Minutes of the America First National Committee

Tuesday, June 10, 2003
(adjourned on June 17, 2003)

BE IT REMEMBERED that the America First National Committee met on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, pursuant to the Resolution of the Operating Committee of June 3, 2003.

The meeting was opened by the Chairman at 9:07 p.m. EDT.

The National Committee meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. White delivered the invocation.

The Secretary called the roll of National Committee members.

Present:

• John Verser of Arkansas
• John Spooner of California
• Wanda Weatherford and Marcel Dietze of Colorado
• Helen Leka and George Radzwillas of Connecticut
• Martin McClellan and Gaurav Ahuja of Florida
• Diane Lovell of Georgia
• Jim Monagan and Melanie Wooten of Iowa
• Michael Beckham and Joseph Hoffman of Illinois
• Jon Hill and Tom White of Massachusetts
• John Clark and Virginia Clark of Maryland
• Nancy Blankenship of Missouri
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Jeff Plott of North Carolina
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Michael Illions and Richard Rossillo of New Jersey
• Maureen Flannery, Jim Arft, and Brad Maurer of New York
• John Francis and Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• Chris Oliver and David Wilkinson of Oklahoma
• Sam Cross, George Stryker, and David Thomas of Pennsylvania
• James D. Jones and James Edwards of Tennessee
• George Pangborn of Texas
• Rick Besanko of Virginia
• Larry Lamb of Washington
• Frank Hackl and Scott Trindl of Wisconsin
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois, Treasurer
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, Secretary
• Gene Lovell of Georgia, Vice-chairman
• Dan Charles of Colorado, Chairman

Absent:

• Tony Sheppard of Alabama
• Ron Teal and Vincent Wallgren of California
• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• Phil Anderson of Georgia
• Jim Cox and Miles Cunningham of Idaho
• William Sailor, Lisa Sailor, and Daniel Sailor of Indiana
• Mike O'Brian and Daniel Morrison of Michigan
• Don Griffin of Missouri
• Norman Kent of North Carolina
• Francis Winters of New Hampshire
• James Bunosky of Ohio
• E. Z. Million of Oklahoma
• Karen Faye Wilson, Patrick Wilson, and Melvin Johnson of Oregon
• James Aldridge, John Newhouse, and Bill Hunt of South Carolina
• Warren Baldwin of Tennessee
• Dan Gahn and Roland Donohue of Washington
• Pat Owens of Wisconsin

Ron Arnold and Teri Gray of Alabama, Tim Lohrmann of Idaho, and Greg Roberts of Missouri joined the meeting after the roll call was taken.

Kimberly DeMarco was present, first as a guest, and then as a National Committee member from New Jersey.

Eric Thomas of Tennessee, Rules Committee Chairman, was present as a guest.

A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order by the Chairman.

The Secretary reported receiving notice of the election of Mr. James Pace as National Committee member for Connecticut.

The Secretary moved the amendment of the Certified List of National Committee members to add James Pace as National Committee member from Connecticut. His motion was seconded by Mr. Lovell and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Secretary reported receiving notice of the election of Miss Kimberly DeMarco as National Committee member for New Jersey.

The Secretary moved the amendment of the Certified List of National Committee members to add Kimberly DeMarco as National Committee member from New Jersey. His motion was seconded by Mr. Besanko and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Chairman read a Resolution adopted by the Operating Committee which recommended a Resolution to Remove E. Z. Million from the National Committee.

Mr. McClellan moved the adoption of the Resolution to remove E. Z. Million from the National Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. White.

After three members had spoken for and against the Resolution, Mrs. Lovell moved to extend debate. Her motion was seconded by Mrs. Wooten.

A Roll Call vote on the motion to extend debate was taken with the following results:

For the Motion to Extend Debate: Lovell, Hey, McHugh, Arnold, Weatherford, Leka, Radzwillas, Mrs. Lovell, Wooten, Hill, White, Clark, Mrs. Clark, Golmon, Plott, Rossillo, DeMarco, Illions, Oliver, Wilkinson, Jones, Besanko, Lamb, and Hackl.

