America First Republican Club
by Hope Horning
LW contributor
In lieu of its regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 17, the America First Republican Club will instead have a Member Appreciation Picnic on Saturday, Sept. 20, to celebrate the club’s growing membership. The picnic will be held from noon- 4 p.m. at the Clubhouse 1 picnic area. The club hopes to make it an annual event.
Guest speakers will address the gathering at noon, starting with Leisure World’s Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen who will give an update on the Board of Supervisors’ efforts to ensure election integrity at the Registrar of Voters. Former mayor and current Huntington Beach City Council member Gracey Van Der Mark will discuss her candidacy for the 72nd California Assembly District, which includes voters in Leisure World.
Then at 1 p.m., the “Taco Tuesday” food truck will serve the main entrees of hamburgers or tacos for free. Side dishes will also be provided like salads, coleslaw, baked beans, veggie platters and chips. Bottled water will also be provided for free, with soda or other drinks available for purchase from the taco truck. Members are encouraged to bring their favorite desserts to share.
Entertainment will be music by the Coconut Breeze, a band that includes former club president Donald Horning. Board member Anne Calvo also has planned some political-themed games and board member Darlene Boyce has gathered great prizes for the winners.
The club’s mission is to educate, engage, and activate members in their duty as citizens, including working to elect like-minded candidates to local, state and federal offices, as well as to pass propositions addressing shared values.
The club will focus on educating voters about the Proposition 50 Special Election in November. The club’s information booth will be set up on the third Mondays in front of Clubhouse 6 from 9-11 a.m., which coincides with the Golden Age Foundation’s hospitality hours. Members host the booth and informally chat about current events and issues of concern with people who stop by. Information on Proposition 50 will be available at the booth.
