June 8, 2011 

No meeting this Saturday! 

Instead, I’m asking all our friends and precinct captains to come to HQ (909 E. Rand, Arlington Hts.) next Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m. to kick off our Summer Precinct Canvass. We’ll be offering juice and coffee and breakfast food as you come in, and we’ll meet with you to determine what neighborhood/s you’d like to go to – either that morning or on your own schedule. We’ll have info to hand out, a voter list of the homes we’d like you to visit and a suggested outline of how to present yourself and what questions to ask. The idea is to determine which of the new move-ins and which of the non-primary voters (“independents”) are actually Republican or lean toward supporting Republicans in the 2012 elections. 

The more ground we cover this summer, the more prepared our precinct captains and candidates will be to turn out the victory in 2012. Of all the work we do to elect Republicans, this “off-year” (what’s an off year?!) canvass ranks right up at the top. So I hope you will come a week from Saturday and volunteer to help with this essential work. 

If you’ve not yet been able to figure out what your new district is for Congress or State Senator or State Rep, we’ll try to pinpoint that for you, too. So come in on June 18 – and don’t come this Saturday unless you want to visit during our regular Saturday office hours (see below). 

Can you give us a hand for a few hours during the Frontier Days Festival on Saturday, July 2, at Recreation Park in Arlington Heights? We still need a few volunteers to round out our crew at the sandwich booth. The volunteer hours we put in will net cash for our operation here at Republicans of Wheeling Township. It’s a great way to serve our community, to meet and work with fellow Republicans and to celebrate our nation’s birthday. 

Sen. Mark Kirk and Peoria Cong. Aaron Schock will appear at a Summer Fiesta fundraising event for Cong. Bob Dold in Lake Forest this Saturday, June 11, from 3 to 6 p.m. For information, call 847/251-3653. 

County Commissioner Liz Gorman will celebrate Flag Day (June 14) with a fundraising event on June 16, 5:30 – 8 p.m. at the Rosewood Restaurant, 9421 W. Higgins Road, Rosemont. Tickets are $100 per person. For information, call 708/256-9562. 

Sen. Matt Murphy’s next fundraising event is Thursday, June 23, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at LaTasca in downtown Arlington Heights, a buffet with cash bar; tickets at $50; for information, contact Debbie Dietz at 312/920-0240. 

Last week I mentioned it’s helpful to have our doors open and our lights on (so we need more HQ volunteers to extend our hours). Here’s a quick example: Last Wednesday, when Penny and Barb were in HQ after I left last Wednesday, in walked Jason Gere, recently retired from the Marine Corps, who grew up in Arlington Heights and is married to a Prospect Heights native. Jason wanted to get involved and see what he can do to help advance the cause here in Wheeling Township. Welcome aboard, Jason! We’re happy you came in, and we’re happy our volunteers were here to greet you!

Faithfully, 

Ruth O’Connell
Republican Committeeman
Republicans of Wheeling Township 

909 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004
847.632.1774 

Office hours Tues. 10:30 a.m. – Noon, Wed. 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 6 – 7:30 p.m., Thurs. 4 – 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; otherwise by appointment. 

www.rowtgop.org or www.rowtwomen.blogspot.com and on www.Facebook.com at “Republicans of Wheeling Township”; 

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”;

-- from Ronald Reagan’s address to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, March 30, 1961


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One conservative makes a difference with sample ballots and party building

125 Wheeling Township GOP Committeeman Ruth O'Connell had the troops out Wednesday afternoon, preparing literature bags for precinct captains to deliver to area Republican voters over the next two weekends.  For O'Connell, these efforts are the meat and potatoes of a local political organization.  Getting info to voters is crucial.

O'Connell is one of Cook County GOP's brightest stars, known for understanding and implementing the basics of building a Republican organization street by street, precinct by precinct.  Letting voters know about the candidates is hard work, even in a day of internet and mass publishing.  O'Connell's face-to-face contact has produced one of Cook County's liveliest and most influential Republican organizations.

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 Sunday, June 08, 2008

O'Connell Honored With Henry Hyde Award

by Jennifer Baty

At the end of the Illinois GOP Convention's general session Chairman Andy McKenna presented Wheeling Township Committeeman, Ruth O'Connell, with the Henry Hyde Award for her excellence in leadership.

Through her fierce dedication and hard work, Committeeman O'Connell created an outstanding organization of loyal precinct workers and energized ground troops who have yielded real results in support of local and statewide Republican candidates. Frequent meetings and events at the Wheeling Township headquarters are filled wall to wall with folks eager to participate in this dynamic organization.

O'Connell brought with her to the convention a full contingent of delegates who were a large presence on the floor. She received the award to a standing ovation, and she is a shining example of what good Republicans can accomplish in Illinois.

Congratulations and a big thank you to Ruth for all she gives and inspires!

 

Comments

Big thanks go to Ruth for her many hours of work on the Platform and Resolutions committee that helped protect our conservative platform from the predations of liberal committee members bent on making our IL GOP platform look like the liberal pro-abortion, pro-homosexual Democrat platform.

Ruth deserves further kudos for standing up and voting in favor of a Direct Elections Resolution despite obvious pressure from anti-reform members and leaders.

As a relatively new Township GOP Chairman, I have found Ruth's advice and assistance invaluable. Her Republicans Of Wheeling Township organization is a model for successful committees. She is truly an asset to our party and deserves this award and recognition for her many years of hard work and success.

Posted by: Don Castella | Sunday, June 08, 2008 at 09:21 AM

Way to go Ruth!

Posted by: Lisa | Sunday, June 08, 2008 at 11:49 AM

As a small member of the Wheeling Township Republican Party, I can absolutely affirm that Ruth O'Connell is the living embodiment of efficient, honest and caring Republican leadership.

Every County Chairman needs to have Ruth pay their townships a visit and to run an education and training seminar (all day) on how to organize the party faithful.

If one were to make a video series of lessons on chairmanship which includes active on the ground participation, Ruth should be the ideal subject. --Hey, there's an idea.

Every month her meeting has speakers of interest to Republicans, including candidates and office holders. They appear because they know that she has done an excellent job and people will be there.

That a person as savvy as Don Castella -- who is a Lake County model would acknowledge what Ruth in Cook County has done is fair testament to he prowess.

Posted by: Pete Speer | Sunday, June 08, 2008 at 12:23 PM