Peter Feaman on March 28 – Congressional Midterms?

If the Democrats win just 24 seats – a 6% turnover and not an unusual midterm result, then EVERYTHING CHANGES!

Speaker Pelosi? Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff? Financial Services Chairman Maxine Waters? Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings? Could it be any worse? What is the likely outcome?

Join us on March 28 to hear Florida’s RNC Committeeman Peter Feaman handicap the House races and tell us how we can affect the outcome.

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Peter Feaman was elected in 2016 to a four-year term as the national committeeman of the Republican Party of Florida, and serves on the RPOF Executive Committee.

As a practicing trial attorney, Mr. Feaman was recognized by the Florida Trend magazine as one of Florida’s “Elite Lawyers” in the field of business and commercial litigation in 2011. He has a JD degree from the Miami School of Law in Coral Gables, and a BA in Political Science from Union College in Schenectady, NY.

In 2007, Mr. Feaman published his first book entitled “WAKE UP, AMERICA!” subtitled, “Understanding Jihad for Dummies!” His second book “The Next Nightmare: How Political Correctness Will Destroy America” with a forward by former Congressman Allen West, was published in 2012. Mr. Feaman has appeared on Fox News and numerous radio talk shows throughout the United States to discuss the threat of radical Islam, current political issues and how political correctness will destroy America.

Ryan Hnatiuk at February Lunch

Ryan Hnatiuk, Executive Director of the PBC GOP was our February speaker.

Describing part of his job as “finding Republicans wanting to run for local office and providing them assistance”, he spoke of the importance of city councils as a farm team for future party leaders.

It is a fact that the best places to live in this country are run by Republicans and it is important for all of us to get out and vote in the local elections to support these people. “We don’t get good leaders at the top,” he said, “unless we have them at the bottom,” and “it is better to stamp out the bad ones early,” before they gain momentum.

Ryan described the range of services that the local GOP office can provide to local candidates, and gave the membership some tips on researching the candidates – such as looking up their financial records online.

His list of candidates in the upcoming March 13 election that need your support include:

• Mark Mullinix – North Palm Beach Council
• Bob Gebbia – North Palm Beach Council
• Judy Dugo – Greenacres Council
• Armand Grossman – Boca Raton Council
• Jeremy Rodgers – Boca Raton Council
• Martha Webster – Royal Palm Beach Mayor
• Scott Maxwell – Lake Worth Commissioner
• Pam Triolo – Lake Worth Mayor
• Selena Smith – Royal Palm Beach Council
• Alysen Africano-Nila – Highland Beach Vice Mayor/Commissioner
• Dawn Pardo – Riviera Beach Council

We also heard briefly from RPOF Field Director Sheen Mayberry, who has been organizing support for CD18 Congressman Brian Mast.

Candidates present at the meeting to introduce themselves included Nick Kimaz, running in the August Republican primary for District 22 (Ted Deutch seat), and Martha Webster, Royal Palm Beach Mayor candidate in the 3/13 election. Fred Scheibl reminded Palm Beach Gardens residents to VOTE NO on March 13 to all 4 ballot questions, and join us for sign waving at PGA and Military on Friday 3/2 and 3/9 from 3:30-5:30pm.

Please join us on April 25th for Florida’s RNC representative Peter Feaman.

Thanks to Carol Porter for these photographs.

Apply Now for the 2018 Anne Roberts Scholarship

The Republican Club of the Palm Beaches’ Scholarship was named after a long-standing and active member of our Club, Anne Roberts.

The Anne Roberts Memorial Scholarship is available to any resident of Palm Beach County who is a full or part time undergraduate or graduate student seeking to further their education. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or above and plan to attend an accredited college. Applicants must be registered (or pre-registered under 18 yrs. of age) Republicans. Current members of our Club may refer applicants for this scholarship. The deadline for this application is May 31. The recipient will be eligible to receive up to $500 to be sent to the school they will attend. Award will be presented at the monthly luncheon June 27, 2018.

