Greater Richmond Young Republicans

61st Annual Convention

2007-03-15T17:56:00.000-04:00

Young Republican Federation of Virginia

Arlington, VA

April 28-29, 2007
Register and Pay Online!

Where: Arlington Hilton, 950 N. Stafford Street, Arlington, Virginia (hotel information)
When: Friday, April 27, 2007-Evening Reception. The Welcome Reception will begin at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 28, 2007-Convention with Interactive Seminars and Executive Board Meeting, Dynamic Speakers 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 28, 2007- Evening Event Pub Crawl
Click here for the complete agenda.

GRYR Meeting Announcement

2007-02-22T18:56:00.000-05:00

It’s re-chartering time!

The next meeting of the Greater Richmond Young Republicans will be held on Wednesday, February 28th at 7:00 pm at RPV Headquarters (115 E. Grace Street) in Richmond , at which point we need to update our membership roster.

Membership & dues information from the GRYR Bylaws are available by email. For Active membership, dues are $15.

If you cannot attend the meeting, but wish to renew or join the club, please email Vince Donoghue at vincedonoghue@yahoo.com prior to March 1st with the following information (required for re-chartering with the YRFV):
* Name
* Date of birth
* Address
* Telephone number
* Email address
* Congressional District

In addition, we’ll have information about the upcoming YRFV Convention to be held Saturday, April 28th.

We’ll have pizza and drinks, so please RSVP so we can get a head-count for food!

Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events

2006-10-11T15:48:00.000-04:00

* Friday, October 13, 7pm-11pm, Fall Roast and Silent Auction to benefit to City of Richmond Republican Committee
Location: 2512 Hanover Avenue in the Fan, Richmond, VA 23220
$25 per person in advance ($30 at the door), Sponsorships Available
For more information, contact Scott Sutton at scottsutton30@yahoo.com or call (804) 421-8444

* Saturday, October 14, 2nd Annual Republican Roundup
For more information stay tuned to the Republican Roundup website at www.RepublicanRoundup.com.
4 to 7 PM Innsbrook Pavilion

* Friday, Oct 20th, 6pm, Bill Janis’s 5th Annual 40th Birthday Party Oyster Roast & Pig Pickin’, Individual Tickets $40, Sponsorships available, 6061 River Road
For Details, contact Cristen Richardson, 804.726.5856 or cristen@kanejefferies.com

*Tuesday, October 24, 6pm-7:30pm, Richmond City GOP: General Membership Working Meeting - Election Day operations
RPV Headquarters, 115 E. Grace St., Richmond VA

*Saturday, November 11: VCAP Conservative Convention
For complete convention information, please visit www.vaconservativeconvention.com

*Tuesday, November 14, 6:30pm: Richmond City GOP: General Membership Meeting
Election wrap-up with analysis from Dr. Bob Holsworth of VCU.
Robin Inn, 2601 Park Ave., Richmond VA

Update from GRYR Kickoff with Bob McDonnell

2006-08-31T12:17:00.000-04:00

Our August 8th Happy Hour with Attorney General Bob McDonnell was a great success! Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make this a fun event for the GRYRs.

We were pleased that Virginia state Senator Ryan McDougle (Hanover) and Delegate Chris Saxman (Staunton) joined us as well.

If you weren't able to join us, please stay tuned for upcoming events!

2006-07-18T17:11:00.000-04:00

The Greater Richmond Young Republicans

invite you to a

Young Professionals Happy Hour

with Special Guest

Attorney General Bob McDonnell

Tuesday, August 8th, 2006

6:30pm to 8:30pm
Easy Street Bar & Grill

2401 W. Main Street * Richmond, Virginia

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Individual Tickets-- $35.00

Couple-- $50.00

Sponsorships Available

For Sponsorship Opportunities or to RSVP, please contact Vince at (804) 787-4864 or vincedonoghue@yahoo.com.

GRYR Meeting: Thursday, June 22nd

2006-06-21T13:20:00.000-04:00

As a reminder, we will be meeting Thursday, June 22nd at RPV headquarters in Richmond (115 E. Grace Street). The meeting will begin at 7pm, and we'll have food and drinks!

We'll hear an update from the June 3rd Board meeting of the Young Republican Federation of Virginia (YRFV), as well as updates from area congressional campaigns.

We will also be discussing our plans for our August 8th kick-off event with special guest Senator George Allen.

Please try and attend as we have a lot of work to do to get ready for our kick-off!

