MICHIGAN LIBERTARIAN
March 2019
In This Issue:
- 2019 Libertarian Party of Michigan Convention
- Nominate a Defender of Liberty!
- LPM Bylaws Committee 2019: Back to Minor Party Status... for Now
- Video of Jewish Gun-Rights Activist Banned in 40 Countries
- Get Involved in Oakland County!
- Officers & Staff
- Upcoming Events
Thank you for all of the articles. Keep them coming with careful attention to our guidelines. We are now on a monthly publication schedule. Articles for the next issue of the Michigan Libertarian must be submitted to chair@michiganlp.org, newsletter@michiganlp.org and vcpoliticaldirector@michiganlp.org no later than the 20th of each month. This allows for publication on the first of each month.
The Libertarian Party of Michigan depends on contributions to carry out it's mission Please Visit us at MichiganLP.org and scroll down to the bottom of our homepage to gain access to our contribution form.
2019 Libertarian Party of Michigan Call to Convention
Bill Hall & Emily Salvette
Bay City, MI - Libertarians from across Michigan will assemble for their 2019 convention on Saturday, April 13 starting at 9:00 A.M. We will be gathering at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 2 East Main Street, Bay City, Michigan. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Convention Business Session - Free to LPM Members
The convention business session for elected delegates and alternates will feature Bylaws consideration, reports from current state party officers, the election of state party officers for a two-year term, and caucuses to select Congressional district representatives to the state executive committee for two-year terms.
How to Become a Delegate or Alternate to this Convention
You must be selected as a state convention delegate or alternate by a local affiliate or unaffiliated regional caucus and be a Libertarian Party of Michigan (LPM) member in order to vote at the convention. Note that if you have never been a member of the LPM, you must join at least 30 days prior to the convention (by March 14) to serve as a state convention delegate or alternate. You may join or renew membership at michiganlp.org/donate.
Affiliates set their own caucus dates, which must take place before April 6, so check with your local affiliate for date, time and place of the caucus. Members living in counties without an affiliate may take part in regional video-conference caucuses which will be scheduled before April 6. Credentials Committee Chair Larry Johnson will be sending a separate email to all current and lapsed members in unaffiliated counties with details of these video caucuses.
Presidential Candidate Forum
The convention will feature a buffet lunch at which announced candidates for the 2020 Libertarian Party nomination for President will speak. So far 3 candidates have committed to attend.
LibertyFest Banquet
The LPM's annual LibertyFest banquet will follow the convention business session. This year's guest speaker has yet to be announced. At the banquet, we will present Defender of Liberty awards to our 2018 Spokesperson for Liberty, Promoter of Liberty and Producer of Liberty.
Reservations
Convention pricing is as follows:
- Convention Package (includes lunch, banquet, hard copy of convention packet) $85.00
- Banquet only $65.00
- Lunch only: $20.00
- Hard copy of convention packet $10.00
- Vendor table $35.00
- Registration for business session: FREE
Even if you are attending only the free business sessions, please sign up so we can have your credentials printed and ready.
Our Deadline for Meal Reservations is April 3, so click here to sign up online today, or mail your registration check to Libertarian Party of Michigan, P.O. Box 3685, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-3685.
Room Reservations
We have reserved a block of rooms at $119/night (plus taxes, etc.) for single or double occupancy at the convention hotel. You must reserve a room by March 22, 2019. To reserve a room, click here.
Questions?
Contact 2019 LPM Convention Chair James Weeks at jamestweeks@outlook.com or 810-422-8769.
![Photo from Wikipedia [By Gstempfle - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3786331]](201903_ML_files/LPM_2007_Dender_of_Liberty_Award_Winners.jpg)
The Libertarian Party of Michigan's annual LibertyFest banquet will follow the convention business session on April 13 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Bay City. At the banquet, we will present Defender of Liberty awards for 2018 to our:
Spokesperson for Liberty
A member of the community whose patriotism and conviction have inspired contributions to the cause of Liberty.
