BWRC June Meeting

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BWRC is privileged to host meetings and social events at Belleair Country Club (BCC). Our members and guests must comply with the BCC's dress and conduct code. Dresses, skirts, blouses, dress slacks and pant suits are appropriate for women. Men must wear shirts with sleeves and remove caps in the dining room. Blue jeans are not permitted.

                                                              Candidates to appear at May luncheon

Florida legislators were called back to Tallahassee for a special session from April 28 through May 1 to address redistricting , vaccines and AI. The timing of this special session makes it impossible for the four state office-holders who were scheduled to speak at the May 1 Belleair Women’s Republican Club luncheon to do so. Instead, taking the podium will be two Republican District 14 congressional candidates, Rocky Rochford and Shay Williams, who will be facing off in August’s primary for a spot on the November ballot. Florida’s 14th Congressional District includes southeastern Pinellas County, as well as western Hillsborough County, including most of Tampa. The seat is currently held by Democrat Kathy Castor, who is running for re-election. Other primary candidates for the seat may arise as the filing deadline is June 12.

Rocky Rochford is a retired United States Navy Captain and Commodore with 33 years of service. He is a native of Scituate, Massachusetts and earned a Bachler’s degree from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1985 and a graduate degree from the U.S. Naval War College in 2011. During his Navy career, he led 2,400 personnel, managed $73 million budgets and oversaw $300 billion in assets and briefed Congress on critical programs. Prior to retirement from the Navy in 2018, he led the largest military exercise in the Middle East since Operation Iraqui Freedom when Iran closed the Strait if Hormuz.

Rocky is a Christian and a senior advisor to Turning Point USA Faith and is unapologetically pro-life. He supports the Second Amendment as written, opposes offshore drilling along Florida’s coast, supports completing the border wall, opposes biological men competing in women’s sports and supports banning gender transition procedures for minors.

In preparation to hit the ground running if elected to the U. S. House of Representatives, Rocky has built nine structured forms across every major community in Tampa Bay. He has also drafted 34 bills that support children and families which he intends to put forward immediately after being sworn in if elected.

Shay Williams honorably served nearly 30 years in the United States military as a helicopter pilot and senior leader in both the U. S. Army and U. S. Coast Guard. Over his career, he flew UH-60 Blackhawks, MH-6 Dolphins and MH060 Jayhawks. Leading crews in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. His missions ranged from air assault operations to medical evacuation, search and rescue, law enforcement and counter-narcotics, always with a focus on protecting lives and completing missions safely.

Shay began his aviation career as a U. S. Army Warrrant Officer, earning his wings through one of the military’s most demanding flight training pipelines flying UH-Blackhawks with the 82nd Airborne Division. He later conducted life-flight medical evacuations in Hawaii, rescuing both military members and civilians and experienced firsthand the weight of responsibility that comes with flying when lives are on the line. After he transferred to the U. S. Coast Guard, he flew search and rescue missions out of New Orleans and played a key leadership role in the response to Hurricane Katrina, helping rescue more than 90 people during one of the largest aerial rescue operations in U.S. history. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 

The May luncheon will take place at Belleair Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Belleair. Check-in begins at 11:30 am, with lunch served at noon. The cost to attend is $40 per person. Reservations and payment are due to arrive no later than noon on Tuesday, April 21. Mail checks to BWRC, 1350 County Road 1 #57, Dunedin, FL 34697, or send payment using Zelle