Meeting Minutes – March 2026

Michael Tennant Meeting Minutes

Sun Lakes Republican Club Minutes
When: 3/11/2026 6:30-8:30PM
Where: Sun Lakes Country Club #1 Navajo Room
Who: Standing room only
AGENDA

  1. First Vice Chair Carolyn McCorkle greeted the guests.
  2. The Invocation was given by Bruce McCorkle.
  3. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Bob Hickson.
  4. The Constitutional Minute was given by Carolyn McCorkle.
  5. Some Announcements were made by Carolyn:
    • There was a flyer on each seat regarding the National Day of Prayer. It is Thursday May 7, 2026 at 10 AM in the ballroom at Oakwood Country Club. This is a free event with special speakers, special music, scriptures and prayers as well as special veterans recognition. All are welcome.
    • There was a flyer on each seat regarding using the internet to keep track of your petition signing. The website is: https://apps.AzSOS.gov/EQUAL/ You simply sign in using your name and voter ID number. Then you click on the candidate’s name to sign his or her petition. You can also make contributions on the same website.
    • A flyer was on each seat regarding being informed about the Republican Party activities in your neighborhood. It also showed how you register to vote, other Republican party meeting information (like Chandler Republican Women) and other valuable information. You can contact Karen Vollis for a copy pckavol@proton.me She is a Precinct Committeeman who lives in Oakwood.
    • Carolyn stressed the importance of becoming a Precinct Committeeman for your neighborhood. If you are interested in this please contact the Precinct Captain for your neighborhood: In Oakwood contact Karen Vollis pckavol@proton.me, In Cottonwood contact Mike Tennant mstennant280@gmail.com , In Sun Lakes Country Club #1 contact Janet Cincera janetspeedo@hotmail.com. If you are unsure which precinct you live in contact our SLRC PC representative 3rd ViceChair Chris Standerfer cjstanderfer@gmail.com . He will be happy to help you out!
  6. Carolyn made a presentation in Recognition of Michael Tennant, who retired as our Chairman in February after 14+ years, serving from November 2011 to February 2026. He received an Appreciation Award from the Club, as well as a $100 gift certificate for Mike and Sandy’s favorite restaurant, DC Steakhouse. (Presentation is attached below in #14.)
  7. Carolyn introduced Kurt Rohrs as the newly appointed Chairman of SLRC. Following this, he introduced the other 8 members (old and newly appointed) of the SLRC Executive Board. The election to re-elect the board is this October. If you qualify, you can run for a position on the board. “Intent to Run” application for October Board Election must be filed by May 1 and given to Membership Chair Bonnie DeGrenier. Her contact information is:
    Where to email your “Intent to Run” form: AZFreedomBDeG@protonmail.com
    Where to mail your “Intent to Run” form: Bonnie Degrenier, 25627 S Beech Creek Drive, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
    There will be more information on this coming out on MailChimp in April. Sign up for MailChimp email here.
  8. Starla made an announcement next. She thanked the security team from the Arizona Rangers for their detail of two officers that served as security for Congressman Biggs. She wanted to explain to the audience that the Rangers donate their fee to a charity called “Sunshine Acres” in Mesa that cares for children with special needs. Also she announced an upcoming social event “Dinner and a Documentary” at Floridino’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant Tuesday, April 7 from 5:30-8:30 PM. Pricing and details will be mailed out and the first 60 people who pay for their seats (60 seats maximum) will be accepted for that evening. A second showing might be scheduled for a future date depending on the
    response.
  9. Carolyn then introduced State Legislator JD Mesnard who is “termed out” from being in the State legislature. Our esteemed State Senator J.D. Mesnard kicked off the meeting with the announcement of his candidacy for the essential position of San Marcos Justice of the Peace. https://jdmesnard.com/about/ Next month, JD Mesnard will be giving us a complete legislative update and more information on the conformance of our state tax returns to federal law, since Katie Hobbs has vetoed two bills that would have corrected this problem.
  10. The next speaker Carolyn introduced was Sheriff Mark Lamb. Sheriff Lamb is a candidate for the U.S. Congressional seat currently held by Andy Biggs. Lamb is a retired law enforcement officer who served as the Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, from January 1, 2017 until December 31, 2024. He previously served with the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community police department for six years. President Donald J. Trump has given Sheriff Lamb his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in this Congressional race. Lamb has also been endorsed by The Club for Growth, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Turning Point USA. Some points he made this evening were : A) We cannot let the US end up like Europe from the illegal immigrant invasion we experienced under Joe Biden. B) God, Family, Freedom and the Constitution are foremost in his mind and heart when he makes decisions. C) He wants to continue Congressman Andy Biggs’ work in the Freedom Caucus, D) The “Save America Act” must pass so as to assure our people that only American citizens can vote in our elections. E) He cited a true story about Samuel Whittemore who at 78 years old took on the British army single handedly in the American Revolution. Whittemore was shot, stabbed with bayonets and yet lived on to the ripe old age of 96! F) We each need to hold up our personal responsibility to VOTE in the MidTerms. You can find out more about Sheriff Lamb here: https://marklamb.us/
