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GTGOP NEWSLETTER February 2024 Issue |
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Welcome from the Editor Election Year Kickoff! For three and a half years we have been waiting for this and it's finally materialized. This month we go to the polls to begin the process of electing the next President of The United States. February 27th is the day Michigan heads to the polls for the Presidential Primary Election. Don't forget to get out and vote. Spread the word to your friends and family and encourage them to do the same. It's time to get engaged in the fight for our Country. Things at the Action Center are heating up! Candidates are scheduling Meet and Greets, voters want to know how they can help, and training courses have started. Please watch the GTGOP calendar for continuous updates throughout the year. It is our goal to keep you informed of important events, meetings and dates of importance. Have something you'd like to add to the calendar? Submit events to info@gtgop.orgBe sure to participate in this month's YOU VOTE question. Community colleges in Michigan are funded by property taxes, taxpayer provided state funding, donor funds and tuition. Tuition is
already reduced, for merit and needs-based students, by business and private donors through the granting of
scholarships. Democrat lawmakers now want to provide a free community college system for everyone.
If everyone can go to community college on a taxpayer funded scholarship, maybe business and private donors
withdraw their funding and gift that money elsewhere. Do you agree with the Governor's push to provide taxpayer funded Community College Education? We want to hear from you! I welcome ideas, articles and opinions you may have on topics of interest and importance. Maybe it's a favorite quote or Bible verse. Perhaps there's an article that spoke to you and you like to share it with others. Reply to this email with your submissions and ideas. Notice the bold and underlined text throughout the Newsletter? These are links to sites providing more details of information found in articles or to find out more about the referenced organizations and subjects. God's Blessings to You!
Jennifer Dohm
Editor in Chief
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Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and contributors to this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the GTGOP or the Members of the Executive Committee.
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GOP Updates and EventsCheck here for details on the GTGOP calendar of eventsCounty Convention MeetingThursday February 15th 6:30pm GTGOP Action Center Cherryland Center 1730 S Garfield Ave, Traverse City President's DayMonday February 19th Observed Birthday of President George Washington Put the 'Pub' Back in Republican
Tuesday February 20th 5-7pm
Minerva's (Park Place Hotel)
300 E State Street, Traverse City
Ax MI Tax- Karla WagnerA Ballot Proposal to rescind MI Property TaxGTGOP Action Center Cherryland Center
Wednesday February 21st 6:00pm 1730 S Garfield Ave, Traverse City Meet and Greet Ralph RebandtCandidate: RNC National Committeeman GTGOP Action Center Cherryland Center
Thursday February 22nd 5:30-7:30pm 1730 S Garfield Ave, Traverse City VOTING DAY- Presidential PrimaryTuesday February 27th Check your Poll Location here!GTGOP Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, March 14th 6pm
GTGOP Action CenterCherryland Center
1730 S Garfield Ave, Traverse CityElection Related Dates of Note 2024February 15: County Conventions February 27: Presidential Primary Election March 2: District Conventions July 15-18: Republican National Convention August 6: Primary Election November 5: General Election
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Quote of the Month:
(submitted by Michelle Davis)
"We are designed by God for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with seeds of greatness.”
Christine Caine
Christian author and podcast host
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Make your voice heard!
Community colleges in Michigan are funded by property taxes, taxpayer provided state funding, donor funds and tuition. Tuition is
already reduced, for merit and needs-based students, by business and private donors through the granting of
scholarships. Democrat lawmakers now want to provide a free community college system for everyone.
If everyone can go to community college on a taxpayer funded scholarship, maybe business and private donors
withdraw their funding and gift that money elsewhere.
Do you agree with the Governor's push to provide taxpayer funded Community College Education?
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The Action Center is Open! |
A GATHERING PLACE!Just last month we opened our doors to members and the community. The calendar of events is filling up with Meet and Greet the Candidate events. We are excited to offer Tech Training and Educational Courses for community members. Check the calendar often to stay up to date. Volunteer effort is crucial to helping Republican Candidates win elections. There is never a shortage of work to do and there has never been a more critical time to be involved. Now that our Action Center is open, we can roll up our sleeves and get to work on making 2024 the year we take it all back! Please consider how you would like help and sign up today.While we have come a long way, there is plenty to do to get our Action Center fully equipped and staffed to serve the community. We are still in need of many items. Check out the list here WISH LIST. As in previous years, we will once again be offering Buy-A-Day. For $50 you can choose the day you'd like to sponsor the Action Center. We will add your name on the storefront and offer recognition in our monthly Newsletter. It's a great way to show your support for the Republican Party and help defray the operating costs. This helps us to stay focused on getting Republicans in office.
