The meeting was brought to order at 11:00 a.m. by President Lou Copes. She welcomed Past Presidents: Maureen Russian, Stella Guenther (also past District Governor and chairman of the 100% Club), Donna Hanson, Jean Nelson, Sharon Heacock, past District Governor, Sharon Schmidt, and past Representative for District 37 (Linn County) Liz Van Leeuven.

Lou Copes led the invocation and Sharon Heacock led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag.

Guests and visitors were: Marilyn Lesmeister, Sandra Hickey, and former member, Joan Hathaway, and member Lynette Cardwell who has been absent due to illness.

Parliamentarian, Nancy Davis informed us that we have a quorum for voting purposes.

Nancy Davis gave the Treasurer’s Report. We have a balance as of today of $7, 794.58. There are thirty-seven members and ten associate members. See attached report.

Anita Crowe, Corresponding Secretary gave belated birthday wishes to Betty Robidart and Jane Buck.

President Copes asked for approval of the minutes of the February meeting. She asked for the correction of the spelling of one lady’s name. There being no other additions or corrections, the minutes will stand as corrected.

The speaker for our April meeting has cancelled. Program Chairman, Jane Buck is still recovering. Stella Guenther and Shirley Douglass will help locate speakers during Jane‘s absence. (If our membership has suggestions for speakers please call Shirley at 757-9746 or Stella at 602-1737.)

We have created a fund to supply scholarships to ladies who are not able financially to have the full benefits of membership but would like to be active in our club.

We still need volunteers to be at GOP Headquarters once a week or even every two weeks for two to four hours so that people can drop by to register to vote. If people ask a question that you cannot answer, just take their name and phone number and someone will call them.

Laine Heathcoate presented an expandable plan that would help us redecorate parts of the GOP Headquarters room by room or just an area in a room. Our tenure at headquarters has a time limitation since sometime in the future the new owner will remodel the shopping center where we are located. We need volunteers to help with various projects from organizing and stripping wallpaper to painting. Please give headquarters a call and leave a message at 754-9155.

Donna Hanson moved and it was seconded that the BCRW transfer $275.00 from our jewelry budget to be used toward improvements starting with a “make over” of the women’s bathroom at headquarters. President Copes called for a discussion. There being none, the motion passed by unanimous decision.

The Executive Board of the BCRW needed someone to serve as “A Member at Large”. We had someone who has agreed to serve, but we needed to vote on her appointment. P. J. Hunter moved and it was seconded that Stella Guenther serve in the position. President Copes called for a vote which passed unanimously.

Maureen Russian reported on the various issues that were discussed at the conference. She reported that everyone had a great time and it was a stimulating experience. She recommends that members try to attend the 2009 Dorchester Conference.

Stella Guenther introduced our guest speaker, State Representative of District 51, Linda Flores.

Representative Flores asked if we thought this special Legislative Session set the tone for annual legislative sessions. That was the reason they were held in February 2008. The consensus was that nothing spectacular came from the sessions. Representative Flores may be in favor of yearly sessions but thinks that the public should weigh in on the question.

Some partisan tricks happening such as no time given to allow presentation of minority reports which have been a normal practice nor were they allowed to present individual bills that would have been of interest to their constituents. There was no discussion allowed because the other side (Democrats) had enough votes. It is really difficult to get something accomplished when the governor’s office, the house, and the senate are controlled by the same party.

One pressing policy issue was child abuse in the public schools with over forty unresolved cases. The Republicans were accused of cheap political theatrics when they brought the subject to a discussion. Two bills have been passed that would close some of the loopholes but some abusers are slipping through anyway. School districts are making secret deals with offending teachers, after giving them a slap on the hand. They are letting them accept jobs in another district. Representative Flores will be part of a new informal bi-partisan committee formed to address this problem.

Items discussed were:

• Mortgage Reform issues were discussed at the state and national levels.
• Universal Health Care in Oregon has been pushed forward even though National Health Care is in the planning in Washington D. C.
• Child welfare reform (An example would be the “Baby Gabriel” case.)

Tax hikes will be instituted for:

• Insurance for the uninsured children in our state.
• The Cigarette Tax (Even though the voters said, “No!”)
• New taxes on small businesses and a filing tax for new corporations.

The children’s books that teach about our political process are for sale at $17.00 each as a fund raiser.

Nancy Davis donated a portrait of Abraham Lincoln that belonged to her father’s family. We will keep it at headquarters to eventually be part of the Constitution Hall that we hope to form.

May 16 will be a day at the Salem Capitol for citizens to observe how lobbyists testify.

A sign up calenar was passed around to give people an opportunity to volunteer at headquarters to keep the office open from Monday through Thursday. Please call Lou Copes at 754-7260.

We also need ladies to sign up to make phone calls on a telephone tree.

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to keep the office open!!

If our members know any ladies who cannot afford the dues but would like to join our club please notify Stella or Lou.

Maureen Russian has raffle tickets for sale. They are for the “Friendship Chain” pattered, red, white, and blue quilt that will be raffled at the Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast. Please contact her at 752-8244.

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