If you have questions, or would like to be added to our email list for future updates, please email chairman@gryr.org.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening!

Flag Day and Upcoming Meeting Reminder

2006-06-14T10:17:00.000-04:00

In honor of Flag Day, a number of Virginia blogs have posted tributes. Despite the rain, we should all take a moment to celebrate the flag, all it stands for and the men and women who, through the course of history, have stood up to defend the flag and our nation.

A few good posts: Riley, Not O'Reilly over at Virginia Virtucon has this reminder. Shaun Kenney posts this, and Below the Beltway sings "You're a Grand Old Flag" in honor of the holiday.

Also, as a reminder, the GRYR's will be having our June meeting at 7pm on Thursday, June 22nd at RPV headquarters. Please plan on attending as we will be hearing from some special guests and discussing plans for our upcoming kick-off party in August!

George Allen's 1st TV Ads: A Positive Record for Virginia

2006-06-09T12:50:00.000-04:00

Senator George Allen has hit the airwaves with his first television commercial of the 2006 campaign season.

It's a strong, positive, message-oriented spot. If you haven't yet seen it on TV, check it out online.

Also, if you haven't already done so, visit Senator Allen's campaign website, where you can sign-up to volunteer with the campaign and get the latest email alerts.

Whitney in the Wall Street Journal

2006-06-07T20:01:00.000-04:00

Our own Chairman Whitney Duff was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

Virginia Tax Rebellion: May 31, 2006; Page A12, Wall St. Journal

Big news from Richmond, Virginia: Republicans are starting to act like, well, Republicans again.

Last week a gang of conservative GOP members in the general assembly foiled Democratic Governor Tim Kaine's plan to raise $1.4 billion in car, gasoline and diesel taxes to pay for more roads and mass transit. This was a victory against long odds, because the renegade house members were lined up against the Governor, powerful Republicans in the state senate, elements of the business community and the state's largely pro-tax media.

Mr. Kaine, who only last year took the Governorship over fractured Republicans, was trying to repeat the tax increase passed by his predecessor Mark Warner in 2003. He was also tapped to deliver the Democratic State of the Union response to President Bush earlier this year. And after Republicans who control the state assembly refused to budge, Mr. Kaine barnstormed the state to make his case.

"The more he criss-crossed the state to win votes," says Whitney Duff, president of the Virginia chapter of Americans for Prosperity, which also opposed the tax hike, "the less popular the taxes became." Voters began to wonder why a state with a $2.5 billion budget surplus would need higher taxes only three years after imposing the largest tax increase in state history. It didn't help that Mr. Kaine was trying to raise gasoline taxes (currently 18 cents a gallon) amid soaring gasoline prices.

Governor Kaine says he'll keep pushing his campaign, and Democrats are accusing Republicans of forcing the state into endless gridlock. Republicans respond that they also want new roads but not new taxes to pay for them when state coffers are overflowing with cash. The successful show of principle by house Republicans has helped to revive a demoralized state GOP, and it demonstrates once again that the tax issue hasn't lost its political salience. That's a lesson Republicans in a few other states could also learn.

Richmond City GOP Kick-Off Thursday, June 8th

2006-06-06T17:37:00.000-04:00

It's a new day for the Richmond City Republican Committee, and they're kicking off the political season with barbecue, beverages and a rip-roaring speech by a great American. Best of all, the event is FREE!

WHEN: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 8th

WHERE: 715 Spottswood Road Richmond, 23220

Keynote speaker is a true American hero: Adrian Cronauer, the radio disc jockey whose story is told in the movie "Good Morning Vietnam!"

For directions, more information or to RSVP, please e-mail Courtney Malveaux at info@richmond-gop.org

Where's that Duck Costume?

2006-06-02T09:55:00.000-04:00

From the Virginian Pilot

According to Drake's campaign, Kellam withdrew from an appearance scheduled for Saturday on WYRM-AM after learning that Drake would be included.

I wonder if the guys over at Raising Kaine still have the infamous duck costume from the 2005 shad planking? Or if there's a www.philtheduck.com website on the way???

Close to home

2006-06-01T16:35:00.000-04:00

From the Times Dispatch

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, speaking to a joint session of Congress last week: "Among the victims of this brutal and unremitting terror, I am sorry to tell you, are also American citizens. Only last week Daniel Cantor Wultz, a 16-year-old high school student from western Florida, who came to spend the Passover holiday with his parents in Israel, succumbed to his severe injuries and [was] killed in Israel's most recent suicide attack. I asked Daniel's parents and sister who only finished the traditional period of mourning two days ago to be with us here today. Daniel was a relative of Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia, an Honorable Member of this House. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I bring the memory of those people and the loss of so many others with me to my new post as prime minister."

