Congressman Joe Walsh warmed up the election year for our standing-room-only crowd Saturday. He has a reputation as a stemwinder, and he lived up to it!

Joe is running unopposed for re-election in the 8th District Republican Primary, but regardless of which well-financed Democrat wins the primary to oppose him this fall, it's going to be a tough election. When the Springfield Democrats broke Wheeling into three Congressional Districts, the district they gave Joe is marginal at best. Joe's outstanding conservative record and his hard-charging work ethic are very much to our advantage, but he's going to need our help to push through to victory. 

First, though, our job for March 20 is to turn out a massive vote for Dan Patlak, challenged in the primary by the same ex-Democrat whom he defeated two years ago for Commissioner on the County Board of (Tax) Review. And, in the 13th Judicial Subcircuit, to nominate Paul Pavlus for judge; he also has a contest.

While we're at it, we want to give a good boost to our primary-unopposed candidates for state senator (Matt Murphy, Arie Friedman & Don Castella [whom we endorsed Saturday]), for state representative (David Harris, Tom Morrison, Sid Mathias & Jonathan Greenberg), for 12th subcircuit judge (James Pieczonka) and for Congress (Bob Dold in the 10th and Tim Wolfe in the 9th).

And, of course, there's the main attraction: the Presidential primary. We have not yet received literature from any of the candidates, but we'll be happy to furnish it according to your own preference if and when it comes in. (We did not endorse in the Presidential race.) And six of our active members are running for delegate and alternate in the 9th and 10th districts.

Registration Deadline
Next Tuesday is the last day to register to vote. If you are a registrar, take your cards with you everywhere so you'll be ready, and talk it up. If you are not a registrar but you know or run across someone who needs to register, give us a call. We have plenty of registrars who can get the job done. But Tuesday is the last day!

Vote by Mail
Mail balloting is open till March 15. No longer is a reason needed to vote "absentee." You, your family and friends - and your neighbors and GOP voters in the precinct - can vote by mail from home by downloading an application at www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections/DocumentLibrary/700%20English%20March%20%202012.pdf.

Early Voting
Early in-person voting will be available Feb. 27 - March 15 at Arlington Heights Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Hts. Road (@ Sigwalt). Monday-Saturday from 9 to 5 and Sunday from 9 to 3. Spread the word!

Lincoln Day Dinner
Invitations will be going out this weekend for the annual NW Suburban GOP Lincoln Day Dinner on Wednesday, March 14, at the Cotillion banquet hall in Palatine. The keynote speaker will be Peoria Congressman Aaron Schock, and our own area Congressmen, Bob Dold, Joe Walsh and Peter Roskam have been invited to bring greetings of their own. Tickets are $100 each; any ticket buyer will be given a family membership in our organization for 2012.

Adbook
We're still looking for patrons (@ $25) and ad-buyers (priced by size and placement) for the Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner program book (deadline Feb. 24). Though the dinner and adbook are hosted jointly by six township GOP organizations, proceeds from any ads sold by Wheeling come back here to Republicans of Wheeling Township. We count on this event and program book to fund our organization, and we count on you to help make that happen!

Dan Patlak
Dan Patlak's campaign fund will benefit from a fundraising reception on Monday, Feb. 27, 6 to 8 p.m. at Grand Station restaurant, 101 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights. Per person tickets at $75; mail checks to CItizens for Dan Patlak, 113 Berkshire Drive, Wheeling 60090. Info: 224/659-5725.

Join me in welcoming Jeff Battinus, our newest precinct captain.

And in saluting (and patronizing) Tahoe Automotive (Marathon), Hintz & Buffalo Grove Road, Wheeling (847/394-3030). A great mechanic and a good Republican - check out the Dan Patlak 4x4 sign at the business!

This Saturday we'll feature Cong. Joe Walsh (R-8th) at our 8:30 a.m. monthly meeting at HQ, 909 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Be here by 8:45 to be eligible for our on-time attendance prize. And bring neighbors and other friends to hear, meet and visit with this dynamic speaker. Breakfast baked goods, coffee and juice will be offered.

