In this April newsletter

 

• A Message from the Chairwoman
• Notable Announcements
• Support our Law Enforcement Rally
• Pre-meeting Preps 14th CD Delegates for Coming State Convention
• Carol Foster: 14th CD Committee Member Runs for Office
• Passover Suggestion
• Greater West Bloomfield Republicans Have Unique Approach
• Democrat Rep. Brenda Lawrence “Votes for Us” in Washington
• News Links of Interest
• Gentle Reminder about Membership

A Message from the Chairwoman

Dear 14th District Executive Committee Members, and fellow Republicans;

Sadly, I report to you that due to Republican voter apathy, internal Republican bickering and internal unwillingness to back the GOP’s candidate that an unprecedented occurrence has happened ----- Barack Hussein Obama was re-elected to a third term as President of the United States.   Too bad Republicans couldn’t just agree to disagree, and stay united.   What an awful outcome for us and the future of our kids!

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY !

Wouldn't that be a nightmare if true?  For the next few months we Republicans need to decide one simple thing:   Do we want to WIN in November or do we want to lose?  I choose a WIN.  Please respect each other’s support of their favorite candidate, like it or not, we get to choose as Americans. Respect and vote your conscious!  

Sorry for anyone that I may have frightened with my April Fools Joke - couldn’t resist!

Here’s how the 14th (Wayne and Oakland) District voted in the March Presidential Primary:

               

                                           

Only three candidates are mentioned as they are the only three candidates that received 15% or more of the vote in Michigan.   Michigan’s fifty nine (59) delegates will be assigned as follows:  Trump 25, Cruz 17 and Kasich 17.  The 14th District (as with each of the other thirteen Congressional Districts) will be privileged to elect three of our own to attend the Cleveland RNC National Convention and to vote for the next president of these United States!   What an honor!

The first step on the road to Cleveland was taken on March 22 as counties across the state held Republican conventions to elect delegates to the MIGOP State Convention to be held on April 8 and 9.  The combined Oakland and Wayne portions of the 14th District elected a total of 73 delegates (Wayne 26+2 at large + Oakland 44+1 at large) to the State Convention.  At that State Convention, those 73 delegates will elect three Delegates and three Alternates to attend the RNC National Convention.  Talk about grassroots!

WARNING - If you are a Delegate or Alternate elected to attend the State Convention, please know you will be inundated with all sorts of political information. This is called the “silly season” for a reason!  Some of the info may be true.  Much will be dirty nasty trickery. Look at the a return email address--- if the sender does not have the courage to identify him or herself, then DELETE it.  I call those emails “dirty politics” and-- simply put--DELETE them all.

You may also receive a ROBO call or two, some may actually be from someone you know and respect: listen and then decide who you want to vote for - no one else decides.

Stand your ground and vote for those delegates who have worked hard to help the party and your District grow.

Lastly, each one of us comes with our own set of experiences that we draw from as we vote.  Whichever candidate you stand behind----you will be respected!

 

This is an exciting time for those who enjoy politics!   However, it is easy to take your eye off the ball on something simple that needs to be done.  All existing Precinct Delegates’ terms will end on August 2, 2016. This means if you want to continue to be a PD, you must re-apply at your County Clerk’s office by May 3.  We especially need PDs in certain areas like Oak Park, Southfield, Pontiac, Lathrup Village, Sylvan Lake, Detroit, Harper Woods, and Hamtramck.   Let’s get some additional people involved and grow the party!!!

This is a different deadline than for those who might seek any other elected position.  The deadline to be a Precinct Delegate is May 3.   The deadline to file and run for any other office is April 19.  I am proud to report that as of today, Precinct Delegates in the 14th District are running for five elected positions in the November election.  We do practice what we preach!   If you are running for any elected position let me know. Our website has a list to promote all of our 14th District candidates.   See the list of known Candidates running in the 14th District at http://www.14cd.com/candidates

One last thing,  the owner of Jimi’s Restaurant advised me that he plans to remodel the space we used as a meeting place for many months.   When done, the remodeled space will be a sports bar.  So we need a long term solution as to where to meet.   All ideas are welcome!!!

