Greeting
LIberty Fest 2012
From the (New) Vice Chair
Fired up for recruiting new members

LPM News and Announcements
  
   LP National Convention in Vegas (May 2-6)
   2012 LPM Convention (June 2)
   Two new members on LEC
   Libertarian State Leadership Alliance

Image of the Month
Quote of the Month
Past Blast
Letters
Book and Movie Reviews
Contacts
Calendar

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Welcome to the March 2012 issue of the online newsletter of the Libertarian Party of Michigan, the Michigan Libertarian. The newsletter is our main vehicle for sharing what's happening for Libertarians in Michigan. You may manage your subscription by going here or visiting our Web site www.mi.lp.org (same as www.michiganlp.org).

Liberty Fest to be held in Holt, Saturday, March 10
Andrew Hall
halla12@ferris.edu

“Save The Date” Come one come all to Libby Fest and the Michigan Straw Poll. Libby Fest 2012 will be on March 10 at the Delhi Café in Holt, Michigan from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The event will also feature the Michigan Straw Poll. Libertarian Presidential Candidates are invited to come speak to the Michigan delegation before the National Convention to seek votes for the nomination as the Libertarian Party’s Presidential Candidate. Bill Still and Gary Johnson have been invited and will be coming to spread the words of Liberty and seek votes for the Libertarian Party’s Presidential Candidate at Libby Fest 2012. This is your last chance to be a part of a historic event before registration closes on March 4th at 5 pm.

Delhi Cafe
4625 Willoughby Road
Holt, MI 48842-7402
4:30 p.m.to 9 p.m.

Information page: http://old.michiganlp.org/Shared%20Documents/LibertyFest.aspx
Online registration: http://michiganlp.org/Webpages_Aux/2012/Libfest_Payments.html

A note from the political director
Bill Gelineau (freedomlover59@hotmail.com)

We all agree that LibertyFest is an important activity for our Party. And given the stake we've played (both financially and in terms of how Michigan is viewed), it's pretty important that we pump up the attendance. While some on the LEC and other leaders have registered, many have not. From a planning perspective, it's hard for Andrew to commit resources when we have so many "maybe" attendees.

So, since we're now only 10 days out from the event, it's time to let us know what you intend. Because this is a plated-meal event, we must have counts. Just the uncommitted on this list alone would go a long way toward helping us determine where we are. Can each of you either register or let Andrew Hall or I know if you won't be able to attend? That way we can stop bugging you and focus our energies elsewhere.

Any of you that have contacts with local officers, please give them a call and/or pass along the registration link. Lastly, certainly we should view this event as our kickoff of political activity this year. Beyond the rah-rah of a fun get together and the possibility of asking our potential Presidential candidate questions one-on-one, this is a great chance to bring candidates to the Party and meet other liberty-minded people.

I encourage each of you to ask at least one other person to attend. We have work to do if we're going to fill the room.

Bill

Timothy Keirnan
mailtim@sbcglobal.net

Hi, everyone. As the new vice chair appointed in January, I'd like to thank our affiliates in Washtenaw County, Capital Area, and Oakland County for hosting me on my visits to their monthly meetings in February. Of course, the Livingston County folks have to put up with me every single month, but these were my first visits to the those other three affiliates. I enjoyed meeting you all.

My goal is to visit each and every affiliate by May so I can sit in on your meetings and learn how you do things, and hear what works well for you. Then I'll start sharing what works in this monthly column so the other affiliates (and anyone thinking of starting an affiliate in their area) can read about your methods. If they have questions, they can then get in touch with you. I've already learned good things from Washtenaw, Capital Area, and Oakland that my own affiliate might be interested in trying.

I'll be at Liberty Fest and would like to ask any affiliate officers to introduce themselves to me. The quicker I can meet all of you, the better. I'll be in touch with several affiliates in March to let them know I'm visiting and to confirm times and locations. Thanks for what you do to advance liberty in your areas, and keep it up!

Tim

C'mon affiliates, let's grow membership!
by Denee Rockman-Moon

With the economy in the state that it is in, we as Libertarians need to make sure we stand up and let our voices be heard! Over the last three years we have had over 680 people in the state of Michigan contact us for information about our party, wanting to volunteer, or even run for an office position as a Libertarian. The more people we come in contact with the more our message gets out to those that know nothing about us.

