Topeka 2010

Young Democrats of America Winter Conference Bid

PO BOX 1914. Topeka. KS. 66601-1914

Jamie Epstein 12422 W 101 Terrace

Lenexa, KS 66215 October 11, 2009

Board of Directors c/o Crystal Strait, National President Young Democrats of America

PO Box 77496 Washington, DC 20013

Dear President Strait:

I am writing to you today with regards to the Kansas Young Democrats bid to host the Young Democrats of America 2010 Winter Conference in Topeka. Kansas Young Democrats was

founded in 1932 with Frank McDonald as President. Today, Kansas is one of the strongest statewide organizations in the Midwest Region and the geographic center of the United States.

The Host Committee has enclosed information about our organization and conference bid for your review. Please contact me at 913.220.8699 or yonahana@gmail.com at your convenience with any additional questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Jamie Epstein

Host Committee Chair

Enclosure

LETTERS

FROM HOST CHAPTER PRESIDENT,

STATE PRESIDENT AND

REGION DIRECTOR

Scott Seel 8326 SW 77 Street

Auburn, KS 66402 October 3, 2009

Crystal Strait, National President Young Democrats of America PO Box 77496

Washington, DC 20013

Dear President Strait:

I write to you today in support of selecting Topeka, Kansas as the host city for the 2010 Young Democrats of America Winter Conference. I am currently President of the Topeka/Shawnee County Young Democrats and have lived in Topeka for the better part of my life.

Though Kansas leans solidly to the Republican side in terms of voter registration, the areas of the

state that are growing (urban and suburban areas surrounding Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence and Manhattan) are all beginning to trend Democrat. Topeka sits in the heart of the 2nd Congressional District, which was the site of one of the major Congressional upsets in 2006

when Nancy Boyda unseated a right-wing incumbent who was thought to be unbeatable. Unfortunately in 2008, Rep. Boyda was defeated by Lynn Jenkins, who has become nationally-

known for her racially insensitive remarks and cold, uncaring attitude towards the less-fortunate in her district. The GOP recognizes that Jenkins is vulnerable and the 2010 race will be one of the most-watched in the country.

The Host Committee is working with the Kansas Democratic Party to hold the conference in

conjunction with its annual Washington Days. The single biggest political event in Kansas for either party, Washington Days has attracted such speakers as President Barack Obama, former

President Bill Clinton, Sen. John Edwards and General Wesley Clark just in this decade. The event draws hundreds of Democrats from around the state and would be a fantastic complimentary event for a YDA conference.

I would also like to mention that in Kansas we have an excellent network of young talent getting

involved in Democratic politics. We currently have five Young Democrats in the Kansas House of Representatives. There are already three additional Young Democrats actively campaigning

for seats the in districts that are winnable including myself, in the 54th District in South Topeka.

I appreciate your consideration and look forward to your decision.

Sincerely,

Scott Seel President, Topeka/Shawnee County Young Democrats

Colin A. Curtis 322 N 16th St

Kansas City, KS 66102 October 2, 2009

Board of Directors

Young Democrats of America PO Box 77496

Washington, DC 20013

YDA Board of Directors:

Eight months ago I was working on a campaign with a dear friend of my, Tyler Longpine, it was then that Tyler asked me to come to the elections for the Kansas Young Democrats because he was running for President and needed my vote, this is when my involvement with KYD was

sparked. As you may know Tyler was elected and served as Kansas State President until he resigned shortly after Chicago in order to work for our state party. About a month ago I was

elected to take over as President upon Tyler’s resignation, I am proud to say that we have already accomplished much and I am excited for the opportunity to have my own home state of Kansas considered for the 2010 Winter Conference.

In Kansas we are gearing up for the 2010 elections. We are steadily building a stronger

democratic ticket and have the potential to turn Kansas a little bluer. If YDA is to partner with our state party for our traditional Washington Days meeting, then the organization as a whole will learn first hand about heartland politics and experience a good time like no other, just ask

Isaac.

Kansas leaders have never been afraid to try new ways of doing things. The state pioneered in the use of the direct primary election. Kansas led the nation in granting suffrage to women. The first legislature in 1861 gave women the right to vote in school elections. Suffrage was extended

in 1887 to city and bond elections, and in that year a Kansas town elected the first woman mayor in the country—Mrs. Medora Salter of Argonia. Kansas was one of the first states to ratify the

Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution, making ratification March 28, 1972. With solid achievement in the past and bright promise for the future, Kansas is fulfilling its motto: ―Ad astra per aspera‖ (―To the stars through difficulties‖). I would like to strongly

encourage each of you to come and see what Kansas is really all about and I hope that I will see you in Topeka this February.

Sincerely,

Colin A. Curtis State President

Kansas Young Democrats

Jamie Epstein 12422 W 101 Terrace

Lenexa, KS 66215 September 23, 2009

Board of Directors c/o Crystal Strait, National President Young Democrats of America PO Box 77496

Washington, DC 20013

Dear President Strait:

The first time I attended a Young Democrats of America meeting was in Omaha. Now as the Midwest Region Director, I am thrilled to have my own home state of Kansas considered for the 2010 Winter Conference.

There are those who would suggest that Topeka is not the most conventional choice, but our organization can benefit from meeting outside of a major metropolitan area. Many of YDA’s

chartered units include rural and moderate sized communities. It is easy to be a Democrat in Chicago, New York City, or San Francisco, but it takes guts to stand up in a place like Topeka and vote for candidates such as Barack Obama and Kathleen Sebelius.

Kansas has only one Democrat in a congressional delegation of six. The Democratic Caucus is fourteen seats down in the Kansas House, and on the Senate side, Democrats account for only

nine of the forty members. Many would view these statistics and lose hope, but not the members of Kansas Young Democrats. Currently, five Kansas House members are Young Democrats. Josh Svaty, who turns 30 this November, was recently named Acting Secretary of Agriculture by

Democratic Governor Mark Parkinson. Representative Raj Goyle is currently unopposed for Kansas’ Fourth Congressional District, while Scott Seel is actively campaigning for the 54 th

House District in Topeka.

