October 2023 · Vol.30 · No.10 · Region IV · Senate District 4 |  |  |  | September 11, 2023
Caring for America
By Laura Archibald - Corresponding Secretary
September 11, 2023 marked 22 years since a series of coordinated terrorist attacks took place on American soil.
A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, DC, and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 344 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel were killed that day also. There were 75 firehouses in which at least one member was killed. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) also lost its department chief, first deputy commissioner, one of its marshals and one of its chaplains.
My husband Donnie and I are both retired Houston Firefighters and we both were on duty that day. Like most Americans we will NEVER forget that day, the feelings of sorrow, despair, scared and sadness over the lives lost that day. This was the most loss of life that the entire Fire Service has ever had in our history. After the planes hit the World Trade Center towers, like all the major cities Emergency Management got to work right away to see where we could be attacked if our city had been chosen by the terrorist.
One of the main places they thought would be attacked was the Houston Ship Channel and that was my first in territory. The thought was terrifying but we all knew we had a job to do. Most of us called our parents, siblings and loved ones just to make sure we told them we loved them. Donnie asks me to leave work that day and I asked him “are you leaving?” Of course, the answer was no, and so was mine. We had only been married 3 years at that point and would be celebrating year 4 the next month. I thank the good Lord that we were able to celebrate.
The funerals that followed were some of the saddest times I’ve ever had. I couldn’t help but cry every time there was another one. FDNY had 344! I can’t even imagine the anguish those guys felt. Losing one member in the line of duty is hard but 344.
We thank God that our city was spared and that both Donnie and I made it to retirement in one piece. We are extremely grateful. So each year on September 11th, we honor our fallen brothers and sisters by visiting all the local fire stations and police stations making sure they knew how much we appreciate them and taking them lots of goodies!!! |  | DR. ALVEDA KING
Keynote Speaker
Lake Conroe Area Republican Women
Literacy Month
By Stephanie Holderfield - VP Membership
MONTGOMERY, TEXAS — LCARW Celebrated Literacy Month – From the opening to the closing of the General Meeting, the meeting was begun by President Stephanie Johnson, the prayer was delivered by Judge Santini, the presentation of the colors by the JROTC and the pledge of Allegiance and Texas pledge by Marcey Phillips, Commander and Texas VFW District 17, and a special guest appearance by the Montgomery High School Madrigals choir, that sang the National Anthem and a beautiful compilation of American favorites, ending in “God Bless the USA." It was indeed a beautiful presentation by the youth in Montgomery County.
The guest speaker was the Nationally recognized Dr. Alveda King, niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and daughter of civil rights activist A.D. King. She presented in an interview-style by Stephanie Holderfield, VP Programs, to deliver the importance of Literacy in America. Literacy is imperative for children to develop reading skills to achieve academic excellence for their future educational careers. She also emphasized the importance of understanding the historical significance of “training up a child.” Dr. King wrote a review for Dr. Ben Carson’s children's book, “Why America Matters,” and held it up during her presentation to signify the benefit of literacy as a tool to educate children on the merit of understanding American history.
Dr. King autographed the books she authored and Dr. Carson’s children's books. She dedicated the children' s books to young adults and teachers who were in attendance, emphasizing to the young adults and teachers the value of reading Dr. Carson’s books to young children. It was a memorable event that will not be forgotten by the attendees of the event and is now in the history journal for LCARW.
ABOUT DR. KING:
As founder of Alveda King Ministries, Alveda C. King, Ph.D., uses her God-given talents and abilities to glorify God and uphold the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb, and beyond. She is a Board Member and Senior Advisor to Priests for Life and Chair of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for the American Dream. She is also a voice for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, sharing her testimony of two abortions, God’s forgiveness, and healing.
Alveda is the daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King and Mrs. Naomi King; the granddaughter of Rev. M. L. King, Sr., and Mrs. Alberta King; and the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As a Christian Evangelist, author of the best sellers KING RULES and WE’RE NOT COLORBLIND, she is also the founder of Speak for Life and currently serves as a Fox News Channel contributor and is the host of "Alveda King’s House"on Fox Nation.
She is a NEWSMAX opinion contributor, a member of Optimist International, a former college professor, and a film and music veteran, creating uplifting “conversation-starting content” to advance life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness from the womb to the tomb and beyond.
Alveda is also a graduate of Aiden University and a member of SHE LEADS AMERICA and CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN MEDIA. She is a former Georgia State Legislator and a twice-assigned Presidential appointee. While living a “lifetime of serving God and humanity,” she has been honored with many awards, including a (2021) Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and the Cardinal John O’Connor Pro-Life Hall of Fame Award (2011). Evangelist King lives in Atlanta, where she is the grateful mother of six and a blessed grandmother. |  | | Presidents Message
by Stephanie Johnson
Greetings to you all in this beautiful month of October! By far one of my favorite months.
As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisper, our commitment to conservative values remains unwavering. Montgomery County has always been a stronghold of Republican ideals. How goes Montgomery County, how goes Texas!
