December 16, 2005

Brian Sussman speaks at Republican Club meeting

New officers, committee chairs installed

The Republican Club at The Villages presented new officers and committee chairs to its membership at the final meeting of the year on Dec. 13, followed by a lively commentary from popular KSFO talk radio show host Brian Sussman.

KSFO talk radio show host Brian Sussman entertained members of the Republican Club at The Villages on Dec. 13.

Installation of officers
Former San Jose city councilmember Lu Ryden installed the officers. Shirley Ritzheimer will serve as the new president, Gert Gruener will be the first vice president, Walt Crosier will be second president, Joan Moyle will serve as secretary and Pat O’Brien will become the club’s new treasurer.

“As the newly elected president of the Republican Club at The Villages, I look forward to serving—along with our friendly, enthusiastic team of officers and committee chairs—the club’s many dedicated members,” said Shirley Ritzheimer. “It is a privilege to serve as the new president as I endeavor to build upon the strong foundation of our previous leaders.”

In keeping with the club’s bylaws, she intends to provide “a forum for information about issues and candidates at all levels and promote the principles of the United States Constitution, which guarantees freedom, equality and justice,” she added.

Equally important to the club are the committee chairs. Evelyn Darrow, Virginia Rolls and Donna Roberson will chair the Ways and Means Committee. Margaret Haser will continue as the sunshine chair.

Anita Frazer and Annette Rosenberg will continue on as reservation chairs. Donna Roberson will once again be the club’s parliamentarian. Leslie Bailey has agreed to be the editor of the newsletter. Betty Dwyre will take on the task of publicity, and Bill and Ellen Eckert will be in charge of membership and newsletter delivery.

(Far right) Former San Jose City Councilmember Lu Ryden installed the incoming 2006 officers of The Republican Club at The Villages, including (from left) Second President Walt Crosier, Treasurer Pat O’Brien and President Shirley Ritzheimer. Not pictured: First Vice President Gert Gruener and Secretary Joan Moyle.

Lee Sullivan will be the club’s hosting chair, Pat Eidler will chair decorations and Pat Heffernan will be the club’s auditor. Lou Rosenberg and Gary Hills will be the club’s photographers.

Brian Sussman
Brian Sussman, the former meteorologist for CBS 5 news, left that position in 2000 because he and his wife were planning to adopt another child and he wanted to spend more time with his family of six.

Brian co-founded an adoption advocacy group, “Brian’s Kids,” and remains a strong voice for adoption. Sussman began working diligently to get into talk radio and his efforts paid off when he received a call to substitute on a local Christian Station. There he learned the talk show trade.

In 2002, he received a call from KSFO to do some fill-in work, which led to the launch of his evening show in September of 2003. He also substitutes on the morning show with Melanie Morgan and Lee Rogers.

Sussman covered the gamut of topics at The Villages Clubhouse, from global warming to government spending to immigration. He expressed deep concerns about the country’s obsession with political correctness, reading excerpts from the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

He said these founding documents of our country were designed to ensure “freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.”

The incoming 2006 committee chairs for the Republican Club were introduced at the club’s last meeting of the year.

Sussman noted that it’s exciting to be on the radio at this time, and an added benefit is the ability to tape many of his shows live from home. Three of his four children are adopted, “and I don’t remember which ones. They’re all just my kids.”

He joked that he has three minutes of commercials at a time to eat his dinner or solve the teenage crises his sons are facing at any given moment.

Charitable giving
In early 2005 the Republican Club sought a way to support U.S. troops overseas and decided to contribute $1,000 to the Fisher House Foundation in Palo Alto. This foundation builds Ronald McDonald-type houses on the grounds of Veterans’ Hospitals around the United States and broke ground broke ground last March for a Fisher House on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif.

After Hurricane Katrina, the membership wished to help the victims of that and subsequent hurricanes. They donated $750 to Habitat for Humanity and $750 to the Salvation Army. The club helped locally by giving $250 to the Second Harvest Food Bank and $100 to The Villages Medical Auxiliary.

“We were very fortunate to have many gifts donated to the Toys for Tots program, bringing gifts for children who might not otherwise receive gifts at Christmas,” added Marjorie Maloney-Bunn, outgoing club president, who made a final plea for the United States Marine Corps’ program.