Against the Motion to Extend Debate: Verser, Dietze, McClellan, Ahuja, Monagan, Beckham, Hoffman, Roberts, Winters, Flannery, Maurer, Arft, Francis, Chorpenning, Cross, Stryker, Thomas, Edwards, Pangborn, and Trindl.

The motion to extend debate was therefore approved, and the debate continued.

The meeting was interrupted by an electronic anomaly. Therefore, the roll was called to re-establish the presence of a quorum.

Present:

• Ron Arnold and Keri Gray of Alabama
• John Verser of Arkansas
• Wanda Weatherford and Marcel Dietze of Colorado
• Helen Leka and George Radzwillas of Connecticut
• Martin McClellan and Gaurav Ahuja of Florida
• Diane Lovell of Georgia
• Melanie Wooten of Iowa
• Michael Beckham and Joseph Hoffman of Illinois
• Jon Hill and Tom White of Massachusetts
• John Clark and Virginia Clark of Maryland
• Nancy Blankenship and Greg Roberts of Missouri
• Jeff Plott of North Carolina
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Kimberly Demarco, Michael Illions, and Richard Rossillo of New Jersey
• Maureen Flannery, Jim Arft, and Brad Maurer of New York
• John Francis and Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• Chris Oliver and David Wilkinson of Oklahoma
• Sam Cross, George Stryker, and David Thomas of Pennsylvania
• James D. Jones and James Edwards of Tennessee
• George Pangborn of Texas
• Rick Besanko of Virginia
• Larry Lamb of Washington
• Frank Hackl and Scott Trindl of Wisconsin
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois, Treasurer
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, Secretary
• Gene Lovell of Georgia, Vice-chairman
• Dan Charles of Colorado, Chairman

Absent:

• Tony Sheppard of Alabama
• John Spooner, Ron Teal, and Vincent Wallgren of California
• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• James Pace of Connecticut
• Phil Anderson of Georgia
• Jim Monagan of Iowa
• Tim Lohrmann, Jim Cox and Miles Cunningham of Idaho
• William Sailor, Lisa Sailor, and Daniel Sailor of Indiana
• Mike O'Brian and Daniel Morrison of Michigan
• Don Griffin of Missouri
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Norman Kent of North Carolina
• Francis Winters of New Hampshire
• James Bunosky of Ohio
• E. Z. Million of Oklahoma
• Karen Faye Wilson, Patrick Wilson, and Melvin Johnson of Oregon
• James Aldridge, John Newhouse, and Bill Hunt of South Carolina
• Warren Baldwin of Tennessee
• Dan Gahn and Roland Donohue of Washington
• Pat Owens of Wisconsin

A quorum being present, the meeting was continued.

Debate on the Resolution to Remove E. Z. Million continued.

After three additional speakers were heard on each side, Mr. Arnold moved to once more extend debate. His motion was seconded by Mr. White.

A roll call vote was taken with the following results:

In favor of the motion to extend debate: Lovell, Hey, McHugh, Arnold, Gray, Weatherford, Dietze, Leka, Mrs. Lovell, Wooten, Hill, White, Clark, Mrs. Clark, Plott, Rossillo, Illions, DeMarco, Thomas, Jones, Besanko, and Hackl.

Opposed to the motion to extend debate: Verser, Radzwillas, McClellan, Ahuja, Monagan, Beckham, Hoffman, Blankenship, Roberts, Mrs. Winters, Flannery, Maurer, Arft, Francis, Chorpenning, Wilkinson, Cross, Stryker, Edwards, Pangborn, Lamb, and Trindl.

The vote being a tie, the Chairman cast his vote in favor of the motion to extend debate. Debate was therefore extended a second time.

Mr. Dietze moved to amend the Resolution to refer the matter of Mr. Million's conduct back to the State party in Oklahoma for further review and action. His amendment was seconded by Mr. Lamb.

