I have enough Drama in my life right now, and I don't really need to add any fuel to the fire

Greetings friends ... I have been a little on the busy side lately, and not able to write as often as I'd like to on the Conservative Thoughts blog.  I just recently had a conversation the other day however, and thought that it would be worthwhile sharing it with you.

I sent out an email blast last week, about stops that BC Conservative Party leadership candidate Dan Brooks would be making.  This is that conversation, which may strike a cord with you -- I know it will with some.

This is an exciting time for our party, as we move forward to a new and brighter future.

Part of that of course is the current campaign now underway to elect the next leader of OUR party.

I am pleased to let you know that BC Conservative Party leadership candidate Dan Brooks will be making stops in ___ xyz city ___ on ___ November 123 ___.

I am contacting you today to see if you will be able to get together and meet with Dan ... and ask any questions you may have about him and the future of the BC Conservative Party.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I looking forward to hearing from you  ... alan

Here is an edited version of the response I received back:

Alan,

I don't think I will be attending. I have enough Drama in my life right now, and I don't really need to add any fuel to the fire.  

Thank-you for the invite, and please keep me updated with Party news.

I wish you and Dan all the best in rebuilding the Party.

Regards,

Scott __ abc ___

Well I let that discourage me for a bit, but then I said to myself, 'He hasn't said he's given up on the party ... only that he's had enough of all the turmoil'.  So, I decided to take a chance (maybe a risk), and send a reply back:

Thanks Scott ... I appreciate your follow-up, and the sincerity of your comments about the party.

I do not say this with any disrespect ... it is just an observation that I think 'may' be close to hitting the mark.  I think perhaps you are likely like some others in the party; demoralized and discouraged, and wondering, "Do I really want to do this again?"

I feel comfortable in making this observation because it is a place I too have been.

Until this years AGM, I was a Regional Director with the Party for three years.  I got to experience first hand the cancer that was creating a storm of dissent within the party; it was not a place, or a time, that I would wish on anyone. Despite that I (and others) hung in because we believed there must be a true conservative voice in BC -- not a watered down version represented by Christy Clark and the BC Liberals.

I also volunteered as the campaign manager for our Kamloops South Thompson candidate in the May general election.  There were too few of us on our team, but those we had, put in a huge effort to do the work of many -- again because we believed there had to be a true conservative option for people to vote for. Sadly the damage done by the dissidents in our party, had eroded the support we had been gaining, and as you know, we elected no members to the legislature in May.

At that point my discouragement was pretty much complete, and I was close to throwing in the towel.  Then Dan Brooks stepped forward and said he was seeking to lead the BC Conservatives. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone want to do that?"

I had the opportunity to meet and speak with him on several occasions, and every time I did, I heard him speak with power and passion about conservatism ... I heard him speak bout empowering the grassroots ... and making sure that BC Conservatives never again go through the kind of infighting that took place last year.

Personally, I would like to do more than keep you 'updated with Party news' ... and while I appreciate that you wish Dan 'all the best in rebuilding the Party' ... we need all hands on deck for that to happen.

I ask for you to give one hour of your time, and see if Dan makes you a believer that we can indeed create a party that the people of BC can support, starting first of all by governing ourselves in a way that can give others the confidence they'll need to come on board with us.

Its one hour of your time ... but I can't think of a better way to spend it.  You'll see and hear first hand from Dan -- get your own impression of him -- and see for yourself the passion that he has to make our province a better place for all British Columbians.

Thank you for letting me share a few of my thoughts with you ... and I hope you'll join Dan in ___ xyz city ... alan

Okay, so maybe I took a little risk in sending that, but again, I thought it was worth it, and apparently it was because Scott did send an email back to me:

Merritt Home to First BC Conservative Candidate to Declare in the running for the Fraser Nicola Riding

BC Conservative Party members, from across the Fraser Nicola electoral district, gathered this afternoon in the Cache Creek community hall.

"Today's event was to officially bring in to existence the BC Conservative Party Constituency Association for Fraser Nicola ... and secondly to hear the announcement of the first person who has declared they will seek the nod of members to run in next Mays provincial election", declared Regional Director Alan Forseth.

New Constituency Association President Dan
Cummins (L)  talks with Board Director Ted Lund

Elected to the first board were Dan Cummings of Savona, Wayne Ferguson of Seton Portage, Ted Lund of Merritt, Patrick Mulldoon of Logan Lake, Shaun Freeman of Savona, as well as Michael Beauclair of Merritt.

Following the election of the board members, Forseth then went on to announce the first person approved to seek the nomination for Fraser Nicola.

"It is my pleasure today to introduce you to an individual who is married, has two children, and who lives in the community of Merritt. He has worked with timber for over 24 years, and has scale and graded our provinces most precious natural resource for 17 years on the Coast and the Interior."

