Monday, June 14, 2010
 
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Friendship tea hosted by Logan County Republican Women

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[June 14, 2010]  Saturday morning, the Logan County Republican Women hosted a friendship tea in the gardens of Chad's Blind.

According to Pat Gesky, the treasurer of the organization, it has been an active group in Logan County for at least the last 50 years, yet their president, Lori Bottrell, said that they are not very well known to the community.

The purpose of the morning get-together, Bottrell said, was to have a casual "meet and greet" where everyone could mingle and get to know one another and learn more about what the group does in Lincoln and Logan County.

Bottrell said that the members are active in supporting their party candidates and do whatever is asked of them, from marching in parades to stuffing envelopes or encouraging folks to get out and vote.

Each year they host a booth at the fair and talk to visitors about the Republican Party, local elections and more. During the fair they give away two tickets per day to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Museum in Springfield and raffle off an Illinois state flag at the end of the fair. The flag has been donated by Sen. Larry Bomke for the last 15 years or more.

In addition to working with candidates, the organization supports several local charities and organizations.

Bottrell said that the group works with Beta Sigma Phi annually to give backpacks to schoolchildren who would not otherwise be able to afford what is on the required materials list.

In addition, they offer monetary support to Catholic Charities with the money earmarked for clothing for school-age children.

The organization also gives support to the Lincoln Public Library, Habitat for Humanity and Community Action.

Bottrell told the audience that this year more than ever, every Republican needs to take part in the election process. She encouraged everyone to get behind Sen. Bill Brady as the Republican gubernatorial candidate, saying it is time for a change.

She acknowledged elected officials or their representatives in the audience, introducing Suzann Maxheimer, who is the current Logan County circuit clerk, as well as Mary Kelly, who this spring won the nomination for the position.

In city government Bottrell acknowledged in the audience Denise Martinek, city clerk; Kathy Horn, Ward 2 alderwoman; and Beth Snyder, wife of Mayor Keith Snyder.

In addition, Bottrell acknowledged Connie Madigan in the audience. Madigan's late husband was former state Sen. Bob Madigan. Tifany Tebben was also among those in the group and was called on to say a few words as a member of the staff of U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock.

As a caseworker out of the Peoria office, Tebben said that she and her counterparts have been charged by Schock to "take care of the people."

"It is our job to take care of all the people he represents," she said. "He's very adamant that we are all out there doing that."

She also said that any time they are needed in the community, they are just a phone call away, and she encouraged everyone to make that call to the Peoria office or the office in Jacksonville.

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Also attending the friendship tea Saturday morning were Bomke and wife Sally Jo.

Sally Jo Bomke spoke briefly, saying with a laugh that as a teacher by profession she has grown accustomed to telling people what to do, and that her husband has been one of her best students.

On a serious note, though, she continued by saying that for her and the senator, life has always included politics. She said that even when they first met, they dedicated their free time together to making political signs and working on campaigns. She said that for her, politics is a natural part of life and she has loved every minute of it.

The senator also spoke briefly to the group, talking about the dire financial situation in the state of Illinois. He noted that the budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1 is not balanced and not right.

He added that there are solutions to the problems the state is facing, that Illinois can come out of the mess it is in, but the first step is a changing of the guard in the governor's office. Bomke said that Bill Brady is the man who will be very instrumental in turning things around in state finances. He encouraged everyone to support Brady in the upcoming election.

At the end of the morning, Bottrell solicited the help of Bomke and Marilyn Wheat in drawing out names for door prizes. Wheat is the wife Dan Wheat, a Republican precinct committeeman.

Once they were finished, she encouraged everyone to continue visiting and relaxing in the garden at Chad's Blind.

The Logan County Republican Women is approximately 25 to 30 strong and is always seeking new members. Bottrell said the group meets only three to four times a year, so it isn't a terribly time-consuming organization, but it is an important one with a definite purpose.

"We are here to support our candidate, male or female," she commented as she encouraged anyone who was interested in doing more to join the organization and make a difference in local politics.

[By NILA SMITH]

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