Thursday, August 16, 2007
Barron County Courthouse

1. Chairman Toby Paone called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Fifteen people were present.

2. Beth Ager gave the Secretary’s report. The minutes were passed as read.

3. Clarice Fall gave the Treasurer’s report. July’s balance was $1,535.79. Fair booth expenses totaled $111.53, and July box donations totaled $65.00, bringing an August total of $1,480.26. The report was passed unanimously.

4. Members introduced themselves.

5. Toby gave the Chair’s report:

a. Fundraiser: we postponed the event to be held at Das Loch Haus, since the $400 nonrefundable deposit and the differing needs of partcipating counties made the October 5 date difficult to realize. Dave Obey is interested in helping with a future event. One idea: a “one year to go” party in November.

b. Fair: Thanks to everyone for the terrific, enthusiastic effort. There was a lot more buzz about the Democratic tent than the other party’s tent. A few hundred voters participated in the straw poll, with Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards the top three finishers, in that order.

c. Summer parades: A few remain on the schedule, including a big one Cumberland. Toby can not make the one in Ridgeland.

d. Judgeship: Tim Doyle will have been installed as Barron County’s new judge on August 17th. Democrats were encouraged to come celebrate. Judge Doyle is enthusiastic about running next April.

e. Committees: Environment Committee Chair Beth Ager summarized what the committee discussed, which included Tracey Mofle’s effort to contribute to local self-sufficiency and food security: Pay it Forward, a program that weaves together youth groups, community gardening, organic farming, and the potential uses for abundant, locally produced food, including at local hospitals and schools. The average conventionally produced food item travels 1,500 miles to our tables, suffering in quality and costing a lot in terms of petroleum and ecologicall health.

The committee would also like to draft a resolution to be presented at the next Barron Electric meeting, encouraging the co-op to furnish a greater proportion of its electricity from renewable, earth-friendly sources.

Ron Brewster updated members on the status of SB 197, a bill regulating the home sue of phosphorus, which is causing a serious eutrophication problem in local water bodies. Senator Jauch is a co-sponsor. There is generally little need for phosphorus in Wisconsin, and Minnesota had had great success with this legislation. Please thank Senator Jauch for his support of this bill.

6. Sunshine report: Edith Olson sent a card on behalf of the party to Steve Perala and wife Hilde on the birth of Graham.

7. Word comes from Wausau that 7th CD and Marathon County Chair Marlys Matuszak is suffering from congestive heart failure and has a poor prognosis.

8. Toby mentioned that the party could consider Michael Moore’s movie SiCKO at a local theater, perhaps in the UW-Barron County auditorium. The movie is illuminating, ties in with election-year issues, and is not in theaters locally.

9. Beth noted that she sends out 75 post cards every month, plus e-mails to those with known accounts, yet most of the post card recipients have not come to a general meeting since 2004. She suggested that a schedule go out yearly to all members instead, and postcards be reserved for media notification. E-mail reminders can continue as before. Toby suggested a trial through the first of the year, to see if it affects attendance. Jim Vogel moved to suspend sending postcards to the general membership until January 2008, with Linda Thompson seconding. The motion passed.

10. Harold Kringle inquired about using room 110 for courthouse meetings instead. Room 110 is occupied the same Thursday as our meetings by a Holistic Moms meeting. Toby suggested rearranging the chairs so that others could see and hear speakers more easily.

11. Food shelf: Members voted to send August’s donation to Chetek

12. The Barron County Democrats meet next on Thursday, September 20th, at the Rice Lake Public Library, in the Bottom Shelf Room at 7:00 p.m.

13. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lizbeth Ager
Secretary