Our Democratic County Convention this year will take place on April 13, 2024.

Location: Twing Meeting Room, Johnson County Library, Buffalo, WY
Time: Check-in begins at 9:00am; Check-in ends at 10:00am; Convention begins at 10:15am

Don’t be late, we can’t let anyone in after the doors close and we start counting voters at 10:00am.

All voters registered as Democrats prior to April 9, 2024 are encouraged to participate. We will declare our presidential preference (via caucus), adopt a platform and pass any resolutions brought forth. We will review the County Central Committee’s Strategic Plan.

A delicious lunch will be provided after the meeting.

Feel free to check out our calendar. Lots of these things will appear there soon if they’re not already there.

• April 8, 2024 – Last day to register as a Dem for Convention
• April 9, 2024 – BluWyo

  • 7pm – 9pm
  • An online forum with six members of our Wyoming Democratic Caucus to debrief on the session, discuss what to expect and watch for in the interim, take some questions, and get fired up about the election!
  • Submit your questions
  • Register for zoom forum

• April 13, 2024 – Johnson County Democrats County Convention

  • 9am (check-in ends at 10am, Agenda starts at 10:15am)
  • All JC Dems encouraged to attend!
  • This includes presidential preference caucus! Must be registered as a Dem in J.C. by end of business April 8th, 2024.
  • Lunch served following the Convention.

• April 25, 2024; 12:00 Noon – Lunch at Bozeman Trail Steakhouse
• May 7, 2024 6:00PM – Monthly Meeting

  • Room 108, Bomber Mtn Civic Center

• May 15, 2024 – Register to Vote at the Clerk’s Office

  • They changed the rules. New deadline to change your party affiliation to vote in Primary and General Election is May 15.
  • https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2024/2024_Key_Election_Dates.pdf
  • 86,000 voters have been “purged” from the rolls! Are you one of them? Check with the Johnson County Clerk’s office. (307) 684-7272

• Soon (TBD, 2024) – Adopt•a•Highway

  • Watch this space, and bookmark our website, we’ll pick a nice-weather weekend to help keep our roadsides clean. If you want to be notified directly, drop an email to Lois at lois.petersen@gmail.com.

• June 1st, 2024 – WDP State Convention

  • County Delegates from across Wyoming will convene to select delegates to the Democrat National Committee’s convention later in the summer, elect officers, adopt bylaws and pass resolutions.

• June 9th, 2024 – Social Gathering and Kearney Hall

  • Save the date!
  • Social gathering for Dems and Friends at Kearney Hall.  Live music from the Fireants!

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting Minutes
April 2, 2024
Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Room 108

Call to Order:

Meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Vice Chair Mary Van Auken
Pledge of Allegiance recited.

Agenda:

Approved as presented

Attendance:

4 members of the Central Committee. David Olscamp (running for President on the Democratic Primaries in Idaho and Wyoming) attended as a guest.

Secretary Report:

Minutes of the March meeting were approved with the following amendment –

• Under Agenda – The JUNE 9^th Event at Kearney Hall (not July as reflected in the minutes)

Treasurer Report:

The current balance sheet was handed out and approved as presented.

Chair Announcements:

• Greg will be back on April 4^th

Old Business:

• Convention Details:

  • Mary went over the procedures related to the Convention and intended outcomes
  • Dudley, Mary and Suzi met in March to review convention procedures and forms in the 2024 County Convention Guide.
  • Lunch at the convention will consist of the following: soup – Lois, veggie tray – Mary, muffins – Kim, cookies – Suzi, brownies – Sharon, beverages and plates/plasticware – Lois
  • Lois will pick up the key to the library on April 12^th
  • Set up will start at 8am, doors will open at 9 and close at 10, meeting will begin at 10:15.
  • Lois provided a draft script that precinct chairs can opt to use in reminding their precinct members about the convention and other upcoming JC Dems events
  • It was suggested that the dates for upcoming events be shared on the JC Dems listserv
  • Discussed the need for an article in the Buffalo Bulletin reminding all voters of the voter deadlines and potential problems caused by purging. Kim will follow up with the Buffalo Bulletin staff about this.

• Scholarship:

  • Dudley reported there are 15 applications to consider at this time.
  • The next meeting of the Scholarship Committee is scheduled for April 8^th, 11 am at the library.