Mr. Lovell moved a friendly amendment to the Dietze amendment, to specify that the National Committee would abide by the decision made by the Oklahoma state party. His amendment was accepted without objection.

Debate on the Dietze amendment was exhausted, and Mr. White moved to extend debate. His motion was seconded by Dr. Cross. The motion to extend debate on the Dietze amendment failed.

All debate on the Dietze amendment having been exhausted, the question was called. The Dietze amendment was defeated.

The members expressed various views for and against the Resolution to remove E. Z. Million from the National Committee. Several members stated that they had received threats of violence and intimidation from Mr. Million, and that he should be removed for making those threats. Other members believed that the threats were a private matter between Mr. Million and his victims. Still others advocated leaving the matter in the hands of law enforcement officials and the courts for adjudication. Some members expressed the view that the state of Oklahoma should make the decision whether or not to punish Mr. Million for his conduct, and that it was no business of the National Committee. Other members countered that the National Committee had the duty and the right to enforce the qualifications found in the Party Constitution as to membership on the committee, and that Mr. Million's conduct violated those standards.

Mrs. Weatherford moved to table the Resolution to Remove E. Z. Million from the National Committee. Her motion was seconded by Mr. Monagan. The motion to table was defeated.

The Resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, Article III, Section 10 of the Constitution of the America First Party states that the qualifications for membership in the America First National Committee include, "(f) Upright moral character and behavior that is a credit to the party."; and,

Whereas, Mr. Elmer "E. Z." Million of Oklahoma has made repeated threats and promises of violence against several members of the America First National Committee; and,

Whereas, Mr. Elmer "E. Z." Million of Oklahoma has stated that there are 17 members of the America First National Committee he intends to visit upon with violence; and,

Whereas, Such conduct could be detrimental to the image of the Party and may result in diminished attendance at the upcoming National Convention;

Now therefore be it resolved by the America First National Committee:

That, The conduct of Mr. Elmer "E. Z." Million of Oklahoma has been adjudged by this National Committee to be wholly unacceptable and in violation of the requirements for membership in this body under the Constitution of the America First Party; and,

That, Mr. Elmer "E. Z." Million of Oklahoma is stricken from the list of certified members of the America First National Committee; and,

That, We encourage the America First Party of Oklahoma to act expeditiously to fill the vacancy created by this action.

All debate being exhausted on the Resolution to Remove E. Z. Million from the National Committee, a roll call vote was taken:

For the Resolution: Hey, McHugh, Verser, McClellan, Beckham, Hoffman, Hill, White, Blankenship, Plott, Mrs. Winters, Flannery, Maurer, Arft, Francis, Chorpenning, Cross, Stryker, Thomas, Pangborn, and Trindl.

Against the Resolution: Lovell, Arnold, Gray, Weatherford, Dietze, Leka, Radzwillas, Mrs. Lovell, Monagan, Wooten, Clark, Mrs. Clark, Wilkinson, Jones, Edwards, Besanko, and Lamb.

Abstaining: Ahuja, Lohrmann, Rossillo, Illions, and Hackl.

A three-fifths vote being required to amend the Certified List of the National Committee, the Resolution was not adopted.

Mr. Lovell, Mr. Illions, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Wooten, and Mr. Edwards had previously submitted a Resolution to Remove Mr. Hill and Mr. White of Massachusetts from the National Committee. Mr. Lovell moved the adoption of the Resolution. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Illions.

Dr. Cross moved to table the Resolution. His motion was seconded by Mr. McClellan. After some debate, the question was called, and the motion to table failed.

Dr. Cross asked for a roll call vote. The Secretary called the roll:

For the motion to table: Monagan, Lohrmann, Flannery, Cross, and Pangborn.

Against the motion to table: Lovell, Hey, McHugh, Gray, Verser, Weatherford, Dietze, Radzwillas, McClellan, Ahuja, Mrs. Lovell, Wooten, Beckham, Hoffman, Hill, White, Clark, Mrs. Clark, Blankenship, Plott, Mrs. Winters, Rossillo, Illions, Maurer, Arft, Francis, Chorpenning, Stryker, Thomas, Jones, Edwards, Besanko, Lamb, Hackl, and Trindl.

