FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:           Dean Henderson
, 729-5000, avgop.com, dean@avgop.com

Subject:  Republicans of the Year Awards Nomination Luncheon

(PALMDALE) On Tuesday April 17, 2001 at 11:30am, Republicans will announce the nominations for “Republicans of the Year 2001.”  The luncheon, which will precede the Palmdale Republican Women’s Federated event, will be held at Cascades Restaurant at the Rancho Vista Golf Course.  This will be the first of what will be an annual event.  This event is significant because it is the first time all of the Republican Organizations in the Antelope Valley will collaborate on an event designed to recognize grassroots volunteers within the Republican Party. 

The focus of the nominations will be to recognize the under-recognized.  Every election cycle a battalion of grassroots Republican volunteers comes out to participate in political activities such as walking precincts, making phone calls, registering voters and many other essential campaign functions.

Until now these individuals were under-recognized for their selfless efforts.  This event is their event.  They will be the stars.

An Ad Hoc Committee has been formed to set guidelines and choose nominees.  The committee members  are representatives of each of the existing Republican organizations in the Antelope Valley.  The members include: Dean Henderson, Dawn Charlton, Sheldon Epstein, Tom Lackey and Richard Loa.  The committee has been named AVGOP.

Elected and Appointed officials will not be considered as candidates for “Republicans of the Year.” 

Winners of “Republicans of the Year” will be announced at a Dinner Ceremony planned for Thursday, May 17th, 2001 at the Essex House Hotel and Convention Center.  The Guest Speaker for the Event will be California Republican Party Chairman Shawn Steel.

Categories for “Republicans of the Year” will be as follows:  Republican of the Year, Precinct Walker of the Year, Phone Banker of the Year, Voter Registration Worker of the Year, Role Model of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Party Enthusiast.

Winners will be chosen by the boards of directors of all of the Republican Organizations in the Antelope Valley.  The organizations include:  Antelope Valley Republican Assembly, Antelope Valley Congress of Republicans, Palmdale Republican Women Federated, 36th Assembly District Central Committee, and the newly formed Antelope Valley division of Republican National Hispanic Assembly.  Combined membership of these organizations is approximately 500.

Media Contact – Dean Henderson
                         (661)729-5000