Overview
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WEB DESIGN -
HISTORY -
PURPOSE
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OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
MEMBERSHIP
Overview
The LCPPF or "Forum" as it is more
popularly known, has a membership consisting of people from all walks of
life interested in matters that affect their community and the people that
live in it. It’s Board of Directors consist of attorneys, educators,
ministers, housewives, etc. – all with a common interest to provide
open and honest public dialogue concerning matters of significant public
policy interest
to the greater Llano community.
This is accomplished by building citizen participation in the democratic
process; studying key Llano community issues at all government levels in an
unbiased manner; enabling people to seek positive solutions to public policy
issues through education and conflict management; providing information and
educational services on elections and public policy issues; and by making
complex and controversial issues accessible to the non-expert citizen in a
balanced, even-handed way. It is our hope that the
Forum may serve as a trainer of community leaders and activists.
We accomplish our mission by conducting public discussion groups, forums,
panels, lectures, debates, leadership training and other similar programs;
and by providing up-to-date news and commentary regarding vital community
issues via this web site.
Web Design
Current public policy issues are reflected in articles
posted on this web site on the respective modules or web pages outlined in
the left-hand column of this page and described below. The articles do not
reflect the opinion of the Forum but are
simply intended to stimulate discussion on the issues to which they relate.
The Forum does not take or endorse any
position vis-a-vis a public policy issue other than it be discussed openly,
honestly and with as much factual background as can be obtained.
Contributory writer/Members are encouraged to submit their own views
which, in turn, are posted to the web site.
Local Government: Matters concerning public policy issues affecting city,
county, tax assessor/collector, property appraisal, law enforcement,
emergency service districts, utility districts, hospital district ( a
possible issue in the future), i.e. all
government and quasi-government agencies will be found here.
Llano ISD: Covers public
policy issues specifically concerning the Llano Independent School District but may
include parts of the county included in the Burnet Consolidated ISD as well,
since part of the BCISD overlaps Llano County. Again, as with local
government issues, state and federal matters having a direct impact on our
public schools are also included.
Special Interests: Matters
concerning public policy issues affecting limited areas of the community or
group within Llano County, not covered by Local Government or Llano ISD; as
well as public policy issues that are of state or national interest but have
a direct affect on the citizens of Llano County.
Public Interest Laws:
Here articles can be found submitted by our membership dealing with laws
relative to the public interest as they may relate to Llano County as well
as elsewhere.
Meetings & Forums:
indicates when and where our next meetings or forums are scheduled.
Again, welcome to our web site. We hope you'll become
interested enough to join us by becoming a member and supporting our efforts
in "Seeking Positive Solutions to Public Policy
Issues in Llano County" - you owe it to yourself, your
community and the future of Llano County!
HISTORY
Realizing the need for a community organization that would research and
disseminate honest, unbiased analysis, reporting and commentary on issues of
uppermost importance to the citizens of Llano County, a non-partisan, non-profit,
tax-exempt corporation was formed: the Llano County Public Policy Forum
("LCPPF" or "Forum").
A Certificate of Incorporation was issued July 22, 2004 by the Texas
Secretary of State. Effective that same date, the
Forum received a
Letter of Determination from the Internal Revenue Service recognizing it as
a tax-exempt section 501 (c) (3) corporation. The Texas State Franchise Tax
Board also has granted the Forum tax exempt status.
August 9, 2004 the Forum held its first organizing meeting electing a
President, Secretary/Treasurer and several members to its Board of
Directors. The logo (registered trademark) and the corporate colors maroon
and gray were adopted. Other matters on the agenda were discussed and acted
upon.
Annual membership dues were established at $10. Those joining at the corporation's inception
through year 2005 are
considered Charter Members.
Purpose
(Taken from the LCPPF Bylaws)
To seek positive solutions to public policy issues affecting the citizens of
Llano County, Texas through education and conflict management; to build
citizen participation in the democratic process; to study key Llano County
community issues at all government levels in an unbiased manner; and to
provide the citizens of Llano County, Texas with information and educational
services on elections and current public policy issues in order to make
complex and controversial issues accessible to the non-expert citizen in a
balanced, even-handed way; to conduct public discussion groups, forums,
panels, lectures, debates, leadership training and other similar programs to
achieve the stated purpose of the Llano County Public Policy Forum; and to
engage in any other lawfully recognized non-profit activity under section
501 (3) (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of a charitable, religious,
educational or scientific nature.
