PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY

Elois Zeanah is the 18th president of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women. Prior to her election, Elois served as AFRW’s 3rd vice president and 1st vice president and as chair of AFRW’s illegal immigration issues committee. She received the 2006-2007 biennial award as the “Most Valuable Member of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women” and the “Most Volunteer Hours” award for 2005-2006.

Elois has served several terms as president of the RW of Tuscaloosa County, which won the “Most Outstanding Club” award for 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. She is a member of the State Executive Committee and has served as secretary of the Alabama Republican Party 6th District and of the GOP Tuscaloosa County Executive Committee. Elois was appointed by Governor Riley as a commissioner to Alabama’s Patriotic Immigration Panel in 2007.

Elois has a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama. A native of Alabama, Elois moved back home to retire in 2003 from Thousand Oaks, Calif., where she served on the City Council for eight years, including one term as mayor. As an elected official, Elois was elected the Best Civic Leader four times in the Los Angeles’ Daily News “Readers’ Choice Awards.” She also managed nine local electoral campaigns, winning the last seven.

In addition, Elois served as a commissioner on the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area. Before moving to California, Elois worked in Washington, D.C., for several presidential appointees. These included the White House, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Since retiring to Alabama, Elois has also been active in non-partisan organizations and received the West Alabama Distinctive Woman of the Year Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2009. One of her favorite pastimes is serving as a docent at the Warner Museum of Young American Art.

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Alabama FRW.

FEDERATION PROFILE

The Alabama Federation was founded in 1962 and affiliated with the NFRW that same year.
AFRW is organized into seven districts. The mainstays of the organization are campaign activities and educating women to be more politically active. Members organize annual Legislative Days in Montgomery, sponsor campaign seminars, register voters, participate in get-out-the-vote efforts, host receptions for state officials and candidates, hold judicial and legislative forums, as well as many other projects.

Electing Republicans is the most important goal. Other top priorities are reaching out to voters and involving more women in the political process. Each club participates in Caring for America projects such as supporting our military troops overseas, and providing school supplies for indigent children. In addition, members tutor in schools and provide books to schools and libraries through the Mamie Eisenhower Library Project.

Past presidents include:
Bobbie Lou Leigh, 2008-09
Virginia Howard, 2006-07
Rhonda Rutledge, 2002-05
Sallie Bryant, 2000-01
Joyce West, 1996-99
Lionel Gustafson, 1994-95
Deanna Cox, 1992-93
Martha Foy, 1986-91
Wren McKemy, 1984-85
Joan Keat, 1980-83
O'Reba Weeks, 1976-79
Olive Spann, 1972-75
Anna Graham, 1970-71
Bobbie Ames, 1968-69
Vera Yeager, 1966-67
Virginia Garratt, 1964-65
Mary Ellen Miller, 1962-63 (founding)

Publisher's Note: Text published as provided by Alabama FRW.

LOCAL CLUBS

Azalea City RW Capital City RW Cheaha RW Cherokee County RW Cullman County RW DeKalb County RW Eastern Shore RW Greater Birmingham RW Houston County RW Huntsville Twickenham RW

Jackson County RW Knollwood RW Marshall County RW Morgan County RW Pike County RW RW of Chilton County RW of Coffee County RW of East Alabama RW of Etowah County

RW of Huntsville RW of Madison RW of the Shoals RW of the South RW of Trussville South Baldwin RW Tuscaloosa County RW Walker RW Winston County RW