Chairman Alexander's closing remarks

Outgoing Georgia Association of College Republicans(GACR) Chairman Britton Alexander gave a poignant final address in his last Chairman's Closing Remarks to the 2006 GACR convention. Addressing a visibly emotional audience which included national officials Dan Schuberth (Vice Chairman, Maine GOP) and Jess Beeson (Co-Chair, College Republican National Committee), Alexander spoke on leadership, his experience in the GACR, and the importance of continuing the conservative activist tradition. The full text of his speech can be seen below:

Ladies and Gentlemen, for all intents and purposes, that brings our Convention, and the 2005-2006 administration, to a close. I would like to sincerely thank all of you for not only your attendance here today, but your dedication to seeing this great organization succeed. I hope that you have been energized by the outstanding group of individuals that addressed the convention today and are ready to return to your campuses for what is sure to be an exciting year for the Georgia Republican Party. It was certainly a lot of information to take in and I’m sure you’re all ready to give your mind a rest.

However, before we leave here today, I’d like to leave you all with some final thoughts, some of which I’ve been saving for a long time, that you will hopefully carry with you as you continue your journey with the Georgia College Republicans. First and foremost, remember that we are all Republicans, we are all conservatives, and we all serve the same cause. Remember what is truly important, not titles, not recognition, not self promotion, not opportunism, but advancement of the conservative cause on our campuses and in our communities. Always remember, that in an organization such as ours, you either have growth, or you have decline. There is no status quo. I can tell you now, without a doubt, that the best way to continue to develop as an organization and advance the conservative cause is to focus on the three tenets of the College Republicans: votes, volunteers, and earned media. With each step you take, ask yourself, will what I am doing now put my candidate substantially closer to victory, bring out
enthusiastic young people who will help get the message out, or gain positive press coverage for my organization and my party? If the answer to all three questions is no, your priorities need to be rearranged. There is a reason that we continue to advise our chapters to channel their efforts towards these simple guidelines: They work! While many have tried to stray from this proven methodology and strike out a new way of clenching victory, their efforts, in the end, prove fruitless. For example, contrary to the belief of some misguided individuals, you cannot change the world, elect conservative Republicans, and improve the College Republicans by hiding behind a computer and attacking fellow Republicans! I have yet to see such a person register a voter or knock on someone’s door and ask for their support. A Grassroots Army canvassing communities, putting out yard signs, and making targeted phone calls; that’s what wins elections and keeps America on the right track. Never let anyone convince you otherwise.

Another part of making sure that America remains the best country in the world involves capturing the hearts and minds of our fellow students. When it comes to fighting for the free exchange of ideas on campus, do not yield to intimidation, pressure, or threats from liberals, and do not buy into their demands for diversity at the expense of freedom, or their call for tolerance at the expense of fiscal responsibility and moral decency. Shy away from “moderating” your conservative principles in order to be popular. Conservatives win when we act like conservatives. Do not forget, radical liberal activists and professors attempting to convince you to forsake your principles ARE NOT your friends. They may try to cozy up to you, try to get you to be “open minded”, and challenge you to friendly debates, all with the intention of distracting you from fighting their twisted agenda. While you’re sitting in meetings with professors to explain your actions, or spending time engaging in “bi-partisan” campus projects, leftists are spending your student fees on anti-war rallies, pro-abortion speakers, and anti-ROTC petitions. If you are not fighting them, you’re helping them. Remember, “When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber.” If you remain silent in the face of liberal absurdity, you have allowed evil to triumph because of inaction. That, my friends, is a one of the most egregious insults to the land of the free you could ever dole out.

There are some in your organization who may try to convince you to shy away from productive controversy simply because people who hate you already are going to be angry. Do not lend them your ears. Let me make this point as clear as possible: If leftists on your campus are not in a state of perpetual anger because of the College Republicans, YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB!. We have gained back far too much ground in the past few years when it comes to the fight for academic
freedom. Do not let history judge all of you as being the ones who became fearful, and rendered meaningless the toils of hundreds of your fellow CRs. In the battle for the hearts and minds of America’s youth, recall the words to General Thomas Jackson: “Always mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit. Never fight against heavy odds if you can hurl your own force on only a part of your enemy and crush it. A small army may thus destroy a large one, and repeated victory will make you invincible.”

I have been so pleased and honored to be a part of an organization that has been so incredibly successful this year, and is poised to reach never before seen heights on the backs of a fantastic leadership team whose abilities and dedication I admire immensely. After all, to one day see the student assume the role of the master and to surpass his former teacher’s abilities is to have a leader’s dream realized. While we have accomplished a number of tasks previously left untouched, never forget that there are limitless milestones remaining to be passed and a great vision left to be realized. As Sir Winston Churchill so correctly stated, “Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb”. Walking along that path of success with my many friends here today has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I hope and pray that you may never see the end of that road.