However, the April 21 meeting is now set for the Emagine Theatre - Royal Oak at 200 N. Main Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067.   PLEASE plan to order off the menu as done before.

Next 14th CD Meeting:  April 21 at 6:00pm for dinner/networking

Meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

Meeting location- Emagine Theatre

200 N. Main Street, Royal Oak

JOIN US!

All Republicans are welcome to attend this open meeting!  Please join us with your ideas, energy and help us grow!

All the best for a successful State Convention!

Warmest Regards,

Janine Kateff

14th District Chairwoman

email - [email protected]

Like our Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/mi14gop

Website - 14cd.com

twitter -  https://twitter.com/

586 917 6118

Notable Announcements

 

• April 4: Metro Detroit Republican Women's Club meets at Starbucks at 17001 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe at 7 p.m.  Get more info from Mayra [email protected].
• April 7:  Farmington Area Republican (FAR) meeting at FH City Hall at 7 p.m. features Vincent Vernuccio of the Mackinac Center speaking about “The Future of Unions”
• April 7:  Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) at the University of Michigan is sponsoring Ben Shapiro (“Truth is a Microaggression”) at Rackham Amphitheater.  While the event is free and open to the public, seating is first come, first seated, but with students given preference.  For more information and the livestream please go to this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/977910305634875/. 
• April 8 and 9:  MIGOP State Convention in Lansing (to elect delegates to the GOP National Convention in Cleveland)
• April 11:  LATP monthly meeting at Uptown Grille beginning at 7 p.m. featuring Ben Armstrong from Patriot Radio who will discuss “Trumpmania” and State Representative Jim Runestad (R-District 44) will discuss the Michigan Board of Education’s positions regarding he/she/other students sharing bathrooms.
• April 18:  Oakland County Young Republicans meeting at 6:30 p.m. at  Black Finn in Royal Oak.  Email Shawn at [email protected]for details.
• April 19:  Filing Deadline to run for all offices (other than Precinct Delegate)
• April 21:  14th District Republican Committee meeting at the Emagine Theatre-Royal Oak (note the new location) with dinner and networking at 6 p.m. and a 7:00 p.m. business meeting.
• April 26:  MEDEFCO meeting at The Bruce Post VFW Hall in SCS;  details at  http://medefco.com/
• May 3:  Last day to file to run for Precinct Delegate
• May 15:  Greater West Bloomfield Republicans annual parade participation at the Walk for Israel hosted at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield (walk starts at 1 p.m.)
• May 17:  Support our Law Enforcement Rally at the Southfield Civic Center;  see article below.

Support our Law Enforcement Rally

Karen Faett, 14th Executive Committee member from West Bloomfield,  noted that when there was that fatal shooting by a Dearborn Police officer of a criminal suspect in Detroit recently a protest was scheduled within 48 hours, “without any investigation of facts whatsoever.”

Meanwhile, Carol Foster had proposed last fall that 14th District Republicans host an event to show of support for law enforcement in light of recent unprovoked acts of violence against police officers.

As a result, Faett and Foster, both 14th District Republican activists, teamed up to create the Support Our Law Enforcement Rally scheduled on the Southfield Civic Center Campus from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 17.  The event will feature Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and Southfield Police Chief Eric Hawkins.

“We hope that the event will boost morale and be a positive experience for both the public and law enforcement,” Faett said.

“A few months ago there was a music special featuring Pink, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and many other big names to promote the ‘Black Lives Matter,’” Faett said.  “I guess without coming out directly, we wish to convey that blue lives matter, too. My feeling is there is so much propaganda about purported police brutality, and very little to rebut,” Faett said.

A choir group from Grace Center of Hope in Pontiac will lead off with the National Anthem. In addition to Bouchard and Hawkins, State Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-District 7) will be part of the program.  Other speakers will be announced as added.

