Local Republican Club working to enhance program planning

BY JOHN BRICE,
FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN

CHAMBERS COUNTY — Local officials and members of the Chambers County Republican Club gathered Aug. 27 for their monthly meeting in the Chambers County Development Authority conference room at the Lanett Municipal Airport.

Club Chairperson and State Rep. Kristin Nelson (R-Lanett) addressed the group with a focus on the upcoming general election in November. Nelson emphasized getting out the vote and briefed attendees on campaign yard signs purchased by the club.

Nelson also announced a new role within the club: program planner. The position will be assumed by club Vice President Sara Crutchfield.

“It is new under my leadership,” Nelson said. “We are just trying to move to a format where we have our business meeting quarterly, but then the club meeting is more of a learn about your Republican candidates and those that are currently serving, get to know them better and get the community engaged. Representing two different counties in my elected role, I have watched other counties and the way they operate, which seems to be really effective to engage the community but also to accomplish business.”

Explaining the nature of the program planner role was also a focus for Nelson.

“A program planner will take the calls of who is interested in coming to speak,” Nelson said. “If there is not this great interest in non-election years, [their role is] recruiting those people to come and speak and be a part of the program, [susch as] any nonprofits who want to come and talk about things they are doing or just anybody in the community. Circle of Care, they can come and tell us about what all they offer. If they haven’t gotten their first residents, they will get them soon at Hope Haven, so things like that are happening.”

Crutchfield agreed the position will help widen the club’s scope.

“I think it is also a great opportunity to be able to invite people who are in the community that have different organizations to come and speak to the club on what they do and [about] resources that are here that we may not know about,” Crutchfield said.

Looking toward the club’s near future, Nelson outlined changes to regular gatherings.

“We plan for our club meetings now to be monthly at a public location — a restaurant or some other meeting place, but most likely a restaurant,” Nelson said. “[It will be at] 6:30 p.m. ET, which gives our central time people time to get off of work and get to an area. Hopefully, people can engage better, feed their families and learn about what is going on in the community.”

For more information, visit www.algop.org/organizer/chambers-county-republican-party/.