Topeka is at the heart of Kansas politics, and the Kansas Legislature will be in session at the time of the 2010 winter meeting. If YDA meets in Topeka, membership will have the opportunity to

visit the capital, lobby Kansas Legislators, campaign for Young Democrats who are in uncontested primaries, interact with the members of the Kansas Democratic Party at its annual

Washington Days, and attend trainings that focus on campaigning in more rural communities. I hope that YDA will accept the challenges of being a Young Democrat in a red state, and that I will see you in Topeka.

Sincerely,

Jamie Epstein

Midwest Region Director

ABOUT TOPEKA

Located approximately 100 miles from the geographic center of the Contiguous United States, Topeka is the capital city of Kansas. Topeka means "to dig good potatoes" in the languages of

the Kansa and the Ioway. The potato referred to is the prairie potato, a perennial herb which was an important food for many Native Americans. The city was one of the Free-State towns founded

by Eastern antislavery men immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill.

John Steuart Curry's Tragic Prelude (1938-1940), illustrates John Brown and the clash of forces

in Bleeding Kansas. The mural represents the Kansan political tradition to take action in defending one’s political beliefs. Kansas was founded on strong political convictions of abolition, and race has continued to play a role in the state’s almost 149 year history. During the

twentieth century, a class action suit was filed against the Topeka Board of Education, leading to the landmark Supreme Court decision. Topeka is home to many sights representing the city’s past and present, the following are some highlights.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site was

established in Topeka on October 26, 1992, by the United States Congress to commemorate the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision aimed at ending racial segregation

in public schools. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that "separate educational facilities

are inherently unequal" and, as such, violated the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees all citizens "equal protection of the laws." The

site consists of the Monroe Elementary School, one of the four segregated elementary schools for African American children in Topeka, and the adjacent grounds.

The Kansas State Capitol houses the Kansas Legislature and the Governor's office. A large

mural in the east wing, painted by Kansan John Steuart Curry, centers on an image of abolitionist

John Brown. This is believed to be the only instance of a person convicted of treason being featured in a state capitol. Dome tours are held

daily on the half-hour. Besides being home to one of the largest capitol domes in the United States -

even surpassing that of the United States Capitol, the Kansas dome is the only one in the United States that continues to offer dome tours. There

are 296 steps leading up from the fifth floor to the top of the dome.

Visit the home of Charles Curtis, the only Vice President of

Native American descent. Charles Curtis first made a name for himself as a defense attorney, and after he was elected Shawnee

County attorney in 1885, he claimed credit for shutting down all the saloons. The voters had added a prohibition amendment to the state constitution in 1879. In Congress, he took special

interest of any legislation regarding Native Americans. Curtis also was a backer of woman's suffrage, and it was he who, in 1923, first introduced the Equal Rights Amendment in the U.S.

Senate. As Herbert Hoover’s Vice President, Curtis endorsed the five-day work week, with no reduction in wages, as a work-

sharing solution to unemployment soon after the Great Depression began.

The Combat Air Museum is one of a handful of major aviation museums in the United States

located on an active air field. Forbes Field is a joint civil-military public airport located six miles south of the central business district of Topeka. Forbes Field is home to the Topeka airport, the

190th Air Refueling Wing (190 ARW) of the Kansas Air National Guard, the 1st Battalion,

108th Aviation Regiment of the Army National Guard and other private commercial operators. Visitors to the Museum are regularly treated to

flying activities of Air Force fighter aircraft and Army helicopter operations. With the second

longest runway in the State of Kansas, large refueling tanker aircraft of the Air National Guard and army troop transports often fill the skies

around the Museum. The Combat Air Museum is dedicated to the creation of facilities and resources for the education of the local and regional

communities through the collection, preservation, conservation and exhibition of aircraft,

information, artifacts, technology and art associated with the military aviation history of the United States of America.

Heartland Park Topeka is a multi-purpose motorsports facility located 5

miles south of Topeka. When it opened in 1989, it was the first brand-new auto

racing facility to be built in the United States for 20 years. Its facilities include a road-race course with 4 possible

configurations (ranging from 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to 2.5 miles (4.0 km) in length), a

⅜ mile clay oval, off-road course and a ¼ mile drag strip. After several years of neglect, owing to continual financial

difficulties, the track surface and other facilities had deteriorated badly and the very survival of the track was in doubt. In 2003, it was

bought by Raymond Irwin, former owner (2007) of Blackhawk Farms Raceway, who has instituted a program of major renovations to the facility.

The Kansas Museum of History presents Kansas history from the prehistoric to modern eras.

The galleries feature a train (Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe locomotive with two cars), full-sized tipi in the Southern Cheyenne style, a 1950s diner, and many other large features. Major

topics covered in the main gallery include Native American tribal history, westward movement on the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, early settlers, the Bleeding Kansas and Civil War eras, and Populism at the turn of the 20th century.

Important exhibited objects include:

John Brown's pike

William Quantrill's flag

George Armstrong Custer's riding boots

Carrie A. Nation's hammer

William Allen White's printing press

Dwight D. Eisenhower's World War II field jacket

The museum also holds one of the United States' largest collections of Civil War flags from African American regiments. At least one of these flags is always on display in the main gallery.

Beginning as a family farm on the Oregon Trail in 1854 and located between the Potwin Neighborhood and Downtown Topeka. Old Prairie Town at

Ward Meade Historic Site is a beautiful six-acre complex with a Victorian home, log cabin, turn-of-the-century town, plus a 2.5 acre Mansion Photobotanical garden dedicated to preserving and sharing the early history of

Topeka

HOTEL AND

CONFERENCE FACILITIES.

The Topeka Ramada affords easy access to the best the city has to offer. Just steps away from the Capital City's downtown landmarks and with quick

access to I-70, you're just a quick trip from all of Topeka's great attraction.

The Ramada includes some unique features, including the Mansion Rooms. The Historic Governor's Mansion

was built in 1887 and acquired by the state of Kansas in 1901. After Cedar Crest took over as the official

residence of Kansas governors in the 1960s numerous beautiful and historic elements of the original mansion were incorporated into the Topeka Ramada. The

antique tin ceiling of Topeka's historic Grand Theater (originally opened as the Topeka Opera House in 1882) is above the entrance to the Regency Ballroom.

