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[title]Lynn Krogh developed an interest in politics and the Republican Party while working on her father’s City Council campaigns in Troy, New York, as a teenager. Since then, she’s been a major mover and shaker in the state Republican scene, landing her first paid political gig working on then-Governor George Pataki’s re-election campaign in 2002. Krogh joined the New York Young Republican Club, a group dedicated to promoting party candidates and voters; she was elected to a chair position soon after, and continued to climb the club’s ladder, holding secretarial and vice presidential positions before being elected president in 2008. The NYYRC grew from 12 members to more than 1,000 during the first year of Krogh’s term, and she increased Republican voter outreach in a heavily liberal city and state, holding voter-registration drives and community activist events such as New York Cares community events, plus annual charity softball games against the New York State Young Democrats. Under Krogh’s direction, the NYYRs participated in overseas adoption programs and frequently sent goods to American troops abroad, capitalizing on Krogh’s belief that helping and supporting the needy was a core part of community outreach. She also organized bus trips to campaign for Chris Christie’s 2009 gubernatorial run and Scott Brown’s senatorial campaign in 2010.
Krogh left her official capacity with the NYYRC in July, but she continues to champion grassroots political organization. She remains active with the Republican party locally and statewide, working on campaigns with U.S. Senate hopeful Wendy Long, in addition to a number of assembly and Congressional aspirants as part of her career as a political consultant with the Casale Group. Krogh urges young New Yorkers looking to make a difference in the Republican Party to focus on voter and community outreach. “Part of the way to grow as a party in general is through voter registration, community activism and taking the [Republican] message to New Yorkers,” says Krogh. “We’ve helped people understand the political machine isn’t a dirty one.”
GET INVOLVED: All five boroughs have a Young Republican Clubs, and all have Democratic equivalents except for Staten Island. The clubs typically require that members either live or work in their affiliated boroughs. Members of the Manhattan-based New York Young Republican Club are typically between the ages of 18 and 40. Annual dues run $35–$500, with discounted rates for college students with valid ID. You can fill out an application and get news and information about upcoming events on the club’s website (nyyrc.com).