Smart Girl Hangout

Join us monthly for a Google+ Hangout on the latest hot topics with experts from some great organizations. Next Topic: Women Running For Office - Wed., May 8, at 8 pm est Host: Stacy Mott

Jennifer Wright: Jennifer Wright was a political neophyte before her 2011 bid for Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, the 6th largest city in the United States. While she entered the race late, Wright invigorated grassroots activists and qualified for the ballot in just three weeks with more nominating signatures than any other candidate. Despite running her campaign on a shoe-string budget, Wright virtually tied for third place with well-known, and long-time Phoenix City Council Members who, combined, spent over $1,000,000 on their campaigns. In the run-off race between the top-two vote-getters, Wright's endorsement of former opponent Wes Gullett was hailed by political pundits as being more important than Gullett obtaining Governor Jan Brewer's endorsement. Wright's emergence as a candidate was widely reported as having significantly transformed the dialogue concerning the important issues of the race. Jennifer Wright is an attorney, wife, and mother of two young boys who were both under five years old during the campaign.

Nancy Bocskor: Nancy serves on the board of Running Start, an organization that encourages young women to enter public service. She served as a faculty member of The 2012 Project, a program sponsored by the Rutger’s University Center for American Women and Politics to encourage women to run for political office. A past Vice President of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale, she chaired the school’s Curriculum Committee for five years. Nancy recently joined the Board of Advisors for the Center for Second Service, an organization dedicated to getting veterans elected to Congress and sponsored by George Washington University.

Anna Iseman: Anna started a community organization called The Bridge, a group who trains volunteers from churches to assist poor or homeless individuals and families find housing. She is an active member of her local Republican Party, her town Parks and Recreation Committee, the city Homeless Services Network, and several other city task forces, and most importantly, her son's baseball coach!

 

 

Past Hangouts Stacy Mott, President of SGP and Alix Schroeck with Association of American Educators. Women & Guns - Carrie Lightfoot, Natalie Foster, Celia Bigelow, Maya Grim (Post) Youth in Action with Elissa Roberson, Amy Lutz, and Gabriella Hoffman

My Choice. My Family. My Right.

In a press conference on January 24, 2013, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced legislation that would ban the manufacture, importation, sale and transfer of more than 120 specifically named firearms, and many more semi-automatic weapons that have one or more "military-style" features. (i.e. weapons that look scary) Included in the ban are weapons that accept a detachable magazine, and those with fixed magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. 

"No weapon is taken from anyone," said Feinstein during her explanation of the bill. "The purpose is to dry up the supply of these weapons over time." (so, you and I may not lose our weapons, but our children and grandchildren's supply will be 'dried up' if this piece of legislation is passed) To Senator Feinstein's latest attack on the Second Amendment, we say a hearty 'no thanks'! We prefer to exercise our own right to choose--a right that Senator Feinstein vehemently supports when it comes to a woman's right to "protect" herself from the burden of a child. 

Co-sponsors of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 include Senators Dick Durban (D-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy (D-CONN). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has not yet announced his support. 

If you oppose Senator Feinstein's bill, we ask that you take a moment and sign the petition below.

482 signatures

 

 

Dear Senator Feinstein,

Like you, I was deeply saddened and angered by the events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14, 2012. My heart breaks for the families who lost children that day.

Unlike you, I do not believe the answer is another gun control bill. You claim that the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 will save lives. On the contrary, I believe that by restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens, you are putting my life, and that of my family, at greater risk.

I, the undersigned, believe I have a right not only to protect my family, but a right under the U.S. Constitution to choose how I do so. You do not have the authority to interfere with the rights of law abiding citizens.

I ask that you withdraw your bill from consideration. I ask that this tragedy not be turned into another opportunity for those of you in Washington to play politics with our lives.

With respect, 

Add signature

West Virginia

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State Coordinator: Melodie Williams

Melodie was a stay at home mom back in the 70’s and 80’s.   She now has two tremendous indidviuals who, they are proud to say, are young conservatives.  One is a Math Teacher and the other a BlackHawk Pilot in the U.S. Army.  They in turn each have children so Melodie is a Grandparent to a 14 year old young conservative in the making and two little Grandaughters one 6 year old and yes going on 25 the other a strong-willed 2 year old.
 