“On my end, I was motivated to work on this event after speaking with law enforcement members who expressed a  renewed sense that they can be targeted at any time, and that they would honestly appreciate a show of community support,” Faett said.

Persons interested in more information on the event may call Faett at  248-408-0107.   All are invited free of charge.

Pre-meeting Preps 14th CD Delegates for Coming State Convention

 

Precinct Delegates, even those attending the RNC National Convention, are normally fairly anonymous.   Not this election cycle!   With the national media commenting daily on the excruciating details of how each and every RNC delegate will be selected/committed/altered, the 14th CD leadership called a State Convention pre-meeting to address the topics concerning many delegates who will attend the April 8-9 State Convention.   So the 14th’s first ever State Convention pre-meeting was held on March 31 in Royal Oak.  

Over sixty delegates to the MIGOP State Convention attended, showing how much energy exists for the GOP message in the 14th District!  

Topics addressed included the intricacies of how the Presidential Preference form commitment affects the election process, potential rules to be adopted in Lansing, and goals that the 14th might like to accomplish at the Convention.   The group had a healthy discussion about other potential ideas for the election at State Convention. Some great ideas were shared.  Thanks to all who attended for your energy!

Carol Foster: 14th Committee Member Runs for Office

Carol Foster used to have a live and let live philosophy.

She was totally oblivious to politics.  

“Then the media starting ramming a ton of politically correct phrases down my throat,” she said.  “It felt like my freedom of speech was being taken away.  All of a sudden new moral values were thrown in my face.  The traditional family way of life was under attack.  It seemed like every TV or movie family had become unconventional.”

“I have nothing against unusual lifestyles – I just prefer they live their lives the way they want and let me live my life the way I want,” Foster said.

Carol Foster had had enough.  It was time for a change.

“I started voting regularly,” Foster recalled.  “That didn’t do anything.  The people I voted for told me they wanted to represent their constituents instead of the special interest groups.  But big money funded the establishment candidates.  The establishment was only offering candidates that would represent special interests instead of me.”

Foster felt it was time to get involved.  After checking out several Republican groups, she found the Lakes Area Tea Party.  

“Did I want to become a Tea Party member?  The media said the Tea Party consisted of a bunch of crazy extremists.  I wasn’t an extremist type, but since I couldn’t find another group that would allow me to become more involved, I looked up LATP on the Internet.  Their literature and logic made sense to me.”

Foster said that after finding out LATP was made up of traditionalists, instead of lunatics, she answered the group’s call to become a Republican precinct delegate.  She ended up at the MIGOP convention in February of 2015.

“We met in our district caucuses to vote for district officers, state committeemen and district executive committee members.   Since this was my first time serving as a precinct delegate, I expected to only be an observer.  You can just imagine how completely bowled over I was when I heard my name being nominated to be a 14th Congressional District Republican Executive Committee member!  There were many more experienced people on the nominee list, so I didn’t think there was any chance for me to win.  Somehow I became elected!”

Since then Foster has become the district’s community events coordinator, and has been working with Karen Faett to organize a Support Our Law Enforcement Rally (see article above) scheduled to be held on the Southfield Civic Center Campus from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 17.  

Foster said 14th District Republicans should focus on youth to grow the party.  “I hope to get more of our youth involved with conservatism,” she said.  She hopes to get some young people involved by getting them to wear a tee shirt that she designed to school and leisure activities. It proclaims their adherence to conservatism.  

In her other activities, Foster has worked with English as a Second Language students since 2004, at first as a volunteer tutor for the Oakland Literacy Council and later as founder of “Let’s Talk,” an ESL Conversation Group at the West Bloomfield Township Library.  

“After spending so much time at the library, I decided that I would be able to serve on their Library Board, and have filed my application to run for the West Bloomfield Township Library Board.  I do look forward to serving them to the best of my ability for the next four years.”

