The College Republican Federation of Alabama held its annual state convention on Saturday in the UA Student Center ballroom.
Around one hundred students from eight College Republicans chapters across the state were in attendance.
The convention’s keynote speaker was Rick Dearborn, former aide to George W. Bush and Deputy Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump. Dearborn spoke about qualities of a good leader and manager. His biggest pieces of advice were to respond to every call and email swiftly, practice good listening, and honor the golden rule, especially in the context of management.
Former CRFA Executive Director and UA student Hunter Weathers was the event’s host.
“This is our first in-person convention in three years and it’s really good to have it here at UA,” Weathers said.
Additionally, attendees heard speeches from U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt, Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Mo Brooks, UA College Republicans Chairman Brian Szczotka, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, College Republicans National Committee Chairman Courtney Britt and outgoing CRFA Chairman Clint Reid. Candidate for Alabama Supreme Court Greg Cook sponsored the event and also offered remarks.
Reid said he was proud of CRFA’s accomplishments during his extended two-year tenure. He said the two most notable were standing up for life by participating in March for Life events and donating to pregnancy centers and reducing the influence of the Chinese Communist Party and Confucius Institutes in the state.
Szczotka said he was honored UA got the bid to host the convention.
“We haven’t gotten it in six years now,” he said. “It’s a great honor, especially my first year as Chairman. I did not expect it to come during my time here. It’s just such a great honor, and to have such a great lineup of speakers as well.”
The business portion of the convention included electing new state officers.
To his successor, Reid said, “work hard. You get out of this organization what you put into it, so just keep your head down and work, work, work.”
Image courtesy of Hunter Weathers.
