Presidents Letter For Rep Club

Republican Club of Lakeland PO Box 2862, Lakeland, FL 33806-2862 Ron Parks, President Michael Dunn, Vice President www.lakelandrepublicans.com

The fate of good men [& women] who refuse to become involved in politics is to be ruled by evil men. Edmund Burke

Presidents Letter, Subject: Our Meetings – Our Plans The Republican Club of Lakeland has had very successful monthly meetings this year and our plans are to continue that standing. Most of the meetings this year have tilted towards education of its members in better understanding the principles and concepts that we need to be aware of and applied in government. We have had speakers such as authors’ what have written several books, an attorney that has practiced before the U. S. Supreme Court and lecturers that speak nationally. With the 2010 elections coming fast before us next year we will turn more to the candidates and elected officials that are embracing our electoral process and republican form of government. This will bring out an array of outstanding questions, topics, and platforms with intense debate in a variety of subjects by both the candidates and attendees of the meetings. We as a club have been very active in the community and have received recognition for that. For example, we became a “Lifetime Honorary Member Florida Sheriffs Association”. Also, as I personally gave money and helped organizations I did it as representing and naming the Republican Club of Lakeland. This helped to validate the club as being involved with society as a whole and not just selfishly seeking its own ends. However, it must be remembered the club is not a social club but a political club, and as a political organization we have particular standards, principles, truths and goals that must be maintained. Thomas Jefferson and the Founders called them “unalienable Rights” and the “Laws of Nature” and the purpose is to form a more perfect Union, establish justice and to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. Please note, governments are instituted only for certain limited reasons; they are not to be involved, or very little, in most areas of our lives. Applying these and a few other principles are the primary object and mission of our organization. This is mainly done though self-education in the science of government and the election of true republican candidates. These are the areas this club will mainly seek advancement in. I believe the Republican Party and our club to be the best vehicle for translating these successful principles. Thank you for joining the Republican Club of Lakeland. In ending, I will leave a variety of quotes from the Founding Fathers of our country:

“A primary object… should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing… than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?” George Washington “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be. [We must] educate and inform the whole mass of the people, they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” Thomas Jefferson “No free government, or the blessing of liberty, can be preserved to any people without a frequent recurrence of fundamental principles.” Patrick Henry “A nation of well informed men [and women] who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.” Benjamin Franklin “Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature....” James A. Garfield “if rulers are bad men, it is generally the fault of the people.” Noah Webster “America’s Schoolmaster’. Webster also spoke 28 languages. “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual… but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” Samuel Adams, April 16, 1781 Sincerely,

Ron Parks Ron Parks – President (863) 521-5469 [email protected]

www.lakelandrepublicans.com