Mark Your Calendars: Janis Oyster Roast

2006-06-01T14:13:00.000-04:00

Friday, October 20, 2006

5th Annual Friends of Bill Janis

40th Birthday Oyster Roast & Pig-Pickin'

-Live music, food & beer-

5:00 -11:00

6061 River Road, Richmond

Blue Point Shucker - 10 tickets - $1000

Chincoteague Shucker - 8tickets - $500

Apalachicola Shucker - 6 tickets - $250

Son-of-a-Shucker - 1 ticket - $40

RSVP to Cristen Richardson 804.726.5856 or cristen@kanejeffries.com

or to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

Make checks payable to: Friends of Bill Janis

Mail to:

P.O. Box 3703 Glen Allen, VA 23058-3703

YRFV Kickoff Reception and RPV Gala Saturday

2006-06-01T09:48:00.000-04:00

The RPV Gala is this weekend at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Details and ticket information is available on the RPV website.

For any local YRs attending the Gala or just interested in meeting other YRs from around the Commonwealth, the Young Republican Federation of Virginia is hosting a kickoff reception from 4:30 until 5:30pm in the area next to the stairwell at the Jefferson. Many of the GOP leadership and others have been invited. There will be a cash wine bar, and it should be a great opportunity to meet YRs and GOP leadership from around the state.

If you have any questions, please email: chairman@gryr.org.

For information on other upcoming events, please visit our GRYR website.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Honoring Service and Sacrifice this Memorial Day

2006-05-26T17:34:00.000-04:00

Our brave men and women in uniform – both past and present – are the storm that gives chase to evil and safe harbor to liberty. Their loss can and should be mourned, but their character and commitment should be celebrated. That is how our great warriors should be remembered on this day, Memorial Day.

--From "Celebrating those who gave chase to evil"

As everyone gets ready for a long weekend of BBQs, travel and relaxation, I feel it is important to take a moment to remember the real reasons for the Memorial Day holiday, and offer our thanks to the men and women in uniform who have served and sacrificed so much for our nation.

This article does a far better job than I can of articulating these thoughts, and I hope you'll take a moment to read it and honor the men and women who have fought for our freedom and the values we as Americans hold dear.

Thank you is not enough for all their patriotism, their courage, their service and their sacrifice, and one day a year cannot fully honor these true American heroes. But this Memorial Day, I hope that each of us can take a moment to give thanks and honor the lives of those brave men and women who sacrificed all for our safety and our freedom.

Thank you! (New GRYR website up)

2006-05-25T17:09:00.000-04:00

We wanted to give a big thank you to Nick Howard, Chair of the Goochland-Louisa YRs, who volunteered his time and effort to updating our GRYR website.

As with this blog, we hope that the website will be a resource for YRs in the area who want to get more involved in the Republican Party and local Party activities in event. The new website looks great, and we'll continue to try and keep it updated with the latest news and events. Check it out, give us your feedback, and we'll try and make sure it contains information that is relevant and useful to you.

Thank you, Nick, for all your help on the website!

