Bob Inglis and members of the Rotary Club of Travelers Rest in South Carolina sit around tables beneath a Rotary Four-Way Test banner. They’re one of the first groups to hear Bob lead with the new China competition opening.
The political winds are shifting, and we’re seeing new openings.
Consider the First Tuesday Club of the Midlands in Columbia, SC, on August 4. It was a group of very involved Republicans, including key campaign operatives. I started my presentation by admitting that the tune that I was about to sing isn’t the “hoax” and “con job” tune that’s playing on Republican radio at the moment.
I boldly declared—to no objection—that the “hoax” and “con job” tune is headed to the oldies station. Pointing to several of the young operatives, I said, “When you’re running for Congress, you’re going to need an answer on climate change.” This was after one of those operatives (who’d had a key role in a recent SC gubernatorial race) had told me, “Trump’s popularity is way down.”
The conversation shifted to the Sputnik moment that we’re facing as China moves ahead of us in the electrification race.
Having told them (a) my “climate conversion” story and having talked to them about (b) “the competition with China,” I asked them which of those I should lead with.
“China!” they boomed.
Good advice, I thought, and I’ve been leading with the China competition ever since.
Onward,
Bob
Community Outreach & Engagement
On Track for a Record Year
By the end of September, republicEn expects to reach 100 events for the year, putting us on pace to set a new annual record. Bob Inglis leads much of this work, taking the EcoRight message directly to Republican clubs, elected officials, civic groups, faith communities, business leaders, and college students.
Some highlights so far: Bob spoke with the Winthrop University College Republicans, addressed 150 people at Coastal Carolina University’s Sustainability Symposium, toured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Solar Farm with business leaders, and joined a faith and stewardship dinner in Indianapolis. He has also met with state legislators, mayors, GOP chairs, congressional staff, and leaders from the timber, poultry, agriculture, and conservation sectors.
Our reach extends beyond Bob’s travel schedule. Chelsea Henderson has represented republicEn through guest lectures at Texas A&M and Georgetown University and a film discussion at the DC Environmental Film Festival (The [Conserv]atives, pictured above). Angela Larck produces republicEn’s EcoRight webinar series, bringing policy experts and conservative leaders directly to our national community. Our Outreach Liaisons, managed by Wen Lee, make many of these opportunities possible by building local relationships and organizing meetings and events. We are grateful for their work and for the donor support keeping republicEn present in these rooms and conversations.
EcoRight Speaks Podcast
More fabulous guests this month, like Climate Leadership Council’s Greg Bertelsen and power experts Kimberly Johnston and Pat Wood, talking about how we make a better energy future for our communities and our country, tapping into the resources we already possess and American know-how. Plus, how to have grace-filled conversations with those you disagree with politically.
Latest episodes:
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- 08/04: We can build a strong, sustainable lucrative agricultural sector for the 21st century and beyond
- 08/11: Can AI be the catalyst for a decarbonized world?
- 08/18: Keeping the lights on by building a better, stronger electricity grid
- 08/25: We can build a power system that is resilient and decarbonized
- 09/01: How to hold space for those you disagree with
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EcoRight News Hub
Your weekly newsletter plus podcast show notes and stories.
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- 08/10: Outlook August 2026: Our New Palm Cards Are Here! Collect All 6!
- 08/11: Can AI be the catalyst for a decarbonized world? Greg Bertelsen says yes (EcoRight Speaks episode 4)
- 08/14: Climate Week En Review: Spark the Lighthouse
- 08/18: Keeping the lights on by building a better, stronger electricity grid (EcoRight Speaks episode 5)
- 08/21: Consigning is Conservative (Blog post by Livia Payne)
- 08/21: Climate Week En Review: Bridging the Gap
- 08/25: The promise of distributed energy (EcoRight Speaks episode 6)
- 08/28: Climate Week En Review: Rocky Shores
- 09/01: Holding space for those you disagree with (EcoRight Speaks episode 7)
- 09/04: Climate Week En Review: The Sun Also Rises
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Events
Bob Inglis speaks with the Mauldin Rotary Club in Mauldin, South Carolina, on September 1. Photo credit: Mom of republicEn Outreach Liaison Ben Byrd.
Across the table with Bob Inglis
The elected officials, political leaders, and community decision-makers Bob met with this month.
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- GP McLeer, Mayor of Fountain Inn, SC
- Hayley Corbitt, Director of Policy for GA State Senator Larry Walker
- Brandon Smith, Mayor of Greenwood, SC
- Darren Reese, District 5 Chair, Indiana GOP
- Brandy Amidon, Mayor of Travelers Rest, SC
- Terry Merritt, Mayor of Mauldin, SC
- Marty Harbin, GA State Senator
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Upcoming events
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- 09/14-09/17: Inishbofin, Ireland – Participant at The Climate Gathering
- 09/22: Cullowhee, NC – Speaking event with College Republicans of Western Carolina University
- 09/29-09/30: Ithaca, NY – Speaker at Congress-to-Campus at Ithaca College
- 10/14: Charleston, SC – Guest lecturer at The Citadel
- 10/24: Georgetown, SC – Featured speaker at SCELP’s 17th Annual Wild Side
- 11/05: Dahlonega, GA – Speaking event with Lumpkin County GOP
- 11/10: Virtual – Guest lecturer for Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation class at Virginia Tech
- 11/10: Columbia, SC – Speaking event with Capitol City Republican Women
- 11/12: Anderson, SC – Speaking event at Anderson University
- 11/18: Virtual – Speaker for the Environment Seminar Series (ESS) at University of Toronto
- 01/20/27: Key West, FL – Speaking event with Southernmost Republican Club
- 01/26/27: Aiken, SC – Speaking event with Aiken County Republican Club
- 02/05/27: Bloomington, IN – Keynote speaker for Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference
- 04/06/27: Greenville, SC – Speaking event with Rotary Club of the Reedy River
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Recent events
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- 08/04: Columbia, SC – Speaking event with First Tuesday Republican Club of the Midlands
- 08/20: Travelers Rest, SC – Speaking event with Rotary Club of Travelers Rest
- 08/26: Virtual – Speaking event with MBA Marketing & Sustainability class at University of North Carolina
- 09/01: Mauldin, SC – Speaking event with Mauldin Rotary Club
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