The STAR Republican News January 2020 Star Republican Women is a federated member club of the Texas Federation of Republican Women and serves members and communities within TFRW Region XI and Texas Senate Districts 22 and 24. In This Issue. ​ ​ Jan 21 Mtg Details From Denise's Desk Time to Renew Your Membership Red Shoe Book Club To Meet January 28 ​ SRW Patrons & Sponsors ​ Konni Burton To Speak at SRW Jan. 21 Meeting ​ 12:30 p.m. Light Lunch 1:00 p.m. Meeting ​​ CLICK HERE for Upcoming GOP Events Calendar Konni Burton to Speak at SRW January 21 Meeting at Quail Point Former Texas State Senator Konni Burton and the Founder and CEO of The Texan , a statewide news outlet, will speak at SRW's January 21 Meeting. A light lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. and the meeting will commence at 1:00 p.m. Burton founded The Texan in 2019 to focus on providing news that matters most to Texans and their pocketbooks. She served one term as the State Senator representing Tarrant County's Senate District 10. Previously, she was a grassroots activist who worked on numerous campaigns for local, state and federal races. According to Burton, The Texan is an online, subscriber-based news outlet, which is set apart from legacy media organizations with non-profit or clickbait business models. These models have resulted in news organizations that produce content for a few well-connected donors, or clickbait to satisfy their advertisers. The Texan ( www.TheTexan.news ​) has no advertisers and is not donor-funded. "Trust in traditional media institutions is eroding," says Burton. "Recent surveys have consistently shown that seven out of 10 Americans believe the media knowingly spreads misinformation at least some of the time. The Texan provides relevant, objective journalism in a manner that respects the values of everyday Texans while capturing the independent spirit of what it means to be Texan." Marsha Lovelady, VP of Programs From Denise's Desk Happy New Year! A new year seems to inspire change for many of us. It’s a time for reflecting on what we accomplished in the old year and where we want to focus our energy and efforts for the coming year. New Year’s Resolutions are made by many regarding positive changes we want to make in our lives, commitments are often renewed, and hope for the twelve months ahead is revived. It is with that hope for the future that I am inspired and excited about 2020! This is such a critical year for our great nation, and we are presented with many opportunities to participate in the process of keeping it great, as our Founding Fathers intended. The first responsibility we all have is to be informed voters. There are contested races at the local, state, and national levels. As most of you are aware, our U.S. Representative, Mike Conaway, is not seeking reelection for the Congressional District 11. The Llano County Republican Party (LCRP) is hosting a candidate forum at Quail Point on January 9, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. with at least 9 of the 10 candidates committed to participating. For local races, LCRP will hold a forum on January 29, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. for the candidates for offices of County Attorney, County Sheriff, and County Commissioner of Precinct 3. These forums are excellent opportunities to see which Republican aligns most closely with your values. After educating ourselves about the candidates, we must VOTE in the Primary Election. Early voting begins February 18th through February 28 th (Monday-Friday) and election day is March 3 rd . There will be many other opportunities to get involved and make a difference throughout the year. On your calendar, put the third Tuesday of each month as Star Republican Women meeting day at 12:30 and join us for informative speakers, complimentary lunch, and great fellowship with like-minded conservatives. In the spring, Star Republican Women will also be hosting a fun social event to raise funds for helping the winning candidates after the Primary so that we make sure we Keep Texas Red. Also, watch for information about attending your Precinct Convention, the County Convention, and the State Convention that will be held this year after the March Primary. It is a great honor and privilege to continue serving as your President and I welcome your input about how we can involve as many Republican women in the Hill Country in promoting the Christian conservative values that we hold dear. Hope to see you soon! Denise Rives, SRW President ​ SRW Approves Bylaws Changes At its November meeting, Star Republican Women voted to approve changes to our Bylaws. The Bylaws changes primarily focus on increasing annual dues by $5 to offset an increase in dues charged by the Texas Federation