LP Illinois News - October 2008 #1
A Letter From Val Vetter: 2008 Convention Wrap-Up
Where else but at LP Illinois Convention.. .
...Can you hear the LP Presidential and U.S. Senate candidates speak, sit in on any of six different educational workshops, witness a lively game of LP Illinois Jeopardy or hear Fran Holt tell a dirty joke?
Nowhere I can think of!
The LPI's 2008 Annual Convention was another in a series of very professional and successful events that celebrate the Party's growing success. Debra Aaron was the 2008 (and 2007) convention chair and with her committee of Francine Brady, Maggie Kohls, Kent McMillen, and Sue Schell did the Party proud and the Convention got many compliments.
Friday night's social event kicked off the weekend with cocktails, appetizers, conversation and fun. We added a fundraising twist this year, inviting attendees to our "open mic" to challenge each other to speechify on selected topics from defending a position the speaker didn't support, to jokes you might not hear around the water cooler. Thanks to a challenge by Ken Prezak, we raised over $500 for the LPI!
Saturday brought breakfast with Toastmasters, three sets of workshops hosted by LPI's Dianna Visek and Damon Dillon, Sam Adams Alliance's Eric Odom, Congressional candidates Dan Druck and Allan Stevo, and Education Director Collin Hitt. Our Constitutional Convention debate featured Dan Proft and Bruno Behrend.
Since all work and no play makes for boring Libertarians, the afternoon featured LP Illinois Jeopardy. 2007 Champion Dan O'Connell passed the crown to Ken Prazak, our new Champion, who edged out John Howell and Ed Rutledge in a lopsided but spirited game.
Evening brought our special guest speaker, former congressman and 2008 LP Presidential candidate Bob Barr. Though Bob had to fly (literally) and didn't have time to stick around for Q&A, the audience agreed that he came across very well. This was especially important because C-Span was on hand to catch it all. (Really!) Bob was followed by a surprise visitor - "V" - from the movie "V for Vendetta" who recited his famous introduction speech as well as "Raisin in the Sun" by Langston Hughes. (Who was that masked man?!?!)
Saturday was wrapped up with awards and honors. Our top volunteer petitioners - Ken Prazak, Jim Waldron, Julie Fox, Fran Holt, and Crystal Jurczynski received certificates and LP Illinois Polo shirts. Earning LPI's top honors were Dave and Francine Brady (Rookies of the Year), Sue Schell (Dependability) , Dianna Visek (Government Watchdog). Winning top honors and the "Dagny Taggart Award" were Debra Aaron and Crystal Jurczynski. A surprise certificate by Kent McMillen was awarded to 2004-2008 State Chair Val Vetter.
Sunday brought the annual business meeting with officers reports filling the morning session. A sumptuous brunch fortified members for the marathon business session that followed LPI's U.S. Senate candidate Larry Stafford's lunch address.
Along with a few fairly routine bylaw amendments, the afternoon's election selected the following new officers for the 2009-2010 term:
State Chair - David Brady
Secretary - Crystal Jurczynski
Treasurer - Debra Aaron (re-elected)
Membership Chair - Damon Dillon (re-elected)
Fundraising Chair - John Howell
Public Relations - Kent McMillen (re-elected)
Legislative Chair - Eric Bresson
Campaigns Chair - Jan Stover
Activism Chair - Val Vetter
Webmaster - Francine Brady
Newsletter Editor - Daniel Nowlan (re-elected)
If you missed this year's convention, there's still hope! Francine Brady is heading up the 2009 Convention Committee, and she and her committee are already cooking up a convention that promises to be another in a growing string of GREAT LP-Illinois events.
Finally, it has been my pleasure to be your State Chair for the past four years. We've accomplished some pretty impressive things, and I'm really optimistic that with David Brady at the helm, we'll see even more progress in the next two years. I hope you'll be a part of it!
Val Vetter, Activism Chair
2004-2008 State Chair
Thank You to Val
As many of you may know – especially those of you who attended the business meeting during this year's convention – Val Vetter is no longer serving as our State Chair. He now holds the position of Activism Chair.
Val served as State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Illinois from 2004 to 2008.
We at LP Illinois would like to commend and thank Val for all his hard work and efforts. We look for him to do great things in his new position.
David Brady Elected State Chair of Illinois Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party of Illinois elected David A. Brady as Chair at their yearly meeting held in Oakbrook near Chicago on October 5th.
"Good things are to come in the next two years," said Brady, a 45-year-old resident from Wonder Lake in McHenry County. "We know the issues in our state, counties and towns. We accept the challenge and refuse to fail."
In his statements during the meeting Brady said that he is committed to Rejuvenating, Revitalizing, Reorganizing and Repackaging the Illinois Libertarian Party. "We have the right message for our times. We need more messengers to stand up and say: `Here I am, send me!'"
In addition to this position, Brady is the Chair of the McHenry County Libertarian Party and a member of the Libertarian National Committee. Brady has also been the former Eastern Vice-Chair & Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. Brady is an 18 year veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, including service with NATO.
LP Candidate Forum at NIU Campus
On Saturday, October 25th there will be a Libertarian Party candidate forum and presentation in DeKalb at the NIU campus. Both Larry Stafford (candidate for U.S. Senate) and Dan Druck (candidate for Illinois 14th Congressional District) will be speaking at the forum. The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center, in the Lincoln room.
There will be signs posted in the building and parking is available just south of the student center. Enter off of Route 38 Lincoln Highway.
A map of the campus can be found at NIU.edu.
Proposed Call for a State of Illinois Constitutional Convention
At this year's general election, Illinois voters will be asked to decide whether or not Illinois should convene a constitutional conventions. The 1970 Illinois Constitution requires voters to decide, every 20 years, if it is necessary to revise or rewrite the Illinois Constitution. In order for a constitutional convention to be called, three-fifths of those voting on the question or majority of those voting in the election must vote "yes".
If you did not receive your pamphlet from the Secretary of State explaining in detail the process of, and arguments for and against, the convention, contact Jesse White's office for a copy:
Jesse White
Secretary of State
111 East Monroe Street
Springfield, IL 62756
NTUI To Support Illinois Constitutional Convention
The National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI) has endorsed holding an Illinois State Constitutional Convention.
"In this November's election, we will have the opportunity for the first time in 20 years to strike a blow for Illinois Taxpayers and against out-of-control state spending and taxation," said Jim Tobin, president of the NTUI.
Tobin also claims the convention may "make it tougher for government to raise taxes," as well as "delay…attempts by the public schol lobbies to pass a 67% increase in the state's income tax."
To find out more about the NTUI's position on the Illinois Constitutional Convention, check out NTUI.org.
Illinois State Rifle Association Opposes Constitutional Convention
The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) is urging state hunters, sportsmen and gun owners to vote "NO" on the initiative to hold a state constitutional convention. The ISRA believes the a constitutional convention would "open doors to significant changes in the state constitution and thus imperil the rights of law-abiding gun owners."
Check out ISRA.org for more information regarding the organization' s views on the Illinois Constitutional Convention. Also, you can read their entire press release here.
Letter to the Editor
The Libertarian Party of Illinois Newsletter wants to hear from you! Make your voice heard with a letter to the editor. Submit your editorial to news@lpillinois. org. From the letters submitted, we will select one to appear in each current post of the LP-Illinois Newsletter.
Please limit letters to 250 words.
Words of Wisdom
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
~ Voltaire