My experience at the caucus was similar in many ways to others. The parking lot was full, the lines were long, the gymnasium was full with standing room only for speeches by the representatives running for the legislature, and we ended up taking the straw poll on post it notes because the turn out was ten times what it had been 2 years ago.

This was my first time to caucus, but it won't be my last. I had to admit to a young man (blogger) that asked me why I was there, that Professor Crosby had sent me! Fortunately, I talked my husband and three sons and two of the friends that are also college students to go with me.( At least I feel good about that) At their young age, I was grateful for them to see just how the process to the presidency works. We were all amazed at the informal nature of the process. The Govenor was there, shook my hand and my oldest son even participated in some heated conversations about what is happening in the Republican race. He's been listening and Mom didn't even know! There were 49 people in our precinct, two-thirds of them were first time attendees. Eight of them were college students at the U of M...of course 6 of them were our family and friends! The other two ended up being delegates. There were 25 votes for Romney, 8 for McCain and 8 for Huckabee and 1 for Paul. Our vote and the other precincts in Minnesota were in the Romney camp, but now that he has dropped out of the race. Where does that leave us? There were two main thoughts that have been with me all week. One was a comment made by a Romney campaign volunteer. We were discussing what would happen if McCain was the nominee. He said, "I am a conservative first, and that will guide my vote in the fall." The other thought was my recognition of how important is to show up and be present. I, like others, were amazed at the lack of expertise by the organizers and the process as a whole. First the process...at least we were able to hear each person who wanted to be a delegate tell why they wanted to be a delegate and who they would vote for. What we did not know was anything about who they were, what they did and what their expertise was. In The Leadership Challange we have learned in believability of sources that trustworthiness, expertise and dynamism are the foundations of leadership. The participants in the caucus who ended up as delegates were not known to us and gave so little information about themselves, that all we had to go on was a couple of minutes or less of what our impression was about them. And yet, these 10 people will be the ones that will represent us and help form the platform of the party. All of this left me with... I need to not only show up next time, but be better prepared with some good questions on who, what, how and why.

Second on my mind, is the comment about "I am a conservative first." I have been reading Chapter 3 in the Leadership book about "clarifying values." This comment shook my core. Who will I suport in the Fall? Will I follow someone I don't have the trust in to follow the conservative platform? Who will I vote for? A third party conservative? Who am I? What do I stand for? What am I willing to give up or not give up ?

In my two years of study at the Center for Spirituality and Healing and as a health coach, I believe people are complete and whole and have the answers to the questions in their life. With some thought, meditation and listening, I trust I will know what I value most and where my vote should go by November.

Bette Jo