of Republican Women and National Federation of Republican Women. SRW is a federated member club of TFRW and NFRW. A copy of the newly approved Bylaws and Standing Rules can be viewed by clicking on the button below. Changes are highlighted in red. ​ Belle Guice, Parliamentarian SRW Bylaws Time to Renew Your Membership ​ In 2019, Star Republican Women reached a membership count of 105 members and 42 associate members. LET'S CONTINUE TO GROW! It is now time to renew your Star Republican Women membership. Also, Please ask your friends, neighbors and family members to join Star Republican Women -- as members or associates. Bring them to our next meeting. Dues are $30 for members and $20 for associates. Remember, spouses can join as associate members and attend all of our meetings. Click on the button below to download the membership form and recruit family and friends to become new members! Please bring your completed membership form & your dues to our next meeting or mail to: STAR Republican Women P.O. Box 8675 Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 Kathy Stahl, VP & Membership Committee Chairman ​ 2020 SRW Membership Form Red Shoe Book Club To Meet January 28 Star Republican Women's Red Shoe Book Club will meet Tuesday, January 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. to discuss the book "The Gold Finch" by Donna Tartt. SRW President Denise Rives will host the event at her home at 1015 Mountain Leather. Tea and water will be served. Bring your favorite beverage and snack, too. SRW Literacy Committee Chairman Kathy Hussey will lead the discussion. ABOUT THE BOOK: A young New Yorker grieving his mother's death is pulled into a gritty underworld of art and wealth in this "extraordinary" and be loved Pulitzer Prize winner that "connects with the heart as well as the mind" (Stephen King, New York Times Book Review ). Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by a longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into a wealthy and insular art community. As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love -- and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle. The Goldfinch is a mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph, an old-fashioned story of loss and obsession, survival and self-invention. From the streets of New York to the dark corners of the art underworld, this "soaring masterpiece" examines the devastating impact of grief and the ruthless machinations of fate (Ron Charles, Washington Post ). Even if you haven't read the book, you can attend and enjoy the conversation about the book and other topics of interest to the group. Food and beverage service will be available on an individual pay as you go basis. Kathy Hussey, Literacy Committee Chairman SRW Patron and Sponsor Programs To Help Candidates & Communities Star Republican Women thank those who have become sponsors and patrons in 2020, providing funds for Star's political contributions for the upcoming general elections and to support its Caring for America activities in local communities. If you want to participate as a Patron or Sponsor, please click on the link below for additional information. We welcome you recruiting others to participating in these programs as well. SRW Patron & Sponsorship Programs 2020 SRW SPONSORS Horseshoe Bay Mayor Cynthia Clinesmith Llano County Republican Party Chairman Doug Sanders 2019-2020 STAR REPUBLICAN WOMEN PATRONS Claudia Haydon Kathy Hussey ​Carole Keiffer Mary Lou Kromer Lynn Snyder Lane ​ ​JoAnn McCarty ​Denise Rives ​Gennie Ward 2019-2020 SRW Officers President Denise Rives [email protected] 432-638-7808 1st VP/Programs Marsha Lovelady [email protected] 432-238-9428 2nd VP/Membership Kathy Stahl [email protected] 832-472-5437 Secretary Debbie Lambert [email protected] 512-748-0814 Treasurer Charlotte Steindorf [email protected] 830-596-0029 2019-2020 SRW Committee Chairmen Awards Gennie Ward [email protected] 325-247-4078 Hospitality Carol Ascue [email protected] 512-663-3601 Bylaws Belle Guice [email protected] 210-508-7803 Parliamentarian Belle Guice [email protected] 210-508-7803 Caring for America Becca Marsh [email protected] 361-564-8170 Chaplain Sue Boss-Lee [email protected] 512-294-5863 PR/Newsletter Mary Lou Kromer [email protected] 830-596-7061 Ways & Means Marion Gardner [email protected] 830-613-9216 Literacy Kathy Hussey [email protected] 325-423-0418 Campaign Activities Barbara Derse [email protected] 214-202-0052 2019 TFRW Regional & District Leadership Region XI Deputy President Gail Teegarden [email protected] SD24 District Director Zenia Warren [email protected] SD 22 District Director Merryl Wash [email protected] NOTICE: Political advertising paid for by Star Republican Women PAC, Treasurer Charlotte Steindorf,