Promoter of Liberty
A Libertarian whose efforts have done the most to promote the Libertarian Party (LP) and Libertarian principles.
Producer of Liberty
A dedicated, behind-the-scenes Libertarian whose quiet labors over the years exemplifies the backbone of the LP.
Awards committee
Our awards committee this year consists of Alex Merced, national vice chair of the Libertarian Party; Patty Malowney, West Michigan vice chair and past candidate; and Mike Saliba, Macomb County chair, Libertarian Executive Committee (LEC) member and past candidate.
Nominate someone by March 15
If you have any nominations for the Defender of Liberty Awards, please email them to me at chair@michiganlp.org with the subject line "Libby Award Nomination 2018", and I will forward them to the committee for consideration. Include the name of the nominee, the particular award for which you are nominating them, and explain in detail their qualifications to receive the award.
The deadline for receiving nominations is March 15, 2019.
A directory of past Liberty Festivals and Defender of Liberty Award winners is here in the historical archives.
Delegates attending the April 13 Libertarian Party of Michigan (LPM) State Convention will get the opportunity to vote on proposed changes to the state party bylaws. Greg Stempfle was named chair of the 2019 LPM Bylaws Committee by the LEC at their January meeting and is assembling a committee consisting of a representative of each affiliate. Stempfle previously chaired the special bylaws committee in 2016 that was formed when the LPM became a primary qualified party for the 2017-2018 election cycle and needed to bring the bylaws up to date with Michigan election law.
A unique year
"This will be a unique year for us as we transition from being a primary qualified party back to a minor party. Additionally, I feel that if Trump runs for re-election in 2020, there is a good possibility that our Presidential candidate will earn enough votes for us to re-qualify for the 2022 primary," Stempfle said.
Our current state party bylaws address both years in which we are either a primary qualified party or a minor party, so no changes are required despite losing our primary party status. However, some of the changes that were made two years ago may be worth revisiting as are other issues that have arisen over the course of the last election cycle.
Members of the committee will discuss proposed changes to the bylaws over email throughout March and hold a zoom video conference meeting before the state convention to vote on our recommendations. The date, time, and log in information to the zoom video conference will be made available upon request. A bylaws committee report will be made available to delegates and members at least five days in advance of the convention.
Propose a change
Any member of the LPM may submit proposed changes to the bylaws. The current state party bylaws can be found here:
https://michiganlp.org/bylaws-2/
To submit a proposal or request zoom videoconference login information, please email Greg Stempfle at gregstempfle@gmail.com.
Detroit, MI - Forty countries have banned a video ( https://youtu.be/q-8E1d9GofI) of a Jewish gun activist within hours of it being uploaded to YouTube. The message doesn't display any explicit or graphic content. The half-hour video is of a speech by the late gun-rights activist Aaron Zelman who spoke at a 1997 event at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield Township. The event was sponsored and organized by the Michigan-based conceal-carry advocacy group, "Brass Roots" The group's founder; 1994 Libertarian US Senate candidate Jon Coon introduced Zelman at the beginning of the program. Zelman was the founder of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO).
In 1994 Aaron Zelman spoke at the Libertarian Party of Michigan's Sunday morning brunch which was on the last day of the State Convention.
The video was initially restricted in the United States, but YouTube removed that restriction in response to an appeal. The domestic block included a warning that the viewer had to click on to in order to view the video.
Intolerant Nations
"I was shocked that so many of these countries have such strict censorship laws." Said Brass Roots spokesperson Scotty Boman, "The list is almost exclusively countries that most Americans would consider part of the so-called free world, but they are banning a video of a person talking. He isn't even swearing. Apparently these countries are even less tolerant of political expression then those many of us think of as authoritarian."
The complete text of YouTube's notification to the administrator of the posting channel read:
Aaron Zelman, JPFO "Why the Holocaust? " has been blocked from view on the following YouTube country site(s):Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Martinique, Malta, New Caledonia, Netherlands, French Polynesia, Poland, Portugal, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Reunion, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, French Southern Territories, Wallis and Futuna, Mayotte
YouTube blocks content where necessary to comply with local laws. Please review our help center article on legal complaints //support.google.com/youtube/answer/3001497?hl=en.