RCPB Scholarship application 2018

Previous Years Winners

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Last year, our new winners were Jessica Blakley, majoring in Political Science and Economics at Belmont University (she was also awarded an internship during the 2018 session of the Tennessee Legislature), and Madison Andrews, step-daughter of our former Club President, Melissa Nash Andrews. Madison moved to PB County from Utah and is a freshman at Palm Beach State. We also continued Jenna Calderaio, studying entrepreneurship at FSU, Lauren Staff who is studying telecommunications at UF, and Ryan Walker who is at Stetson Law School.

Lauren and Jenna were first time winners in 2016.

Lauren graduated from Dwyer High School in 2015 and is presently a Junior at UF. She writes for the Independent Florida Alligator Newspaper and works for ESPN Gainesville Radio 95.3 researching sports statistics. She tells us that Law School is in her future.

Jenna graduated from Jupiter Community High School in 2016 and is attending Florida State University. Her major in business and entrepreneurship will prepare her for a career in product development. She attended the Florida Sunshine Summit in Orlando witnessing 14 presidential candidates which supported her goal to be a strong conservative leader for the Republican Party on a local or national level.

In 2015, our new winners were Aaron Mejias, who studied Political Science and History at PBAU and Ryan Walker, a political science major at the University of Florida.

In 2014, our previous undergraduate recipients kept up their grades to receive additional scholarship: Dylan Brandenburg, John Clark, Jason Ferrara, and Daniel Kozell. Because of the generosity of our club members, we were able to add a fifth recipient, Hanna Matry, a junior at UF majoring in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering and a member of the University’s Rocket Team in the NASA Hybrid rocket competition.

2013 was an expansive year for our scholarship program, with 6 recipients. They went to Elizabeth Cayson, a county employee who is attending Walden University in Illinois remotely, and Danielle Madsen, who recently graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic and is working at a TV station. Three Florida State students received grants including John Clark (3rd year), Dylan Brandenburg (1st year) and Daniel Kozell (2nd year), and Jason Ferrara who is attending the University of Alabama received his third year scholarship.

In 2012, there were 5 scholarships awarded: James Schackelford in his 3rd year at Florida Atlantic University and Daniel Kozell entering Florida State University. We continued to follow John Clark, Jason Ferrara and Shirley Schaff.

In 2011, there were four scholarships awarded. John Clark attending Florida State University, Jason Ferrara attending University of Alabama, Shirley Schaff attending Northwood University and Kimberly Twoey attending Palm Beach Atlantic University.

In 2010, one scholarship was awarded to Cindy Morris, mother of 5, in her final year with 3.7 GPA at Palm Beach Atlantic College School of Education with endorsements in special education and English and a second language.

The second 2010 scholarship was awarded to James Shackelford, majoring in accounting at Florida Atlantic University. With his passion for politics, he is active in student government and volunteered for Allen West and Marco Rubio campaigns. After receiving his masters in Finance, James plans to attend law school.

The 2009 recipient, Nicole Vega, from Berean Christian High School, aspired to be a civil engineer. After much mentoring by several Club members, Nicole has changed her studies to major in Communications with a minor in Political Science at Palm Beach State College.

RCPB Scholarship application 2018

Fran Hancock Named Statesperson 2018

Our club President, Fran Hancock, was honored by America Connected last evening as the “Statesperson 2018” at their annual Statesman dinner. The award is given for “.. dedicated years of outstanding service and commitment”. Fran, who was our longtime county RPOF Committeewoman, was chosen by a panel of county GOP leaders.

An enthusiastic group of club members was on hand to celebrate with Fran at the dinner at the Boca Marriott last evening.

Thanks to Carol Porter for the pictures of the event.

PBCGOP Executive Director Ryan Hnatiuk at February Meeting

Join us in February as Ryan will give us the local party’s view of this election year, with particular focus on the March municipal elections.

We will also be inviting candidates to introduce themselves at this meeting.

