Democratic Leadership Institute
April 14th and 15th
Devil's Head Resort & Convention Center
Merrimac, WI
 

LCDP General Party Meeting
Monday, April 16th
7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Cafe Lola (PLEASE NOTE NEW LOCATION)
200 Main St. (Powell Place).
La Crosse
Speaker: Dr. Jack Norman, "Wisconsin Tax Heaven"

LCDP Chicken-Q
Thursday, April 19, 2007
11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Sam’s Bar
2116 George St.
La Crosse
Please see details below

3rd Congressional District Democratic Convention
Saturday, April 21st
Best Western Trail Lodge Hotel & Suites,
3340 Mondovi Road (Highway 37)
Eau Claire, WI.
Registration: 8:30-9:30 AM
Call to order: 9:30 AM.
See details below

Health Care Forum
Monday, May 14
Time and Location TBA

LCDP General Party Meeting
Monday, May 21st
7:00 to 9:00 P.M. Cafe Lola
200 Main St. (Powell Place).
La Crosse
Speaker: TBA

April will be a very busy month for the LCDP. In addition to the out of town events-- the Democratic Leadership Institute and the 3rd Congressional District Convention, we will have two important events here in La Crosse.

First, Dr. Jack Norman's presentation to the party regarding corporate taxation will take place at our general party meeting on April 16 at our new meeting location of Cafe Lola. Please note that this was rescheduled from February due to weather.

In addition, there will be the LCDP Chicken-Q. Please see details below.

I would remind everyone that the 2008 elections are barely 18 months away at this point in time. As there are no statewide races in 2008, our attention will be focused on the 94th and 95th Assembly seats, the 32nd State Senate seat and of course, the Presidential races. The organzing and fundraiser we do now will lay the groundwork for keeping our county and area "blue" for the Presidential race and for victories in the 94th Assembly and 32nd State Senate seats.

It is of the utmost importance to have an office to prepare for the fall elections and to have that office well stocked with phones, computers and supplies, especially in a Presidential election year where turnout will be high. Unfortunately, the State party usually does not provide any financial assistance for a local office until August of an election year. This may be too late for our local candidates. Therefore, the party needs to be able to hit the ground running early next year, and that's why your memberships, donations and volunteering is so important now. Again, thanks for your support and hope to see you at this months meeting.

Fabio Burgos
Chair
La Crosse County Democratic Party

The LCDP will be holding a Chicken-Q on Thursday, April 19 from 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. (or until sold out). The location will be at Sam's Bar, 2116 George St. in La Crosse. The cost per dinner is $7.00

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS, both to dish out orders on location and to deliver orders by car. There will be no cooking involved. Please contact Marcia Wine at 783- 0172 to volunteer.

The 3rd Congressional District Democratic Convention will take place on April 21, 2007, at the Best Western Trail Lodge Hotel and Suites in Eau Claire. Registration is from 8:30 to 9:30 A.M. Call to order is 9:30 A.M.

Marge Baecker is resigning as 3rd CD chair, so a new chair will be elected at that time.

RESOLUTIONS TO 3RD CD CONVENTION

If you wish to submit resolution to the 3rd CD convention they must be submitted no later than Saturday, April 7 to the attention of:

Bob Miller
S2178 Cty. Rd. N
Alma, WI 54610
Phone #: 608-248-3092

RULES FOR GOVERNING RESOLUTIONS

(Taken from the Handbook on Resolutions for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Conventions)

1. A resolution to be considered by the state convention must have no more than 100 words, excluding its title. A resolution to be considered by a congressional district convention and intended to be forwarded to the state convention must also have no more than 100 words, excluding its title. In addition, such resolutions, for the state convention or a congressional district convention, must be reasonable in length. Floor resolutions must also conform to these requirements.

2. A resolution to be considered by the state convention, or by a congressional district convention and intended to be forwarded to the state convention, must have at least one clause beginning with “whereas” and a statement of resolutions that includes some form of the verb “to resolve.” “The Wisconsin Democratic Party” or “Democratic Party of Wisconsin” must be listed as the resolving organization in the wording of the resolution. Lines must be numbered.

3. Each county party may forward no more than ten (10) resolutions to the congressional district convention. Each congressional district convention must select no more than ten (10) resolutions to forward to the Platform Resolutions Committee for the state convention.

