RNC's "Taking Back the Future” Women’s Summit ...back >
July 11, 2014 - Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane), chair of the House Republican Conference, was the luncheon speaker at the RNC's "Taking Back the Future” Women’s Summit.  "The Republican vision is about empowering you," McMorris Rodgers told the audience of about 180 women. 

McMorris Rodgers started her speech to the audience with a light recounting of her experience delivering the response to the State of the Union Address; for example she recalled that the number one piece of advice she had received—multiple times—was to make sure to hydrate. 

She highlighted a number of notable Republican women including Susan B. Anthony, Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, and the current women governors.  "We have a great history and a great future," McMorris Rodgers said.  She rejected the Democrats' drumbeat of "Republicans are waging a war on women" rhetoric, stating "in fact, I would suggest the opposite is true."  The Republican Party respects and empowers women, she said.  McMorris Rodgers said there is one point she agrees with Democrats upon: that there are not enough Republican women in Congress (there are only 19 in the House and 4 in the Senate).  She noted four of the five women governors are Republican as are six of ten women lieutenant governorsShe urged attendees to get involved in the RNC's 14 in '14 initiative, which entails volunteering 30 minutes a week over the 14 weeks leading up to Election Day in November.

The summit, hosted by RNC co-chair Sharon Day, aims to "emphasize the importance of GOP women activists’ involvement in the political process and give an in-depth look at communications techniques, survey and research information, and grassroots organizing strategies."
Mary Burke Russell, chair of the St. Mary's Republican Central Committee, and Deb Rey, candidate for Maryland House of Delegates 29D in St. Mary's County.
Kellyanne Conway, president and CEO of the polling company, inc./WomanTrend (center), talks with RNC co-chair Sharon Day, at right.
RNC co-chair Sharon Day.
Kathy Brugger of California is president of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW).
A few men attended the luncheon, including Congressman David Joyce (OH-14) of the Cleveland area.   (Joyce is sporting a "Cleveland Rocks" pin.  On July 8 the RNC announced Cleveland as the site of its 2016 convention, and during this luncheon news broke that NBA basketball star LeBron James is returning to Cleveland). 
An RNC staffer juggles phones while taking photos.
Deb Rey, candidate for Maryland House of Delegates 29D in St. Mary's County (center), accompanied by Julie Burk-Greer, vice chair of the St. Mary's Republican Central Committee (left), and Mary Burke Russell, chair of the St. Mary's Republican Central Committee (right).  Rey, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, is challenging Del. John L. Bohanan, Jr. (D), a Member of the House of Delegates since Dec. 16, 1999.
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