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BUCKHANNON -- It started with a bumper sticker.
Beth Bloch, became involved in the campaign to elect President Donald Trump during the 2016 election after seeing a bumper sticker for his campaign in Charleston.
She met Tucker Davis, who was state campaign director, and happened to be driving the vehicle with the bumper sticker and shared how she believed in Trump's message and wanted to get involved.
A conversation led to Bloch being invited to the West Virginia Secretary of State's office where Davis filed for Trump to be on the ballot in West Virginia.
Bloch was asked to help with West Virginia Women for Trump.
"We wanted to engage women, we wanted to educate them, we wanted to introduce them to Donald Trump," she said.
Bloch began speaking around the state and opened an office in Charleston to pass out bumper stickers and T-shirts.
Bloch, who is now Republican National Convention Commiteewoman for the state, told this story and others at a Central West Virginia Republican Women meeting last week in Buckhannon.
She described that first campaign and the work she and others did in the state and the feeling when Trump won the election in 2016.
"The RNC didn't think he could win the election, but Trump thought he could win the election," she said.
"We get closer to Election Day and we have all boots on the ground," she said. "We knew that West Virginia was good for Trump, but what West Virginia was and we still are to this day...we were a little heartbeat between Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. We showed them that Trump worked for the working people, the conservative Christians, the families in West Virginia, the individuals in West Virginia...who wanted to have their guns, wanted to have their freedom of religious and their freedom of speech and wanted to practice this."
Bloch also touted the importance of voting in person when possible.
"When we start deprioritizing the importance of the right to vote in America...folks, that is very, very dangerous," she said. "I ask you today to please consider the importance and always to prioritize the importance of voting in person."
She stressed the need for the integrity in elections.
"It has to be a fair and equitable election," she said.
Bloch's grandmother came to American from Lebanon.
"They came to America for these freedoms and when we lose them, there is nowhere else to go," she said. "We are the beacon of light for others countries. We are the example. We are the global leader. We are the best in the world."
Bloch said this was the result of hard work from those who came before.
"We should be proud," she said. "We should not dilute that. We should not underestimate what we have done individually and together because a few people decide if everybody didn't get it and be equal, then nobody should enjoy it. That is not what America is built on."
Bloch also said it was important to connect with the next generation.
"We have to engage people to run for local offices, inspire them to want to be a [Del.] Caleb [Hanna], to want to be a Robert {Karnes, candidate for state senate] to run for big things," she said pointing to two attendees at the meeting.
LeVera Gillum, past president, introduced Bloch and said the Central West Virginia Republican Women heard Bloch speak at a meeting in Flatwoods.
"Our group agreed that Beth Bloch was one of the most dynamic speakers we have ever heard and we invited her to come to Buckhannon," she said.
Mayor Robbie Skinner also welcomed Bloch to Buckhannon.
"I hope you will take our Buckhannon story with you," he said. "We really try to put what is best for our community forward and in the forefront at all times."