J.A.I.L. News
Journal
_____________________________________________________
Los
Angeles,
California
June 15, 2022
A Hearty
Toast
For
FreedomRoast!
J.A.I.L. Salutes the FreedomRoastMaster,
our own South Dakota JIC:
Bill
Stegmeier!
Bill, on behalf of National J.A.I.L. we raise our hearts, minds, and voices
in a hearty AMEN! to you for your hard work and dedication, not only to the
cause of J.A.I.L. nationwide (and even worldwide), but to the cause of Freedom
generally. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's all give a resounding round of email
applause to this remarkable freedom-loving hero who made FreedomRoast2004
possible, and promises to have FreedomRoast an annual event.
Folks, here is a man who not only is blessed with the ability
to do something like this, but one who actually
does it! There's a big difference between the
two characteristics. There are many people who have the wherewithal (money,
material, and manpower) to sponsor such events in this country, but few of them
have the heart, mind, and will to actually lay it all on the line and carry
it into reality.
Bill Stegmeier is one of those rare jewels in our latent
arsenal for potential freedom who is willing to, and
does, light the fuse to this arsenal and get it burning FOR
FREEDOM! That's what Bill has done, and vows to continue to do in the
future for all freedom-loving people everywhere! Samuel Adams said it
well: "..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an
irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.."
Yes folks, the People will prevail with ones like Bill to
light and lead the way. FreedomRoast2004 is just the beginning. The J.A.I.L.
organization is indeed blessed to have Bill Stegmeier as the JAILer-In-Chief for
South Dakota who is spearheading the effort of being the first state to get
J.A.I.L. on the ballot. Bill said that it will be on the 2006 ballot, and one of
his vendors said "If Bill says it will be done, you can be sure it
will be done!" Be sure and get in touch with Bill
if you can help out, particularly those new South Dakota JAILers who signed up
at the FreedomRoast.
All that is needed is Bill's word on it, and that is plainly evident when
seeing the tightly-knit crew of about 50 or more, working for Bill,
demonstrating a loyalty to him second to none that we have seen. It was quite
amazing watching how his people operated as a smoothly- operating,
well-oiled working machine, each member knowing what he was to do and doing
it-- and Bill himself was in there pitching as much as anyone. It was truly
admirable to observe this cooperation. Bill had tan
t-shirts made for the FreedomRoast that he and his crew wore, and it was
very effective in showing the unity of the team.
Bob Graham, one of the speakers, said in an email: "Freedom Roast � 2004
is HISTORY and it is recorded! Bill Stegmeier is a one of a
kind gentleman who put his money where his mouth is. He handled the Roast with
quiet dignity and a professionalism that is all too lacking in theUnited States.
He made every one feel welcome. THANK YOU, BILL!"
Now about our trip to South Dakota: Bill flew us there and
back and arranged to have us stay in his 37-foot motor home right on the grounds
of the event.
En route, when we were at the Denver airport on a stop-over to Sioux
Falls, a senior lady with a cane sat next to me. Ron was seated on the other
side of me, talking with a young man who was interested in
J.A.I.L. The lady next to me, whose name is Helene Poyzer, asked if I
was hungry, and I said not really. She said she could give me half a sandwich
if I wanted it. That was so kind of her to offer, and so I
accepted. It was so good and carefully made-- with 7-grain soft bread and
the crust cut off, half sandwich wrapped separately. Helene asked if I was going
home or visiting. I told her Ron was coming to speak at a rally in South Dakota
and I reached over for a J.A.I.L. card. I told her "This is what we're involved
in..." and I no sooner put the card into her hand, and she lit up and said "Oh,
J.A.I.L.-- yes, we know what that is, and my husband and I support
it."
She just came alive about that. I asked if she had email, and she said
"No." She had her leg operated on and has metal support inside, and
her husband is in remission from cancer, recently had chemo-therapy. So they
can't run a computer. I asked her how they heard about J.A.I.L. and she said
"Through the mail." They're in Spirit Lake, Iowa. We don't even have a JIC in
Iowa, and only five JAILers there. Yet, this senior couple heard about J.A.I.L.
through the mail, and they strongly support it. She was very excited about
meeting us. So folks, J.A.I.L. is out there more than we realize!
Ron always remarks about an email he received about two weeks ago from
an editor of a publication in New York state, and he said he heard about
J.A.I.L. from an advertisement on a placemat in a restaurant. How about
that??
Bill had informed us that upon our arrival at Sioux Falls airport, he
would have us picked up in his limo, and his driver would hold up a sign
saying "Branson." I said to Ron, "Sounds like Bill even has a limousine,"
and Ron responded "Oh, you know Bill, he's a joker. Remember he said he should
have bought Miracle Radiator In A Can instead of stop-leak (for
just a few bucks more) when he heard our radiator had to be replaced in Denver.
