Louisiana Federation oF repubLican Women

ELEPHANTIMES
Louisiana Federation of Republican Women
P.O. Box 44268 • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-4268 • lfrw.org • Editor: Elly Harper
Great Weekend For LFRW
And Louisiana!
LFRW Receives Awards
At National Convention
LFRW congratulates our member candidates who
competed for various offices around the state this past
weekend. Each and every candidate committed her
time, talents and resources to campaign for the office she
was seeking....each one with the sincere desire to ‘make
a difference’ for her community and our state. Sincere
thanks to each one for her willingness to serve and for the
efforts put forth in each campaign!!
LFRW was represented by 16 candidates (25%) in a
field of 65 female R candidates. In this Fall’s election, 6
LFRW members (37.5%), all incumbents, were reelected....Senator Sherri Cheek, Senator Julie Quinn,
Rep. Nita Hutter, Rep. Kay Katz, Rep. Jane Smith, and
Clerk of Court Malise Prieto. Four candidates (25%) faced a run-off..Colleen Hawley
(Representative District 77), Judy Hoffmeister (St. Bernard
Council), Danyelle Taylor, who we inadvertently missed
in our initial announcement (Representative District 83),
and Ruth Ulrich (BESE District 5).
Five (31%) candidates were not successful ... Sonya
Allen (Livingston Council), Marie Clesi (Representative
District 79), Donna Fauchaux (Slidell Council), Tricia
Firth (Bossier Clerk of Court), and Polly Thomas (Senate
District 9). One candidate dropped out before the election
Valarie Hodges (Representative District 64). Every campaign must raise money...before and after
the election. Please consider a donation to our member
candidates and their campaigns. Let them know you
appreciate them and their efforts; encourage them to
continue their participation in the political process that
will improve our state! Thank you, ladies!!
LFRW clubs and individual members were honored
with Achievement Awards at the 34th Biennial NFRW
Convention in Palm Springs. These awards recognize
outstanding achievement and accomplishments in
various categories during the past two years. Congratulations to those who did such good record
keeping and were honored for their hard work!!
Club Achievement Award is presented to local clubs that
demonstate excellence in membership development,
campaign activities, programs,and club functions. Winners are Diamond Award to Franklin RW and RWC
of Jefferson Parish; Gold Award to Mandeville RW and
Ouachita Parish RW; Bronze Award to Algiers RWC,
East Baton Rouge Parish RW, Metropolitan RW and
Slidell RWC.
Caring For America Award is presented to state
federations and local clubs that demonstate excellence
in community outreach. Winner is East Baton Rouge
Parish RW.
Campaign Award is presented to the federation member
who contributes the most volunteer time to Republican
Party and its candidates. Winner is Faith Peperone of
Metropolitan RW.
Several Membership Awards were presented
to top achievers in the One Plus One and
New Generation/College Republican Women
membership campaigns. Honored for Outstanding
Membership Recruitment by An Individual is Tonya Stiel
of Franklin RW.
Lagniappe....Special thanks and appreciation to Jessie
Morton of Franklin RW who served as NFRW Legislative
Chairman for this past term. Jessie also went the extra
mile to ‘make a difference’ for NFRW by serving as CoChairman of the convention Silent Auction which raised
over $20,000!! Congratulations, Jessie
Louisiana Federation of Republican Women
P.O. Box 44268
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4268
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2007 CLUB NEWS
ALGIERS REP. WOMEN: Octoberfest Southern Style
Barbeque, benefitted Community Projects including
support for The Dictionary Project donating books to the
students of Algiers Charter and Recovery Schools.
REP. WOMEN OF BATON ROUGE: “Hats, Handbags
and High Tea!!” was the fundraiser for this busy group, in
addition to awarding The Wanda Aizpurua Scholarship
to a woman undergrad at LSU or Southern, majoring in
Pre-law or Political Science. Member Rhonda Perdue
attended the Rep. National Committee Women’s
Leadership Conference in June.
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH REP. WOMEN:
Interesting and educational meetings were held, with
candidates for Sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish
sharing their views. The Naturalization Committee
serves refreshments for the ceremony in November
for new USA citizens, an important first impression!!