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Ryan C. Hnatiuk is the Political and Executive Director of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County. He was born and raised outside of Flint, Michigan. He, and his wife of 14 years, have one son who is a very active toddler and is a full time job in his own right. Since coming to South Florida, Ryan has had the opportunity to work with various candidates, consultants and fundraisers primarily within Palm Beach County but has also consulted in the counties of Martin, Broward, and St. Lucie. He has worked in various sized campaigns from town council to congressional and county commission seats.

Ryan recently attained his master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in Conflict Resolution and is also a certified mediator. Prior to getting his master’s degree he received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a minor in International Relations with primary focus being on Latin American governments and their emerging markets. He is looking to use the skills he has attained to strengthen friendships, build lasting coalitions and open dialogue to attract new people to the Republican Party.

Starla Brown at January Lunch

Our first meeting of the new year featured Starla Brown, Grassroots Director, Americans for Prosperity Florida.

If you haven’t been involved with AFP lately, it was interesting to learn of the variety of their projects, over and above the core mission of getting out the vote.

Of particular interest to Starla is free speech on campus. Having just completed an event on this topic at FAU, they are supporting HB909 this session which would end “free speech zones” on florida campuses. While many would expect that the entire country is a “free speech zone”, unfortunately the liberal stalwarts that run our universities have relegated objectional views (such as conservative thought) to small pens in out of the way places (such as next to dumpsters). HB909 would stop the practice but it made it out of its first committee by only a 2 vote margin (out of 12) and has 2 more committee hurdles before it can get to the floor.

Other projects by AFP and their 501(c)(3) subsidiary AFP Foundation include the Libre Initiative, that advances the principles and values of economic freedom to empower the U.S. Hispanic community, primarily by offering English classes with a dose of policy.

Others are the Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) that aims to preserve the freedom and prosperity they and their families fought and sacrifices to defend, and Generation Opportunity – an outreach to millenials. Starla related that millenials she works with live in a virtual bubble through social media, only seeing people and ideas that are like minded.

To keep up with the bills in Tallahassee that AFP is supporting (or opposing), check out the Florida Billboard

Accompanying Starla was their local Field Director, Maryann Connors.

Also present was Derek Schwartz, candidate for CD21, the Lois Frankel seat. Derek is a Boca attorney and lives in Boynton Beach who specializes in tax law, and is a self described “America First” Trumpster. We expect to hear more about Derek in the months to come.

Candidate for SD31 Tami Donnally was represented by Paula Prudente.

Please join us next month, February 28, for a 2018 Election Update with PBCGOP Executive Director Ryan Hnatiuk.

Starla Brown Featured at January Lunch

Please join us at the Airport Holiday Inn on Wednesday January 24th. Starla and Maryann will bring us up to date on some of the AFP-Florida projects with which they are involved.

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Starla Brown, Grassroots Director for Americans for Prosperity Florida, has volunteered and worked to promote grassroots outreach in Florida to impact change at all levels of government. As a campaign consultant in the South Florida area, she led grassroots activities throughout the Sunshine State for local, state and federal campaigns. As an activist, Starla has participated in thousands of door-to-door and phone bank activities and the recruitment of volunteers. Originally from Mississippi, Starla has called Palm Beach County home since moving to Florida in the late 80’s. The preservation of a free society and the American dream are two or her most passionate goals.

Maryann Connors was born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island. She has spent her adult life living in Fort Lauderdale, raising her son and three stepsons and enjoying her 5 grandchildren. She was in the printing and advertising industry for 35 years as both a salesperson, advertising coordinator and a production manager.
Maryann joined Americans for Prosperity in May of 2016 as a Field Director after volunteering for over two years. She passionate about economic freedom and a free society where everyone can live their version of the American Dream and is dedicated to that vision.

Dimensional Harmony Highlights December Lunch

Our Christmas lunch was enhanced by the sweet tones of Dimensional Harmony from Boynton Beach High School and their leader Sterling Frederick.

The a cappella chorus did a range of traditional Christmas songs, as well as some of their pop favorites, with some excellent solo performances.

