They call themselves a “grassroots movement comprised of people from all political persuasions.” They advocate fiscal responsibility, smaller government, respect for the Constitution and the Bill or Rights and support for a free market and small business.
Their purpose, they say, is to get people involved in government, to make the voice of the people heard.
“It’s getting people off the couch,” said Weeber. “Standing up for the principles we believe in.”
The TEA party gets its name from the 1773 Boston Tea Party where colonists resisted British efforts to tax tea. It highlighted the “taxation without representation” idea.
Nowadays, the theme is more broad, encouraging citizen involvement and political responsibility.
Glory Ortiz is co-leader of the group. She came here from Puerto Rico in August 2001, less than a month before Sept. 11.
And as a financial advisor, she saw the terrorism from another angle — the effect on our economy.
She calls coming to the mainland U.S. as “a little bit tough,” but a decision she’s happy she made.
“I love this country,” she says proudly.
When Ortiz attended her first TEA party event, she remembers breaking down in tears.
“I cried because I was so stressed out,” she said.
When the Dayton TEA Party suggested forming community groups last June, Weeber and Ortiz knew that’s what they wanted to do. The Southwest Dayton Liberty Group is comprised of residents of Miamisburg, Miami Twp., Moraine and West Carrollton.
Since their formation, they’ve held an organizational meeting and begun tackling the big issues of the day. Where’s the government’s fiscal responsibility? What will become of health care in this country?
They’ve also used the organization as a venue for office seekers to speak to voters. Their most recent forum in October hosted candidates for the Miamisburg School Board.
Ortiz said the group begins with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. “We do our spiritual and then our patriotic things,” she said.
Weeber said the group seeks to make sure office holders truly represent the people’s wishes.
Donna Weeber, 43, is married to Stephen Weeber, a Kettering podiatrist, and she serves as office manager there.
The couple has two children, both in Miamisburg schools. Weeber also is a certified athletic trainer and served in that capacity and as a health teacher at Chaminade-Juliene High School.
Glory Ortiz, 31, is single and pursuing a career in finance. Her parents still live in Puerto Rico.
The Southwest group had 50 people at its first meeting. While Weeber calls the membership “in a state of flux,” they regularly send out 150 e-mail messages about current events.
Ortiz said her political action is based on an eye to the future.
“I don’t ever want my kids or grandkids to say, you knew what was happening and you didn’t do anything,” she said.
To contact Weeber or Ortiz, e-mail southwestdaytonlibertygroup@gmail.com. They also may be found on Facebook at Southwest Dayton Liberty Group.
The Dayton chapter maintains a Web site at daytonohioteaparty.com.
Contact this columnist at (937) 696-2080 or williamgschmidt@ verizon.net.