The HPRA Friday lunch speaker this week is Dan Comstock, the chair of the Local Government Committee of the Harris County Republican Party. Dan will speak about a Strategic Review released last year.
http://www.harriscountygop.com/the_hcrp_strategic_review_a_plan_to_win
In part, this document says that demonization of Democrats should stop, local issues should get attention going forward, and party auxiliaries can play a role in party outreach. This review has occurred in an era of soul searching by activists in both major parties who see a need to rebrand their parties; two major “autopsies” have been released since 2012. For Democrats see https://democraticautopsy.org, and for Republicans see this summary:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/rnc-completes-autopsy-2012-loss-calls-inclusion-policy/story?id=18755809.
The Harris County review recommends building “micro-networks” around shared issues and doing outreach to groups which may be only ad hoc.
(It is interesting to realize that the Green and Libertarian parties have not taken similar steps though both are clearly struggling.)
Three quotes from the Strategic Review:
- The press often says; “the GOP has a demographic problem,” “the GOP is out of touch with Hispanics and other people of color,” and that, “the GOP is a party of aging White men.”
We reject this portrayal. However, if the Republican Party is to remain relevant in Harris County, these perceptions, and demographic shifts must be acknowledged and incorporated into how we engage voters and support candidates to campaign and govern.
- Our historic voter base is shrinking in both real and absolute terms. As a consequence, we are at risk of becoming a minority party within Harris County. Demographically, Harris County looks today like America is projected to look in fifteen to twenty years.
- …we must encourage and welcome newcomers to the Party and more constructively frame our policy positions and platform. We fervently believe our success or failure lies not in what we say, but in how, and to whom, we say it.
(And from GOP 2017 annual report: “We are committed to engaging with every community and will continue to foster engagement on every street and in every neighborhood.”)
Houston Property Rights Association
PUBLIC INVITED: $11.49 plus 10% gratuity – buffet self-serve – all you can eat.
Coffee and tea are extra.
The Lam Bo Restaurant (Chinese and American food), is at
6159 Westheimer Road, about a mile west of Chimney Rock on the south side.
(look for us in the back room)
March 9, 2018
Buffet lunch – 12:00 to 2:00 – Program starts at 12:30
Please tell your friends and neighbors about our meetings.
RESERVATIONS NOT NEEDED
Upcoming Speakers and Topics
Feb. 16: Presidents Day weekend / no meeting.
Feb. 23: a speaker from Angela House, a Catholic charity helping female ex-convicts re-enter society.
March 2: Jim Willis – on prairie grass and its effect on flooding.
March 9: TBD
March 16: James Quintero, Director of Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
HPRA wants to thank Computer Services of Texas
for its donated work keeping the HPRA Macintosh computer running smoothly