If you are member and need literature to pass out please contact me thru email at denee.rockman-moon@live.com or you can visit http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/. I would like to say "Thank you" to all those that have recently renewed their memberships, or have become a new member! Please keep spreading the word.

[Note: Our LP of Michigan Convention will be held June 2, 2012 - at the Marriott Hotel, Livonia.]

Affiliate Chairs and Members: Helpful Hints for Recruiting New Members

• Use the names of new inquiries from the LPM to send a letter or call them asking them to join and/or attend your next meeting or event.
• Have a sign up sheet at all meetings for peoples names and contact information. A few days after your meeting have someone write or call any new people on the sign up sheet to thank them for attending the meeting, answer any questions they may have and ask them to join the party.
• Send each new inquiry in your county(ies) the next two issues of your newsletter. In each of these, insert letter printed on brightly colored paper asking them to join. Get mailing labels for these new names from the LPM Membership Clerk.
• Hold an "Open House" meeting. This would be a meeting geared specifically for LP newcomers and people interested in learning more about the party. o You should find a speaker that can give a brief history of the party, explain the basic philosophic principles of libertarianism and answer questions about the party.
  
  
  • This meeting should be held in an easy to find location and probably at a different time than your regular monthly meeting since you want to get people to attend who may not be able to fit your regular meeting into their schedule. I would suggest a weekend afternoon.
  • Send invitations out a month in advance to all members and recent inquiries for your area. And follow up with phone calls the week before the meeting.

Also I want to send out a big whoppin' "Thank You" for all the RENEWALS we have been receiving and welcoming all the new members! On the Website, please find your affiliate and locate its next meeting from our events column... then come to the next meeting of your affiliate. The more we grow and make our voices heard, then the sooner we are no longer ignored. 2012 is the Year of Liberty. You won't be part of the victory parade if you sit on the sidelines. Let's get in the game and make our presence felt! — drm

2012 LPresidential Nominating Convention May 2-6—Las Vegas

Be part of history! Help select the 2012 LP candidate for President The Libertarian Party will hold its national presidential nominating convention in Las Vegas May 2-6 where you can help choose our party's standard bearer to run against Barack MittSantorum... on the slim chance that Ron Paul does not win the Republican nomination.

You can be one of Michigan's 39 delegates or 50 alternates to Las Vegas if you are a current member of the Libertarian Party of Michigan or if you join the LPM before April 3. Here's how: If you're not an LPM member*, join today at michiganlp.org or by clicking here (*according to LPM bylaws, a basic member of the national Libertarian Party is automatically an LPM member).

Find out more about the national convention at this page. Send a message indicating your interest that includes your name and residential address to the LPM state secretary, Mary Buzuma, at secretary@mi.lp.org. Or, until March 10, give your name and address to your LPM affiliate leader for him or her to pass on to the state secretary (Affiliate chairs: please send your collected names to Mary Buzuma by March 10)

A Libertarian from another state can be a delegate from Michigan after March 10 if our allotment isn't full and if he/she pays the LPM dues fee of $25. See the complete rules for LPM delegate selection by clicking here, or contact the state secretary for more information. While delegate lists must be submitted to the national credentials committee by April 3, if you decide at the last minute to go to Las Vegas you can still be a delegate. Our delegate list can be amended even at the convention!

Don't delay, sign up today! Even if you are just thinking about going to the convention, please submit your name right away. There's no obligation to attend, and it's much easier to get names in and vetted early rather than adding them at the last minute. You will want to go to this convention. Picking a presidential candidate along with hundreds of other Libertarians from around the country is exciting and special--you'll want to be part of this! We hope to see you in Las Vegas!

Gearing up for the 2012 LPM Convention in June—Livonia

We're already gearing up for the 2012 LPM State Convention in June, but we need your help to pull it off!! We're looking for a few great volunteers to join the LPM Convention Committee. The committee is responsible for developing the agenda, venue arrangements, promotion, registration, and on site logistics. Meetings will either be on line or via conference call. Please call Renee Lewis (livingstonladyliberty@gmail.com) for more information and to lend a hand.

Two new members elected to the LEC

Erwin Haas (LP West Michigan) and Christopher Sharer (Oakland County) were elected to fill the 2 LEC At Large seats recently vacated by Jay Longtain and Pam Sanderson who resigned for personal reasons. The election occurred during the monthly meeting of the LPM LEC on January 15, 2012. Welcome Erwin and Chris and thank you to Jay and Pam for your dedicated service to the LPM LEC.

