Volunteers and Guests are Recognized at Full Committee Dinner Meeting
Senate District 41 Chairwoman Linda Presthus and Chairman Jerry Paar recognized volunteers and guests at the Full Committee meeting on April 26th. Ric Davies was wearing his new apron which had been presented to him as part of his recognition as the 2005 Crystal Eagle Award winner for his outstanding service. Ric was commended again for doing an outstanding job, as usual, helping serve the dinner meal with Carol Kerr, Nancy Vetter, and Joyce Edwards.
Guests of honor of Senate District 41 for the evening were College Republicans. Senate District 41 has partnered with the University of St. Thomas College Republicans for several years and is working toward building a similar relationship with the Normandale College Republicans. Tyler Sunderman, President of the University of St. Thomas College Republicans, reported that UST now has over 1000 College Republicans. Ann Coulter was on campus this past week as their guest speaker. She drew a large crowd, including our own Chairman, Jerry Paar. There have been considerable comments from the media and the President of UST and other editorials in the paper from her controversial program. There were nine other CR’s from the University of St. Thomas in attendance for the evening.
Tina Quick from Augsburg College was introduced as the new president of the Minnesota College Republicans. Rich Hager, Chair of the Normandale Community College Republicans told us they had 6-8 members in 2004. Now there are just two. There is a great deal of turnover due to demographic enrollment of Normandale as a commuter community college. He is the third chair this year and he is leaving to attend the University of Minnesota next year. Each if the CR’s in attendance was given a SD 41 mug.
Outgoing Senate District Vice Chairs were also recognized and thanked: July Cipolla, Sue Moline, Floy Sims, and Steve Neuger. Each had been presented with a plaque at the Senate District Convention in March. Judy Cipolla had been unable to attend the convention and received her plaque at the dinner meeting.
The DFL website states “The other Senate District 41 party is a fundraising machine.” (That’s us!) Daily fundraising winners who were not in attendance at the Senate District 41 convention received their awards. Winners receiving their prizes were Sara Niemic, Carolyn Johnston, Andy Westerberg, Doug Seaton, and Patsy Murphy.
Newly elected Executive Committee Officers for 2005-2007 were then introduced. New officers are Jack McCann, Tara Anderson, and Joyce Edwards from 41A and John Heutmaker from 41B. Officers re-elected for the upcoming two years are Chairwoman Linda Presthus and Chairman Jerry Paar, Secretary Anika Hagenson, Treasurer Don Teigen, 41A Vice Chairs Brien Martin and Doug Seaton, and 41B Vice Chairs Bill Bedor, Lew Coffey, Lynn Swon, and Vince Riehm.
Two cameras were set up to tape this meeting. The Senate Distinct is doing a pilot for a proposed Senate District 41 Cable TV show which will kick off sometime within the next 3 months. In preparation of this new initiative the film crew also taped Congressman Tom Tancredo at the Third District Convention fundraiser as he spoke on the problem of illegal immigration.
Jerry and Linda reported on the 3rd Congressional Convention held on March 23 at the Thunderbird Hotel. It was announced that Lynn Swon (current Vice Chair of Senate District 41) was re-elected Treasurer for the Third Congressional District and Sue Moline (former Vice Chair of Senate District 41) was elected as one of the Vice Chairs at the convention. There were 25 delegates and alternates from SD 41 who attended the Third District Convention which represented 25% of all the delegates at the convention. All our alternates attending the convention were seated.
It was a pleasure to see our own Patsy Murphy back after her surgery. She thanked everyone for the cards, letters, and prayers.
Senator Geoff Michel was in attendance at the meeting and briefly addressed the group. He said that the 2004 election message was “Get Your Work Done!” Senator Michel said that at the end of January, the governor submitted a balanced budget, which he must do by law, of close to $30 billion. Last week, the Senate DFL submitted their budget which is $1.3 billion higher than the governor’s with no indication as to how they would pay for it. With less than 4 weeks left in the regular session, the DFL won’t say what they are for, only that they are against the governor’s plan. He predicts that the legislature could be back where they were last year – a special session and gridlock.