Type of Room Nightly Rate # of Rooms

available

Payment policy: Credit card is required to reserve a

room, and cancelations must be

made 24 hours before check- in

2 Queen Beds Room $71.20 150

King Bed Room $71.20 42

3 Queen Beds Suite $96.00 13

King Bed Suite $112.00 8

King Bed Jacuzzi Suite $112.00 3

The Ramada offers numerous amenities that are not provided in all hotels. Awaken to a complimentary

breakfast buffet including fresh, hot selections, cereal, fruit, breakfast breads, and beverages. The lobby features a business center with a deluxe desk and

computer with high-speed internet access and a printer. The entire hotel (including all guest rooms) offers free

high-speed wireless internet. Parking is available, free of charge, all around the property with overflow across the street.

It is not always easy to find union hotels in Kansas, but the Topeka Ramada is proud of its pro-

union status. The Ramada offers accessible rooms at the same rate as a 2 Queen Bed Room. In partnering with the Kansas Democratic Party, there is no cost to use any of the meeting

spaces, and there is no minimum number of guest rooms needed. Obviously this partnership means that YDA will not have exclusive use of the hotel. The hotel contracts out to another

company for Audio/Visual needs, and YDA would be responsible for $1000 total for the weekend. There is also NO FOOD AND BEVERAGE MINIMUM as the Kansas Democratic Party will spend around $18,000 on food during the weekend.

FINANCING

With our current economic situation and YDA’s finances, the time has come for us to think creatively about national conferences. It is no longer enough to plan a conference that could be

revenue-generating. We must go further and reach out to state parties to coordinate our events with existing functions to spread costs and enhance our programming.

As you can see below, we are able to secure meeting space at no charge from the hotel without needing a food and beverage minimum or a minimum number of hotel rooms. Because of the

strong and enduring relationship between the Kansas Democratic Party and the Ramada hotel, we are able to offer a significantly less expensive conference than most recent events by

leveraging that existing relationship to benefit YDA.

2010 YDA Winter Conference Expense-Revenue INCOME QTY MONTHS AMOUNT TOTAL

Direct Donor Contact 20 1 $250 $5000

In-Kind Contributions 1 1 $5000 $5000

Affinity Group Donations 1 1 $5000 $5000

Film Screening 1 1 $2000 $2000

Conference Registration Fees 200 1 $65 $13000

Early Bird ($45)

$65 On-Site ($75)

TOTAL $30,000

EXPENSES QTY MONTHS AMOUNT TOTAL

Conference Operations

Host Committee Expenses

1 1 $250 $250

Pre-Meetings & Site Visits

1 1 $250 $250

Banking and Accounting 1 1 $0 $0 In-kind from KDP

Fundraising Costs 1 1 $500 $500

Postage & Supplies 1 1 $500 $500

Conference Events

Audio-Visual Expenses 1 1 $1000 $1000

Welcome Reception 1 1 $5000 $5000

Chum and Materials 200 1 $5 $1000

Trainings & Trainer Expenses

1 1 $0 $0 In-kind from

trainers

Staff Rooms and Expenses

1 1 $1400 $1400

Miscellaneous 1 1 $1000 $1000

TOTAL $10,900

REVENUE $19,100

2010 YDA Winter Conference Finance Plan

Revenue Source: Direct Donor Contact

Revenue Generated: $5000

Description: The Host Committee will call prospective donors seeking donations. Numerous

elected officials have already pledged to donate at various levels.

Revenue Source: In-Kind Contributions

Revenue Generated: $5000

Description: Contributions that will reduce the cost of the overall conference including printing,

meeting rooms, audio-visual, local trainers and banking.

Revenue Source: Affinity Groups

Revenue Generated: $5000

Description: Kansas Young Democrats works closely with Labor Unions, who have traditionally

been very generous when asked for financial contributions.

Revenue Source: Film Screening

Revenue Generated: $2000

Description: The Host Committee has permission to show the new documentary, What’s the

Matter with Kansas? In addition to charging $10 per ticket ($5 for YD’s), the dvd will be

available for $20. Depending on the success, further showings may occur.

Revenue Source: Conference Registration Fees

Revenue Generated: $13000

Description: Conference registration will be based on the Orlando model, including the Early

Bird price of $45, regular registration at $65, and on-site at $75.

TRANSPORTATION

At this time Forbes Field, the Topeka airport, has no scheduled commercial airline service.

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is conveniently located in the nearest major

metropolitan area, and it is suggested that those interested in arriving by air land at MCI. Below

is a table of current airfares to Kansas City from select cities:

Atlanta 303 Baltimore 130 Boston 208 Charlotte 292 Chicago 118

Cincinnati 167 Cleveland 168 Columbus 178 Dallas 158 Dayton 178

Denver 118 Detroit 200 Honolulu 656 Houston 178 Indianapolis 118

Jacksonville 128 Las Vegas 258 Los Angeles 258 Louisville 158 Memphis 300

Miami 128 Milwaukee 111 Minneapolis 261 Montreal 574 New York 232

New Orleans 136 Orlando 138 Philadelphia 198 Phoenix 278 Pittsburgh 188

Portland 278 Raleigh-Durham 172 Sacramento 232 Salt Lake City 277 San Antonio 190

San Diego 254 San Francisco 182 San Jose 232 Seattle 186 St Louis 100

Tampa 88 Toronto 428 Vancouver 493 Washington 202

Amtrak offers service to Topeka (TOP). Below is a table of current fares to Topeka from a few

select cities.

Atlanta 477 Boston 304 Chicago 138 Dallas 310 Denver 236

Detroit 230 Los Angeles 274 Minneapolis New York 306 Phoenix 313

St Louis 82 San Francisco 370 Seattle 479 Washington DC 302

Greyhound offers service to Topeka. Below is a table of current fares to Topeka from a few select cities.

Atlanta 178 Boston 299 Chicago 98 Dallas 128 Denver 138

Detroit 231 Los Angeles 299 Minneapolis 120 New York 154 Phoenix 299

St Louis 120 San Francisco 329 Seattle 329 Washington DC 270

Note: Megabus provides roundtrip service from Chicago ($79) and St Louis ($65) to Kansas

City.

