LPM Online

March 12, 2002

Contents

  1. Upcoming Events
  2. There Is Room For Everyone!
  3. Townsend to run for Midland County Commissioner
  4. LP of Wayne County Elects Officers

  1. Upcoming Events

    March 12, 2002 - 7:30 PM
    LP of Oakland County Executive Committee Meeting. All dues-paying members are welcome. Business begins at 7:30pm.
    Location: LPM Headquarters, 619 East Nine Mile in Hazel Park, just east of I-75.
    Contact: Greg Dirasian Phone: (248) 417-2217 E-mail: greg@lpocmi.org

    March 13, 2002 - 6:30 PM
    Libertarians of Macomb County monthly meeting. Drinks and dinner at 6:30 PM, business begins at 7:00 PM.
    Location: Miles World Resturant, 17689 Masonic, Fraser, MI 48026, 810-415-4500.
    Contact: Diane Barnes Phone: (810) 774-1625 E-mail: dbarnes98@aol.com

    March 18, 2002 - 6:30 PM
    Monthly Meetings  6:30 p.m. Dinner  7:30 p.m. Speaker: Wendy Adams - Candidate for Clare County Commissioner  8:00 p.m. Business meeting For more information contact: www.lp.mi.org/tclp (989) 671-TCLP
    Location: The Tri-City Libertarian Party meets on the third Monday of every month at Howard Johnson’s Restaurant (located at I-75 and M-84) in Bay City. Public is welcome.

    Contact: Stephen M. Townsend Phone: (989) 631-4853 E-mail: president@makingfreedomring.com

    March 21, 2002 - 7:00 PM
    Central Committee meeting. The Chairman has several items to report on and there are some ideas to look at. Following the meeting we will have social hour(s)(light refreshmants and interesting libertarian conversation). Hope to see you Thursday. Everyone welcome.
    Location: 746 Lee Street, South Haven. (Bill Bradley's house)
    Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: (616) 637-4525 E-mail: bbradley@cybersol.com

    March 24, 2002 - 1:00 PM
    The LPM Organizational Plan Work Session, will be held at LPM Headquarters on Sunday, March 24, starting at 1:00 pm. Those interested in participating, please download the plan (www.michiganlp.org/orgplan/), read it, and bring a copy with you to the meeting. Emily and Stacy will facilitate and lead the discussion. We'll start by explaining the plan and its finer points, and then we will facilitate the work (any motions) that result. This is intended to be exactly what it's called--A Work Session. So anyone prepared to roll up their sleeves and get to work is welcome!
    Location: LPM HQ
    619 E Nine Mile Rd
    Hazel Park MI 48030
    Contact: Emily Salvette Phone: (734) 668-2607 E-mail: salvette@ameritech.net

    March 27, 2002 - 6:30 PM
    LP of Oakland County General Membership Meeting. Public welcome. Meet for dinner at 6:30pm, business begins at 7:30pm
    Location: Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile Rd, Berkley. Sila's is 2 blocks west of Greenfield on Twelve Mile Road.
    Contact: Greg Dirasian Phone: (248) 417-2217 E-mail: greg@lpocmi.org

    April 2, 2002 - 6:30 PM
    Monthly Meeting of the Libertarian Party of Wayne County.
    Guest Speaker: David Eisenbacher.
    Business: Open nominations for candidates for public office.
    Location: City Tavern
    14316 Michigan Ave.
    Dearborn
    between Greenfield and Schaefer
    Meetings are free and open to the public.
    Contact: Greg Stempfle Phone: (313) 565-4407 E-mail: stempfle@hotmail.com

    April 2, 2002 - 7:00 PM
    Hillsdale / Branch Libertarians Monthly Meeting
    Location: Fillmore's for Steaks, US-12 in Jonesville, 2 blks west of M-99--in the restaurant, not the bar.
    Contact: James Parker Phone: (517) 439-2460 E-mail: jamesp@hillsdale.epcorp.com

    April 7, 2002 - 1:00 PM
    LPM Committee Meeting. This will be the last regularly scheduled business meeting before the convention.
    Location: Libertarian Party of Michigan Headquarters
    Contact: Ghazey Aleck Phone: (989) 386-2699 E-mail: aleckfamily@voyager.net

    April 8, 2002 - 7:00 PM
    Clare-Gladwin Libertarian Party Meeting. Candidate caucus will be the primary business of this meeting for lining up and approval of candidates. Candidate paperwork to be completed as well. Refreshments supplied.
    Location: Grant Township Hall, 1 mile west of Jay's Sporting Goods on Surrey Road.
    Contact: Ghazey Aleck Phone: (989) 386-2699 E-mail: aleckfamily@voyager.net

    More
    For more events, see the online calendar at:
    http://www.michiganlp.org/lpmonline/events.php

  2. There Is Room For Everyone! by Ghazey Aleck

    Sometimes someone may feel left out of activities in the LPM. I say that is unnecessary. There is room for everyone.