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FEATURED EVENTS HOSTED BY THE GTGOP: |
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Learn more about the Document that Governs our Nation
(Next Class begins April 1)
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AX MI TAX Citizens' Initiative Proposal
For 2024 Ballot |
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Ax MI Tax is a citizens' initiative proposal to eliminate ALL property taxes in the State of Michigan. This would directly benefit all homeowners, landlords, renters. farmers, small and large businesses, etc. The main objective is to eliminate the state and local government's ability to tax and SEIZE our properties because we can no longer afford the ever-increasing tax bills. Property Tax taxpayers (not all owners pay property taxes, think non-profits, government entities, corporations that are exempt by the government) bear the brunt of a greedy government and society that not only does not prioritize spending but cannot adhere to a budget. Last year alone, in the State of Michigan, approximately 185,000 properties entered into a tax lien seizure. These are not mortgage liens held by banks, but government tax liens. These tax liens create homeless people. We are then taxed more to create AFFORDABLE HOUSING for the homeless we created. Rent could be more affordable and home ownership will be more affordable and attainable. Home ownership creates equity and generational wealth.
Property taxes also support our states school aid fund. But weren't we also told that the lottery and the increase of 2% in sales tax were going to do that? The State of Michigan's public school aid fund is more than $23 billion. That exceeds the total budget of 21 other states. Are we happy with the public-school curriculum? Are we satisfied with test results of our publicly educated children? Why do we spend so much on school buildings and other operating expenses when the public-school enrollment is declining? How do private and Christian schools operate solely on donations and tuition? Why do those parents also pay public school taxes?
All members of a community should pay for essential services such as police, fire and road maintenance (snowplowing, patching, etc.). Consumers or users of other services such as zoos, museums, public transit, and libraries should pay for those services.
If businesses did not have to pay property taxes in Michigan, we could realize an economic boom. Existing businesses would expand, new businesses would flock into Michigan. Products and services offered will be less expensive and thus more competitive in the marketplace.
The proposal to eliminate property taxes will also provide means to replace lost revenue to the townships and countries. It will NOT replace the lost revenue to the State's School Aid Fund. Our Governor has already signed into effect a new, larger budget that provides more school aid.
The ballot proposal to eliminate property taxes is a chance for the people of Michigan to say NO MORE!! We cannot afford higher property taxes and we absolutely cannot afford to lose our homes, businesses and farms. This is entirely in our hands... we must fund the initiative, gather signatures and go out and vote. We do not need the majority in the House or the Governor's blessing. It is up to us to stop the seizures and the homelessness.
Editor's Note: Learn more about how you can help the effort. Join us as we welcome Karla to the Action Center Wednesday February 21st at 6pm to speak on this ballot proposal!
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Meet and Greet Ralph Rebandt: RNC National Committeeman
Candidate
(Thursday February 22 5:30 at the Action Center)
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Ready, Set, Boots on the Ground, Go Time!
Delegates: Change is in your Hands
(written by Marilyn Dear)
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Are you wondering: “How can I help?” There are many ways you can get involved right now. Sign up to be an Election Worker: Continue sharing information with your neighbors and other community members - Become a Precinct Delegate (email asap delegates@gtgop.org)
- Attend Precinct Delegate meetings
- Attend the Township meetings
- Invite your neighbors to a meeting
- Talk with other delegates about what is working in your township
- Bring awareness to political issues and actions taken by party leadership and elected officials
- Encourage political action (voting, lobbying, attending events, etc.)
The GOP Action Center is open - Volunteer time at the Action Center
- Take advantage of classes and training offered
- Poll Worker
- Poll Challenger
- Understanding the Constitution
- Technology Training- Phones, Computers, Excel, etc.
- Volunteer to help clean up voter rolls
- Get to know the Candidates
- Candidate information will be available at the Action Center. Find out more about each candidate and be better prepared to share information with your neighbors.
- Promote party Candidates
- Make phone calls for candidates.
- Canvass neighborhoods
- Door knocking
- Distribute yard signs
Party Outreach - Inform party leadership of important voter issues and concerns
- Represent the precinct at party meetings and other political events
- Submit an article to the GTGOP Newsletter info@gtgop.org
- The Good Neighbor Program A catalyst for change, making us agents of unity and beacons of hope
It’s election season! Let’s roll up our sleeves and get America First Republicans elected. |
WANTED: A Few Good People to Help out
Want to get more involved in what we are doing in the community? We are currently looking for members to serve in a variety of ways. Many Sub-Committees are looking for volunteers. Another way to serve your community is to be a Precinct Delegate. Most townships and precincts have vacancy. Email delegates@gtgop.org to learn more.
Not interested in committee work but still want to be involved? Email us with your skill set and what your passions are to info@gtgop.org. We'd love to get you plugged in!
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Grand Traverse GOP Members
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We are growing, and here's the proof! We all can see with our own eyes what the Democrats have done to our Country. It is more important than ever before to get engaged in the fight to keep our Republic and our numbers show it. Last year we saw record-breaking membership in recent history, with 112 members. As a way to show the growth of this community we will share our membership numbers monthly. To give context to the growth we are sure to see in this election year 2024, here are a few stats. Recent history max was met in 2013 with 101 members, the recent low was 2017 with 33 members. Presidential election years typically see the highest count; 2016 there were 76 and 2020 saw 95 members. We are off to a banging start in 2024 with the January count already at 56 paid members. Why aren't you a member? A YUUGE THANK YOU to our January donors of a BUY-A-DAY sponsorship or a WISH LIST item purchase. We cannot thank you enough for your support. It is because of your generosity we are able to fulfill our mission of getting Republican candidates elected to office! Thank you: Michelle and Mike Davis, David Harrier, and Katie and Josh Kniss.
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We ask our members "What matters to you and what inspires you to get engaged?". This month we heard back from Marguerite Cotto Craven. Her concern is Township Planning without resident input. Garfield Township – Let’s Engage in the Master Planning Process Early in 2023, I spent a little bit of time responding to a citizen survey from the Garfield Township Planning Commission. The questions were designed to collect a random sample of opinions on everything from housing density and traffic, to open space and recreation by those of us who call the Township home. Admittedly, I had not given the survey much thought until reading a posting for an open house late this January to talk about the newly proposed Garfield Master Plan. I was a disappointed to see more staff than attendees, particularly unfortunate since staff was very well prepared with maps, charts, and review material to share. What I walked away with was a reminder that without citizen engagement, the municipal rules and policies that are most influential to our quality of life are going to be decided without us. Curious? Interested? Here are some links to help you engage: (1) Begin at the Charter Township of Garfield home page garfield-twp.com; click on Services and Departments; select Planning, midway down this page you’ll see Master Plan Update Project Page, which gives you a summary of the process to date; midway down you’ll see Draft Master Plan, click there to launch the document. The draft document is 184 pages long with an expansive collection of maps, survey documents, and background information on all things Garfield Township. I have found Part 1. Background to be a great collection of statistics on our population, housing, municipal services, etc. My message to you: looking at the master planning document is one of several important steps we can take as our local government looks at everything from housing density to sidewalks to sewer systems that will shape our daily life for the next decade. Next, keep up with information on the process itself. Planning Commission meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7:00pm at the Township Governmental Center on Veterans Drive. Look for their agendas, meeting videos, and handouts (when distributed) on the 2024 Calendar of Meetings page, which includes information for all standing township committees ( garfield-twp.com/meetings). Better yet, make time to meet the staff and look at the maps, ask questions, exchange ideas. Bring your neighbor along, too! This is where we live – let’s make sure we’re part of its future. Marguerite Cotto Craven February 3, 2024 |
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Editor's Note: If you or anyone you know would like to share in this member section please reach out. Let's start sharing with each other to find common ground on the issues that matter the most. Let's work together to save the greatest nation on earth.
"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." – Henry Ford
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Facts Sure to Impress your Democrat Friends
After Democrat Jim Crow laws, which treated blacks and minorities as less, were banished to the trash can of history, Democrats lowered the college admission standards because they still think blacks and minorities are less.
Democrats opposed the 13th amendment that abolished slavery, the 14th amendment that gave blacks citizenship, and the 15th amendment that gave blacks the vote. These all passed with universal Republican support.
The first movie night in the history of the White House was under Democrat Woodrow Wilson and he showed the movie "Birth of a Nation"; a racist film originally titled, "The Clansman". Listen to this Online Streamer as he learns the truth about the History of the Democrat Party.
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Curious to know what our elected officials are doing in Lansing?
This Valentine's Day the Democrats and Governor Whitmer send their love as Michigan's unconstitutional Red Flag Laws go into effect this Wednesday, February 14th.
In Marbury v. Madison Chief Justice Marshall said: "A Law repugnant to the Constitution is void."
Indeed, Red Flag Laws are repugnant to the Constitution, violating the 2nd, 4th, and 5th amendments.
When unconstitutional legislation is passed, it can put the County Sheriff in a difficult position. They will have to make a choice; the choice between enforcing the law and honoring their sworn oath to "uphold and defend the Constitution". When there is conflict between enforcing laws that are repugnant to the Constitution and honoring their oath, they must choose to honor their oath to the Constitution. There is no requirement in the law to address the alleged threat level of the individual being red flagged. Because evil is a state of the heart and mind, whether or not they have access to a particular weapon, violating their rights is not the answer. Consider the very first family on earth, which also happened to be a dysfunctional family. Cain murdered his own brother. There were no firearms, and the Bible doesn't say what weapon Cain used, if any. However, it is thought that Cain used a rock to kill his brother. We also know David used a rock to kill the villainous Goliath. Whatever the weapon used, it is not responsible for the evil deed, but rather the blame is on the evil in Cain's heart.
The article below is about Red Flag Confiscation raid gone very wrong. https://thenewamerican.com/us/politics/constitution/law-abiding-gun-owner-killed-during-red-flag-confiscation-raid/ (submitted by Pete Vandyken)
Here are the bills they are working on: Coalition to Rescue MichiganSenator Mr. Runstad warns of Senate Bills 600 and 601 as a threat to our Religious Liberties. Listen here to learn how he's working to protect our Freedom of Speech.
Check out this link to see their voting record: Voting Scorecard The Democrats want you to believe they are doing all they can to help the little guy achieve his dreams. Well what about the dream of home ownership? Below are recently proposed regulations that will raise the cost of building a home by $20,000. - Require R-60 ceiling insulation, 2 x 6 wall framing, arc fault circuit interrupters in every room, indoor sprinklers and other costly changes
- Price-out 100,000+ families from being able to afford a home in Michigan
- Violate the state’s construction code act which requires energy efficiency changes to have a 7-year payback or better
- Increase Michigan’s already climbing median newly constructed home price to more than $400,000
- Make it virtually impossible to meet the Whitmer Administration’s stated goal of increasing Michigan’s workforce housing supply by 75,000 units over the next 5 years
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Notes from the Michigan House of Representatives
Submitted by John R Roth 104th District
Here are some of the issues with the Energy Mandates passed by the Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives. Anyone suggesting they are going to lower your utility bills is dishonest. The upgrades needed to have a more efficient electrical grid are going to cost us all whether not there are green energy mandates. There are several items that are simply math that the Dems cannot explain away. - 450,000 acres of land needed to site wind & solar arrays at rate payer expense.
- 100,000 tons of aggerates/gravel to secure the wind & solar at rate payer expense. Not to mention the side effects this will have on building roads. The surplus of gravel will become a deficit.
- The building of the 1000’s of wind turbines & solar arrays will be on rate payer expense. Currently most of this product is produced in China.
- ITC – is the grid/generation cables. The cost of ITC to produce electric lines to get to the new generation in a lot of rural areas will be at rate payer expense.
- Farmers will be the main target for the siting of wind & solar by the energy companies and out of state developers as the land is fairly level and cleared of obstacles. Farmers should not be blamed as they can make more from leasing the land than producing a crop on that land. We should all be concerned because if we lose our farmland where is our food going to come from.
Whether one supports wind & solar or not the fact remains that we are all going to pay the price for this energy. Without a serious plan for storage of energy this mandate is at least a decade away. There are off ramps in this new package of bills but, the push for 100 percent of green energy by 2040 is unworkable.
