A message from our leader

Greetings -

At the 5th District meeting in Shatley Springs (September 19 at 10:00 a.m.), we will be entertaining nominations for the NCGOP Hall of Fame Banquet. Information about these nominations is attached.

For those counties wishing to participate, please be prepared to submit nominations at the 5th District meeting in Shatley Springs.

Aaron Whitener, our Watauga County Chair who heads up our website effort, has asked me to pass on a message regarding the website. Aaron says “Just a reminder, if anyone has pictures from district or county events, dates, articles they want posted. Just let me know. I’ll be glad to do that. The website should be up to date. Thanks for everyone’s help.” The website address is www.nc05.com.

Also, we will conduct a discussion at Shatley Springs about efforts towards taking the NC Legislature in 2010. I look forward to your thoughts on how we can help our GOP candidates in this watershed election.

I will also be asking for volunteers to serve on certain sub-groups, including “Technology”, “Fundraising”, “District Plan of Organization”, and “Grass-roots Outreach.” If you have an interest in any of these, or have
ideas for other subgroups, please let me know. Thank you to those who have already volunteered!

Our thanks goes out to Lee McMillan for hosting this meeting. You might want to come early; we usually have a big turn-out at Shatley Springs!

(P.S. – Please share this information with those in GOP leadership positions in your county who do not have email addresses, or with anyone who wishes to become active in the 5th.)

Best regards,

Dan Barrett
Chair, 5th District

5th District Republicans gather in Yadkinville

By Leanne Cloudman

Staff Reporter

Charles and Phyllis Wooten hosted the meeting of the 5th District Republicans on Saturday Jan. 31 in Yadkinville at the GOP headquarters. A serious southern breakfast was served by Barbara’s Bakeshop and Catering of Jonesville and enjoyed by all prior to the meeting.

“We look forward to Yadkin hosting this event because of the Wootens,” said Bill Whitehead of Forsyth County. “In the dictionary beside hospitality is a picture of the Wootens.”

Republicans from several counties gathered in Yadkinville to honor and present awards to Rep. George Holmes (Yadkin), retired Rep. Tracy Walker (Wilkes) and a posthumous award to former Rep. John Brown (Wilkes).

According to a press release issued by former gubernatorial candidate Dan Barrett, during the business portion of the meeting, the group discussed their commitment to conservative principles, the 2010 legislative races and the re-election campaigns of Sen. Richard Burr and Rep. Virginia Foxx.

District Republicans hold meeting.

Fifth District Republicans gathered last Saturday at the Yadkin County GOP headquarters in Yadkinville for thereregular meeting.  Chairman Dan Barrett spoke to the capacity crowd and awards were presented.  Ms. John Brown accepted an appreciation award on behalf of the late NC Rep. John Brown from Wilkes County.  Former NC Rep. Tracy Walker accepted an award for his many years of service in the NC legislature.  Also, Former NC Rep. George Holmes accepted an award for his many years of service in the legislature as well.  Representatives from counties throughout the district spoke to the highlights and failures of this past election.  

We hope to post the minutes as soon as we get them for review.   If you would like to see photos from the meeting click here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30575428@N02/.  Also stay tuned for dates and times for county conventions.

Dan Barrett:A Million Steps: My Walk Across North Carolina

Dan Barrett, author of A Million Steps: My Walk Across North Carolina, will be holding a book-signing on December 18, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Clemmons Library conference room. 

A Million Steps tells the story of Dan Barrett’s experiences as he walked across North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast, during his campaign for governor in 2004. During this adventure, Dan walked 582 miles, wore out five pairs of shoes, and lost 20 pounds.  He was awed by the beauty of our state, and deeply enriched by the good people he met along the way. 

Relive with Dan his walk across the state, including a treacherous walk across the Hiawassee River, his sense of awe in gazing down from Appalachian peaks, attacks by vicious dogs, personal tragedy, and the first scent of sea air as he approaches the coast.  Most of all, share in Dan’s priceless chance encounters with the diverse people of North Carolina. 

