Grant County Federation of Republican Women Members and GC Conservatives, Carol Lutz and I registered voters at Silver City High School during the lunch periods on Wednesday, May 1. Karen Nelson and I will register voters at Cobre High School during their two lunch periods on Thursday, May 2. We distributed a number of Now You Are 18 booklets and copies of pocket U.S. Constitutions complete with the Declaration of Independence. It is amazing how little the students know about the differences between the two major political parties.  

Don and I worked the last month on a community project with the American Legion and Auxiliary in the public and private schools of Grant County. This was the Americanism Essay Contest. We had a record number of 58 essays submitted and several schools participated, which had not in the last five years. We gave out nine Award Certificates, five for First Place Winners and four for Honorable Mentions. First Place Winners also won a $50 check from the Auxiliary.

Americanism is an ideology, or belief in devotion, loyalty, or allegiance to the United States of America, or to its flag, traditions, customs, culture, symbols, institutions, or form of government. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "Americanism is a question of spirit, conviction, and purpose, not of creed or birthplace."  Americanism ideals include: self-government, equal opportunity, freedom of speech, and a belief in progress. This collection of ideals that forms the modern ideology of Americanism holds an enduring appeal to people from lands throughout the globe.  

The ideology of Americanism shares many conservative principles with the Republican Party.