Minutes of the America First National Committee

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

BE IT REMEMBERED that the America First National Committee met on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at 9 p.m. East Coast Time, pursuant to the Resolution of the Operating Committee adopted on August 23, 2005.

The Chairman led the National Committee meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Hey delivered the Invocation. Special petition was made for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and the Lord's mercy was requested, that more lives be not lost.

The Secretary called the roll of National Committee members.

Present:

• Dan Charles of Colorado, National Chairman
• Martin McClellan of Florida
• Peter Browning of Florida
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois
• Tom White of Massachusetts
• Jon Hill of Massachusetts, National Vice-Chairman
• Nancy Blankenship of Missouri
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Jim Arft of New York
• Bradley Maurer of New York
• David Thomas of Pennsylvania
• Frank Hackl of Wisconsin
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary and Treasurer

Absent:

• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Joe Spitzig of Ohio

Ward Chorpenning of Ohio and Sam Cross of Pennsylvania joined the meeting after the roll had been taken.

Mr. Tim Lohrmann of Idaho and Mr. Greg Roberts of Missouri were present, first as guests, and then as members of the National Committee.

A Quorum being present, the Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:11 p.m. ECT.

Mrs. Winters moved that the Credentials Report be opened for amendment. Her motion was seconded by Mr. Hill.

The National Secretary delivered the Credentials Report. He reported that Messrs. Lohrmann and Roberts, having missed three consecutive meetings of the National Committee, have been stricken from the Certified List of National Committee members as provided by the Party Constitution.

The motion to open the Credentials Report for amendment was adopted by unanimous vote of the National Committee.

Mrs. Blankenship moved the restoration of Greg Roberts to the Certified List of National Committee Members. Her motion was seconded by Mr. Arft. The motion was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mrs. Winters moved the waiver of the requirements of Article IV Section 11 of the Party Constitution with regard to the seating of Tim Lohrmann. Mr. White seconded the motion. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Mr. Hey moved the waiver of the requirements of Article IV Section 12 of the Party Constitution with regard to the seating of Tim Lohrmann. Mrs. Winters seconded the motion. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Mr. Hey moved the restoration of Tim Lohrmann to the Certified List of National Committee Members. His motion was seconded by Mrs. McHugh. The motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Mr. White moved the adoption of the Credentials Report as amended. The motion was seconded by Mr. McClellan and adopted by unanimous vote of the National Committee.

Mrs. Winters moved the adoption of the Agenda. Her motion was seconded by Mr. Chorpenning. The Agenda was adopted by unanimous vote.

The chairman called a short recess in order to contact Mr. Spitzig.

The Chairman delivered his report. He reported that the fund raising plan is in operation and so far the donations have exceeded the average expectation of the plan. He urged the national committee members to participate and encourage their state party members to participate as well.

The Chairman reported that the web site upgrades are proceeding apace. The Party Building work in Arizona and Michigan is yielding good results. The Public Relations Committee is seeking to expand the publication of member-submitted materials on the web site and in the newsletters.

The party is receiving an increasing number of contacts as people are growing disgusted with the recent vote on CAFTA and the Roberts nomination.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes for the June 14, 2005 meeting of the National Committee. Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the minutes. His motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Treasurer referred the Committee to the full Report that has been published on the Reflector and on the Agenda web page. The current account balance is $2591.94, of which $1886.01 is set aside in the Fund Raising fund. There are no outstanding unpaid invoices. The required monthly FEC reports have been prepared and submitted to the FEC; they may be reviewed on the FEC's public web site.

Mr. McClellan moved the acceptance of the Treasurer's Report. His motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Committee took a short recess. An informal discussion of convention planning was held.

Mr. Hey moved that the National Committee recommit the report of the Convention Committee with instructions that the Convention Committee include options for a convention on the weekend of April 15, 2006, and report back to the National Committee within three weeks. The Motion was seconded by Mr. McClellan.

After some debate, the motion was adopted by overwhelming majority of the National Committee.

Mr. White moved a Resolution regarding assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Roberts seconded the Resolution.

The Chairman passed the gavel to Mr. Hill. Some discussion of the Resolution took place.

Mr. Charles moved an amendment to the Resolution. His amendment was seconded by Mr. Roberts. The Amendment was adopted by majority vote.

The Resolution, as amended, reads as follows:

Resolved, that the hearts and genuine concerns of the members of the America First National Committee, representing the members of the America First Party, do reach out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina with empathy and compassion; and

That we urge our fellow party members and all Americans everywhere of good heart and conscience to reach out with aid and assistance to our fellow citizens during this time of great tragedy.

The Resolution as amended was adopted by unanimous vote.

A time of questions and discussion was held.

There being no further business, Mrs. Winters moved that the National Committee adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hill and adopted by unanimous vote. The Chairman declared the meeting adjourned at 11:10 p.m. ECT.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee