Report on the MN BPOU Chair Caucus Annual Meeting - April 16, 2011

The MN BPOU Chair Caucus exists to 1) establish lines of communication between all MN GOP BPOU Chairs, and serve as a repository of information, matreails, and best practices for every BPOU; 2) help strengthen every MN GOP BPOU; 3) remain neutral in all Republican Party and public elections and to strive to support all endorsed Republican candidates. BPOU Chairs are free to support and endorse candidates of their choosing. The Caucus, however, shall remain neutral; 4) to strive to uphold the platform of the MN GOP.

Jim Newberger (Becker County), MN BPOU Chair Caucus Lead, called the meeting to order immediately following the State Central Committee meeting on April 16, 2011.

The agenda was a follows:
Welcome
Pledge of Allegiance
Prayer
Explain Chair Caucus
Introduce Guests (Tony Sutton)
Election of new leadership (one year terms)
Other Business
Adjourn

MN GOP Chair Tony Sutton spoke about the importance of the BPOU and grassroots activities. There is a need to train BPOUs to raise money...they have to ASK...in person if at all possible. There will be training available in the near future.

Presidential election years bring new people to the caucus -- people who have never shown up before will come because they want to defeat Obama in 2012. It's just the way things work. Volunteer organizations are a revolving door and you will lose 50% of your volunteers. Let people leave graciously and thank them for serving.

Collin Peterson in CD7 only got 55% of the vote -- he's vulnerable in 2012.

• Democratic-Farmer-Labor COLLIN C. PETERSON = 133,096 votes or 55.20%


• Republican LEE BYBERG = 90,652 votes or 37.60%


• Independent GENE WALDORF = 9,317 votes or 3.86%


• Independence GLEN R. MENZE = 7,839 votes or 3.25%


• WRITE-INS = 193 votes or 0.08%

This is a death struggle for the Democrats and they're going to fight tooth and nail to survive.
Most people are hard-working citizens who believe in conservative values, but then they vote against those very values by voting Democrat.

Once Sutton left the meeting, new officers were elected. Names to follow as soon as I receive them.

Other discussions surrounded ideas for fund-raisers and how we could share ideas.