Boca Chapter Meeting Recap, Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
The Palm Beach County Tea Party’s Boca Chapter started November with a bang with its monthly dinner/speaker event on Tuesday, November 1st, featuring senatorial candidate, George LeMieux. Despite lingering Halloween inclement weather, we had a strong showing of patriots, including an entire table of younger people- a byproduct of some of the educational work we are doing here in Boca.
Boca Greens Country Club continues to provide an excellent backdrop for this monthly event on the first Tuesday of every month (with NEXT month, December, being an exception due to the Holidays). People lined up for the excellent buffet, which included all kinds of goodies, especially the salmon. Raffle tickets were sold until the Boca Chapter Coordinator, Alex Berry, presided over the podium to make announcements before introducing the speaker. A brief welcome was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, and a review of the three tenets of the Tea Party was presented. After discussion of Fundraising activities, and alerting people to our merchandise table—featuring our brand new embroidered logo polo shirts–our founder and County Coordinator, Pam Wohlschlegel was then introduced to update the attendees on more PBCTP news and events.
Alex then read an email titled, “Free Ice Cream”—a typical example of how civics and politics can work on a 3rd grade level, and how easily duped we can be if we don’t stick to principals and truth. Alex then introduced the speaker for the evening: George LeMieux- a senatorial candidate who is up for Bill Nelson’s seat. George has an unassuming presence, and folksy delivery that was frank and honest. He has been something of a dark horse candidate, despite having served previously as an interim senator. Because George’s campaign is not as “slick” or sophisticated as some of the others, I think many were surprised at how much they liked his speech. It’s funny how “groomed” we have become in terms of our political process—that because someone’s campaign style or look doesn’t fit the current paradigm of expectation, and how quickly we are to dismiss a candidate as “unelectable”.
LeMieux went on to articulate the severity of our debt crisis, going into granular detail of just how to wrap our arms around the depth and magnitude of the irresponsibility of our leaders in Washington. He also cited several startling statistics just about our state, including foreclosures. He went on to describe how political campaigns often have slick speeches and rhetoric, but no actual “plan”. He mentioned Paul Ryan’s plan- but indicated, in a refreshing way, that it did not go far enough to make spending cuts. He then unveiled his plan called, “The Four Freedoms Plan”, which covers Freedom From Debt, Freedom From Foreign Dependence, Freedom To Work, and Freedom To Pursue The American Dream.
We had a particularly sprightly Q&A session, as many members asked questions about the Federal Reserve system, Taxes, Term Limits, and a variety of other passionate questions asking about how we can win in November. One question asked him about why we should vote for him instead of Adam Hasner, our speaker who was warmly received last month. People watched closely as LeMieux handled the question with grace and aplomb. He resisted the temptation to go into attack mode – another element that was refreshing about LeMieux’s presentation—but instead provided differences between the two of them from the perspective of how they both voted in the past.
As usual, a hearty bunch enjoyed further fellowship after the speech, and the raffle was drawn. It’s always gratifying to see new friendships being forged, and old ones being strengthened at events like this. We must definitely learn to stick together at times like this in American history. We must not forget our past, or our future will not be pretty. We keep hearing how important this election will be, and there is a lot of truth in that. As LeMieux aptly said, Americans have traditionally risen to each challenge that appeared insurmountable in every generation. While one might argue that the stakes have never been higher than now, it is important for us to work together to fight the poison of liberalism’s corrosive impact on our society.
We look forward to more great meetings in 2012 for our Boca Chapter—please stay tuned into this site for more information, and INVITE YOUR FRIENDS to our next Boca Chapter event, which will be on January 3, 2012!!! Until then, have a Happy Holiday Season from those of us at the Boca Chapter of the Palm Beach County Tea Party! See you next year!
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Gold Rush 2, November 15th
Click on the button below to RSVP or call Ellen at 627-0478 for details.
Jupiter/PBG Chapter Meeting, November 7
Join us the Doubletree Inn for the November Jupiter/PBG Chapter meeting featuring US Senate candidate George LeMieux.
Date: November 7, 2011
Time: Meet and Greet, 5:30, Buffet 6:00pm, Meeting 7:00pm
Location: Doubletree Inn, Palm Beach Gardens
Please click on the link below to RSVP.
Wellington Chapter Meeting, November 14
Join us for a night of patriotism and enlightenment at the November Wellington Chapter meeting.
