Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2024
Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Room 108

Call to Order:

Chair Greg Haas called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.
Pledge of Allegiance recited.

Agenda:

There were no additions to the agenda.

Attendance:

Six Central Committee Members.

Secretary Report:

Minutes from the Dec. 5th meeting were read and approved with the correction that our Jan. 2nd business meeting was cancelled and replaced with a zoom meeting on precinct committee people.

Treasurer Report:

Treasurer’s report was presented and approved.

Chair Announcements:

• Members have been invited into the Legislative Watch Group.
• College and High School Democrats groups are now starting to form here in WY (at UW, high schools, Casper College)

Old Business:

Johnson County convention 

• Will be held April 13, 2024
• Credentials committee (Mary, Dudley, Suzi) will arrive 8:30 am, doors open for check-ins at 9 am, doors close at 10 am and Convention starts at 10:15. 
• Platform Committee (Kim and Greg) will bring platform suggestions to the April 13, 2024 convention for discussion and approval.
• Motion made / seconded (Suzi / Mary) to spend up to $300 to secure the Senior Center as the Convention venue. Failed.
• Motion made / seconded (Suzi / Mary) to spend up to $300 on securing a venue for the Convention. Approved.

Lunch Forums

• Kim suggested all interested Dems meet at 11:30 at Bozeman Steakhouse on Monday, February 19^th (President’s Day) for social time and discussion of common issues.

Ads for Buffalo Bulletin

• Draft ads were passed around.
• Motion made/seconded (Dudley / Suzi) to approve one trial ad be sent to the Buffalo Bulletin in the format Greg proposed. Approved.
• Motion made/seconded (Suzi / Kim) that the Here for Good ad in 3” x 4” size dealing with taxes be first. Approved.

Scholarship Committee 

• Dudley reported that the Lover’s Raffle Basket raised $130 in Buffalo and $180 in Kaycee
• Next meeting of the Scholarship Committee will be Feb. 20. 

New Business:

School Board Recruitment

• Lois reported on the Take Back Our School Boards meeting she attended and asked that any interested in helping identify and recruit potential candidates for the 6 out of 9 open seats in JC contact her.

June 9^th event

• Local band, The Fireants, has offered to perform at a Dems event on June 9^th, 2024. 
• Vikki Chenette has contacted Scott Gall to reserve Kearney Hall for that day.

Banned Book Club

• Lois suggested we start a Banned Book Club to raise awareness and explore targeted books.

  • Those interested should contact Lois.

Upcoming Meetings:

• An SCC meeting will be held in Buffalo in Sept. of 2024.
• The WDP State Convention will be held in Casper on June 1^st, 2024.
• Next monthly CCC Meeting on March 5, 2024 at 6 pm.
• Comms Call on first and third Tuesdays at 7:00pm
• County Officer Round-table Zoom March 13, 2024 at 6:00pm

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm.

You may not be following all the bills in the Wyo Legislative session right now, but it isn’t all bad news! As of this writing, you can see several good bills being introduced and passed to committee without ANY votes from the so-called “freedom caucus”!
https://wyoleg.gov/Calendar/20240215/Floor/House

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting Agenda (Draft)
February 6, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Rm 108

Draft Agenda

6:00pm Call to order and Pledge

6:02pm Approve Agenda

6:04pm Minutes (Secretary) & Money (Treasurer)

6:07pm Chair Announcements

Legislative Watch Group

Young Dems, College Dems, High School Dems

6:08pm Old Business

Convention Update – April 13

Lunch forums

William D. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship Update, Fundraiser Raffle, online app., etc.

6:18pm New Business

Upcoming SCC and WDP State Convention – Greg

Taking back our school boards info – Lois

June 9 Fireants at Kearney Hall – Vikki

Banned book club – adult books? School age books? – Lois

6:38pm Announcements from the Floor

Upcoming Meetings

Next Monthly CCC Meeting – March 5, 2024 at 6:00pm

Comms Call – Tuesdays at 7pm 1st and 3rd Weeks

Other?

6:55pm Adjourn

* Strategic Planning Committee will meet following the business meeting above.

In case you missed it. Residents in Fremont County, Wyoming are seeking a ceasefire. You can learn more and sign their petition here:

https://www.fremontcountyceasefirenow.org/

Wyoming News Now reported on this story December 13, 2023.

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting Agenda
December 5, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Rm 108

Draft Agenda

6:00pm Call to order and Pledge

6:02pm Approve Agenda

6:04pm Minutes (Secretary) & Money (Treasurer)

6:07pm Chair Announcements

None

6:08pm Old Business

William D. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship Update, Fundraiser-Film Night, Raffle, etc.

