Thursday, June 21, 2007
Rice Lake Public Library

1. Chair Toby W. Paone called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Twenty-eight people attended.

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

3. Clarice Fall gave the Treasurer’s report covering the month of May, 2007. The balance at the May 17th meeting had been $1,426.83. There were no expenses and deposits totaled $63.50, leaving a balance of of 1,490.33. The report passed as read.

4. Members and visitors introduced themselves.

5. Jim Babbitt, Assistant District Attorney for Barron County, announced his wish to be appointed circuit judge. He reminded party members that while he generally backs Republican candidates, he has endorsed a few Democrats, including Thomas Richie, and has been a long-time resident of Barron County. He noted that Barron County has a “unique electorate” that does a lot of ticket splitting. “Voters are tired of petty partisan politics,” he asserted, going on to suggest that supporting someone who lacks his courtroom credentials could “embarrass” the Governor and the county party as well.

Terry Sperling, parole officer for Barron County, and Chris Carlson, former County Board member, voiced support for Mr. Babbitt, based on their long working association with him.

Jim McLaughlin stated that the appointee should share the values of the governor and suggested that endorsements are not proper and tend to leave a judge beholden.

Babbitt thanked the body and left.

Chair Toby Paone and Mary Hubler have spoken with Governor Doyle’s office about the situation, and while it is most desirable to have an available Democratic attorney residing in Barron County as the appointee, we have no such candidate at the moment.

6. The State Democratic convention is to be held in Milwaukee on June 29th and 30th at the Hilton. Only six Barron County members will be there. Interested visitors should contact Toby.

7. Fundraiser report: The fundraiser dinner is still on for October 5th at Das Lach Haus in Cumberland. Rusk, Polk, Burnett, Washburn and Sawyer counties are cooperating with Barron to hold the event. Price County Chair John Smart is interested in joining the effort and, incidentally, wants to form a coalition of northern counties advocating upstate issues.

8. Summer parade schedule: John Banks offered to pull the float in Chetek on July Fourth. Staging time is around 10:00, near Chetek High School on West Knapp. The party needs a volunteer to pull the float in the Mikana parade on Saturday, July 7th—Toby can’t make it.

9. Fair: The Barron County Fair goes from July 18–22. Party members signed up for duty, but there are slots still open. Kipp will check on fair supplies.

10. Ad hoc committees

A. Health Care: In addition to mailing the letters mandated by last month’s motion, Toby will be addressing the state county chairs’ association with the proposal.

B. Environment: Chair Beth Ager summarized the committee’s goals of raising awareness, building coalitions with environmental groups and raise the visibility of the local Democratic party as a friend f the environment. Beth also talked about George Monbiot’s book Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning, which shows how we can cut our carbon emissions by 90% in 23 years and still maintain a good standard of living. She also mentioned a Washington Post/ ABC News/ Stanford University poll showing that the number of people citing global warming as the number one threat has doubled in the past year, and 7 out of 10 believe that government should do something about it. Linda Thompson added that the committee intends to give a short “mini-education” on local environmental efforts every month. The next meeting is July 13th, and the particulars will be posted on the web site.

11. Jim McLaughlin’s daughter is going to a National Youth Leadership Forum this fall. Her topic is national security, and she will be meeting George Tenet and Admiral Turner of the War Collge. She will come meet with the party before and after her time there.

McLaughlin’s other daughter will be starting a Young Democrats chapter at the Rice Lake High School.

12. Toby stated that he appreciated everyone’s hard work and attention. Despite its being an off year, there is a lot going on, and this is the building block to both remove the current administration from the WH and build our own organization. It takes patience and hard work, and we are doing it. The other side is deflated and does not show this kind of enthusiasm.

11. Sunshine: Edith Olson reported that she’d sent a sympathy card to Kip Kippenhan, whose brother died and was buried at Arlington.

12. BCDP meets again on Thursday, July 12th, at the Rice Lake Public Library Friendship room, at 7:00 p.m. Cecil Kippenhan suggested offering some money to the Rice Lake Library for use of its facilities several times a year. The suggestion was postponed until after the fair.

11. Food pantry: Members voted to send the donated food to Cumberland for June.

12. At 8:17 p.m., John Banks made a motion to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted,

Lizbeth Ager
Secretary