We also heard from PBCGOP Chairman Michael Barnett with some end of the year remarks as he swore in the club officers for the next year, and Tami Donnally, who is now a candidate in the special election for Senate District 31.

Mark your calendar’s for next month’s meeting on January 24 which will feature Starla Brown, Florida Grassroots Director for Americans for Prosperity.

Congressman Brian Mast Visits our November Veteran’s Event

In our annual salute to veterans, of which there are quite a few among the club members, Army Veteran and Congressman Brian Mast recapped his first year in the House representing CD18.

Brian was introduced by Sid Dinerstein, who pointed out that although Brian’s seat has been targeted by the national Democrats mainly because of the narrow (R+4) district demographics, with popular State Attorney Dave Aronberg likely sitting it out the seat is not that much at risk if we all give Brian our support.

Club President Fran Hancock echoed that theme, pointing out that although some club members live outside the district, Brian is still “our” Congressman since he is the only Republican representing any district in Palm Beach County. As such, we should give him our support, our time and our money as he runs for re-election in 2018.

Brian’s remarks addressed some of the questions he was asked before the meeting got started.

A common question was “is Washington really as awful as it sounds?”. The answer is somewhat mixed. One of his pet peeves about many of those that inhabit that swamp is the total disingenuousness of his colleagues. It is hard to fathom how someone can call you vile names while in front of the cameras, then come by later and act as if they are your friend seeking support for their pet legislation. Not the way real people behave.

Brian was hopeful for passage of tax reform this year, and he was one of the needed votes for it to pass the House this past Thursday. What will happen in the Senate (where hundreds of bills have gone to die) is anybody’s guess, but the House has done their part. The House bill will be good for people in district 18 – statistics indicate that currently only 30% itemize, and the new standard deduction will drop that to 5-10%. What the left is spinning about tax cuts only for the rich is very misleading. Pointing out that the amount of taxes that are levied in each bracket is declining for all earners, tax reduction is real.

He spoke of his work on VA Legislation, and the fact that through his efforts, he now has a Congressional Office right in the West Palm Beach Medical Center. He encouraged veterans with problems with the system to drop by his office and seek his assistance.  He also hoped that other representatives throughout the country choose to do the same and get offices at their local VA hospitals.

In the Q&A session that followed, he was asked what we could do to help. “Bring your friends to the townhalls” he said. That is the way to create new activists when they witness the rhetoric on the left and how he stands up to it.

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At the conclusion of the meeting, members voted on the slate of officers for 2018 who will be installed at the December 6 lunch featuring Dimensional Harmony. They are President Fran Hancock, Vice President Fred Scheibl, Secretary Claire Anderson Jones, and Treasurer Bette Anne Starkey.

Dimensional Harmony Will Sing at Lunch on 12/6

Join us at the Holiday Inn, Airport on Wednesday, December 6th for Holiday Music from Boynton Beach High School’s phenomenal “Dimensional Harmony, as they dance, sing and harmonize their way through another great and successful year! Their outstanding performance in London led to an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in April 2017! This group is on the move and shows what creativity is all about!

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Dimensional Harmony is a sensational choral group of 50 extraordinarily talented Boynton Beach High School students that has received state and nationwide acclaim for its amazing singing ability!

Under the direction of innovative director, Mr. Sterling Frederick, Dimensional Harmony has been widely recognized nationwide over the past few years, winning first place gold in several competitions in New York and Atlanta; and also winning the prestigious National Show Choir Title. Members have performed their creative interpretations of inspirational songs, ballads, and popular hits live on the “Today Show,” as well as at numerous theaters. Other venues for Dimensional Harmony’s accomplishments include the Florida Music Educators Association Music Conference, openings for renowned gospel singers, and at events held at Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Resort.

Dimensional Harmony members are a proven example of the positive impact dedicated students, their dedicated leader, and the Performing Arts can have on the local community and on developing future successful, well rounded, and responsible, young individuals and citizens! With their incredible talent, grace, harmony, and unlimited enthusiasm, they deserve the opportunity to become our ambassadors and compete at the highest level.

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