Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Deputy Mark Luera will speak Tuesday, March 20 at the Star Republican Women meeting at Quail Point, providing a mini-training session on how civilians can best protect themselves should an "active shooter" situation occur at a public event.

The school shooting in Columbine in 1999 changed the lives of many and also the way law enforcement trains officers and responds in an active shooter situation.  Lessons learned from the too many tragic events in America over the past two decades have changed how law enforcement agencies prepare private citizens to respond as well.

The tragic event in Sutherland Springs at the First Baptist Church just three months ago has spurred increased interest in preparing private citizens for what to do in an active shooter situation at any gathering.  At a recent TFRW Board meeting  in February, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department made a presentation entitled “Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE).” 

Williamson County Sheriff Chody and Deputy Luera will present this training for members and guests at the March 20^th Star Republican Women’s meeting.  In this presentation, you will hear about best practices for security, appropriate responses by citizens for safety of all involved, and ways to minimize the impact of an active shooter situation.

This is an enlightening presentation that could save your life and the lives of others when confronted by an active shooter at any community gathering whether it be church, club meetings, social events, or other situations.

A complimentary light lunch will be served starting at 12:30pm on March 20, 2018 and the business meeting and program will begin at 1:00, concluding around 2:00pm.

Denise Rives, VP and Programs

Early voting for the primary elections  ends March 2.  Election day is set for March 6.

For a list of all candidates seeking county and state offices, click on the button below or go to:  https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/candidate-filing/cf-report.aspx

We are nearing the end of early voting in the elections, and where are our voters? 

We are, and claim to be, members of the Republican Party, and why are you not at the polls and doing your job, VOTING!

There are over 15,000 registered voters in Llano County. This is a primary election for Governor, Lt. Governor, Senators, Representatives, Judicial positions and many other State, county and local positions. These are politicians you and I have praised or complained about, some that have become friends and some strangers but have a wonderful background.  You would like to see progress in our great state of Texas in an elected position, but what is keeping you away from taking just a short time and making your voice heard?

You may feel that you will vote in the run-off or the general election in November; but don't you want to see the candidate you believe in and who you think will make a stand in our progression to a position of greatness for the State of Texas? 

The choice is yours. YOU can make a difference. We are looking and waiting for you at the election locations. You can make excuses, sit at home and say your vote is just one vote and it's just the primary, or go vote and make your vote count. 

The most wonderful thing to see at the polls is a first-time, excited, and very eager voter, and the veteran and older voter that comes in and states that he or she has never missed voting in an election. That is a Patriot!  

The election is up to you! 

God Bless Texas and the USA !

Gennie Ward, SRW President​

Star Republican Women will be hosting a fundraising Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday afternoon, May 5 at Jolie's in Marble Falls.  Plan to attend and join your fellow Republicans for fun, food and entertainment -- including watching the 144th Kentucky Derby Race.   

More details to come soon!

Marion Gardner, Ways & Means Committee Chairman

It's a Sip and Paint Day Tuesday, April 10!

Join your fellow Star Republican Women members for a fun afternoon painting and sipping wine -- all for a good cause.

Caring for America Committee Chairman Marsha Lovelady - a "master crafter" and  super artist will share her skills and techniques with 20 SRW members at the SRW Sip and Paint Event, Tuesday April 10 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at Jolie's on Main Street in Marble Falls.

Participants will be given all materials they need to create a functional piece of art for their home or as a wonderful gift to someone special.  AND wine and refreshments will be served.  Price to participate is $40 per person.  Net proceeds will go to Patriot Paws, a special organization that trains dogs to help needy Veterans.

To sign up, please email Marsha at:  mlovelady@outlook.com

Marsha Lovelady, Caring for America Committee Chairman

You​ ​can​ ​be​ ​a​ ​delegate​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​State​ ​Convention!

What​​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​State​ ​Convention?

It’s​ ​a​ ​place​ ​for​ ​people​ ​who​ ​vote​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​Primary​ ​election​ ​to​ ​define​ ​our​ ​shared​ ​beliefs​ ​and​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​how​ ​we​ ​will promote​ ​them.​ ​We​ ​do​ ​this​ ​by​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​platform​ ​and​ ​by​ ​setting​ ​rules​ ​and​ ​electing​ ​people​ ​to​ ​run​ ​the​ ​party​ ​between​ ​conventions.

Who​​ ​can​ ​attend​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​State​ ​Convention?

Anyone​ ​who​ ​is​ ​a​ ​registered​ ​voter,​ ​who​ ​has​ ​affiliated​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​Party,​ ​either​ ​by​ ​voting​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Party​ ​Primary​ ​or​ ​by​ ​taking​ ​an oath​ ​of​ ​affiliation,​ ​and​ ​has​ ​been​ ​duly​ ​elected​ ​by​ ​the​ ​lower​ ​level​ ​conventions.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​affiliate​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​Party​ ​by​ ​voting​ ​in the​ ​Republican​ ​Primary​ ​Election​ ​or​ ​by​ ​taking​ ​an​ ​oath​ ​of​ ​affiliation.​ ​​ ​You​ ​can​ ​only​ ​affiliate​ ​with​ ​one​ ​party​ ​during​ ​each​ ​election​ ​year.

What​ ​is​ ​a​ ​delegate​?
Delegates​ ​are​ ​grassroots​ ​Republicans​ ​who​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​the​ ​shaping​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​Party,​ ​its​ ​role,​ ​and​ ​its​ ​direction​ ​regarding public​ ​policy.​ ​They​ ​volunteer​ ​and​ ​are​ ​chosen​ ​by​ ​their​ ​districts​ ​to​ ​attend​ ​the​ ​party’s​ ​conventions​ ​in​ ​each​ ​even-numbered​ ​year.

