CAMP LIBERTY—Something different for candidates Camp Liberty will be held August 19-25, 2007, at the Fillmore Lodge.  The Lodge is in one of the most beautiful areas of the Black Hills, south of Spearfish near Tinton. The camp is free to prospective candidates [A registration fee of $25 is charged and is refundable to those who attend.] Camp Liberty is sponsored and funded by Tom Gerber as a way to encourage and develop candidates for public office.  He can be contacted at  1437 Spruce Street, Sturgis, SD, 57785 or at come2lib@yahoo.com. This is a working camp for candidates.  [The family of a candidate may accompany the candidate to enjoy the amenities of the Lodge and surroundings.] Among the activities of the week-long Camp are workshops such as:

Your constituency

Know thyself

Polishing yourself

Grassroots campaigning

Effective campaigns  I, II

Using the WEB

Your campaign materials

Political songs         

Throughout the week, candidates will be required to give speeches of various lengths and types.  In these speech sessions as in other activities, all candidates are expected to help each other in becoming better candidates. Speakers are being sought on topics of interest to candidates.   Success of this camp will be measured in the success of those who attend.  Greater electoral success of independent candidates and candidates from minor political parties will increase the choices of voters and cause more voices to be heard.   

The establishment parties have subjected voters to a process that limits their choices, tending to present tweedledee and tweedledum candidates in the general elections.  A major aim of the Camp Liberty is to begin a process in which competitive pressure forces greater variety into the political arena.