First Thursday Meeting in Parkville, MO  from 5:30PM     The regular Platte County Pachyderms' First Thursday at the Touché ( Find Directions); gathering is April 6th.  Those interested in good, fiscal responsible government are very welcome.  Club meetings open to residents and media.           Captain Gary Hacker is presenting, "Training the New Iraqi Centurion". Captain Hacker has first hand experience of actual interaction with Iraqi’s from his assignment at the Baghdad.        The social gathering begins at 5:30 PM at the Touché in Parkville.  ( Find Directions).  This includes registration, visiting, and food with drinks. A $10 cover charge.

March 02, '06: The regular Platte County Pachyderms' First Thursday was held for the first time at the Touché ( Find Directions). More than fifty members and guests were in attendance on March 02.       Scott McRuer, C.P.A., from Parkville, presented "The Hidden Taxes We Pay";...scary and maddening information impacting all citizens as Taxation Issue #2. Scott described a brief history of the National Income Tax.  he gave several instances where hidden taxes pay for many different government programs. He, provided a different scenarios concerning a national sales tax, as presented in February. .

Former Lt. Gov. and former Pachyderm President Bill Phelps presented the subject of the  "Fair Tax - a National Sales Tax to Replace All Income Taxes".

107th Annual Missouri Lincoln Days       The 2006 Lincoln Days celebration was in Kansas City at the Downtown Marriot Feb 03- 05.  Republicans, state wide, came to meet each other and assist with various political campaigns. Every major elected official was present.  Both U.S. Senators, Bond and Talent, were there. Governor Blunt and Lt. Gov. Kinder were present. A special guest came from D.C. RNC Chairman Ken Mehleman, also, spoke at the evening banquet.      Friday,  Platte County Pachyderms managed and ran the official state Pachyderm table, greeting folks as they came by.  A special banjo player was arranged to strum tunes. At Friday evening's banquet, PC Pachys sat as a group. We selected our table immediately behind national and state dignitaries, just a few feet form the speaker's platform. The evening's main speaker was our  U.S. Senator Jim Talent.      Saturday's program featured U.S. Senate majority leader Bill Frist. Prior to his speech, State Senator Charlie Shields was honored with "THE MISSOURI PACHYDERM" of the year award. Sen. Charlie Shields Receives State Pachyderm Legislator of the Year Award Recognized for Leading Missouri' s Education and Healthcare Reforms KANSAS CITY, MO.—Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, was named Legislator of the Year by the Missouri State Pachyderms at the Republican State Lincoln Days annual celebration held on Saturday night, Feb. 4, in Kansas City. Bob Paulson presented the award to Sen. Shields on behalf of the Missouri State Pachyderms, citing his instrumental role as Senate Majority Floor Leader in leading reforms of Missouri’s educational and healthcare systems. "Building from his sixteen years of local school board experience, Sen. Shields forged ahead to pass a new formula that created a balance so that no matter where a student lives- they will have an equal opportunity for a world class education," Paulson said. "And as the ink was drying on the new school funding formula, Sen. Shields took on the difficult task of beginning to reform healthcare in Missouri, recommending we dramatically change healthcare in Missouri so that we focus on keeping people healthy instead of only treating them when they are sick and making sure all Missourians have available, affordable healthcare." "It is an honor to be the recipient of this award for the second time in my legislative career," said Shields. "I am proud to take on issues that I know will move Missouri forward and put all Missourians in a position to be prosperous." Sen. Shields is currently serving his first term in the Missouri Senate, where he was elected after serving six terms in the Missouri House. While serving in the House, Shields was named Legislator of the Year during the 2002 Republican State Lincoln Days. Our own Charlie Shields is a charter member of this Platte County Pachyderm Club.      For complete event schedules and complete details, visit: www.molincolndays.com                      Senator Kit Bond to act as chief spokesman  Missouri's Senior Senator will head senate Republican information gathering & dissemination of information concerning national intelligence issues.  As member of the Senate's Intelligence Committee, Senator Bond will develop talking points for Republican Senators to insure a consistent flow of accurate information.   Kansas City seeks the 2008 Republican National Convention Vice president of convention sales, Bill Bohde,  said said Kansas City will bid for the 2008 Republican Convention.  There si the new area and entertainment district, which should serve as good attractions. K.C.MO was host to the 1976 Republican Convention, and it hopes to lure the '08 event.  At present, Kansas City is one of the 31 contending cities the RNC is condidering.    Feb 17 and 18 Fri, Sat  Mo Young Republican's BIG PARTY WEEKEND/Grassroots and Leadership Training Conference Sheraton Westport Hotel St. Louis County, MO. Web information on: http://missouriyr.com/conference.php, or phone info Gus Wagner 866.376.2538 The regular web of Young Republicans site: www.MissouriYR.com

No Wonder: Emory University researched brain waves from both ridged liberal and conservative people.  By using brain scanners, results showed that both political-bent thinkers just shut down any specific reasoning portions of their brains. If incoming facts did not square their views, they refused to expose themselves to new or different information. ( Article reported in KC Star: 02-19-06)

SYPHILIS in Kansas City: Syphilis is growing in the Kansas City area, with 117 reported cases last year.  This shows a steady increasing trend with 53 cases in '04, up from 44 cases in '03.  The Kansas City Health Department has  started a new awareness campaign using brochures.  Most cases were among heterosexuals., which poses a new demographic in public health. Because sores from syphilis make is easier to transmit the HIV virus, associated with AIDS.  Further, many people who contract syphilis do not show any symptoms for years, thus spreading the infection to others. The trend Kansas City is experiencing is reflected in other parts of the nation.  ( Article by Alan Bavely, the Kansas City Star-02-19-06)