Meeting Minutes
Rockaway Republicans
Thursday, May 29th
Belle Harbor Yacht Club

Wave Editor Howard Schwach was featured guest speaker at Thursday
evening 's Rockaway Republican meeting.  Also on the agenda was the 'Jerry
Sullivan campaign' to unseat 20-year Assembly Member, Audrey Pheffer.  
Jerry's task is a great one, and he will need all our help...for a better
Rockaway, a better Albany and a better State of New York.

Tom opened with America's Pledge of Allegiance, and then all club
members stopped for a minute to honor those now serving and fighting for us
and for our freedom around the globe.  Having thrown down the gavel, he
reported that Steve, George, Jerry, Jane, Ed, Pete and himself attended last
week's Queens GOP annual dinner to honor Assemblyman Jim Tedesco...who was
to be 'stream-rolled' by Governor Spitzer.  Chris Cox (the son of Tricia
Cox and the Grandson of Richard Nixon) also spoke movingly on the progress
of the John McCain campaign. The Breezy Point Coop (thanks to the efforts
of Jane & Steve) very generously bought a table at this year's GOP Dinner,
held at the Douglaston Manor.

Howard is Senior Editor of The Wave since 2002, and reports that ad
volume and page volume are at record levels.  He pointed out that many,
many people on both sides disagree with him sometimes, and that's a good thing.  
He believes there is a great role for a community newspaper to report
on Page One the hard news from the Rockaways and then thru-out the paper the
soft news of community meetings, local sports, local activities,
community affairs, etc. etc.  Regrettably, he pointed out, most of the hard
news that sells on Page One can be capsulized by 'if it bleeds, it leads'.  He
said sales have gone up 500-600 newspapers when he covers a horrendous
killing on page one.  He also points out that he's a bit of a moderate and
believes The Wave is far less hard-core liberal now than it was before him.  He
also pointed out how fearful he is that gang-land activities just might
increase especially if the Honduran drug-gang - the M13's - become very
active here on the Peninsula.  He ended by saying that he and the rapper 'True'
and former reporter Gary Toms are trying to put together a 'stop the
violence' campaign, but he spoke a bit disparagingly of the efforts
here-to-fore of Councilman James Sanders and Assembly-woman Michelle Titus in doing
anything positive.  He then took questions on violence, John McCain, George
Bush, and the War on Terror.  All and all it was interesting & informative.

Gary Patrylo came to the podium next and read a very, very moving
tribute to the strength, vitality and exceptionalism of America in today's world, and why we never need to
apologize for our Foreign Policy. .  It was written by a Lieutenant
General Chuck Pitman Retired and is traveling around the blogosphere.

Joe Hartigan spoke about the lack of adequate public transportation in Rockaway.

Kevin Moroney -- gave a report, as Treasurer, about our financial condition and mentioned the need to assure voters

a Republican Assemblyman wouldn't take away the support they receive from their current assembly person.

George Greco also spoke about the collapse of the Mayor's congestion pricing proposal.

And Pete Stubben read his letter which was in last weeks The Wave and to the mayor about the need to reduce city workers

using parking permits, allowing them to drive into the city when they, too, could be taking public transport with reference to congestion proposal.

Finally, Tom returned to the podium to organize the signature effort
to get Jerry Sullivan on the ballot.  The Signature & Petition effort
begins Tuesday, June 3rd and ends July 5th (???). As you know, Jerry needs
over 500 signatures from bonified Republicans who live in our district (the
23^rd Assembly District).  These signatures must be on County-prepared
pink petition forms.  Tom - and the Rockaway Republicans - are asking
each member to get 20 signatures from their neighbors (who are registered
Republicans)..
Those 25 or so members attending all picked up (a) the petition
forms, (b) a list of registered republicans who live on their block, and (c)
beautifully designed & 4-color fliers of Jerry Sullivan and what he stands for..
 Those not attending last nite please call or email Jane Deacy (634-8134) mejane7@aol.com

 or Tom (318-1515  tlynch12@nyc.rr.com to set yourself up.
Jerry cannot even get on the ballot if we don't come through for him.

Thank you...

Joan Hart
Secretary, Rockaway Republicans