WOODSTOCK — As the Republican Party faithful head to Tampa, Fla., this weekend for the Republican National Convention, a Woodstock woman is among those making the pilgrimage to nominate Mitt Romney for president.

Judy Griffin of Woodstock has been active in the local Republican Party for 30 years and says, for her, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a delegate to the GOP national convention.

“This is my first national convention. I am elated — I have all my clothes laid out,” Griffin said Friday evening as she prepared for the drive down to Tampa on Saturday. “Hopefully the weather will cooperate.”

Griffin, along with Joe Dendy, Cobb County Republican Party chair and state Sen. Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville), are the three delegates representing Georgia’s 11th Congressional District at the conference.

The three alternates are Rick Davies and Larry Mrozinski, both from Cherokee County, and Brad Carver of Fulton County.

Griffin joins the other 75 delegates from Georgia on the floor of the convention this week.

“My friend Melinda Mock told me to wear my red hat with all my political buttons on it and to wave really big when we are casting our votes,” Griffin said. The long-time Republican said she has been collecting campaign memorabilia since the Barry Goldwater days.

Griffin was elected at the District Convention and said she was among more than 50 people who sought to be a delegate.

“I was one of three nominated by the committee at the District Conference along with Sen. Loudermilk and Mr. Dendy,” Griffin said. “But then we all had further opposition from the floor that day.”

However, after all the votes were cast, Griffin and her two fellow nominees were on their way to Tampa.

“I made a campaign of it, I sent letters, had buttons with my name made and told people about myself,” Griffin, who has never been known to be shy, said of winning the seat on the delegation.

Griffin does describe herself as someone who is usually in the background.

“I am usually just doing the work at fundraisers, parking cars, setting up things, getting drinks, that kind of thing,” Griffin said.

Griffin is excited about the Republican ticket and her enthusiasm is apparent.

“Mitt Romney is the eye of the storm; he is like a focused CEO of the company. He is a leader and captain, and he can look forward and remain calm. He is the picture of a great successful leader and he has proven himself,” Griffin said of the presidential hopeful. “He and Paul Ryan make such a great team.”

Griffin said she looks forward to returning after the convention and getting Cherokee County Republicans geared up for the presidential campaign leading up to Nov. 6.

“People that go to the convention are the party faithful, and when we get back we will energize the crowd here at home,” she said. “I feel very blessed; you don’t get to something like this without encouragement from those in the party. I hope I can represent the 11th District well.”