6:18pm New Business

Projects: “Fundraising” after meeting*

6:19pm Announcements from the Floor

Upcoming Meetings

Next Monthly CCC Meeting – Dec 5, 2023 at 6:00pm

Comms Call – Tuesdays at 7pm 1st and 3rd Weeks

ActBlue Training – AMA/Q&A – Zoom – Dec 13, 6pm

Other?

6:30pm Adjourn

* Strategic Planning Committee will meet following the business meeting above.

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting
November 7, 2023
Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Room 108

Call to Order:

Chair Greg Haas called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda:

There were no additions to the agenda.

Attendance:

Greg Haas, Mary VanAuken, Lois Petersen, Kim McCoy, Vikki Chenette

Secretary Report:

The Minutes of October 3rd were approved and will be entered into the record.

Treasurer Report:

Dudley reported income and expenses for general and scholarship accounts as of 10/1/23, providing a Balance Sheet for filing.

Chair Announcements:

Three public lands issues before the public for comment: Sheridan Democratic Party is asking for letters before 11/13 to Deputy Director Jason Crowder of the State Lands and Investment Board opposing the Columbus Peak Land Exchange in Sheridan County. See: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WYOSLI/bulletins/378dad4.

Teton County Democrats are opposed to the Kelly parcel auction. There are several public hearing scheduled around the state. See: https://wyodems.net/kelly-parcel-land-auction/.

Public comment ends January 17th for the BLM’s proposed bonding policy revisions related to land around Rock Springs. For more info see:

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-extends-public-comment-period-draft-rock-springs-rmp-and-draft-eis.

Vanessa V. is giving away a grill with minor hail damage, and several upcoming Christmas Open House dates were around the community were shared.

Old Business:

Greg reported our Strategic Plan accessible on the Google Drive now includes results of last month’s discussion on JCDP’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Lois reported on plans underway for our November 30^th Meat the Future film night to benefit the William D. McIntyre Scholarship. Buffalo Theater reserved, $10.00 tickets available for purchase in advance or at the door, members, friends, and local media being contacted, and volunteers donating appetizers for the social hour. The gift basket raffle drawing will be held right before Valentine’s Day. Tickets will be $5.00 each or $20.00 for five tickets. The new Info cards will be available for outreach.

New Business:

Discussion of postcards mailed anonymously attacking Rep. Barry Crago. No action taken.

Kim won tonight’s Trivia Quiz $10.00 gift certificate from Margo’s.

Upcoming Meetings:

Our next meeting will be held December 5, 2023 at 6:00pm.

Comms Call on first and third Tuesdays at 7:00pm
County Officer Round-table Zoom Dec 13th at 6:00pm

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 pm.

Columbus Peak Land Exchange public meeting #3 – November 13th at 2pm

1. If at all possible please attend this Public Hearing.
2. Please send an email or letter to Jason Crowder (his contact info is in the email) stating your position on the Land Exchange.

Below is the email from OSLI (Office of State Land Board):

Pursuant to Wyoming Statute 36-1-117, the Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners have formally requested a public hearing be held in Sheridan County for the Columbus Peak Ranch Land Exchange. Accordingly, the Office of State Lands and Investments (“OSLI”) will hold a public hearing on behalf of the State Board of Land Commissioners on November 13, 2023 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. The hearing will take place at the Sheridan College, Kinnison Hall in the Whitney Center for the Arts, located at 1 Whitney Way, Sheridan, WY 82801.

The Detailed Analysis of the proposed exchange is available for public view on OSLI’s webpage at lands.wyo.gov, and within OSLI’s offices located at 122 W. 25th Street, Herschler Building Suite W103, Cheyenne, WY 82002.

Written comments are currently being accepted and will be presented to the State Board of Land Commissioners prior to its consideration of the proposed exchange. Written comments, along with any questions or concerns can be directed to Jason Crowder, Deputy Director, at 122 W. 25th Street, Herschler Building, Suite W103, Cheyenne, WY 82002, or by email at jason.crowder@wyo.gov.

OSLI Board eMail

There are lots of programs encouraging and supporting and educating women about running for office in Wyoming. Check out this page on the Hughes Charitable Foundation’s website:

https://hughescf.org/a-return-to-representation/

Run, Women. Run for office!

The Sheridan County Democrats recently posted an informative piece about Megan Degenfelder and her nasty accusations that Wyoming Educators and Teachers are teaching porn and bullying students.

Check it out here.

The WyoDems are doing a TikTok series about this as well. Check that out here.