WHY IS THERE DIVISIVENESS WITHIN THE HAYWOOD COUNTY PARTY?

Yesterday, I received a response to my previous post asking why our county GOP is so unable to get anything accomplished. Her primary concern was the approaching possibility that we would need to vacate our current Headquarters office with no apparent urgency to secure a year-long lease commitment from the current landlord or to be actively seeking a new office to ensure we continue to have a presence in Haywood County. My response to her was as follows:

A couple of dedicated and patriotic members on the Executive Committee are working hard every day to bring back accountability of the leadership of the Haywood County Republican Party and to ensure the fulfillment of the expectations those who voted for the members of the Haywood County Executive Committee have of them.

Only when the senior officers and members of the Executive Committee begin to become fully engaged on a daily, or at least weekly basis, to accomplish the responsibilities, expectations, and mission of the Haywood County GOP will the county party begin to flourish.

The new Chair, First Vice Chair, and many of the Committee members must find the wisdom to realize that to achieve our mission of seating strong Christian Conservatives in our elected offices, they must become fully engaged, willing and able to work the long hours a week to fulfill their responsibilities and achieve these goals.

These positions are not limited to volunteering a few hours a month, but instead require a willingness to dedicate many hours a week to the good of the Party, the citizens of Haywood County, and the Country. The top three positions are essentially full-time, 40-hour-a-week commitments. If individuals are unwilling or unable to make this level of commitment, they do not belong in those positions. 

Contributing an hour and a half each month to attend the monthly Executive Committee meetings does not win elections, does not grow the party, does not convert independents, does not draw new volunteers, does not spread the conservative Republican vision, and certainly does not bring in the donations the Haywood County Republican Party desperately needs to keep their doors open to succeed in meeting their mission.

The Haywood County Republican Party hosts multiple events throughout the year, has a booth at the monthly flea market held at the Smoky Mountain Event Center, and strives to keep its doors open to the public at least four days a week. Ideally, it should be six days a week. Unfortunately, there are not enough dedicated Republican volunteers to make this happen, and, again, unfortunately, the majority of Executive Committee members are not stepping up to make this happen.

Rarely do the majority of Executive Committee members sacrifice any of their time, beyond attending the monthly Executive Committee meeting, to help at these events or the Headquarters office.

It is always the same very few dedicated, patriotic, hardworking Haywood County Republican volunteers who willingly sacrifice hours every week to accomplish these tedious tasks that keep the Haywood County Party functioning. 

Rarely have the individuals who now serve as the Chair and First Vice Chair, as well as many members of the Executive Committee, consistently sacrificed a couple of hours per month to attend the County Commissioners meetings; Board of Elections meetings; School Board meetings; or the General Assembly meetings of Waynesville, Canton, or Clyde to have an clear and current understanding of what actions, or inactions the elected officials on those committees and boards are taking, or not taking, that impact the day-to-day well being and safety of the citizens of Haywood County.

Unfortunately, many of the elected officials who serve as officers and members of the Haywood County Republican Party Executive Committee view these positions as ones of status, rather than as positions of service and sacrifice with significant responsibilities and expectations.

Certain members of the Executive Committee are frequently and quick to note that our problem is one of divisiveness. They could not be further from the truth. The problem with the Haywood County Republican Party is a failure on the part of a majority of those who sit on the Executive Committee or have been elected to the position of Chair and First Vice Chair to view, understand, and accept that their roles are to be fully engaged in the daily operations and mission of the Haywood County Republican Party, to be the first ones to step forward and volunteer at fundraising events, to volunteer at our Headquarters' office, to serve as observers and greeters at our polling sites, to physically knock on doors and make phone calls on behalf of our Republican candidates, to be constantly recruiting for volunteers, to be engaged and there on behalf of the Registered voters of Haywood County.

If all, or at least the supermajority of those in these positions, fulfilled their obligations to the positions they hold, there would be no time or place for personal egos or jealousies to divide us. Busy minds and hearts leave little time for such childish behavior. 

What say you, Mr. Chairman?