New Board Members Proposed for Annual March Meeting

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The March meeting is our annual meeting. We have three board openings as a result of term limits. With Charlie steeping down we have 4 positions open and 4 candidates. They are as follows:

Randy Cash

Randy Cash – A combat veteran with 21 years of military service, Cash served as a U.S. Army Congressional Liaison Officer and VFW Post Commander.

He has a degree in Politics and Public Affairs from the University of Miami.

Widely involved in community service, Cash was a member of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, the Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association and the Moorings Property Owners Association.

He owns and operates Flamingo Air Management and currently serves as a Commissioner of the Collier County Housing Authority.

Tom Donahue

Tom Donahue – General Manager of Shula’s Steak House, Donahue is an award-winning food and beverage expert and 2005-2014 recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

He holds certificates from the University of Maryland (Business), Hodges University (Management) and Hilton University (Hospitality).

A military veteran and American Legionnaire, Donahue has been active in the community as a director of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and the United Way and a member of the Hodges University Presidents Council and Veterans’ Education Fund.

Jerry Sanford

Jerry Sanford – A U.S. Navy veteran, Sanford served 29 years in the New York Fire Department, where he worked in various fire companies and served as Press Secretary to the Fire Commissioner.

After moving to Naples, he was hired by the North Collier Fire District as Public Information Officer. Sanford returned to New York five days after 9/11 to coordinate news for press and network affiliates.

Back in Naples, Sanford formed and headed the Gulf Coast Retired Firefighters Association and was a central figure in fundraising for the Collier County Freedom Memorial.

Frank Seninsky

Frank Seninsky – An entertainment industry executive, Seninsky is president of the Alpha-Omega Group of companies that provide equipment, consulting and digital services to entertainment centers.

He has an engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Seninsky has presented 420 seminars and written numerous articles on leisure entertainment.

He served as president of the Amusement and Music Operators Association for many years. Locally, Seninsky has been active with various Republican groups.

February 2018 President’s Message

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Jim Carter

When you miss a meeting, you have lost an opportunity to expand your knowledge and to be better equipped to defend your values which are constantly under attack by the megaphones of the media, Hollywood and academia.

Last months speaker Dr. Gene Kopelson’s outstanding presentation on the relationship between Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Regan was awesome.

While Republicans were struggling through the Vietnam era of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Carter , Ronald Regan’s star bean to shine. Eisenhower saw this and became his mentor. Kopelson ‘s book: Regan’s Dress Rehearsal: Ike, RFK, and Regans Emergence as a Statesman captures an accurate account of History.

Academia will never teach history as it was. They are determined to write history as they think it should be. As I like to say the world according to them.

On Monday February 5 , I had the great pleasure of hearing Denise D’Souza tell his bone chilling story of what happened to him after producing the film 2016. Remember the film? Many of his friends told him not produce it as it was something Obama wouldn’t tolerate. He said, “it’s America” we have freedom of speech. I have a right to share my research and produce this documentary.

Well, the IRS and FBI came calling. He made one mistake on his tax return. He exceeded the limit on one political donation. He had to plea bargain in order not to spend a great deal of his life in jail. He served two years and paid $10,000. In fines. If that wasn’t enough he then had to spend 8 months in a mental health institution after his release because the powers to be said he was unbalanced.

Freedom of speech? It’s conditional. Academia holds the record for intolerance. For them we are right, the rest of you shut up and sit down. Is that what we are going to do?

Read D’Souza book The Big Lie.
Jim Carter
President

Jim Carter

January 2018 President’s Message

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Jim Carter

A big shout out to John Thomas and Eric Carter, co-chairs of the Scholarship Committee and their members for an outstanding job on developing a very comprehensive program to reach the youth and young adults in our community.

The committee’s mission was:

  • Identify and visit local organizations that align with Republican ideals, CCRMC could impact positively and support.
  • Evaluate and propose specific commitments for each recommended institution within available resources.

After reviewing a number of possibilities, three organizations were selected:

  • Southwest Florida Council Boy Scouts of America
  • The Alligator District covers all of Collier County. Our $5000 contribution will help 37 scouts have a great camp experience as we will pick up 75% of the cost. We believe every scout needs to have some skin in the game. The goal is to expand camp participation .Lorenzo Walker Technical College . $5000 to assist graduating students with certification costs. Our goal is to help pay up to 75% for those in need. Those costs may run to $500. The vast majority of these graduates stay in Collier County.
  • Florida Gulf Coast University: we will establish a named Endowment Scholarship requiring $25,000 over four years.
    — provide $ 1000. Scholarship in perpetuity — $10,000 first year, $5000 for the next 3 years — CCMRC sets criteria

The Scholarship committee will establish criteria in all Three areas. If you have thoughts or suggestions please share with John and Eric. As we proceed in each area we will keep you posted. I’m proud to be a Republican. Thank you all for making this a reality. As I often have said 90% of your dues go to Scholarship. We make a difference.

An exciting meeting this month. Author Gene Kopelson joins us-with great insight on the relationship between Eisenhower and Regan. See you at the-meeting! REGISTER NOW.

