The President's Message

By Elvie Kingston

Happy 4^th of July!    Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?  Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.  Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.  Two lost their sons serving the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.  Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.  They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Twenty- four were lawyers and jurists.  Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.  But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy.  He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.  He served in Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.  His possessions were taken from him and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarter.  He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.  The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.  The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedsides as she was dying.  Their 18 children fled for their lives.  His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.  A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution.  These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians.  They were soft-spoken men of means and education.  They had security, but they valued liberty more.

Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledge:  "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.  They gave you and me a free and independent America.  The history book never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War.  We didn't fight just the British.  We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.  So, take a few minutes and think about why you celebrated and enjoyed your 4^th of July holiday, and silently thank these patriots.  It is not much to ask for the price they paid.  Remember, freedom is never free.

It's time we get the word out that patriotism is not a sin, and it's one of the reasons we can say--

Congratulations to everyone that got elected to various state and national positions at the State Convention, and to the many TTPRW members and friends elected to go to the National Convention.  I apologize if I have missed someone.

Now we must move forward with the BUSINESS of Texas Tea Party Republican Women which is to elect all Republican candidates.  We must project a positive, passionate, enthusiastic attitude about all the candidates when talking to each other and when talking to everyone outside our club in order to win in November.  We must come together and work towards only one end - electing Republican candidates from the top to the bottom of the ticket.  A positive attitude is catching - others will follow our lead.  Together we WIN!

God Bless You, Texas and the United States of America!!!

Elvie Kingston - President

TFRW Outreach Education-Sharing "Conservative Principles"

By Jube Dankworth

The TFRW has a new program called the Outreach Education program, and one of the first clubs to participate is Texas Tea Party RW, with a goal of sharing true "Conservative Principles."  This program will consist of two sections: 1) A Speakers' Bureau and 2) teaching members how to outreach in their own circles.

Our Speakers' Bureau already has over 10 volunteers. We are asking those of you who feel comfortable talking in front of groups to volunteer to be a part of our Speakers' Bureau.

We will have a hands-on workshop on the morning of  July 26th to discuss the details of the Speakers' bureau and to compose our 5 points that everyone will cover in their speeches.  This training will keep us all on the same message when speaking to other groups.

As a once-a-month speaking commitment, we won't call upon you every week.  If we receive a request for a speaker, we will e-mail or call you, and you'll have the option to say "yes" or "no."  This could be to a group such as a garden club, a nursing home, or a home group.  You can tell us if you prefer small groups or are comfortable with large groups.

We have already been contacted about Democrats going to nursing homes, telling the residents how the Dems will provide everything for them.  We need speakers who can give the "other side."

That's our Speakers' Bureau!  Out there talking to groups.  Telling the other side.  We need speakers who are willing to do the talking.

So if you can talk to 5 people in a living room or 30 people in a meeting, PLEASE email Jube Dankworth and let us know.  We will contact you about the workshop and work with you on this new and exciting project!!

The second part of the Outreach Education project is helping each member become more aware of how to talk to your friends and members of other clubs--your circle of influence   We'll need a bit of information from you-names of clubs, groups, organizations, Bible studies, etc. that you belong to.

Send the names of your groups to Jube Dankworth.  In August we will have a workshop on "Sharing Conservative Principles in Your Circle of Influence." We appreciate your letting us know what groups you belong to and helping in our Outreach Education. 

It's that time again! The 2008 TTPRW membership application is available online.

We're looking forward to an active and exciting 2008, so don't wait! Print, fill out, and send in your membership application today.

January 18, 2007, Republicans stood united in an effort to strike Section 220 from the Senate Ethics Bill (S.1).  The vote passed, 55-43.  The grassroots provision of the reform bill would have severely limited the efforts of non-profit advocacy groups that band citizens together to bring their concerns to government.   Click here for an article by Bobby Eberle of GOPUSA providing details on S.1.

This is a GREAT speech by Dan Patrick.  Sorry, I don't have a picture.