Alachua Liberty

New Meeting with a New Logo

2008-07-08T19:42:00.005-05:00

Our next meeting shall be on Wednesday, August 6th, from 7:00 to 8:00pm at Kazbor's Sports Grille (4860 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville). Details on the meeting can be found here, along with a map.

This meeting will kickoff our Gainesville Bob Barr Meetup group.
Everybody is welcome to attend, especially newcomers!

As you may have noticed, we've designed a new logo for the LP Alachua. Your input is appreciated before we take it to press to make bumper stickers.

See you at the meeting!

Message from the Chairman (and Meeting)

2007-10-28T19:29:00.000-05:00

I have called a meeting for this Friday, November 2nd, at 7:00pm at Kazbor's Sports Grille (4860 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville). Details on the meeting can be found here, along with a map.

The message below was sent to the AlachuaLP and ACLibertarians groups in response to inquires about the party's activity (or lack thereof.)

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I knew this party when it was still strong and active. (My first meeting was when the party hosted a former officer from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition with an amazing presentation on the Drug War.) But a number were lost in a riff between party members, and many after the passing of Ray Roberts. The subsequent election of us students to all four positions did not help to establish the confidence in leadership needed in the wake of such a loss.

When we had a meeting earlier this year to nominate candidates and vote for a chairman, I was hoping that at least someone from the community would step up. No one did, and the ball was again passed to me, vice-chair at the time.

I am always eager and motivated to take a leadership position, and I believe myself to be very experienced in activism and campaigning, however I have taken upon myself too many other responsibilities that I regretfully have not been able to dedicate the time and energy that the Alachua LP deserves. I apologize for this.

Not only am I a full time student, but I am also president of the Libertarian Activist Network at UF, an assistant organizer for the Ron Paul Gainesville campaign, and Publisher and VP of Operations of the new North-Central Florida libertarian/paleo-conservative newspaper The Liberty Sentinel.

James is correct in his analysis. If there is interest in seeing a renewed, active, and accomplished Libertarian Party in Alachua County, and members of the community willing to take on the responsibility of making that happen, then I would be happy and relieved in handing over the reigns.

I will be calling a meeting for Friday, November 2nd, at 7:00pm at Kazbor's Grille in Gainesville in order to discuss the future of our party and of the pursuit of liberty in Alachua County.

Respectfully Submitted,
Neal A. Conner

In other news, we have received the brochures from ISIL on Jury Nullification which we have planned to distribute on the steps of the Alachua County Court House. This expense was authorized at the previous meeting, as well as funds allocated towards the printing of LPAC postcards to mail to all the registered Libertarians in Alachua in order to stimulate interest and participation. We will need volunteers to accomplish both.

Meet & Election of Chair -- Friday, May 25th, 2007

2007-05-18T12:31:00.000-05:00

The next LPAC meeting will be Friday, May 25th, at 7:00pm at Kazbor's Grille on 4860 NW 39th Ave. in Gainesville. (Google Map : Kazbor's Website )

We'll be electing a Chair for the Party, outlining the direction our party shall take in the upcoming year, and divising a mailing compaign to registered Libertarians. Anyone interested in running for the office should be present at the meeting.

See you there!

So it goes

2007-04-12T13:29:00.000-05:00

Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday, and I am quite distraught by this.

Hopefully we can forgive Vonnegut for being a socialist, because beyond that he was a cynic--generally being critical of whoever is in power in a way that any libertarian can be proud of. He said of Bush and Kerry that "these two Nordic, aristocratic multi-millionaires are virtually twins, and as unlike most of the rest of us as a couple of cross-eyed albinos" and that "no matter which one wins, we will have a Skull and Bones President at a time when entire vertebrate species, because of how we have poisoned the topsoil, the waters and the atmosphere, are becoming, hey presto, nothing but skulls and bones."

Anyway, my whole reason for this is that I want to post a link to my favorite Vonnegut short story, Harrison Bergeron, a horrifying look at a society that has become obsessed with equality.

The LPAC--now with 80% more ambition

2007-03-02T08:08:00.000-05:00

[This was written for our forthcoming newsletter.]

The Libertarian Party of Alachua County has accomplished some notable things in the past. In 2004 we hosted a convention which brought together Libertarians from all over Florida and the nation. We have run several campaigns for local office. We have brought in many speakers to address community members and college students alike. We are, in short, a minor force in local affairs.

And we're not satisfied.

I know, from personal experience, that libertarianism is strong enough in Alachua County to induce legitimate, meaningful change. In the last few years, frankly, we have not done a good job of taking advantage of that. It's time to get back on our feet. It's time to get into the community and seek out activists, leaders, and thinkers. It's time to start working to change the system, instead of continuing to accomplish next to nothing by working within it.

By registering to vote as a Libertarian you are saying two things. First, that you believe the government is seriously overstepping its intended purpose. And second, that you do not believe the major parties are the answer. The Libertarian Party wants, and needs, your help.

First Spring LPAC Meeting Fri., Feb. 9th!

2007-02-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

We will be having our first LPAC meeting of the Spring on Friday,
February 9th, at 7:00pm. It'll be at Kazbor's Grille on 4860 NW 39th
Ave. in Gainesville. (Google Map | Kazbor's Website)

Candidate Richard Selwach, who is running for Gainesville City
Commissioner (district 4), will be joining us to explain his
libertarian positions and to answer the hard questions. Richard is a
local businesman, the owner of Best Pawn, and a UF alumnus.

Also, as you may have read in his message, our Chair Nick Shorts has
resigned his position, as he has moved away from Alachua. Therefore,
durring this next meeting, we'll be seeking nominations for the
position, and voting for our Chair in the meeting after that.

Hope to see you there!
In Liberty,
Neal Conner, Vice-Chair

The Liberty Weekly

2007-01-26T13:42:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody,
The Liberty Weekly is now up and running at www.libertyweekly.com. We are desperately looking for help in a number of areas. At the moment we have several contributing writers but we definately need more; if you or anybody you know wishes to contribute, please have them e-mail me at alex@libertyweekly.com. We are also looking for investors/donors who appreciate what we are doing and would like to help us expand. The print edition of the paper will be out as soon as we have enough writers and funds, which will hopefully be soon. If you have any questions or would like to help in any way, please get in touch... We really need YOU. Also, please help us spread the word. Putting a link on facebook or myspace, emailing a link to everybody in your address book, or even just telling people you meet would be very much appreciated! Thanks.
Alex Newman
Co-editor/writer for The Liberty Weekly

Alachua Liberty back in print, and in 0's and 1's too!

2007-01-21T00:33:00.001-05:00

After digging through LPAC's old newsletter, Alachua Liberty, I was inspired to start working on a new print version for February (or March), in order to send out to all the registered Libertarian voters in the county. If anyone would like to contribute to or give input on this or future issues, please feel free to do so by posting over at our forums. Our treasurer, Christopher Bonura, is currently contributing to the issue as well.

Then I also realized that it was the year 2007, and that the Party had better have a Web 2.0 presence, as listserves can only go so far and print issues cost money. Thus, I created this blog which I hope will serve as just one new method LPAC will be using to communicate it's message of freedom and with which to make a difference in local politics.

In Liberty,
Neal A. Conner, interim Chairman