Minutes of the America First National Committee

Monday, August 6, 2007

BE IT REMEMBERED that the America First National Committee met on Monday, August 6, 2007 at 9 p.m. East Coast Time, pursuant to the Resolution of the Operating Committee adopted on July 23, 2007.

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

Mr. Hey delivered the Invocation.

The Secretary called the roll of National Committee members.

Present:

• Peter Browning of Florida
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois
• Jonathan Hill of Massachusetts, National Chairman
• Tom White of Massachusetts
• Dan Eller of Michigan
• John Wagner of Michigan
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary and Treasurer
• Michael Lynch of New York
• Joe Spitzig of Ohio
• David Thomas of Pennsylvania
• Samuel Cross of Pennsylvania

Absent:

• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• Anne O'Brien of Colorado
• Martin McClellan of Florida, National Vice-chairman
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Bradley Maurer of New York
• Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• Frank Hackl of Wisconsin

Greg Roberts of Missouri joined the meeting after the roll had been taken.

A quorum being present, the Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:15 p.m. ECT.

The Credentials Report was reviewed. The Secretary reported receiving a signed letter of resignation from Mr. Tim Lohrmann of Idaho, who has moved to Montana.

Mr. Hey moved that the Certified List of National Committee Members be accepted as announced during the roll call for the meeting. His motion was seconded by Mr. White and adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Lynch moved that the Agenda be adopted as presented. His motion was seconded by Mr. Browning. The Agenda was approved by unanimous vote.

The Chairman delivered his report. Eight press releases have been issued since the last meeting. Several in-depth policy articles have been published on the national web site and in the new newspaper. The Chairman discussed the first issue of the newspaper and the response that was received. He described the new Activist program mailing.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes for the March 20, 2007 meeting of the National Committee. Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the minutes. His motion was seconded by Mr. Lynch. The minutes were 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 $7,281.26. The required monthly FEC reports have been prepared and submitted to the FEC; they may be reviewed on the FEC's public web site.

Mrs. McHugh moved the adoption of a Resolution referred by the Finance Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. White. The Resolution reads as follows:

Finance Committee's Fundraising Resolution

Resolved by the America First National Committee:

That, the Prospecting Fund be eliminated, and that all proceeds from the Prospecting Fund be placed in the General Fund; and,

That, authority to execute the "House-List Development and Fundraising Plan" is suspended; and,

That, the Finance Committee is authorized to send a fundraising letter to the membership and donor list within 30 days after the mailing of the next newspaper issue.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mrs. McHugh moved the adoption of a Resolution referred by the Finance Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. White. The Resolution reads as follows:

Finance Committee's Resolution on Earmarked Contributions

Whereas, there are occasions when contributors would like to make an in-kind contribution of merchandise or routine supplies, but to do so would be time-consuming and result in delays in the procurement of the merchandise or supplies;

Therefore, be it resolved by the America First National Committee:

That, the Treasurer is authorized, at his discretion, to accept earmarked contributions in lieu of in-kind contributions, for the purchase of supplies and merchandise useful for the activities of the party.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mrs. McHugh moved the adoption of a Resolution referred by the Finance Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Hey. The Resolution reads as follows:

Finance Committee's Newspaper Budget Request

Resolved, by the National Committee of the America First Party:

That, up to $3,200 be spent on the printing and mailing of 5,000 copies of the America First Leader newspaper.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mrs. McHugh moved the adoption of a Resolution referred by the Finance Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Spitzig. The Resolution reads as follows:

Finance Committee's Request to grant the Treasurer Limited Spending Authority

Resolved, by the America First National Committee:

That, the Treasurer be allowed to expend funds, at the discretion of the Finance Committee, for routine supplies within the following categories: envelopes, letterhead.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. White moved the adoption of a Resolution referred by the Partybuilding Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Spitzig. The Resolution reads as follows:

Partybuilding Committee's Request for Limited Authority to amend the Activist Program

