THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY

About the Book

Not happy with either the Democrats or the Republicans?  Do you long for a gathering place for political moderates?  Do you believe that a third major party of permanence on the political scene could affect positive political change in the United States of America?

If any of the above is true and correct for you, The Responsible Party is for you.

About the Author

Richard L. Freitag is the president and chief executive officer of DIX Corporation head-quartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The firm was originally organized by him in July of 1992. Prior to this, Freitag served as the president of Kenneth R. Freitag, Inc. from 1974 until 1992.

In his present capacity as in his previous one, Freitag has been and continues to be directly involved in golf course construction. He has personally bid and supervised the construction and/or the remodeling of 36 golf course construction projects in 5 midwestern states.

Born June 26, 1950, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Richard L. Freitag came to his field of expertise through his father, Kenneth R. Freitag, who was himself a second generation golf course landscape and grading contractor.

Educational highlights include first and second grade at the Truax School - a one room country school. Upon graduation from high school in 1968, Freitag enlisted in the U. S. Navy serving as a heavy equipment operator in the Seabees (Naval Construction) in Danang, Vietnam. Honorably discharged as an Equipment Operator Second Class (E-5), he continued his education at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire through the G. I. Bill Education Benefits Program for Veterans. In June, 1974, Freitag graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management.

During his college years, Freitag worked as a volunteer serving as the Assistant Scoutmaster for two Scout troops simultaneously. Business involvement after graduation took him away from his Scouting activities. In 1982, when it was announced at his church that the old troop (where he became an Eagle Scout) would be folded unless someone were to come forward to take over as Scoutmaster, Freitag volunteered as the troop Scoutmaster - a position he relinquished in February 2001 after 19 plus years of service. He continues to serve the Boy Scouts of America as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 30 and as the District Commissioner for the Trailblazer District of the Chippewa Valley Council.

As a Scoutmaster Freitag has received a number of awards including The Scouter’s Key (‘91), The Scouter’s Training Award (“92), The District Award of Merit (‘93), The Bronze Pelican Award presented by the Roman Catholic Church for outstanding service to Catholic youth (‘93 - though Freitag is a practicing Lutheran), The Lamb Award for distinguished service to Lutheran Youth by the National Offices of the Lutheran Churches Board (‘94), The Silver Beaver Award from the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America (‘94) and The Scoutmasters Award of Merit (‘00). Additionally, in 1993, Freitag was selected along with 63 other Scoutmasters from among the 43,600 Scoutmasters in the United States by the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America to attend the National Scoutmasters Conference at the National Annual Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America in St. Louis, Missouri. This rare honor is the highlight of his Scouting career on a personal level. He has served on the thirteen midwestern states Central Region’s Training Staff for the National Camping School (‘96) as well as the Central Region’s Training Staff for the Junior Leader Training Course Directors Conference (‘95&’96). Freitag is a Life Member of the National Eagle Scout Association and the National Lutheran Association of Scouters. On a far more significant level, during his tenure as Scoutmaster of Troop 30 sponsored by St. John’s Lutheran Church, 60 young men have attained the Eagle Scout Award.

In addition to his Scouting activities, Freitag is a Life Member of V.F.W. Post 305 and a Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America -Chapter 5 where he has served as chapter fundraising chairman as well as public relations committee chair. He is a member of the Sunrise Exchange Club of Eau Claire. He serves as a volunteer for the Junior Achievement Partnerships. He has been engaged for numerous speaking engagements to various civic organizations as well as many area Grade Schools, Middle Schools and High Schools on various history and business topics as well as Veterans issues. He has served and continues to serve as a guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire where he is also involved in the School of Business “Mentor Program” in which Senior Business Students work directly with area business people to “get a taste of the real world of business”. He has served a 2 year term on the Board of Directors for the Eau Claire - Chippewa Falls Area Builders Exchange and was subsequently recalled to fill a vacated position after his own term had expired.

Freitag has worked as a hired consultant on numerous other projects in addition to those 36 golf course projects which his firms have constructed.

Freitag has been retained by the United States Air Force and by the State of Michigan as a hired expert consultant in matters other than golf course construction and/or maintenance.

Because of his work with the various Veterans organizations, he has been honored to serve United States Senator Herb Kohl (D -WI) on the United States Service Academy Nomination Selection Board since 1991.

In April of 1999, the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce bestowed the “Honored Educator Excellence in Education Award” (the only nonprofessional educator to be so honored) on Richard L. Freitag. In April of 2000, he returned to this event, as the Keynote Speaker. In May 2002, he received his second “Honored Educator Excellence in Education Award”.