The Josephine County Republican Women Club (JCRW) was founded in 1958 in Josephine County, Oregon. There’s not much history as to who formed it or how many women belonged; but it did exist, and over the years was active in the County. Six years ago, in 2014, there was a riff in the membership and it was decided by some to start their own Club in Josephine County. They called themselves the Rogue Valley Republican Women (RVRW). They did this all legally and with the approval of the Oregon Federation of Republican Women (OFRW).
Both Clubs continued to function in the county, and both kept a civil and cordial relationship. They shared in different events such as manning the Josephine County Republican Party booth at the Josephine County Fair. All in all, things were going along smoothly, and each Club was slowly growing in numbers.
However, after the 2020 Election, and the disappointment in the outcome of that election, members of both Clubs felt a desire to unify the Clubs. The mood of the nation among Conservatives was felt even here in Josephine County. It was time to fight back and get organized. It was time to strengthen our numbers and join forces to preserve the Republican Party and the Make America Great movement.
Under the guidance of OFRW President, Christine Morgan, the two Clubs merged on March 15, 2021, at the Lion’s Gate Church in Grants Pass, OR. Since this had never happened before in Oregon, President Morgan had to consult with the National Federation of Women and see how this should be done.
Part of the agreement between the two Clubs was that the name of the new Club would remain Josephine County Republican Women. This was because it had been established since 1958 and longevity was important to the two Clubs. Both Clubs also had to vote on keeping one set of Bylaws. After each Club’s Bylaws were reviewed by OFRW Executive Board Member, _________, the new Club voted to approve her recommendation at the March 15th Merger Meeting.
Another consideration in the merger was the election of new officers. Each Club was asked to submit candidates to run for the election. Existing Officers had to agree to resign so that new Officers could be elected. This went extremely well, as each Club had agreed in a prior agreement, who was running for each position and that there would be no overlap.
At the time of the Merger, on March 15, 2021, the JCRW had 16 members and 4 Associate Members. The RVRW had 24 members and 8 Associate Members. Thus the new club, using the new acronym, JoCRW, had 40 members and 12 Associate Members.
Today, as of May 27, 2021, our new Club has grown to 63 Members and 12 Associate Members. The new interest and energy in our new Club is a constant blessing. We have more volunteers for community activities, we are taking on new projects that we didn’t have the capacity to do so before, and we have become a force in the Community that is attracting more women who never thought they’d be interested in joining before. One comment from a longtime resident was that she “didn’t want to join either Club because she didn’t want to offend either one.”
The new JoCRW Club is lead by some truly great women who are showing leadership skills and a new energy that is bringing excitement and new ideas to the membership. They are: President, Terri Millard, 1stVice President, Dee Dee Smith, 2nd Vice President, Candy Kaiser, Treasurer, Jennifer Green, and Secretary, Linda Smith and Vivian Kirkpatrick-Pilger, as Past President. There is much laughter and comradery among the group. We’re meeting new friends and sharing in a common goal to infiltrate the community with Republican Values and spread our message of Conservatism in the schools, the churches, and our county.
A big thank you goes to President, Christine Morgan, for helping the Merger go smoothly and without a hitch. Please come and visit us on the third Thursday of each month at the Lion’s Gate Church in Grants Pass. We are alive and well and having a grand time with new members coming every month and new projects being shared by all.
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