This October, let us continue to focus on grassroots activism and community engagement. The impact we make at the local level can have a profound effect on the larger political landscape. By participating in voter registration drives, supporting local Republican candidates, and sharing our conservative message, we strengthen our community and our nation.
I, along with Sharyn Link and Carole Parsons became Deputy Voter Registrars and we were able to spend the lunch period with Montgomery High School to register voters. LCARW also had the opportunity to present a pocket US Constitution to every Eighth Grade Student at Montgomery ISD. These children are our future. If we don’t educate them in Conservative values they will be indoctrinated in the liberal woke agenda.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your tireless efforts, whether it's volunteering at events, organizing fundraisers, or simply engaging in thoughtful discussions with friends and neighbors.
As we move forward, I encourage you to stay informed, stay involved, and stay united. The challenges we face as conservatives may evolve, but our commitment to our principles remains steadfast. Republican Women are powerful! Together, we can continue to be a powerful force for positive change.
I'm looking forward to the exciting events and activities we have planned for the month ahead. Let's make October a month of action, education, and outreach. Thank you for your unwavering support, and I can't wait to see all that we will achieve together.
Wishing you all a wonderful October filled with hope, dedication, and success.
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | We have an important General Election coming up on November 7th. You can check your Registration Status and get your personalized Sample Ballot by submitting a form on our Elections Administration website here. Once you submit your form, you'll get the option to review your personalized sample ballot, voting location, and much more. Below are important dates that you should be aware of:
- October 10th - Last day to register to vote.
- October 23rd - Early voting begins.
- October 27th - Mail-in ballot application deadline.
- November 3rd - Early voting ends.
- November 7th - Last day to vote.
What's on the Ballot? This November General Election is known as a Constitutional Amendment election because we will vote on 14 proposed amendments to our Texas Constitution. Here is an explanation of the Propositions from the Secretary of State.
In addition, you may have candidates for non-partisan races such as School Board and City Races. Make sure to do your research because your ballot will not indicate the candidate's Party affiliation. These positions are very important because they affect your taxes and local social issues.
| Share your Talent!
Let a board member know if you are interested in serving on the 2024 Board of the
Lake Conroe Area Republican Women
Find a Committee and share your talents with LCARW | | Minutes from September Meetings
by Rhonda Kadlubar - Secretary
Click on the links below to see the minutes from the September Board and General Meetings.
| | | | Treasurer's Report - October 2023
by Lee Ann Seitsinger
Beginning Balance: $37,897.86
Expenses: $10,955.54
Deposits: $3,984.06
Ending Balance: $30,926.38 | | | | Membership
by Dr. Carrie Butler
Let’s hear it for LCARW Membership!!! We now have 177 PRIMARY, 75 ASSOCIATE, and 2 YOUNG AFFILIATE MEMBERS!!!
| | | | Campaign Activities
by Lori Wilson
As fall temperatures begin to cool down, let all of us warm up to reporting our political activity hours. Political activity includes time spent watching the Republican Party presidential debates and the Texas AG impeachment trial. Did you phone your family, friends and neighbors to discuss the debates or trial? Those hours also count as do the actual number of phone calls you made. Hours are easily reported by logging into the LCARW website. The number of calls can be reported directly to me via email or text.
Are you going to the TFRW convention? It is not too early to be thinking of how to track your hours while at convention. Don’t leave any hours on the table. Every member should strive to report every political activity hour.
Consider becoming a volunteer Deputy Registrar, a Precinct Chair or volunteer to help those in these positions. Helping with campaigns is a great way to get involved, earn hours and Keep Texas Red! | | | | Social Media
by Liz Franks
Social Media:
Nothing to report.
Caring for America:
Thank you so much to the 45 members who signed up and delivered care packages to our first responders! | | |  | | Literacy - October 2023
by Sharyn Link, Chair
Wow! What a great Literacy Event we had with Dr. Alveda King. We had good size turnout and everyone enjoyed the evening. It was so nice to see the youth from the community involved. The JROTC from Montgomery High presented the colors, the Madrigals from Montgomery entertained and there were several members of Lake Creek Young Republicans who attended the event. Thank you to all the team that worked together to make this event happen. A special thank you to our President, Stephanie Johnson who brought in sponsors, donations, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event happen.
If you have books you’d like to donate to our Book Box at Cedar Brake Park, let me know and I will make arrangements to get them. The box gets a lot of use and it is encouraging to see the books we put in get taken and other books get added to the box. We can use books for children, teens and adults Members helped distribute 800 pocket size Bill of Rights and Constitution books to Oak Hills and Montgomery Junior Highs. 100 books were donated by Duke Coon and LCARW purchased 700 to make sure that each 8th grade student at MISD receives a copy. These books will benefit the 8th grade students who will be taking the STARR test this year and a portion of it is on the Constitution.
