PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY

Brenda was installed for her 2nd two year term as President of the Kansas Federation of Republican Women at the Kansas Day Meeting on January 25, 2008. Brenda is the first president of KFRW to hold a second consecutive term, after a bylaw change in 2006 to allow successive terms.

In addition to serving the Saline County Republican Women as President 3 times,, Brenda served as Fundraising Chair for KFRW during the Presidency's of Alberta Brinkman and Barbara Wells. She has served as 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President of KFRW before being elected President in 2006.

“Our leadership team for 2008 and 2009 are a terrific group of Republican Women dedicated to working to elect Republicans, as well as committed to the purposes and growth of KFRW.”

In addition to KFRW activities, Brenda serves as Past President of Altrusa International of Salina, District Eight Altrusa Secretary, Member of the Board of Outreach and LWML at Christ the King Lutheran Church. She is also an active volunteer for the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, board member of United Cerebral Palsy of Kansas and serves as the tri-chair of the NJCAA Women's National Basketball Tournament held in Salina each March.


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

FEDERATION HISTORY

The Kansas Federation affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Women in 1938 and was divided into five districts with 45 clubs. Margaret Hill McCarter, a prominent Kansas write, is credited with founding the first Republican Women’s club in Kansas. According to state history, Kansas was the fourth state to have such an organization. Today, KFRW has 4 districts (the same as the U S House of Representative Districts).

The annual meeting of KFRW is held each year in conjunction with Kansas Day activities the last weekend in January. The spring board meeting is held in May or June and the Fall meeting is held in October or November. New officers are installed every other year in the even number years. Each district holds a spring meeting and a fall meeting.

Club members help staff the county and state headquarters, host candidate’s forums, assist with voter registration and grassroots work and participate in state Republican campaigns. Many clubs have members who will pick up voters and take them to the polls on election day.

The Kansas Federation provides community service through Kids Voting Program, scholarships, literacy programs, Veterans Day and Memorial Day services and be issuing letters to high school seniors urging them to register to vote and become politically active.

Kansas clubs are also involved in Caring for America projects from Easter Baskets for disadvantages children to goodie boxes to support our troops and everything in between. The clubs are also very involved in the Mamie Eisenhower Literacy Program and the Barbara Bush Literacy Action Program by donating books to schools, libraries and other institutions within their counties. Many clubs participate in the My Favorite Teacher contest.

In 2005 KFRW started a Scholarship Fund to be able to provide a scholarship each year to a young woman who is a college junior or senior majoring in Political Science, Public Administration or History. They must be a Kansas resident attending a Kansas college or university. The fund was established through the Greater Salina Community Foundation and all contributions are tax deductible. To make a contribution, please make your check payable to Greater Salina Community Foundation, c/o Brenda R. Smith, 1922 Foxtail, Salina, KS 67401. The first $1,000 scholarship was given in 2006 and in the spring of 2007 the second $1,000 scholarship was given.

KFRW strongly support the Coffee Cup Project and took their first recipient to the 2007 NFRW Convention in Palm Springs. Funds are already being raised for the 2009 NFRW Convention in Orlando by passing the coffee cup at all KFRW state meetings, as well as KFRW district meetings. Criteria has been established for clubs to nominate a person to receive the Coffee Cup proceeds to help them attend the convention.

Past presidents include:
Bette R. Lessen, 2004-05
Zelma Sully, 2002-03
Barbara Wells, 2000-01
Alberta Brinkman, 1998-99
Marteena Newcomb, 1996-97
Darlene Westover, 1994-95
Jeanne Goodvin, 1992-93
Mary Compton, 1990-91
Selma Steele, 1988-89
Frances Speer, 1986-87
Shirley Rausch, 1984-85
Joan Rorabaugh, 1982-83
Zelma Corson, 1980-81
Margaret Ruff, 1978-79
Bernice Hyland, 1976-77
June Trombla, 1974-75
Helen Kuhlmann, 1972-73
Joan Baker, 1970-71
Lenore Duffy, 1968-69
Bula Lemert, 1967
Lula K. Baum, 1966-67
Lahoma Dennis, 1964-65
Lena Jones Merwin, 1962-63
Mrs. Harold Medill, 1960-61
Mrs. Claude E. Jurney, 1957-59
Mrs. Frank D. Belinder, 1955-57
Mrs. Paul Edgar, 1953-1955
Mrs. Joe R. Beeler, 1951-53
Mrs. A.J. Murray, 1949-51
Mrs. Grant Watson, 1947-49
Mrs. Ferdinand Violand Jr., 1945-47
Mrs. W.Y. Herrick, 1943-45
Mrs. E.C. Harris, 1943
Mrs. Ella Ruehmann Balderson, 1941-43
Miss Nannie Bingham, 1939-1941
Mrs. Edwin F. Ables, 1937-1939
Mrs. Katherine Graham Lathrop, 1936-37
Mrs. W.Y. Morgan, 1933-36
Mrs. Ben Nickel, 1931-33
Stella B. Haines, 1930-1931 (founding)

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

LOCAL CLUBS

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