ABOUT WORWF

Mission Statement

To promote and inform the electorate through political education,

to increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government

through active participation, and to encourage active citizenship.

History

We owe our thanks to Wendy West and Linda O’Keefe for having the foresight to recognize the need for a Republican Womens club in Southwest Orange County.

Eager to get to work after the election of Barack Obama in 2008, Linda and Wendy attended the Northwest Republican Women’s Club — the only Republican women’s club they could find near them. After the meeting, they worked together to start the West Orange Republican Women, Federated.

The first meeting of West Orange Republican Women, Federated (WORWF) was held in February 2009, at the Seaside Bank on Conroy Road, Orlando. The room was maxed out with 20 attendees. Then the journey began to find meeting space that would keep up with growing membership. In 2009, they had their biggest meeting with Marco Rubio as Guest Speaker. He was running for U.S. Senate against Charlie Crist. It marked the first women’s club at which Marco Rubio spoke, and WORWF was mentioned in an Orlando Sentinel article as a result.

The club continued to grow, increasing from 20 to 135 members. Meetings took place at several locations over time, including the Stonewood Grill. The closing of the Windermere Country Club led the 2017 club to the West Orange Country Club. In 2021, the club moved to our current home, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, FL.

Wendy West served as President from 2008-to 2012. Linda OKeefe took on several positions as Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Fundraiser, and Facebook/Website chair.

Carolyn Sparks served as President from 2013 to 2016, Rebecca Mellen from 2017 to 2020. Rebecca shepherded the move from West Orange Country Club to our current Bay Hill Club and Lodge location. Teresa Snipes served as our President from 2021-2024, and enjoyed President Trump’s re-election victory. After being a WORWF member for over 8 years, Caren Bell was elected at the end of 2024 as our newest President and will continues to guide the growth and influence of WORWF.

Our club has the most dynamic, involved, and fun-loving members! We volunteer at the local and state level for candidates and issues, registering voters, door-belling, phone calling, fundraising, sign-waving, and spreading the word to our friends, family, and neighbors about the Republican philosophy and candidates. Members are pro-active in supporting legislation at the state and federal level by calling, writing, or emailing elected officials. We support the NFRW Caring for America initiative through food donations and other support for Edgewood Children’s Ranch in Orlando, adopting soldiers, and much more.

We look forward to continuing to grow and positively impact our West Orange community.

Co-Founders

Linda O'Keefe

Co-Founder

Wendy West

Co-Founder

Every two years at the biennial convention, the NFRW presents awards to recognize and honor excellence at the state and club levelsWORWF is a Diamond Achievement Award Recipient for demonstrating excellence in membership development, campaign activities, community relations, programs and club functions (2019, 2021, 2023).  
 
FFRW Gold Award Recipient 2022-2023, 2018-2019

 

PRESIDENT 2025-2026

WORWF President

Caren Bell

Email: President@WORWF.org

Caren Bell, our current President, was elected at the end of 2024 and has been a member of WORWF for over 8 years.

Caren looks forward to helping WORWF continue to grow and impact our West Orange community.

Join us as we turn Orange County RED!

Committees

Executive COMMITTEE 2025-2026

Caren Bell

Caren Bell

President

Judy Collins

Judy Collins

Recording Secretary

Theresa Millay

Theresa Millay

1st Vice President

Brenda Knowles

Brenda Knowles

Treasurer

Christine Hayden

Christine Hayden

2nd Vice President

Assistant Treasurer

Nancy Borkes

Nancy Borkes

Corresponding Secretary

Teresa Snipes

Teresa Snipes

Past President

STANDING COMMITTEES 2025-2026

Christine Hayden

Membership

Carol MacKeen

Fundraising

Nancy Borkes

Public Relations

JuDian Guimbellot

Campaign

Dayna Gaut

Legislative

Theresa Millay

Programs

SPECIAL COMMITTEES 2025-2026

Judy Collins

Americanism

Rhonda Fontenault

Caring for America

Emmie Rein

Hospitality

Erika Benkovich

Armed Services

OPEN

Caring for America Co-Chair

OPEN

Leadership

Jennifer Hubbell

Photographer

Teresa Snipes

Awards

Doris Sheppard

Education

Rebecca Mellen

Letter Writing

Donna Brown

Sunshine

Rebecca Mellen

Club Chaplain

Nancy Borkes

Historian

Erika Benkovich

Literacy