| Thursday,
March 15, 2007
Rice Lake Public Library
1. Vice Chair Cecil Kippenhan called the meeting to
order at 6:55 p.m. Twenty-seven 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 months of February and March 2007. The balance
at the January 18th meeting had been $1,473.04 Expenses totaled
$205.00 and deposits totaled $345.00, leaving a balance of of
$1,613.04. There was no box donation in February. The report
passed as read.
4.
Members introduced themselves, including newcomer Wayne Mortenson,
of Weyerhauser. Linda Thompson expressed thanks for the party’s
card and gift in memory of her sister.
5. Chair’s report: Kipp
read the following items submitted by Chair Toby Paone:
A.
7th Congressional District Convention
The 7th CD convenes on Saturday, April 28th, 2007 at the Clearwaters
Hotel, 2700 Roddis Ave. in Marshfield. Congressman Obey is
the keynote speaker.
Delegates
and alternates to the 7th CD will need to have paid dues for
2007 and signed up by April 13th. Barron County may send 10
delegates and 4 alternates, plus the Chair and Assembly representative.
All BCDP members are welcome to attend, whether as delegate,
alternate or visitor. Please contact the party beforehand.
The same delegate/alternate list will be eligible to attend
the state convention in Milwaukee in June.
Cecil
Kippenhan moved that the county party Chairperson, Treasurer
and Secretary be authorized to make whatever changes necessary
to fill the delegate/alternate lists at the state convention
from their respective congressional districts. John Banks
seconded and the motion was passed.
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. Please
see the website for details.
C. Democratic Leadership Institute (DLI): The
party voted last month to sponsor Amy Krupinski and Jason
Rae to go to the 2007 DLI, paying their registration fee of
$104.97 each. Both Amy and Jason will follow up by giving
the BCDP a report on their experiences with the DLI. More
details posted on the website.
Jerry
Schlei stated that he had nominated Wayne Mortenson to attend
the DLI. Marge Lindemann made a motion for the party to pay
his registration fee, seconded by Karen Coil. Motion passed.
D. Ad hoc committee guidelines: In addition
to the existing Ad Hoc Committee on Health Care, the Chair
received two more requests for Education and Environment committees,
and so asked for members to pass motions forming those committees.
Ron
Brewster moved to form ad hoc committees on education and
the environment. Ralph Pitzrick seconded.
Fred
Bannister made an amendment to form a third committee dedicated
to tracking and encouraging youth membership in the BCDP.
Jerry Schlei seconded.
The
motion and amendment both passed.
In the
absence of by-laws governing the purpose and make-up of such
ad hoc committees, the chair instituted the following interim
guidelines:
i. All ad hoc committees shall have a chairperson
who is also an elected
officer of the Barron County Democratic Party;
ii. Any work product of any committee which
is to be publicized by the BCDP must go through a minimum
of two (2) readings at two (2) separate meetings of the
BCDP.
iii. Any dues-paying member may be a member
of an ad hoc committee; however, no member may serve on
more than one committee at a time.
iv. All committee meetings are to be open
to all dues-paying members of the BCDP and should be advertised
on the BCDP website with enough advance notice to facilitate
maximum participation by the membership.
E.
Fundraiser report: The Barron county/multi-county
fundraiser is still on for Friday October 5th, 2007, at Das
Lach Haus in Cumberland. We have no speaker booked as yet,
but have requested Russ Feingold and will be working with
Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn counties. We await response from
three others.
F. The Douglas County Democrats are having
a “thank you” fundraiser on March 31st, featuring
Congressman Obey.
G. The Feingold Steering Committee for Barron,
Burnett, Polk, Washburn and Sawyer counties met with Paula
Zellner at the UWBC Campus on Tuesday, March 13. Twelve BCDP
members were present and their participation was greatly appreciated.
Some of Feingold’s Progressive
Patriots Fund information will be posted on the website.
H. Linda Clifford for Justice
The DPW has endorsed Linda
Clifford for State Supreme Court Justice. I have asked
Linda Thompson to head up the BCDP’s election efforts
to help get Linda Clifford elected.
7.
Beth Ager mentioned the Chippewa County Jefferson-Jackson Day
fundraiser, April 7th, and the Sawyer
County Earth Day event, April 21.
8. Harold Kringle made a motion to discontinue
listing Cecil Kippenhan’s home number as that of the Democratic
Party. Ralph Pitzrick seconded and the motion passed. Linda
Thompson suggested listing our current contact number with the
various Chambers of Commerce and libraries in the county.
Additional old business:
9. Ad Hoc Committee on Health Care Chair Marge
Lindemann read the second draft of the response to Governor
Doyle in the party’s ongoing dialogue about health care
reform. Ron Brewster made a motion to send the letter, with
Dee Taylor seconding. Motion passed.
Lindemann read a second draft of a letter asking Congressman
Obey the rationale behind his “yes” vote on HR 4.
John Banks made a motion to send the letter, with Fred Bannister
seconding. Motion passed.
There will be an opportunity to testify before 7–8 State
Senators from their committee on health care on Thursday, March
22, in Eau Claire. Interested members should contact Jim Heerey.
New business:
10. Jerry Schlei spoke briefly about the State
Superintendent’s Council on Rural Schools and Libraries,
NCLB and examples of how to break free of its strictures, ensuring
locally sustainable schools, and ways to effect change “from
within the system.”
11. John Banks encouraged members to go weigh
in on the ban
of home use of phosphorus-containing fertilizers on March
29th at the Barron County Courthouse.
12. Steve Perala noted that, for the April
3rd election, there are 44 school referenda in the surrounding
area, with the one
in Barron of particular interest.
14. Members voted to send the donated
food to Chetek.
15. BCDP meets again on Thursday, April 19th,
at the Barron County Courthouse Auditorium, at 7:00 p.m.
16. At 8:40 p.m., John Banks made a motion
to adjourn, with Hugo Harbers seconding.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lizbeth
Ager
Secretary |