"If nothing else this should remind people in the United States how fragile liberty is, and that eternal vigilance is the price we pay for it." Said Boman.
Brass Roots lead the conceal-carry movement in Michigan that lead to the passage of "Shall-Issue" CPL legislation. The organization is currently working to have a 4'x6' plaque made from brass casings put on permanent display in Lansing, MI.
Want to get involved in the Libertarian Party locally? With the lead up to the 2020 Presidential campaign, we need dedicated activists to help organize our local affiliate so we can make an impact on the upcoming election season. If you live in Oakland County, please attend the Libertarian Party of Oakland County 2019 Convention on March 20 at 7:30 PM at the Rusty Bucket in Bingham Farms. Convention business will include:
1) Selection of delegates to the LPM state convention on April 13 in Bay City.
Oakland is allocated 22 delegates and 22 alternates. Please note that you must be a dues paying member of the Libertarian Party of Michigan (LPM) by March 14 to be eligible.
2) Election of LPOC officers for the 2019-2020 term.
Officers include the chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, membership director, development director, and communications director. Here is a link to the Libertarian Party of Oakland County (LPOC) bylaws which includes officer descriptions.
LPOC Bylaws: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BEpj3c9D7i1bsIa4oHzJWYMku8WdNoRs3) Consideration of bylaws changes and resolutions.
Any member of the LPOC may offer proposals and vote.
If you would like to be a delegate to the state convention (or be a county party officer) but cannot attend the county convention, please email LPOC chair Greg Stempfle, gregstempfle@gmail.com, to have your name placed into nomination.
Officers & Staff
General Contact: Libertarian Party of Michigan: PO Box 27065, Lansing, MI 48909; Phone: 888.FREE.NOW.Chair: Bill Hall. chair@michiganlp.org
First Vice Chair: Tim Yow. vcaffiliates@michiganlp.org
Second Vice Chair: Greg Stempfle. vcpoliticaldirector@michiganlp.org
Secretary: Emily Salvette. secretary@michiganlp.org
Treasurer: Jason Brandenburg. treasurer@michiganlp.org
District 1 Rep: Donna Gundle-Krieg. dist1rep@michiganlp.org
District 2 Rep: Mary Buzuma. dist2rep@michiganlp.org
District 3 Rep: Jamie Lewis. dist3rep@michiganlp.org
District 4 Rep: Luke Sciberras. dist4rep@michiganlp.org
District 5 Rep: Mark Sanborn. dist5rep@michiganlp.org
District 6 Rep: Wendi Parker. dist6rep@michiganlp.org
District 7 Rep: Norman Peterson. dist7rep@michiganlp.org
District 8 Rep: Jeff Wood. dist8rep@michiganlp.org
District 9 Rep: Mike Saliba. dist9rep@michiganlp.org
District 10 Rep: John Kanan. dist10rep@michiganlp.org
District 11 Rep: Paul Connolly. dist11rep@michiganlp.org
District 12 Rep: Larry Johnson. dist12rep@michiganlp.org
District 13 Rep: Adam Zientarski. dist13rep@michiganlp.org
District 14 Rep: Ben Carr. dist14rep@michiganlp.org
Judicial Committee Members
Kerry Morgan. judicialcommittee@michiganlp.orgKen Proctor. judicialcommittee@michiganlp.org
James Hudler. judicialcommittee@michiganlp.org
Volunteers
Webmaster: In Transition. Webmaster@MichiganLP.orgNewsletter Editor: Scotty Boman. newsletter@michiganlp.org
Deputy Editors: Norman Peterson & Mary Buzuma. newsletter@michiganlp.org
Ciculation Director: Catherine Filus.Catherine Filus catherine@catherinefilus.com
Affiliate Contacts
Capital Area: Luke Sciberras, Chair. 248-302-1064, capitalarealp@gmail.comhttps://capitalarealp.wordpress.com
Genesee County: Chair Alex Cooper, alexcooperliberty@gmail.com.