For those who are interested in driving, Topeka is located at the junction of I-70 and I-335. I-335 is a spur rout of I-35. Below is a table of miles to Topeka from select cities

(approximate driving hours are in the parentheses).

Chicago 588 (9) Dallas 494 (7 ½)

Des Moines 256 (4) Indianapolis 544 (8)

Little Rock 486 (7 ½) Minneapolis 662 (9)

Omaha 162 (3) Oklahoma City 288 (4)

St Louis 311 (5)

Transportation to and within Topeka

Rental Cars – Rates are per weekend

Phone Economy Compact Intermediate Full Size Minivan

Enterprise,

Topeka

(785) 237-

0200 $60 $63 $63 $79 $190

Enterprise,

MCI

(816) 464-2500

$96 $103 $110 $125 $283

Avis, MCI (816) 464-

6280 $93 $93 $95 $102 $193

Hertz,

Topeka (785) 267-

4468 $133 $133 $162 $180 $251

Hertz,

MCI

(816) 243-

6100 $148 $148 $152 $153 $228

ACE,

Topeka (877) 822-

3872 $153 $110 $124 $136 $172

Public Transportation

Topeka Transit – (785) 783-2000

Map of Scheduled Routes Bus Schedules Fares - $1.25 one way, $11/ten rides

Taxi Service

Yellow Cab - (785) 357-4444 Fares: $2.50 flat rate/ $1.80 per mile

Capital City Taxi – (785) 267-3777 Fares: $2.50 flat rate/$1.80 per mile

Airport Shuttle Services

Roadrunner - (800) 747-2524

Schedule

Rates: Adult - $45 one way/$80 round

Student - $43 one way/$76 round $10 pickup/drop off charge for points off of scheduled route

MCI Shuttle – (816) 365-2153 Rates (one way to Topeka):

1-2 Persons - $125 3 Persons - $160

4 Persons - $190 5 Persons - $225

MEDIA

The following are the major media outlets in the Topeka market. Topeka also has access to media outlets in neighboring markets including, Kansas City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, and Manhattan. Everyday Citizen is a well-read progressive community blog based in Kansas with some of the very best writers and activists from coast to coast. Pam Pohly, the editor, was awarded press credentials for the 2008 DNC Convention.

Forward Kansas is the forward thinking blog for the state of Kansas, with an aim to ensure everyday Kansans are well informed about the politics of Kansas. Similarly, holding elected officials accountable, demanding higher standards for government, and mandating a more open, transparent, and accessible government.

Kansas Free Press is an extremely lively, well-read and highly respected state-wide online newspaper, in blog format, written exclusively by citizen journalists. Our Kansan writers will write about people, politics, and policies that effect Kansans, the future of Kansas and our way of life.

KMAJ (branded as News-Talk-Sports 1440) is a radio station serving Topeka, Kansas

and Vicinity with a News/Talk format and is affiliated with the ABC News & Talk radio network. It operates on AM frequency 1440 kHz and is under ownership of

Cumulus Media.

KTKA-TV, "49 ABC", is the ABC affiliate in Topeka, Kansas. The station is owned by Free State Communications. On Topeka-area Cox systems, KTKA is available on channel 9 and HD 601, and 49.2, a local weather service, is on digital channel 675. On June 2nd, 2009 KTKA added CW Network programming on 49.3.

KTMJ-CA is a low-power television station in Topeka, Kansas, broadcasting locally on

channel 43 and digitally as station 27.2, as an affiliate of Fox. The station is owned by New Vision Television.

KSNT, channel 27, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Topeka, Kansas. KSNT is owned and operated by New Vision Television. Its studios and transmitter are located in Topeka.

KTWU, on digital channel 11, is a PBS television station in Topeka, Kansas. The station is operated by Washburn University and provides public television service to eastern

Kansas. The station also is carried by some cable systems in the Kansas City metro area. On October 21, 1965, KTWU signed on as the first public television station in the state.

The Topeka Capital-Journal is a daily newspaper in Topeka, Kansas owned by Morris Communications. It has won one Pulitzer Prize.

WIBW (580 AM) is a Topeka, Kansas, area news, talk, and sports radio station that airs such local programming such as On the Other Hand with Raubin Pierce and Megan Mosack,

Sports Sanity with Bruce Steinbrock, and SportsTalk with Mark Elliott. WIBW is owned by Morris Communications.

WIBW-TV is the CBS-affiliate in Topeka, Kansas. It broadcasts on channel 13 and is owned by Gray Television. Its transmitter is located near Maple Hill, Kansas.

ENTERTAINMENT

Located in downtown Topeka, there are many restaurants and bars within blocks of the hotel. In addition to the standard fast food options found in any market, the fo llowing are just a sample of

what is within walking distance:

Classic Bean – 0.3 miles menu Kansan Grill – 0.3 miles menu RowHouse – 0.3 miles website

Celtic Fox – 0.3 miles Bosco's – 0.3 miles menu

Lupita's Mexican Restaurant – 0.4 miles Field of Green – 0.4 miles Break Room – 0.4 miles menu

Hanover Pancake House – 0.5 miles menu The Globe Indian Restaurant – 0.5 miles menu

Pepe and Chela's – 0.8 miles menu Lanes BBQ – 0.8 miles website Paisano’s Restorante – 1 mile menu

There are two particular favorite Topeka restaurants among Kansas Young Democrats:

In 1953 Bob Bobo opened Bobo’s Drive In at 10th and Gage and used recipes of his mom and aunt. Several owners later, Richard and Tricia Marsh continue to use the recipes and keep the

loyalists very happy. The hamburgers are famous for the fresh but thin patties with salt, crisp edges, a slab of melting

cheese, lettuce, and tomato. People love the hand-dipped onion rings and the homemade apple pie with a just-thick-enough crust and the smoothest, sweet cinnamon-covered tender apples. Add a dollop of the Satin-Freeze ice cream for a heavenly taste! Of course the shakes are

popular, too! If you don't want to go inside you just park your car in a stall, flash your lights, and the car hop

comes out to take your order. They return with a tray to hang over your window and then you flash your lights when you're done!

