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Sue McGillicuddy, Senator Patty Birkholz,
and Andy Oetman

"We know that the party of
Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan
can do better, much better than
what citizens have seen in the
last few years. REP wants to
help our party find a clear path
to renewed vigor, principled
commitment, and electoral victory
in 2008 and beyond."

— from an op-ed that REP Government
Affairs Director David Jenkins
published in the Kalamazoo Gazette
Click here to read the entire essay.

 

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2008


REP Membership and Development Director Rob Sisson, center, received the Michigan League of
Conservation Voters 2008 Environmental Leadership Award. Also receiving awards were
Mayors John Hieftje of Ann Arbor and George Heartwell of Grand Rapids.


REP Membership and Development Director Rob Sisson, left, attended the June 4, 2008 
unveiling of Michigan's plan to restore and protect the Great Lakes. At right is Dennis Muchmore,
execuive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs. The event was held at the Capitol in Lansing. 

McCain Signs Great Lakes Pledge

Senator John McCain, on the eve of the January 15 Michigan primary, signed the Great Lakes Pledge and was the only GOP candidate to do so. By signing the pledge, Senator McCain promised to support full funding for the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (sponsored by our own Congressman Vern Ehlers). REP's Michigan Chapter Executive Committee worked hard to reach out to all of the Republican candidates to educate them and to get them to sign the pledge. One Michigan REP member, through old college connections, was able to get our request onto the desk of McCain's campaign manager.

We worked with the nine largest county Republican parties to deliver a sign-on letter to each GOP presidential candidate. Our members mounted a letter-to-the-editor campaign to ask the candidates to sign the pledge. Several members also attended Senator McCain's town hall meetings in the state. We are excited about the role we played in obtaining the senator's pledge on this critical issue!

Great Lakes Compact

The Michigan Chapter helped secure passage of the Great Lakes Compact by the Legislature.

2007

Letter in Outside Magazine

Read Chapter Treasurer Rob Sisson's letter to Outside magazine.

Chapter Held Annual Meeting May 5 in Meridian Township at the Okemos Hope Borbas Library.The Michigan Chapter held its annual meeting

Chapter Presented "Green Elephant" award to Senator Birkholz

Chapter President Sue McGillicuddy, joined by Chapter Vice President Andy Oetman, presented the Michigan chapter's first Green Elephant Legislator of the Year Award to state Senator Patty Birkholz. Senator Birkholz, who represents counties along the Lake Michigan shore, has been a strong advocate for good environmental policies in the state.

Mayor of Sturgis—and REP Leader—spoke in Washington, DC

Rob Sisson, Michigan chapter treasurer, REP membership and development director, and Mayor of Sturgis, speaks on global warming and protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge at the Climate Crisis Action Day in Washington, DC on March 20, 2007. Read his speech.


Rob Sisson speaking in Washington

Chapter Hosted Luncheon with Congressman Ehlers

On February 20, the chapter Executive Committee, represented by Andy Oetman, Dick Hansen, and Rob Sisson, co-hosted a luncheon at the Grand Rapids Univerity Club with Rep. Vern Ehlers, a member of REP's Honorary Board. Twenty influential Republicans listened to Congressman Ehlers comment on pending legislation, including his bill to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Act.

REP Member Placed Op-Ed in Sturgis Journal

REP member Jay Newman placed an op-ed, You're Kidding: Republicans for Environmental Protection. in the Sturgis Journal on February 1.

2006

REP published op-ed in the Kalamazoo Gazette

In November, Government Affairs Director David Jenkins published "Conservation can be key route on Republican road to recovery" in the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Chapter President discussed environmental issues with DeVos

Michigan Chapter President Rob Sisson met with Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos at St. Joseph County GOP luncheon in Centreville.


Dick DeVos and Rob Sisson

Chapter Presented Award to Congressman Ehlers

Executive Commmittee member Andy Oetman represented the chapter on June 5, 2006 when Congressman Vern Ehlers—a member of REP's Honorary Board—received the Helen and William Milliken Distinguished Service Award. The ceremony took place in Grand Rapids and was hosted by the Michigan Environmental Council, of which Michigan REP is a member.


Michigan Chapter President Rob Sisson, left, joined
other Michigan conservationists in February 2006 to present
a thank-you award to Congressman Vern Ehlers, fourth from right,
for supporting protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling.