Our guest speaker will be the president of U.S. Term Limits, Philip Blumel. Mr. Blumel managed the campaign to enact term limits for the Palm Beach County Commission. Voters approved the law with 70% of the vote and it went into effect in 2010. He is now involved in a national campaign to enact term limits. Come to the meeting and get involved.
Date: November 14, 2011
Time: Meet and Greet, 5:30, Buffet 6:00pm, Meeting 7:00pm
Location: Binks Forest Country Club, 400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington
Doors open at 5:30 pm, dinner buffet for $15 (all inclusive) from 6:00 to 7:00.
Click on the button below to RSVP or call Wellington Co-ordinator Gina Rascati at 561-952-5298 for details.
Get Mobilized for 2012 – Lantana Library, 11/6
Fashion Show Luncheon
Click Below to RSVP
Boca Chapter Dinner/Speaker Night, Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Join us for the Tuesday, November 1st meeting of the Palm Beach County Tea Party’s Boca Raton Chapter, with keynote speaker, United States Senate candidate George LeMieux.
Throughout his career, George LeMieux has demonstrated a consistent commitment to public service. He served as Florida’s Deputy Attorney General, Chief of Staff to Florida’s Governor, and most recen
tly as United States Senator for the people of Florida.
As Deputy Attorney General, LeMieux led an agency of more than 400 attorneys. He argued a death penalty case before the United States Supreme Court and won the case with a unanimous decision. LeMieux oversaw the office of governor for the administration’s first year as Chief of Staff and helped oversee and manage Florida’s state agencies.
In 2008, George returned to the private sector to lead Gunster, a prominent Florida law firm. In the summer of 2009, George was called back into public service when U.S. Senator Mel Martinez retired before the end of his term.
While serving as Florida’s 34th United States Senator, George was an active member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging. Senator LeMieux saw several of his legislative priorities signed into law including Medicare anti-fraud legislation and an export promotion act.
While in Congress, Senator LeMieux was given the “Tax Fighter” award by the National Tax Limitation Committee, the “Taxpayer Hero” award by Citizens Against Government Waste, the “Friend of the Family” award by the Christian Family Coalition, and the “Guardian of Small Business” award by the National Federation of Independent Business.
During his time in the Senate, George made the debt and deficit his primary focus because of our nation’s unsustainable fiscal path. George introduced a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and a proposal called the 2007 Solution, which would have reduced government spending to 2007 levels. Furthermore, he opposed wasteful earmark spending, which earned him a 93% rating from the National Taxpayers Union.
A lifelong Republican, George has been involved in grassroots efforts from a very young age. He was president of the Broward County Young Republicans, ran for the Florida State House as a Republican, and in 2000, was elected to lead the Broward County Republican Party. Demonstrating his firm commitment to Republican ideals, when Governor Crist left the Republican Party, George stated, “Our friendship runs deep, but my commitment to the principles of the Republican Party runs deeper. I cannot walk down the path he has chosen.” LeMieux endorsed then-GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio and helped Rubio gather support for the race.
At the conclusion of his Senate term in 2011, George returned to the Gunster law firm where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board. He lives in Broward County with his wife Meike and their four children Max, Taylor, Chase and baby girl Madeleine.
Q&A will follow his speech.
DATE: Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
TIME: Doors open at 5:30 PM, Buffet at 6:00 PM ($15, Cash Bar); Meeting at 7:00 PM
PLACE: Boca Greens Country Club, 19642 Trophy Drive, Boca Raton, FL 33498-4633
RSVP: Boca Greens Country Club is a gated community. Click below to RSVP with name of each attendee:
For More Information
Email
Call: 561-302-1479
Palm Beach County Tea Party
Cut Spending Now Rally in West Palm Beach on October 19th
Americans for Prosperity launched a National Cut Spending Now tour in Washington State. Since then, they have been mobilizing grass-roots activists in rallies across the country – culminating in their fifth annual Defending the Dream American Summit Washington DC on November 5th. In addition to having speakers and displays at each stop, activists will have the opportunity to sign the Cut Spending Now petition, to tell Washington to cut spending now and restore the basic principles of economic freedom that will revive American growth and create jobs
The West Palm Beach stop on the tour will be on Wednesday, October 19th at 5:30 pm in Centennial Park, 100 S. Clematis Street. Guest speakers will include AFP President Tim Phillips, Florida Director Slade O’Brien and local Patriot Leaders.
Wear your Palm Beach County Tea Party or other patriotic shirts!
For more information contact Slade O’Brien at sobrien@afphq.org or at 561-441-5866. Click on Cut Spending Now for an event flyer.