C.W. Porubsky's Deli and Tavern is a fixture in the food lore of Topeka and Kansas. Nationally and internationally known for its chili, hot pickles and cold cuts, Porubsky's resonates

throughout the neighborhood of "Little Russia" in Topeka. Anyone who has the time to make the trip across the tracks into this timeless tavern will be consumed and satisfied by the sights and scents of true comfort food.

Porubsky's has been featured in numerous newspaper articles and television spots, been covered in several regional magazines and has appeared nationally in Gourmet magazine, many culinary

guides and the book Chili Nation. More importantly, C.W. Porubsky's has survived floods, fires and recessions and is still owned and operated by the family that conceived it. When dining at Porubsky's in the small tavern, occupancy 36, you're as likely to sit beside a

railroad switchman as you are a state senator. Over its sixty years in business, it has been a meeting place of families and friends, political and birthday parties. It's a p lace that makes it easy

to get lost in atmosphere and aromas, where home style food meets a place that actually feels like home.

Two restaurants are located inside the Topeka Ramada. The menus have been included for each:

Appetizers

Chips & Salsa $3.99

Chips & Queso

$4.99

Hot Wings $4.50 (6)

$9.00 (12)

Onion Rings $4.99

Chicken Strips

$5.99 (4)

Chili Cheese Fries $6.99

Sampler Platter

$7.99

Sandwiches

Served with Fries or Onion Rings

Uncle Bo's Burger $6.99

Uncle Bo's Cheeseburger

$7.50

Big Bo's Burger (2 Beef Patties, Cheese & Bacon)

$8.50

BLT Grille $6.50

Grilled Chicken

$6.50

Dinners

Served with Choice of 2 Sides (Dinner Salad, Mashed Potato, French Fries, Onion Rings or the

Vegetable of the Day)

Chicken Fried Steak Dinner $9.99

Chicken Strip Dinner

$8.99

Roast Beef Dinner $9.99

Catfish Dinner

$9.99

Appetizers Chips & Salsa $3.99 Tri-colored corn tortilla chips with our own House recipe salsa

Mozzarella Moons $4.99 Herb breaded mozzarella slices

cooked golden brown. Served with Marinara dipping sauce Chili & Cheese Nachos $5.99

Our own Madison St. Diner chili ladled over fresh tortilla chips,

smothered with melted cheese, diced tomato, sour cream, black olives & jalapenos

Maddie’s Wings Half Order (6) $4.50

Full Order (12) $9.00 Jumbo chicken wings served with our own Sweet & Hot wing sauce

Artichoke and Spinach Dip $5.99 Loaded with artichoke hearts and

Parmesan cheese. Served with grilled pita bread

Queso Dip & Chips $4.99 Tri-colored corn tortilla chips served with our own Queso dip

Onion Rings $4.99 Jumbo sweet onion rings lightly

battered and deep fried Chicken Strips $5.99 Four breaded chicken tenders with

your choice of honey mustard, ranch or BBQ dipping sauce

Chicken Quesadilla $5.99 Strips of marinated chicken with peppers, onions and cheese in a

crisp flour tortilla. Served with our own house salsa

Popcorn Shrimp $5.99 Breaded fried shrimp with our own spicy cocktail sauce

Super Sampler $7.95 Two Chicken Strips, Two Mozzarella

Moons & a heaping pile of Onion Rings

Soups & Salads Chicken Noodle Soup

Cup $1.50

Bowl $3.50 Dinner Salad $4.99 Entrée sized salad with tomato,

shredded cheese, black olives, cucumbers & croutons

Chef Salad $6.99 Julienned ham and turkey over freshly tossed greens. Served with a

hard boiled egg, cheese, black olives, tomato, cucumber, bacon bits and

your choice of dressing Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad $6.99 Fresh romaine lettuce tossed in

Caesar dressing and Parmesan cheese. Topped with a grilled chicken

breast

Homemade Chili Cup $1.50

Bowl $3.50 Fried Chicken Salad $6.99 Chopped fried chicken breast over

fresh greens & cheese with choice of dressing. Also available with grilled

chicken Taco Salad $7.50 Tossed greens & fresh tortilla chips

combined with our own chili & cheddar cheese. Topped with black

olives, jalapenos & salsa. Tuna Salad $6.99 A generous scoop of our own Tuna

Salad served with fresh fruit and grilled pita bread

Burgers All burgers & sandwiches served with choice of side dish.

Add cheese for 50¢.

Diner Classic $6.99 1/3 pound patty with all the fixins!!

Diner Deluxe $8.50 Two 1/3 pound patties with cheese & bacon

Bacon Cheese Burger $7.99 1/3 pound patty with your choice of

melted cheese and 2 strips of crisp bacon

Patty Melt $6.99 1/3 pound patty with Swiss cheese &

grilled onions on marbled rye bread Chili Cheeseburger $7.50 1/3 pound patty smothered with our

own Madison St. Diner chili & cheddar cheese

Philly Burger $7.50 1/3 pound patty smothered with sautéed peppers and onion with

melted provolone cheese

Sandwiches Madison Street Club Grille $6.99 Thinly sliced ham and Swiss cheese on grilled sourdough. Crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes & BBQ sauce finish our signature sandwich! Chicken Sandwich $6.49 A juicy grilled or fried chicken breast with crispy lettuce, tomato & onion Hot Roast Beef $7.50 Tender sliced beef served open-faced on Texas toast with mashed potatoes and brown gravy Reuben’s Reuben $7.50 Thinly sliced corned beef with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut & 1000 Island dressing. Served hot on marbled rye bread West Coast Reuben $7.50 Thinly sliced grilled turkey breast with melted Swiss cheese and our own cole slaw. Served hot on grilled marble rye bread. Triple Decker Club $6.99 Classic turkey & ham club with bacon, lettuce, tomato & mayonnaise. Served on toasted wheat or white bread Texas Grilled Cheese $4.99 American, Swiss and Monterey Jack cheese on grilled Texas toast

