Thursday, April 19, 2007
Barron County Courthouse

1. Chair Toby W. Paone called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Twenty-one people attended.
2. Beth Ager read the Secretary’s report. The minutes passed as read.
3. Clarice Fall gave the Treasurer’s report covering the month of March, 2007. The balance at the March 15th meeting had been $1,613.04. Expenses totaled $555.71 and deposits totaled $231.50, leaving a balance of of $1,288.83. The report passed as read.
4. Members introduced themselves, including Matthew Rudig of Superior, who works for Congressman Dave Obey.
5. Matt Rudig introduced himself as having interned for Congressman Oberstar of the St. Louis County region in Minnesota, and having worked for a sheriff’s campaign in that same county. Rudig discussed Obey’s debated stance on HR-4 and also the Iraq Authorization Act, stating that he had barely been able to scrape together a coalition to support that particular bill. “Implementation, incrementation, compromise,” Rudig said, summing up political goals on a contested issue.
6. Sheriff Tom Richie gave a brief report on his office’s activities, stating that everything was going well and crimes were in a lull. He stated that he would be available for questions.
7. Chair’s report: 7th Congressional District Convention
   
   A. The 7th CD convenes on Saturday, April 28th, 2007 at the Clearwaters Hotel, 2700 Roddis Ave. in Marshfield. Congressman Obey is the keynote speaker.
   
   Obey’s PAC, the Better Way Club, will be having a post-convention fundraiser in Wausau, with Congressman John Murtha as featured speaker.
   
   Delegates’ names have been submitted to the party already, but all BCDP members are welcome to attend as visitors. Please contact the party beforehand. The same delegate/alternate list will be eligible to attend the state convention in Milwaukee in June.
   
   B. The State Democratic convention is to be held in Milwaukee on June 29th and 30th at the Hilton. Make reservations early (800) 445-8667. Registration fee is $20 per person before June 15th and $25 after. Check the web site for a list of hotels.
   
   C. Democratic Leadership Institute (DLI): Amy Krupinski and Wayne Mortenson went to the 2007 DLI, sponsored by the BCDP. One party goal has been to support our future representatives, and we look forward to hearing follow-up reports from both Amy and Wayne.
   
   D. Ad hoc committee on health care: Chair Marge Lindemann read the committee’s minutes, recapping the committee’s activites at the March 22 State Senate hearings on health care form, as well as two Barron County town hall meetings on same. A long discussion ensued covering the proper scope, scale and tone of the committee, party members’ need to balance loyalty with pushing for change, and the incremental nature of political change. It may take more of a calamity to fuel constituent outrage, Toby stated, and a champion to effect real reform.
   
   E. Fundraiser report: The fundraiser status is still the same, set for October 5th in Cumberland. Toby hopes to talk about the event with the chairs of Chippewa, Polk and Burnette counties at the 7th CD.
   
   F. Feingold Steering Committee: Paula Zellner has requested the Barron County party mailing list. While the party holds Senator Feingold and the committee in highest esteem, it needs to handle the party database in strict conformity with the BCDP and DPW constitutions.
   
   G. Linda Clifford for Justice: Clifford lost Barron County by only a small margin, doing best in Rice Lake and Cumberland and losing in the rural areas. Toby read local campaign coordinator Linda Thompson’s report that several people phoned for Linda Clifford, 5–7 wrote letters to papers, 12 donated money and the ad money spent included: $88.50 for Chronotype, $29.00 for Barron Newshield, $48.00 for Cumberland Advocate, and $36.00 for the Chetek Alert. Linda kept in touch with Clifford’s campaign office. ElsieKrause also sent word that she, Judy Ferber-Williams and Jan Holten dialed 85 people prior to election day.
   
   H. Summer parade schedule: The BDCP hopes to be highly visible this summer, with a float that Toby and Marge Lindemann will work on. Everyone and his or her family is encouraged to participate in these parades and events. Beth will soon have a parade schedule on the web site and it will come printed on the next agenda.
   
8. Meeting: The Ad Hoc Committee on Health Care will meet with the Executive Committee in Rice Lake, prior to the general meeting, at a place to be announced.
9. Sunshine: Edith Olson reported that she’d received thanks from Linda Thompson for the card and gift on the death of her sister, and had sent a card to Beth Ager on the death of her grandmother.
10. Food pantry: Members voted to send the donated food to Barron.
11. BCDP meets again on Thursday, May 17th, at the Rice Lake Public Library Friendship room, at 7:00 p.m.
12. At 8:40 p.m., Cecil Kippenhan made a motion to adjourn.
    

Respectfully submitted,

Lizbeth Ager
Secretary