FLOOR RESOLUTIONS

Floor resolutions that meet the requirements for length and form may be introduced at the congressional district convention. If adopted, a floor resolution may be among the maximum of ten (10) forwarded to the Platform and Resolutions Committee. Congressional district conventions should not consider floor resolutions until after considering all resolutions submitted by each of the county parties in the district. Congressional districts may also impose additional reasonable rules on floor resolutions to help insure that the delegates at the district convention can adequately review them, (e.g.) require a minimum of copies and submission to the resolutions chair or to the district chair prior to some certain time during the convention.

Floor resolutions will be accepted the day of the convention. If your county is submitting a floor resolution, it must be written in the correct format. In addition, prepare 50 typed copies to be distributed to the delegates for review before the debate on resolutions begins. Resolutions may be turned in at the registration table or given to Bob Miller, member of the DPW Platform and Resolutions Committee.

In the past certain resolutions were excluded from the resolutions debate due to the following reasons: the required number of copies were not made; incorrect wording; or resolutions written on small pieces of paper. No word processor or a copying machine will be available at the convention. There will be no exceptions to the rules, in keeping with the same process that is followed at the state convention.

ELECTION OF 3RD CD OFFICERS

There will be elections for the following offices at the convention:

• Chair
• 3 Vice Chairs (northern, central, and southern sections)
• 3 Assistant Vice-Chairs (same sections as above)

Note: the second highest vote getter in each vice-chair election is the Assistant Vice-Chair.

• Secretary
• Treasurer
• DPW Administrative Committee Member (gender balanced)
• DPW Administrative Committee Alternate Member (gender balanced)
• DPW Platform & Resolutions Committee Member (3-year term)
• DPW Platform & Resolutions Alternate Committee Member (1-year term)
Note: All positions are two-year terms except for the P&R Committee members.

The 3rd CD Executive Committee is looking for candidates to fill the above positions. In addition, volunteers are needed to serve on a Nominating Committee for the elections. The Nominating Committee’s responsibilities include preparing a list of candidates for each elected position, and to prepare the ballot(s) for the election.

If you know of someone who is willing to serve on the Nominating Committee or run for one of the elected positions, please contact the Chair of then Nominating Committee, Melanie Franklin at ccdems@rts- llc.net or 715-659-4964.

2007 DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN CONVENTION

The 2007 Democratic Party of Wisconsin State Convention will be held on June 29th and 30th in at the Hilton City Center Hotel in Milwaukee. Hotel reservations can be made with the Hilton by calling 414-271-7250 or 1-800-445-8667. Convention delegates and guests can reserve hotel rooms under the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s room block. You can find more information by clicking here.

We had a VERY successful St. Patrick's Day part. Thanks again to Loren Kannenberg and Karri Kline for hosting and thanks to all who attended. attend the St. Patrick's Day party. Also thanks to Barb Clark, Kris Troyanek and Marcia and JD Wine for their help in setting up.

Gil (Gilbert) Werner passed away on March 5th. As many may remember, Gil was an active member of the LCDP in the middle to late 1990's. He served as as an at-large member on the Executive Board in 1997 & '98 but resigned due to ill health. He had his own home siding and window installation business and lived in Bangor. Over the years he was a strong financial contributor to many Democratic campaigns and candidates. Among other things, he purchased the large local-party banner for the 1998 campaign This banner has been carried in many parades as well as decorating the various local campaign headquarters ever since,including the 2006 campaign.

Please renew your memberships for 2007. If you have not done so, you can find our 2007 membership form at laxdems.com. (Left side of front page).

Our goal is to push party membership over 400 people. Please check our website at laxdems.com, which has a membership form or email laxdems if you cannot come to our future party meetings.

Again, a reminder about the membership rates, effective October 1, 2006, as established by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin:

Students, Senior Citizens: $10.00
General: $25.00
Pairs (two memberships): $35.00
Activist (up to three): $45.00
Family(includes all family members: $75.00
Supporter: $120.00
Friend: $240.00
Patron: $600.00
Investor: $1200.00
Benefactor $2400.00
 

Half of the above membership dues go to the State party, with the exception of the Family membership, where $45.00 of $75.00 goes to the local party. Those who join at the higher levels of membership ($120.00 and above) should remember that only $50.00 of those memberships will stay with the local party.

If your intention is to become a new member or renew your membership with the Democratic Party and you want more of your contribution to go to the Local County Party, I encourage you to join at the single $25 or $75 Family membership level and make additional contributions to the county party directly.