Western Republican Leadership Conference, October 18-21

When: Oct 18 – 21, 2011
Where: The Venetian/The Palazzo Resort, 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 89109 (map)
Description: A Welcome Message from WRLC Chairman, Jon Porter
Friends,
This year, Westerners will have an exciting opportunity to host the first Republican Presidential debate in the Western United States, providing us with a distinct and active voice in our 2012 Presidential Election. The Western Republican Leadership Conference, a four-day event immediately following the October 18th debate, is designed to educate, mobilize, and empower Republicans from our region. Additionally, the WRLC will serve to spotlight the specific issues facing the west and underscore the importance of our Nevada caucus in determining our next Republican Presidential nominee. On behalf of the WRLC, I am both pleased and proud to announce CNN as official debate host and Las Vegas’ Venetian Resort Hotel as our event host. I look forward to the success of this event and the support of your attendance.
With Kind Regards,
Jon Porter, WRLC Chairman Read More......

Review of Dorchester 2011

Dorchester News Network (E-edition)
March 10, 2011
www.dorchester.org
(Hat tip: Carolyn Webb)

Thank You Dorchester Delegates
Another successful Dorchester Conference is in the books and we would like to thank the more than 500 registrants who contributed to the great dialogue and fun. The Dorchester Conference is about creating an enjoyable experience for attendees and, based on this year's feedback, we succeeded. ∴ From great speeches by Congressman Greg Walden and U.S. House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to a thought provoking Founder's Speech by Rob Cornilles and robust discussions on all our issue debates, delegates enjoyed a robust discussion once again. ∴ The Dorchester Conference received a good bit of coverage over the course of the weekend. Below are a few notable news stories on this past weekend.

• Mitch Daniels wins straw presidential poll at Seaside Dorchester Conference (Daily Astorian)
  
• Dorchester Conference: Oregon Republicans discuss redistricting, David Wu, bipartisanship (The Oregonian)
  
• Dorchester Tent Show targets David Wu, plastic bag ban and plenty more (The Oregonian)
  
• Chris Dudley reappears at Dorchester Conference, talks about education reform (The Oregonian)

Results of Issue Discussions and Presidential Straw Poll

Below are results of voting on the five issue discussions and this year's Presidential Preference straw poll:

Issue #1: Congress Should Ban Earmarks

Yes 81.48%
No 18.52%

Issue #2: Education Reform (priority ranking)

A-F grading of schools 18.04%
Disability scholarships 12.61%
Tax credit scholarships 17.58%
Teacher licensure 16.10%
Every 3rd grader reads 22.07%
Incentive pay and AP success 13.59%

Issue #3: Congressional Priorities

Social Security reform 20.48%
Create jobs 21.29%
Clean up Congress 9.64%
Allow state use of federal lands 48.59%

Issue #4: The State of Oregon Should Ban the Use of Plastic Grocery Bags

Yes 7.93%
No 92.07%

Issue #5: The Tea Party Will Have a Lasting Effect on American Politics

Yes 87.5%
No 12.50%

Straw Poll: Which Presidential Candidate Would You Vote For?

Haley Barbour 2.67%
Mitt Romney 22.67%
Mitch Daniels 29.33%
Newt Gingrich 6.22%
Mike Huckabee 10.22%
Sarah Palin 18.22%
Ron Paul 4.89%
Tim Pawlenty 3.56%
Barack Obama .44%
Donald Trump 1.78%

Thank you for helping 'Dorchester Gives Back' ∴ We are proud to announce that, thanks to your support, "Dorchester Gives Back" raised $2,450 in support for Operation Uplink which provides free phone time to active duty military personnel and hospitalized veterans.

Thank You!

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About Dorchester
The Dorchester Conference is America's oldest annual political conference. Then-State Representative Bob Packwood founded the conference in 1965. Packwood invited Republicans from around the state to the Dorchester House in Lincoln City, Oregon.

Since its inception, Dorchester has sought to have lively debate among political activists about timely issues facing the state, nation and world. Many major issues have made repeat visits, sometimes taking on different forms given the decade. Property tax limitations, sales taxes, financial support for education, and abortion are a few examples of issues debated at early Dorchester Conferences as well as more recent ones.

The lively debate, intellectual conversation, humor, and camaraderie result in hundreds of Oregonians registering for the Conference each year. Dorchester is the only grassroots political conference of its kind in the nation and still thrives as it approaches its golden anniversary.

