Doors open for drinks & socializing at 6:00 PM
Meeting begins at 6:30 PM

Location: GrayRobinson, 14th Floor, 301 E. Pine St., Orlando, FL 32801 (Please arrive before 7:00 PM — the elevators are locked off by security after 7:00 PM)

Free parking in garage on Pine St. (bring ticket for validation) – Free parking on streets after 6:00 PM

After-meeting hangout: TBD

Special Guest Florida CFO Jeff Atwater will also be joining us during our meeting at approximately 7:30pm.

Colonel Kittinger (born 7/27/28 in Tampa) is a former command pilot, career military officer and retired Colonel in the United States Air Force. He is most famous for his participation in Project Manhigh and Project Excelsior, in 1960 setting the record longest skydive, from a height greater than 19 miles. He was also the first man to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon.

Serving as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, he achieved an aerial kill of a North Vietnamese jet fighter and was later shot down himself, spending 11 months as a prisoner of war in a North Vietnamese prison. In 2012, at the age of 84, he participated in the Red Bull Stratos project as capsule communicator, directing Felix Baumgartner on his record-breaking 24 mile freefall from Earth’s stratosphere.

Free parking in garage on Pine St. (bring ticket for validation) – Free parking on streets after 6:00

Doors open for drinks & socializing at 6:00 PM

After-meeting hangout: Graffiti Junktion (900 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801 )

Join us for our networking mixer at 6pm

Meeting starts at 630pm

Please join us March 12th for our guest Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson! We’ll have our networking mixer at 6pm and will start our meeting at 630. We look forward to seeing you!

Here is some more information on our Commissioner Thompson

Jennifer Thompson was elected to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners in November of 2010.  In 2012, Commissioner Thompson served as Vice Mayor.

Born at the VA Hospital in Winter Park, Commissioner Thompson graduated from University High School in east Orange County, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Commissioner Thompson is a small business owner, founding her company seven years ago with her husband. She is active in her local community and sits on numerous business and charitable boards. As an elected official she sits on the board for MetroPlan Orlando, United Arts of Central Florida, Children’s and Family Services Board and the Central Florida Research Park Board Authority.

Join us on February 12th 2103, where our All-Star Panel will tell us what’s in store for the GOP in 2013, and provide some insight in what the 2014 election might hold. We’re also swearing in our newly elected officers, and holding our awards ceremony. Please join us at 6pm for our networking mixer (beer and wine served) and our meeting kicks off at 630pm.

Also, after the meeting, we’ll be heading to a nearby restaurant to watch the State of the Union address and watch our Senator Marco Rubio deliver the Republican response!

We look forward to seeing you!

Below are the Bios for our All-Star Panel!

John Dowless, President, Millennium Consulting:

John Dowless is President of Millennium Consulting, a political public
relations and marketing firm based in Orlando, FL.  John is a native
Floridian with more than 20 years of experience in Florida elections that
includes two presidential campaigns, U.S. Senate and Congressional races and
multiple state, county and municipal elections.  A few local clients include
Congressman John Mica, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, three of Orange
County’s six Commissioners, RPOF, State Senator Kelli Stargel and others.

Before his election to the Edgewood City Council in 2011, John served on the
Orange County Mayor’s Jobs and Economic Summits Commission, Orange County’s
Membership, Missions and Review Board (MMRB) and LYNX Citizens Advisory
Council.  John’s extensive career in politics includes previous positions
with the National Republican Congressional and Senatorial Committees and the
Republican Party of Florida.  In 1999, John served as Florida Director for
the Steve Forbes Presidential Campaign and temporarily relocated to work the
Iowa Caucuses.

John graduated from Auburn University with a Business Degree in Economics
and from the American Campaign Academy in Washington, DC.  John currently
resides in the Orlando area and serves and supports several charitable
organizations including House of Hope, the Central Florida Employment
Council/Christian HELP, BETA Center and Quest for those with developmental
disabilities.

Lew Oliver, Chairman, Orange County Republican Executive Committee:

Partner at Quinones & Oliver, P.L.
Law firm focused on Real Estate, Title and Closing work focused on serving realtors and homeowners.

Stetson Undergrad, Georgetown Law.

- Active in Politics since High School
- worked a Reagan/Bush DC HQ 1984
- Joined OCREC March 1987
- OCREC Vice-Chair 1992-99
- SE Advance Rep for Speaker Gingrich
- OCREC Chair 1999-present
- Longest Serving County Party Chair of EITHER party in Florida
- Chair or co-chair of most statewide and presidential campaigns since 1992
- Valencia Board of Trustees
- National Association of Hispanic Realtors Board Member
- co founder of several tech companies

Tre’ Evers:

Tre’ Evers is a Republican political consultant and communications specialist. He helps clients hone their communications skills by providing public relations advice, integrated communications counsel, messaging strategies and grassroots advocacy tactics. Tre’ and his business partner, John Sowinski, have created Florida’s most successful statewide political consulting firm, running over 12 statewide campaigns. Their clients include Fortune 500 companies, major business and trade associations, some of Florida’s most well known elected officials and Florida’s most storied statewide ballot initiatives.

His political consulting clients have included Orlando Mayor Glenda E. Hood, former Tennessee Governor and Presidential candidate Lamar Alexander, State Senator Anna Cowin, Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Bill McCollum, Secretary of State Katherine Harris and U.S. Senator Mel Martinez. As an Orlando, Florida native and veteran of statewide federal campaigns, Tre’ is one of the few Florida consultants with experience and knowledge in winning multiple federal races in Florida. In addition, his initiative and corporate work has encompassed statewide and regional efforts.

