September 2025 Minutes

HOT SPRINGS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEETING MINUTES

September 3rd, 2025 

Welcome & Introductions – 6:04 PM – 17 people present
Pledge of Allegiance

Birthdays: September
Bernice Balog 9/13, Margaret Stansil, Rex Wickenhauser 9/22

Approval of August 6th, 2025 Meeting Minutes  
Pass the Hat

Business: Lee Campbell county Republican, spoke to us. Reported that Lusk lost its hospital and nursing home because of the recent tax cuts. There is rural health and care fragility.  Call to Dems to fight the Freedom Caucus.  Handout distributed. Lee also asks for an outreach to Washakie and Big Horn counties to make sure the media is there and stirred up about unfair taxation.

Secretary’s Correspondence Report
Newspaper Ad for October is Kelly Strampe
Need someone for the November Ad  – Jocelyn Arey has signed up.
October Meeting is on the 1st. 

August Minutes approved without objection.

Treasurer’s Report
In the bank $1955.51. Total bank balance $2374.72.

Discussion and reports from committees
Any new business or information resulting from the DNC meeting in Minneapolis. ASDC did a 50-state swap.  No strategic plan, but this is the beginning.

The DNC Meeting was rough.  Still figuring out roles.  No program or job desc as leaders.  Working with a group of people.  Wrapped early because of a school shooting.  The body did not vote on resolutions.  The Western caucus is being limited.

Bad news:  fundraising letter by Laramie County Dems town hall billed as a DNC town hall.  Not transparent.  

Sept 25, 6 pm. The Community Center in Lander will feature Kim Barlett on a panel discussion to be held at the Public Library.

County Commish: Asking for 2 to be removed.  Dale recommends: “It is not in our best interest to weigh in”.  A judge will offer a replacement.

Nov 1st, music festival in Laramie.  Malcom Kenyatta will be there.

 October 17 – 3 county listening session.  Who can help and carpool?  2 Dems plus the Dem party chair.  State Dems will meet and listen to questions. Uphill battle. 7 legislators.  Push back as we can.

 Can we please bring refreshments to the Oct 17th, 6:30 at Worland Community Center?

Old Business Line Items

1- Town Hall Listening Session – October 17 at 6:30 pm at the Worland Community Center Complex, 1200 Culbertson Ave. HSC Dems refreshments, carpooling, sound system, and Questions for panelists
2- Painting T-Hill
Good news, we don’t have to do it.
Bad news, we don’t get credit. Freshman class, issue closed
3- Josh Conrad petitions for expanding the County Commissioners as a ballot issue. Expansion of HSC commish.  Wants 5. More to come from the membership committee. Reg dems only.

4- Georgeanne: Harriets Town Hall
Most talking points are recycled.  Not human voices.  HSC is interested in oil value. Georgeanne practiced politeness!
5- Larry: New web hosting provider, Vimeo, costs. Tabled until Next month.
6- Jami: Strategic Planning Report
Awarded for Contest Every Race grant.  Need a 2025 plan.  Jami shared two of our  core values.
Community service-
Public action-
7- Dale: Find a volunteer to write a letter to former Dems asking them to return to the party. Check with Wash Dems, Mandy – Kim will volunteer to draft a letter, and Dale will get a sample letter to her.

Is it worth considering who would be a good neutral person?  Dave Fredenthal is no longer in politics. Start door-knocking previous Dems.  John: We need a moral hook.

8- Highway Cleanup – need volunteer coordinator with SOW

Levi will reach out and get us the details and mile markers available.

9- Upcoming Events: Christmas Party

Scott and Larry’s house, maybe.  First sat, Christmas parade.

New Business

Suicide prevention Saturday at noon. Everyone gets a t-shirt. 12-2

Georgeanne will help Pride

Dale brought up donations to fire victims.
Help with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Is the current fundraising?  
Levi-He wants to move money to less non-dem assoc.
Volunteer for a local impact, Dale H. 

Monthly informal engagement session. – How?  Kim suggests an every-other-month engagement.  Membership committee? Will look into possible dates and locations.

New Business Line Items

1- Suicide Prevention Walk on Saturday, 09/06

2- Should we support the WYOMING STOCK GROWERS WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND with a donation of $100 to help local agriculture affected by the fires?

3- Our Monthly Informal Engagement session

Adjourn 7:30

Next Meeting – October 1, @  6 pm, County Annex