Quail Creek Republicans in the State Senate Chamber
District 19 Representatives (left to right): Representative Lupe Diaz, State Senator David Gowan, and Representative Gail Griffin in the House of Representatives
Quail Creek Republicans boarded the bus early on Wednesday morning, March 15, and headed for the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. While rainy weather accompanied us on the journey, we all enjoyed a day filled with education and fun.
Upon arrival in Phoenix, we were welcomed by Sarah Griffith, chief assistant to our State Senator David Gowan. A Capitol staffer provided a brief history of the Capitol building, and we toured the Capitol Museum. Senator Gowan led the tour to the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives where we learned about the electronic voting system and located the desks of our Legislative 19 district representatives Gail Griffin and Lupe Diaz. We enjoyed a lunch in the Senate Caucus Room and received a comprehensive update on legislative activities and pending legislation from Representatives Griffin and Diaz and Senator Gowan.
Following lunch, Senator Gowan welcomed our club to the floor of the Arizona Senate and briefed us on Senate procedures. We then viewed a general session of the Senate from the gallery, and Senator Gowan introduced our club after he requested a point of personal privilege from Senate President Warren Petersen. Our scheduled attendance at a committee meeting was canceled due to the length of the general session, which allowed several of our members to spend additional time in the Capitol Museum and gift shop.
We reboarded the bus for the return trip to Quail Creek, and our attendees were served glasses of wine and soft drinks on the bus, continuing a tradition established during previous QCRC bus excursions. All in all, it was a day filled with information, an opportunity for members to get personally acquainted with our Arizona legislative representatives, and to enjoy the fun and camaraderie on the trip home.
The next meeting of the Quail Creek Republican Club is on Friday, April 21, beginning with coffee at 8:30 a.m. in the Kino Conference Center. Our featured speaker is our newly elected Congressman, Juan Ciscomani. For more information about the QCRC, visit the website at www.quailcreekrepublicans.com.