Posted on 07/21/2002 3:36:44 PM PDT by sweetliberty
The Arkansas Free Republic community seems to be having some communication snafus and we would like to resolve them. Since last November the Arkansas chapter of Free Republic (Hog Wild FReepers) have been having regular meetings where we have enjoyed food, drink, discussion and good company. And every month we hear from somebody that they didn't know about the meeting or that if we had it somewhere else they might be able to make it, but mostly we hear nothing. I agreed to address this issue on the general forum because it seems that not everybody gets notified of the activity going on on the state page.
Typically, once you fly your flag on your home page you should be notified when there are new messages to your locale. This is where most information regarding meetings is discussed and posted. Some of our regulars have even said that they do NOT receive these notifications. On the Arkansas page there is a link you can click on to NOT be notified. I am guessing that if it is set that way currently that the link should read "click here to receive notification of new messages in this locale," or something to that effect. We make an effort monthly to contact via FReepmail all Arkansas FReepers whose names are listed on the Arkansas page and for those of you for whom we have an email address, we attempt to notify you via email.
We have an election coming up in November as you know and would like to have as many of you as possible involved in toppling liberal corruption in the state and getting more conservatives installed in office. I know there are some of you who are very well-versed in Arkansas politics just from reading some of y'all's posts and I'm sure you have something of value to offer.
What I would like to see on this thread is some feedback, both from those who have been attending the meetings and those who haven't yet. For those of you in northern Arkansas, we have been talking about holding some of the meetings up that way if there is enough interest as well as combining the occasional meeting with those of chapters in adjacent locales. But we need your input and suggestions.
For those of you who have not, up to this point, been notified of messages at your locale, here is the link to the page:
If you do not currently have your location set and your flag flying on your home page, I encourage you to do so. There is also a link on the Arkansas page for setting your location.
Ping other FReepers in the area and some in eastern Oklahoma too if you know of anybody who might like to come. Please keep this thread bumped. I am going to be out of town for the next 3 days and I don't know if I will have internet access or not. If I can, I will check in.
As to the meetings, I have enjoyed them thus far as I like to talk and discuss issues. However, I realize that we should devote about a half hour to doing something solid.
For example, composing and sending e-mails and letters to this years political candidates would be a start or, letters to the editor in our respective locales. We could work on the subjects and wording and produce the paper during the second half hour, listen to guest speaker during the first after the meeting is formally callled to order, etc and then have a freeforall afterwards, (which is my favorite part)
I mention this because Travelgirl was concerned about structuring the meeting a bit more and I agree with that. We do need to set goals and achieve a result.
It is great to see so many new FReepers in Arkansas. Our numbers, at least those of you flying your flag on your home page, has increased by 50% in the last year alone. There is plenty of work to be done to unseat liberals and seat conservatives in their place. Years of corruption doesn't give in willingly. Our candidates need all of us in there working for them.
Some of you have FReepmailed asking about the meetings and what we do, besides eat, so I thought it would be a good idea to post the minutes of our last meeting here for your review. Bobbie, I hope you don't mind that I did some minor modification and spelling correction.
ARKANSAS FREEPER MEETING NO. 11
Ed & Kays Restaurant, Benton, 4:00 PM 8/10/02
Attendees: Sweetliberty - North Little Rock
Parsifal - North Little Rock
Pulaskibush - North Little Rock
FreetheSouth & Tasha - Hot Springs
Wirestripper & Maria - Monticello
Travel girl - Little Rock
Visitors: Dr. Brent Nelson - Little Rock
Patrick Rhodes - Hot Springs Village
Sharon Stark - Little Rock
Carolyn Cliburn - Conway
Betty Wright - Benton
Jody Jordan - Benton
Ralph Shelnut - Benton
We really lucked out, we had two excellent speakers. We really appreciate them taking the time to come to our meeting and speak to us.
Our meeting room was nice, quiet, private, large and free. It was the nicest room we have had. Although the food was not as good as some places, it certainly wasnt bad.