Whereas, the National Committee has approved the Partybuilding Committee's Petitioning, Pamphleteering, and Patriot ID Activist Programs; and

Whereas, the procedures included in the Activist Program documentation may require minor adjustments during the early stages of their implementation in order to optimize their efficiency and avoid wasteful and inappropriate use of the time of Partybuilding Committee Members,

Therefore, be it resolved by the America First National Committee:

That, the Partybuilding Committee is authorized to make adjustments to its Activist Programs when this benefits the program's efficiency, or whenever it deems it necessary for the accomplishment of the program's goals, provided that the changes do not adversely effect the program's two chief goals of locating new member/donor prospects and locating AFP members who are willing to do work to develop the party; and,

That, the Partybuilding Committee is hereby required to report to the National Committee any changes to the program on the Leaders Reflector within 72 hours of their adoption.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Spitzig moved the adoption of a Resolution referred by the Operating Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Thomas.

An amendment to correct some grammar problems was accepted.

Mr. Eller moved an amendment to the resolution. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Wagner. After some debate, the amendment was accepted.

Mr. Eller moved an amendment to the resolution. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Wagner. After some debate, the amendment was not agreed to.

Mr. Eller moved an amendment to the resolution. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Cross. After some debate, the amendment was not agreed to.

Mr. Hey moved an amendment to the resolution. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Cross. The amendment was adopted.

Mr. Lynch moved an amendment to the resolution. The amendment was seconded by Mr. White. An amendment to the amendment was accepted. The amendment as amended was adopted.

The Resolution as amended reads as follows:

Opposing the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, a NAFTA Superhighway System, and a North American Union with Mexico and Canada

Whereas the United States Departments of State, Commerce, and Homeland Security participated in the formation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) on March 23, 2005, representing a tri-lateral agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, designed, among other things, to facilitate common regulatory schemes between these countries; and

Whereas the SPP aims to make regulatory changes among the three countries in the areas of transportation, security, and border security by means of a process which SPP documents describe as "permanent"; and

Whereas the SPP, by advancing "permanent" regulations in these matters properly under the jurisdiction of Congress, opposes congressional authority to review existing relationships with other nations, and is therefore unconstitutional; and

Whereas the proposed "permanent" regulatory changes proposed by the SPP violate and threaten United States sovereignty; and

Whereas a NAFTA Superhighway System from the west coast of Mexico through the United States and into Canada has been suggested as part of a North American Union to facilitate trade between the SPP countries; and

Whereas the State of Texas has already begun planning and building of the Trans-Texas Corridor, a major multi-modal transportation project beginning at the United States-Mexico border, which would serve as an initial section of a NAFTA Superhighway System; and

Whereas future unrestricted foreign trucking into the United States could pose a safety hazard due to inadequate maintenance and inspection; could act collaterally as a conduit for the entry into the United States of illegal drugs, illegal human smuggling, illegal weapons, and terrorist activities; and will destroy many American jobs in the trucking and port facility industries; and

Whereas a NAFTA Superhighway System would likely include funds from foreign consortiums and be controlled by foreign management, which threatens the sovereignty of the United States;

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

(1) the United States should prohibit the Security and Prosperity Partnership from implementing further regulations that would create a North American Union with Mexico and Canada; and

(2) U.S. participation in the Security and Prosperity Partnership should be immediately terminated; and

(3) the United States should not engage in the construction of a NAFTA Superhighway System; and

(4) the President and Congress of the United States should perform their constitutional duties by strongly opposing these acts or any other proposals that threaten the sovereignty of the United States.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hey moved that the rules be suspended and that the Certified List of National Committee members be amended to add Mr. Greg Roberts of Missouri. Mrs. McHugh seconded the motion. The motion was adopted by unanimous vote, Mr. White abstaining.

A general time of discussion took place.

There being no further business, Mr. White moved that the National Committee adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Lynch and adopted by unanimous vote. The Chairman declared the meeting adjourned at 11:23 p.m. ECT.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee