On April 7, 1953, President Eisenhower -Republican- was in the White House, Charles Jonas -Republican- was representing us in Congress, and a group of dedicated and determined Republican women organized the Mecklenburg County Republican Women’s Club.* They elected officers, adopted bylaws, set the dues at $1.00 per year, and obtained a charter from the North Carolina and National Federations of Republican Women, a charter that has never been allowed to lapse. The goals they set forty years ago are the goals we cherish today; to involve women in political action for the sake of good government; to educate women to be effective political activists; and to work for the election of Republican candidates.
From the very beginning, our Club has worked year round, not just at campaign time. Our members have recruited more members, organized precincts, assisted with registration drives, and studied current issues. For forty years, we have held nine meetings a year, providing a forum for Republican candidates. Having learned how to raise money, we have always been financially independent- the perennially solvent arm of the Republican Party, as former NCGOP Chairman Bob Bradshaw described us many years ago. From yard sales to celebrity auctions to selling Vidalia onions to silent auctions, our success has surprised even ourselves!
Our members have been elected to offices in the State and National Federations, to Republican Party offices at the local, district, state and national level, and to public office- City, County, State and United States Congress.
For fifty years, weathering a few disastrous campaigns and periodic splits in the Party, we have remained steadfast, determined to “stay the course,” in the words of former President Ronald Reagan. In this fiftieth year, President George W. Bush - Republican- is in the White House, Sue Myrick- Republican and CMRWC Member- represents us in Congress and the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Republican Women’s Club is strong, stable, solvent, and independent, a credit to our founding members!
(Written by Past President Barbara Boyce for our 40th anniversary Celebration- September 28, 1993 and revised for our 50th Anniversary Celebration May 17th 2003)
*Name changed by amendment of the bylaws, June 1961, to Charlotte- Mecklenburg Republican Women’s Club.
*Name changed by amendment of the bylaws, February 2007, to Charlotte- Mecklenburg Republican Women.
