Letter From The President: Embracing Change and Community Engagement

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A Message for Our Members

Dear LTRC Members,

As we step into November, I hope you and your families are embracing the change of season and the many blessings it brings.

Last month, I wrote about the ongoing government shutdown and the blame game being played by both sides. Sadly, not much has changed. The stalemate continues. While I remain hopeful that the Democrats will eventually come to their senses, I don’t see Republicans conceding to political extortion in order to change the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill.”

At our last membership meeting, we were honored to welcome Pete “Doc” Chambers as our featured speaker. He shared compelling stories about his decades of military service and his decision to run for Governor of Texas. While our Club cannot endorse one Republican over another during the primaries, we commend him for stepping up with courage and conviction. It takes real grit to fight for truth and freedom in today’s political climate. Full steam ahead, Colonel!

Our Club Motto

Several members have asked about the origin of our Club’s motto. It began one afternoon when my good friend and our Vice President, Troy Dunson, and I were sitting on the deck at Lakeway Resort discussing our frustration that so many in our community seemed hesitant to lean forward in the fight against the liberal agenda undermining American values.

At one point, I said—perhaps a little louder than intended—“People need to be bold, be brave, and be Republican!” We both paused, looked at each other, and knew instantly that it perfectly captured our vision for the Club’s future. From that moment on, it became our Club’s permanent motto.

Bold – Showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.

Brave – Displaying moral strength in the face of fear or adversity.

Republican – Supporting the Republic and traditional values with minimal government interference.

Moving Forward

I am thrilled by the momentum within our Club. Our first monthly Happy Hour was a great success, with more than 50 attendees, and now we are gearing up for our inaugural Christmas Party, which we intend to make an annual tradition.

This “Patriot Party with a Purpose” will be held on December 13 at the Highland Village Pavilion – 901 Highlands Blvd. Lakeway, TX (next to the Welcome Center). Doors open at 5:30 PM, dinner will be served at 6:00, and we’ll celebrate through the evening until 9:00.

We’re still finalizing details, but expect great Italian food from Giovanni’s Table (with a holiday pie assortment as well), live dinner entertainment--TBD, a DJ for dancing, and maybe even yours truly singing a Christmas tune or two.

Dress Code: Holiday casual—no need for suits or gowns. Add a touch of festive spirit if you’d like. Please donner and blitz away!

Tickets: Members pay $25 online for advance tickets. Non-members and walk-ins will pay more at the door.

Giving Back

Please bring an unwrapped toy for our Toys for Tots collection, proudly supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Let’s make this a holiday season where our Club truly makes an impact with charity and giving.

Drinks: An open bar with beer and wine will be provided.

We are also looking for event sponsors to help offset costs. If you or your business would like to contribute, please reach out with your ideas. If you want to donate to the club as an individual, feel free to do so on our website! Together, we can make this an incredible evening of patriotism, purpose, and community spirit!

Activism and Engagement

Our Club is more than a series of meetings or parties—it’s a movement of committed conservatives taking action. We continue to strengthen our partnership with Heritage Action and their Sentinel Program, which equips everyday citizens to engage directly with elected officials and shape policy. If you attended our last meeting, you received a folder containing much information about this program. For those who missed it, please visit: HERE.

Also included in that folder were our recommendations for the current State Constitutional Amendments election and a petition to the Texas Secretary of State urging the closure of Republican primaries to prevent Democrat interference in GOP candidate selection.

If you did not receive a blue folder, both documents are available in the Members Group Discussion section of our website: HERE.

You’ll also find recommendations from four other conservative organizations to help guide your decisions. Please, don’t forget to vote this Tuesday - November 4!

Engage in Our Online Member Community

I want to take a moment to encourage every member to log in to your online membership profile and make sure your information is up to date. Please include a recognizable profile photo, accurate contact details, and a useful username so we can connect names with faces.

Also, take full advantage of our Member Group section—this is your community hub. It’s designed for all members to engage, share, and contribute. You can post photos, documents, flyers, comments, and links to articles or information that align with our mission and values.

Our Board frequently posts updates there as well, so please check in often. This platform is where our Club truly comes alive through communication and connection.

If you have any questions or need help with your profile, please email us at laketravisrepublicanclubtx@gmail.com, and we’ll gladly assist you.

Additional Opportunities

Consider joining the Texas Republican Party’s Grassroots Club for valuable conservative resources.

Also explore the Citizens Defending Freedom Resource Library, a tremendous collection of educational materials for patriots and activists.

We’re also seeking volunteers to help the Travis County GOP with mail-in ballot counting during this election season. This work is vital to maintaining election integrity. Please contact TCRP directly.

For teens in your family, the True Texas Project will host another Certified True Texan Youth Training in Austin on November 22—a powerful patriotic experience that teaches Texas history and conservative principles. Reach out to me if you’d like help getting your young family members or friends signed up.

Finally, the Austin Republican Women are celebrating their Platinum Anniversary on November 13. Their featured keynote speaker is Nick Adams, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia. Only a few tickets remain—reserve HERE.

A heartfelt thank-you to our friends at ARW for their continued support and partnership. You set the standard for Republican engagement across Central Texas.

Club Policy: Luncheon Attendance

Please remember that luncheon fees cover more than just the meal—they include venue and operational costs based on headcount. Therefore, everyone attending must register ONLINE and pay. This includes guests or candidates who wish an opportunity to speak briefly. Unfortunately, with our offered buffet meal, we pay for the number of people attending, not by the number of people that have registered and/or signed in. Random counts by the country club do happen, and then LTRC has to pay for the extra people within the banquet room, even if they are just observers. Your cooperation ensures fairness and protects our club’s finances. We appreciate your understanding and support.

Newsletter Advertising Program

At our most recent club luncheon, I introduced a new marketing initiative offering advertisement placements of various sizes in our monthly newsletter. However, I need to clarify that the pricing I presented was part of an introductory offer, available only to current members and only through the end of this year.

Beginning January 1, our pricing structure will change—though members will always continue to receive the best available rates. Because I did not specify during my presentation that this introductory offer applied exclusively to members, a few outside vendors without club affiliation were allowed to participate.

Consider this your official notice that the introductory advertising offer applies only to LTRC members through the end of 2025. In December, we will release a new rate structure for those wishing to advertise in our Happy Hour announcements, monthly newsletters, and membership meeting promotions/reminders.

More details will be shared soon, but for now, I want to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and support as we continue improving how we promote our events, sponsors, and local businesses within the Club.

Veterans Day and November Events

November 11 is Veterans Day. Please take time to thank those who served and, if possible, attend the Lakeway Veterans Ceremony at 11:00 AM at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek Rd.), featuring Rear Admiral (Ret.) Jud Scott.

Our next membership luncheon is Tuesday, November 18, featuring Aaron Reitz, candidate for Texas Attorney General. A Marine Corps officer and former Assistant Attorney General, Aaron will bring unique insight into the intersection of law, leadership, and conservative principles.

And don’t miss our next Wine Wednesday Happy Hour on November 26 at Lakeway’s newly opened SAF Wine Bar—another great “Patriot Party with a Purpose.” Details and event signup coming soon.

Together, we are building momentum—stronger, more united, and ready to take bold action with courage and conviction.

God Bless Texas and God Bless America!