A Life Dream Begins to Come to Pass

On Saturday, April 14th, at our District 01 Republican Convention in Tulsa, Amanda Teegarden graciously placed my  name in nomination for Republican National Delegate.  I am pleased to report that I received an alternate delegate slot and I will go to Tampa Florida in August.  I will be asking the state convention in May to upgrade my status to delegate and we will see if that can yet occur.  I would appreciate your continued prayers on the matter.

Thank you Amanda Teegarden for nominating me!

Click on pic for full flyer and pdf version online

Because of the time allotted to all the candidates to speak and because of my wanting the speech to NOT be read,  here is what was ‘planned’ but I cannot tell you what was actually said.  If I get a video link, I will attach it later to this post for you:

I am Sandra Crosnoe. I am from Washington County. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today.

I appreciate you being here today to make decisions for our district and for our party. I know you sacrifice time from your family with every moment you spend on political matters. I appreciate that sacrifice.

I know because I have served with many of you on committees and on various projects. I have served as a Republican precinct chair for over 30 years, first in Texas and more recently since I came to Oklahoma in 2005.

You may be aware of my work online with blogs and communication networks, with social networking, with organizing rallies and teaparties, with speaking and mentoring and training in person and via Skype.

Through it all, I have encouraged people to get involved with their local Republican party, serve in volunteer roles, and talk to their representatives in order to really make a difference.

You did and you have and you are. You are here today. Some of you are serving in office and others are now running for office. We have more work to do together!

What draws us together as Republicans are our core principles and our shared values:

We are for limited constitutional government and for free markets and yes, a lot less government.

We support the second amendment — the right to keep and bear arms.

And yes we are prolife — because every life is precious and a gift from God!

I know that together we must hold our leaders and ourselves accountable to these principles. I know that we are a party that believes in the rule of law AND promotes grassroots activism. I believe that every voice is important. I will work to make sure that things are done according to the rules. I will insist on openness and fairness to make sure that everyone has a chance to participate. If you send me, I will go. I will continue my work to get our message of Life and Liberty out across the Land. This election is about more than the just the presidency. It is about promoting people of principle who will make a difference. Together we will Restore the Republic so that future generations may live free and prosper in this great Nation.

I pray God’s blessings on this District, this great state of Oklahoma and this Nation.

I would appreciate your vote for Republican National Delegate!

My flyer that was passed out at the convention is posted here >>>

My open letter prior to the convention is posted here >>>

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

OKGrassroots

Sandra Crosnoe for Republican National Delegate – For Life and For Liberty!

Sandra Crosnoe for Republican National Delegate 2012 (this is a pdf version)

What draws us together as Republicans are our core principles and our shared values: 

We are for limited constitutional government and for free markets and for a lot less government.  

We support the second amendment — the right to keep and bear arms.

Of course we are prolife — because every life is precious and a gift from God!

For details on the District 1 Convention see post here >>>

An Open Letter to Republican Friends/Leaders here >>>

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

OKGrassroots

 

CD01 GOP Convention in Tulsa at the Renaissance Hotel on Saturday April 14th at 9AM

The 1st Congressional District convention will occur on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Renaissance Hotel, Hwy. 169 & E. 71st St. in Tulsa.

Registration begins at 8:00 am with the convention beginning at 9:00 am.

Speakers currently scheduled to speak this year include:

Congressman John Sullivan

Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin

Oklahoma House Speaker Elect T.W. Shannon

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett

National Committeewoman Carolyn McClarty

The District Rules and Credentials committees have released their reports.

Click on the following links to read over the proposed rules and delegate list.

Proposed Convention Rules

Delegate List

Special thanks to the Tulsa County GOP for their newsletter and the source of this article and links.

For more information or to sign up for the newsletter please visit http://www.tulsagop.org

Additional Convention Details:

April 14th: 1st Congressional District Convention

Renaissance Hotel,  Hwy. 169 & E. 71st St., Tulsa

Registration:  8:00 am

Convention Begins: 9:00 am

$12.00 Delegate Fee

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them 

[Special Request:  Sandra is a candidate for national delegate and would appreciate your vote on Saturday!]