Chairman Callahan's remarks

2006-05-25T11:27:00.000-04:00

Delegate Vince Callahan's remarks on the floor of the House this morning

It is said that good things happen to those that wait! Well we waited and I believe that the good news we received from the Senate this past Tuesday was well worth the wait.
Ever since we arrived in Richmond last January, our primary obligation to the citizens of the Commonwealth has been the adoption of a new two-year spending plan. However, despite the relatively few, but not insignificant, differences that existed in our respective budget, we were hampered from resolving them because of two underlying issues.
The first was that we would not discuss a budget that contains a tax increase in violation of the state Constitution. For some, our principled stand was considered a “red herring”. However, to me and my fellow conferees the Constitution is much bigger than anyone person -- it represents the very fundamental purpose of our
legislative existence.
The second issue was the recognition that given the complexity and differing views and solutions to addressing transportation we should set aside the transportation discussion until after we completed the budget.
In a show of good faith, we set the House’s transportation initiative into a new Transportation Program Reserve Fund contained in the Central Appropriations section of the budget. Under the accompanying language in the amendment, these monies would be allocated through separate legislation either during the current special session or a subsequent special session of the General Assembly devoted to transportation.
This past Tuesday, the Senate adopted amendments to House Bill 5002, the 2006-08 biennial budget, which will allow the House conferees to begin the journey of reconciling the difference between the two budgets. The actions taken by the Senate to remove the tax increases from the budget and establishing a reserve fund represent the first step in resolving the differences between the two budgets.
Mr. Speaker I know you join me and my fellow conferees in acknowledging this important action taken by the Senate. By approving a substitute to this legislation that adheres to the Constitution of Virginia and the long-standing practices and customs of the Virginia General Assembly, the Senate has removed a major obstacle to completing our work.
Furthermore, by agreeing to establish a reserve fund the House and Senate have agreed in principle on three major points. First, that transportation should be set aside and discussed upon conclusion of the adoption of a new biennial budget. Second, that we should fulfill our commitment made in 2000 to using insurance premium taxes. Third, that the use of surplus general funds is appropriate for transportation projects.
While the general framework of a reserve fund is in place, we still to negotiate two important aspects of the reserve fund. First, is the appropriate dollar amount to be set aside. In total, the Senate budget proposes approximately $570 million in transportation funds versus the roughly $1.0 billion proposed by the House.
Second, while both budgets include language that stipulate that these funds can only be used upon separate action taken during either the current or a subsequent Special Session; the language proposed by the House does not set either an artificial deadline for action or establish an undefined threshold of revenue that would need to be generated for transportation.
Nonetheless, as is true with any item in conference, the exact dollar amount and accompanying language will reflect a compromise that satisfies the objectives sought by both bodies.
Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that we can begin in earnest to reconcile our budgets. While the number of items in dispute may not be great, there are, however, several significant policy differences that remains within our respective budget. While overcoming these differences should prove much less daunting than our earlier task, they will still require a significant investment of our time.
Mr. Speaker, as is customary, I will ask the House to reject the Senate Substitute to HB 5002 so that both chambers can properly exercise its prerogative to insist upon its amendments. This action will enable the reappointment of the conference committee and return our negotiations to their regular status.
That being said Mr. Speaker in an effort to resolve the various matters in public education last Friday the House conferees made several compromise proposals to the Senate conferees. Specifically, the House conferees have agreed to:
1. Move to the Senate’s position for funding the state portion of a 4% teacher pay raise, which would be effective December 1, 2006. In exchange for our adopting this position, Senate conferees would agree to continue the existing pilot on the Hard-to-Staff School Initiative, a program that is now scheduled for evaluations at the end of this year, and begin the process of phasing out the federal revenue deduction cap.
Increase by $20 million the amount of Literary Fund money awarded for local school construction.
In exchange for our adopting this position, Senate conferees would accede to the House by agreeing to maintain the current Virginia Retirement System rate at the amount included in the budgets introduced by both Governor’s Warner and Kaine. Although the House compromises on K-12 education were positively received by our Senate counterparts, they have yet to respond to our offer. Obviously, we are disappointed in the inability of the Senate conferees to reach agreement on these substantive matters. If our proposal had been accepted, about 85-90% of the outstanding issues in K-12 education would have been resolved.
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House your budget conferees remain committed to resolving the various matters in a timely manner. To that end we have proposed to meet with the Senate conferees next Tuesday.
Now Mr. Speaker I move that we reject the Senate Substitute to House Bill 5002.

Wilder vs. Richmond City Public Schools

2006-05-24T08:59:00.000-04:00

In Today's RTD Mayor Wilder took the City school board to task on their fiscal irresponsibility.

Wilder said he did not want "to sit in judgment of the school board," but added "I am not unmindful that it is an election year . . . but I think that it is totally unfair to put the [city] administration at odds with the teachers."
"The school system does not need to pad its coffers," Wilder said, "but should instead be considering ways to operate more efficiently."
"You have these little kids coming down and acting as if they've been robbed," he said. "That's poppycock. No such thing exists."

What was the School Board's response?

But School Board Chairman David L. Ballard bristled at the assertion that the School Board was playing election-year politics with its budget.
"Incensed is probably too light a word," he said.

I'm shocked to learn there is gambling going on in this establishment...

As a former resident of the City who voted for Wilder, I like what I'm hearing from the Mayor's office on this. If the state demanded this kind of accountability, with the refusal to just throw dollars at problems we could have very well had a budget on March 11.

