Thursday, January 20, 2005
Rice Lake Public Library

7:05 The meeting was called to order.

Chairman Kippenhan read a letter from the Democratic Party. The 7th CD will be held in Ashland County this year and everyone is invited to attend.

The Secretary and Treasurer’s reports were given and approved.

Betty Vogel read a letter from the Family Readiness Group, stating that they can not accept donations from political parties.
The check we gave them last month was returned to her and everyone agreed that we will donate $100.00 to Mike Moe and he may donate that amount to the Readiness Group.

Sheriff Ritchie gave a report on the new jail at the Justice Center.

Old Business:

The Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. Sheriff Ritchie is on that committee and states a date and location for that has not been set yet, but Barron County is thinking of having a local dinner. Linda Thompson will be added to help with the planning for that dinner. Chippewa County is having a dinner in May 2005.

Chairman Kippenhan read a letter from Joe Wineke and Linda Honold who are running as a team for the State Chairman and Vice Chairman for the Democratic Party, and we wish them well.

Our Web site. The information on our Barron County web site is old and the information must be kept current. Beth Ager and Jerry Schlei volunteered to keep the information and database up to date.

New Business:

At the February meeting we will discuss putting a phone number somewhere for people to call to get information about the Barron County Democratic Party. At that meeting we will discuss the cost, the number to use, and where to print the number.
Suggestions were to let the Rice Lake Chamber of Commerce know the number, put it in the phone book, and also on our web site.

Chairman Kippenhan read a letter from Senator Feingold’s office inviting everyone to a meeting Jan. 26 at 6:30 at Maddy’s Restaurant in Cumberland.

Dr. Bannister spoke about the high cost of health care and the need for universal health care.
A resolution on that issue may be submitted and presented at the 7th CD. A motion was passed to appoint a committee to work on the resolution. The committee of Dr. Bannister and Harold Kringle was approved.
It was requested that the secretary find who gave a report here on that subject a couple years ago. That information was found and presented to the members.

The food pantry donations for January will be taken to Cameron.

The next meeting will be February 17 at 7:00 at the Barron County Courthouse auditorium.

The Sunshine Report was given.

8:20 The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Judy Holloway, Secretary