When George “W” Bush ran is when both she and her husband actively got involved in the political game.  Carl Rove had a great system in place via the National GOP website and so she got many in her area to put out signs, bumper stickers,etc. & had a house party for “W" while also getting involved in registering voters.  

Melodie actually ran for County Commission in 2008 but was defeated.  But she believes this invaluable experience is helping her be a support for other candidates that are currently running.  And she encourages others to run if you even have a little inkling in there!  That’s what we need  as can be seen today, people are rising up and running who otherwise wouldn’t normally think of it!  

She is looking forward to working with SGP to further help with getting our country back on track to its original intent as set up by our founders.  And looking forward to working with you to see how we can plug you in so each may have an influence in their sphere!

Who is Julia?

Like the fabricated GOP “war on women,” Julia is a fabricated American female created by the White House to promote the many ways in which the Administration thinks its initiatives help a female throughout every stage in her life. The problem with this scenario is that the Administration generalizes and marginalizes American females as a generic population that needs a one-size-fits all, government subsidized system.
 
The problem with “The Life of Julia” also lies in the Administration’s assumption that the average American woman would want or need government assistance. Shouldn’t it be the goal of our leaders to create a culture of self-reliance, which is the pinnacle of individual liberty and freedom?
 
Smart women (and the men who love us!) know better. We want to live our lives without depending on Uncle Sam.  You and I know that nothing in life is free -- as much as the Administration may advertise that it is. You and I know that “government-funded” means taxpayer funded.  And that taxpayer is you and I, and -- worst of all -- our children.
 
More government doesn’t mean more freedom.  It means less freedom and less individual liberty. As we all know, there is nothing “one-size-fits-all” about the United States of America, and that is one thing that we, as Americans, can all take pride in.
 
Smart Girl Politics wants you to let Obama and his cohorts know they don’t speak for us.

We don’t fit into their cookie cutter image of an American woman dependent on the government to bail us out and we do not need them to hold our hands.

We are NOT Julia.

 
Let the President know he doesn’t speak for us by purchasing an exclusive, limited edition “I’m not Julia” bumper sticker from Smart Girl Politics Action TODAY. With every donation of $25 or more to SGPA, you get five bumper stickers – one for yourself and four to share with the non-Julia’s in your life!
 
Conservative women don’t need President Obama, Democrats or the Federal government to take care of us and we want the world to know it, so purchase your bumper stickers today!

Tennessee

	Voter Registration Information State Legislature 33 State Senators Senate Member Roster 99 State Representatives State House Member Roster

State Coordinator: Paula Tyler

I am a Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Patriot, and freedom fighter.  My days commence with a cup of coffee with the news on the TV and my laptop open to my news feeds.  Trying to inform, educate, and motivate fellow citizens to stand up, get active, and get involved!  I like to say my focus is on Elections, the whole process from registration to watching for flawed elections or fraud.  But my focus changes with what is thrown at conservatives on a daily basis.

I joined Smart Girl Politics in February 2009 and became the State Coordinator in April of that year.  The mission statement of Educate * Engage * Empower really spoke to me, as I felt by educating the women of Tennessee and the Country we would begin to make a difference. 

I enjoy getting out to Tea Party events, Conservative meetings, and Rallies.  I have especially enjoyed the Smart Girl Summits and look forward to everyone!

My biggest pet peeve is hearing our Country referred to as a democracy!  We are a Republic and the Constitution guarantees us a Republican form of government!

Florida

	Voter Registration Information Florida State Legislature 40 State Senators 120 Members of the General Assembly

State Coordinator: Renee Rankine

Renee Rankine has been passionate about politics since she volunteered on her first campaign at age 16. Over the years she has continued to volunteer for campaigns and has been employed as both a Field Manager and a Field Organizer for various political organizations.

