There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch, but there will be a free convention.

A successful convention can be measured in several ways. The one that we want to focus on in these last few days before the convention is the number of people attending.

Being somewhat disappointed with what we’re seeing with registrations, we recognize that the economy has put a pinch on us all, so we’re opening up the convention so that all speakers and sessions no cost. No fees, except for the buffet lunch, if you choose to have it. Those who have already registered, will be offered refunds for the difference, if they wish.

Now maybe you can’t be at the entire convention. But you should at least try to be at the Saco Ramada for at least some of the convention this Saturday.

Morning Sessions: Libertarians Assemble!

The morning session will be mostly about activism, and running campaigns. If you are interested in volunteering, petitioning, running for office, or helping others run for office. Or, if you merely want to know what you CAN do to help, show up our panels will be all about activism.

Of particular importance is our efforts to get our legislative, congressional, and presidential candidates on the ballot. This is your best opportunity to learn how you can help.

Early afternoon: Taking care of business

After lunch, there will be our business session, Bylaws amendments will be submitted for approval, officers and state committee members will be elected, and delegates to the national convention will be selected.

Want to help determine the path of the LPME for the next few years? This is your best opportunity to do just that, by voting for our party’s leadership, or running for a leadership position yourself.

Your current voter registration has no bearing on your eligibility to vote. All you need is to have signed the Libertarian Party’s statement of principles, as per the national party’s bylaws, and be a resident of Maine.

Later afternoon & early evening: Issues and Candidates.

The US Senate Race

Later in the afternoon will be speakers. Our candidate for the US Senate, Andrew Ian Dodge, will speak, of his campaign, his recent departure from the Republican party, and his battle with colon cancer, chronicled in his recent book, “Drifting into Oblivion”.

Food Soverignty

Deborah Evans, of the Bagaduce farm will be speaking on recent battles in Maine over local food ordinaces, and defending the rights of local farming.

The Presidential Race

We will be having our presidential straw poll, to guide and instruct our delegation to the National Convention. We hope to have literature, and potentially video messages from candidates in the race, available at the convention.

Gays, Marriage and Liberty

Co-Founder and chief strategist of GOProud, Christopher Barron, will be speaking as our featured speaker at 6 P.M. Christopher is a supporter of Libertarian candidate for President, Gary Johnson. Among the issues covered will be the upcoming gay marriage referendum.

You can register online now. Or register at the convention. If you are registering at the convention, please e-mail Convention@lpme.org to help us prepare. Thanks!

No charge, but please help cover the costs.

Now this is a bit of a financial risk, as we still have to pay for the cost of the room, the cost of the minimum quantity of lunches, and lodging for some of our special guest speakers who have had to travel. At a minimum, have lunch at the convention, at the $25 rate. If you can, donate $25 to $50 on top of that. All these revised options are available at our convention page at http://lpme.org/convention

Please RSVP, as soon as possible. Even if you are not donating or having lunch, it would be greatly appreciated, to help with planning.

LIBERTARIAN CONVENTION SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED; ANDREW IAN DODGE TO RUN FOR SENATE AS LIBERTARIAN

Monday, March 5, 2012 -

Monday, the Libertarian Party of Maine announced that Christopher Barron, co-founder of GOProud, and Andrew Ian Dodge, candidate for the U.S. Senate, would be speaking at their convention on March 31st, in Saco.

Dodge also announced that he will be running for Senate as a Libertarian.

On the convention Dodge said that he was, “pleased to be speaking at the Libertarian Party of Maine’s 2012 conference on 31 March 2012.  It will be great to share a stage with my friend and tea party colleague GOProud’s Chris Barron. With the changing sands that are the Maine 2012 political scene it should be a great event.”

Libertarian Party of Maine Chairman, Shawn Levasseur spoke on Dodge’s change in party affiliation, “Andrew has been a long time friend of the LP in Maine. So when the news broke that he was leaving the Republican party, and would be petitioning to get directly onto the November ballot, we asked him to run as a Libertarian. He has often described himself as a libertarian. The only difference now is that he’s now capitalizing the ‘L’.”

Dodge said, “I welcome the support of the Libertarian Party of Maine in my run for US Senate .  I am happy to call myself a Libertarian and look forward to working with the party on our campaign to promote freedom, the free market and sound governance.”

Christopher Barron will be featured as the convention’s dinner speaker. The chief strategist of GOProud is a supporter of former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, a former Repubican who is now seeking the Libertarian nomination for President.

Said Levasseur, “Stories like that of Dodge and Governor Johnson are merely the tip of the iceberg of dissatisfaction with the G.O.P.. Ron Paul supporters are seeing how the entrenched powers running the Republican party have been hostile to libertarians. In any sane party the influx of energized voters that Paul created would have been welcomed. I’ve gotten calls from some Paul supporters saying that once Ron Paul’s race is over, they will be joining us.”

Said Dodge, “We offer something different for the people of Maine from the professional party politicians who are trying to convince us it is their turn to go to the Senate.”