March 2023 Chairman’s Notes

March 18, 2023 in Chairman Notes

“True republicanism is the sovereignty of the people. There are natural and imprescriptible rights which an entire nation has no right to violate.”

– Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

Some people understand how critical America is, and has been, in recognizing, embracing, and defending the “natural and imprescriptible rights” of all people. For Lafayette, he embraced the American experiment and helped the founders achieve victory because he believed that our principles were right and they would spread to his French homeland. It is amazing to me that what was so clear to an 18th century French aristocrat is so elusive to millions of actual Americans today. We see and hear calls for eliminating the natural rights of people throughout our society. Can’t speak the truth without being called a liar. Can’t stand up for equality without being called a bigot. Can’t stand up for women without being called a misogynist. Everything seems turned upside down and twisted. It’s like the truth doesn’t even matter any more in the news, or in our schools, or in our policy making. But we are the people. We are sovereign. We are the ones who decide – if we have the strength of our convictions. If we are willing to suffer the slings and arrows of those who would see us trampled under their boots. If we are willing to say family matters, faith matters, truth matters. This is how we win – by joining together and fighting. By telling the truth. By ceaselessly pointing out the lies. By exposing their smoke and mirrors. And by never giving up.

NEXT STAFFORD GOP MEETING

We will hold our next meeting on Monday, March 13 at 7pm at the Falmouth Fire Station at 250 Butler Rd in Southern Stafford. The official call is below. Dues are due for the year, and if you have not paid you may be considered as a lapsed member. If you wish to pay your dues, become a member, or renew a lapsed membership, you can enter your information and pay the dues here.

CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

The Leadership Institute will be holding a Candidate Development Workshop on March 18, 2023. The Candidate Development Workshop is designed to teach current and prospective candidates, and their teams the steps needed to run a successful campaign. Full details and registration are available here.

17 ELECTIONS IN 2023

2023 is a big year in Stafford County elections. We have elections in November for five county-wide Constitutional offices, three Supervisors, three School Board members, two State Senators, three Delegates, and two Soil & Water Commissioners. Nominations will take place in June for all of the partisan positions, and we will be updating our 2023 Elections web page with information on how to file for the various positions. We will keep the site updated as we move through the process. In addition, candidates will have various events, and we will post those we know about on our Events web page.

SPEAKER SERIES

We will hold our next SCRC Speaker Series event with Treasurer Laura Rudy on Monday, March 27 at 6:30pm at the Porter Library at 2001 Parkway Boulevard, Stafford, VA 22554. Join us! We simply cannot let the liars, and the fools, and the bigots, and the tyrants beat us. We must work to support our candidates. We must work to help our elected officials – by showing up to support them, by writing, by posting, by talking to our friends and families and neighbors. We must stand up for our principles – every time they are threatened or under attack. We must stop the first attack with such dominance that they scurry away and never return. That is how you defend liberty. That is how you ensure true republicanism. That is how we win.

In Freedom,

Tony DeTora

Chairman

February 2023 Chairman’s Notes

February 20, 2023 in Chairman Notes

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.”
– Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States

NEXT STAFFORD GOP MEETING

We will hold our next meeting on Monday, February 13 at 7pm at the Pancho Villa Mexican Restaurant, 752 Warrenton Rd. Fredericksburg. The official call is below. If you wish to become a member, or renew a lapsed membership, you can enter your information and pay the dues here. We’re asking everyone to try to sit by Magisterial District – we’ll need to do some things by district in the meeting, so it will be easier if they’re already together. Come Early – Order Food and Drinks – Support Our Local Businesses

STUDENTS FOR LIFE ACTION

Thank you to Les Gabriel who forwarded me information about Students for Life Action targeting Representative Abigail Spanberger because of her vote against the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 26). They are asking for small donations to help support these students who are engaged in this campaign. Donations can be made here: https://studentsforlifeaction.givingfuel.com/sflactionpizza?registrants.source=hf&registrants.messageid=230202

17 ELECTIONS IN 2023

We will have 17 elected offices to fill in Stafford County this coming November. Many of our incumbents are running for re-election. We have some new names and faces putting themselves out there. And we’re still seeking individuals who may want to be Republican candidates in upcoming elections. If you or someone you know may be interested in running for office, please reply to this email so we can set up a time to talk. An up-to-date list of this year’s elections can be found at our website: https://staffordgop.com/2023-elections/ We will update this page regularly with new information about the process and candidates.