OKGrassroots

R3publicans

The Color Test — Take a Coffee Break and See How Well You Do!

Click on the pic to start an animated graphic, then click on it to get back to this graphic and actually start the test!

This is the old left brain/ right brain struggle and you can feel it as you take the test. Whew!  From Humorshere.com

Related post on left brain / right brain art and concepts (Mercedes Benz Ad)  here >>>

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

OKGrassroots

Silver Lake Road Extension Eminent Domain Vote on Monday — Why? — Because We Can, But Should We?

Thanks to Sharon Hurst for the heads up on this, I plan to let my city councilman know my thoughts on the matter.  Hope you will do the same.  Here is Sharon’s email to me just received:

On Monday, the City Council will vote to exercise its power of eminent domain and take property from Evans Nursery in order to construct the Silver Lake Road extension.  I don’t know about you, but I find it extremely disturbing to see our city government using power to seize private property.   This is the kind of thing they do in Connecticut or California… not in Oklahoma!  Yes, we know there may be some rare instances when eminent domain is absolutely necessary.  But is this road really such a necessity that it requires the City take property from people who don’t want to sell?  I think any of us would be hard pressed to say it is.  Especially when we remember this has nothing to do with diversion of traffic and everything to do with easier access to Robinwood Soccer Fields.  Don’t forget — this Silver Lake Road extension was originally part of the 2007 Park Proposal.  I’m also curious… is it legal for the City to exercise its power of eminent domain over property outside the City limits?  Two parcels of land fall in Washington County – not within the City (or at least that’s the legal description from the Resolution in the City Council packet).

 

Let’s hope these City Council members, who have professed themselves to be such avid private property rights advocates, hold to their principles when it comes time to vote on Monday.  Why not send them an email or call them, and let them know what you think?  Or better still, come Monday night at 7pm and tell them in person.

 

Tom Gorman, tagorman@aol.com, 918-333-2244 ext.100

Ted Lockin, ted.d.lockin@gmail.com, 918-333-6692

Mike McGrew, mikeslock@sbcglobal.net, 918-440-2715

Dale Copeland, copeland4bville@aol.com, 918-333-4488

Erin Tullos, eetullos@gmail.com, 918-213-4240  [However, I believe Erin is on extended maternity leave and no longer attending Council meetings. Is this true?]

Sharon M Hurst

=========================================================

 

The excerpt from the E-E article is reproduced below.

 

City plans to condemn property

By Jessica Miller

jmiller@examiner-enterprise.com

Steps to condemn property in the path of the Silver Lake Road extension are expected to be taken by the Bartlesville City Council during a 7 p.m. meeting Monday.

According to a resolution that the council will consider during the meeting, employees and agents of the City of Bartlesville have been unable to acquire certain tracts of land necessary for the construction of the roadway extension — between Frank Phillips Boulevard and Tuxedo Boulevard.

City of Bartlesville Director of Engineering Terry Lauritsen said Friday that the land to be considered for condemnation is located on the very north end of where Beck Drive ties into Tuxedo Boulevard. He said the city is looking to square up where the road ties into Tuxedo to make it more perpendicular to Tuxedo.

If approved, the resolution states that because the land cannot be acquired by negotiation or purchased at Fair Market Value, the city attorney is authorized and directed to institute necessary legal proceedings to acquire the rights, title and interest to the land “by the exercise of the power of eminent domain and to take such further action as may be convenient or necessary to acquire the identified property interest.”

The resolution also states that an emergency will be declared to preserve the public peace, health and safety “by reason of which this resolution shall be in full force and effective immediately from and after its adoption by the council and approval by the mayor.”

 

Related article from 2010 here >>>

Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

OKGrassroots

Preliminary Returns Indicate that Fiscal Sanity has Reigned In Bartlesville BISD Spending — For Now!