Rob is on the left in the photo below. Congressman Ehlers is in the center, wearing a medal around his neck.

Other 2006 Chapter Activities...

  • Chapter President Rob Sisson met with the executive director of the Michigan Small Tech Business Center on May 24 to learn about environmentally-friendly nanotechnology products.
  • Rob met with Congressman Fred Upton and his chief of staff on May 20 to discuss Upton's recent votes on environmental legislation.
  • Chapter Secretary-Treasurer Sue McGillicuddy represented the chapter at the Michigan League of Conservation Voters awards breakfast on May 10.
  • Chapter President Rob Sisson attended the St. Joseph County Lincoln Day luncheon and spoke with two U.S. Senate candidates, Mike Bouchard and Jerry Zandstra.
  • Chapter Secretary-Treasurer Sue McGillicuddy represented the Michigan Chapter at the League of Conservation Voters Awards Breakfast on May 10. Sue gave a short plug for REP and left some Conservation Is Conservative and REP brochures.
  • Sue gave awards to two Republican members of the Legislature, Senator Bruce Patterson and Representative David Law. Both have helped forge a bipartisan effort to support the environment.
  • Rob attended the St. Joseph County Lincoln Day luncheon the first week of May and spoke with two U.S. Senate candidates, Mike Bouchard and Jerry Zandstra. He asked both candidates questions about environmental issues.
  • The Michigan chapter has joined the Michigan Environmental Council's Bigger, Better Bottle Bill campaign.
2005

Chapter Hosted Author Jonathan Waterman

The Michigan chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection hosted an evening of words and photographs with Arctic adventurer and author Jonathan Waterman, on Wednesday, August 10, 2005, at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Chapter spoke up for Arctic Refuge

On July 12, 2005, Chapter President Rob Sisson and member Andy Oetman attended a media event in Grand Rapids to support protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Rob and Andy received face time on all three network television affiliates and will be featured in the Grand Rapids Press.

Also involved were Kim Novick of the Alaska Coalition, a representative from the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, and the treasurer of the national Sierra Club.

Theodore Roosevelt IV met REP members in Grand Rapids

Republicans for Environmental Protection Lifetime Member Theodore Roosevelt IV, Lisa Wozniak, Executive Director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and Rob Sisson, President of the Michigan REP Chapter, shared a few moments at the West Michigan Environmental Action Council Dinner, May 11, 2005 in the Gerald R. Ford Ballroom of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids. Ted gave the dinner speech. Also present at the dinner was REP member Dick Hansen.


Lifetime REP member Theodore Roosevelt IV visits with
Lisa Wozniak of Michigan Conservation Voters and Michigan
REP Chapter President Rob Sisson

Chapte President published "Michigan must support Salmon Planning Act"

Read this op-ed by Chapter President Rob Sisson, which was pubished on May 6, 2005, in the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Chapter had a busy spring 2005

  • President Rob Sisson visited Washington, DC this spring to encourage six Republican members of the Michigan House delegation about co-sponsoring the Salmon Planning Act. Congressman Thaddeus McCotter has agreed to co-sponsor the legislation.
  • In April, Rob spoke to a meeting of the Aquinas College Student Republicans.
  • Michigan Executive Committee Member Nick Hinrichsen spoke to the Cranbook High School Environmental Club.
2004

Chapter chose new Executive Committee leaders

REP's Michigan Chapter Executive Committee has elected new officers. Rob Sisson, a resident of Sturgis, succeeded Sue McGillicuddy as chapter president. Vice President Mike Gillman of Traverse City and Secretary-Treasurer Jon Stinson of Acme will continue in their current positions. Also invited to join the Executive Committee were Rob Glazier of Lansing and Dr. Roger Kahn of Saginaw.

REP published op-ed in Detroit News

Policy Director Jim DiPeso's "Increase Fuel Economy of America's Autos" was published on May 23 in the Detroit News.

For Earth Day, REP President Martha Marks gave a speech entitled "Martha's Little Pop Quiz" and other Challenges at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Present in the audience were Michigan REP member Rob Glazier and Dr. Joe Schwarz.

2003

Our chapter held its first public event!

REP members and others gathered on Sunday, October 20, 2003 at the Traverse City Public Library for a candidate's forum. Members and the public took advantage of the opportunity to ask candidates about their positions on environmental issues.

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