However, while navigating that path, be careful not to look too far ahead, as that can be just as dangerous as wearing a blindfold. Set your eyes on the goal of electing Republican candidates in November, not on electing yourselves later in life. If you are called to serve, that time will come, and, I promise you, if your intentions are pure, it will not be an easy decision or one you can make quickly. Do not fall victim to the sirens of power who call from, distant, seemingly utopian cliffs, promising recognition, notoriety, and fame if you will only this once take your eyes off the beacon of principle that is guiding our vessel of victory into the bountiful waters of freedom. My friends, I’ve witnessed men and women who chose to heed the call of this temptress, and I have seen their chapters, state federations, the conservative cause, and the Republican Party suffer deeply for it. The Georgia College Republicans have a long standing reputation of staying true to the cause and placing conservative victory on a firm pedestal that will remain upright despite the raucous, disorderly thrashing carried out by immaturity and self indulgence in the dirt below. All of us are here now, not because we were coerced, but because we have been called to serve a cause much greater than any single person in this entire room, a cause that has carried this nation from a struggling wilderness filled with uncertainty to a prosperous republic overflowing with opportunity. Freedom, limited government, respect for life in all its stages, equal protection under the law, the right to bear arms, strong national defense; those are the pillars that hold up the pedestal of conservatism upon which victory rests. Serve our cause selflessly as you have this past year, and as you are doing now, and success will follow you all the days of your life as you develop into the great leaders, policy makers, and public servants you are destined to be.

While there are many people who may wish to lead you in the future, be wary of those who want to lead only for self-fulfillment. The true downfall of many great men was their propensity to guard that pedestal upon which common victory lies only when it seemed as if there was an open road to their misguided and ill-timed quest for authority. However, when the path became rocky, or temporarily blocked, their supposed fiery passion for the common cause turned out to be nothing but incendiary narcissism coveting power. If you are a leader, or desire to become one, practice the art of stewardship every day. Lead because you have been called to serve others, not yourselves, and then, you will truly be keepers of the American Dream.

In closing, never forget to enjoy what you are doing, and take time to cherish the memories you make. They are some of the most remarkable ones you’ll have. I can certainly say that I wouldn’t even consider letting a single one go. Even during the times I struggled through, or thought, “If that phone rings one more time I’m throwing it in the river”, I can still say that I brought something away from
the situation that made me a better man. After all, there is no other
organization like the one we call the Georgia Association of College
Republicans. No where else can you make steadfast friends, work hard for your country, gain invaluable life experience, and have the time of your life doing it. The wish of all of the people up here on this stage is that you might have the same life changing experience with the College Republicans as we have. With the vision of dedicated leaders like Chris Dempsey, Esther Clark, and John Bowles paving the way, you have one of the best opportunities one could have to get involved in a well managed organization and enjoy the victories that will be achieved in November. However, it will not always be easy. As in all things in life, there will be hard times. Times when you’ve given everything you had and still came up a few votes short, or felt completely alone in standing up for what was right instead of what was popular, or when friends or loved ones turn from their previous ways and horrified you with the demons they had been hiding. During those times, I have to admit that sometimes we all feel that it seems like all of this is just too much too much to deal with, especially when Churchill’s “ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path”, seems to be anything but, and victory is miles away.

However, because of the thousands of memorable, great times, we find ourselves coming right back to rooms like these, filled with people like all of you, who have a vision of moving this state, and this nation forward with the conservative principles that we know will serve us best. Maybe we all return for the thrill of common victory and carrying with us the knowledge that in some way, we helped guide our candidates to victory and our campuses to freedom. For me personally, it’s standing before the most unified, experienced, and dedicated GACR convention body in history and thinking that maybe, in some way, I helped someone on that floor realize how crucial it
is that they take a stake in their country’s future. Its certainly one of
the greatest honors of my life to stand before you today, but I never meant to be GACR Chairman. That wasn’t my intention when I first joined the College Republicans at Georgia Southern University in 1999. But in the words of Ronald Reagan, “I was raised to believe that you had to pay your way for the blessings bestowed on you.” I sincerely pray that all of you recall the blessings brought into your life through the College Republicans and strive to selflessly return what has been given.

When I addressed the Assembly last year, I told all of you that its times like today that make it all worth it. But I also said that its times like today that will make leaving this organization, when the time came, one of the hardest things I would ever have to do. The time is now. In some ways what I said a year ago may be true, but when its all said and done, I am eternally grateful that we have been blessed with great individuals, passionate volunteers, and principled leaders who, through their sacrifice, are allowing me to leave the GACR with a better reputation, with a bank account 8,000% larger than it was two years ago, with 1,000 more members, and with an incoming Chairman more prepared to take the reins than I ever was.

As we close out the 2006 Convention, a final word to the men and women who fought tooth and nail to bring this organization to where it is now, if I may so humbly quote our greatest president--“My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a
difference. We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.”

I thank you for your attendance here today, and ask for your support of our new leadership with the sincere belief that they will not let you down. May God Bless all of you here today, and as always, "may God Protect the Right."

Thank you.

Alexander leaves stewardship of the GACR to incoming Chairman Chris Dempsey (Ga Tech), Vice Chair Esther Clark (Brenau), and Financial Secretary John Bowles (Ga Southern). Dempsey immediately appointed 2005-06 GACR/Paul Coverdell Student Activism Award recipient and Georgia Tech CR Chairman Ruth Malhotra as his Exectutive Director.