Abstaining: Arnold, Leka, and Wilkinson.

The motion to table failed.

The duration of the meeting having approached the two hour time limit, Dr. Cross moved that the meeting adjourn. His motion was seconded by Mr. Wilkinson.

A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adjourn:

For adjournment: Lovell, Arnold, Gray, Radzwillas, McClellan, Mrs. Lovell, Monagan, Wooten, Lohrmann, Blankenship, Plott, Rossillo, Flannery, Maurer, Arft, Wilkinson, Cross, Jones, Pangborn, Lamb, and Hackl.

Against adjournment: Hey, McHugh, Verser, Spooner, Weatherford, Dietze, Leka, Ahuja, Beckham, Hoffman, Hill, White, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Winters, Illions, Francis, Chorpenning, Stryker, Thomas, Edwards, and Besanko.

Abstaining: Clark.

The vote being a tie, the Chairman cast his vote in opposition of the motion to adjourn. The motion to adjourn failed.

Mr. Hey moved to extend the meeting by one hour. His motion was seconded by Mr. Illions. A roll call vote was taken.

In favor of extending the meeting: Hey, McHugh, Verser, Spooner, Leka, Radzwillas, Ahuja, Beckham, Hoffman, Hill, White, Clark, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Winters, Illions, Francis, Cross, Stryker, Thomas, Edwards, and Besanko.

Opposed to extending the meeting: Lovell, Arnold, Gray, Weatherford, Dietze, McClellan, Mrs. Lovell, Wooten, Lohrmann, Blankenship, Plott, Rossillo, Maurer, Arft, Wilkinson, Jones, Pangborn, Lamb and Hackl.

The motion to extend the meeting was adopted.

Debate on the Resolution to Expel Hill and White from the National Committee continued.

After three members had spoken for and against the Resolution, Mr. Lovell moved to extend debate. His motion was seconded by Mrs. McHugh. A roll call vote was taken.

In favor of extending debate: Lovell, Hey, McHugh, Arnold, Gray, Spooner, Leka, Radzwillas, Mrs. Lovell, Wooten, Lohrmann, Hill, White, Clark, Mrs. Winters, Francis, Thomas, Jones, Edwards and Besanko.

Opposed to extending debate: Verser, Weatherford, Dietze, McClellan, Ahuja, Beckham, Blankenship, Roberts, Plott, Rossillo, Illions, Maurer, Cross, Stryker, Pangborn, Lamb and Hackl.

Abstaining: Hoffman, Mrs. Clark and Wilkinson.

The motion to extend debate was adopted. Additional members spoke for and against the Resolution to Expel Hill and White from the National Committee.

Most of the members speaking in favor of the Resolution to expel Hill and White had previously spoken again the Resolution to Remove Mr. Millions. They argued that the questioning of the abilities and qualifications of committee members allegedly carried on by Hill and White was far more injurious to the party than the threats of violence made by Mr. Million against committee members. Other members defended the right of every member to raise questions about ability, leadership, and character, and asserted that Hill and White had done nothing amiss.

The debate on the Resolution was finally exhausted. The Resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, Article III, Section 10 of the Constitution of the America First Party states that the qualifications for membership in the America First National Committee include, "(f) Upright moral character and behavior that is a credit to the party"; and,

Whereas, the Majority of the Operating Committee of the America First National Committee, namely three of the four National Committee Officers, specifically Chairman Dan Charles, Secretary John Hey, and Treasurer Maureen McHugh, and three Standing Committee Chairs, specifically Finance Chair Jonathan Hill, Public Relations Chair Romelle Winters, and Ballot Access Chair Trey Golmon, have set the precedent of calling for disciplinary action by the America First National Committee against a National Committee Member; and

