Editors Enclave

By Kevin Joseph Tull

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"Cool!" That was my first reaction to the news that I was to become the Editor of this dynamic newsletter devoted to the helping get Libertarians elected and to keeping the party membership well informed and maybe even a little entertained throughout Missouri. This is the second issue of Show Me Freedom that I have had the opportunity and pleasure to work on. I have been a member of the Libertarian Party now going on four years and just last November I became 5th District Representative to the Executive Committee.

Jeanne Bojarski, the Jackson County Vice Chair, recently had to give up her position as SMF Editor to which she did a great job for many years (see SMF cover article, Fall 2001.) State Chair, Bob Sullentrup stepped up and took over the first issue after Jeanne's absence (Fall, 2001), doing a wonderful job with it. Bob's remarkable work is even more impressive when you consider that besides his regular day job and the duties of being State Chair of Missouri he still was able to piece together a great looking issue.

Then something amazing happened with the Spring 2000 issue, Libertarian activists from all over the state pulled together to make a great issue of which I was proud to have had the opportunity to piece together as well as create a new logo for the newsletter. Bob Sullentrup produced about half the content and stories and, confidentially (sorry Bob), was a little worried about whether or not we would be able to get enough material to have a full issue. When we settled on a whopping twenty-four pages, four more pages than the previous issue, we still had another two pages of material that we had to leave out until this issue. Fortunately we were able to put the extra on the brand new SMF newsletter online at http://www.st-charles.lpmo.org/SMF_Manager.htm. Clearly the Libertarians had come out in force and helped produce a great issue of the SMF newsletter.

A big THANK YOU to Greg Tlapek, Bob Sullentrup, George Mussmann, Jim Higgins, Chip Taylor, Michael Ferguson, whose unique writing talents were the spice that added the wonderful flavor to the first issue I was blessed to work on. In this issue we are going to run Chip Taylor's article on Governor Holden's new same old, same old education plan; if you have checked out the online version of SMF then you may have gotten a chance to read this excellent piece. Another really nice item is Michael Ferguson's "My First Campaign Experience", kinda takes you back eh? Well, not me personally, but a lot of you greyhairs I'm sure. The Cass County Presidential Poll's recognition in a lot of the media across the country and by the National LP News is currently getting Michael a lot of attention as he is the Cass County Chair and Webmaster of the famous site.

Also again it looks like the infamous State Chair Bob Sullentrup has written the lions share of articles. These are the meat and potatoes pieces about who's running and for what office; a couple of pieces on Libertarian volunteers and activists and pieces on the State and National Conventions. How can you tell what he has written, well, if it is unsigned it's probably Bob's. He's just so modest. ;-)

Thanks for all your efforts this month guys! I also am going to include a cartoon created by "Yours Truly" and if you like it maybe I'll create a new one next issue. If you hate it get out your drawing pen and submit one. Maybe I can hate yours too, and if I don't then maybe I'll publish it.

Also I'd like to add my mini-bio for posterity:

Kevin Tull is the Libertarian 5th District Representative to the Executive Committee in Missouri, he owns, Artworks Unlimited, a home based graphic arts business, and while two of his children are at school he raises the other three children at home as a Mr. Mom. Kevin and his wife, Teresa, are foster parents and have been blessed with the adoption of their five children.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have enjoyed doing it. My hopes are to continue in the fine tradition that has been set by Bob and Jeanne and all that have contributed in the past.

Being Libertarian is our journey and Liberty it's destination, but not it's end. SMF is a fine record and a useful map, let's continue our travels together.