Celebrate July the old-fashioned American way! Enjoy hotdogs and hamburgers fresh off the grill, topped off with a chips, non-alcoholic drinks, and an assortment of potluck side dishes and desserts!
Come, mingle with the candidates, and hear about their campaigns in this very important election. Visit with old and new friends.
Buy Raffle Tickets for Prizes! Bring a side, salad, or dessert to share and get a free raffle ticket!
Seating at the park is on picnic benches.
Consider bringing camp chairs if you would like more comfortable seating.
Directions: From I-405, take exit 17 for NE 70th Place. Head east on NE 70th Place about 2 miles. When you pass 144th Ave NE on your right, take the next left turn into the parking lot for Grass Lawn Park (if you get to the signal at 148th Ave NE, you’ve gone too far). The picnic shelter is about a 100-yard walk from the parking area — look for the dome.
Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, June 11, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. PleaseRSVP if you plan to attend!
With more than two decades in environmental policy, Todd’s experience includes work on a range of environmental issues, including climate policy, forest health, old-growth forests, and salmon recovery. A former member of the executive team at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, he is a member of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council.
His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Seattle Times, and USA Today, and he has appeared on numerous news networks including CNBC, Fox News, BBC, and CNN. He served as vice president of the Northwest Association of Biomedical Research and received their Distinguished Service Award in 2018 for his support of bioscience. He has also served as president of the Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit providing medicines to low-income patients.
Todd holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Whitman College and a master’s degree in Russian/International Studies from the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington.
Please RSVP!
If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for College Republicans and Young Republicans) to cover the cost of the meeting space. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.
Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, May 14, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. PleaseRSVP if you plan to attend!
Randy Kessler of Stand with Us Northwest
Randy Kessler
Our special guest speaker for May is Randy Kessler, Executive Director of the Northwest chapter of Stand With Us, an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism.
Randy was born and raised in Bellevue, and he has been a lifelong member of the Greater Seattle Jewish community. His mother’s family arrived in Seattle in the early 1900’s from the Island of Rhodes, while his father’s family came to New York in the 1880’s from Russia and Poland.
Randy has always felt a special connection to Israel. In 1992, he and his wife spent seven months there immersed in Hebrew language and Israeli culture and building lifelong friendships.
Randy earned a business degree at the University of Washington and an MBA at Seattle U, which led to a successful career in the corporate technology and education industries. In 2017, he assumed the leadership of StandWithUs Northwest. In this role, he spearheads efforts to educate people about Israel and the Jewish people and to fight antisemitism across the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana.
Kerry French of Culture Crossroads USA
Kerry French
We’ll also hear from ERC board member Kerry French about a new organization, Culture Crossroads USA, focused on helping conservative kids and kids of faith in the junior high, high school, and college age range get into arts, business, law, and education. They will be having a kickoff event on June 22 at Lake Tanwax near Eatonville (Pierce County). For more information, visit https://culturecrossroadsusa.rsvpify.com.
Please RSVP!
If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for College Republicans and Young Republicans) to cover the cost of the meeting space. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.
Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond (note new location for 2024!). See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. PleaseRSVP if you plan to attend!
Our special guest speakers for April are the chairs of the King, Pierce, and Snohomish County Republican Parties: Mathew Patrick Thomas, Dave McMullan, and Bill Cooper.
Mathew Patrick Thomas
Dave McMullan
Bill Cooper
With the Washington State Republican Party Convention coming up April 18-20 in Spokane, and candidate filing week coming up May 6-10, we look forward to hearing from our county chairs regarding hot issues and races, and opportunities to help our candidates win!
Please RSVP!
If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for College Republicans and Young Republicans) to cover the cost of the meeting space. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.
Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, March 12, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond (note new location for 2024!). See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. PleaseRSVP if you plan to attend!
Guest Speakers: Tony Gill and Dave Workman
Tony Gill
We’re pleased to welcome back long time friend of Eastside Republican Club, Anthony (Tony) Gill. A professor of political science at the University of Washington, Tony is a frequent contributor to the American Institute for Economic Research, and a member of the Mont Pelerin Society (founded by Milton Friedman, F.A. Hayek, and others). In addition to receiving the 1999 UW Distinguished Teaching Award and 2006 Time Magazine Person of the Year, he was also an expert witness in Borders v King County dealing with the 2004 gubernatorial election recount (Tony was on the losing side of that court case). Find out more fun facts about this prolific professor of politics and puppets at https://anthonygill.org. Tony will address us on student preparation and the lowering of standards, academic misconduct by faculty (beyond the Harvard Gay scandal), and the impact of DEI policies on free speech.