Literacy is the ability to transfer learning to new situations and context. | | |  | | SB 876
by Marie Underdown
As I mentioned last month, three new Animal Welfare Laws went into effect:
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SB 876- reforms and strengthens the Texas Licensed Breeders Program and will prevent cruelty from happening in large-scale breeding facilities before it begins.
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HB 4164 - defines a service animal as one specially trained to assist a person with a disability. The law also increases the fine for masquerading an untrained pet as a service animal from $300 to $1000 and fraudsters might face 30 hours of community service for organizations serving persons with disabilities.
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HB 598 - prevents previous perpetrators of animal cruelty from possessing a companion animal and establishes an enhances offense for repeat offenders to prevent future violence.
Today I want to expound a little more about SB 876- The Texas Licensed Breeders Law. A little background: Texas passed a law regulating large-scale cat and dog breeders in 2011 (Texas Occupations Code-Chapter 802-Dog or Cat Breeders Act). This law did successfully prevent animal cruelty at licensed facilities however loopholes allowed numerous large-scale breeders to avoid inspections and thus their animals did not meet basic standards of care. It recently became clear that the Texas Licensed Breeders Law needed reform to regulate commercial breeders masquerading as hobbyists.
And SB 876 does just that. First, it requires breeders with five or more breeding females to be licensed. Previously, only breeders with eleven or more breeding females were regulated, which meant a large swath of the industry went sight unseen. According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) study, unlicensed breeding facilities are responsible for most of the cruelty and neglect complaints in Texas!
Second, SB 876 removes the need to prove a breeder sold 20 or more animals in one calendar year. Many breeders conduct cash-only sales, which are untraceable. By removing the “proof of sale” requirement, this bill closes a significant loophole that allowed commercial breeders to evade accountability. This legislation will effectuate change for thousands of animals across the state and allow the Texas Licensed Breeders Law to oversee the industry as originally attended.
As mentioned, SB 876 came into effect on September 1, 2023, and breeders with five or more breeding females must be licensed by January 1, 2024.
Update: The American Kennel Club is lobbying Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to make changes to help breeders skirt the law. Texas Humane Legislation Network and all of us who care about animal rights do not want lawmakers’ hard work and the work of thousands of advocates across the state to be diminished by AKC. We need to prevent unscrupulous breeders from doing this through loopholes.
For more information about Texas Humane Legislation Network go to https://www.thln.org.
| National Motto Program October 2023 Update
by Carole Parsons
On 9/15/2023 Carole Parsons-LCARW National Motto Project, presented an In God We Trust poster to Brandon Polk, owner of Plus-Forty Fitness to display in his center. His donation to the National Motto Program is much appreciated.
On 9/18/2023 Carole Parsons-LCARW National Motto Project, presented 20 more In God We Trust posters to Montgomery ISD- Dr. Amy Busby, Interim Superintendent, Justin Marino, MISD Superintendent of Communications and Public Relations, and Dr. Matt Fuller, MISD Board of Trustees. LCARW has now gifted MISD with over 220 posters since the inception of this awesome project.
LCARW has now donated over 450 In God We Trust posters and counting! | | The Chaplain's Corner
by Melinda Zuber
Sign up for weekly prayer alerts at Intercessors of America
It's time to pray for America. This 40-day devotional series will help you pray biblically for a nation in crisis. | | | Click on the front page (below) to read the Texas Federation of Republican Women newsletter, TFRW Today |  | | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President -
Stephanie Johnson
1st VP Programs -
Stephanie Holderfield
2nd VP Membership -
Dr. Carrie Butler
3rd VP Ways & Means -
Shelby Gatlin
Treasurer -
Lee Ann Seitsinger
Treasurer Assistant-
Carina Komarzec
Recording Secretary -
Rhonda Kadlubar
Corresponding Secretary -
Laura Archibald
Immediate Past President -
Lorena Garcia |
| COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Americanism -
Nancy Oughton
National Motto Project -
Carole Parsons
Awards -
Jennifer Hullihan
Bylaws -
Stacey Buick
Parliamentarian -
Julie Faubel
Campaign Activities -
Lori Wilson
Caring for America -
Liz Franks
Chaplain -
Melinda Zuber
Community Engagement -
Carole Parsons
Sharon Cason-Fenske
Greater Houston Council -
Amy Byers
Hospitality -
Maria Silkwood
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| COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Legislative -
Megan Metcalf
Debbie Meza
Literacy -
Sharyn Link
PR/Social Media -
Liz Franks
PR/Media -
Marie Underdown
Merchandise -
Lori Wilson
Stephaney Buick
Newsletter -
Lesley Haenny
Scholarship -
Brandie Lopez
Senior Americans -
Molly Adame
Website -
Kandice Cabets
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THIS IS A LCARW MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT AND POLITICAL AD PAID FOR BY LAKE CONROE AREA REPUBLICAN WOMEN PAC, PO BOX 737, MONTGOMERY, TX 77356, A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION UNDER SECTION 527 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. CONTRIBUTIONS TO LCARW PAC ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. CORPORATE AND JUDICIAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT PERMITTED. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR COMMITTEE. | |