Meeting Minutes
Torch Club of the Fox Valley
14 December 2017
Atlas Coffee Mill & Café
Notes taken by: Sofia Wilson, Secretary
Attendees: Karen Bachhuber, Sue Bennett, Mary Flanagan, Paul Flanagan, Jean Hedges, Walt Hedges, Jean Jepson, Barbara Kelly, William Kelly, Jude Kuenn, Cam Maurice, Richard Schoenbohm, Robert Swain, Helen Thiel, Peter L. Thiel, Donna Weis and Sofia Wilson
Guest: None
BUSINESS MEETING
Meeting called to order at 6:35pm.
- Meeting minutes from 11/9/17 were accepted; motioned, seconded and approved.
- Treasurer’s report: 12/7/17 balance is at $3,807.49. Balance pending some dues to be submitted. IATC Membership List passed around for review. Report was accepted, motioned, seconded and approved.
Old Business:
- Donation on Behalf of Janet Cloak – Barbara K. completed the donation coordination. Many Thanks to Barbara for her hard work and coordination. Book Plate looks great. Some of the poetry books were passed around. 8 books were donated to the Appleton Public Library.
- Sofia W. has declined to be the Regional Director of Region 7 by IATC.
New Business:
- Cam brought up the discussion on New Members – It was discussed and suggested that we are always looking for interesting new members, but not necessarily looking to get bigger. Paul and Cam promoted the continuation of civil discourses with lifelong learners.
Announcements:
A. Anne Sterling from the IATC Torch Nominating Committee is looking for the next President Elect. It's a 6-year commitment; 2 years as VP, 2 years as President and 2 years as past President.
B. Mary – Noonhour Philosophers – talks coming up Jan. 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st
Business segment adjourned at 6:50pm for dinner.
Richard Schoenbohm – Go Gerrymander Yourself
Richard reviewed the redistricting that happens after each census – by county, precinct, town and ward, and presented the Gill vs. Whitford case, that has been submitted to the supreme court for unconstitutional partisan redistricting.
There is a 3 part test: 1. Show partisan intent? 2. Intent effective in opposing dissolution? 3. Prove otherwise, if 1 and 2 are true.
Argument: 1. Act 43 intended to burden the representative rights of Democrats for 10 years. 2. This is demonstrated in the 2012 and 2014 elections.
In review of the Act 43 district maps vs the previous district maps, the redistricting reduced the swing vote from 19 to 10, added 12 republican districts and removed 3 democratic districts.
Richard also discussed the efficiency gap – wasted votes by over loading an already majority democratic district or breaking up a heavy democratic area into small areas and including them in a majority republican area. Analysis of Act 43 shows a 13% efficiency gap for 2012 and a 10% efficiency gap for 2014.