Spring is coming, and we excitedly await the arrival of both to our area farmers’ markets.
If that is truly the best we can do for community outreach, we learned NOTHING from the 2016 election or its aftermath.
At this week’s Fairfax County Republican Committee Meeting, the business of the committee was to quickly rush through the standard reports. The announcement that generated the most excitement and applause was about our upcoming effort to rent booths at as many farmers’ markets as we can staff with volunteers.
What about the budget? What about planning our political action for the year? A resounding preface by the Chairman that it’s “pretty much the same” and “nothing really new” – the budget passed unanimously, or nearly so. No one cared about abstentions; those of us who would want more information were in the minority… Because numbers are hard? Because we don’t care?
The point isn’t how much we spend – rather, what are we spending on? What are our priorities? Why do we invest the same amount, in the same things, year over year? Having ceded ground in local elections for over a decade, wouldn’t it make sense to reexamine our efforts? For example, the thousands of dollars and innumerable hours spent on Back To School Night brochures – are they worth the effort? (I would argue that NO, they’re a complete waste of time and money. But they are a sacred cow “because we’ve always done them” and “because the volunteers like doing it better than door-to-door”). The sheer inanity of these reasons boggles the mind.
What should we do instead? Oh, I don’t know… maybe some ACTIVISM?! While fundraisers and GOP breakfasts and internal events are fun and our safe spaces, how about getting out of our comfort zones? How about making a concerted effort to attend, participate, sign up to speak at the School Board meetings? Board of Supervisors meetings? Legislative town halls? Board of Zoning Appeals meetings?
We’re losing ground, while opponents are actively engaging in real political activism. It’s time the Fairfax County Republican Committee started acting like a political organization instead of a social club. Let’s reexamine our priorities – QUICK – before we lose everything.
27 comments
What Ron said – if we aren’t there, if we aren’t doing it, and the Democrats are there, we’re depriving our candidates of opportunities for votes, and we’re depriving voters of hearing an alternative message.
One of the best articles I have read at this site. So spot on and very funny! GOP meetings are stupid, some of the worst on the planet, and while activism is great, face it, the people on the Right are awful at it.
I know two GOP groups that can’t even coordinate an open coffee just to sit around and chew the fat for a bit to brainstorm. You don’t plan a get together for a night or morning when everyone can attend. You set the date and time and the people that can make it will attend, but no, let’s go around the room and ask each person if they can make it Saturday morning to the Hardee’s at 9 or Thursday’s at 6:30 at the BBQ joint. Every last person will say, “Well, that won’t work for me because I gotta XYZ”. Really? It ain’t rocket science, and so what if only two, three people show up? I miss the Tun Tavern days.
I have found w/”groups” you don’t get anything done if you meet only once a month, that is 10 meetings a year. July and December usually don’t happen. July gets canceled because it is vacation season, if the December meeting happens it is a Christmas party. If you think about it there is never a good time, it is back to school, the holidays from the October 31st to January 3rd, winter (so cold and bad weather to go out), spring (nice weather, outdoor activities, Easter), then summer, (too hot and vacations) and then by golly you are back to school!
Once a week is best or bi-monthly, it gives more people an opportunity to attend than the once a month system. But hey, I already know the excuses to not do it that way. I mean it is only our country and lives at stake. And for God’s sake where it is written that there must be a guest speaker?
For some reason activism just isn’t our thing while the left excels at it, of course that may have something to with them getting paid to go out and make fools of themselves. And I know it has to do w/so many fractions under the umbrella of so called GOP. It is also because the GOP simply doesn’t know how to have fun. If you are on the Left, you are a Progressive, simple, cut and dry.
Ms. Urman is 100% correct attending the local school board, town council, board of supervisors meetings is where it will make a difference. Yes, it is another boring stuffy meeting, but the big difference is that there is power at these meetings which is why people should go, it is one place people can make change by being there. Putting the pressure on the local gov’t is where it all starts.
Fairfax Republicans have become nothing more than happy losers. They are satisfied to try really hard but lose all the time. They’ll get ’em next time!
Ha this from a fellow New Yorker! As someone else mentioned, how do you stop demographics and older housing stock which alters the political landscape. Yes, tactics and outreach has to change. More and more resources are being put into ethnic community outreach. This demographic change is exactly what happened in NYC suburbs of Westchester, Rockland and Nassau counties. However, achieving 42 to 43% vote total for a Republican statewide candidate in Fairfax County ensures a GOP win statewide.
Thank you for your post. As a whole, we Republicans need to pay more attention to Fairfax. I’ve said it before, but Fairfax needs a “get well” plan. We don’t need to win the county over, but we need to lose by less in order to win the statewide races. I hope to see more of the FCRC at TBE.
Ms Urman et al, The purpose of stresssing the Farmer’s Markets is visibility, especially of female Republicans, and a wonderful chance to spread a message. The next thing to do is actively participate in the Lt Governor Debate on March 30-for information GOPWOMENNOVA@gmail.com or RSVP to http://Clifton gop.com/membership/lt-governor-debate and join the 17 Republican Women’s Clubs in northern Virginia in a highly publicized political activity designed to educate the public and to showcase active, engaged, smart Republican Women. The point is doing not talking-being visible in word and deed. We are being supported by the 8th, and 11th District Committees and by Prince William and Fairx County committees as well as the 17 area clubs including Ms Urman’s Colonial RWC. Hope to see you there participating with us.