Fiscal sanity reigns in Bartlesville — both bonds failed to achieve 60% margin to ‘pass’; there is still much work to be done to get our house in order so that all levels of government learn to live within their means. The school board needs to make some operational changes and listen to the people or they will need to be replaced in the days ahead.

Detail returns available here: Bartlesville voters say ‘no’ to school bond propositions | Examiner Enterprise, Bartlesville

Bartlesville voters say ‘no’ to school bond propositions

By Abigail Singrey

asingrey@examiner-enterprise.com

The community rejected both Bartlesville Public School District bond propositions, while Copan’s proposition passed with overwhelming community support.

Voters told the Bartlesville Public School District to go back to the drawing board on its plan to build a new sixth and seventh grade center and reconfigure the grades at the secondary levels.

According to unofficial election results, only 49.54 — 2,531 people — percent voted for the $48 million proposition, while 50.46 percent — 2,578 people — voted against the proposal.

School bond proposals require a 60 percent majority to pass.

The community also voted down a proposition that would have allowed the district to spend $1.5 million on transportation, including new buses. Over half of the voters — 54.36 percent — voted for the proposition, but it still fell shy of the 60 percent approval rate needed to pass it.

.

Thank you to an ever vigilant Bartlesville Community and Grassroots Bartlesville for keeping the facts in front of the people.  It will require much work to force all levels of government to make cuts and shrink the size and scope of government so that the private sector can thrive and grow.

I also recommend two specific changes which would dramatically improve the process:

1)  Support and pass the legislation being recommended by Rep Josh Cockroft to force this type of elections be voted on when other matters are already scheduled and on the ballot.  We should follow Rep Josh Cockroft’s recommendation that we combine these types of school bond elections with other more major elections so that they come under more scrutiny from more voters.  We could also avoid the expense of a ‘special’ election attended by low voter awareness and turnout. If everyone is going to end up paying more in taxes, then let’s make sureeveryone gets an opportunity to vote at a time when they normally do so on other matters.  Rep. Josh Cockroft of McCloud says he believes changing the date of the elections would increase voter participation. Cockroft says if schools are to improve, the entire community should be involved in their futures.  Currently, school board elections are held on the second Tuesday in February or on the date of the presidential primary.

More about this legislative recommendation were here >>> (this link is no longer active)

New link with bill numbers here >>>

2)  Enable/require public utilities in the area to provide public service release(s) of ballot wording well in advance of ALL elections.  No taxing entity should be able to even attempt to pass tax increases with only certain segments of the tax base being made aware of the changes impacting everyone in the area.  Openness and transparency in government is needed at all levels.

Related articles:

Vote Reminder: Just say NO on BISD bond election on Tuesday February 14th and save taxpayers a cool $50 Million! « Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Washington County: Let’s Say No to Proposed School Bond on Feb 14th and Send Board Back to the Drawing Boards « Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Cross-posted with OKGrassroots

Vote Reminder: Just say NO on BISD bond election on Tuesday February 14th and save taxpayers a cool $50 Million!

Please tell the school board over and over again to get budgets in order and quit asking for more money in a time where most of us are reducing expenditures and cutting back! It doesn’t take more money to educate children. It requires better management of existing resources. We have given you plenty now get to work managing it properly, setting a good example, and living within our means on existing resources. Back to the drawing board BISD!

For more information see previous article here >>> Washington County: Let’s Say No to Proposed School Bond on Feb 14th and Send Board Back to the Drawing Boards « Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Facebook group with more information here >>> Bartlesville School Bond Issue 2012 ( the Facts)

Flyer opposing bond link here and embedded (downloadable) below >>> Just Say NO to BISD School Bond 2012 Flyer — Vote on February 14th 2012

As the flyer says:

We can spend less… reduce taxes…

 and still meet our students’ needs.

Send the School Board back to the drawing board!