Whereas, Mr. L. Thomas White of Massachusetts has repeatedly chosen to publicly, deliberately and blatantly defame both the character and abilities of several individual National Committee Members and Party Leaders in such a vile way as to leave no doubt that he is in complete violation of the above stated provision of the Constitution of the America First Party; and

Whereas, Mr. Jonathan Hill, also of Massachusetts, has publicly defamed, demeaned and belittled both the 'quality' of leadership and abilities of several State Party Organizations, National Committee Members and Party Leaders, making evident his disdain for the majority of the same in such a way as to leave no doubt that he is in complete violation of the above stated provision of the Constitution of the America First Party; and

Whereas, such conduct is detrimental to the image and credibility of the Party and may result in diminished attendance at the upcoming National Convention;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the America First National Committee:

That the conduct of Mr. L. Thomas White of Massachusetts has been adjudged by this National Committee to be wholly unacceptable and in violation of the requirements for membership in this body under the Constitution of the America First Party; and,

That the conduct of Mr. Jonathan Hill of Massachusetts has been adjudged by this National Committee to be wholly unacceptable and in violation of the requirements for membership in this body under the Constitution of the America First Party; and,

That Mr. L. Thomas White and Mr. Jonathan Hill of Massachusetts are removed from the list of certified members of the America First National Committee.

The Resolution was defeated by an overwhelming majority of the National Committee.

Mr. Besanko moved to adopt the Credentials Report as amended in its entirety. His motion was seconded by Mr. Lovell and adopted by overwhelming majority of the National Committee.

Mr. Besanko moved to recess the meeting of the National Committee for one week. His motion was seconded by Mr. McClellan, and adopted by a majority vote of the National Committee.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2003, the National Committee met to resume the meeting of June 10 that had previously been recessed.

The Secretary called the roll of members of the National Committee:

Present:

• Martin McClellan and Gaurav Ahuja of Florida
• James Monagan of Iowa
• Tim Lohrmann of Idaho
• Michael Beckham and Joseph Hoffman of Illinois
• Jonathan Hill and Tom White of Massachusetts
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Jeff Plott of North Carolina
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Richard Rossillo, Kimberly Illions, and Michael Illions of New Jersey
• Maureen Flannery, Bradley Maurer, and Jim Arft of New York
• John Francis and Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• Karen Faye Wilson of Oregon
• Sam Cross, George Stryker, and David Thomas of Pennsylvania
• Warren Baldwin of Tennessee
• George Pangborn of Texas
• Rick Besanko of Virginia
• Frank Hackl of Wisconsin
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois, National Treasurer
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary
• Dan Charles of Colorado, National Chairman

Absent:

• Ron Arnold, Keri Gray, and Tony Sheppard of Alabama
• John Verser of Arkansas
• Ron Teal, John Spooner, and Vincent Wallgren of California
• Wanda Weatherford, Larry Carroll, and Marcel Dietze of Colorado
• Helen Leka, George Radzwillas, and James Pace of Connecticut
• Phil Anderson and Diane Lovell of Georgia
• Melanie Wooten of Iowa
• James Cox and Miles Cunningham of Idaho
• William Sailor, Lisa Sailor, and Daniel Sailor of Indiana
• John Clark and Virginia Clark of Maryland
• Mike O'Brian and Daniel Morrison of Michigan
• Nancy Blankenship, Greg Roberts, and Don Griffin of Missouri
• Norman Kent of North Carolina
• Francis Winters of New Hampshire
• Jim Bunosky of Ohio
• Chris Oliver, E. Z. Million, and David Wilkinson of Oklahoma
• Patrick Wilson and Melvin Johnson of Oregon
• James Aldridge, John Newhouse, and Bill Hunt of South Carolina
• James D. Jones and James Edwards of Tennessee
• Larry Lamb, Dan Gahn, and Roland Donohue of Washington
• Pat Owens and Scott Trindl of Wisconsin
• Gene Lovell of Georgia, National Vice-chairman

A quorum not being present, and all efforts by the members present to obtain a quorum having failed, the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee