From Greg
October 3, 2025
Message from Greg Ratliff, President – Stone Creek Republican Club
It has been an amazing and productive past few months here at the Stone Creek Republican Club. As a recap, we have had fantastic speakers who have kept us informed about the state of affairs in Marion County. Our county commissioners have provided us with fantastic insight, taking time out of their busy schedules to come here and talk with us about development in terms of housing, transportation, and taxation. And Ryan Chamberlin, our State Representative, and Stan McClain, our State Senator, continue to do an amazing job for which we are extremely grateful.
As you know, our event featuring Congressman Byron Donalds, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, was overwhelming in attendance, and we needed to rent additional chairs for the Reunion Center to accommodate everyone, an expense that we gladly absorbed. Our next speaker in October is also seeking the Republican nomination for governor: former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Renner. And to be blunt, isn’t this amazing that we are one of the first stops on their campaign trail.
I would like to thank our photographer, Steve Poland, a resident and owner of New Image Studios, in conjunction with members of the Truesdell Companies, for a four-camera video recording plus Steve's photography. It is my understanding that videos have been rendered and will soon go into post-production for short film distribution.
I think it's appropriate to say a big thank you to Chef Keith Stefani and his over-the-top cookies during the Byron Donalds event, courtesy of the Truesdell Companies. It is my understanding that not a single cookie was left, and I received many compliments and kind words. Thank you to Paul, Keith, and the members of their respective teams who participated in the distribution of refreshments.
Our volunteers have been busy with numerous activities, and it is an honor to work with each and every one who has been doing a yeoman's job, above and beyond what any president could expect. The Fall Festival will feature our new tent, and it looks fantastic. I want to thank County Commissioner Matt McClain and State Senator Stan McClain for paying the cost of the new tent, which features the logo and name of the Stone Creek Republicans. I felt it was absolutely critical going forward to continue to brand our club with a consistent message and to continue to engage on a positive basis with all members, prospective members, all voters, and like-minded residents throughout Marion County. Our club, our logo, our mission.
I also encourage you to stop by and see many of your neighbors, friends, and fellow members of the Republican Club at the upcoming Fall Festival. Make sure to visit the booths of the many clubs and businesses present, and please note that Paul Truesdell and a few of his associates will be active in the vendor section with giveaways and several amazing drawings; I won’t say what the top giveaway is but I hope my ticket is pulled. So please make sure to stop by and say hello to every vendor at our annual Stone Creek Fall Festival.
The celebration of life for Charlie Kirk will take place on October 14th, his birthday, in the Reunion Center. This has taken a great deal of time and negotiation to pull off. First, let me say that it was extremely disappointing that our homeowner’s association declined our event. In consultation with appropriate advisers and your board, I pursued inquiries going up the Pulte chain of command, and there were others who are associated with our group who also facilitated calm, rational consideration. In the end, we were able to procure the Reunion Center for which I want to say thank you. I let you know this politely, so you understand how much work has gone into these events, and this does not even begin to scratch the surface of the volunteers (your board and various committees) who have stepped forward, come together, and are doing so much. I will be listing those at the end of this update.
If that was not enough, new memberships and renewals, along with tickets to events have and continue to be distributed at Ticket Tuesdays in the Stonewater Club. I encourage you to always stop by and say hello. Since renewing all current members for 2026 is such a large task, we have started renewals now. Current members can renew their membership anytime we are at Ticket Tuesday or at any of our monthly meetings. Calendar Year 2026 dues will once again only be $0 per person.
And then we have our upcoming holiday party in December. Your board and the Social Planning committee have again been extremely busy pulling all of that together. I will have a complete update on the holiday party shortly. It was amazing last yea, it will be amazing this year.
Plans are well underway for an incredible celebration of the first anniversary of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, one year after, to take place in the Reunion Center in the evening on January 20th, 2026. I will hold off on giving you details of that event; however, it involves a large number of our volunteers and is being hosted and sponsored by my friend and yours, Paul Truesdell who I must remind everyone that he is also member of our club. My understanding is that it will be a night to absolutely remember. I am looking forward to providing more details in December for this 2026 kickoff event.
Next, a reminder that the website for our club is up and running. You can find and access the club website at stonecreekrepublicans.com. One of the important features is the donation page. I would like to thank our former president, Joe Prohaska, who made the first online donation, a generous amount which is much appreciated. I must say that I would greatly appreciate your consideration in providing a few extra dollars as a donation. That extra $20, $50, or $100 means a lot to the club, as our membership dues will remain at $10 per year, and it simply costs money to do what we do. We manage our budget tightly and if you think we do a good job, and you can support a donation, it will be greatly appreciated.
If not for the generosity of our political and corporate donors, we would be unable to do many of the activities that we are engaged in. I would like to see our club become more financially independent so that the corporate and political sponsorships are the icing on the cake. And, speaking of sponsorships, if you know of an appropriate Republican business that is interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, please let me know. While we have limitations, your kind words are greatly appreciated. Simply mention in passing information about our club, let me know who you’ve spoken with, and we will follow up. Our sponsors are a true partnership of like-minded Republicans.
As you know from our recent meetings, your board of directors will be seeking reelection, and others who are interested should feel free to contact us, as we will have an election for a new board pursuant to our bylaws in November.
In conclusion, we have gone from 13 members to well over 1,000 in a relatively short period of time. We have been recognized by various Republican executive committees outside of Marion County and clubs as far away as Orlando. I can tell you I have loved every moment of my engagement with each and every one here at Stone Creek and beyond. While I may stumble on occasion, I assure you I always strive to do better, to involve more, to embrace the volunteerism of the club in all ways, shapes, and forms, and to say thank you for which I am eternally grateful. I cannot tell you how deeply appreciative I am. The spirit of being a true Republican, collectively and individually, is simply amazing in Stone Creek.
Greg Ratliff