January 2018 Breakfast Photo Gallery

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December 2017 End of Year President’s Message

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Jim Carter

As we begin a new year, I hope all of you had a joyous Christmas season with family and friends. Whatever your faith, it gave us all time to pause and remember how blessed we are to live in a free country.

A great gift I received was Bill O’Reilly’s book, Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for American Independence. A must read. History as it was, not some convoluted rewrite by a leftist elite trying to change History to fit his own political ideology. History is what it was not something that changes on the whims of a political movement.

Many have paid the ultimate price to keep us free. It is our job to do our part in sustaining this Republic for those who follow.

Our program line up for 2018 will be jam packed with outstanding presenters covering a wide variety of topics. You don’t want to miss a single meeting. Some of our future speakers are already posted. Check future programs.

Also it’s an election year. We will be electing a Governor, Senator( time to get rid of Bill Nelson) and send Congressman Rooney back to Congress. State house seats are up as well as local officials. Keeping Florida red is a big challenge.

Please renew your membership and play a big effort in keeping America Strong! Remember your dues fund our Scholarship program. Our investment in our youth will help them carry the torch for freedom. See you at our January meeting.

Kevin Rambosk – Guest Speaker for January Breakfast

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Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk will be our speaker Friday, Jan.5th 7:30 am.

Maintaining Law and Order in today’s changing society.

What are the major issues from drugs-breakdown-of the family and disrespect of the law.

These are just a few of the topics he will cover.

The meeting will be held at:

Pelican Marsh Golf Club

1810 Persimmons Drive
Naples, FL 34109 United

 

To Register – Click Here

SHERIFF KEVIN RAMBOSK’S BIO

EDUCATION:
• Graduate of the FBI National Academy, Class 172
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Nova University
• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Safety Administration, William Paterson University

• Associate of Arts and Science Degree in Police Science, Bergen Community College
• Midland Park High School

EXPERIENCE:
Collier County Sheriff’s Office:
• Sheriff, 2009
• Chief of Staff, Sheriff-Elect, 2008
• Executive Officer, 2008
• Undersheriff, the second-in-command of the CCSO, 2005 – 2008
• Chief of Operations, 2004
• Captain of the Organized Crime Division, 2003
Naples City Manager – Appointed in November 1999 and retired from the City of Naples in 2003, police officer for 21 years

Chief of Naples Police & Emergency Services – Appointed to Naples Chief of Police & Emergency Services in 1995 after joining the force in 1978

Assistant City Manager – Appointed Assistant City Manager in 1993

Interim Director of Community Services – Selected Interim Director of Community Services in 1991

Naples Police Department – Appointed police officer in 1978 and promoted through the ranks to Captain of Patrol Operations

Internal Security Division of the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority

VOLUNTEER PUBLIC SERVICE:

• Midland Park Civil Defense, Midland Park Ambulance Corp, Midland Park Civil Defense Fire Department & Ridgewood Police Reserve – 10 years

• Amateur Radio Extra Class License KR4YX

COMMUNITY SERVICE:
• Florida Sheriff’s Association board of directors
• Collier Senior Resource Center board of directors
• The Shelter for Abused Women and Children board of directors
• Youth Haven board of trustees
• Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce board of directors
• Leadership Collier board of directors, past member
• Boy Scouts of America
• The Community Blood Center, past member
• The Juvenile Justice Council, past member
• Vice-Chair of the Substance Abuse Coalition of Collier County

MEMBERSHIPS:
• Co-Chair of the Southwest Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force
• Executive Law Enforcement Advisory Board, D.A.R.E. America International
• National Sheriff’s Association, Immigration and Border Security Committee
• Florida Sheriff’s Association
• International Association of Chiefs of Police
• David Lawrence Center Board of Directors

AWARDS:
• 2016 Government Champion of Youth Paragon Award
• Florida Business Recognition Award by the Collier County School Board
• 2014 Good Citizenship Medal – The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
• 2014 David S. Crawford Law Enforcement Officer Victim Services Award – Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi
• 2012 Men of Distinction Award – by The Education Foundation of Collier County
• 2011 Leadership Award – by the Florida D.A.R.E Officers Association
• Outstanding Community Policing Award – by the National League of Cities;
• Outstanding Crime Prevention Program, “Love Our Kids – Lock Your Guns” program Award – by the Florida Crime Prevention Association
• Excellence in Leadership Award – The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce

A Chritmas Poem

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TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN’T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
“SANTA DON’T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.”

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.

I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA,
IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.”

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”

This poem was written by a Marine. The
following is his request. I think it is reasonable…..

From Governor Rick Scott

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Photo Credit Meredyth Hope Hall

I am proud to announce today that Florida’s unemployment rate has reached a more than 10-year low of 3.6 percent and that more than 127,000 private-sector jobs were created in October. While Hurricane Irma was a devastating storm, we have worked day after day to help communities recover and send a message across the world that Florida is open for business. Today’s announcement, and the creation of more than 1.44 million private-sector jobs since December 2010, shows the strength of our economy. We will continue to work to make our state more business-friendly, including fighting to cut taxes by more than $180 million during the upcoming legislation session, to help secure Florida’s future as the best place for families and job creators to succeed.

