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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 pr 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] |
