Minutes of the America First National Committee

Tuesday, August 12, 2003
(Continued on August 19, 2003)
(Adjourned on August 26, 2003)

BE IT REMEMBERED that the America First National Committee met on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, pursuant to the Resolution of the Operating Committee adopted on July 29, 2003.

The Secretary called the roll of National Committee members.

Present:

• Tim Lohrmann of Idaho
• Joseph Hoffman of Illinois
• Jon Hill of Massachusetts
• Nancy Blankenship of Missouri
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Brad Maurer of New York
• Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• George Stryker and David Thomas of Pennsylvania
• Frank Hackl of Wisconsin
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois, National Treasurer
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary

Absent:

• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• Michael Beckham of Illinois
• Virginia Clark and John Clark of Maryland
• Francis Winters of New Hampshire
• Jim Bunosky of Ohio
• Sam Cross of Pennsylvania

Greg Roberts of Missouri, Tom White of Massachusetts and John Francis of Ohio joined the meeting after the roll call had been taken.

A Quorum being present, the Secretary called the meeting to order.

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

Mrs. Winters made a motion to elect John Hey to chair this meeting. Her motion was seconded by Mr. Maurer. Nominations were closed by unanimous consent, and Mr. Hey was elected to chair the meeting by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hill renewed his motion to amend the Certified List of National Committee members to strike John and Virginia Clark of Maryland. His amendment was seconded by Mr. Stryker.

The Resolution reads as follows:

Resolution to Expel Mr. John Clark and Mrs. Virginia Clark of Maryland from the National Committee

Whereas, recently disclosed information has indicated that John and Virginia Clark of Maryland have been making practical contributions to the development of the platform of a competing political entity, "The America Founding Father's Party", while retaining their positions of membership on the America First National Committee; and,

Whereas, Virginia Clark is listed in an official Federal Election Commission filing, dated July 22, 2003, as the Secretary of this same competing political entity; and,

Whereas Mrs. Virginia Clark has stated during a recent National Committee Meeting that she would never vote to expel a member from the National Committee; and,

Whereas Mrs. Virginia Clark has indicated by her unwillingness to expel Mr. E.Z. Million of Oklahoma from the National Committee, that her unwillingness to expel members extends to individuals who make numerous threats and/or suggestions of homicide against her fellow members in connection with promoting their intra-party political agenda; and,

Whereas, Mr. John Clark and Mrs. Virginia Clark have indicated by their unwillingness to expel Mr. E.Z. Million from the National Committee, that they do not appreciate some of the minimum standards of decency which need to be observed in order to maintain a stable and representative political organization and/or the basic authority which the National Committee has under the Constitution of determining its own membership; and,

Whereas, Article III, Section 10 of the Constitution of the America First Party states that "the National Committee shall have the sole authority to determine its membership"; and,

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 conduct of the Clarks is not a credit to the party and is indicative of a lack of moral character and/or competence to the degree that their continued presence on the National Committee would likely undermine sound party governance and party stability; and,

Whereas, the conduct of the Clarks is not a credit to the party because it undermines the goal of a unified political movement under the auspices of the America First National Committee;

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

That, The conduct of Mr. John Clark and Mrs. Virginia Clark of Maryland 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. John Clark and Mrs. Virginia Clark of Maryland are stricken from the list of certified members of the America First National Committee.

After some discussion, the Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. White moved the adoption of the Agenda as distributed by the Secretary. His motion was seconded by Mr. Hill and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes of the June 10th meeting of the National Committee for consideration and adoption. Mr. White moved the approval of the minutes. His motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes of the July 15 meeting of the National Committee for consideration and adoption. Mrs. McHugh moved the approval of the minutes. Her motion was seconded by Mr. White and adopted by unanimous vote.

The National Treasurer delivered her report. She has filed the new Form 1 and the Form 3X that was due at the end of June.

The Treasurer discussed the cancellation fee owed the Nashville Marriott. The original $8100 has now been paid down to $4840. The Treasurer anticipates that the debt will be paid by the first week in October.

The Treasurer has mailed the refund checks to the individuals who had purchased dinner tickets. Digitec in Nashville has agreed to refund the deposit paid for the copier.

