A new club in Valencia County will focus on helping voters make an educated decision at the polls.

The club, the Valencia County Federation of Republican Women, will give county women access to political candidates, said Rowena Tachias, president.

Tachias said the focus of the VCFRW is to educate Republican women about the candidates running in their party.

"Finding things out through media isn't enough," Tachias said. "Sitting down one-on-one with candidates makes a big difference."

"Women in Numbers" is the national theme for FRW for 2010. The theme is fitting for the Valencia County chapter, which has already surpassed 25 members, Tachias said.

"It shows that when we have women in numbers we can be powerful," she said.

Tachias said her mother-in-law always invited her mother, who had never registered to vote, to the teas hosted by the FRW. Tachias became interested in the federation and saw a need for it in Valencia County.

"There wasn't anything down here in Valencia County at all," Tachias said.

Tachias said the VCFRW provides an opportunity for group members to be an inspiration to the younger generation. Tachias said the federation can also inspire young women who are running for class president and other positions in the schools.

"It's a great opportunity for women to realize they're powerful," Tachias said.

Tachias said God put the idea in her mind to bring an FRW chapter to Valencia County in January, and since the first female New Mexico governor will be elected in November, she thought it was fate.

"It's completely divine timing," Tachias said.

Tachias said regardless of a person's party affiliation, being educated about each political candidate's views and stances on important topics before voting is vital.

Tachias said the board members have been a great help with the process of getting the club chartered in Valencia County, and their combined faith has made everything come together very quickly.

"We hit the ground running," Tachias said. "I have to give credit to the Lord."

Men can also join the federation as associate members, Tachias said. Her husband, Michael, became an associate member when he returned from serving in Iraq at the end of June.

"I think it's a great idea," Michael Tachias said. "It's good to see young people starting to spearhead new initiatives."

The vice president of the VCFRW is Carolyn Chavez, 23, of Belen. She said she is excited to be a part of the VCFRW.

" It will be a great benefit to women in the community for networking with each other and candidates," Chavez said.

Tachias said the main goal of the VCFRW is to register people to vote. Five of the VCFRW board members are certified voter registrars.

She said people who were not old enough to vote in the 2008 presidential election may feel like they have to wait until the next presidential election to vote, but their vote is also needed in the local elections.

"They don't have to wait until the next presidential election to vote, and they shouldn't," Tachias said. "The decision they make right now directly affects them whether they know it or not."

The VCFRW also recently became a member of the Valencia County Chamber of Commerce and will begin hosting voter registration booths.

The VCFRW will host its first official meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at the Los Lunas Transportation Center, with a speech by John Sanchez, candidate for Lt. Governor. For information, visit www.vcfrw.com.

Contact Kristina Medley