Encouraging participation and underlining the fun of politics have been two of the keys to the conference's longevity.

This email was sent to carolynwebb[*******] by info45@dorchester.org
Read More......

History of Oregon's Dorchester Conference

The historic Dorchester House (built 1929), located at 2701 Northwest Highway 101 in Lincoln City, Oregon (listed on the US National Register of Historic Places ) was the location for the early Dorchester Conferences. (Click photo for larger view.)

Soon we'll hear the results of Dorchester XLVI, held this weekend March 5-7. Until then, here is a brief history of the Dorchester Conference, "Where politics is fun!" From dorchester.org/history: "The Dorchester Conference is America’s oldest annual political conference. Then-State Representative Bob Packwood founded the conference in 1965. Packwood invited Republicans from around the state to the Dorchester House in Lincoln City, Oregon. ∴ The first conference attracted about 200 participants for a lively discussion around the future of the politics in Oregon. At the end of the conference, delegates knew that this gathering was something special and would, in fact, be a driving force for years to come. ∴ The early years of the Dorchester Conference were chaired by Bob Packwood, and the Conference is now run by a volunteer Board of Directors. Throughout the years, many changes have taken place, including the addition of college students, the establishment of a scholarship fund, relocation to Seaside, and the creation of the (almost) always popular Tent Show.

Since its inception, Dorchester has sought to have lively debate among political activists about timely issues facing the state, nation and world. Many major issues have made repeat visits, sometimes taking on different forms given the decade. Property tax limitations, sales taxes, financial support for education, and abortion are a few examples of issues debated at early Dorchester Conferences as well as more recent ones.

The lively debate, intellectual conversation, humor, and camaraderie result in hundreds of Oregonians registering for the Conference each year. Dorchester is the only grassroots political conference of its kind in the nation and still thrives as it approaches its golden anniversary.

Dorchester IV marked the first year the conference began attracting nationally recognized speakers when Governor George Romney, a presidential candidate, became the keynote speaker. Over the years, Dorchester has hosted luminaries such as Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Nelson Rockefeller, Jack Kemp, Elizabeth Dole, Karl Rove, William Kristol and Gale Norton.

Notable Oregonians such as Tom McCall, Mark Hatfield, Norma Paulus, Gordon Smith, Clay Meyers, and Dave Frohnmeyer have also been a part of Dorchester; and Greg Walden, Bob Packwood and Vic Atiyeh all participate on a regular basis.

The format of the conference has changed over the years, but has always been designed to involve all attendees in the discussion and voting on various issues. Political activists and leaders from throughout the state gather together on equal footing. One delegate remarked, “I was amazed that my opinion counted as much as that of the state legislator in our group.”

Encouraging participation and underlining the fun of politics have been two of the keys to the conference’s longevity."

© 2010 Dorchester Conference, Inc. All rights reserved.

Currently, the Dorchester Conference is held in Seaside, Oregon at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center.


About Dorchester XLVI

GOP governor hopefuls to debate
Statesman Journal
February 28, 2010

Three of the Republicans seeking their party's nomination for governor in the May primary will debate at the Dorchester Conference, an unofficial gathering of Republicans.

The debate will follow the opening ceremony at 8 p.m. Friday at the Seaside Convention Center.

Allen Alley, Chris Dudley and John Lim have accepted invitations to the debate, which will be moderated by U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, the only GOP member of Oregon's congressional delegation. Bill Sizemore, the party's 1998 nominee and a candidate this time, is not listed as a participant.

A straw poll will be conducted March 7.

Walden and former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, who lost his re-election bid in 2008, will speak Saturday.

Delegates will debate five topics: A state requirement for locator beacons, restructuring of Oregon universities to make some of them public corporations, U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, the federal budget and the national debt, and restructuring of the state tax system.

Read More......

Heartland Institute Videos promote Climate Change Conference

The Heartland Institute hosts its second International Conference on Climate Change in New York, today through March 10th. "Scare," a two-minute video with a serious message on global warming promotes the conference.



Also see "Cows". The 'Cows' video is edgy and humorous in a tasteful barnyard kind of way," said Heartland President Joseph Bast. "But it makes the point that alarmists have exaggerated the impact on climate from factors they can't control, and how attempting to do so will unleash a blizzard of bureaucrats eager to regulate and tax every aspect of our lives." Read More......