Republican women meet in Yuma
February 26, 2010 9:51 PM
Elective politics has seen a significant
increase in women's participation recently,
according to the Arizona Federation of
Republican Women, who are meeting in Yuma
Friday and Saturday.
"We've seemed to have ignited a re-interest in women in the Yuma area to get active again in politics," said Leona Johnston, president.
The 70-year-old organization's mission has been to let everyone know that Republican women can make a difference, she noted. Friday's festivities were part of a series of events that comprised their state board of directors' winter meeting.
The organization anticipates 107 people arriving from all over Arizona who will plan for this year and the following year at the Radisson Hotel, 1501 Redondo Circle, noted Deborrah Miller, first vice president of programs. A number of workshops were scheduled for Friday afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m. with more workshops Saturday followed by a lunch.
One of the workshops was presented by Arizona House Rep. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix. She spoke on a proposal to amend the state constitution that is aimed to allow residents greater freedom to vote on health care choices in a referendum she supports.
The keynote speaker Friday was scheduled to be Ward Connerly, the California chair of Proposition 209. It was the initiative that ended the race-based preference system for admissions to the California university system that passed in 1996.
Connerly is also the chair of the American Civil Rights Institute, a nonprofit group aimed at educating the public on ways to move beyond racial and gender preferences. Connerly's talk Friday was to focus on how the nation's promise can be realized by getting beyond race, Miller noted.
A variety of other dignitaries were scheduled to attend, including Barry Wong, a candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission, and Ruth McClung, a former state legislator and now a candidate for the U.S. 4th Congressional District.
The winter meeting concentrates on this year's elections at every level from the U.S. Senate race to the governor's office and on to statewide races, Johnston said.
"As a women's group, we are very strong on having mentors to get women into politics. This year we have more women running than ever before in the history of our organization."
The Republican Women will remain neutral during the primary campaign but once nominations are wrapped up, they will unite behind all of their Republican candidates, Johnston stressed.
"I think at this time, we're feeling very positive about our elective prospects. We have very strong candidates at every level."
She said their organization's membership is growing and they are seeing greater numbers expressing interest of women becoming politically involved. For those wanting further information, visit www.azfrw.org.
"We haven't been in Yuma for four years but we're thrilled to return and we love the facility at the Radisson."
"We've seemed to have ignited a re-interest in women in the Yuma area to get active again in politics," said Leona Johnston, president.
The 70-year-old organization's mission has been to let everyone know that Republican women can make a difference, she noted. Friday's festivities were part of a series of events that comprised their state board of directors' winter meeting.
The organization anticipates 107 people arriving from all over Arizona who will plan for this year and the following year at the Radisson Hotel, 1501 Redondo Circle, noted Deborrah Miller, first vice president of programs. A number of workshops were scheduled for Friday afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m. with more workshops Saturday followed by a lunch.
One of the workshops was presented by Arizona House Rep. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix. She spoke on a proposal to amend the state constitution that is aimed to allow residents greater freedom to vote on health care choices in a referendum she supports.
The keynote speaker Friday was scheduled to be Ward Connerly, the California chair of Proposition 209. It was the initiative that ended the race-based preference system for admissions to the California university system that passed in 1996.
Connerly is also the chair of the American Civil Rights Institute, a nonprofit group aimed at educating the public on ways to move beyond racial and gender preferences. Connerly's talk Friday was to focus on how the nation's promise can be realized by getting beyond race, Miller noted.
A variety of other dignitaries were scheduled to attend, including Barry Wong, a candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission, and Ruth McClung, a former state legislator and now a candidate for the U.S. 4th Congressional District.
The winter meeting concentrates on this year's elections at every level from the U.S. Senate race to the governor's office and on to statewide races, Johnston said.
"As a women's group, we are very strong on having mentors to get women into politics. This year we have more women running than ever before in the history of our organization."
The Republican Women will remain neutral during the primary campaign but once nominations are wrapped up, they will unite behind all of their Republican candidates, Johnston stressed.
"I think at this time, we're feeling very positive about our elective prospects. We have very strong candidates at every level."
She said their organization's membership is growing and they are seeing greater numbers expressing interest of women becoming politically involved. For those wanting further information, visit www.azfrw.org.
"We haven't been in Yuma for four years but we're thrilled to return and we love the facility at the Radisson."