View all 2009 Cascade Conference
2009-11-15 14:13

This posting from last June is being reposted to removed mulitple pages of "autobot" comments.

 

 The 2009 Cascade Conference is now history and was a great success.  The Shilo Inn in Richland retained its excellent reputation as a good venue and a great staff.  Not only was the food good, the staff proved flexible and fast.

Highlights included:

Friday reception for retired Rep. Shirley Hankins of Richland and a memorial for Rep. Mary Skinner of Yakima, who passed away this winter.  

Saturday kicked off with a presentation by pollster Dr. H. Stuart Elway of Elway Research, whose polling data and humorous style have entertained and educated conference attendees for years.  

That was followed by a somewhat reduced Media Panel, with only the Seattle Times (Kate Riley) and TriCity Herald(Chris Sivula) being represented this year.  

At lunch  we had a speaker, Randy Moody, from the National Education Association's Republican Educators Caucus.  He told us about the history of the caucus and NEA's efforts to bring its Republican members into the process.  

Randy's speech was the lead in to a union outreach panel, featuring NEA Republican consultant Matt Keelen, Washington Federation of State Employees Pres. Carol Dotlich, and the United Transportation Union board member and Mainstream Board member Herb Krohn.  

After hearing from candidate Susan Fagan, we listened to a Legislative Panel moderated by Rep. Gary Alexander and including Sen. Curtis King, Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, Rep. Bruce Dammeier, and Repl Larry Haler.  

After dinner we heard a killer keynote speech by Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna on the origins of the financial mess our mortgage and lending institution have fallen into.  

Awards were presented to Sen. Linda Evans Parlette (MaryAnn Mitchell Award) and Kim Wynn, Thurston County Auditor (Norm Maleng Local Government Award).   

On Sunday following the annual membership meeting, a panel, consisting of Dr. Matt Manweller, Kittitas County Chr., Mark Gardner, past chairperson of Mainstream, Gary Stute, active young Republican from the 45th District, and Ramona Leber, from the Longview City Council, on what the Republican Party should do next to rebuild itself .

Next year the conference will by the weekend of May 21, 22, & 23 at the SeaTac Holiday Inn.