Libertarian State Leadership Alliance forming

The Libertarian State Leadership Alliance (LSLA) has been in touch with a pitch for helping them to grow more effective practices for affiliate organizations. The LSLA is continuing to grow to help our LP Affiliates! We are recruiting qualified and talented members to join the LSLA Support Committee. The short term goal of the LSLA Support Committee is to put together a guidebook (play book, manual, hand book, etc.) of best practices which will be distributed to all State Chairs. The Committee will reach out to all states to gather and aggregate anything and everything we can which will help build our Affiliates. Please check the LSLA out at http://lsla.org/.

For many Americans, the story of the BP disaster began on April 20, 2010, and ended on August 15 of that year, when the Obama Administration declared that “the majority of the oil is gone.” Many disagree. Judge Carl Barbier ordered a week-long delay in the civil trial, which was due to start on Monday, February 27. In case anyone was worried about greedy shrimpers and lazy beachcombers sticking it to the oil companies, the disaster has not harmed BP fortunes: 2011 profits were an all time high of $25.7 billion.

However insignificant the minority, and however trifling the proposed trespass against their rights, no such trespass is permissible. — Herbert Spencer (from "The Right To Ignore The State")

Take a stroll down memory lane with this excerpt from one of the longest-running state Libertarian newsletters. Today, check out the March 1992 issue. Click on this link for the full PDF version of this newsletter.

Former editor and LPM archivist Greg Stempfle has compiled the entire body of available Michigan Libertarian newsletters up on this page of the LPM Website.

Some Ideas for a Libertarian Party State of Michigan Theme

Regarding my comment last night, these might be positive themes to consider, although I could live without one if that's our decision, too.

• "Let's Work Together, Michigan" (accompanied by the old Canned Heat hit song which I think would apply to our upbeat message of peaceful revolution, hear attached file that I do not intend to be any kind of copyright violation so I truncated the file)
• "Everyone Is Welcome"
• "Leaving the Past Behind"
• "For Our State and Our Future" (I mean Michigan state, not the collectivist authorian structure of "the state" so maybe this is better: "For Michigan's Future"

The ones below are certainly *not* good ideas but I can't resist adding them:

• "Let's Stop Sucking, Michigan!"
• "Time To Get Serious for Liberty and Stop Watching TV Every Night On Your Couch"
• "Lemmings Not Welcome"
• "Before It's Too Late, Michigan"

Tim Keirnan
Livingston County

The following review excerpts are courtesy LPM Webmaster Brian Wright's commentary and review site, The Coffee Coaster. If you are interested in receiving the e-newsletter for the Coffee Coaster, so you may receive notice of his site's reviews and commentary, please fill out the form link here then check the Email List box 0_Coffee_Coaster. [Reader submissions of reviews are also solicited for this feature.]

Movie Review
Limitless (2011)
Superb science fiction for Humanity+ __ 8/10

And then some. Tripping will never be the same. The filmmakers create so skillfully what it might be like to immediately put one's ordinary impulse-drive consciousness into warp drive: from the insatiable hunger for knowledge to the biological corollaries of having a neverending supply of energy to put into effect that incredible knowledge. The actor Bradley Cooper is perfect here, the change from his former distressed self to the superman of self-confidence and capability he handles brilliantly. Indeed, the whole team makes his enhanced world so real one is envious: NZT isn't just a smart drug, it's a Master of the Universe drug. [Full Review]

Book Review
Deer Hunting with Jesus (2006)
Guns, votes, debt, and delusion in redneck America
by Joe Bageant

Not for the faint of heart or addled of brain; a redneck native son returns to his roots after years seeking out the American Dream—and at least finding a means of sustenance that gratifies him. Bageant is not a 'liberal' in the sense of, say, a quiche-eating, latte-sipping, urban townhouse-dwelling, suit-and-tie-wearing promoter of indiscriminate government spending for 'those in need.' In fact, such are a goodly part of his intended audience. He nonetheless manifests a genuine concern for 'the other' and an awareness of the engines of ignorance and vulture capitalism that tend to grind these many others of the redneck persuasion into fine dust. Right here in the good ol' US of A, yup. Trick is: they've been brainwashed into liking it. [Full Review]