Mr. Hill moved the adoption of a Resolution recommended by the Operating Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. White. The Resolution reads as follows:

Resolved, that the National Committee hereby authorizes the Treasurer to pay for materials and shipping costs necessary to fulfill orders from the AFP Store.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. White moved the adoption of a Resolution recommended by the Operating Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Chorpenning. The Resolution reads as follows:

Resolved, that the National Committee hereby authorizes the Treasurer to pay the routine postage and ancillary mailing costs of distributing the various party newsletters.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hill moved the adoption of a Resolution recommended by the Operating Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mrs. McHugh. The Resolution reads as follows:

Resolved, that the National Committee hereby repeals those provisions of the Resolution of June 1, 2002 which required the segregation and allocation of funds raised by the Friends of the America First Party fundraising program.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hill moved the adoption of a Resolution recommended by the Operating Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Stryker. The Resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, the America First Party is indebted to Dan Charles for his selfless dedication to the cause of the Party; and

Whereas, Dan Charles has served faithfully and energetically first as a principal founding member, and then as National Chairman of the party; and

Whereas, the America First Party would greatly benefit from the continued participation and wise council of Mr. Charles;

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

That the title of "National Chairman Emeritus" is hereby bestowed upon Dan Charles in heartfelt and grateful thanks for his faithful service to the party.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hill moved the adoption of a Resolution to elect a Rules Committee Chairman. His resolution was seconded by Mr. Stryker.

Whereas the Rules Committee is an important part of the continuing success of the party and in need of an intelligent, informed chairman, John Pittman Hey is hereby elected to serve as chairman of the Rules Committee.

The resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mrs. McHugh introduced a discussion of when and where we should hold the fall in-person national committee meeting and convention. Some sites near Chicago were discussed, along with a date during October.

After some discussion, the consensus was that the National Committee should be surveyed regarding the most acceptable weekend in October for an in-person meeting, and that the National Committee would make firmer plans at a meeting next week.

The Secretary agreed to survey the National Committee members about attendance at an October in-person meeting in the Chicago area.

Mr. White moved that the National Committee stand in recess for one week, and reconvene at 9 p.m. EDT, August 19, 2003. His motion was seconded by Mr. Chorpenning and adopted by unanimous vote.

The National Committee stood in recess.

The National Committee reconvened on Tuesday evening, August 19, 2003. The Secretary called the roll of members:

Present:

• Tim Lohrmann of Idaho
• Jon Hill and Tom White of Massachusetts
• Nancy Blankenship and Greg Roberts of Missouri
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Brad Maurer of New York
• John Francis and Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• George Stryker of Pennsylvania
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois, National Treasurer
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary

Absent:

• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• Michael Beckham and Joseph Hoffman of Illinois
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Francis Winters of New Hampshire
• Jim Bunosky of Ohio
• Dave Thomas and Sam Cross of Pennsylvania
• Frank Hackl of Wisconsin

The Committee recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Chorpenning delivered the Invocation.

The members continued the discussion of the in-person National Committee meeting. The committee considered the wisdom of calling a national convention or an in-person National Committee meeting.

Mr. Francis moved the adoption of a resolution to call an in-person meeting of the National Committee on October 25, 2003 in the Chicago area. His Resolution was seconded by Mr. Chorpenning and adopted by unanimous vote of the National Committee.

The Committee determined that it would meet one week later to take up the matter of the exact venue of the in-person meeting. Mrs. McHugh will investigate and report back to the committee on the options available.

Mr. Stryker moved that the National Committee recess for one week. His motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters and adopted by unanimous vote.

The National Committee stood in recess.

The National Committee reconvened on Tuesday evening, August 26, 2003. The Secretary called the roll of members:

Present:

• Tom White of Massachusetts
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Nancy Blankenship and Greg Roberts of Missouri
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Brad Maurer of New York
• John Francis and Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• George Stryker and Dave Thomas of Pennsylvania
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary

Absent:

• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• Michael Beckham and Joseph Hoffman of Illinois
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois, National Treasurer
• Francis Winters of New Hampshire
• Jon Hill of Massachusetts
• Jim Bunosky of Ohio

Tim Lohrmann of Idaho, Sam Cross of Pennsylvania and Frank Hackl of Wisconsin joined the meeting after the roll call had been taken.

The Committee recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Chorpenning delivered the Invocation.

The Secretary led the Committee in a continued discussion of the location for the in-person National Committee meeting of October 25.

Two proposals prepared by Mrs. McHugh were reviewed. The Doubletree proposal was somewhat more expensive than the Best Western proposal. On the other hand, the Doubletree provided larger meeting facilities and other amenities.

The discussion centered on the trade-off between cost and quality of the accommodations.

After extensive discussion, the members agreed to select a meeting location by ballot. The Secretary called the roll.

For the Best Western: Mr. White, Mrs. Blankenship, Mrs. Winters, Mr. Cross, Mr. Hackl, Mr. Maurer, Mr. Francis, Mr. Chorpenning, Mr. Stryker, and Mr. Thomas.

For the Doubletree: Mr. Hey.

Abstaining: Mr. Lohrmann, Mr. Golmon, and Mr. Roberts.

The Best Western proposal was therefore accepted for the in-person meeting of the National Committee on October 25, 2003.

A discussion was had regarding the need for a party building chairman. Several members volunteered to participate in sustained party building activities.

There being no further business, on motion made by Mr. Chorpenning, seconded by Mr. Francis, and adopted by unanimous vote, the meeting was finally adjourned.

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