Dan is also the author of North Carolina Employment Law (Lexis Law Publishing, 1998).  He has been active in community service, including service as Chair of the Davie County Board of Commissioners, and as Chair of Davie County Hospital. 

Dan Barrett has a law office in Broyhill Office Suites in Clemmons.  He lives in Advance with his wife, Kathleen, and two children, Daniel and Rebekah. 

Although there will be no charge for the book, folks wanting a signed copy of A Million Steps are asked to make a charitable donation to “Friends of the Clemmons Library.” For those unable to attend the book signing, A Million Steps can be purchased at the Wake Forest University Deacon Shop in Hanes Mall or through the internet at www.582Miles.com.

Special Thanks to our Victory 08 Team

NC05 wishes that the circumstances were better this morning than they were last night. We know that you all worked very hard to make the turnout high and the election strong. In some counties, republicans won strong and turned out in amazing numbers. We experienced upsets in Alleghany, Surry, and Yadkin. We had narrow misses in Alexander and Ashe. It appears that Congresswoman Foxx actually increased her margin of victory in most counties over 2006 and some over 2004. We believe this is not only a testament to her hard work and conservative values, but also to the many of you who made phone calls, placed signs, sent emails. The 72 Hour Plan workedin our district, and it is all because of you. Special thanks to Thomas Coley and Kevin Turner who organized volunteers and lead the campaigns to GOTV. Without these fellas, many of our local parties would have been overwhelmed. While we do not have all the numbers it looks like even Pat McCrory won in all of our counties save one. In a difficult election year, the volunteers of the fifth district played well. Congratulations to Sarah Stevens, Darrell McCormick, Bill McGee, and Dale Folwell. We hope we see Dan Soucek back in 2010. Mark Hollo’s narrow loss is hard to swallow, and we congratulate him on a strong campaign. Dan Barrett, our esteemed leader fought an uphill battle, and he is to be commended.

As we move forward, North Carolina will no doubt see “change” as the nation does. The change we fear will not be for the better. As Republicans, we must continue to fight for conservative principles both morally and fiscally. County parties must begin to work more together and help each other lead. Our message needs to reach those of our younger generation, and education through technology is our only hope. We have a gap to bridge and a message to re-tune, but we will return. Municipal elections are only a year away, and theirs no time like the present.

NC Non-Partisan Judges

Remember, the North Carolina Republican State Executive Committee has endorsed the following statewide judicial candidates.

N.C. Supreme Court
Robert H. (Bob) Edmunds

N.C. Court of Appeals
Jewel Ann Farlow
Doug McCullough
Dan Barrett
Robert N. (Bob) Hunter, Jr.

Dan Barrett for Appeals Court

Dear Friends,

Dan Barrett has traveled North Carolina and met thousands of people in his campaign for a seat on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Early voting has now started, and election day is less than three (3) weeks away.

Word of mouth is the key to success in judicial races. If you can, please forward this email to those on your contact list (family, friends, and neighbors), and request that they email others. Please feel free to include any personalized message you may have about Dan.

You can trust that Dan Barrett will not legislate from the bench, and he will be tough on crime. Dan will be fair and impartial, and he is committed to needed reforms on the Court of Appeals. To learn more, please visit www.Barrettforjudge.com.

A word from our leader…

Dear Friends,

It was good to see many of you at Shatley Springs last weekend. Thank you to Lee McMillan for hosting the event and for that wonderful breakfast.

I will look forward to seeing you at the State GOP Executive Committee meeting this Saturday. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. at Reagan High School in Pfafftown (Forsyth County)

For those who are interested, my book about my walk across the state, “A Million Steps,” has now been printed. I will bring copies on Saturday, and will sign for any who want an autographed copy.

The purchase price for “A Million Steps” is $10, but for any county party that wishes to raise a little money, I will sell them to the party for $5 a piece for the purchase of 10 or more copies.

Best regards,

Dan Barrett

3540 Clemmons Road, Suite 104
Clemmons, NC 27012
Office: (336) 793-0815
Direct: (336) 793-0817
Fax: (336) 766-6110