Turkey Monterey $6.99 Grilled turkey sandwich with Monterey Jack cheese & grilled onions. Served on grilled sourdough bread BLT Grille $6.49 Hickory smoked bacon, crisp lettuce & fresh tomato. Served on Texas toast French Dip $7.49 Tender sliced beef & Mozzarella cheese on a French roll with au jus. Meatball Hero $6.99 Giant meatballs in Marinara sauce on a Hoagie roll with melted Mozzarella cheese. Philly Cheese Steak $7.99 Thinly sliced roast beef sautéed with onions and bell peppers. Topped with Provolone cheese and served on a toasted Hoagie roll. Italian Sub $6.99 Ham, turkey and thinly sliced pepperoni with shredded lettuce, tomato and provolone cheese. Served on a sub roll with Italian dressing Cindy’s Pastrami on Rye $6.99 Thinly sliced eye of pastrami round with melted Swiss cheese. Served on grilled marbled rye bread

Home-Style Entrees All entrees are served with mashed potatoes, choice of 1 side dish & grilled Texas

toast. Chicken Fried Steak Dinner $9.99

Tender hand-breaded beef cutlet with mashed potatoes & creamy peppered

gravy Roast Beef Dinner $9.99 Tender sliced beef served with

mashed potatoes & brown gravy

Madison Meatloaf $9.99

Our own special recipe! Served with mashed potatoes & our special

meatloaf gravy Chicken Strip Dinner $8.99 Four country breaded chicken

tenders served with mashed potatoes & creamy peppered gravy

House Specialties Catfish Dinner $9.99 Catfish strip filets with fries and our

own cole slaw. Served with tartar sauce

Fried Shrimp Dinner $9.99 Golden Fried Shrimp with fries and our own cole slaw. Served with

cocktail sauce.

Spaghetti Dinner 6.99 Spaghetti pasta with six meatballs in

zesty Marinara sauce. Served with garlic toast

Petite Sirloin $9.99 A 5-oz. choice beef sirloin cooked to your temperature preference. Served

with your choice of 2 sides.

Sides Mashed Potatoes & Gravy $1.49 French Fries $1.49

Side Salad $1.49 Kettle Potato Chips $1.49 Cole Slaw, our own recipe! $1.49

Vegetable of the Day $1.49 Onion Rings $1.49

Fresh Fruit Cup $1.49 Potato Salad $1.49 White or Brown Gravy $1.49

Desserts Caramel Apple Granny Pie $4.49

New York Style Cheesecake $3.99

Brownie Divine $4.49

Ice Cream Sundae $3.99

Ask about our daily dessert specials!!

Madison Street Diner serves Coke and Pepsi products All flavors – Regular $1.39 Iced Tea – Regular $1.39

Juice, Milk - $1.99, Coffee - 99¢ Milkshakes - $2.99

Ask about our Slushie flavors - $1.99

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

2010 YDA Winter Conference Topeka Bid/Host Committee

Jamie Epstein

Conference Chairperson; Midwest Region Director

Colin Curtis

Conference Co-Vice Chairperson; KYD President

John Moreau Conference Co-Vice Chairperson;

KYD National Committeeman

In alphabetical order: Jimelle Austin

Northeast Kansas President

Gina Burrows

University of Kansas President

Chris Cardinal

Kansas City President

Ben Cohen

YDA Jewish Caucus Parliamentarian

Skye Coleman

Kansas City Vice President

Caleb Correll

Second Congressional Chair

Erin Doughty

YDA Women’s Caucus interim Vice Chair

George Dungan

KYD Second Vice President

Carolyn Marie Fugit

Fourth Congressional Chair

Benjamin Lindner

Third Congressional Chair

Scott Seel

Topeka President

Kaelyn Seymour

Second Congressional Vice Chair

October 7, 2009

Young Democrats of America National Officers

c/o Crystal Strait, National President Young Democrats of America

PO Box 77496 Washington, DC 20013

Dear President Strait:

I am the President of Kansas City Young Democrats, one of the largest chapters in the state, and I am writing today to express my support for the Kansas Young Democrats bid

to host the 2010 Winter Conference in Topeka.

The host committee has worked hard to ensure that a meeting in Topeka will be a success. YDA members will have an opportunity to visit the capital, lobby Kansas

Legislators, campaign for Young Democrats who are in uncontested primaries, interact with the members of the Kansas Democratic Party at its annual Washington Days, and

attend trainings that focus on campaigning in more rural communities.

Topeka is not a flashy choice, and most members of YDA may have no other reason to ever visit the city. It is because of the challenges to be a Young Democrat in a red state

that makes this bid so appealing. I hope that you strongly consider Topeka when choosing a site to host the 2010 Winter Conference.

On behalf of myself, and of my chapter, I look forward to seeing you in Topeka.

Sincerely,

Chris Cardinal

President, Kansas City Young Democrats

Jimelle Austin 921 Cheyenne Curve Apt F

Leavenworth, KS 66048 October 7, 2009

Young Democrats of America National Officers c/o Crystal Strait, National President Young Democrats of America

PO Box 77496 Washington, DC 20013

Dear President Strait:

I am the President of Northeast Kansas Young Democrats. The Northeast Kansas Young Democrats encompasses Atchison, Jackson, Jefferson and Leavenworth Counties. I am writing today to express my support of the Kansas Young Democrats bid to host the 2010

Winter Conference in Topeka.

The host committee has worked hard to ensure that a meeting in Topeka will be a success. YDA members will have an opportunity to visit the capital, lobby Kansas

Legislators, campaign for Young Democrats who are in uncontested primaries, interact with the members of the Kansas Democratic Party at its annual Washington Days, and

attend trainings that focus on campaigning in more rural communities.

Topeka is not a flashy choice, and most members of YDA may have no other reason to ever visit the city. It is because of the challenges to be a Young Democrat in a red state that makes this bid so appealing. I hope that you strongly consider Topeka when

choosing a site to host the 2010 Winter Conference

On behalf of myself, and of my chapter, I look forward to seeing you in Topeka.

Sincerely,

Jimelle Austin President, Northeast Kansas Young Democrats

October 8, 2009

Young Democrats of America National Officers

c/o Crystal Strait, National President Young Democrats of America

PO Box 77496 Washington, DC 20013

Dear President Strait:

I am the President of both the University of Kansas Young Democrats and College Democrats of Kansas. I am writing today to express my support for the Kansas Young

Democrats bid to host the 2010 Winter Conference in Topeka.

