Several Tennessee Young Republicans drove to Little Rock on Friday afternoon to attend the final YRNF board meeting of 2005. Drew Daniel, Don Johnson, and Darrin Kirkus made the trip. There were many exciting opportunities and events for the Little Rock board meeting. YRs were offered the opportunity to tour the Clinton Presidential Library (it actually did have some exciting points), a street by street historic tour of Little Rock (including Little Rock Central High School), and a reception with Asa Hutchinson on Friday night. We did get to go downtown later Friday night and hang out at the Flying Saucer in Little Rock.

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I went to the Elephant Stew hosted by the Fayette County Republican Party in Somerville. The event was well-attended despite the cool October weather. There were many elected officials from Fayette County and from Shelby County. State Representatives Dolores Gresham, Brian Kelsey, and Paul Stanley were in attendance (Brian Kelsey rode with me over the event).  General Sessions Judge Rhea from Somerville was also there.  I missed some entertainment from our Lieutenant Governor Wilder, who rambled aimlessly about why he was not a Republican (self-explanatory, no need to go into an essay on that subject!)

The event was somewhat successful from a YR standpoint because I got to meet the YR point person for Fayette County, Matt Armour. Aaron and Mary Beth Garber were very interested in being active with a Fayette County YR club. I did meet several other people who were YR age and were interested in being part of a YR club in Fayette County. Brian Kelsey is also very eager to see a YR club there and is willing to help wherever he can.

The Tennessee Young Republicans look forward to working with Fayette County Republicans to get a strong YR club established there!

Tennessee Young Republican Chairman Drew Daniel and Vice-Chairman Justin Pitt met with Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Bob Davis on Monday afternoon at the Tennessee Republican Party headquarters in Nashville.

Bob Davis emphasized areas the Tennessee Young Republicans can help the Tennessee Republican Party (TRP), including starting up Young Republican clubs in areas where the TRP has targeted legislative races. The TRP will furnish information to the Young Republicans to help them recruit potential YRs in these areas. Young Republican efforts in these areas can help the TRP gain a majority in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly, something it has not achieved since the Civil War.

Daniel emphasized several ways the Tennessee Republican Party can help Young Republicans, including fundraising efforts. The TYRF plan to "Chart the Course for Majority" includes raising $10,000 for the Take Back Tennessee PAC and at least $5,000 for the general fund, a goal which could increase. Davis said he would be glad to help the Young Republicans with any event, including speaking and attending any event the Young Republicans decide to put on.

The TYRF looks forward to working with Bob Davis and the Tennessee Republican Party over the next two years to "Chart the Course for Majority!"

Drew Daniel drove to Clarksville to attend a fundraiser on Saturday, September 24th for the Austin Peay College Republicans/Montgomery County Young Republicans at the Austin Peay State University ballroom. Box dinners were served, and representatives from the U.S. Senate candidates were in attendance. Bob Corker showed up himself, and Cyndi Bryant (Ed Bryant) and Meredith Hilleary(Van Hilleary) both spoke on behalf of their husbands’ campaigns. State Representative Curtis Johnson spoke and emphasized several times how the College Republicans and Young Republicans helped him defeat Democrat Tommy Head. Johnson in a sense be-Headed the income tax with his victory last November.

Montgomery County YR Deanna McLaughlin was instrumental in helping with the fundraiser, and I found that the Montgomery County Republicans were very gracious and very friendly. I look forward to working with the Clarksville YRs and helping them become a very strong club in that area.

The Tennessee Young Republican Federation plans to submit a bid to host a Young Republican National Federation board meeting by October 1st. All state YR federations hoping to host a YRNF board meeting in the next two years must submit a bid by October 1st.

 The TYRF plans to host a meeting in spring 2007 in Memphis. West Tennessee Director Robyn Crawford has called several Nashville hotels to get group rates, shuttle information, costs, etc. for everyone.  Secretary Don Johnson will publish the bid proposal for the TYRF to submit by October 1st.

The TYRF executive board is excited about luring a national YR board meeting to Tennessee. "One of our goals as a federation is to be more prominent at the national level. Hosting a board meeting is a tremendous way to achieve that goal plus showcase all of the great things Tennessee has to offer," said Chairman Drew Daniel.  "I think we can submit a high-quality, professional bid to the YRNF by October 1st and bring a board meeting to Tennessee," says West TN Director Robyn Crawford.

Stay tuned for more info later.