Together with Rep. Women of Baton Rouge a joint
meeting was held to introduce candidates for the
upcoming elections.
SLIDELL REP. WOMEN’S CLUB: Support continued by
this very active club for the Dictionary Project, Elephant
Trunk (school supplies), and the Pearl Williams Superior
Leadership Award! In addition, there were candidate
forums, campaign volunteering, and a new member
coffee. Slidell reaffirms its devotion to the Republican
movement in their area!
THE METRO CLUB: This very active and community
spirited club in Jefferson Parish showed their true
colors of red, white and blue by holding candidate
forums, recognizing their members for volunteering in
STAIR tutoring, participating in The Dictionary Project
with cooperation and support of the St. Bernard Club.
Together in strength, with Linda Vinsanau, associate
member, serving as Region 1 Coordinator, much was
done towards the recovery effort for our children. The
cookbook project, chaired by Nan Cornfield, was an
astounding success and submitted in the 18th annual
TABASCO Community Cook Awards competition!
The Metro Club Scholarship was awarded to Brittany
Elizabeth Davis of Kenner for her essay on “Participating
in the Political Process”. In addition, the club is
very supportive of Cancer Crusaders and Jefferson
Beautification. Patriotic Republicans all!!
REP. WOMEN OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA: This
club is mourning the death of charter member and
former LFRW Regional Vice President, Marie Key
Martin. In her honor, the club is working to set up a
perpetually renewing scholarship fund and to award
scholarships to deserving young Republican Women.
Donations may be sent to RWSLA, PO Box 754, Lake
Charles, LA 70602, with “Marie Key Martin Scholarship
Fund” in the memo section.
MANDEVILLE REP. WOMEN: “Passion for Fashion”
was the fundraiser for MRW, chaired by Linda Begue,
a fabulous afternoon of fashions and fun which raised
money for the club’s community service outreach as well
as for Republican efforts in the area. The Americanism
Committee is continuing its program in Lake Harbor
Middle School, and the club participated in a Political
Forum for Republican candidates for State elections.
MRW is a growing club with outreach efforts throughout
the parish.
REP. WOMEN’S CLUB OF JEFFERSON PARISH:
“Dancing with the Stars” was the very successful
fundraiser this fall, with participation of Republican
“movers and shakers” in Jefferson Parish. Dictionaries
and thesauruses were given to six elementary schools
under the banner of “The Dictionary Project”. In addition,
the ongoing raffle tickets sales will provide the Free
Enterprise Essay Contest Scholarship in May of 2008.
WOMEN’S REP. CLUB OF SHREVEPORT: Fundraising
and campaigning were the hallmarks of the fall season
for this active club!! Brenda O’Brock hosted a fundraising
dinner for Royal Alexander, candidate for LA Attorney
General. Governor-elect Bobby Jindal, together with
Luke Letkow visited the club, to thank his supporters in
the area.
PROFESSIONAL REP. WOMEN OF CADDO, REP.
WOMEN OF BOSSIER & WRC OF SHREVEPORT:
These three local clubs participating in supporting a
fundraiser for member Tricia Firth during her campaign
for Bossier’s Clerk of Court. A prime example of clubs
working together showing how strong Republican women
work together! PRWC member Rachelle Chappelie
walked almost all the neighborhoods campaigning for
Republican candidates!!
FRANKLIN REP. WOMEN: Franklin Republican Women
will host a NFRW Regent’s Club Campaign! The club will
kick off their 20th Anniversary Celebration with a trip to the
Washington, D.C. to have tea at the White House with
First Lady Laura Bush. Over twenty-five FRW members
have already signed up for the trip. Plans are being
made to charter a plane so that the group can travel
together. Following their trip, the group will return to
Franklin to host their 20th Anniversary Celebration Gala.
Franklin Republican Women recently held their
October meeting with two fabulous guest speakers
--State Treasurer John Kennedy and Sammy Kershaw,
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Nearly 100 members
attended the luncheon meeting at the Forest Restaurant
where Kennedy and Kershaw became FRW Associate
Members. In addition, five new members joined the club
following the meeting!