View this document on Scribd

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Cross-posted with OKGrassroots

Washington County: Let’s Say No to Proposed School Bond on Feb 14th and Send Board Back to the Drawing Boards

A resolution authorizing an election for Bartlesville Independent School District was passed on December 8, 2011. It set an election date for said propositions for February 14, 2012. Here is a copy of that resolution:

View this document on Scribd

In case the embed code above doesn’t work in your browser here is a link >>>Link to Resolution on Scribd

I am of the opinion that we need to just say no to this entire bonded indebtedness authorizing lots more money to be spent in a time where we should be trimming fat and living within our means. It is not the time to be spending more of the taxpayers hard earned money rather than simply using existing resources. I agree with Angel Box in her comments below that we need to send the board ‘back to the drawing boards.’ Please read her comments, write a letter of your own, and be ready to just say no at the polls on Feb 14th.

I also recommend that we follow Rep Josh Cockroft’s recommendation that we combine these types of school bond elections with other more major elections so that they come under more scrutiny from more voters.  We could also avoid the expense of a ‘special’ election attended by low voter awareness and turnout. If everyone is going to end up paying more in taxes, then let’s make sure everyone gets an opportunity to vote at a time when they normally do so on other matters.

Rep. Josh Cockroft of McCloud says he believes changing the date of the elections would increase voter participation. Cockroft says if schools are to improve, the entire community should be involved in their futures.

Currently, school board elections are held on the second Tuesday in February or on the date of the presidential primary.

Quote source and more about this legislative recommendation here >>>

We need to tell the school board over and over again to get budgets in order and quit asking for more money in a time where most of us are reducing expenditures and cutting back!  It doesn’t take more money to educate children.  It requires better management of existing resources.

Please consider writing your own letter and visiting with friends and neighbors about this important issue.  We just spent a bunch of money on an unnecessary roundabout.  Let’s make sure all options to reduce costs in a declining economy are being considered and our families are not being saddled with debt levels that are unsustainable.  It just makes good common sense.  That is the way my household functions and I am sure yours does to.  I am reducing costs at present, not increasing them!

__________________________

Send them back to the drawing boards on Feb 14^th

Every fifteen or twenty years our school board comes up with a bond that needs to be voted down. This is one of those years! There are a few good ideas in the bond, like replacing the portables at Kane, but many more bad ones.

Why we should vote ‘no’ on February 14th

*  the grade configuration. Two of the massive changes in configuration are not in the best interests of the students

* the future. Building a new larger school at the Madison location will lock us in to this problematic configuration (see below).

Bad ideas in the bond

*  closing Central to students – and spending $2.5 million to retrofit Central for administration.

*  consolidating  all the 6^th and 7^th graders in a new larger building at the Madison location

*  consolidating  all  8^th and 9^th graders at the Mid High building

Why these are bad ideas:

The Mid High (the current 9^th and 10^th grade center) has never worked well because there are too many students – nearly a thousand – of similar ages in one place. This bond gets rid of that arrangement but replaces it with two more! A 6^th and 7^th grade center and a 8^th and 9^th grade center. We’ll be doubling the “Mid High effect”.

We lament that our children grow up too fast and yet we keep pushing them.  First they took the 6^th graders out of their small neighborhood schools and sent them to the larger middle schools. Now they want to send the 6^th graders to an even larger school which, for half of them, is much farther from their homes (increasing busing distances and costs).  Studies show that the younger the child, the better he or she does in smaller schools closer to home. This is especially true of the disadvantaged. A parent from the west side said once “our kids do fine through Central but we lose them when they are sent over to the mid high.”  …and these were 9th graders.

Less expensive options that get rid of the problematic Mid High configuration:

*  use Madison as a 9^th grade center for the time being. We would have a more manageable number of students (half) coming together for the first time from both sides of town. We could tear down Madison and build a new smaller 9^th grade center there in the future unless we decide to build the 9^th grade center at the High School campus. There is room there.

*  move the Madison students into the Mid High building

*  move  the 10^th  grade into a new wing at high school location. (this is a plan conceived by Marta Manning twenty years ago)

*  move administration to the Mid High building – plenty of room there

The Board can come back with a better bond within months.