Here are some other points you can share about Florida’s economy with your friends and family:
Private-sector industries gaining the most jobs over-the-year were:

  • Professional and business services with 38,900 new jobs;
    o Trade, transportation and utilities with 38,300 new jobs;
    o Construction with 35,600 new jobs;
    o Education and health services with 17,600 new jobs; and
    o Other services with 17,600 new jobs.
    • Florida job postings showed 240,297 openings in October 2017.
    • In October, Florida’s 24 regional workforce boards reported 23,082 Floridians, including 1,273 veterans, were placed in jobs.
  • We will keep working to make our state the most business-friendly state in the nation so opportunities are available for Florida families for years to come.
    Sincerely,

The Origins of Reagan’s Missile Defense Shield Turn 50

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Article by our February speaker Gene Kopelson

As President Trump returns home from his successful trip to Asia, America and her Asian allies face the continued specter of North Korea fulfilling its threats to launch nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles.

A major component of our present defenses is the latest generation of our antimissile defense shield, proposed by President Ronald Reagan in the early 1980s as his Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). But few realize just how long Reagan had pushed for America to create such a workable defense shield: In fact, it was 50 years ago this month.

In late September 1967, California’s Republican governor, Ronald Reagan, was flying east after a successful campaign stop in his home state of Illinois. Reagan was some ten months into his first presidential campaign, which had begun only a few weeks after winning the governorship the prior November. Reagan was to meet the all-important senator from South Carolina, Strom Thurmond, who was about to release his own autobiography, edited by conservative icon Lee Edwards. One of Thurmond’s favorite topics was antiballistic missiles.

As Reagan landed, Time hit the newsstands with a cover story on a possible American defensive missile shield aimed to protect the United States. Both land-based and space-based defensive missiles were envisioned. The article also revealed that Soviets were already completing their own defensive missile shield around Moscow, and the Johnson administration felt that all that America could do was to design our own system to prevent a Chinese attack. Thurmond later would tell candidate Richard Nixon that his, Thurmond’s support, was dependent on whether Nixon would agree to fund such a defense program, so it is highly likely that Thurmond discussed it with Reagan as well.

A few weeks later at a campaign stop in Seattle on November 10, the press asked Reagan as to whether America should match the Soviets’ expenditure for weapons in space. Reagan’s answer is noteworthy:

“I am one who has followed with interest the discussion in the press, and in magazine articles, and so forth, statements and interviews by various people associated with both the military and space … Perhaps we are understating and underspending in the space program with regard to the military possibilities of space.”

Clearly, Reagan had been processing the idea of a missile defense shield over many weeks. But as a potential president of the United States come January 1969, he wanted to learn much more. He had read voraciously on the subject but wanted to see things first hand. Fortunately, the exact cutting edge research center was just around the corner from the gubernatorial mansion in Sacramento. Reagan had his staff arrange a private gubernatorial visit to America’s Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory.

Dr. Edward Teller was the physicist in charge of developing America’s possible defensive missile shield.

Reagan’s visit was not a publicity stunt for a brief time. Instead, Reagan spent many hours there and was without the press. Teller showed Reagan all the various projects. Teller recalled that Reagan was a careful listener who asked a dozen questions which were thoughtful and to the point.

During the third week of July 1968, a short national debate occurred about America signing an Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty with the Soviet Union. In the treaty, Moscow could keep its missile shield but the U.S. would forgo any further development. Dr. Teller testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and urged that America not give up its plans to develop an antimissile shield. But the strongest words came in Amarillo from candidate Reagan:

“In recent days there have been big smiles in the Kremlin… But I wonder if they are smiling or laughing at us? We are now ready to talk a nuclear weapon treaty that will stop us from protecting our cities, as theirs are already protected on an anti-ballistic missile program.”
Reagan went on tearing into the Soviet Union as a country that has broken “more than 50 treaties” and feels it can break any treaty when it fits its national interests. He almost used the words, “Evil Empire.”

For candidate Reagan in 1968, the ABM treaty would pass, and Reagan’s idea of a missile defense shield would lie dormant for a decade and a half until President Reagan again would meet with Dr. Teller and SDI would be proposed. Despite Democrats’ scoffing at the idea and attempts to defeat any funding for it, resolute Reagan would stand firm for his idea, even when it would mean the breakdown of negotiations with Gorbachev in Reykjavik.

In the second decade of the twenty-first century, America is facing the twin nuclear-tipped missile threats from North Korea and Iran. The heart of our and our allies’ defenses owes its existence to the foresight of Ronald Reagan fifty years ago.

Gene Kopelson is the author of “Reagan’s 1968 Dress Rehearsal: Ike, RFK, and Reagan’s Emergence as a World Statesman” (Figueroa Press, 2016) and has published about Reagan’s 1966 successful gubernatorial campaign with Americans of Mexican descent. To read more of his reports, Go Here Now.

Posts by Gene Kopelson