UNITED WOMEN’S FORUM Minutes - March 17, 2010

Conducting: Diane Prince
Prayer: Laura Dickson
Pledge of Allegiance: Sue Mercer
Announcements: Kris Kimball
• Caucus Meetings: Tuesday, March 23, 7 pm; locations by District and Party, available online
• US Healthcare – current tactic to circumvent Senate vote – discussion of ways to contact Rep. Jim Matheson who is undecided
• April 9 UWF-sponsored Forum of Utah US Senatorial candidates; 7 pm at the Bountiful City Council chambers

Guest introduction of Utah District 20 candidate for House seat, DJ Schanz—he was given a few minutes to introduce himself and tell of his views.

Principle #3 from The 5000 Year Leap: Tenna Hartman
“The Most Promising Method of Securing a Virtuous and Morally
Stable People is to Elect Virtuous Leaders”
This is a very timely topic with caucus meetings next week. She began with a quote by A. Maslow and then went on to tell of his hierarchy of needs model. This pyramid includes: basic biological & physiological needs, safety & security needs, belonging and love needs and finally at the top, esteem. Once a person reaches that level, they are able to share with others. These people can serve others in public position. It is incumbent upon us to elect those with high ideals. Samuel Adams said, “He therefore is the truest friend to liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.” He goes on to say that public officials should have experience, training, proven virtue and demonstrated wisdom. Tenna challenged us to study this chapter and be involved in the upcoming grass-roots process in our community.

Special Guest Speaker: intro by Diane Prince
Utah Senator Dan Liljenquist
Dan is married to Brooke Davies, father of 5 and #6 due in May. He has a degree in Economics from Brigham Young University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago. He is a business owner and former strategy consultant. He was elected to the Utah Senate in 2008. He is the vice-chair of the House Appropriations Committee and is highly respected on Utah’s Capitol Hill.

He began with some comments on the recent downfall of two fellow legislators, Killpack and Garn. It is very unfortunate as both of these men have worked hard of difficult problems facing the citizens of Utah. Without passing judgment he explained that politics can be ‘intoxicating’ including being able to handle power and pride; it can sometimes alter an individual’s sense of reality. He said as constituents we must be vigilant when it comes to those we have elected.

His main topic was a summary or legislative session ‘wrap-up’. Topics included ethics reform, pensions for government employees, budget issues, Utah’s rainy-day fund, education funding (public and charter schools), federal vs. state land issues, etc. Much of his focus, because of his assignment on the Appropriations Committee, was on the good resolution of the state budget in these terrible economic times. He said that Utah is only 1 of 3 states that even has any savings; the Legislature did not touch the ‘rainy-day’ funds. He also pointed out that 95% of what the Legislature does has to do with money and that is what impacts people’s lives. Overall, he is pleased with the results of this session given the current economic problems

He believes in smaller federal government and strong state government---that Utah needs to make sure it is self-sufficient.

He was asked about his future public service but said he does not know what the time frame will be, but said, “Make your life count.” He ended with a quote by Adam Lindsey Gordon: “Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone, Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.”


Luncheon provided by:
Jyl Marsden, Julie Hattabaugh and Kris Kimball

Next UWF Meeting April 14th
Special Screening in honor of Earth Week “Not Evil Just Wrong” and Principle 7 from The 5,000 Year Leap “The Proper Role of Government is to Protect Equal Rights, not Provide Equal Things.”