Hometown Crowd Assembles for Adam Hasner
In a refreshing contrast to the backdrop of the last Boca Chapter Speaker/Dinner Event in September, our event in October, on the 4th, was set up with a beautiful fall sunset, and a wonderfully balmy and clear 84 degrees, low humidity, and with no rain in sight. The turnout for this event was close to 140 people, and they were not disappointed by the lineup of events for the evening. Adam Hasner, the front-runner candidate for the Republican nomination for Senator in the upcoming election, was set to speak to his hometown crowd.
Senate Candidate Adam Hasner
Once again, familiar faces began to file in and get in line for the delicious buffet at around 6pm, but, as usual, there were many new faces, as well. One thing that you can say emphatically about the Tea Party movement is that it is an ORGANIC one. It is populated by a giant populace who is firmly entrenched in the Tea Party’s classic conservatism— but there seems to be an even larger base of those who are not necessarily affiliated with any particular group, but who are attracted by the purity and honesty of the Tea Party’s core ideology—that reflects the universal concerns that our government be CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED, that we hold our elected officials accountable regarding FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, and that we encourage FREE MARKETS. These are all ideals that are as “relevant” today as they were when our Founding Fathers set the course quite specifically in that direction, and hoped that our nation would continue on that same course for future generations…
In any event, Alex Berry, the Co-Founder and Boca Raton Chapter Coordinator called the meeting to order, and the Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. Immediately thereafter, Carlos Santana—not the legendary 60’s guitarist, but a local proud Cuban descent vocalist—brought down the house with his extraordinary rendition of our National Anthem. Alex then rattled off a list of announcements of current events, and then read a very funny, but poignant, email that he recently received, about the battle between those who RECEIVE “free stuff”, versus the people who PAY for that same “free stuff”.
He then introduced the speaker, Adam Hasner, who seemed genuinely glad to be “home” in Boca, in the midst of such a heavy campaign schedule throughout the state of Florida. Adam took the podium with an aplomb that only one who truly believes in what he does can do—and Adam truly believes in the heart of each principal that he articulated…He did not hesitate to remind our crowd of how he voted on any number of issues, including the CAIR concern. He was not shy about reminding the Tea Party that he stood by issues that we embrace since before any local Tea Party was formed.
When Adam concluded his speech, Alex Berry took over the role as moderator and MC, and a “Question & Answer” period of about 15 minutes ensued. There were several interesting questions posed—from abortion to compromising with the Democrats—and space simply does not allow us to do justice to Hasner’s very good responses to each of these questions—but the one question that seemed to dominate came from one local citizen and first-time attender, who asked Hasner about the Federal Reserve System, and the Internal Revenue Service, and whether or not he felt they should be abolished. It was abundantly clear that Hasner was both appreciative, and challenged, by that question. In the end, he called for wholesale transparency of the Fed—though he stopped short of calling for its abolishment– and TOTAL reform of our tax system, which we all know is badly broken.
Hasner departed amongst universal applause, and the evening ended with Bruce Besser, a local leader in the Boca Chapter, drawing the winning raffle ticket for one lucky attendee. Bruce also reiterated the importance of getting involved on a LOCAL level, as he does—Bruce volunteers his house for all of us to meet on a weeknight to plan events like this one… It is extremely important that we TAKE ACTION in the place where you live—to arrange events like we have each first Tuesday of the month at Boca Greens Country Club.
In summary, it was a great night for patriots in Boca who still love what made this country the most prosperous nation in the world—one that created more wealth, more philanthropy, more generosity, and more opportunity (THROUGH the free market system), to eliminate poverty than ANY other system known to man!
We look forward to seeing not just YOU—but as MANY of your friends as you can muster to come—for our meeting on the first Tuesday of November…
Gold Rush Tea Party Social
The Palm Beach Party Tea Party is a non-profit organization supported by our members. To raise money, we hold drawings and sell various merchandise at our meetings. Although we do accept simple donations, we want to make our fundraising fun and a win/win for all.
To this end, our members, Barb & Mel Grossman, are hosting a Gold Rush Tea Party Social on Thursday, October 6th from 2pm to 5pm. To contribute simply come laden with all your unused or broken gold jewelry. A professional buyer will pay you top dollar for your gold and share her commission with the Palm Beach County Tea Party! Party size limited to 20 participants. Location and directions will be provided when you RSVP. Please RSVP by Tuesday, October 4th.
