Monthly Meeting Summary
SPECIAL NOTE: Next meeting is on Monday, July 13, 2026. Spirit Lake Senior Center. A week earlier than normal.
Meeting was called to order by Terry Yarns at 7:00M with the Pledge of Allegiance. Attendance was 42. Pizza was served prior to the meeting.
Secretary Report for April and May meetings summary was presented by Don Breuker, Secretary. Motion to approve the summaries was made/seconded by Harold P./Carolyn T. Carried.
Treasurer Report was presented by Kaylene Kinlen. Balance of $1,998.18. Summary of previous month’s bank activity was not presented.
Motion to approve the Treasurer Report as presented/seconded by Patrick K./Marti N. Carried.
Items of Business for Discussion:
Terry Presented Key Dates:
Informational strategy meeting for Rob Sand Campaign; hosted by regional campaign manager. Rob Sand will not be in attendance. 6/23 6-7pm at Estherville Library, 613 Central Ave. Yard signs will be picked up and brought back for distribution.
Rob Sand 100 Town Hall Tour - DICKINSON COUNTY. 7/7, 6:30pm. Location provided after registering. https://www.mobilize.us/robsandia/event/964836/
Dave Dawson in Estherville 7/25 (looking for Dickinson County date)
Jack Kibbie Memorial Democratic Meet and Greet, 7/26, Emmetsburg, https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/940259/
Joyce Prior Memorial Summer Sizzler 8/11, Dickinson County Expo Center
Liability Board Insurance. This type of insurance has been explored, however, is very expensive. Probably will not pursue. We do have Event Insurance (slip and fall).
Donations to Dickinson County Democrats organization.
Donations can be made via a check mailed to PO Box 203, Okoboji, IA 5135 or through the ActBlue link on our webpage https://www.thedickinsondems.com/.
It was decided to re-institute providing thank you notes to donors. The current DCD Chair, Terry Yarns, and Treasurer, Kaylene Kinlen, will be responsible for this.
Joyce Prior Memorial Summer Sizzler, Tuesday, August 11. Harold and John reported on the following:
Speakers
CJ Petersen - 4th District IDP Chair – Welcome. Invited. Confirmed.
JD Scholten - District 1 Iowa House Rep Invited. Confirmed.
Mark Kelly - US Senator – AZ. Invited. No Reply yet.
Rob Sand - Candidate for Governor, IA. Invited.
Pete Buttigieg – Attempting to Invite. Need phone number.
Josh Turek - Candidate for US Senate, IA. Invited. He has it on his calendar.
Dave Dawson - Candidate 4th District US House, IA. Invited. Confirmed.
Chris Jones - Candidate for Secretary of Agriculture, IA. Invited. Confirmed.
Nate Willems - Candidate for Attorney General, IA. Invited.
Rachel Gravert - Candidate for 5th District IA Senate. Invited. Confirmed.
Ticket Sales.
400 tickets will be printed initially.
650 is the maximum capacity for the Expo Center
Ticket Cost - $40 for meal and speakers. $20 for no meal, speakers only.
Publicity will begin when Speakers are finalized. Tickets and Publicity are planned to start immediately after July 4th.
Tickets will be provided for those who request to sell them. Rich and treasurer Kaylene will coordinate the distribution/recording of ticket numbers and ticket sales.
Ticket Payment by: Cash, Check, or Act Blue. No Credit Cards.
Area County Democrat Chairs will be provided with one (1) complimentary ticket. Plans are that someone from Dickinson County will attend their County meeting for promotion and sales.
Speakers, their guest and one person from their canvassing staff will each receive a complimentary ticket.
Volunteers
Sign up will be generated through an email and at the July meeting. (NOTE: The July meeting will be moved up one week to July 13th.)
Multiple committees are needed for a successful event, so many volunteers will be needed.
Program.
Karen Sterk has volunteered to be the MC.
Registration will start at 5:00 PM. / Meal at 5:45 PM / Speakers at 6:30 PM
Event will be completed by 9:00 PM
National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance
Singer(s) and speaker(s). There will be an application process for interested people.
Decorations
Harold and Kaylene have stored the decorations from previous Sizzlers.
Kim Aneweer has volunteered to coordinate the Decorations Committee. She will be in touch with people. We need to give her support and help.
Setup will be that morning or afternoon. depending upon if there is an event at the Expo Center prior to ours.
Band
Michael Dunn volunteered to line up the Band to perform between 5:00 – 6:30.
Cash Bar
Plans are to have a cash bar.
T-Shirt Sales
Jen Johnson will coordinate the design/order/sales of T-Shirts and potentially other merchandise. Details will be provided at the July 13th meeting. Direct suggestions, comments, to her. jennypattyjohnson@yahoo.com
Silent Auction – Floral designs created by Joyce Prior.
Timekeeper
Volunteer to be Timekeeper for Speakers. Displaying signs for 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Stop.
Committees
Registration/Sign-In Tables
Logistics – Inside people traffic flow
Tear Down
Security – Harold and John will have this arranged.
Dress Code
Casual
Coordinated Campaign – State Democrats Party
There have been 60 people hired to assist with election campaigning.
Dickinson, Clay, Emmet, Palo Alto
Autymn Shepherd – SC Regional Director
Jessie Blank – Okoboji
Dickinson County Central Committee Precinct Members
According to our recently adopted By-Laws, we need to have 2 volunteers from each precinct. This is the formal voting body for our organization. Volunteers. Rare that this committee will need to meet.
Ready, Set, Vote 250 Registration Drive
An initiative through the Secretary of State’s office with a goal of holding 250 or more voter registration drives across the state of Iowa in partnership with schools, non-profits, organizations, and auditors’ office. This is a nonpartisan initiative to increase voter registration, provide community engagement, and celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
Will meet at the Spirit Lake Senior Center
No Date set.
Volunteers to help with the registration process.
Humane Society of NW Iowa Wish List
Jen Johnson is coordinating this project. Also, Marisa who is here from Colorado Springs. Animals for Adoption.
RALLY All of Us 250 - https://allofus250.org/ - A Nationwide Mobilization for Truth, Equality & Freedom
June 27th, noon – 1pm, Dickinson County Courthouse
Primary Election Voter List
Suggestion was made to obtain this list and email to DCD members for purpose of voter connection. It was mentioned that the list is at the Auditor’s office in the Court House, and also on our VAN site. VAN (Voter Activation Network) is a centralized, online voter engagement used nationwide by Democrats to manage voter data and perform voter contact.
Terry’s Comments
Terry has had correspondence with Grassley. He sent comments on the US Debt rising and on the 1.776 B dollar ‘reimbursement’. In part, Grassley replied, “… that the root cause of our rising debt is the runaway Federal Spending. The tax cuts have not increased the deficit. On trade, Trump is a very skilled negotiator.”
Change of the July meeting date
By consensus of those present, the July meeting will be on Monday, July 13 for the purpose of activating Sizzler ticket sales and volunteer coordination.
Motion to adjourn was made/seconded. 8:07 PM.
Next meeting is on Monday, July 13, 2026, 7:00pm. Spirit Lake Senior Center