Prior to opening Consensus, Tre’ served as special assistant to Orlando Mayor Glenda E. Hood and as an appointee of President George H. W. Bush in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, where he worked for four years in the Office of Governmental Affairs and was a Congressional Relations Officer. While still in college he worked for the Republican Party of Florida.

Tre’ served for three years on the U.S. Advisory Commission for Public Diplomacy. He was appointed by President George W. Bush. The commission is a bipartisan Presidentially-appointed commission created by Congress to provide oversight of U.S. Government activities intended to understand, inform and influence foreign publics.

Active in his community,Tre’ served on U.S. Senator Connie Mack’s Service Academy Board and is the Treasurer of his son’s Boy Scout Troop.

A graduate of the Florida State University, Tre’ holds a BS in Political Science.

Join us for our December Meeting where our guest will House Majority Leader, State Rep. Stephen Precourt. We will also have our annual Christmas Party and toy drive. Our slate of candidates for our next elections in January will also be announced.

The Varsity Club at the Citrus Bowl
1 Citrus Bowl Place
Orlando, FL 32805

Greetings!OCYR invites you to attend the 2012 Hob Nob and Straw Poll!  We are excited to host one of the largest and most well attended Hob Nobs in the area once again this year.  In 2010, this event welcomed over 30 campaigns and 350 people.  This is a great opportunity for individuals and candidates to meet each other, network with other Republicans and support OCYR.Tables are available for campaigns and other organizations interested in Republican politics. Only registered campaigns and organizations will be allowed to handout pamphlets and other collateral material. Hob Nob rules can be found here. Dinner and drinks are included in each ticket purchase. All proceeds from this event will help fund the Orange County Young Republicans. Event sponsorship and raffle item donations are welcome (Levels). Please click on the link below to register or RSVP.

Register Now! I can’t make it

If you have any questions for this event, please don’t hesitate to contact me or a member of the organizing committee.   Thanks for your time and hope to see you at the Hob Nob. Sincerely, Heidi Broom Orange County Young Republicans hobnob.reservations@gmail.com 407-406-4611

David is chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Pre-K – 12 Appropriations. He is a member of the Committees on Budget, Agriculture, Budget Subcommittee on Higher Education Appropriations, Judiciary, and Rules Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections. He is also a Republican Majority Whip.

During the 2011 Legislative Session, David sponsored several important pieces of legislation. These included improving the business market for spaceflight tourism companies; providing a reasonable and flexible implementation of the class size amendment; giving a property tax break to active military members deployed abroad; de-regulating telephone service to provide more competition and benefit both consumers and businesses; and solidifying and protecting private property rights.

David was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 through 2008. From his experience in the House, David gained expertise in a broad spectrum of issues that are important in our State. The Orlando Sentinel consistently rated David Simmons as one of the most effective Legislators in Central Florida. In 2007, speaking about David’s accomplishments, The Sentinel said that David Simmons is “the definition of substance over style.” In 2008, The Sentinel said David was the House’s problem solver. Just recently, the Sentinel rated David as a leader in the Senate.

David was responsible for obtaining the funding for the University of Central Florida’s highly acclaimed Interactive Entertainment Academy; obtaining significant funding for Seminole Community College, including its new Altamonte Springs campus; being a major force behind the legislation that saved nursing homes for our senior citizens during the 2001 nursing home crisis; sponsoring the landmark Florida constitutional amendment that passed requiring 60% approval by voters of any amendment to our constitution; and rewriting Florida law so as to permit citizens to stand their ground in self defense of themselves and their family members, which became model legislation used throughout the United States and the world. With persistence and dedication David worked tirelessly to change the education funding formula to bring an additional $100 million to Central Florida schools.

The Florida Sheriffs’ Association, the Florida Medical Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Florida Restaurant Association have awarded David Legislator of the Year Awards. He received the Faith and Family Award from the Christian Coalition of Florida. Recently, Association Industries of Florida named David as a Champion of Business.

David was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated first in his class in Mathematics from Tennessee Technological University in 1974. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt Law School, one of the nation’s premier law schools, where he has served on its National Council.

David is the financial managing partner of de Beaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP, one of the largest law firms in Central Florida with over 50 attorneys. He is board certified by The Florida Bar both in Business Litigation and Civil Trial. He is also board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He holds the highest ranking an individual attorney can receive (AV) as designated by Martindale-Hubbell Directory. He is known as one of Central Florida’s premier commercial litigation attorneys.

David has lived in Florida since 1977 and has a long history of public service in Florida. Most importantly, he is the father of two beautiful girls, Krysia (16) and Alicya (13), who are the love of his life. He and his family attend Annunciation Catholic Church.

http://dsimmonsforsenate.com/

Doors open at 6:00 with drinks served

Parking: Free parking in garage on Pine St. – Bring your ticket to be validated. Free parking also along streets after 6:00.

If you are able, please bring supplies to support our fighting men & women overseas – we will continue to collect supplies for our troops at EVERY MEETING this year

Sandy has spent her entire career working to serve others. Whether as a member of the U.S. Air Force, an Orange County Deputy Sheriff for 17 years, as a State Representative (2003-2011), or today as a Member of Congress, she knows what it takes to give back to her community. Strong, principled, and hard-working, she has a record of accomplishment that combines her no-nonsense attitude with an understanding of Central Florida’s values and priorities.

Sandy defeated the Democratic incumbent in 2010 by a 60%-40% margin – the second largest victory over an incumbent of any Republican in 2010 – and announced her candidacy in January for the new Florida District #7.

http://www.sandyadams.com/

Doors open at 6:00 with drinks served

Parking: Free parking in garage on Pine St. – Bring your ticket to be validated. Free parking also along streets after 6:00.

(please note the day change from the usual Tuesday)

If you are able, please bring supplies to support our fighting men & women overseas – we will continue to collect supplies for our troops at EVERY MEETING this year.