Jerry W Prather, Sr.
Vance County Republican Party
Communications Director
 

Being a Republican means that you above all believe in the principles as set forth by our Founding Fathers. That you uphold the Constitution of the United States of America as it is written and will protect, preserve and defend it against all enemies both foreign and domestic. That you believe that less government is the best government. That you believe in being both fiscally and socially conservative. That you believe in the individual Freedoms of each citizen and that their God given rights shall not be infringed upon by government.

It also means that you as an individual need to participate at the “Grass Roots Level” to support the Republican Party which you purport to believe in and be a member of. That you need to help spread the message of Conservatism and the values there of to your friends and acquaintances. That you become an active part of the solution and not remain an apathetic part of the problem. It means that you need to support and participate in the activities of your local Republican Party Organization.

Now to the meat of this little dissertation:

I have lived and worked here in Vance County all of my life except while I was serving in the military. I have been a member of the Republican Party most of that time. I know that here in this county we are in the minority being greatly out numbered by the Democratic Party and I have often asked my self “Why”. The answer is simple when you really think about it, it’s called “Apathy”. The Vance County Republican Party has for a long time been the “Party” of “Do Nothing”. That is the reason we do not grow in numbers, that is the reason we do not have candidates running for local office, that has been the reason we have not held events open to the public to get our Conservative message out before the people. The party organization has always been content to just sit back and do nothing because of their minority status.

I have heard so many times from “Registered Republicans” “Well I really don’t want people here to know that I am a “Republican”, it might hurt my business some how, or I might loose a friend. Another good one from some registered Democrats is that I am a Republican at “Heart” but registered as a Democrat so I can vote in the local elections.

Are you “Ashamed “ of who you are and what you believe in??

We finally have a very small core of people trying to get the organization on it’s feet so we can began to grow and field some local candidates Out of some 4,000 registered Republicans in Vance County we have about five that have been willing to step up to the plate and do something.
Explanation: 
In an attempt to raise some money to help sponsor activities and candidates the officers voted to hold a raffle event. Out of 4,000 members there were five individuals and one business that were willing to help sell tickets. We needed to sell 200 tickets to get to the “break even” point.

As of today we are 20 tickets short, which means that this little core group that has been working so hard is going to have to reach into their own pockets to make up the difference. The Raffle was advertised in the local newspaper and many members were asked to help sell tickets but no volunteers came forward. Out of the 4,000 members
if only half had just purchased one ticket the party would have made a little money to help our efforts of bringing the Conservative Message to Vance County.

If I may have stepped on some toes with this article I am NOT sorry because you all know you could be helping in some small way to further the cause.

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. 
George Washington 

Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. 
George Washington