March 1 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666

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March 1 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843. Join them to discuss local and national news from a Libertarian perspective. Contact Todd Richardson chair.livingstonlp@gmail.com for details

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March 7 - LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). The LP of Washtenaw County meets on the first Wednesday of every month. You can see more announcements and information regarding the LPWC at its new website, http://lpwc.wordpress.com. Contact LPWC Chair, Paul Giuliano, pgiulian@umich.edu

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March 7 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com

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March 10 – 2012 LibertyFest and presentation of the 2011 Libby Awards – Delhi Café, 4625 Willoughby Road, Holt, MI 48842, 4:30 – 9:30 p.m. Guest speaker: Gov. Gary Johnson and other candidates for LP pres. nomination. Costs: $35-$75. Info on registration: http://www.michiganlp.org/Webpages_Aux/2012/2012_LibertyFest.html. Contact Andrew Hall halla12@ferris.edu

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March 12 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

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March 13 – LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. Join the LPWM on the second Tuesday of the month at Branns Restaurant on Leonard St. at US 131 in downtown Grand Rapids. Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

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March 21 – LP of Oakland County Annual Affiliate Convention – 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting -The LP of Oakland County meets the third Wednesday of the month at Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com

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March 21 - Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - 6:30 for dinner, 7:30 business meeting, at Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited for good food and conversation on the third Wednesday of every month. Contact Dan Flamand, daniel.flamand@att.net.

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March 27 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

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April 3 – Membership Deadline for National Convention Delegates – If you have never been a member of the Libertarian Party, you must join by April 3 to be eligible to serve as a delegate from Michigan

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April 4 - LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). The LP of Washtenaw County meets on the first Wednesday of every month. You can see more announcements and information regarding the LPWC at its new website, http://lpwc.wordpress.com. Contact LPWC Chair, Paul Giuliano, pgiulian@umich.edu.

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April 4 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com.

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April 5 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666

April 5 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843. Join them to discuss local and national news from a Libertarian perspective. Contact Todd Richardson chair.livingstonlp@gmail.com for details.

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April 9 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

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April 10 – LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. Join the LPWM on the second Tuesday of the month at Branns Restaurant on Leonard St. at US 131 in downtown Grand Rapids. Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

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April 18 – LP of Oakland County Meeting – 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting -The LP of Oakland County meets the third Wednesday of the month at Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com

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April 18 - Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - 6:30 for dinner, 7:30 business meeting, at Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited for good food and conversation on the third Wednesday of every month. Contact Dan Flamand, daniel.flamand@att.net.

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April 24 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

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May 2-6, 2012 - Libertarian Party National Presidential Nominating Convention -Red Rock Resort, Las Vegas NV. More info here. Contact LPM State Secretary Mary Buzuma, secretary@mi.lp.org, if you would like to be a delegate or alternate.

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June 2, 2012 - Libertarian Party of Michigan State Convention. Detroit Marriott Hotel, Livonia. Candidate nominations, officer elections, guest speakers and more! Contact Rene Lewis, livingstonladyliberty@gmail.com

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More... For all events, see the full online calendar on the Website:
http://www.mi.lp.org/Shared Documents/Calendar.aspx The Michigan Libertarian ONLINE is distributed on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news articles by the 25th of the prior month to:
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org

Note: The final print edition of the Michigan Libertarian is available online at http://www.mi.lp.org/Past%20Newsletters/ Michigan%20Libertarian%2038.2%20summer%202009.pdf

The Michigan Libertarian is published/posted on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news/articles to e-newsletter@michiganlp.org by the 25th of the prior month. The Michigan Libertarian is one of the longest-running Libertarian newsletters in the country, debuting in 1973 shortly after the founding of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. The "new" Michigan Libertarian (a predominantly online version) debuted on August 1, 2009 and replaced the weekly LPMOnline and the printed-and-mailed ML.  We will post the newsletter on the Website and deliver via email on the first of every month. A printed version of the new Michigan Libertarian will be sent free to anyone who signs up, which you may do at the LPM web site www.mi.lp.org (or www.michiganlp.org).

LPM members who need a hard copy may request one be mailed to them by contacting
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org or calling the LPM toll-free number 888-Free-Now.

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Newsletter URL (Webpage address for this issue of the ML):
201203/201203_ML.html

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