WOW - I did not realize it had been over 3 years since I had posted here.

My personal situation has changed dramatically in those three years for the better. I will post in this area on occasion. I have updated my links and "about Me" area.

Time to re-up my musings here - especially where it play's into Kansas politics. the new legislative session coming up will be one that should be very interesting for the social conservatives of the world, as the legislature and the governorship are all lined up behind one philosophy (or so they think).

I also am going to restart my activity in the LPKS - time to see viable growth in the party so that we can field many candidates in 2014 for the Kansas House to take advantage of what I believe will be blow-back from 2 years of getting a social conservative agenda shoved down Kansans throats.

I plan to be not so politically correct - I plan to just lay out what I see happening, and let others comment on whether I am accurate in my assessments.

If you are still out there reading this blog - let me know as I want to increase the viewership in the next 2 years.

See Ya!

Reason... Season... Lifetime...

A friend from my high school days led me to this inspirational writing. **Thanks Vicki** While it didn't change my situation - it certainly helped changed my perspective on things and, in time, help me move forward.

Moving forward is the greatest challenge many people face after any loss... Whether Love, career, life.

There's often a reason for it that will materialize in the future. Maybe you were meant to learn a lesson in those roles and you‘ve learned it. Maybe you were meant to meet someone (a future client, a new friend or a future soul mate) and you've met them so it's time to move on. Or maybe you were meant to help someone -and having fulfilled your duty it's time to move on. You won't know the reason until years later - or never at all. So just accept the decision and accept that there may be a grander plan being played out... and move on.

When dealing with any kind of loss we know that time is a great healer. And with time, people who have lost (jobs, friends, family) often come to realize that what once seemed like a disaster, in fact happened for a reason. And that quite often, redundancy was not a set back, but the start of a brand new season..

*********

The short story I am referring to:

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realise is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the
person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

Been a long while

Been a while since I have blogged - needed the break for personal reasons.

I am going to get active again by noting other blogs comments that I particularly like and there will be original postings on and off as well.

Now that I am no longer state chair - I will post in a blunt, cynical way that reflects my personality. I will post ideas and thoughts outside the mainstream and outside "politically correct" standards that permeate the environment today.

thanks for your patience in waiting while I settled into the real world for a bit.

Ah yes - FREEDOM!

LPKS 2009 State Convention

LPKS 2009 State Convention

Date: March 7th, 2009

Please add to your schedules and plan to be there! I am letting you know early so there will be no excuses. 8-)

Place: Emporia State University
ESU Union - Heritage Room
Emporia, Kansas
Time: 11 AM to 4 PM (if we need the entire time)

This meeting will have the elections of all officers, and this is the meeting where we have traditionally had the chance to change the state by-laws, statement of principles, and/or constitution. All proposed changes must be sent to the chair *in writing, so that we can prepare for the convention and to give all LPKS members as much notice of possible changes being discussed.

Note: ALL OFFICERS are up for election in 2009.
The eight voting officers today in the LPKS constitution today are Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Congressional District 1 Coordinator, Congressional District 2 Coordinator, Congressional District 3 Coordinator, and Congressional District 4 Coordinator. These eight are the people who vote on all spending for the LPKS. They are also the voting members of any internal issues that come up between conventions.

Please note that the procedure for electing these eight people is split into two formats. All those LPKS members in attendance from across the state will elect the “name” officers. (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) Only those members that live in each district elect that District Coordinator to represent them.

If you have an interest in running for one of these positions – please let me know ASAP as we want to keep everyone notified of all possible candidates available.

For the party to grow at its most beneficial pace, we need competition for all officer positions, while it may be the easy way to elect officers without a competition – it is not necessarily the best way.

I have been asked by several people to run as chair again. At this time, I do not plan to run again. If I receive many solid commitments to work to grow the LPKS – I would look again at running for third term. Jason Peck (Vice-Chair) will not be running for another term.

With this in mind, we need many new people to step up, lead and help us grow. Keeping the same executive committee (repeatedly) has a tendency to trend to group complacency, and we must be vigilant that we keep growing and not become stagnant as an organization. New leadership always comes to a group with an enthusiasm missing from the old group and a sense of direction that may or may not have been there before.

If you have an interest in being an officer – please let me know ASAP, so I can compile a list of candidates to announce.

Thanks for all you do for the LPKS!

Rob Hodgkinson - Chair

It's a great time to be a Libertarian in Kansas!

Top 100 LP Blogs.... I am on the list!

Sarah Scrafford at WebPreneur Names Top 100 Libertarian Blogs

At least someone is noticing. Sarah has put together her list of the Top 100 Libertarian Blogs & I was told today that I made the list.

This is interesting to me as once we get past the internal LPKS party elections in March, I should have time to blog more than I have been doing.

I look forward to the challenge of growing the readership here.

Kansas election results

We elected one libertarian in Kansas in 2008. Fredrick Campbell was (re)elected to the County Attorney position in Anderson County.

We retained ballot access for another 2 years due to Randall Hodgkinson’s 3rd place showing gaining 2.1% of the vote (24,946) in the statewide race of US Senate.

Other good showings included Sheri Stearns (Gardner) who had just under 13% of the vote in a 3-way race with the R & D’s. The best showing we have had in a 3-way with the R’s & D’s in the race in a long while if not ever.

We are making progress (even if slow) to getting the message out that the Libertarian Party is not a protest vote but a good vote. This election showed that we need to concentrate on lower level races so we can start winning and take that success to higher levels as we grow.

Speaking of lower level races --- Now that the fall elections are over, it is time to start thinking about the spring races. These spring races are non-partisan meaning you do not run with an R, D or L after your name on the ballot.

These races include most City Councils, School Boards, Community College Trustee’s, Water Boards, and other races as well.

We need candidates for these races next spring.
Most of the filing deadlines are early January 2009 so you need to decide quickly.

If you plan to run in a non-partisan race this spring – please let the LPKS know.

Mark off March 7th and leave this as an open date on you calendars - why coming soon!

Rob Hodgkinson - Chair

It's a great time to be a Libertarian in Kansas!

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HOW TO DONATE TO THE KANSAS LIBERTARIAN PARTY
If you'd like to donate to the Kansas Libertarian Party just sign up by going to (click on): http://www.lpks.org/Donate/DonateToday/tabid/1061/Default.aspx
and choose a one time or monthly donation method. The donation website (PayPal) is encrypted and is a secure site.

Election Night Party!

You are invited to a LPKS PARTY!

Tell your friends and be there!

Join us at a Election Night Party to celebrate the hard work and our LPKS political successes in 2008!

Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm ??
Location: Granite City Food & Beverage
Street: 1701 Village West Parkway
City/Town: Kansas City, KS 66111

Granite City is in the Legends (by the racetrack) across from Nebraska Furniture Mart.

If you plan to attend - please RSVP to Rob Hodgkinson --- Chair@lpks.org

It's a great time to be a Libertarian in Kansas!