Keenevention may be over for 2015, but the video posts have just begun. We record every speaker and panel discussion that hits the stage and then release them weekly in the order they occurred. Here’s the first in the series, the Political Action Panel featuring host Darryl W. Perry. Darryl and his panelists discussed various ways to make an impact on politics from outside the two party system. Panelists included Alstead Town Selectman Chris Rietmann, former Libertarian state representative Don Gorman, and former NH Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate John Babiarz:
Big thanks to our 2015 video sponsor – Roberts & Roberts Brokerage – when you’re serious about precious metals – they take bitcoin!
Meghan Pierce, a reporter for Manchester’s Union Leader filed this report on Keenevention 2015, focusing mostly on this year’s Ladies Panel. Thanks for the coverage, Meghan. Here’s the article:
‘Keenevention’ draws libertarian activists
By MEGHAN PIERCE
Union Leader Correspondent
KEENE — Liberty activists flocked to the third annual “Keenevention” over the weekend.
Bringing a female perspective to the event was the Ladies Panel hosted by Renee Kate, host of radio show Seditious Sirens.
Katie McCall of Stone Manor, Ellen Ball of Puke and the Gang podcast and Ann Leverette of Seditious Sirens sat on the panel.
The panelists talked about their experiences moving from other parts of the country to New Hampshire to be part of the Free State Project. (more…)
After an amazing HALLOWKEENE costume dance party on Saturday night (look for pics and an article about that soon) that wrapped up at 1:30a, we began Keenevention 2015’s Sunday morning bright and early at 9am with this year’s Technology Panel, hosted for the third year in a row by Sovryn Tech‘s Brian Sovryn. This year’s tech panel was a full 90 minutes compared to only 60 last year. This year the two 60-minute panels from previous years were eliminated, and now all panels are standard Keenevention length of 75 minutes with a 15 minute buffer afterwards, so popular panels can go overtime, and most do.
Keenevention 2015’s Legislative Panel
After the Tech Panel, the first-ever Jury Nullification panel was headed up by NHJury.com board member James Davis. This interesting panel focused on various aspects of the movement for jury nullification from outreach outside the court, to what it was like actually being part of a jury that nullified. We then broke for a leisurely two-hour lunch.
The afternoon included an all A rated (by the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance) panel of state legislators headed up by two-term A+ rated state rep and Free State Project early mover Mike Sylvia. The state reps, which included two freshmen, discussed their various experiences and favorite proposed liberty-oriented bills.
Darryl W. Perry Delivers Keenevention 2015’s Closing Keynote
They expressed frustration with the federal government, police state, drug prohibition, and concealed carry restrictions. It’s refreshing to be in a place where some state representatives actually care about freedom and are actively working towards it, and these are just a few of dozens of liberty-friendly state reps! Darryl Perry was willing to delay his closing keynote to extend the panel’s time for audience questions, to which they enthusiastically responded.
Finally, Libertarian presidential candidate Darryl W. Perry delivered a rousing speech talking about why he cares and is motivated to dedicate basically every waking hour to liberty. Darryl’s a non-stop activist and was a great closing speaker for Keenevention 2015.
Post-Keenevention Social Sunday
Though many had gone home by the time the weekend ended, some stayed on for the post-Keenevention “Social Sunday” at Local Burger on Main Street. Social Sunday may be the longest-running weekly social event in the NH liberty community. We enjoyed a few more moments with some of our Keeneventioneers and some delicious burgers made from locally-sourced beef. If you’re in town on a Sunday at 6pm, come out and join us. Though, check the Keene Liberty Activist Calendar first to make sure the location hasn’t changed.
After a wonderful bonfire and VIP dinner on Friday night, we started again with the always-informative Media Panel, this year hosted by Shire Dude. The media experts on stage focused on how to monetize your media creations and of course took audience questions. After that, Renee Kate of the Seditious Sirens took the stage to talk with her lady panelists about activism from a female perspective on this year’s Ladies Panel. Afterwards, some of our VIPs headed out to a VIP lunch and others explored Keene’s restaurants on a two-hour lunch break.
When we returned, an interesting contrasting couple of panels were presented. First a panel of newbies hosted by Tarrin Lupo shared their experiences being new movers as part of the Free State Project. Then, a panel of some of the original batch of FSP early movers presented by Denis Goddard discussed their perspective on all the changes we’ve seen in over a decade of people moving here for the FSP. There were great audience questions for both afternoon panels.
Keenevention Old School Panel 2015
For the final act on Keenevention’s Saturday, illegal UBER driver Christopher David held a group brainstorming on the topic of abolishing the state in our lifetime! Chris did not take the stage. He stayed floor-level and brought an easel and huge pad of lined paper on to which ideas thrown out by the audience of Keeneventioneers were placed. There was audience participation aplenty in this creative and usual keynote speech!
Today, we received an awesome compliment! Cameron, a new mover from Michigan, told me that Keenevention is already a better experience for him than the yearly (much bigger) Liberty Forum! That’s not to say the Liberty Forum is a bad event – it’s also great, and you should attend it. He says he prefer Keenevention because it’s more intimate and easier to connect with the attendees and speakers and he’s enjoying getting out of the hotel and exploring the area. Yay!
Illegal UBER Driver Christopher David’s Keynote Speech
Not all of Keenevention is spent cooped up in a hotel ballroom – there are lots of fun social events, too, thanks to our awesome community of activists. Last night, our VIPs enjoyed a special meal cooked by Keene Cop Block‘s Jessica Phillips and dozens of people attended the bonfire thrown by Black Sheep Rising‘s Conan Salada until the early morning hours. Today, the VIP meals continue at lunch and dinner and tonight will bring the second-annual HALLOWKEENE costume dance party! It’s definitely not too late to come out and join us!
HALLOWKEENE entry is included in your ticket price to Keenevention, which for the day pass is only $30. If you just want to attend HALLOWKEENE, it’s $10 at the door if you are costumed, $20 if no. For a map to the location, stop into Keenevention today.
Recent Shire Forum Posts
