The Tennessee Young Republicans chartered three new clubs for 2007 at their meeting on Saturday, March 24th in Nashville. The three new counties are Bradley, Fayette, and McNairy.
Bradley County, located in southeast TN just east of Chattanooga, chartered a new club. Bradley County is led by Adam Lewis along with Chris Weir. Bradley County is receiving tremendous help from Bradley County GOP Chairman Jonathan Cantrell, and they had two representatives present at the rechartering meeting. They also have a web site, http://www.bradleyyr.org.
Fayette County/Southwest TN also chartered a club at the rechartering meeting. Fayette County is led by Barrett Rich, who has formed an upstart group with tremendous growth potential in the area. State Rep. Dolores Gresham has been very helpful in trying to a get a club going and has worked well with the new leadership, especially Barrett. McNairy County also chartered a club at the meeting on Saturday. McNairy County is led by Jeremy Blakely, who has formed a group of about 15 people in a county with a population of 25,000. Jeremy is the son of part-time Marsha Blackburn field representative and McNairy County school board member Johnny Blakely. It is great to see a club in McNairy as there has been no chartered organization there in over ten years.
Overall, the Tennessee Young Republicans can see tremendous growth potential as there are efforts to charter an organization in Anderson County, Madison County (Jackson), Sumner County, and southeast TN. Young Republicans are working to set up clubs in upper east TN (Cocke, Greene, and Hamblen Counties) where there will be a target in ousting State Rep. Eddie Yoakley. Also, there will be an effort to set YR clubs in counties in Mike Williams’ state senate district. Williams turned independent over a week ago, and having forces on the ground in these counties can elect a Republican to the seat!
Join the Hamilton County Young Republicans(Chattanooga) on Tuesday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. for authentic Creole food, music, and fun at Blue Orleans (next to the police services center on Amnicola Hwy) in Chattanooga.
Appetizers and New Orleans-style King Cake will be provided, but dinner will be up to the individual. Also, a live jazz band is scheduled to perform, so make plans to join in the festivities. Feel free to bring a friend, but please respond early so that reservations can be finalized. We look forward to seeing you there.
Laissez les bons temps rouler… let the good times roll!
Several Tennessee YR clubs, including Montgomery, Rutherford, and Shelby Counties, held officer elections in January. Here are new officers for the different clubs:
Montgomery County YRs:
Chairman: Adam Groves
Vice-Chairman: Deanna McLaughlin
Secretary: Louisa Conroy
Treasurer: Joel Wallace
Rutherford County YRs:
Chairman: Corey Sippola
Vice-Chairman: Travis Brown
Secretary: Cassie Hansen
Treasurer: Matthew Hurtt
TYRF Liaison: Michael O’Donnell
Shelby County YRs:
Chairman: Robyn Crawford
1st Vice-Chairman: Abby Braddock
2nd Vice-Chairman: Richard Morton
Secretary: Brandon Weise
Treasurer: Justin Joy
TYRF Liaison: Brad Jobe
Directors: Paul Boyd, Dean DeCandia, Dennis Hawkins, Jason Hernandez, Don Johnson, Ari Sauer, and Christina Wright
The Cheatham County Young Republicans adopted a family in their area to buy them food and presents for Christmas. Republicans helped them raise almost $500 to buy their adopted family gifts. The Cheatham County YRs have greatly exemplied great community service through their adopt-a-family effort!
The Lauderdale County Young Republicans (one hour north of Memphis) will host an organizational meeting on Thursday, July 13th at 7 p.m. at Olympic Steak House in Ripley. Olympic Steak House is on Highway 51 across from Wal-Mart. State Senator Mark Norris and Lauderdale GOP Chairman Trent McManus will be present. Walker Ferrell is organizing the efforts and doing an awesome job! If you have any questions about the meeting and/or want to attend, contact Walker at walker_ferrell@yahoo.com.