The host committee has worked hard to ensure that a meeting in Topeka will be a success. YDA members will have an opportunity to visit the capital, lobby Kansas

Legislators, campaign for Young Democrats who are in uncontested primaries, interact with the members of the Kansas Democratic Party at its annual Washington Days, and

attend trainings that focus on campaigning in more rural communities.

I hope that you strongly consider Topeka when choosing a site to host the 2010 Winter Conference. On behalf of myself, and of my chapter, I look forward to seeing you in

Topeka.

Sincerely,

Gina Burrows President, University of Kansas Young Democrats

EXAMPLE CONFERENCE

PROGRAM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010

10:00 am - 3:00 pm Lobby the Kansas Legislature 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Board of Directors Meeting

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm State Presidents Association Meeting 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Regional Meetings

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Welcome Reception/Washington Days Banquet

Lobby the Kansas Legislature – As many people arrive at YDA conferences on the Thursday of that week, the Host Committee is working with the Democratic Caucuses of the Kansas Legislature to provide a unique experience. Get a tour of the Capital and

climb all 296 steps to the top of the dome. Meet with leading Democrats to discuss youth issues. Listen to the House and Senate from the gallery of each chamber. Lobby

members of both parties regarding current legislation. Welcome Reception – Each year the Kansas Democratic Party hosts a banquet featuring a

nationally recognized keynote speaker. The Host Committee is working with the Kansas Democratic Party to ensure that every registered attendee at the YDA Winter Conference

will gain entrance to this exciting event. Past speakers have included Brian Schweitzer, Tim Kaine, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. At the conclusion of the speech, an item (normally the necktie) of the keynote’s will auctioned live to benefit the state party.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010

9:00 am - 11:30 am Caucus Meetings Round 1 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm YDA Campaign Action

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Standing & Select Committee Meetings 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Standing & Select Committee Meetings

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Standing & Select Committee Meetings YDA Campaign Action – Kansas is one of the few states with a significant number of

young elected officials. Currently, ten percent of the Democrats in the Kansas House are under the age of 36. Each cycle, numerous Young Democrats run for office throughout

the state, and 2010 will be no exception. The Host Committee is working with YD candidates (in uncontested primaries) to ensure that the number of elected YDs increases in November 2010. This action deviates from YDA’s Peer-to-Peer model, and instead

focuses on traditional campaign methods (including phonebanks and canvases) to help campaign for YD candidates.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010

9:00 am - 11:30 am Caucus Meetings Round 2 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm National Committee General Session

PROSPECTIVE

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Nancy Boyda In 2006, Nancy Boyda defeated a five-term incumbent to

win election to the U.S. House from Kansas’ Second District. From her seat on the Agriculture Committee,

Boyda had the opportunity to address the district’s agricultural interests—ranging from corn, soybean, and wheat production to raising cattle. The Armed Services

post, where she served on the Military Personnel Subcommittee, provided her a platform from which to

look out for the district’s military installations—Fort Riley (headquarters of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division), Fort Leavenworth, and Forbes Field.

Congresswoman Boyda lost to Lynn Jenkins in 2008.

Sarah Burris Sarah Burris has worked with numerous campaigns

from presidential to city council races. She says she likes the smaller campaigns the best and prefers the

Red-States. In 2008 Sarah was named one of the five

Rock the Vote Rock the Trail Reporters and traveled the country during the 2008 Elections, covering the

campaign from the youth perspective. She writes for Future Majority, is a founding blogger at Everyday

Citizen, as well as Forward Kansas, a long time writer

and researcher for Wiretap Magazine, and a new partner at Mixed Media.

House Minority Leader Paul Davis

Rep. Paul Davis has served in the Kansas House of Representatives since 2003. Paul served as the Policy

Chair for the House Democratic Caucus for three years and was elected House Democratic Leader in 2008. He represents the 46th House District, which covers eastern

Lawrence. As leader of the House Democratic caucus, Paul serves on the State Finance Council, Calendar and

Printing Committee, Interstate Cooperation Committee, and the Legislative Coordinating Council. Representative Davis is in charge of organizing activities

of the caucus, streamlining legislative business, and uniting members on both sides of the aisle to accomplish

goals for Kansas.

Jill Docking Jill Docking was appointed to the Kansas Board of

Regents by former Governor Kathleen Sebelius in 2007 and currently serves as the Board’s Chair. She ran against

Sam Brownback during his first race for the Senate, in 1996. Docking is part of a long and proud family tradition of moderate, centrist Democrats in Kansas; a pro-business

stock broker who appealed to many moderate Republicans frustrated with the social conservative takeover of their

party. She is also Jewish. In the final weeks of a contest the polls consistently showed as close, the Docking

campaign received reports from around the state of push

polls reminding voters of her religious heritage.

Chris Gallaway

Chris Gallaway has been involved in Democratic politics his entire adult life. In 2000, Chris became the Executive Director

of the Kansas Democratic Party. He left the State Party in September 2003 and is now a

Vice President at FieldWorks, a Washington based grassroots political consulting firm. In 2004, Gallaway led a diverse coalition of

youth groups to form the Young Voter Alliance. Chris is a past President of Kansas Young Democrats and Young Democrats of

America. He currently serves as Treasurer of the International Federation of Liberal

Youth.

Representative Delia Garcia

Delia Garcia became the first Latina to be elected to the Kansas State Legislature, after 145 years of Kansas

statehood. She is also the youngest female legislator elected to the Kansas Legislature, and one of the youngest

Latina legislators in the United States. She was elected at the age of 27, in 2004. She represents the 103rd House

District, which includes portions of central Wichita. As a

state lawmaker, Garcia serves on the House Committees on Commerce and Labor, Health and Human Services and

Judiciary. She also served on the House Select Committee on Corrections Reform and Oversight.

Chairman Larry Gates

Since managing Bill Roy’s 1974 Senatorial campaign

against Bob Dole, Chairman Larry Gates has consistently worked to grow the Democratic Party of Kansas. Gates

was first elected Chair of the Kansas Democratic Party in 2003 and was unanimously reelected in 2005, 2007 and 2009. During his time as Chair, he has focused on

moving the Party forward by emphasizing the importance of organizing Democrats at the grassroots level by

growing county parties and recruiting top candidates to run for office. He has also overseen the development of a state-of-the-art voter file and a Party web site that keeps

voters and activists informed and engaged.