"That individual is Michael Beauclair"

Mr. Beauclair spoke for several minutes, talking the time to let members know a bit about himself, and the things that are, and will be, important to voters in the riding in the next election.

BC Conservatives in Kamloops set to announce first nominee candidate

Hello again friends .. today I pass on the media release which went out yesterday to radio, newspaper, and TV in Kamloops:

Monday.  That's when Kamloops South Thompson BC Conservative Party members will find out the name of the first person, who will be seeking the nomination to run as their candidate, in next May's provincial general election.

"We have spoken to a number of people over the past few months about running for the party", said Regional Director Alan Forseth.

Forseth continued, "This individual does have previous political experience, and will be well known to the people of Kamloops."

"We also expect they will be the first of several, to put their name forward, which is why we will continue to speak with other interested men and women."

"Anyone who believes in open and accountable government, and truly representing the people who have elected them, are welcome to seek the nomination", Forseth concluded.

Monday's announcement will be made at 12 noon in Gaglardi Square, on Seymour Street, in Downtown Kamloops. 

Kamloops South Thompson BC Conservative members will vote, to elect their candidate, early in the new year.

I'm looking forward to Monday -- hope you can join us for the announcement.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops. 

You may well understand what I'd think of anyone, who made the claim, any of the individuals was not dealt with in a process that included much thought and deliberation

As many of you know, I am the Regional Director of the BC Conservative Party, for the Kamloops Thompson Fraser Nicola region.

Some in the media have accused our party of being quick to react to criticism, of being harsh and uncaring.

I'm not asking for sympathy, however the reality of my weekend included two separate provincial board meetings for the BC Conservative Party.  

One of these lasted 3 hours and 15 minutes ... the other of which was 3 hour and 30 minutes -- dealing with problems arising from very public comments made by some of not just a lack of support of John Cummins, but that he resign, despite the overwhelming will of the membership who have a completely different opinion.

Several hours were also needed to go over material and information prior to these meetings ... and for follow-up today.

Suffice to say you may well understand what I'd think of anyone, who made the claim, any of the individuals was not dealt with in a process that included much thought and deliberation.

And the result?  

And now … a blatant request for your support to elect me Director at Large

Greetings fellow BC Conservative Party members...

Former party president Wayne McGrath - his time on
the phone, and a trip to Kamloops got me onboard

I have been a member of the BC Conservatives for nearly 3 years now, and since the first initial meeting of the party here in Kamloops, I have been a member of the Board of Directors for the Kamloops South Thompson riding.  

With the support of members in this area, I was also selected by the party to become the Regional Directors for Kamloops, Thompson, Fraser, Nicola.

One of the things I have enjoyed, in recent years, has been writing on Conservative values, and taking both the Liberal and NDP to task.  This has been done, in my own personal Conservative Thoughts blog.

While the Conservative Thoughts blog is not an extension of the party (it is my independent thoughts and opinion), it is fair to say not many would doubt my support for the party.

If you are not yet aware, I would like to let you know I have let my name stand for election as Director at Large on the new provincial board. Next Saturday at our AGM in Langley, I ask for your support & your vote.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me by email.

Thanks...

Alan Forseth

Conservative Thoughts: http://​kamloopsthompsonbcconservatives​.blogspot.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mostlypolitics
Email:  alfman55@hotmail.com

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

• Born in Vancouver – moved at the age of 10 to Williams Lake where I grew up. 
• Attended school, married my High School sweetheart Bev, and we raised a family (2 children).   



One of life's pleasures -- my new-to-me 2002 Goldwing

• Moved in 1992 to Kamloops which is where Bev and I call home

WORK BACKGROUND:

• Worked as light equipment operator and laborer at the Gibraltar open pit copper mine from mid to late 70s
• Employed in all facets of radio (on-air, news, writing and production, sales, and management) for 30 years
• Currently employed in sales for an independent BC owned and operated web development, and marketing company, with several sector specific BC tourism websites.

Me at the 2011 BC Conservative Party
AGM which was held in Nanaimo

 POLITICAL BACKGROUND:

I came from a family with deep roots in the CCF Party, and initially was an NDP supporter. 

With the emergence of the Federal Reform Party I became a member, working on several campaigns in the Kamloops riding.  

I also became a member of the BC Reform Party, running as a candidate in the 1996 provincial election.

Like many I have been disillusioned with politics, at the provincial level, for a good number of years now.  

Only with the recent re-emergence of the provincial BC Conservative Party, have a felt able to once again take part in the process, and to encourage others to do so as well.

I thank you for your time and consideration --- and again I ask for your vote to elect me as a Director at Large, on Saturday September 22nd at the BC Conservative Party AGM in Langley.