Over $800 was collected in donations during this
meeting to benefit the FRW Louisiana Soldiers
Call Home for Christmas Project. FRW want to
provide AT&T phone cards for all Louisiana soldiers
stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that they
will be able to call home for Christmas. Members
who make donations are eligible for two singing
“camouflaged” singing soldier bears. One bear
will be given to the winner. The other bear will be
sent to the troops with the winner’s family name
monogrammed on the bear’s uniform. The club goal
is to raise $1842.00.
JEFFERSON DAVIS REP. WOMEN: These busy
club members have been boxing and shipping
supplies to our soldiers, planning the birthday
party at the Veterans’ Home, and preparing for the
Christmas Tea Fund Raiser.
BAYOU WOMEN’S REP. CLUB: This North Shore
Club raised funds through its participation in the
Lacombe Crab Cook-off and presented its annual
scholarship to Lacombe resident Kathryn Dufrene.
Their Dictionary Project furnished 75 books to the
third graders at Chahta Ima Elementary School!
RAPIDES PARISH REP. WOMEN: In addition to
hosting the Fall Membership Conference, this club
campaigned vigorously for our Rep. candidates,
manning the booth at the Pie Festival in Lecompte,
and holding their annual picnic! Thank you to RPRW
for a very successful meeting!
REP. PROFESSIONAL WOMEN OF GREATER
NEW ORLEANS: Political guests and candidates
offered opinions and news regarding the elections
of this season. In addition to candidates, Mr.
Roger Villere, head of the Republican Party of
Louisiana and Mary Beth Romig of the New Orleans
Convention and Visitors Bureau will also be speakers
at upcoming meetings. An ongoing fundraising raffle
of a crystal pedestal vase will enrich their coffers by
December.
OUACHITA PARISH WOMEN’S REP. CLUB:
Members supported various candidates very
strongly in the election, with more work to follow.
The club supported The Dictionary Project, the
Billy Haynes Mem. Schlarship, Race for the Cure,
donated money to Cameron Parish Library project,
established memorial funds, and won awards at the
NFRW convention
LAFOURCHE REP. WOMEN’S CLUB: Strong
presence in the political arena is epitomized by this
local club. The parish President Charlotte Randolph
(sister of Jane Birdsall & LRWC member) and Sheriff
Craig Webre were re-elected and other candidates
were the recipients of the campaign efforts of this
mighty club. A community candidate forum was
held to reach out to the citizens of the area instead
of holding the forum within the club meeting time-a
great idea and well received by all.
REP. WOMEN’S CLUB OF KENNER: RWCK
hosted the Tri-Club Annual Meeting, with welcoming
remarks by Kenner Mayor Ed Muniz, and keynote
speaker, columnist and TV host, Jeff Crouere.
The club also held a LFRW Fashion Show at
Chateau Golf and Country Club, benefiting the state
federation, with modeling by club members and
elected officials, in addition to a candidate forum.
REP. WOMEN OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA: In
addition to the “meet and greet” partnering with
the Terrebonne Parish RW, the RWSEL members
worked the phones and supported Republican
candidates in their districts. Members are very proud
that their candidate for the My Favorite Teacher
award, Mr. Alan Gary Phillips, won this state honor.
REP. WOMEN OF BOSSIER: The community
service project for the NW La. War Veterans Home
consisted of collecting and delivering car loads
of books, games, card, clothes and toiletries. In
addition, this club participated in the above tri-club
campaign support.
EDITORIAL
NOTE
We hope you enjoy this
year-end edition of the
ElephanTimes, the official
publication of the LFRW We will
be changing our distribution next
year, with the ElephanTimes to be
posted on the LFRW.com website. It will be
available for reading, downloading and printing.
Club officers may distribute their printed copies at
their meetings. Watch for constant updates on the
LFRW.com website, with news and information
regarding our state federation. Photos in the
Gallery will show the members at work and play.
Please visit us frequently.
Elly Harper - Editor