For now……send them back to the drawing boards!

Special thanks to Angela Box for her thoughts above on the upcoming ‘Annual School Election’ set for February 14th.

__________________________

For more information on School Bond and Tax Elections in Oklahoma.

Information on Annual School Election from State Election Board:

Annual School Election	February 14, 2012
Annual School Runoff Election	April 3, 2012

Board of Education Filing Packet
Contains the required Declaration of Candidacy form, filing instructions and more
Proof of Identity for Voting
Facts about the law, acceptable forms of identification

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Cross-posted with OKGrassroots

Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving in your Heart — Enter into His Courts with Praise

This is a wonderous holiday.  It lacks the commercial spin of some of the other holidays.  It is a time for getting together with family and friends and remembering the One who made us; the One we are here to serve with thanksgiving in our hearts.  Bless Him and be blessed in the process.

Some scriptures about Thanksgiving for you to proclaim:

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

—Psalm 9:1

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”

—Psalm 50:23

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

—Psalm 92:1

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

—Psalm 97:12

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

—Psalm 100:4

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

—Psalm 105:1-2

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

—Philippians 4:6

More scriptures and references here >>>

.

This week I received a special historical reminder from Norlyn Raisch (Nebraska) via email which is reprinted below.  It refers to one of our first Thanksgivings in 1789 with a proclamation from George Washington and a timely opening comment from Norlyn:

.

When we pray for our nation this Thanksgiving Day, let our prayer be first that its people return to God; only then can our nation return to the government and freedoms that God blessed us with at it at its founding, wherein we recognized that all men have been endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights..  It is only when we understand from whence our rights come that we can have the proper perspective on what are our political responsibilities as believers.

THANKSGIVING DAY 1789
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

.

GO. WASHINGTON.

[More on George Washington available via The Papers of George Washington]

Also published here via OK-SAFE >>>

My political graphic on the holiday is a composite of the flag and the cross here (2010)

Thanksgiving Celebrations are about Thanking God and Celebrating with Family!

.

My little ‘sermonette’  on the matter of the importance of the holiday is here (2009)

A Thanksgiving Prayer

And so once again I send blessings from my house to yours.

I thank God for both your friendship and for your labor

for Life and Liberty in our land.

Blessings,

Sandie

.

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Cross-posted with OKGrassroots

Bartlesville Friends: Simplify your Holiday — Let Liz do some Baking for you!

Thanksgiving Menu 2011

Holiday Baking By Liz

.

Frittatas

Think quiche without a crust.  Will serve 6-8.   This is the Italian version of the French Quiche. This dish is eggy, cheesy, and great for the morning.      $10 each

Tomato Basil            Ham and Cheese    Spinach and Mushroom

Pies

One size fits all. (If you are into 9” pies!)   All pies are filled with handmade fillings on a buttery, flakey crust.   $15 each

Maple Bourbon Pecan            Secret Recipe Pumpkin           Country Apple

Soup

All soups are available by the half-gallon (2 quarts) or gallon.  These are oven roasted to magnify flavours.  Makes a great lunch or buffet item.

Curry Pumpkin (not hot)                                    Tomato Basil

                          ½ Gal.  $15            Gal:  $25

Cranberry Sauce

Whole fresh cranberries with cooked orange juice, orange zest and the right amount of sweet.  Ahhhh. . . . perfection for turkey!

  One size fits all:  $10

Please place all orders by Monday November 21st.  Delivery and/or pick up date:  Wednesday November 23rd.

Heart set upon something not on the menu??  Let Liz know and she may be able to accommodate.

Email:  BUGSYHYDE@aol.com                         

Phone:  (918) 337-8020

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

If you would like a flyer to share with friends in the area please download this file: First Ever Thanksgiving Menu

Posted by Sandra Crosnoe for Finding Gems & Sharing Them

Cross-posted OKGrassroots