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Grand Traverse Area Board Meetings |
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GT County Board Meeting
February 21st 9am
March 6th 9am
Governmental Center
2nd Floor Commission Chambers
400 Boardman Ave, Traverse City
TCAPS Board of Education
February 12th 6pm Tompkins Boardman Administration Building (Conf Room C)
412 Webster Street, Traverse City
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State of the County
Rob Hentschel, County Commissioner District 5, ChairI recently had the nauseating experience of listening to the Governor of Michigan take the stage to pat herself on the back for all the one-sided tax & spend anti-business legislation she has signed in the past year. She was followed by the speaker of the Michigan House and others with the same message. In typical fashion the Democrats in the room at this year's Northern Michigan Policy Conference failed to mention their bungled efforts that are causing energy costs to spike upward for every Michigan family. Gretchen's "State of Confusion" speech this year was similarly gut wrenching as she told us all (with a smile) of her new welfare projects we get to pay for. This as she tries to make us forget about her pandering to big Union demands to make Michigan a worse-than-ever place to do business. When Government tells you something is going to be free, I hope your ears burn like mine. Someone is paying for it, and it is not Gretchen Whitmer. No, my friend, she's got her hand in YOUR pocket every time she adds yet another government program. On the local front, Grand Traverse County Commissioners have found value in crossing the aisle and working together. Bipartisan efforts have seen success at the Grand Traverse Pavilions where cashflow is now in the black after discovering, in 2023, neglected business principles had left the Pavilions cash position at an $8 Million loss between January and August of 2023. An oversight committee of both Democrats and Republicans saw new leadership installed at the facility. Thanks to a concerted effort by many, including our own Congressman Jack Bergman, Federal funding was released making whole the Grand Traverse County General Fund tax dollars, that had been used to fill the gap. Things are now looking up as the Grand Traverse Pavilions has increased from a 2-star facility rating to a 3-star and has a plan in place to return to the 4- and 5-star ratings it once enjoyed. Grand Traverse County will soon see a new Treasurer as our own Republican Heidi Scheppe has resigned to take a new position with the City of Traverse City. A statutory committee is expected to select an applicant who will complete the 2024 term, but this year's election will determine who will be the county treasurer for the 4-year term from 2025-28. In fact, every county office is up for a 4-year election this year: County Commissioners, Clerk, Register of Deeds, Prosecutor, Treasurer, Sheriff and Drain Commissioner. We've held these as 100% Republican for many terms now, but the competition is tighter than ever with more and more Tax-and-Spend Democrats moving to the area. This is not a year to take our freedoms lightly. I hope every Republican reading this newsletter will find some way, be it big or small, to pitch in this election season and help get out the message of Small Government, Pro-Freedom Republican values.
What's happening in TCAPS School Board meetings: Wonder what is being accomplished during the TCAPS Board of Education meeting? Find Agendas and Meeting Minutes as well as a link to live video feed.
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What our Members are Reading:
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Alternative News Sources:
(Click the underlined text to check 'em out)
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Fun Facts: President's Day! (submitted by Sue Welton) |
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President's Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February, thanks to the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act. It was established in 1885 in honor of President George Washington's birthday. Washington's birthday was actually on February 22, 1732. This would be his 282nd birthday!
Check out this website for more facts about President's Day. |
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This Day in History (submitted by Chris Holz) |
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February 10 in 1967: the ratification of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution of the USA. This is the amendment that calls for the removal of the President if he (or she?) becomes disabled and unable to perform the job functions required. Actually, the Amendment contains much more than that: the automatic replacement of the President by the Vice President in case of death or resignation, the replacement of a vacant Vice-Presidential seat by the President’s choice (with confirmation by a majority of both Houses of Congress), and a procedure for creating the position of Acting President using the Vice President to fill the role of a self-certified “disabled” President. Now if you wonder why the last several Presidents have had Vice Presidents who were, shall we say, less than stellar … Enough said! |
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Trivia from the Latin Geek: Podium
vs.
Lecturn
(submitted by Chris Holz)
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This subject arose because the new Action Center needed something to hold the papers of any guest speakers, such as the chairperson of the upcoming county convention –Thursday, February 15, by the way so don’t miss it! That piece of furniture that the speaker stands behind: people often call it a “podium”. The proper name is “lectern” and if you call it that, you will get weird looks from everyone. Ask me how I know. So what is a podium, you geek? Well, when you need your feet healed, you go to a podiatrist. “Podium” is Latin and it derives from the Greek word that means “foot”. It’s what you stand on. The platform or riser often used to elevate a speaker is a podium. The piece of furniture from which the speaker gives a lecture is a lectern. Causa finita est. The case is closed.
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Make your Voice Heard. Contact the Officials:
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Jack Bergman (231) 944-7633
U.S. Representative, 1st District |
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