Introducing your Vice Chairman

2006-05-23T14:43:00.000-04:00

I got my start in politics out in the "fighting 9th"; Southwest Virginia as a freshman at Radford University volunteering through the College Republicans for Joe Barta for Congress against Slick Rick Boucher in 1998. Volunteering on that race got me hooked on politics. In 2001 I worked on my first House of Delegates campaign as Deputy Campaign Manger for Brett Geisler in the 10th District against Ward Armstrong. Brett's father was Minority Leader of the House of Delegates, serving from 1965-1981, his stories were priceless. Our district spanned the eastern half of Carroll County, all of Patrick County, and the western half of Henry County, including 2 precincts in the City of Martinsville (with an understanding nod to Will Vehrs). Though our campaign wasn't successful, that was the freshman class that Vance Wilkins and Ed Matricardi criss crossed the Commonwealth the get elected, and ushered in our "Super Majority" in the House. It was a very close race that was tough to lose, but from it I gained many great friends and political contacts that have lasted through the years.

I was elected Chairman of the CRFV in 2002 at the infamous convention that nearly split the organization. The CR's truly is a great organization, getting students involved in politics and connecting them with campaigns gives them invaluable experience.

2003 found me going further Southwest to manage Bill Carrico's re-election campaign in the 5th House District. You know you're in God's country in Virgnia when the House Districts have single digits. Carrico lives in the small town of Fries in Grayson County, (Pronounced Freeze). Dispite being outspent by nearly $80,000 (thank you Frank Hall and Mark Warner) Carrico still pulled 55%, being the first republican to carry the seat for more than one term.

In 2004 I left the "fightin' 9th" and came to the Capital of the Confederacy to work with the Virginia Conservative Action PAC. That was the year they linked up with Jerry Parker and finally got substantial funding. We had two fundraisers that year, one with G. Gordon Liddy and one with Ann Coulter. The Coulter dinner was the more successful of the two, but Liddy is definitely the person to sit down and have a beer with. Someone in the audience asked him about being a convicted felon and his love of firearms, I'll never forget his response "While I may not legally be able to own a firearm, I do often admire Mrs. Liddy's collection."

I came on board the Kilgore campaign in February 2005 as the Roanoke Valley Field Director changing regions in July to Southside. It was a heartbreaking loss, but I did meet my wonderful fiancee at a fundraiser in Roanoke.

December brought the McDougle special election and in January I had the opportunity to have one of the most interesting jobs in Virginia politics, the Caucus Assistant with the House Republican Caucus. There I was able to sit in on daily Caucus meetings before session. It is every bit as interesting as you would think it would be to be a fly on the wall with that group.

We've got an incredibly talented executive committee and an active group. The summer holds greta things for the Greater Richmond Young Republicans. Stay tuned, we'll be updating this blog often and keeping you informed as we work to re-elect George Allen, Eric Cantor, Randy Forbes, Virgil Goode and all of our Republican Congressmen, and have a little fun along the way.

Getting started!

2006-05-23T10:11:00.000-04:00

The Executive Committee of the Greater Richmond Young Republicans met last night to discuss our summer plans and some upcoming events, including an event for Senator George Allen later in the summer. I won’t get into all that now, but I will say we’ve got some exciting plans in the works, so I hope that you will check back here frequently for news and details.

We also discussed this blog, and how we hope that it will become not only a resource for information on upcoming meetings and events, but also a forum for discussion. Currently our bloggers will be the members of the Exec. Board, Andrew, Vince and myself. Over the next couple days, each of us will be posting a brief introduction.

When there is information about the club or upcoming events, it will be posted under the “official” GRYR name. Otherwise, we’ll be posting under our own names. These posts are not official club positions, but rather our own comments or ideas to further the debate. As I mentioned above, we hope that this will be a forum for discussion, and we encourage you to participate, agree or disagree with us.

A couple ground rules though: We welcome ideas from anyone, and we support a healthy discussion of ideas. We may not always agree, but let’s try to keep it civil and refrain from personal attacks. We reserve the right to remove any posts that are offensive or deemed inappropriate

That said, we hope that this will be fun. The Exec. Board is working on lining up some guest bloggers in the coming weeks to spark up some debate, so we hope you’ll join us for those conversations.

If you have comments, suggestions or questions, related to the blog or otherwise, you can reach me anytime at: Chairman@gryr.org.

Welcome!

2006-05-20T13:44:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Greater Richmond Young Republicans blog! We hope our members and visitors will use this blog to discuss events, issues, and pretty much anything else of interest. Enjoy and vote Republican!! Thanks, GRYR Executive Board