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April 2008
2008 Heartland Libertarian Conference - A Resounding Success
By Glenn Nielsen
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The 2008 Heartland Libertarian Conference
held in Kansas City, MO April 4th-5th was a resounding success. There were 130 people
attending the conference and even some national media. Both CNN and the Atlanta
Journal Consitution reported on the conference along with a
Kansas City NPR station.
Friday evening there was a dinner and reception to meet the speakers.
Doug Burlison, elected libertarian on the Springfield City Council and Rob
Hodgkinson, Kansas LP State Chair received the 2008 Libertarian Coalition
for Responsibility Leadership Award.
Teddy Fleck, Missouri LP candidate for Lt. Governor,
interviewed several Libertarian Presidential candidates live on his
Show Me Libertarian
blogtalk radio show Friday evening.
Saturday was very busy from the 7:30AM Breakfast with guest speaker Gary Nolan,
2004 candidate for the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination and radio talk
show host on
The Drive with Gary Nolan
on the Eagle 93.9FM in Columbia, MO to
the networking by conference participants in the lounge late Saturday evening.
The morning sessions started with Mark Rutherford, former Chair of the Indiana
Libertarian Party, speaking about the
Atlas Liberty Political Action Committee. This was followed by Missouri LP
State Chair Glenn Nielsen presenting a session on forming issue organizations,
Fighting for Liberty 24/7.
After a break the convention hall was packed with conference attendees and
TV cameras for a Libertarian Party Presidential candidate debate.
Watch the entire debate on streaming video.
Following lunch there was a panel discussion of elected libertarians.
Springfield, MO City Councilman Doug Burlison, St. Joseph, MO City Councilman
Mike Bozarth and Salina, KS School Board Member Mike Wilson gave their insights
on how to win local elections and then serving in public office as a libertarian.
They were followed by Bill Redpath, Libertarian Party National Committee Chair
and Bob Sullentrup, Libertarian Party National Committee Secretary who spoke about
Rock the Debates, a grassroots effort
to get all the Presidential candidates to agree to debate any candidate who is
on the ballot in enough states to win the election.
By mid afternoon it was time for former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr to give
his much anticipated keynote address. For weeks it had been rumored that he
would announce formation of an exploratory campaign committee for the Libertarian
Party Presidential nomination. The anticipation of this announcement is what
brought the national media to the convention.
Watch the keynote address on streaming video.
Then it was time to get down to business. The Missouri LP State Committee
met for two hours. Minor changes to our
platform and bylaws were approved. Cisse
Spragins of Kansas City was elected Vice Chair to fill a vacancy and a new
Executive Committee was elected.
In a special meeting of the State Committee in March, Paula Benski of Chesterfield
was elected as Treasurer. Finally, delegates were elected to represent Missouri
at the National Libertarian Party Convention
in Denver May 22-26. Missouri will have a full delegation of 22 delegates who's
primary business will be nomination of the 2008 Libertarian Party Presidential
candidate.
Those not attending the Missouri or Kansas State Committee meetings were able
to hear Michael Badnarik,
2004 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate speak on the Bill of Rights.
At dinner Saturday evening Austin Petersen, National LP Volunteer Coordinator
and Sharon Harris of The Advocates for Self-Government both spoke.
Saturday evening wrapped up with an award presentation by Greg Tlapek,
Missouri LP Executive Director and Glenn Nielsen, Missouri LP State Chair.
John Schultz, Missouri LP Secretary and Boone County LP Chair was presented
with the highest honor we can bestow - the Karl Wetzel award. The Karl
Wetzel award is bestowed in memory of its namesake who dedicated his
life and his fortune to the libertarian movement in Missouri.
The following Missourians received Champion of Freedom Awards:
- Jim Givens, Boone County
- Erik Buck, Clay County
- Kevin Babcock, St. Louis County
- Bill Wayne Johnson County
- Michael Hurley, Cass County
The final event was breakfast Sunday morning where longtime libertarian
activist Chris Bennet from Springfield, IL spoke about his candidacy for the
Libertarian Party Vice Presidential nomination.
Here are links to some photos taken at the 2008 Heartland Libertarian Conference:
The 2008 Heartland Libertarian Conference was organized by Mike Ferguson of
Missouri and Rob Hodgkinson of Kansas with technical assistance from David
White of Missouri. Thanks for putting together an incredibly successful event.
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