Representative Sean Gatewood

Sean Gatewood represents the 57th district, a part of Topeka. He was elected in 2008 after defeating another

Young Democrat in the primary. Prior to election,

Gatewood had testified numerous times in the Statehouse on a bill surrounding in-state tuition. Health care was a

campaign focal point, emphasizing a need to increase communication between medical providers and insurance

companies and to create electronic medical records, which

has been shown to cut costs. He is also an active member of the Topeka chapter of Kansas Young Democrats.

Representative Raj Goyle Raj Goyle is in his second term representing the 87th District in the Kansas House of Representatives. Called a "rising star" by the Wichita Eagle, Goyle defeated a three-

term incumbent and is committed to a bipartisan, common sense approach to lawmaking. Goyle serves on the Tax,

Judiciary, and Veterans/Homeland Security Committees and co-wrote the recently enacted law protecting families from picketers at the funerals of Kansas' fallen soldiers.

Goyle is a lecturer at Wichita State University and an attorney. Goyle has announced that he will run for the

U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 in Kansas's 4th congressional district, the seat being vacated by Todd Tiahrt, who is running for U.S. Senate.

Senator David Haley

During his five terms as an elected official, David Haley

has fought hard to end illegal racial profiling practices against African-Americans and other minority groups. In

2005, he co-sponsored legislation that officially banned racial profiling of motorists by law enforcement officers. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the

Democratic nominee for Kansas Secretary of State in 2006, Haley has also made implementing, holding and funding a

presidential preference primary a top priority. Haley was preceded in the Senate by his father, George, who was the first African-American to ever serve in the Kansas Senate.

His uncle Alex Haley is best known as the author of Roots.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley Throughout his years of public service, Anthony Hensley

has been identified with improving the quality of education, access to affordable health care, tax fairness,

safety in the workplace, job training and fair wages. In addition, he has worked for better community-based services for disabled, mentally ill and aging Kansans.

Hensley was first elected to the Kansas Legislature in 1976 at the age of 23. He served 16 years in the Kansas

House of Representatives before being appointed to the Kansas Senate on July 1, 1992. In 1997, Hensley was elected Senate Minority Leader and is now in his third

term in that office. 2008 marked Hensley’s 32nd session, making him the longest serving current member of the

Legislature.

Treasurer Dennis McKinney Dennis McKinney is the 38th State Treasurer of

Kansas. Prior to becoming State Treasurer,

McKinney was the Minority leader in the Kansas House of Representatives for six years. In May 2007,

McKinney was reminded of the importance of

community in Kansas when he and his daughter rode out the devastating Greensburg tornado in their

home’s basement. While many were unsure if the town of Greensburg would survive such devastation,

the McKinneys were one of the first families to

commit to staying in Greensburg and rebuilding their house where it stood. McKinney continues to serve

his home community as a leader in the environmentally friendly rebuilding efforts.

Congressman Dennis Moore

In 1976, Dennis Moore was elected to his first of

three terms as District Attorney for Johnson County. In his 12 years as D.A., Dennis had many victories

on behalf of the people of Johnson County. Moore was first elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in November 1998, and has been re-

elected five times. He currently serves on the House Financial Services and Budget Committees, and is a

member of the House Biofuels Caucus and the House Renewable Fuels Caucus. Moore also serves as the Policy Co-Chair for the Blue Dog Coalition, a

group of fiscally-conservative Democrats.

Governor Mark Parkinson Mark Parkinson became Kansas’ 45th Governor on April

28, 2009. A successful businessman and former

legislator, Governor Parkinson is a native Kansan with roots in Scott City, where the Parkinsons still own the

family farm. Governor Parkinson was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1990. Two years

later, he was elected to the Kansas Senate. While in the

Legislature, Governor Parkinson was known as someone who bridged party lines. He worked to strengthen Kansas schools and enhance local control. From 1999 to 2003 he

was Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, but switched parties in 2006 when he joined Governor

Kathleen Sebelius as her Lt. Governor.

Attorney General Steve Six Steve Six took office as the 43rd Attorney General of

Kansas in January of 2008. As Attorney General, he has focused on fighting crime, protecting consumers and making

Kansas a safer place to live, work and raise a family. Attorney General Six has made protecting Kansas consumers a priority. He cracked down on individuals who

commit fraud and scams and significantly increased the money recovered by his consumer protection division. Six

refocused the division on vigorously enforcing consumer protections laws, implementing a new mediation program and ensuring Kansas businesses can compete on a level

playing field.

Representative Mike Slattery

Mike Slattery, a fifth generation Kansan who was born in Topeka, is a true servant leader and a fresh face on the

Kansas political landscape. Slattery is the son of six-term congressman Jim Slattery, who served the 2nd District of

Kansas from 1983 to 1995. A strong belief in the importance of supporting public education, helping Kansas become a leader in finding new alternative energy sources,

and ensuring that every Kansan has access to health care has compelled Slattery to become a candidate for State

Representative of the 24th district.

Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svaty Josh Svaty was appointed acting secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture by Governor Mark Parkinson in July 2009. Svaty is the fifth generation of his family

to farm in Ellsworth County. The Svaty farm is a diversified operation in the heart of the Smoky Hills that

includes wheat, milo, soybeans, corn, sunflowers, a cow/calf herd and sheep. Svaty served as the State Representative of the 108th District in Kansas for seven

years. He served on the committees for Energy and Utilities; was the ranking member on Agriculture and

Natural Resources; and on the joint committee on Energy and Environmental Policy. He has spoken nationally and has testified before the United States

Congress on matters of energy, agriculture and water policy.

Representative Milack Talia Milack Talia is a Democratic member of the Kansas House

of Representatives, representing the 23rd district in the Kansas City suburbs. He has served since 2009. Prior to

his election, Talia worked as a lawyer and an engineer. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the House in 2006.

Talia's legislative priorities are "providing the best

education for Kansas children, ensuring prosperity for workers and businesses, reducing health care costs for

Kansas families." He has sponsored youth focused legislation, including HB 2256 to allow early voter

registration for 14-17 year olds.

LETTER OF SUPPORT