Step​ ​1:​ ​Precinct​ ​Conventions

When​ ​and​ ​where:​​ ​​Your​ ​2018​ ​Precinct​ ​Convention​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​sometime​ ​​after​​ ​the​ ​polls​ ​close​ ​on​ ​Primary​ ​Election​ ​Day (March​ ​6,​ ​2018)​ ​and​ ​​before​​ ​the​ ​start​ ​of​ ​the​ ​County/Senate​ ​District​ ​Conventions​ ​(March​ ​24,​ ​2018).​ ​Please​ ​check​ ​with​ ​your local​ ​Republican​ ​County​ ​Chair​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​up​ ​to​ ​date​ ​information.​ ​(See​ ​​https://www.texasgop.org/county_chairs/​)

What​ ​to​ ​expect:​ ​​If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​a​ ​registered​ ​voter​ ​and​ ​affiliate​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​Party,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​this​ ​convention. You​ ​can​ ​introduce​ ​and​ ​vote​ ​on​ ​resolutions.​ ​Then​ ​elect​ ​delegates​ ​and​ ​alternates​ ​to​ ​the​ ​next​ ​convention​ ​level.

Step​ ​2:​ ​County​ ​/​ ​Senate​ ​District​ ​Conventions
When​ ​and​ ​where​:​​ ​Your​ ​County​ ​or​ ​SD​ ​Convention​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​on​ ​March​ ​24,​ ​2018.​ ​Your​ ​county​ ​party​ ​sets​ ​the​ ​location​ ​and time.

What​ ​to​ ​expect:​​ ​In​ ​the​ ​days​ ​or​ ​weeks​ ​before​ ​the​ ​convention,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​visit​ ​committee​ ​meetings​ ​and​ ​let​ ​them​ ​know​ ​what issues​ ​are​ ​important​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​convention,​ ​you’ll​ ​set​ ​the​ ​rules​ ​by​ ​which​ ​the​ ​convention​ ​will​ ​operate.​ ​You​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to vote​ ​on​ ​resolutions​ ​the​ ​committees​ ​have​ ​worked​ ​on.​ ​Then​ ​you’ll​ ​elect​ ​delegates​ ​and​ ​alternates​ ​to​ ​the​ ​state​ ​convention level.

Step​ ​3:​ ​State​ ​Convention
When​ ​and​ ​where​:​​ ​This​ ​convention​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​in​ ​San​ ​Antonio​ ​from​ ​June​ ​11th-16th.​ ​Committees​ ​will​ ​meet​ ​June​ ​11th-13th.

General​ ​Session​ ​and​ ​Caucuses​ ​will​ ​meet​ ​June​ ​14th-16th.​ ​Please​ ​check​ w​​ ww.texasgop.org​​ ​for​ ​convention​ ​details.

What​ ​to​ ​expect:​​ ​​You​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​testify​ ​before​ ​the​ ​committees​ ​on​ ​issues​ ​you​ ​care​ ​about,​ ​vote​ ​on​ ​the​ ​platform​ ​that​ ​will state​ ​the​ ​beliefs​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Party,​ ​vote​ ​on​ ​the​ ​rules​ ​that​ ​will​ ​steer​ ​the​ ​Party,​ ​and​ ​elect​ ​people​ ​to​ ​run​ ​the​ ​Party​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next​ ​two years.

Why​ ​​become​ ​a​ ​delegate​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​State​ ​Convention?

Because​ ​you​ ​will​ ​have​ ​an​ ​instrumental​ ​role​ ​in​ ​shaping​ ​the​ ​beliefs​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Party​ ​and​ ​determining​ ​the​ ​methods​ ​of​ ​implementation​ ​in public​ ​policy.

Kathy Hussey, Legislation Committee Chairman​

The Membership Challenge continues!  

Please ask your friends, neighbors and family members to join Star Republican Women -- as members or associates.  Bring them to our March meeting.  And if you haven't renewed your membership it is time to do so!

Dues are $25 for members and $15 for associates.  Remember, spouses can join as an associate member and attend all of our meetings.  

Please click on the button below and download the 2018 Membership Form and bring to our next meeting or mail to the address noted on the form.  

Emily Tobin, VP & Membership​

Star Republican Women's Red Shoe Book Club will meet Tuesday, March 27, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Lantana Room at the Horseshoe Bay Resort.

 The featured book will be "The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George.

The book’s main character is Monsieur Perdu, who is a literary apothecary. He prescribes novels for the hardships of life from his floating barge bookstore on the Seine river in France. He mends broken hearts and souls.

“This is a love letter to books and meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shapes peoples lives.”

The discussion will be led by our 2018 Literacy Committee Chairman Dee Patterson.  

The book review will be followed by a C.H.A.T. (Chicks Having an Awesome Time) about a timely topic and led by Legislation Committee Chairman and Secretary Kathy Hussey.

We hope you will wear your red shoes and join us for a lively time of sharing our thoughts and views about this intriguing book. 

Dee Patterson,  2018 Literacy Committee Chairman

 SRW members attending the TFRW Leadership Conference included (from left) Becci Mears, President Gennie Ward, Sandra Thompson, Awards Committee Chairman Charlotte Steindorf, Secretary & Legislative Committee Chairman Kathy Hussey, Caring for America Committee Chairman Marsha Lovelady, and VP and Membership Committee Chairman Emily Tobin.  Also attending was Denise Rives, VP and Programs Chairman (who took this photo).