The Chairman's Corner

An Informal Informational Up-Date From 

The Desk of the Chairman of the Republican State Committee of Delaware

November 8, 2011

Good afternoon, and welcome to "The Chairman's Corner": 

This has been a very busy week with several special events throughout Delaware.

Congratulations to the 38th Republican Club! On Tuesday evening, November 1st, I was honored to attend the club’s 5th Anniversary Dinner. With over 100 people in attendance, this was a great event – CONGRATULATIONS on 5 years of success!

Congratulations to the Eastern Sussex Republican Club! On Thursday evening, November 3rd, I had the honor and privilege of attending the Annual Dinner for the Eastern Sussex Republican Club for an evening of friendship, fellowship and good old Republican politics. Congratulations on a very successful event!

Congratulations to the Delaware Federation of Republican Women! The DFRW held its Annual Convention on Saturday, November 5th  at the Christiana Hilton. As always, this was a very successful event during which Delaware’s Republican Women’s Leadership from all three counties gathered for business and awards. I want to thank DFRW for allowing me, and both of our National Committeepersons, Laird Stabler and Priscilla Rakestraw, to speak to the assembled delegates during lunch.

I also want to congratulate and thank the officers and delegates of DFRW for passing a “Resolution in Opposition to ‘National Popular Vote’ and HB 55” (Click here to read).  By passing this very important resolution, the Delaware Federation of Republican Women became the first such organization in the country to follow the lead of the Republican National Committee which passed a similar measure in August (Click here to read). Upon receiving word of the passage of this important resolution, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus asked that I relay the following message to all of the members of DFRW: “Good work to all”.

Congratulations also to the following members of DFRW for their award winning work! Receiving awards during the DFRW Convention were the following:

Campaign Achievement Awards: Sally Higgins, Seaford; Catherine Murray, Kent; Anita Sterling, Wilmington; Patty Finlayson, Lower NCC; and Charlotte Speicher, Sussex.

Charlotte Speicher of Sussex also received National Recognition for the Highest Number of Volunteer Campaign Hours in Delaware.

Club Membership Awards for Growth went to Pam Fitzgerald, President of Sussex and Paula Manolakos of Christiana-Millcreek.

Paula Manolakas, President of Christiana-Millcreek was also honored by National Federation of Republican Women as the winner of one of sixteen National Awards for Membership Recruitment.

The following clubs received NFRW Club Achievement Awards: Diamond Award – Sussex County RWC, Pam Fitzgerald, President; Gold Award – Kent County RWC, Bette Hammond, President; Silver Award – Christiana-Millcreek RWC, Paula Manolakos, President

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the members of the Delaware Federation of Republican Women for a job well done!

*******2011 Winter State Committee Dinner*******:

As you will remember, December 7, 1787, was the date upon which Delaware became the First State to ratify the United States Constitution.  For that reason we have chosen December 7, 2011 as the date for our 2011 Winter State Committee Dinner. This is a very special date in Delaware’s history and a very fitting date upon which Delaware Republicans can gather in friendship and fellowship in celebration of our State’s “birthday” and in preparation for Winning Back Delaware in 2012.

This event will be open to every Delaware Republican who wants to be a part of Winning Back Delaware.

Among the attractions will be:

1. “An Insider’s Briefing” by the RNC’s Political Director, Rick Wiley – you won’t want to miss this one!

2. A Republican Presidential Straw Poll – if you are a State Committee Member, a Delegate or Alternate to Delaware’s 2011 Republican State Convention, or a Delegate to the 2011 DFRW State Convention you will be eligible to vote in this straw poll.

3. Silent Auction – fun as usual – donations for the Silent Auction are now being accepted – if you would like to donate an auction item, please call 302-668-1954.

4. Best County Basket Auction Contest – each county is donating a basket, one of which will be named “Best of Delaware”. An award will be presented to the County organization winning this competition!

5. Republican Presidential Primary Candidate Committees are invited to put up a table to gather qualifying signatures for Delaware’s Republican Presidential Primary.

6. An evening of friendship and fellowship as we prepare for Election Day 2012.

Save this date - December 7. 2011.   

To obtain your ticket or to learn about sponsorship opportunities click here, 

or call 302-668-1954

Candidate Events: As campaign season gears up, candidates and elected officials are beginning to have events that you won't want to miss! I encourage you to attend Wilmington City Councilman Mike Brown's 2012 Mayor's race kickoff event on November 14 from 5pm-7pm at the Public House in Wilmington. Also, Senator Dave Lawson has an event this weekend, click here for details. Senator Sorenson has an event next week, as does Representative Peterman. Click here for information about Sen. Sorenson's event, andclick here for details about Rep. Peterman's event.

Rules Committee – Redistricting: The Rules Committee has been hard at work completing their assignment for re-alignment of the various Regions in accordance with legislative redistricting and the current needs of the Party. A tentative plan has been completed and the various Regions are considering that plan. The next step in the process is for the Executive Committee to meet and either accept or reject that plan. I expect to be able to report back to you concerning the proposed plan within the next few weeks.

Republican Presidential Primary Election: Delaware’s Republican Presidential Primary Election is scheduled to be held on April 24, 2012. According to some sources, including the RNC, it is entirely possible that Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and other “winner-takes-all states” with April primaries may actually play a pivotal role in determining who our Republican Presidential Candidate will be. 

All of the candidates have been invited to visit Delaware, let’s see who really wants to win. If you are affiliated with any of the Republican Presidential Primary Candidate campaigns, please be sure to remind them that history has shown that in order to win Delaware’s delegate votes they have to come to Delaware – all of the candidates are welcome in the First State!

Delaware's 2012 Republican State Convention:  Our 2012 State Convention will be held on Saturday April 28th, 2012.  This will be a Nominating Convention and, as has been the custom of the past, this Nominating Convention will be held in Sussex County. So, please mark your calendars and save the date. More details will be provided as they become available.

The "Winning Back Delaware Fund":  In conjunction with the kick-off of "Operation Win Back Delaware" at which RNC Chairman Reince Priebus was our guest speaker, a new fund was established the sole purpose of which is to ensure adequate funding for our 2012 Republican election efforts here in Delaware. I urge you to become part of the team and to become part of the solution – together we can, and we must, Win Back Delaware. Click here to make a secure on-line contribution to the new "Winning Back Delaware Fund".

Finally, as a courtesy reminder, we are still accepting memberships in our new "Chairman's Club". This is a brand new Chairman's Club, and everyone is welcome to join. I am confident that this new effort will be a resounding success, and with your help it will be. To receive more information on our new Chairman's Club please contact me at Chairman@delawaregop.com.

To comment on this newsletter, please e-mail me at Chairman@delawaregop.com.

To make a secure on-line donation to the Delaware Republican Party  click here.

Checks may be sent to: 3301 Lancaster Pike, Suite 4B, Wilmington, DE 19805

To become a Republican Volunteer for Freedom, please contact me at Chairman@delawaregop.com.

Thank you for your dedication to our Party and for your support.

Together, we can "Win Back Delaware"!

John Sigler

Chairman