Linda Bartlett, George Mason Republican Women
Fairfax
I’m sure she’ll be there, as will many of us. In any case, she’s exactly right. The mood at farmer’s markets regarding Republicans is best described as ‘highly suspicious’. This is the case throughout NoVA.
Robert Kenyon are you saying we should not be at the farmer’s markets or you think it is a waste of time or you think the highly suspicious are the dems? I am so very glad you will be with us on the 30th-thanks for that and I know Anna will be there as well.
I think the farmers’ markets are not an effective use of time and volunteer resources. Traditional canvassing operations, combined with phone banks, mailings, and email/social media, are the way to go as far as outreach goes.
Email and social media for sure-not so sure about phone banks-they worked just fine when everyone had a land line and were not aware of who was calling so they answered the phone
as for the markets, CEC outreach and new citizen events etc-Dems have always been there-their presence at community events and activities is taken for granted-we need to challenge that, in my opinion
Farmers markets are twofold: 1) to demonstrate a consistent GOP presence as 2) an alternative to the left / to recruit volunteers, / make money selling GOP Bling.
Great training grounds for younger Republicans.
Many of us would like to attend, but we need the information. This is the first I’ve heard of it. Thanks.
http://fairfaxfreecitizen.com/2017/02/22/50798/
thanks Anna
press release went out to wapo and other local outlets as well as tv and radio-DJ Jordan in PWC wrote it for us-he works for the US House
know anyone at Bering Strait
The Lt Governor debate is a great forum – but where / how are we promoting it? Mostly to groups and people who self-ID as Republicans already. When the party and the VFRW is suffering attrition, we have to reach outside our circles to spread the message. Ask an average Fairfax registered voter if they know who is running for LG, if they know what an LG does, they probably don’t know and don’t care. And if we don’t find those folks, reach out to them in terms they can understand, invenues/forums/means of communication they are in already, we cannot educate them, which means they’re not showing up to the polls.
Would you please post more information on the Lt.Governor’s debate on March 30th? The link doesn’t work. Thank you!
http://cliftongop.com/membership/lt-governor-debate
try this
There are 17 RW clubs in NOVA-from the southern border of PW county to MD and WVA-that includes Winchester Frederick Clarke RW and Loudoun County RW. To win statewide there is a floor in NOVA that must be achieved to win state-wide-something greater than 42%. In addition women are 53% of the population, they are more likely to vote and therefore women decide elections. So, we have banded together to raise awareness of Republican women and of our candidates for this year. The Debate will be 30 March at Army Navy County Club in Arlington, which is a beautiful facility, Doors will open at 6:30, Debate-7-8:30 and then some time for a cup of coffee and chatting. I would love to send our latest flyer to the Bull Elephant-shall I use thebullelephant.com or another address? It is on the FCRC website, as well as the Fairfax Free Citizen. We have one newsperson from Loudoun who has said she will attend and we have sent a press release to several media outlets. Laura Ramirez Drain is handling the press ldrain@randomwordsmarketing.com. Send questions to GOPWOMENNOVA@gmail.com We will be delighted to have you come and thanks for your interest LL
Sorry, but you guys already lost everything. Or at least 80-90% of it.
Best for all of the Fairfax Republicans to move to Loudoun, which still might be salvageable.
Good point, let’s focus on how the GOP lost Fairfax and are losing Loudoun.
Loudoun will experience the same process as Fairfax. As the housing stock gets older and the income levels change in the suburbs, so do the voting behavior. The middle income Republican leaning move further out and the split occurs with high end (like liberal Alexandria) and lower income residents that are more Dem leaning replace the Republican voter. This has been going on for a couple decades in Fairfax (and now happening in eastern Loudoun). PLUS throw in that the core Republican philosophy of less / smaller government may be harder to sell in a county where the number one business is government (ya think?). President Trump’s “drain the swamp” means fewer jobs in Fairfax. This said, the Meals Tax was soundly defeated, Fairfax and Virginia as a whole has to diversify away from living off the Fed government, and Republicans need to continue to reach out to ethnic and new voters especially small businesses and church communities.
spot on!
The local unit as “social club for political groupies” is apparently a common problem. The primary focus should be on spreading our values and winning elections, but that is often subverted to administrative minutiae and procedural haggling. The only solution is finding unit leaders who understand why the Republican party exists.
How do you propose FCRC change the demographic tide Anna?
We can’t door knock our way out of this.
We must attract new blood to the GOP by (1) figuring out our message, (2) intelligently marketing to people BEYOND the self-selected, self-identifying group of Republicans. If we can’t answer “why should I choose Republican” then we’ve failed. And (3) – we need to be active! Knock on EVERY door, not just Rs. Challenge our government officials at all levels when they fail us – even the Republican ones; ESPECIALLY the Republican ones. We can’t afford to be a social club that doesn’t stand for anything.
PS we certainly can’t doorknock our way out of if this if we don’t start in the first place.
Victory & Fairfax volunteers do target independents very often and also ‘soft’ democrats for more local races on the ground. Online, FCRC targets everyone within cities or CDP’s in the county depending on issue & candidates. -former staffer