Dave Workman
We’re also pleased to welcome back Dave Workman, editor-in-chief of TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press in Bellevue, and is the Communications Director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. and the Second Amendment Foundation. A career journalist, Dave is widely regarded as an authority on firearms and gun rights. He authored a book titled “Washington State Gun Rights and Responsibilities” in the 1990s with the final edition appearing in 2012. He has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major national newspapers, and he has co-authored seven books with Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. He also writes a monthly column on “2A Defense” for GUNS Magazine, and a weekly on-line column for “American Handgunner.” His articles have also appeared in Northwest Sportsman, where he writes a monthly column on guns and hunting, and his byline has also appeared in GUN WORLD, American Shooting Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Gun Digest and other publications. Dave is a certified firearms instructor and has taught firearms and self-defense at Highline Community College. Please join us to hear from Dave on threats to our 2nd amendment rights and actions you can take to defend them!
Please RSVP!
If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for College Republicans and Young Republicans) to cover the cost of the meeting space. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.
Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, February 13, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Hilton Garden Inn, 16630 Redmond Way in Redmond (note new location!). See the Location page for driving directions, a map, and parking information. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu. PleaseRSVP if you plan to attend!
Cindy Alia of Citizens Alliance for Property Rights
Cindy Alia of CAPR
Our special guest speaker for February will be Cindy Alia of Citizens Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR). Cindy is CAPR’s primary lobbyist. She describes herself as “an ordinary woman, a grandmother advocating for property rights life, liberty, and property. I encourage all to speak out to defend these core life values!”. Cindy posts to the CAPR Blog, and sends out frequent updates during the legislative session to keep us aware of the latest schemes by legislators to take away our property; you can subscribe at https://proprights.org/subscribe.
Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights was organized in 2003 as a non-partisan political action committee where individual citizens and existing organizations can work together protecting property rights. CAPR envisions a future where the regulatory cost of land ownership is minimized, and equitable and scientifically sound land use regulations do not force private landowners to pay disproportionately for public benefits enjoyed by all. Their mission is to protect and restore property rights by identifying, training, and mobilizing members in effective action during the legislative and election seasons to ensure political accountability toward their pro-property agenda.
Please RSVP!
If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for College Republicans and Young Republicans) to cover the cost of the meeting space. Food is available from the Fork and Spoke restaurant in the hotel, which is open from 5-9PM for dinner; you can preview the menu on ZMenu.
We had a great turnout for the January 9 meeting of Eastside Republican Club, with excellent speakers including Brian Heywood of Let’s Go Washington (who just got six excellent initiatives on the 2024 ballot!), Glen Morgan of We The Governed, and chair of the Washington State Republican Party, State Rep. Jim Walsh! If you weren’t there, you missed a great meeting!
We also held our Annual Business Meeting, at which ERC thanked Derek Chartrand for his service as ERC President for 2023. Derek has announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in the 1st District, and we wish him success in that endeavour! We elected a new president and board members as well.
Doug Basler
Our Club president for 2024 is Doug Basler, who previously served as ERC President for 2020-2022. Ruphina Nord, National Committeewoman for Washington State Young Republicans, was re-elected as ERC Vice President, and Kathleen Strong and Michael Scheele were re-elected as Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
Lenny Chacon, who serves as Chair of the Washington State Young Republicans, was re-elected to another two-year term on the ERC Board of Directors. Rick Jacobs was elected to his first term on the Board, and former state representative and Kirkland city councilmember Toby Nixon returned to the Board, having previously served several terms (Toby also manages the ERC web site and email lists). The club thanked Donna Barr and Ted Reinhart, who stepped down from the Board, for their faithful service.
We look forward to all the great things ahead for the club in 2024!
Mark Your Calendar!
The February 2024 meeting of Eastside Republican Club will be on our usual Second Tuesday, February 13, since it doesn’t collide with Valentine’s Day this year. The location and program will be announced soon.
We also take this opportunity to remind you to attend your Republican precinct caucuses this Saturday, January 13. For more information on locations and times, visit https://kcgop.org/2024caucus/ and https://wsrp.org/convention/
Time to Renew Your Membership!
If you have not already done so, please go to the Join page and renew your ERC membership for 2024. Of course if you aren’t yet a member, we invite you to join! There are three membership levels: Basic $25, Silver $50, and Gold $100. Your dues help cover the cost of meeting location rental and other expenses of operating the club. We look forward to seeing you at our meetings!