Some, who had not seen the immigration videos arrived at 3:15. We watched the 15-minute NumbersUSA video and some of the AmericanPatrol video.
At 4 pm our regular meeting began. We had a total of 15 people our largest.
One of our guests, Patrick Rhodes, Chairman of the Saline County Republicans and a historian, had to leave early to attend a Republican meeting in Hot Springs, so we had him speak first. Pat gave us some very interesting historical information concerning immigration. Immigration has been the cause of all wars; The United States may be the only country to have to adjust to immigrants instead of the immigrants adjusting to the US, and lots more. Oliver North will be speaking at a Republican fundraiser at the Peabody, Friday, Aug. 23.
Our guest speaker, Dr. Brent Nelson, earned his Ph.D. in English Literature, Ohio University, 1973; a M.S. in Library Science, University of Kentucky, 1978; currently he is Assistant Professor of Library Science at a local University.
Dr. Nelson is the author of AMERICA BALKANIZED: Immigrations Challenge to Government, Copyright 1994, and has been a guest on C-Span (Wirestripper remembers seeing him). This is a very informative book.
Dr. Nelson spoke to us as a private citizen only; he did not speak for the University which is the reason I did not name it. If anybody really wants to know where Dr. Nelson is a professor, contact me and Ill get you in touch with Dr. Nelson. Dr. Nelson gave a very interesting, informative speech. The United States takes in more immigrants than all the rest of the countries of the world combined. Wage and salaries are lower now because of large number of immigrants. 2 million illegals voted in the last election, etc. He passed out copies of Middle American News and Citizens Informer. Both of these have very good articles on immigration, reparations, terrorism, etc.
Sharon Stark gave us a spreadsheet on Republican Candidates for Pulaski County. Sharon always shares very important information on candidates, latinos trying to take over the park in SW Little Rock, and other issues with us.
Jody Jordan passed out information on abortion and on Jim Magnus who is running against Shane Broadway, Democrat, for State Senate District 22.
Sweetliberty has gotten Arkansawyer to agree to be at our next meeting and to help set it up in the Ft. Smith area. She will keep us informed.
Sweetliberty said she thought it was time to elect a new leader for the Hog Wild Freepers and she nominated Travelgirl. She was voted in unanimously.
Parsy had a surprise for us. He has reserved know Hillary.com and bluedress.com for us to use when we get a website. He gave us examples of how to use it; he is so funny. He will keep us updated on this.
Tasha talked about all the monies being sent to Mexico. This is not helping our economy!
FreetheSouth told us about the very first meeting of Freepers and how much fun they had going around the sites made popular by clinton. Maybe we can do something like that.
We appreciate Pulaskibush, our youngest Freeper. He is always willing to help out by posting maps and bring information on candidates, elections and other pertinent information. Hopefully, someday he will run for an office and the Freepers can help him win. We need people like him in office.
Wirestripper is doing a great job with the Boy Scouts. He has the highest non-elected position and is very heavily involved with the Scouts. Keep up the good work.
Dr. Brent Nelson is a member of Council of Conservative Citizens and he has invited us to their next meet. The meeting will be Sunday, September 15th from 1:00 - 5:00 pm in the Upstairs Community Room (next to Foot Locker on the 2nd floor) of University Mall, corner of University Ave and Markham, Little Rock. The guest speaker will be Mark Moore, Chair, Constitution Party of Arkansas. Please attend if possible. Mark Moore is our very own Freeper Ahban. A pamphlet on The Constitution Party was passed out. Mark may be at our meeting in the Ft. Smith.area.
Travelgirl passed out a few CNN Lies bumper stickers. These went over well. She will try to get more.
Parsy, maybe you could do a post to elaborate a bit on what you'd like to see happen with the 2 websites. You can do it so much more colorfully than I could.
Anybody who would like to add anything about our meetings and our hopes and plans for the future of Hog Wild FReepers for the benefit of new members, please do so. We are hoping the September meeting will be our biggest and best yet.
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