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Thursday,
May 17, 2007
Rice Lake Public Library
General
Meeting of the Barron County Democratic Party
1.
Chair Toby W. Paone called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Twenty-four 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 April, 2007. The balance at the April 19th meeting
had been $1,288.83. Expenses totaled $22.50 and deposits totaled
$160.50, leaving a balance of of $1,426.83. The report passed
as read.
4.
Members introduced themselves, including DNC member
Jason Rae, Registrar of Deeds Joyce Kaseno, and State Representative
Mary Hubler.
5. Elected officholders’ report:
A. Jason Rae: A Marquette junior next year,
he will be interning at People for the American Way on public
policy in D.C. this summer. He is also one of 10 DNC members
going on a week-long trip to Taiwan this June. He remains
active in Wisconsin affairs and will be running for DNC again
in 2008.
B. Joyce Kaseno: Things are going well in
her office. She was just to a conference downstate about vital
records, which have been vulnerable to damage. The federal
government is mandating a switch to computerized records before
long, which will lead to a substantial increase in fees. Joyce
is working with her professional association to keep fees
down as much as possible.
C. Mary Hubler: She just returned from a
meeting in Madison and remarked that the vital records mandate
is one of many from the Bush administration driving up fees
in the state. Governor Doyle is still digging out from under
the Thompson/McCallum deficit as well, and faces some tough
choices. Hubler states that the budget, due on June 30th,
will occupy the summer and will be contentious. She spoke
of her committee assignments, which include the forestry and
biofuels & sustainable energy committees.
6. Chair’s report:
A.
7th Congressional District Convention
The 7th CD convened on Saturday, April 28th, 2007, in Marshfield.
Congressman Obey spoke about the supplemental spending bill
and reiterated his support for presidential candidate John
Edwards, based on his career of helping working people.
B. The State
Democratic convention is to be held in Milwaukee
on June 29th and 30th at the Hilton. Registration fee is $20
per person before June 15th and $25 after. Check the web site
for a
list of hotels. It is a good opportunity to meet the presidential
candidates. People interested in going as visitors should
contact Toby before June 15th.
C. Democratic Leadership Institute (DLI): Amy Krupinski
and Wayne Mortenson went to the 2007 DLI, sponsored by the
BCDP. Amy sent Toby a letter about her experiences at the
DLI, which are entered into the minutes.
D. 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.
E. Summer parade
schedule: Toby
distributed the 2007 parade schedule, and it will be posted
on the web site. The party will store its float in the NUE
office garage on W. John St. in Rice Lake, and will need volunteers
to pull the float for some of the events. All party members
are encouraged to participate as they are able in these events.
Participants to be at the NUE garage at least an hour before
the parade is set to begin. The party will make T-shirts and
hats with a common, positive design available for purchase
soon, and is exploring ideas for items to distribute.
F. Fair: The Barron County Fair goes from
July 18–22.
G. Ad hoc committees"
i. Health Care: The health care committee
Chair, Marge Lindemann, made a motion that the party inform
its elected representatives, Senators Feingold and Kohl,
Congressman Dave Obey, State Senators Bob Jauch and Pat
Kreitlow, State Assembly member, Mary Hubler, that the Barron
County Democrats are in strong favor of a single payer,
universal health plan and that the party is asking them
to take whatever action is available to them in their various
legislative bodies to support such a health plan. We, the
Barron Co. Democratic Party, also ask that our elected representatives
make a public statement of their support of a single payer,
universal health plan.
Cecil
Kippenhan seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Marge
Lindemann made a second motion to send a copy of the motion
as recorded above to the Democratic Party chairpersons of
all Wisconsin counties, with the request that they consider
adopting a similar motion, which would result in a unified
effort to bring the issue of health care reform to the immediate
attention of our elected representatives.
Jim
Heerey seconded the motion and it also passed unanimously.
ii. Youth: No one has begun to organize
this committee yet.
iii. Environment: Chair Beth Ager announced
that the committee was forming and invited everyone interested
to attend. The
meeting particulars will be posted on the web site.
7.
Sunshine: Edith Olson reported that she’d sent
a get well card to Joe Fall after his surgery.
8. June Dairy Breakfast: This year, it is held
June 2 at the Butzler farm just south of Cumberland, at 2075
6½ Avenue.
9. T-shirts: For parades and other visibility
events, we will provide a design to Northwoods Apparel in Rice
Lake, where members can order shirts or hats. We will notify
members when they are available.
10. BCDP meets again on Thursday, June 21st,
at the Rice Lake Public Library Friendship room, at 7:00 p.m.
11. Food pantry: Members voted to send the
donated food to Cameron for May and Cumberland for June. The
party will consider a rotation schedule.
12. At 8:40 p.m., Jim McLaughlin made a motion
to adjourn.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lizbeth
Ager
Secretary |
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