Minutes of the Operating Committee of the America First Party
Monday, April 21, 2003
BE IT REMEMBERED that the Operating Committee of the America First Party met on Monday, April 21, 2003 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, pursuant to the emergency call of the National Chairman.
The Secretary called the roll of Operating Committee members:
Present:
- Dan Charles of Colorado, Chairman
- Gene Lovell of Georgia, Vice-chairman
- John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, Secretary
- Maureen McHugh of Illinois, Treasurer
- Jon Hill of Massachusetts, Finance Committee Chairman
- Michael O'Brian of Michigan, Platform Committee Chairman
- James Edwards of Tennessee, Candidates Committee Chairman
- James D. Jones of Tennessee, Party Building Chairman
- Trey Golmon of Mississippi, Ballot Access Committee Chairman
- Eric Thomas of Tennessee, Rules Committee Chairman
Romelle Winters of New Hampshire, Public Relations Committee Chairman, joined the call after the roll had been taken.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 10:05 p.m. EDT.
The Chairman led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Secretary gave the invocation.
The Chairman reported that the sole purpose of this special called meeting was the approval of the replacement full page advertisement for the American Free Press. Last Saturday, the Public Relations Committee reported out a resolution to the Operating Committee recommending the new advertisement.
In addition, the Chairman reported that the Finance Committee had adopted a resolution creating a new "Patriot Recruitment Kit" premium program, and setting the price at five dollars each. The kits will each contain one bumper sticker, ten brochures, and one pocket-sized copy of the Constitution.
The text of the ad submitted by the Public Relations Committee promotes these Patriot Recruitment Kits, and that text is consistent with the premium program adopted by the Finance Committee.
Mr. Jones objected to the price of five dollars, and moved to amend the Finance Committee resolution to change the price to six dollars.
The Chairman ruled the amendment out of order, based upon the fact that the Finance Committee reports to the National Committee, not the Operating Committee, and that the Finance Committee and the Operating Committee are co-equal committees subsidiary to the National Committee. In addition, the National Committee gave the Finance Committee the exclusive right to create the premium programs and set the value thereon.
Mr. Jones sought to appeal the ruling of the chairman.
Mr. Hey raised a point of order, that there was no resolution pending for which an amendment could be offered.
Mr. Jones' appeal of the ruling of the Chairman died for lack of a second.
Mrs. Winters moved that the Operating Committee approve the ad and submit it to the American Free Press for publication, pursuant to the power delegated by resolution of the National Committee. Her motion was seconded by Mrs. McHugh and adopted by unanimous vote.
There being no further business, upon motion made by Mrs. Winters, seconded by Mr. Edwards, and adopted by unanimous vote, the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee
