Featured speakers at this meeting were Caleb Miles, President of the Moore County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Jeff Stoefen of the United States Golf Association.

Caleb discussed the strategies and tactics the CVB uses to attract more visitors and groups to our area and to maximize what they spend while they are here.  Jeff
discussed the biggest single economic event for us in this decade, the 2014 US Mens' and Womens' Opens at Pinehurst #2.  He also told us what to expect during those two weeks in June, 2014 and in the run up to the events.  He will also cover the expected economic impact before, during and after the events.

The Moore County Republican Men's Club held its March meeting at the Country Club of NC. The program began at noon. The featured speaker was Pat Corso, executive director of Moore County Partners in Progress, a public/private partnership promoting economic development in our county. Pat focused his remarks on the Partners' latest initiative "Moore Forward", an incubator now up and running in the Village of Pinehurst to provide entrepreneurs with a public/private partnership support system to help get their businesses off the ground. He also spoke of the Mega-Park, which also caters to public-private partnership ventures.

Pat also brought Matt West, an entrepreneur supporter of the Moore Forward project. Mr. West has built his entire business career on public-private partnerships in the "sports industry" as well as in the Durham and Bull City Forward organization.

There is considerable justification to be skeptical and to distrust this over-emphasis on public-private partnerships to foster growth in Moore County. Mr. Corso recently addressed the Moore Republican Women's Club, and my cautionary commentary regarding his address to that group applies here. Read that commentary here.

Mr. Corso brags about "bringing" the First Bank Headquarters to Southern Pines.  As reported in The Pilot, this fiasco was accomplished through shameful government subsidization of business by the Moore County and Southern Pines governments.  Nick Picerno was the only honorable man in this entire affair.  Everyone else, including the entire Southern Pines Town Council compromised principles to participate in this sordid affair.

Public-private partnerships always ultimately result in "scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" backroom corrupt collusions.  They may begin with the best of intentions and politically pronounced good hopes, but no real good can ever come from this bad seed.  No good fruit can come from an evil tree.  I fear our county is falling prey to the "Partners" siren call and corrupted message that only government bribes and underwriting can foster growth.  C'mon elected officials!  Develop some confidence and real ethics!  Promote our county and our towns honestly!  Don't try to bribe and buy crony "capitalists".  I am so disappointed in everyone involved except Commissioner Picerno.  Thanks, Nick for having and sticking to your principles!


Bill Cochrane

The Moore County Republican Men's Club held their January meeting at the Country Club of NC on Thursday, January 10, 2013, beginning at noon. The new Club President, Louis Gregory, presided. The featured speaker was John Hood, President of the John Locke Foundation of NC. Mr. Hood discussed and prioritized the 2013 issues and strategies for us and explained their methods of educating elected officials and holding them accountable. He covered realistic expectations, the prospects from federal and state levels, and the underlying reasons for current political results. Mr. Locke's prresentation was as entertaining as it was edifying.

If you were unable to attend, here is your chance to take advantage of today's program.


Bill Cochrane

The Moore County Republican Men's Club held their December meeting at CCNC beginning at 7:00 P.M. The feature of the meeting was a concert by the Pinecrest High School Choir. These remarkably talented young adults enthralled the audience with the beauty of their voices singing songs of Christmas. You will certainly find the Christmas spirit in listening to their wonderful performance.

Following the choir, new officers were elected. The meeting was adjourned, and all departed wishing one another a very Merry Christmas.


Bill Cochrane

The Moore County Republican Men's Club held their November luncheon meeting at the Country Club of NC beginning at noon. This meeting was dedicated to honoring retiring NC State Senator Harris Blake and NC District 6 Representative Howard Coble for their years of service. Through redistricting, Moore County was moved to NC House District 2 and Rep. Coble inherited the new NC House District 6. On hand for today's honoring of Representative Coble was NC House District 2 Rep. Renee Ellmers, who uttered typically uninspiring remarks.

Otherwise, a large number of elected officials, local Republican stalwarts, and local political activists were on hand to thank these two fine men for their years of dedicated service. Even former NC Governor Jim Holshouser spoke to the delight of the crowd.


Bill Cochrane

The Moore Republican Men's Club held their October meeting at the Country Club of NC beginning at noon.  Before lunch, Moore County Commissioner Nick Picerno led the Pledge of Allegiance and addressed the group.  NC State Representative Jamie Boles announced the upcoming Aberdeen Sardine Festival.  After lunch, NC Speaker of the House, Representative Thom Tillis addresses the group.  His speech was rousing, informative, and of great interest to everyone.



Bill Cochrane

North Carolinians were ready to elect a Republican Governor, and although Pat had not yet announced his candidacy we were hoping he would be our Republican candidate for Governor in 2012. Well, it is 2012, and we have that opportunity . . . a chance for us to bring back to our State Capital a man of integrity, wisdom, and experience to face extraordinary challenges, especially involving the State’s economic woes. It is this man who I support and believe we can trust to do exactly what he has promised, . . . to bring a leaner vision of government, including lower taxes, less regulation and more aggressive energy exploration.

Pat McCrory was raised in Guilford County and attended Catawba College in Rowan County, where he earned degrees in Education and Political Science. He packed his bags for Charlotte and went to work full time for Duke Energy. A management-training program put Pat through a rotation of digging ditches and climbing electric poles as well as stints in various management jobs from human resources to economic development.

Inspired by the desire to make a difference in the city of Charlotte, Pat threw his hat into the political arena and decided to run for an at large city council seat, and won. He won two more times, serving as Mayor Pro Tem in the process. Pat was elected Mayor of Charlotte in 1995 and went on to serve a record seven terms.

When Pat was elected as Mayor, Charlotte was on the cusp of an explosion of growth, and he was just the visionary needed to help take Charlotte to the next level to become one of America’s great cities. Mayor McCrory tackled and showed great leadership on Charlotte’s major issues like economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public safety, and education. More than 200,000 jobs were created while Pat served as Mayor as he was the consummate champion for economic development and job creation.

Mayor McCrory more than rose to the occasion and under his leadership Charlotte became an economic hub in transportation, banking, manufacturing, energy, and tourism. Pat successfully reduced the property tax rate as well as the city’s crime rate. In its endorsement of Pat McCrory for Governor, the Charlotte Observer wrote that Pat “kept city government clean and helped make Charlotte a place where people want to live, and one which has attracted thousands of newcomers.”
Pat is a nationally recognized leader in economic, transportation, and homeland security issues. He served as the Chair of the Republican Mayors Association and received a presidential appointment to the Homeland Security Advisory Committee.

Pat founded the Mayor’s Mentoring Alliance in 1995 and has personally served as a mentor to youths. In 2005, Charlotte was named in the 100 Best Communities for Youth by America’s Promise. Pat was also the only elected official to serve on the national board of the Afterschool Alliance and was a featured Mayor in Harvard University’s Faith-based Executive Session. Pat has been involved in many local charity boards, and served as the honorary chair for the Charlotte chapter of the Alzheimer Foundation and the Arthritis Foundation.

Pat has testified before Congress and has been an expert guest on several national media broadcasts, including National Public Radio, ABC World News, Lehrer News Hour, CBS This Morning, MSNBC News, CNN, CNBC and Fox News, among others.

Pat works for the firm Moore & Van Allen on energy issues, economic development, and strategic initiatives and serves on the corporate boards of Lending Tree and Kewaunee Scientific Corporation. He resides in Charlotte with his wife Ann and their dog, Mo.

The Moore Republican Mens Club held their April meeting on the 12th at the Country Club of NC main dining room. The guest speaker at this meeting was Representative Renee Ellmers, who is running for re-election in the new Congressional District 2 of NC.

She was not enthusiastically received. And reports are out that her meeting with local Republican and Tea Party leaders did not go well for her.

The Moore Republican Mens Club is the largest in NC and very active in Republican support and politics. It is a fine organization chaired by John Rowerdink, President - MRMC.

Bill Cochrane