SPEAKER SERIES

We will hold our next SCRC Speaker Series event on Monday, February 27 at 6:30pm at the Porter Library at 2001 Parkway Boulevard, Stafford, VA 22554.

IMPORTANT COMMITTEE BUSINESS

At our meeting on Monday, we will choose the method of nomination for eight of the upcoming elections, we will consider our annual budget, and start preparing to fully support our Republican candidates to secure victories in November. More information on these items will be sent to our Members’ distribution list. If you are a current member and haven’t been receiving our Members’ distribution emails, please reply to this message and let me know. We’ll get it sorted out.

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman

December 2022 Chairman’s Notes

December 10, 2022 in Chairman Notes

“Let the light of millions of candles in American homes give notice that the light of freedom is not going to be extinguished. We are blessed with a freedom and abundance denied to so many. Let those candles remind us that these blessings bring with them a solid obligation, an obligation to the God who guides us, an obligation to the heritage of liberty and dignity handed down to us by our forefathers and an obligation to the children of the world, whose future will be shaped by the way we live our lives today. ” ―Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, in his 1981 Christmas Address to the nation

As we reflect on another year, we look at our lives, where we started the year and where we end it. Hopefully we fully remember the blessings, and embrace the obligations that come with them. In many ways this has been a difficult year, while still being better than recent years. As we celebrate through Christmas and the holidays, let us take a moment to help others, to inspire the next generation, and to thank God for watching over us.

SCRC DECEMBER MEETING
We will not hold an official meeting in December. Our next official meeting will be on January 9, 2023. Information (including our location) will go out before the meeting.

SCRC CHRISTMAS PARTY
We will hold our annual Christmas Party on Monday, December 19 at 6:30pm located at Augustine North Community Center, located at 201 Monument Dr, Stafford, VA 22554. Thank you to Adela Bertoldi for securing the location for us. This party will be a pot luck affair – so bring something for everyone to enjoy! I will send out more detailed information as we get closer.

2023 Stafford County Elections
As you are aware, we will have 17 elections in Stafford County in 2023. All of the Constitutional offices are up for election, as are the state legislature seats and Supervisor and School Board seats in three of the districts. We will post information about each of these elections at https://staffordgop.com/2023-elections/ as we proceed. Information for candidates is already available at the Virginia Department of Elections website: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/candidatepac-info/candidate-bulletins/ It is our responsibility to decide how our nominees are selected. In the coming weeks I will share information about that process as we move toward making those decisions in the new year.

God bless us, everyone!

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman

November 2022 Chairman’s Notes

December 10, 2022 in Chairman Notes

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” ―Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States

As you know, we did not win the 7th Congressional District. Yesli did carry Stafford County – so our RED LINE held. But it was not enough to overcome the numbers out of Prince William County. When I spoke with Yesli, she said how grateful she was to everyone in Stafford who worked so hard over the past few months. She said we should proud of our work, and keep up our determination in the future.

We must persist – we must redouble our efforts and continue to charge into the fray. As we look at next year, there will be 17 elections in all or part of Stafford County. Most candidates will announce their intentions in January. All of them will need our help. And we will need our friends, our family, our neighbors, and anyone else we can find to help us. We must show persistence and determination in carrying out the RPV Creed, getting our candidates elected, and ensuring that Stafford and Virginia move in a more conservative direction.

SCRC SPEAKER SERIES
We will hold our next Speaker Series event this Saturday, November 19 at 9:30a at Porter Library, 2001 Parkway Blvd. Our speaker this month with be Aquia Supervisor Monica Gary. Join us as we engage with one of our local supervisors!!GET INVOLVED
How can you get more involved? How can you donate to the Stafford GOP? How do you know what events are coming up? Head to our website at StaffordGOP.com and follow the links at the top of the page.Persistence. Determination. These are our words. Stand strong. Face the right direction and move forward. Hold the line. Extend the line.

