Announcement

The Republican Party of Wisconsin

--For Immediate Release-- Contact: Bob Delaporte, (608) 257-4765 July 13, 2006

PRESIDENT BUSH NOMINATES RPW CHAIRMAN RICK GRABER TO BE AMBASSADOR TO CZECH REPUBLIC

(Madison) - The Republican Party of Wisconsin is pleased to announce that President George Bush has announced his intention to nominate Chairman Rick Graber to be the next Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Chairman Graber says he is humbled by the honor. "This has already been a remarkable experience for my family," Graber said, "I'm honored and humbled that our President would ask me to represent our nation. I look forward to the confirmation process." Graber has served as Chairman of RPW since June of 1999. In 2000 and 2004 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention and chaired the Wisconsin delegation in 2004. He served as Secretary of RPW from 1991 to 1999 and as State Finance Chairman from 1993 to 1999. He is a member of the Republican National Committee and is an active member of his local unit, the North Shore Republican Club. Graber is president and chief executive officer of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. He joined the firm in 1981 and has been a shareholder since 1989. The Executive Director of the Republican Party, Rick Wiley, says President Bush made an inspired choice in selecting Chairman Graber. "The President couldn't have picked a more worthy candidate than Rick Graber," Wiley said, "i have had the pleasure of working for this remarkable man and I know he will represent our nation well as an Ambassador." If approved by the Senate, Chairman Graber would succeed William J. Cabaniss as Ambassador. The United States Embassy is located in the Schoenborn Palace in Prague, Czech Republic. More information can be found by visiting: http://www.usembassy.cz/index.html