Please join us for the monthly meeting of Eastside Republican Club on Tuesday, January 9, at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet at the Barn at Willowcrest Stables(note new location!),12053 154th Place NE in Redmond. See the Location page for driving directions, a map, photos, and parking information. PleaseRSVP if you plan to attend!
Annual Business Meeting
We’ll start with the Annual Business Meeting to elect the ERC president and board members for 2024. If you’re interested in serving, please email us at info@eastsiderepublicanclub.org and let us know!
To be eligible to vote for our officers and board members during the business meeting, you will need to be a dues-paying member of the club either by registering and paying by January 9 or having been a paid member for 2023. It’s time for everyone to renew your membership for 2024 as well. Membership prices are still only $25 Basic, $50 Silver, and $100 Gold. Please renew today so you don’t forget! You can join or renew your membership on the Join page.
Glen Morgan of We The Governed
Glen Morgan
Unfortunately, WSRP Chair Jim Walsh is unable to make it to our meeting this month as previously announced. But we’re very pleased to announce that our special guest speaker will be Glen Morgan of We The Governed. to update us on his many activities to protect our rights and expose government corruption and the initiatives to the legislature in 2024.
Glen is a frequent writer and speaker on property rights, the environmental movement, Big Government, and the importance of citizen activism. In 2014, Bill Whittle called Glen “The ascended high master of political messaging.” Glen doesn’t consider himself a high master of anything, but he enjoys exploring policy issues in local government and exposing government corruption and incompetence which impacts everyone.
In October, 2023, Glen was awarded the Washington State GOP “Volunteer of the Year.” In June, 2019, Glen was awarded the “Citizen Activist of the Year 2019” award by the Olympic Conference. In 2015, Glen was also honored with the annual Rodney & Laurel McFarland Award presented by the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR) “for exemplary performance in preserving and protecting property rights for the year 2014.”
Glen is also an investigative citizen journalist who frequently meets with anonymous whistleblowers from various state agencies, local governments, and political parties who want to expose wrongdoing where they work. Glen has been repeatedly sued by Yelm, Washington based cult leader JZ Knight after he helped expose her racist speeches from 2011 which caused the Washington State Democratic Party to divest themselves from her donations at the time. Glen has also exposed tax fraud committed by State Senators, homeless camps causing environmental pollution – ignored by environmentalists, and even created alternative logos for Evergreen College. Glen also published Governor Inslee’s “snitch list” – a public record of citizens encouraged to spy on and report their neighbors for their failure to comply with Inslee’s Civilian Covid Compliance Program.
Glen helped launch the Washington Voter Research Project, a Washington State non-profit organization that helps concerned volunteer activists canvass Washington State’s voter rolls and help local auditors clean up problematic and sloppy voter rolls. He has repeatedly been attacked by the corporate media, angry politicians, and the Democratic Party for daring to look at elections, a project he has been involved in long before Trump decided to run for public office.
Please RSVP!
If you plan to attend the meeting, please click RSVP to register, and pay online in advance. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for College Republicans and Young Republicans) to cover the cost of the meeting space and food. Please register in advance so we know how much pizza and beverages to bring!
Come celebrate the holidays with your friends at Eastside Republican Club! This year we’ll be having a Potluck Dinner! The club will provide Roast Turkey as the main course, and also provide plates, utensils, napkins, and beverages. Members and guests are asked to bring side dishes and desserts to share — whatever your favorite accompaniment might be! We’ll have a surprise guest speaker and an auction as always, but mostly it’s a time for us to be together and enjoy each others’ company.
Directions: From I-405, take exit 20B for NE 124th Street. Head east on NE 124th Street about 2.2 miles to Redmond-Woodinville Road (SR-202). Turn left and head north about 1.7 miles; the Sammamish Valley Grange Hall is on your right, just past the second roundabout and the Hollywood Schoolhouse.
Just a reminder that there will be no ERC meeting in November. Please take the time to remember our Veterans on November 11. Registration for the Annual Holiday Dinner and Auction will be available soon!
Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights was organized in 2003 as a non-partisan political action committee where individual citizens and existing organizations can work together protecting property rights. CAPR envisions a future where the regulatory cost of land ownership is minimized, and equitable and scientifically sound land use regulations do not force private landowners to pay disproportionately for public benefits enjoyed by all. Their mission is to protect and restore property rights by identifying, training, and mobilizing members in effective action during the legislative and election seasons to ensure political accountability toward their pro-property agenda.