  11. Carolyn then introduced Congressman Andy Biggs who is running for Governor of Arizona. According to recent Emerson College polling, U.S. Congressman Andy Biggs is the frontrunner in the Republican primary race for Arizona Governor at 50%, with the next closest competitor at 17%. His key proposals include eliminating the state income tax, securing the border with a state-led task force, and advancing election integrity measures. Biggs supports “Florida-style” election reforms to expedite election results, aiming to declare winners on election night. He criticizes delays in vote counting and promises to sign election integrity bills that Hobbs has vetoed, emphasizing transparency and public trust in the electoral process. He is the only candidate that has been endorsed by both President Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA. Andy Biggs was elected to serve the people of Arizona’s Fifth District in 2016, serving five terms. He currently sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Reform Committee. He served as Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus from 2019 to 2021 and currently serves as Co-chair of the Border Security Caucus, Vice Chair of the Western Caucus, and Co-founder of the bipartisan War Powers Caucus. Prior to his election, Andy served in the Arizona State House of Representatives for eight years and in the Arizona State Senate for six years. In 2012, Andy was elected as State Senate President. Andy has lifetime ratings of 100% with the Club for Growth, National Right to Life, and NumbersUSA; 97% with American Conservative Union, and 93% with Heritage Action for America Some of the points he made this evening were : A) We need to protect our freedoms of prosperity and worship and this can be done at the ballot box. B) If elected to Governor he intends to pass the “Election Integrity Bill” that Gov. Hobbs vetoed this year which will assure that only American citizens vote in our elections. And he said he will pass the bill -that Hobbs also vetoed- which will preserve the “Trump tax cuts” thereby making AZ more affordable. C) There needs to be a separation of powers so that liberal judges cannot legislate from the bench. D) There is at least $9 Billon in fraud and corruption in our social assistance programs systems and this needs to be confronted, cleaned up and the funds reallocated. E) The water and fuel pipelines need to be protected and fought for in the courts to secure that AZ has enough water and fuel in the future. This litigation and the upgrading of present infrastructure will assure we will have what we need for many years to come. You can read more about Congressman Biggs here.
  12. The 50/50 Raffle was worth $109 this evening. Thank you to the member who won the 50/50 and donated his part back to the club. And thank you for the anonymous donation of $100 from another member. We are entering into a critical election season. We will be using all our resources to get conservative Republicans elected to office in November! If you want to help, feel free to contact any board member of the SLRC or come to our meetings and speak to us there. Every little bit helps to move us over the finish line! Visit our updated website to find out more here: https://sunlakesrepublicanclub.org/
  13. The next meeting of the SLRC is April 8, 2026 at the Sun Lakes Country Club Navajo Room at 6:30PM. Sign up for emails on the SLRC website for more information!
  14. RECOGNITION OF MICHAEL TENNANT – 3/11/26 – When I asked our Secretary Patricia Koepp to go back into The Archives to determine exactly when Michael became Chairman of our Sun Lakes Republican Club, we knew it had been a Long, Long Time! And it certainly was! Sandra Doty founded the Sun Lakes Republican Club and was the original Chair. Colonel Gordon Lynch succeeded her as Chair in 2009. and Michael became the club’s third Chairman in November 2011. Michael has served as the Chairman of The Sun Lakes Country Club for over 14 years!!! He finally decided to step back some and resigned the Chairmanship last month to become our 5th VP of Operations. He’ll still be volunteering, because he is a GREAT AMERICAN and that’s just what HE DOES! If you need something done, ask Michael…. he always comes through!I cannot begin to chronicle the hours upon hours of volunteer service that Michael has contributed to our Club, our Community, our Legislative District, and to untold Republican Candidates’ Campaigns over those many years. I do know that we served together on Matt Salmon’s Kitchen Cabinet, walking precincts, knocking on doors, collecting petition signatures, and making calls to voters during Matt’s first successful run for Congress in our District. There have been so many election campaigns for so many candidates since then…but Michael always worked overtime for Matt Salmon and Andy Biggs! Michael has received many outstanding campaign volunteer awards, including a State Flag from Matt Salmon. How many yard signs Michael has hauled and installed for Congressman Andy Biggs, JD Mesnard, and many, many others cannot be numbered… hundreds, if not thousands, I am sure!! He placed over 1,000 yard signs for President Donald J. Trump alone! How many Republicans he has registered to vote, I have no way of counting! Michael served as an officer on the Executive Committee of our local Legislative District under Chairman Tyler Bowyer when it was numbered LD17, as well as serving as a Precinct and State Committeeman over many, many years. He received the highly prized Ronald Reagan Achievement Award from the Maricopa County Republican Committee in 2021. Please join me in showing our appreciation to Michael Tennant with a standing ovation for his amazing contributions as Chairman of our Sun Lakes Republican Club! The Recognition Award states: “MICHAEL TENNANT, With appreciation for your patriotism and service as CHAIRMAN of the Sun Lakes Republican Club from November 2011-February 2026.“You are a GREAT AMERICAN!” -Submitted by Carolyn McCorkle, First Vice Chair, Sun Lakes Republican Club

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