It'll probably be some old Chevy picking us up."
Well, let me tell you-- we were picked up in style! We were delayed
getting to the baggage area, and a man approached us and asked Ron if he
was Branson. He didn't have a sign and he never met us before. Ron said
"Yes I am" and the man (who is actually a Yellow Cab driver) said "Your driver
will be right back. He went to look for you." We were wondering who "the driver"
was going to be. Meanwhile I said I was going to find a place to sit down, and
the man said "Why don't you go to the limo?" and I said "What limo?" He pointed
outside the door across the street and said "That blue Lincoln." I looked
and beheld this gleaming, immaculate midnight-blue big Lincoln sedan. It was
gorgeous. It had a sign on the front door "FreedomRoast2004" so we knew that was
it! WOW-- far from being an old Chevy!
I got in the rear seat and sank down what seemed to be about 6 inches in
plush blue leather seats. The dashboard and flooring was carpeted in a beautiful
medium blue. I felt surrounded in luxury! I closed the door and it was so
quiet inside, after the noise of the airport. I just sat back and soaked it all
in! I couldn't imagine that this was all true. When Ron came with the driver,
the driver very quickly and efficiently took all of our luggage and put it in
the trunk (except the one piece I already had with me-- I told the driver that
was fine). He then quickly went to the front passenger door and opened it for
Ron and went around to the driver's side. I felt like I was living in
fantasy-land.
I asked the driver what his name was and he said "Dave" and I saw the
driver's cap in the front seat. I asked him if it was his cap, and he said "Yes,
it is. I'll put it on just for you!" And did he ever look sharp! He was
dressed in black, with the black cap-- it looked so formal and proper. And
Dave's manners were impeccable-- gentleman extraordinaire. As we rode down
the street, it was as smooth as the airplane ride. Ron took it more in stride
and was holding quite a conversation with the driver, who was very accommodating
with answering questions and giving us information about the area.
Dave wasn't familiar with the precise location of the grounds of the
FreedomRoast, and we saw a large motor home parked by a garage near a water
amusement park, and so we went there, but it didn't look like a FreedomRoast in
that area. So he asked a mechanic, and he pointed to a road and said "It's out
back." We drove along that road and came upon what appeared to be the
right place and saw another large motor home in the distance, and said "That
must be it." So we had door-to-door limo service at the behest of
FreedomRoast2004, with all the royal treatment and accommodation.
That motor home was like a palace to us. For some reason, Bill brought in a
vacuum cleaner and he was going to vacuum the place! We said "Why do you
have that? The place is spotless!" And Bill said "Oh-- okay." Can you
imagine? BILL was there, ready to vacuum the carpet for us! This is
the kind of guy Bill is-- kind, humble, at your service...
on top of everything else! He showed Ron
how to regulate the air conditioner and turn on the water pump, and told us the
place "was ours." What a guy!
We were met at the motor home by Rose Lear, one of the speakers, and she
visited with us in the comfortable living room on the motor home and what she
had to say was so interesting. She not only had interesting things to say about
how she confronts the system, but she had such a dramatic
way of telling and describing it-- by her eyes and
facial expressions, her hand gestures, her voice. She had us glued to her.
Shortly, her friend Todd Johnson joined us. We just then met Todd and I could
tell after a few minutes that he was already sold on J.A.I.L. He and Rose
are from Michigan, and I think we can expect great things in Michigan before too
long.
We were supposed to meet Brad, the Washington JIC and National
J.A.I.L. ACIC, Northwest Region, but he wasn't able to make it because
of an unexpected business development. He was to join Ron and Fred
Smart, our new ACIC, Upper-Midwest Region, on stage to speak
on J.A.I.L. Due to the vacancy left by Brad, I suggested to Ron that
he ask if Bill would fill in for Brad, and be the third spot on the "J.A.I.L.
panel" and as is characteristic of Bill, he graciously accepted, and he wore his
J.A.I.L. T-shirt on stage and contributed to the J.A.I.L. message from the
microphone. Thanks Bill! We can count on him any time.
Ron's topic was "How J.A.I.L. Will Prosper South Dakota," touching on
business, jobs, right to Assistance of Counsel rather than a lawyer, Second
Amendment, crime, traffic, morale, and future hope. People came to our table
stating they liked what they heard from the panel and wanted more information
about J.A.I.L. Seventeen new JAILers signed up, most from South
Dakota. This demonstrates the value of setting up J.A.I.L. display tables
around the state of South Dakota.