A native of Detroit, Foster’s family moved to Oak Park, where she graduated from Oak Park High School. She attended Wayne State University.

She and her husband, Dennis, owned and operated Video Instant Productions, a business that  served businesses’ publicity needs, including those of  the auto industry. Dennis Foster was an independent TV producer. He died in 2001.

Foster has three sons, two of whom live in Michigan and one who lives in Ohio.

Passover Suggestion

 

Passover will begin on the evening of April 22 with the First Seder.   Several Jewish members of the 14th CD suggested that consideration be given to purchasing Passover goods made in Israel.   They suggested looking here  http://www.buyisraelgoods.org for all your Passover needs imported from Israel.

Greater West Bloomfield Republicans Have Unique Approach

 

The Greater West Bloomfield Republican Club made quite a splash with an event attracting top-name political figures just five months months after its founding in 2011.

A 20-member team put together what they called a Liberty Dinner. It was attended by nearly 350 people and was held at the Shenandoah Country Club.

Speakers included former Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, Mitt Romney’s brother, Scott (who is the father of current GOP State Chairwoman Ronna Romney-McDaniel), State Sen. Mike Kowall (R-District 15), Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Congressman Gary Glenn (R-District 98).

“It was an awesome night for our club,” recalled Janine Kateff, one of GWBR’s founders. “For a brand new group like ours to pull off such a major, well attended event showed how much enthusiasm for the GOP message exists in the area.”

Kateff was GWBR’s first president. Other initial officers were Joe Green as vice president, David Taras as treasurer,  Dena Nigohosian as secretary, along with directors Jerry Kosmensky, Frank Mammat, Sheldon Blair and Ron Miller. Kateff called Miller the “godfather of the club”.

Other non-titled citizen leaders who were active in getting the club started were Bill Rauwerdink, Kirit Bakshi and Karen Faett.

“Our mission is to support local candidates through fund-raising, and through social, business and networking events,” said Ben Ohly, current GWBR president.  Candidate recruitment also is a function of the club.

The area called “Greater West Bloomfield” traditionally includes Orchard Lake, Keego Harbor and Sylvan Lake, in addition to West Bloomfield township. However, the club’s extensive email list includes people from throughout the metro Detroit area, Ohly said.

GWBR tries to hold four or five events a year, Ohly added. The board meets monthly at rotating local restaurants.

Events open to the public have included presidential debate watching parties, candidate forums, craft beer tastings and concealed pistol license classes. The club also participates in the annual Walk for Israel hosted at Temple Shir Shalom, which will be held this year on May 15, 2016.

Plans are in the works for a summer fund-raising event — last year’s was a first-ever craft beer-tasting party — and Ohly said the group will also hold a presidential debate watching party this fall.

Members recently spoke out against refugee resettlement efforts (labelled “Welcoming Cities”) at several West Bloomfield Board of Trustees meetings and the club actively opposed the road tax increase proposal (Proposal 1) which was rejected by Michigan voters last May.

Ohly said GWBR “tries to attract conservatives, libertarians, independents and Tea Party people with a big-tent solution. We are open to  people of different ideologies — even fiscally conservative Democrats.”

The current officers are Ohly as president, Marian Sheridan as vice president, Jennifer Oram as secretary, Irving Ginsberg as membership director and Bill Rauwerdink as quartermaster. Directors include Jerry Kosmensky, Lauren Burris, Janine Kateff, Michelle DiNardo and Glenn Gilbert.

Democrat Rep. Brenda Lawrence “Votes for Us” in Washington

Your Democratic 14th Congressional District U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence has been busy in Washington, D.C.  Here is a recap of several of her recent and shocking votes.   Her role in supporting the Democrat Party line and not Michigan values can be seen very clearly here.  Her votes often are like this:  think of a logical idea/opinion and then vote the opposite way.  After considering her positions, please feel free to call her office at 202-225-5802.

