December 2012 Meeting
THE EAST MANATEE REPUBLICAN CLUB HELD OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BRUNCH ON DECEMBER 13TH AT THE PERIDIA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB.
GUEST SPEAKERS WERE MR. SCOTT BILL, FATHER OF BRIAN BILL, NAVY SEAL KILLED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH IN AFGHANISTAN ALONG WITH MORE THAN TWENTY OTHER SEAL TEAM 6 MEMBERS FOLLOWING THE BIN-LADEN KILLING. MR. BILL IS NOW WITH THE NAVY FOUNDATION. ALSO SPEAKING TO OUR MEMBERS AT THE MEETING WAS MRS. SANDY BUCHANAN, WIFE OF US CONGRESSMAN VERN BUCHANAN.
ANOTHER INVITED GUEST WAS DON O'NESKY WHO SENDS US THOSE WONDERFUL EXCERPTS OF "THERE IS A DIFFERENCE." DON IS A RETIRED AF LTC AND LIVES IN VENICE AND HE'S VERY ACTIVE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF SARASOTA COUNTY. WE ALSO HAD A MARINE CORPS HONOR GUARD TO HONOR ALL OUR MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
ALL THE TOYS FOR THE 'TOYS FOR TOTS" PROGRAM WERE PICKED UP BY OUR OWN DAVID (ALWAYS A MARINE) MINER FOR DISTRIBUTION. NATURALLY, ALL REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE INVITED TO ATTEND TO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF OUR HOLIDAY SEASON WITH US. HOLIDAY MUSIC WAS PLAYED BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, CATHY FAUST.
THE MEETING WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED AND WE WANT TO WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THE HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU IN JANUARY 2013.
Photos from December 2012 Meeting
The Reverend Claude Ely is seen here enjoying the beautiful Christmas music being performed by our member pianist, Cathy Faust. Attentively listening to the introductory remarks being made from the podium are the meeting's primary guest speakers, Sandy Buchanan, wife of US Congressman Vern Buchanan, and Scott Bill, father of a US Navy Seal killed in action in Afghanistan in 2011. A large amount of toys were contributed by the EMRC members for the annual "Toys for Tots" program. Shown here in front of a table filled with toys are four members of the US Marine Corps Honor Guard who presented the colors to begin the meeting. Included in the photograph are David Miner and Club President Joan Shirey.
Posted to Website on December 14, 2012
