Thursday, August 18, 2005
Barron County Courthouse

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Cecil Kippenhan at 7:05 p.m. Twenty-two people were present.

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

Clarice Fall gave the Treasurer’s report. The beginning balance was $1,769.55. The previous meeting’s box donation was $56.00 . Expenses were $21 to Edith Olson for the Hubler memorial and $50 to Friends of the Apostle Islands in memory of the late Senator Gaylord Nelson, and for which the party received a letter of thanks. The ending balance was $1,754.45.

Chairman Kippenhan introduced a new member, Lisa Dennis, who intends to run for Barron County Registrar of Deeds. The current Republican officeholder is under investigation for misdeeds. In addition to Lisa, the group welcomed newcomers Hugo Harbers and Charles Peterson.

Fundraiser: Organizer Toby Paone stressed that we need to sell all our tickets and provide a full house for Senator Feingold’s speech. Toby will send out a new round of press releases to area newspapers.

Communications Committee report: Chairman Jerry Schlei summarized the committee’s efforts to publicize traditional Democratic values through the booth at the county fair last July. The committee garnered contact information from roughly 100 individuals through the flag drawing.

Fair: Chairman Kippenhan praised the party’s efforts to set up and staff the booth at the fair. Curt Collins suggested that next year we offer balloon with our party logo on them, and fans decorated with the American flag.

New business:

Rep. Dave Obey scheduled a fundraiser get-together at Lehman’s Supper Club on August 21 (from 5-7 p.m.) which the party agreed to back. No tickets are necessary.

Food pantry: Chairman Kippenhan suggested that our food donations go to the Johnson Truck Body strikers once again. The suggestion met unanimous approval.

DNC report: 1st Vice Chair and Democratic National Committee member Jason Rae reported having spent time in Washington D.C. recently, meeting with Senator Kohl and Rep. Obey’s staff. Rae has been speaking at county-level fundraisers here in Wisconsin, and has requested that DNC Chairman Howard Dean appoint him to the DNC’s Resolutions Committee; he will know whether he has the appointment on September 21st. He recently sponsored a DNC resolution honoring Gaylord Nelson’s life and career, and expects that it will pass. The new Wisconsin-based DNC staffers mentioned last month will soon take their posts. Hackett’s strong showing in Ohio’s strongly Republican 2nd CD is a positive sign for Democratic prospects in 2006, according to chairman Dean. A discussion of wedge issues ensued.

Members watched portions of David Obey’s televised eulogy of Gaylord Nelson, courtesy of Jerry Schlei.

The next meeting will be on September 15th at the Rice Lake Public Library, at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lizbeth Ager
Secretary