https://www.facebook.com/LPGCMI
Huron-Raisin: James Hudler, (734) 475-9792, james.hudler@gmail.com
https://lpwc.wordpress.com
Jackson-Hillsdale: Norman Peterson, (269) 330-2980 norman.peterson@comcast.net
https://www.jhlp.org
Livingston County: James Weeks II, (810) 422-8769, j.weeks@riseup.net
http://livingstonlibertarians.org
Macomb County: Mike Saliba, chair@macomblp.org
https://macomblp.org
Mid-Michigan: Tim Yow. vcaffiliates@michiganlp.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1356267337769739
Northeast-Lower: Zach Boyle, 989-255-4521, livovivo@gmail.com
Northern Lower: Dana Carver, danacarver103@yahoo.com
Northwest Michigan: Donna Gundle-Krieg. nwmichiganlibertarians@gmail.com
www.nwmichiganlibertarians.org
Oakland County: Greg Stempfle, (313) 929-1789, gregstempfle@gmail.com
http://lpocmi.org
Southwest Michigan: Jason Brandenburg. swmi4liberty@be-innovative.net
https://swmlp.com
Straits Area: Chair Andy Evans, (231) 625-8403, . amevans_1968@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/StraitsAreaLP/
Wayne County: Scotty Boman, (313) 247-2052, scottyboman@hotmail.com
https://michiganlpwayne.wordpress.com
West Michigan: Jake Andrews. (269) 967-4071. jwandrew@mtu.edu
http://lpwm.org Back to Contents
Upcoming Events
Some events are also posted by their hosts at the Meetup.com site. The Michigan Libertarian recommends contacting an affiliate officer or check the Website (or Facebook page) associated with the meeting host (if they have one) before arriving at a meeting. Some meetings can get canceled, or locations can change with short notice. Contact information connected to most events can be found by expanding the item on the "Agenda view" of the Events page of our website.
March 5, 2019 - Southwest Affiliate Meeting 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The venue the Southwest Michigan affiliate was meeting at in 2018 has abruptly closed. The next meeting of the LP of Southwest Michigan will be on Tuesday February 5, 6-8pm at The Crew Restaurant. 3810 East Cork Street Kalamazoo, MI. (269) 337-9800. Take the Sprinkle Rd/Cork exit off I-94. For more information, please contact Jason Brandenburg at swmi4liberty@be-innovative.net.
March 6, 2019 - Huron-Raisin Social Meeting, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103
For more information, contact James Hudler at 734-475-9792 or email james.hudler@gmail.com
March 7, 2018 - Livingston County Michigan Libertarians social meeting, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The meetings have two parts:
- Meet and greet: Catch up with each other at 7 while we order food and introduce any visitors.
- Guest Speaker / Miscellaneous: If we have something going on that requires discussion before the business meeting, we talk about it. Occasionally, we will have a guest speaker.
The other meeting we have every month is the business meeting. At this meeting, usually held at our Secretary's home in Howell, the officers and volunteers discuss affiliate business. The membership is welcome to attend these meetings, which are announced at the prior week's social meeting.Cleary's Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave. Howell, MI 48843
For more information, contact James Weeks II at 810.422.8769 or email j.weeks@riseup.net
March 7, 2019 - Libertarian Party of Wayne County monthly meeting, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
After several years of meetings at Tijuana's Mexican restaurant, the Libertarian Party of Wayne County decided to have a change of scenery. The affiliate is grateful for the years of excellent service provided by Tijuana's. The new location (At least for January) is Westpoint Bar-B-Que at 25301 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, Michigan 48124.
There may be additional changes in the future, so please call ahead for future meetings.