Officers and Directors
Harvey H. Klee, President and Director
Suzanne Klee, Secretary/Treasurer and Director
Marian C. Bloss, Vice-President and Director
John Hauser, Director
Randy Remington, Director
Llano County
Public Policy Forum
State-wide Recognition
The Eyes of Texas shine upon two Llano websites: Klee’s
Kaleidoscope www.kleekal.com and
the Llano County Public Policy Forum
www.lcppf.org Both websites were recently recognized by the
“Take Back Texas Government” organization for their contribution as local
government “watch dogs.” Both Klee’s Kaleidoscope and the Llano County
Public Policy Forum are now listed on their website as Citizen Watch
Organizations. Go to
www.TakeBackTexasGovernment.com. Once there, click on “Join
With and Take it Back,” then click on “Citizen Watch Organizations.”
Take Back Texas Government is a special project of the Americans for
Prosperity Foundation, a national organization headquartered in Washington,
D.C.. It is an organization of taxpayers, teachers, parents and elected
officials who believe that government belongs to the people who pay for it.
Their original focus has been on public schools and is the home of The
Educators Witness Protection Program previously written about on the Klee’s
Kaleidoscope website. Their stated purpose is: “Protecting those who raise
and educate our children while exposing waste and corruption in the
education system.” Their website is undergoing expansion with plans to
include County Government, City Government and Other Taxing Entities in the
near future.
The parent organization, Americans for Prosperity Foundation is a
nation-wide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every
individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. The AFPF believe
reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring
individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. The AFPF educates
and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government
growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. Their website
is
www.americansforprosperity.org.
Peggy M. Venable is Director of the Texas office of Americans for
Prosperity. She has worked in public policy and in the political arena for
30 years, with more than 13 years experience in Washington, D.C., and 10
years in Texas as state director of Citizens for a Sound Economy. Peggy is
well known across Texas, having been widely published in newspapers and
heard regularly on talk radio across the state. She travels the state
extensively giving numerous speeches to civic, business and citizen groups.
Before returning to her native Texas more than a decade ago, Peggy served in
numerous senior-level positions in the federal government, including the
Department of Interior, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Department
of Education, and the Government Printing Office. She has also worked on
several presidential campaigns, including those of Gerald R. Ford and Ronald
Reagan. She was Executive Director of the 1984 Republican National
Convention.
Peggy is active in numerous home state groups, having served as board member
of the Texas Center for Educational Research as well as the Austin CEO
Foundation. She is on the editorial board of the Lone Star Report and is an
advisor to the Texans for Texas organization. She is an immediate past
president of the Texas Women’s Alliance and the Southwest State University
Foundation. She is also a member of the Texas Education Reform Caucus. Peggy
is listed in Who’s Who Among Women. The Texas website for Americans for
Prosperity is
www.americansforprosperity.org/tx/.
The Llano County Public Policy Forum is pleased to
be recognized and affiliated with Take Back Texas Government, a special
project of Americans for Prosperity.
Membership
If you are interested in becoming a member, contact The
Forum at
lcppf@usa.com or
print out and mail in the following application with $10 for your first
year's dues through December 31, 2005.
Llano County Public Policy Forum
Membership Application
Yes! I’m interested in seeking positive solutions to public policy issues
affecting the citizens of Llano County, Texas and in honest, open and
intelligent dialogue to bring that about. Sign me up for membership in the
Llano County Public Policy Forum.
NAME (please print):_______________________________________________
ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: __________________________________________________
Telephone No.:___________________________________________________
Annual
Membership is $10.
Make checks payable to LCPPF. Mail to LCPPF 374 CR 216 AA Bluffton, Texas
78607.
Send e-mail inquiries to:
lcppf@lcppf.org
