January 2008

Heartland Libertarian Conference and Missouri LP State Convention April 4-5, 2008

By Glenn Nielsen, Missouri LP State Chair

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Even though we're still over four months away, the 2008 Missouri LP state convention is already off to a great start. Like the 2004 convention, we will be meeting jointly with the Kansas LP and possibly with folks from the Iowa and Nebraska LP.

Mike Ferguson (elected to the Jackson County Water District #1 Board of Directors earlier this year) is coordinating the event with the Kansas LP Chair, Rob Hodgkinson. Its been named the "Heartland Libertarian Conference" and will take place in Kansas City on April 4th and 5th. The conference is being sponsored by ATLAS PAC.

Because we've started planning so early, we've been able to secure some of today's top speakers. Former Congressman Bob Barr (now a member of the LNC) will deliver the keynote address. LP Executive Director Shane Cory will deliver an update on the state of the Libertarian Party. In addition to great speakers, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn how to make our outreach, activism and campaigns more effective.

We will have a panel discussion/forum of ELECTED Libertarians. Learn how they won their campaigns and find out what it takes to serve in elected office and defend liberty after election day. Springfield City Councilman Doug Burlison, St. Joseph City Councilman Mike Bozarth and Salina, KS School Board Member Mike Wilson will be part of the panel.

I will be presenting a workshop on how to reach out to non-libertarian groups and build coalitions to defend freedom and find new members.

We will also have the first major debate among the top contenders for the LP Presidential nomination. We will have the top four or five candidates on the stage for a 90 minute debate.

Because we are reaching out to libertarians throughout the Midwest, this event will also be a great opportunity to network with like minded folks.

This conference will be self-sustaining, meaning that we need you to sign up today so we can pay the bills without any money coming from the MOLP budget - THAT money needs to go to our operations, candidate support and outreach. Go to http://lpmo.org/heartland2008/ to sign up today. You can pay by PayPal or just print up the registration form and send it to the address on the screen.

The hotel we'll be at has a nice (yet inexpensive) restaurant, a night club that will be open late each night, WiFi throughout the building, a fitness center and is pet-friendly. The room rate is the same for a single or double room ($89.00). Go to the hotel's website that is linked from the convention site to get the contact information. You'll need to call the hotel and let them know you are coming for the Heartland Libertarian Conference in order to get the special room rate.

If you register and pay before the end of November, the "Super Early Bird" registration for the convention is only $45.00. If you are a high school or college student, the rate is only $20.00 through the end of this month. On December 1st, the regular "Early Bird" rate will go into effect: $60.00 ($25.00 for students) so save yourself some money and register now! Please don't wait until the last minute to register.

Another way you can help is to buy a display booth (table) for $50.00. Promote your business or other organization and help support both the MOLP and the message of freedom at the same time!

For only $10.00, you can buy an on-screen ad that will be displayed on the big screen at the front of the meeting hall before and between all sessions. Only 15 ads will be sold and they will rotate like the ads you see on the movie theater screen before the film. You can buy your ad space at http://lpmo.org/heartland2008/schedule.htm.

Get in touch with Mike Ferguson (mike@mikefergusononline.com) to arrange to buy table/display space or to send your display ad to.

To learn more about the Heartland Libertarian Conference please visit:

http://lpmo.org/heartland2008/

I'll see you in Kansas City next April!

Glenn Nielsen
State Chair
Missouri Libertarian Party