• Bulletin Ads

  • Suggestions for any new Here for Good ads was tabled until next meeting.

New Business:

• None

Announcements from the floor:

• Mandy at state headquarters sent out an email announcement of an online zoom meeting with our WY Dem legislators set for April 9^th from 7- 9 pm. ALL WY democrats are invited to ask them questions, and we can show our support for all they do by attending this zoom meeting.
• Lunch with Dems scheduled for April 25 at noon. Bozeman Trail Steakhouse.

Adjourn

• Meeting was adjourned at 7:23.

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting Agenda (Draft)
April 2, 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

6:08pm Old Business

Convention Details; April 13, 2024; Library

• Refreshments; Agenda; Voterlist; Forms, Rules and Procedures; Open Doors; Further Announcements; Other…?

William D. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship Update

Bulletin Ads

6:38pm No New Business

6:39pm Announcements from the Floor

Upcoming Meetings

County Convention – April 13, 2024 at 10:15 (doors open at 9am)

Next Monthly CCC Meeting – May 7, 2024 at 6:00pm

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

Lunch forums – Please pick a date after the Convention

Other?

6:55pm Adjourn

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting Minutes
March 5, 2024
Bomber Mountain Civic Center, Room 108

Call to Order:

Chair Greg Haas called the meeting to order at 6:03pm
Pledge of Allegiance recited.

Agenda:

The June 9 Event at Kearney Hall was added to the agenda.

Attendance:

Four Central Committee Members.

Secretary Report:

Minutes of the February meeting were presented and approved as amended, striking the words ‘next year’ from the date noted for the Sept. 24 SCC meeting.

Treasurer Report:

Treasurer’s report was presented and approved.

Chair Announcements:

• A ‘State of the Union Watch Party’ is set for Mar. 7 in Bighorn. An invitation was extended to JC Dems. There is also a virtual SOTU Watch Party see https://events.democrats.org/event/607088/ for more information.
• County strategic plans are moving forward across the state.
• The format we used this year for our Legislative Watch may need to be improved upon in the future, although it was still useful this year.

Old Business:

• A motion was made by Dudley and seconded by Mary to go forward in planning the June 9th Event at Kearney Hall and approving up to $300 to assist in this effort. Motion carried.
• Greg will set up a committee lunch meeting to finish assigning responsibilities to our Johnson County Strategic Plan. The completed plan will be shared at the April 13 convention. Additional committee members are needed and those interested should contact Greg.
• County platform will be worked on by Kim McCoy and Greg Haas and will be shared at the April 13 Convention.
• The Twing Room at the JC Library has been reserved for our April 13 Convention. Plans for food, displays, and the meeting schedule will be finalized at our April 2nd meeting.
• The Scholarship Committee met on Feb. 20th. Plans are being made for another film night, probably in early November of 2024 as a fundraiser. An ad about the scholarship will soon be placed in the Buffalo Bulletin and Vikki will be asked to follow up again with school counselors about the scholarship application. Dixie McIntyre will be notified of applicants and information about the scholarships will be shared on a table at the April Convention.

New Business:

• Lunch Forums were discussed, and Greg will contact Kim to confirm a future date for the next one.
• Here for Good Ads: Lois made a motion to pay for another ad to appear in the March 27th Buffalo Bulletin, hopefully in tandem with an ad about the upcoming April Convention.

Upcoming Meetings:

• County Officer Round-table Zoom March 13, 2024 at 6:00pm
• Next monthly CCC Meeting on April 2, 2024 at 6 pm.
• County Convention, Twing Room of the JC Library. Doors open at 9am and all attendees must be fully checked in by 10 am on April 13, 2024
• The WDP State Convention will be held in Casper on June 1^st, 2024.
• An SCC meeting will be held in Buffalo in Sept. of 2024.
• Comms Call on first and third Tuesdays at 7:00pm

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 7:17 pm.

Johnson County Democratic Party Meeting Agenda (Draft)
March 5, 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

Strategic Plans from Around the State

Legislative Watch Group peters out

6:08pm Old Business

Strategic Plan

Convention Update; April 13, 2024; Library

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

6:18pm New Business

Advert Regimen

6:38pm Announcements from the Floor

Upcoming Meetings

Next Monthly CCC Meeting – April 2, 2024 at 6:00pm

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

Lunch forums

Other?

6:55pm Adjourn

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