Business and speakers, for the Wayne County affiliate, are normally scheduled from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, but people arrive around 6:30 PM to order dinner. For more information, contact Scotty Boman at (313) 247-2052 or email ScottyBoman@hotmail.com
March 10, 2019 - Straits Area Libertarians - Combined County Convention, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
The Wigwam. 4529 Onaway Rd, Indian River, Michigan 49749. Link to Facebook Event Page. For more information, please contact Andy Evans at amevans_1968@yahoo.com.
March 12 - Northwest Michigan affiliate monthly business meeting, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
The Northwest Michigan Libertarians recently became an official affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Michigan, as members selected officers and set a regular meeting schedule. In addition, the group created official bylaws, which were approved by the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Michigan.
The officers will conduct a business meeting every 2nd Tuesday of each month. Please see the Events Page for more information.
Business meetings will focus on the group's goals of electing political candidates and conducting outreach and educational activities. Anyone is welcome!
The monthly meeting will be also be held electronically as well. To join the February 12th meeting online contact Donna Krieg to get the current Zoom Meeting link. For more information, please contact Donna Gundle-Krieg at dokrieg@gmail.com.
March 13, 2019 - Libertarian Party of West Michigan Annual Convention, 7:00 PM
The Libertarian Party of West Michigan will hold it's annual convention to choose delegates for the Libertarian Party of Michigan state convention. Time and place to be determined.
Convention details and agenda will be posted on the Libertarian Party of West Michigan Facebook Page: https:/www.facebook.com/WestMichiganLibertarian
March 13, 2019 - Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly meeting, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Ike's Restaurant, 38550 Van Dyke, Sterling Heights
For more information, contact Mike Saliba at macomblp@gmail.com
March 17, 2019 - Capital Area Affiliate monthly meeting, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Harper's Restaurant and Brew Pub. 131 Albert Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823.
Contact Luke Sciberras at 248-302-1064 or email CapitalAreaLP@gmail.com to confirm location.
Times and locations may very from month to month.
March 20, 2019 - The Libertarian Party of Oakland County Convention, Dinner at 6:30 PM, convention at 7:30 PM.
Members of the Oakland County will elect state convention delegates here. State convention delegates must have joined the LPM at least 30 days before that convention. The Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern. 30450 Telegraph Road, Bingham Farms, MI 48025. For more information contact Greg Stempfle, (313) 929-1789, gregstempfle@gmail.com
March 20, 2019 - Jackson-Hillsdale Libertarian County Convention, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Members of the Jackson-Hillsdale County affiliate will elect state convention delegates here. State convention delegates must have joined the LPM at least 30 days before that convention.
Steve's Ranch Restaurant, 311 W. Louis Glick Hwy. Jackson, MI 49201
For more information contact Norman Peterson (269) 330-2980. JHLP Website: https://www.jhlp.org/
March 24, 2019 - Greater Flint (previously Genesee County) Convention, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Dinner at 5:30 PM. Call to order at 6:00 PM
Joe+Louis Penalty Box 2400 Owen Rd. Fenton, MI
For more information, contact Alex Cooper at alexcooperliberty@gmail.com or Jeff Wood at jeffwood531@gmail.com
April 4, 2019 - Tentative Libertarian Party of Wayne County Meeting, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Westpoint Bar-B-Que at 25301 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, Michigan 48124.
Call to order 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, but people arrive around 6:30 PM to order dinner.
For more information, contact Scotty Boman at (313) 247-2052 or email ScottyBoman@hotmail.com
March 30, 2019 - The Capital Area Libertarian Party will be hosting its second annual Liberty Bowl event, 4:00 PM
The public is invited. Food, shoes and lanes provided!
City Limits bowling alley 2120 E. Saginaw. East Lansing, MI 48823.
Contact Luke Sciberras at 248-302-1064 or email CapitalAreaLP@gmail.com or Tyler Palmer at press@votetylerpalmer.com to RSVP.
Back to Contents
If you are new to the Michigan Libertarian, you can link to 2016 issues here, http://michiganlp.org/category/newsletters . Older issues are preserved in our historical archives here: http://old.michiganlp.org/resources-2/newsletter.
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