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman

October 2022 Chairman’s Notes

December 10, 2022 in Chairman Notes

3 Weeks to Win with Yesli Vega!!!!

“The Democrat Party that I joined—the party of JFK and MLK, Big Tent inclusivity, and fought for free speech, civil liberties — that Party no longer exists. It is now under the complete control of a warmongering, elitist cabal. That is why I left, and why I ask you to join me.” – Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard

We have three weeks left. Vote! Get your friends and family to the polls – either early voting at the Government Center, or on Election Day at your their precinct. Stafford is the key to the new 7tth District – and you are the key to winning Stafford. Whoever works hardest will win Stafford. And we’ve seen the Democrats campaigning all over the county – at early voting, at festivals and fairs, and everywhere else they can be. We’ve been all those places as well, and we’re ahead, but we can’t let up now. We need to fight hard for the next three weeks!!

Election Volunteers

Seeking Poll Greeters, Poll Watchers, and Poll Workers for Election Day. If you want to volunteer to work on Election Integrity inside, please get in touch with John Roy, our Director of Election Integrity at [email protected]. If you want to volunteer to work on greeting voters outside, please get in touch with Charles Sterne, our 1st Vice Chairman, at [email protected] to sign up for times, or for more information.

Funds Needed

As we come down the final stretch, we needed to order more signs, and we are having the sample ballots printed. We’ve had some generous donations, but we could use more funding to ensure we have our supplies for Election Day. Every dollar helps!!! Please go here and contribute what you can: https://staffordgop.com/donate/

As always, you can find out more about events and updates at out website https://staffordgop.com

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman

September 2022 Chairman’s Notes

September 5, 2022 in Chairman Notes

“The Constitution is the sole source and guaranty of national freedom.” – Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States

I believe in the Constitution. I believe in the ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence, which take form in the Constitution to create our federal government. The Constitution was not perfect when written – and still is not perfect. But as President Coolidge said almost 100 years ago upon being nominated for President by the Republican party, it serves as “the sole source and guaranty of national freedom.”

We must fight for it, because if we don’t, no one else will.

SEPTEMBER MEETING
We will be holding our September meeting on the 2nd Monday of the month. The meeting will be held in person on Monday, September 12th at 7pm at the Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy.

I’ll be sending out more information in the coming days about helping Yesli Vega, about the great work of our task forces, about volunteering for early voting, for Election Day, and for other activities. Stay tuned, get more involved, and fight for the Constitution – fight for freedom.

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman

August 2022 Chairman’s Notes

August 1, 2022 in Chairman Notes

“Take a good, long, honest, positive look at what good can come out of every situation you’re in. Wherever you are, that’s where you are. You’re there with it. This is your history you’re living right now. So do what you can to make the most of what comes along. And please, don’t try to do everything on your own. There are a lot of people out there in the universe who wish you well and want to be your friend. Let them help you. You don’t have to carry it all on your own.” – Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 Astronaut

Buzz is 100% right – there are a lot of people wishing you well, who want to help you, who will happily help you carry your burden just as you would offer to help to carry theirs. We work together as members of a community. Our community is based on certain principles that we share. And we work to get our candidates elected. We share our story with the community at the fair or get involved in other ways. We donate funds to help achieve our goals, or will even join (or re-join) the Stafford Republican Party.

You are not alone!

LIBRARY TASK FORCE
The Library Task Force has asked me to share this library survey with the membership. Please fill it out so that our voice is heard!

AUGUST MEETING
We will be holding our August meeting on the 2nd Monday of the month. The meeting will be held in person on Monday, August 8th at 7pm at the Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy.

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman

July 2022 Chairman’s Notes

July 5, 2022 in Chairman Notes

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” – Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States

I’ll keep this message brief. We must fight for freedom. We must protect it. And we must hand it down to the next generation. We do this by teaching our children. We do this by electing men and women who share those values – like Yesli Vega, our nominee for the 7th Congressional District. We do it by building up institutions who can carry that banner forward – like the Stafford GOP. And we do it by fighting those who would be happy to tell their children’s children how they were able to tear it all down. Join us!!

JULY MEETING
We will be holding our July meeting on the 2nd Monday of the month. The meeting will be held in person on Monday, July 11th at 7pm at the Highmark Brewery, 390 Kings Hwy.

In Freedom,
Tony DeTora
Chairman