As a former Democrat who realized, as many others did, that her beliefs did not align with the liberal platform during the beginning of the Obama Presidency she has become very involved with spreading awareness to others  through grassroots activism. Smart Girl Politics gives her the opportunity to further that activism and to help affect positive change.

Currently, Renee acts as the Florida State Co-Coordinator for Smart Girl Politcs and is a contributor to Conservative Daily News. 

Renee lives in South Florida where she works as a Visual Merchandiser and runs a non-profit education based political organization, Future Political Leaders Association.

State Coordinator: Terri Rounsavall

Terri Rounsavall grew up in South Florida where she currently resides with her husband Robert, former Chief in the U.S. Navy. Terri holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Florida Atlantic University.  After teaching kindergarten for 2 years she recently returned to being a stay at home mom to their 3 children.  Terri joins Smart Girl Politics with a heart to serve and a passion for America.

California

	Voter Registration Information California State Legislature 40 State Senators Senate Member Roster  80 State Representatives State House Member Roster

 

State Coordinator: Lainie Sloane

Lainie started her political activism as a Teen Age Republican (TAR) when she was 14 years old by helping her local college (Purdue University) Young Republicans with door-to-door campaigns, telephone banks and stuffing envelopes.

In addition to serving on various local and state campaign committees and managing GOP Campaign Headquarters for two presidential elections, she was appointed by a judge to serve as interim City Clerk and was given an Honorary Indiana Secretary of State Award for her extraordinary leadership skills and dedication to the Republican Party in her home state of Indiana.

After she married Los Angeles-native entertainer J.P. Sloane, they moved to Southern California where she worked in management at Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Animation, and assisted in the development of a retro record label for Dick Clark Productions. Lainie is a member of and served on the Board of Directors of Los Angeles-based Christian Entertainers’ Fellowship. She resides in Murrieta, California with her husband, host of the radio show, “What In The World?” They have one daughter, Shannon, author of the facebook page, “A Heart of Virtue.”

Virginia

	Voter Information State Legislature 40 State Senators 100 State Representatives  Find Out Who Is Your Legislator- Click here!

 

 

 

Illinois

	State Legislature 59 State Senators Senate Member Roster 116 State Representatives State House Member Roster

State Coordinators: Margo Easton & Vicki Danklefsen

Margo Easton was born in Western New York State near Buffalo, and moved to Illinois in 1990.  I’ve been married for 11 years and I am a stay-at-home mother of 10 year old triplets.  I’ve always enjoyed politics and I have volunteered on various campaigns since I was 16 years old.  The first campaign I worked on was Ronald Reagan’s re-election in 1984.  Even though I was too young to vote, that was my first step to life-long commitment of working for conservative candidates.
 
I am a political blogger for The Cranky Housewife.  Additionally, I am an active volunteer in my children’s school and that is where I met Vicki Danklefsen who will also coordinate the Illinois 14th district for Smart Girl Politics.  
 
Vicki Danklefsen is a Wisconsin native who graduated from UW-Madison. She moved to Illinois in 1988. Vicki and her husband Jeff watched the presidential debates together even before their first date. They have been married for 20 years and have two children. She has worked for newspapers and in public relations, primarily in healthcare and education, and is an active volunteer in her church, school and community.
 
In 2008, Vicki and I became tired of yelling at our television every night over our concerns with bailouts and health care reform.  We realized that we needed to get involved to educate our neighbors about the issues and to help find solutions to the problems in Illinois and in Washington DC.  That is when we decided to work together to organize the first Kane County Taxpayer Tea Party.  Since then, we have organized two additional Tea Parties and some smaller events. Speakers have included WLS talk show host Dan Proft who ran for governor in the Illinois Republican primary;  Adam Andrzejewski, CEO of For the Good of Illinois who also ran for governor; conservative talk show host Teri O’Brien; State Senator Chris Lauzen; Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14); John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute (http://illinoispolicy.org/); local businessmen and concerned citizens.
 
While we have enjoyed working with the Tea Party movement in Illinois, Vicki and I wanted to join with Smart Girl Politics as a way of helping women get involved with the political process and continuing our shared mission of Engaging, Educating and Empowering voters.