units teach Citizenship, leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, and values such as Patriotism, Service, and Honor. We thanked each unit for the work that they do. We want to give a special thanks to BCRR and School Board Member Jerry Register who arranged for us to be at the meeting. Coffee, Donuts and Great Conversation! Coffee and donuts are a bonus, but the real reason to come to the Bay County Republican headquarters on Saturday morning is the great conversation and camaraderie. BCRR member Ken Ford opens the doors every Saturday morning from 8 to 11, and others of us show up to greet visitors, keep Ken company and talk about the latest political news. Recent topics of conversation included the CD2 race, the foreseeable problems with nationalized health care, the messed up state of Florida's homeowner's insurance market and how the two might be related, plus other topics of interest to a bunch of grassroots Republicans.
Bring your coffee cup and your point of view with you on Saturday mornings to the Republican headquarters for any part of the three hours you can spend. You’ll be glad you did! The number at HQ is 763-8656. Republican Party of Florida - Annual Meeting January 8-9 The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will hold its annual meeting in Orlando on January 8-9, 2010. Attending the meeting from Bay County will be John Salak, Chairman of the Bay Co. Republican Executive Committee; Jonathan Hayes, Bay Co.’s Republican State Committeeman; and Melissa Hagan, Bay Co.’s Republican State Committeewoman. RPOF’s executive committee is comprised of the Party chairman, state committeeman and state committeewoman from every county in Florida. RPOF steers the state Party ship, with the guidance of the RNC. If you’d like to attend the annual meeting and see how this all works, contact John Salak at john.salak@L-3Com.com or 276-2872.
BCRR Board’s Message At the final 2009 Board meeting great honors were paid to our President, Teresa Eaton, for her year of dynamic leadership. The Club has been greatly improved and strengthened by Teresa’s forward-thinking ideas and unflagging energy. Her devotion to making the Club a relevant part of local and state politics has created a legacy for us all to be proud of, and is a challenge to be met by future Boards. We all wish to express our respect, admiration, and thanks for Teresa’s honorable service to the BCRR.