    Whether you are someone who thinks we need to run people for office as the way to advance libertarianism or someone who thinks we need to focus on education to advance libertarianism, there is room to do both without conflict.

    It seems to me that we have to first recognize that we are a political party and despite anything else, everyone who joins the LPM, knows that they have joined a political party. Thus, despite your leaning, be it politician or pure philosopher, you must have joined to advance libertarianism though the political process.

    The divergence appears to be about the process. Should we concentrate on winning elections or educating voters? Both points of view have good arguments. In fact, both may be right following the line of logic each employs. So, is there a plan to pull both together? I think there is.

    We have to start thinking with the 2 year election cycle. Every two years there is a partisan election. Thus, there is an off election year and an on election year, every other year. The off year should be reserved for educational activities (the philosophers area) and the on year should be reserved for election year activities (the politicians area). Everyone, despite their line of thinking, gets one half of the time to do what they are primarily interested in without any interference from the other under this plan. During the year that is not with your line of thinking, you could then take a supportive role. The philosophers get the politician's support in the off years, and the politicians get the philosopher's support in the election years.

    Certainly, this is just a proposal, something to chew on as it may not be this simple. But this way we could all work together to throw the one-two punch in a way that makes us all happy, think about it!

    Remember also the three guiding principles for growth and comradeship: 1)promote inclusiveness, 2) promote full and fair disclosure and 3) put your party first.

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  3. Townsend to run for Midland County Commissioner

    NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Contact: Stephen Townsend

    (989) 631-4853

    Townsend to Run For County Commissioner

    Stephen M. Townsend has announced that he will be a candidate for Midland County Commissioner.

    Townsend is a lifelong resident of Midland County having graduated from Bullock Creek High School, and he studied Economics and Business Management at Northwood University in Midland. He resides in Ingersoll Township. Townsend has been employed at Dow Corning for the past 10 years.

    During the past 10 years, Townsend has been actively involved in teaching youth in Boy Scouts of America serving as a Scoutmaster for Troop 772. He is a member of the Poseyville United Methodist Church and serves as a member of the Church Leadership Team. Townsend has been active in the Tittabawassee Chapter of the North Country Trail Association for the last 4 years having once served as its vice-chair.

    For the last 2 1/2 years, Townsend has been regularly attending Midland County Commission meetings and meetings in Midland, Mt. Haley and Ingersoll Townships. Stephen Townsend feels he has the knowledge and background to be elected to the office of County Commissioner.

    “I decided to run for Midland County Commissioner because I feel that I have the experience and background to represent the needs of Midland County residents. Local government is about protecting the way of life the people expect to have. We protect that way of life when we promote prosperity. County government is about making it easier for people to work and live -- not harder,” says Stephen Townsend.

    Townsend has been active in Midland County politics since his youth. He will be seeking the Libertarian Party nomination at the Libertarian Party State Convention on May 17th, 2002 in Troy, Michigan.

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  4. LP of Wayne County Elects Officers

    The Libertarian Party of Wayne County held their annual election of officers last week in Dearborn. Greg Stempfle was voted in as the party’s new Chair. Stempfle had served as Secretary of the affiliate for the previous three years.

    Re-elected to Vice-Chair was Bill Shotey and Ben Bachrach was re-elected to Treasurer. Rick Secula, who had been writing the County newsletter was voted in as Secretary.

    The three at-large members on the Executive Board are former BARC Chair Nancy O’Brian, Ed Karpinski, and Michael Donahue.

    "I believe our focus this year should be on outreach and promoting LP candidates. Wayne has more Congressional, State Senate, State House seats than any other county. Because of the state’s gubernatorial race is up for grabs, this will be an especially exciting election year. In 2000, the general public focused all their attention on the Presidential race. I’m hoping voters will be more concerned about local issues this time around." said Stempfle.

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