• HB 3231 passed 414 to zero (yes, you read that correctly) with Lawrence voting FOR.  This expand laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability to cover interns.  Who knew that interns were not covered?
• Joint Resolution 22 passed 253 to 166 with Lawrence voting AGAINST.  This resolution rejects the EPA’s rule that expands the authority of the federal government to regulate all rivers, streams, and creeks regardless whether such waterways are navigable.
• HB 217 passed 266 to 144 with Lawrence voting AGAINST (see a pattern?).   This changes the mandate that restaurants disclose the calories of menu items by providing flexibility in labeling details.  Further, it limits the mandate by only requiring a calorie label on a primary menu or menu board and not on ads or other material.  Lastly, restaurants that take most of their orders by phone or online can only post calorie counts online.
• HB 4402 passed 397 to zero (yes, you read it correctly) with (surprise) Lawrence voting with the majority.   This directs to president to review any known instances of travel to Iraq or Syria from the USA to provide support to a known terrorist organization. [N.B. BHO does a “review” and then what?]

 

News Links of Interest

1. Detroit’s Bob Seger tells how he wrote “Night Moves”, one of his biggests hits:http://www.wsj.com/articles/creating-bob-segers-night-moves-1432056405

2. Three new “Pure Michigan” ads hit the airwaves http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160311/NEWS/160319970/new-pure-michigan-ads-featuring-farm-to-table-craft-beer-to-begin

3. Americans are driving more than ever (good news for Detroit!) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/americans-are-driving-more-than-ever1/

4. How successful people spend their weekend http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2015/03/24/how-successful-people-spend-their-weekends/#71b9fa684f46

5. Army to test autonomous vehicles in Michigan http://www.govtech.com/fs/Michigan-Interstate-to-Serve-as-US-Army-Autonomous-Vehicle-Testing-Ground.html

6. Eight “Jetsons” contraptions that actually exist todayhttp://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245192

7. How to make your main points in an “elevator speech”https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-15minute-method-to-writing-an-unforgettable-elevator-speech

8. Penguin expert to speak at Detroit Zoo http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2016/Ecologist-Penguin-Expert-to-Speak-at-the-Detroit-Zoo-Next-Month/

9. How do you really feel about Facebook?http://thefederalist.com/2016/01/06/facebooks-going-out-of-style-because-its-a-garbage-dump/?utm_source=The+Federalist+List&utm_campaign=e00b41ccb9-RSS_The_Federalist_Daily_dates_w_Transom&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cfcb868ceb-e00b41ccb9-83811289Up

10. Signs you have the “grit” to succeed!  http://www.inc.com/travis-bradberry/11-signs-you-have-the-grit-you-need-to-succeed.html

11. Want to be a better writer? Than consider these suggestions from Detroit’s own late author Elmore Leonard.http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2015/Blog-Writing-Tips-from-Elmore-Leonard/

12. Irresistible people share these traitshttp://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248719

13. Michigan issues “Batman v Superman” movie mobile app http://mitechnews.com/mobile-technologies/batman-v-superman-movie-mobile-app-developed-grand-rapids-company/

14. Milton Friedman explains the biggest threat to free marketshttps://youtu.be/Xp2eqQ8Msbs

15. Nine tips for adults when using eLearninghttp://elearningindustry.com/9-tips-apply-adult-learning-theory-to-elearning

16. Cranbrook alumna wins DeGeneres’ design competition http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160309/NEWS/160309837/cranbrook-alumna-wins-ellen-degeneres-design-show#utm_medium=email&utm_source=cdb-michmorning&utm_campaign=cdb-michmorning-20160310

 

Gentle Reminder About Membership

Are you a member of the Republican 14th CD?  Mail your $25 membership check to Treasurer Chris Konja, 6575 Stonebridge E., West Bloomfield, MI. 48324. Or you can become a member or renew your membership using this link https://mi14gop.nationbuilder.com/donation. Your dues and our other fundraising activities support Republican candidates and organizations in the 14th Congressional District.