Join us for an enjoyable meeting each month on the 3rd Monday evening. Please check Facebook.com/Republican.Women.Of.Central for updated locations.
In January of 2010, Joan Lansing asked a few of her friends to meet with her to discuss forming the Republican Women of Central through the Louisiana Federation of Republican Women. By May 10th, the ladies received their official charter and work began to grow the membership among their friends and acquaintances. The club’s first 7 months ended with 54 members – and interest in the club, its activities and future has increased throughout Central and within LFRW.
In January of 2011 a new Executive Committee, Standing and Special Committees took office, and expanded the reach of the club.
The Republican Women of Central were very busy during January thru May, as reported by founding President Joan Lansing. RWC renewed 70% of members from 2010 which equaled 38 renewals by April. We added new members and continued to increase the participation and attendance of elected Officials. We encouraged our membership to bring a guest to each monthly meeting. As of June 1, 2011, we had 49 members.
Local officials in the City of Central regularly attend our meetings and this has facilitated better face-to-face relationships of our citizens with their local officials. Central Mayor Mac Watts is a member and attends our meetings, as do all of the Republican delegation representing our area and those who have announced their candidacy.
Speakers and topics of interested expanded to state secretaries over different departments of state government to broaden our relationships with both decision makers and leaders in our state. Speakers have included:
Secretary of Department of Natural Resources, Scott Angelle
Vice President of the LSU Medical System statewide, Dr. Fred Cerise, PhD.
State Senator Dale Erdey (R)
State Representative Clif Richardson (R)
State Representative Bodi White (R)
East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor Pro Tempore and Metro Councilman Mike Walker (R)
Family-related legislation is also a top priority for the members of RWC. Family Forum President Gene Mills has also shared his efforts for moral, pro-family, pro-life initiatives and lobbying effort on a state and national level.
RWC was represented by 4 members at the
LFRW 29th Biennial Convention in West Monroe on March 25-27. They were Joan Lansing, Tommie Morden, Betsy Otken Barnes and Juanita Lockhart Anderson. While there, our Magnolia Club representative, Joan Lansing, attended an elegant reception at the home of Ruth Ulrich. This presented another opportunity to meet and converse with other Magnolia Club Republican Women.
In March the Executive Committee decided a raffle fundraiser would help fund the
Dictionary Project through the Education and Literacy Committee to give dictionaries to local 3rd graders in public, private and parochial schools in the first semester of the 2011-2012 school year. 2013-2014 Committee Co-Chairs are Misty Dougherty Robinson and Maudell Hill.
On April 10, we attended the Fundraising Reception held for Ruth Ulrich, Republican National Committee Vice Chair for the Southern Region, at the home of Mary Matalin in New Orleans. This elegant event was an excellent opportunity to meet statewide elected officials, prospective candidates, fundraisers and Republican Party supporters from across the state.
On April 27th, we chaired AN EVENING AT THE OLD STATE CAPITOL for LFRW Region 6, introducing the newly elected Region 6 Vice President, Sarah Holliday. The evening was well attended by LFRW President June Williams, Corresponding Secretary Linda Vinsanau and Region 7 Vice President Ginger Corkern, all club presidents and many members as well as local, district and state members, officials and others with an interest in seeing our LFRW chapters grow and succeed.
RWC supported the Republican candidates for East Baton Rouge Parish Family Judge: State Representative Hunter Greene and attorney and RWC member Charlene Charlet Day. Charlene Charlet Day was elected, and several officers and members of our club attended her Investiture Ceremony and Reception on May 2, 2011 at the 19th Judicial Courthouse.
In early May, two members of the Executive Committee, Betsy Otken Barnes and Juanita Lockhart Anderson, attended the
LFRW Spring Board Meeting in Kenner with Presidents’ meeting and workshops. Delegates to National Federation of Republican Women Biennial Convention to be held in Kansas were elected. It was great to meet so many wonderful Republican Women and talk with other officers of clubs throughout the sttate. The meeting was a great learning experience for RWC.
RWC is very involved in the City of Central Community, many members volunteering for the official festival of Central
COOKING FOR OUR KIDS, raising over $1.7 million in 5 years for community schools, neighboring area devastated by disasters and Blue and Gold Star Moms organizations, as well as other charities in need.
The
COOKOUT FOR THE U.S. CONSTITUTION and kick-off to the
CARE PACKAGE DONATIONS for Deployed Soldiers in conjunction with the Blue Star Moms of Louisiana was held at Kristenwood Catering and Reception Hall on Greenwell Springs Road in Central. This family-friendly event is held for students in 6th grade and up, veterans, military, grandparents, neighbors, friends and anyone who wants to learn about their rights under the U.S. Constitution. Dr. Kevin Unter, department head of Political Science, Sociology and Gerontology was the guest speaker.
RWC’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY was celebrated on July 20th, 2011 with special guest speaker Ruth Ulrich, RNC Vice Chair for the Southern Region and LFRW President June Williams, members and guests.
On August 17th, U.S. Congressman and Physician Bill Cassidy and his wife Dr. Laura Cassidy were our speakers.
MEET THE CANDIDATES FORUM was held on the 19th of September for qualified Republican candidates for local, district, state and national elections.
We encouraged a group of Republican ladies in Baker and Zachary to become a new LFRW-chartered club.
Several members have joined other Region 6 clubs to become better acquainted with grassroots efforts and sister members so we can build deeper relationships to learn and grow our own club. We are expanding our outreach through the social media, email and our website on
LFRW.ORG. We have been represented at meeting of all 5 sister clubs in a 3-parish area: Ascension Republican Women, East Baton Rouge Parish Republican Women, Republican Women of Baton Rouge, Livingston Parish Republican Women and Capital City Republican Women.
We meet with our state and district representatives and their staff members on a regular basis. They keep us up to date of the actions on Capitol Hill.
We invite all registered Republicans (men and women) to join our efforts to move forward and support our conservative Republican candidates. For more information about membership and our club, please email us at
republicanwomenofcentral@yahoo.com.
