Three hundred AFP members crowded into the Salem Conference Center on May 29 for AFP-Oregon's 2009 Defending the American Dream Summit. Fired up by AFP State Director Jeff Kropf, Joe "the plumber" Wurzelbacher, Grover Norquist and Lars Larson, the group received important training in grassroots skills, then rallied at the Capitol and visited their Legislators.

Kropf Addresses DAD Audience

It was an amazing day packed with important activities. Many attendees took the day off from work to get inspired, get trained and take a strong message to the State Legislature. With that body considering almost 200 tax or fee increases - and a major personal income tax increase rumored to be on the table - AFP delivered the largest limited government group to the Capitol this Session.

Right Online Training

Also addressing the gathering was Timberline Dodge's Alex Laws. With his family-owned dealership facing closure by the Obama Administration, Laws urged the crowd to battle against federal government interference in private business.

AFP - Oregon presented awards to Chapters and volunteers, including Baker County for Best New Chapter and Josephine County for Outstanding Chapter. Richard Whitehead of the Washington County Chapter won Outstanding Volunteer and Portland businessman Richard Geary received the AFP Pioneer Award for his tremendous support of the Oregon Chapter.
Kropf

Closing the conference, John Fund of the Wall Street Journal noted the history of what happens when voters elect a liberal Democrat President and a liberal Democrat majority in Congress. He cited the failed Carter Presidency which led to the election of Ronald Reagan and the failed Clinton Health Care plan which led to overwhelming victories for conservatives in the 1994 elections and the election of George W. Bush in 2000.

AFP members left the DAD Summit ready to take action in their local communities and to transform the energy from the AFP-sponsored Taxpayer Tea Parties and the Summit into a better Oregon.