PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY

Dena started her political career in 1986 as Treasurer of After Hours Republican Women, and went on to serve as Secretary and President for several terms. She served as North Carolina FRW Central Region VP from 1997-2001 and Area Representative in 2003-2005 and 2007-2008. In 1997, she was elected to the Summerfield Town Council and served as Mayor from 2001-2005. She is currently Mayor pro Tem. Dena served as the President of the Greater Greensboro Republican Women’s Club from 2006-2008. Under her leadership, membership flourished, and the club was designated as a “Cardinal Club” in 2007 and 2008.

Dena has been recognized for her efforts to uphold and preserve the integrity of the Republican Party and the Federation of Republican Women. She received the Tribute to Women awards from both After Hours in 1994 and Greater Greensboro in 2008, and was named an Honorary Life Member in 2008. She has worked to get Republicans elected over the years by volunteering with local and state campaigns and working with the Guilford County Republican Party in Candidate Recruiting & Training. She has served the Republican Party as Precinct Chair and Treasurer of the 6th District.

Dena is married to Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes. They have 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren. Dena was born in Greensboro and grew up in Summerfield with one older sister. She graduated from Grimsley High School in 1969 and Guilford Technical Community College in 1979 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. She worked in Med/Surg nursing and as charge nurse and mentor on the Patient Care Cardiac Unit at Moses Cone Hospital for 8 years and in a physician’s office for 12 years.

Dena’s passion is to help the Republican Party be energized and take back enough seats to regain a majority in the General Assembly of North Carolina.

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

FEDERATION PROFILE

The North Carolina Federation of Republican Women affiliated with the NFRW in 1953. Our "roots" began during the victorious campaigns of President Eisenhower and North Carolina Congressman Jonas in 1952. Fourteen clubs were represented at the first convention held in Hickory, N.C., on April 11, 1953. Those clubs were Alexander County, Buncombe County, Burke County, Caldwell County, Catawba County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Forsyth County, Henderson County, Jackson County, Madison County, Polk County, Sampson County, Transylvania County and Wake County. Today, the NCFRW has 56 chartered clubs and over 2,100 members.

North Carolina Federated women were highly visible in North Carolina's two gubernatorial victories. In 1973, James E. Holshouser Jr. was sworn-in as the first Republican governor of the century, and James G. Martin was the second in 1984.

We have continued this legacy as NCFRW aggressively assisted with the elections of Congresswomen Sue Myrick and Virginia Foxx, NC Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, as well as sending seven Republican women to the NC House and two Republican women to the NC Senate. Dr. Ada Fisher was elected as the North Carolina national committeewoman in 2008.

NCFRW has five regions and 56 clubs. Our goal continues to be informing, educating and training our members to be activists and candidates. Our web site helps provide members across our state with the resources to be effective leaders. Club presidents and members stay connected statewide through our weekly E-news and Legislative emails, and have immense effectiveness with the residents in each community by being informed on the issues. NCFRW has been praised for our leadership action in community service and leadership positions at the local and state party levels. Our RISE program offers measurable results to encourage clubs to be active and increase membership.

Through our Caring for America program, NCFRW has raised more than $20,000 in scholarship funds for children of American servicemen killed in war. NCFRW established a scholarship funded by personal contributions to assist teachers across our state on behalf of our former first lady, Dottie Martin. The Dottie Martin Teachers Scholarship Fund supports future educators with a $500 scholarship for multiple applicants annually. The Honorary Life Member program began in 1963 to recognize women leaders that have provided outstanding services to the Republican Party, with clubs recommending their nominees to the NCFRW.

The Federation continues to make a difference at the grassroots level on the issues that affect our state, strives to increase our membership and works towards supporting our Republican candidates on the local, state and federal level.

Past presidents include:
Valerie White, 2007-09
Martha Jenkins, 2004-07
Susan Mills, 2001-03
Lucretia Hanks, 1999-01
Nancy Mazza, 1997-99
Marcia M. Spiegel, 1995-97
Dottie W. Salerno, 1993-95
Virginia Raines, 1991-93
Margaret King, 1989-91
Iris Dlugos, 1987-89
Joyce Glass, 1985-87
Elinor Swaim, 1983-85
Marie Ledbetter, 1981-83
Vivian Harris, 1979-81
Barbara Boyce, 1977-79
Ginger H. Alexander, 1975-77
Alma Tilghman, 1973-75
Mary Alice Warren, 1971-73
Marie Rowe, 1969-71
Anne Hickman, 1966-69
Robenia Smith, 1965-66
Frances Yow, 1963-65
Roxie Simpson, 1961-63
Helen Verbyla, 1959-61
Hila Straten, 1956-59
Emma Lassiter, 1955-56
Lesslie Koontz, 1955
Tressie Fletcher, 1953-1955
Kathleen Teague, 1953
Ann Hickman (founding)

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

LOCAL CLUBS

Alamance RW Alexander County RW Appalachian RW Apple Country RW Beaufort County RW Blue Ridge RWC Brunswick County RW Buncombe County RW Caldwell County RW Carteret County RW Catawba County RW Charlotte-Mecklenburg    RW Craven County RW Crescent RW Crystal Coast RW Cumberland County RWC Davidson County RW East Lincoln RW Fayetteville RW Foothills RW Forsyth County RW

Gaston County RW    Evening Club Gaston County RW Gem Country RW Greater Greensboro RWC Greater Greenville RW Haywood County RWC High Point RW Iredell County RW Johnston County RW Lake Norman RW Lincoln County RW Lower Cape Fear RW McNeil FRWC of McDowell    County Mecklenburg Evening RW Moore County RW Mountain High RW New Concept RW North Mecklenburg RW Onslow County RW Pamlico County RW

Pee Dee RW Polk County RW Randolph County RW Robeson County RW Rockingham County RW RW In Action/Taylorsville RW of Cary and Southeast    Wake County RW of Pitt County RWC of Chapel Hill RWC of Eastern North    Carolina Salisbury-Rowan RWC Scotland County RW South Cabarrus County RW Stanly County RW Sweet Union RWC Triangle RW Wake County RWC Wake Up RW of Guilford Watauga County RW Wilkes County RW