BUNCOMBE  COUNTY G.O.P.
TEMPTS  ITS VOLUNTEERS

by Patrick Killough  [5/17/2001]

I live  in Texas when it is cold and North Carolina when the weather is
warm.  Life pulses as well among Republicans in New Braunfels and Comal County, TX as in Asheville and Buncombe County, NC. Both party organizations  work. In Texas women propel the G.O.P. (Grand Old Party). In and around Asheville in the year 2000 county chairman Michelle Cox led the charge. A friendly, get-it-done comet of a leader she was and is. She worked her volunteers hard and they loved it. And George Bush is now President of the USA.

Mrs Cox is a hard act to follow. But in politics acts must needs be followed, hard or not.  Now comes Michelle's elected successor, Charles C. Thomas with a plan to energize party volunteers. He is at work forming The Buncombe County Republican Party Committee of 500.

As announced May 14, 2001 Chairman Thomas invites anyone to join the Committee who during a calendar year donates some combination of either $500 or 50 hours time.

The money goes to the County Republican Party. The time is to be accounted for on a "Committee of 500 Tracking Sheet." The volunteer maintains her or his own form and jots down 

date...event...start time...end time 

of some activity to which she or he donates time or personal presence. What counts in the Committee's eyes as "time" donations is not spelled out. But they presumably  include  coming to headquarters to stuff envelopes or telephone voters or hosting "meet the candidate" events.

The Tracking Sheet is then initialed by the  Event Coordinator and Chair or Vice-Chair of the party along with total hours credited.

The 50 hours or $500 or combination thereof assures recognition by G.O.P. county leaders. The Committee of 500 Member/Donor may also  attend for free at least some rallies of elected officials who support the committee.

Hurrah for any initiative which invigorates any decent American political party! Chairman Charles Thomas is inspired. His name may be remembered  for having  addressed a sometimes bitter lament of both the voters at large and  the volunteers for any political party: 

"All the candidates want is mymoney. My time means nothing to them!"
What will the county G.O.P do with the extra money it hopes to raise via the Committee of 500? Primarily,  G.O.P. headquarters in Asheville will improve its data bases and make them available to party precinct chairmen in a user-friendly, timely format. For instance, new or relocated residents of Buncombe County often (not often enough) register their party affiliation with the county Board of Elections. That is public information. From Republican headquarters the new plan is both to gather these data, share them with precinct chairmen and provide postage for the precinct leaders to greet the newcomers and offer party services.

How is the now a-borning Committee of 500 to be evaluated?

In the main, positively. Both voters and volunteers are understandably
miffed about being  cherished only for their money. Here is  recognition
that time matters, too. Mr Thomas sails boldly into  the power wake of  Mrs Cox.

Is there a down side?

--The name "Committee" is a yawner.

--The top-down centralization from G.O.P headquarters was predictable. Precinct activists will be pressured, as usual, to subordinate neighborhood activities to signing up donors for the "Central Committee."

--Headquarters emphasis is on supporting current office holders not
untested newcomers. Not exactly imaginative. But not dumb, either.

**********

--Is this bold start a secular imitation of ACTS 3:6?  Remember it? Peter said to the cripple,

 "I have no silver or gold; but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."


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