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Tallahassee - Meeting #1
I was very inspired by our first
Visit to Tallahassee. Very few people get the opportunity to meet so many
people in such important positions. 1 felt very grateful the Governor,
LI. Governor arid many legislators took time out of their busy day to
recognize the inaugural Tille Fowler class. I am always in awe when I
have a chance to see our government in action.
Getting the opportunity to learn about the structure
of the Republican Party of Florida was also a beneficial experience. Getting
the chance to make the connections and build a network with those who
are the foundation of the Republican Party of Florida was invaluable.
Washington - Meeting #2
The history of Washington, D.C.
and our forefathers always makes me want to strive to be better. It makes
me feel patriotic and proud. Flying over the monuments was a highlight.
Many people have so little knowledge of how our
government works. I felt honored to be able to see “the wheels turning”
first hand. I think before anyone can be successful in polities they have
to see the many layers of our government at work and get a full understanding.
I enjoyed very much getting to see the other ladies
from all over the country. There is something powerful about being in
a room full of so many like minded women. I also loved having the opportunity
to hear about each of the different programs.
Getting the tour of The Capitol
and meeting our Congressmen and Women was fantastic. I especially enjoyed
the tour given by Congressman Crenshaw’s staff:
The briefing from the governmental agencies was
greal To be given the opportunity to hear first hand what is going on
in our country and to realize they are the people that arc making many
of the critical decisions is very sobering. I also enjoyed hearing so
many good questions being asked.
The cabs --- Hated them! I know they are the only
sensible form of transportation in a very busy city. One suggestion for
the next group would be to prepare them ahead of time in regards to the
expense. Many of us were not aware we would be paying for the costs up
front and reimbursed later. Therefore, there were frantic searches for
ATMs.
I appreciated having free time in the evenings.
I love history and would have been very disappointed to go all the way
to D.C. and not get to see the sights. The monuments at night are breathtaking.
I also got the opportunity to visit my cousin’s grave site for the
first time at Arlington Cemetery. He was buried there the year prior to
our visit. I can’t even express in words how I felt.
A few weeks prior to our visit I had watched
a documentary about the White I-louse on the History Channel. So during
our visit to the White House much of the history was still fresh in my
mini As we entered through security. I found it very unsettling to have
two machine guns pointed at me. That’s when you get the realization
— “The most powerful man in the world does business everyday
under this roof.” and “The entire history of our country was
made under this roof” It is very humbling. WOW!
We can’t forget why politics and our beliefs
are so important. For me, understanding the history of our country and
where we came from is at the core of who I am and why I want to serve
in public office. I feel obligated to preserve what so many before me
have built with blood, sweat and tears.
Jacksonville - Meeting #3
This was the most beneficial
meeting as far as personal development as a viable candidate for office.
The wealth of information was extremely valuable to me. I realized there
were many things that I did correctly in my first campaign. Also, there
were many factors of campaigning I had never even thought about. I enjoyed
hearing the experiences of the other women and sharing ideas. However,
I felt very uncomfortable and guarded due to the fact there were others
present that could potentially run against me. In the future, I would
suggest there being only one TFG per county 1 think that would bring an
added depth and genuineness to the experience of sharing ideas. I would
like to have had this experience first. I think this meeting changed the
perspective of the group.
All of the people invited to give presentations
in Jacksonville were great. It was very obvious they were very good at
what they do.
Tallahassee - Meeting #4
The culminating experience was
also a very positive experience for me. I always like to hear about what
our state Republican Party has planned. Carol Jean Jordan is an inspiration
to all women. Not only does she ooze with class and style, she is a very
organized and inspiring leader. She is a role model for anyone who wants
to be a strong women in a leadership position.
In all, the Tillie Fowler Series was a valuable
learning experience for me I learned a lot about politics and public service.
I gained a greater understanding of how our government works and sometimes
doesn’t work.. I also learned a lot about myself— my strengths
and my weaknesses. Most importantly, I now have a network of support to
help accomplish my goals. | 