We also expect a motion to endorse Don Castella, running unopposed in the 30th Senate District GOP primary, which will round out our endorsements this season. (13th Subcircuit precinct captains endorsed Paul Pavlus for judge following our January meeting.)

Mail-in Voting
Tomorrow is the first day the County Clerk will accept applications for mail ballots(formerly known as absentees). Any registered voter can now vote from home (or wherever) by mail; no longer is an excuse needed to apply for a ballot by mail. We have applications at HQ or you can download one from the county clerk's website athttp://www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections/DocumentLibrary/700%20English%20March%20%202012.pdf.

Early Voting
Early voting starts Feb. 27 at Arlington Heights Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Rd. (@ Sigwalt), Monday-Saturday from 9 to 5 and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lincoln Day Dinner Ads
We're still looking for patrons (@ $25) and ad-buyers (priced by size and placement) for the Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner program book. Though the dinner and adbook are hosted jointly by six township GOP organizations, proceeds from any ads sold by Wheeling come back here to Republicans of Wheeling Township. We count on this event and program book to fund our organization, and we count on you to help make that happen!

Dan Patlak
Dan Patlak's campaign fund will benefit from a fundraising reception on Monday, Feb. 27, 6 to 8 p.m. at Grand Station restaurant, 101 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights. Per person tickets at $75; mail checks to CItizens for Dan Patlak, 113 Berkshire Drive, Wheeling 60090. Info: 224/659-5725.

Great Awakening
America's Fiscal Crisis will be the topic (certified financial expert Andrew Palomo, the speaker) for The Great Awakening citizens education meeting tomorrow night (Feb. 9) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Palatine Public Library at 700 N. North Ct., Palatine. Info: 847/496-5400.

Congressman Joe Walsh will keynote our regular monthly meeting on Saturday, Feb. 11, 8:30 a.m. here at HQ, 909 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Part of Wheeling Township is now the northeast corner of Joe's new district and our captains in that section endorsed him last month, so I am pleased he is going to meet with us.

Vote by Mail?
Absentee ballot applications are now available at HQ or by download from the county clerk's office at www.voterinfonet.com. They're now called "Mail Ballots," as any voter can now vote by mail without having to provide a reason for not being available to go on election day. Let's take advantage of this and get our friends and neighbors to vote by mail - as soon as they know whom they're voting for.

Speak Spanish?
Help wanted! We are in need of five election judges who speak Spanish. Please help us with this; we don't want the Democrats putting their own people in because we were unable to fill these openings. Leave a message at HQ (847/632-1774) for Frank Palisi if you can do this (March 20) or know someone we might be able to recruit.

Lincoln Day Dinner Ads
We are still selling ads for the Lincoln Day Dinner program book. Patron listings are only $25, and display ads are available at various sizes and prices. Can you give us some help?

Bob Dold's Campaign HQ
Greet Congressman Robert Dold at the grand opening of his new campaign headquarters, 3330 Skokie Valley Road (Rt. 41) # 200, Highland Park. Saturday, Feb. 4, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. No RSVP needed.

Act! for America
America's national security and the threat of radical Islam will be the topic for a meeting of the new Des Plaines chapter of Act! for America on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 to 4 p.m. in the Des Plaines Public Library at 1501 Ellinwood Street. No RSVP needed.

NRA Firearm Safety & Training
An NRA-certified class in firearm safety and training will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm. on Sunday, Feb. 12, here at HQ, 909 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, followed by shooting range practice from 5:30 to 7:30 at Maxon's, 1226 Rand Road, Des Plaines. Reservations are required; $120 fee. Call Angela Volpe at 847/347-7009.

Cards for Mark
Sen. Mark Kirk is still in intensive care; if you want to send him a card or note, I suggest you send it to his office at 230 S. Dearborn # 3900, Chicago 60604.

A big thank-you to Harriet Keramidas for joining our Wednesday daytime HQ crew.