Later in the evening, before the spectacular fireworks display, there
was a karaoke segment. Bill got up on stage with about three others and
sang "I got friends in low places." What a scene-- Bill singing with three kids
up there. It was precious! Oh! And Fred Smart is quite the singer
too! He rushed up from clear in the back yelling "Wait!" so he could join
Ron on stage, harmonizing with him in "Amazing Grace." It was
beautiful and we could hear the way he bellowed out that his heart was
really in it! Thanks Fred!
If you ever plan on going to South Dakota, by all means bring plenty of
mosquito repellant with you, especially if you plan on being outdoors after
sundown. We brought home several souvenirs from S.D. --large welts all over our
bodies, that itch like crazy! The ground is covered with long blades of
swamp grass, and if you're not careful where you walk, you'll sink down into a
marsh. I know-- my chair at the J.A.I.L. table kept sinking in the mud and I had
to move it around all the time.
Oh-- that reminds me, and I almost forgot! Ron and I got stuck in the
mud. On Friday evening, Bill let Ron drive a little electric go-cart around, and
we went all over the place. Ron was having a ball. We came upon a
creek flowing across the dirt road, and I told Ron he better not try to go
across in the go-cart, and he said "Why not?" Well, he soon found out "Why
not." He hit that water with more speed to supposedly "get
through" --and BAM-- we both lunged forward and the mud flew up and
splattered all over us-- splat! I won't tell you what it looked and felt
like that hit us. I got the worst of it, so Ron thinks I'm exaggerating. Of
course he would say that because-- I told him so! I said not to go through it!
Fortunately, there was a pickup truck going by ahead of us, and he saw the
plight we were in. With a smile on his face, he pulled over and said "Just a
minute." We couldn't get out because we would sink up to our ankles in mud and
that's the only pair of shoes we had with us. But this man didn't hesitate
to get a tow strap and walk right through the mud. He had ankle-high work boots
on, but I hated to see him get them full of mud. He said "No problem" and he
came ahead as if he did it every day.
Just as he got to us, this van comes up from behind us, and it was
Todd!
Remember, the fellow we met at the motor home? He laughed and said
"Are you guys stuck??" I said "How did you know?" and he said he was coming out
looking for us when we didn't return after a while. Well-- he found us all
right. So Todd turned the van around and backed up to the water's edge, and the
first man (I didn't get his name), hooked the strap to the trailer
hitch, and Todd pulled us out of the mud! I was so embarrassed.
After being treated like royalty, we do something like this!
In the afternoon at the rally, this man drove past us in his truck and
asked us if we got stuck in the mud any more. I then recognized him as our
rescuer, and we all had a big laugh. I looked at his shoes and told him he did a
good job cleaning them up, and he said "This is another pair!" He was
quite jovial about it.
On the way back to Sioux Falls airport in the limo, we stopped to pick up
Jack McLamb and his assistant at the motel, where we met Rose Lear and Todd
again. Rose ran up to the limo and told Ron that he looked very presidential
riding in the back seat of that limo. Then Todd said that he could picture a
J.A.I.L. limo in the future and that he wants to be the driver of the
J.A.I.L. Commander-In-Chief. Ron, humored by that statement, chimed in with "One
of those black stretch-limos with J.A.I.L. flags mounted on each
side." And the dream goes on.....
On the return trip home, again in Denver on stop-over, Ron gave
the ticket agent of the airline a J.A.I.L. card and said we want judicial
accountability to the people-- that the system is corrupt. The agent said
"That's why I don't fly any more." I asked "Why?" and he said
"Because of this so-called Patriot Act." You could hear the disgust in his
voice. He said the airline wanted to fly him to Salt Lake City for training for
his job, and he refused, and instead drove to SLC from Denver and
back. He said he'll never fly again, even though he flies for free as an
airline employee. We found out he's an ex-cop, so he must have had a taste of
the corruption in government. He said he would look up our website. Ron told me
"And we do need a new JIC for Colorado after the passing of Dick Goggin."
In closing, be sure to email Bill Stegmeier and express your thanks and
appreciation for everything. Remember, he's going to need all the help he can
get in gathering signatures in South Dakota, beginning after this coming
election-- to get J.A.I.L. on the ballot in 2006. Hopefully, more of you can
make it to FreedomRoast2005.
BILL, OUR HATS ARE OFF TO YOU! (I think most people
will agree that FreedomRoast deserved a thorough report!)
Sincerely and With Appreciation,
-Barbie-
"..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless
minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.." - Samuel Adams
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who
is
striking at the
root."
-- Henry David Thoreau <><