Minutes of the America First National Committee

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

BE IT REMEMBERED that the America First National Committee met on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 9 p.m. East Coast Time, pursuant to the Resolution of the Operating Committee adopted on September 22, 2008.

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
• John Wagner of Michigan
• Dan Eller of Michigan
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary and Treasurer
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire
• Michael Lynch of New York
• Joe Spitzig of Ohio
• David Thomas of Pennsylvania
• Samuel Cross of Pennsylvania

Absent:

• Martin McClellan of Florida, National Vice-chairman
• Greg Roberts of Missouri
• Bradley Maurer of New York
• Frank Hackl of Wisconsin

A quorum being present, the Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:10 p.m. ECT.

The Credentials Report was reviewed. Mr. Hey reported the removal of Larry Carroll and Anne O'Brien of Colorado for failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the National Committee.

Mrs. Winters moved that the Certified List of National Committee members as recited during the roll call be approved without amendment. Her motion was seconded by Mr. White and adopted by unanimous vote.

Mrs. Winters moved that the Agenda be adopted as presented. Her motion was seconded by Mrs. McHugh. Mr. Hey moved that Resolution 1 be taken up after Resolution 4. Without objection, the amendment was accepted. The Agenda as amended was approved by unanimous vote.

The Chairman delivered his report. He reviewed the press releases that have been issued since the last meeting. He reviewed briefly the Public Relations Committee's activities in publishing newspapers and the fund raising letters. He reviewed some of the ideas that have been prepared for the national committee's consideration to increase activity and raise the party's public profile. He reported Mr. Eller's candidacy for the city council in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Chairman exhorted the members to increase activity in promoting and growing the party.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes for the June 24, 2008 meeting of the National Committee. Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the minutes. His motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters. 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 $7,551.65. 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. Lynch moved the adoption of the Public Relation Committee's request for Advertising. His motion was seconded by Mr. Browning. The Resolution reads as follows:

Resolution Funding a Web Banner Advertisement

Whereas, the America First Party is committed to using a variety of tools and resources to spread our message and build the party; and

Whereas, the American Conservative magazine is a publication whose readership includes many people who share our party's views about many issues, including constitutional government, conservative values, and the need for our elected officials to put America First; and

Whereas, the magazine's website, http://amconmag.com, offers very cost-effective advertising, including a premium page banner advertisement (370-by-85 pixels) at a rate of $497 for 30 days; and

Whereas, the publisher guarantees that this ad will be viewed at least 400,000 times within that month; and

Whereas, comparable online advertising would cost five or more times as much for a comparable number of advertising views;

Be it resolved, that the America First National Committee authorizes its Public Relations Committee to place a premium page banner advertisement on http://amconmag.com for one month, with an option to renew the advertisement after one month;

And the Public Relations Committee will be permitted to renew the advertisement for one additional month, after the Public Relations Committee Chairman has consulted with the Party Building Committee Chairman, and they have determined that the advertisement has generated an adequate number of new contacts to justify continuation of the advertisement;

And all expenses related to the advertisement will be paid for by the America First National Committee.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Browning moved the adoption of the Operating Committee's request to create a Patriot Alert email list. His motion was seconded by Mr. Lynch. The Resolution reads as follows:

Resolution Creating a "Patriot Alert" Email List

The Operating Committee is hereby instructed to create an out-going only "Patriot Alert" email list.

The purpose of the list is to provide interested parties with information regarding activity items, state and federal legislation that should be supported or opposed, and other concrete action items that will advance the cause of the party and its ideals; all of which will be designed to promote political involvement by the list members.

The membership shall be open to all persons who request to receive it.

The Operating Committee shall be responsible to organize and direct the administration of the email list, and may appoint one or more persons to compile, compose, and issue the alerts.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mrs. McHugh moved the adoption of the Finance Committee's request to fund the printing of the newspaper and fund-raising letter. Her motion was seconded by Mrs. Winters. The Resolution reads as follows:

Newspaper and Fundraising Letter Budget Resolution

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

That, up to $3,700 be spent on the printing and mailing of 5,000 copies of the America First Leader newspaper; and,

That, the Finance Committee is authorized to send a fundraising letter to the membership and donor list within 45 days after the mailing of the next newspaper issue.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Browning moved the adoption of the Operating Committee's Resolution to Recommend Certain Presidential Candidates. His motion was seconded by Mr. Lynch. The Resolution reads as follows:

Resolution to Recommend Certain Presidential Candidates

Whereas the America First Party is not running a presidential candidate in 2008 because this would be a poor use of resources for our developing party; and,

Whereas many voters would nevertheless like to have guidance on how to vote in the general presidential election; and,

Whereas both Democrat and Republican presidential nominees are greatly at odds with the America First Party's principles in areas of foreign policy, trade, immigration, and fiscal spending; and,

Whereas it is important that voters not waste their vote by voting for Democrat and Republican presidential candidates who are poised to violate the basic requirements of the oath of office, and who will, if they pursue their stated policy objectives, continue the process of overturning our constitutional government; and,

Whereas there are two presidential candidates which have achieved ballot access in enough states to have a theoretical possibility of winning the presidential election, and which hold positions similar but not identical to those of the America First Party;

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

That voters be encouraged to vote for either Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr for President in November.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote, Mr. White abstaining.

Mr. Wagner and Mr. Dan Eller described Mr. Mike Eller's run for Ward Three City Council member in Ypsilanti.

Mr. Hey moved that $500 be donated by the party to Mr. Eller's campaign. His motion was seconded by Mrs. McHugh and adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hill commented that the newspaper about to be published will be running an article about Mr. Eller's campaign.

A time of general discussion and questions took place.

There being no further business, upon motion made by Mr. White and seconded by Mrs. Winters, the meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote at 10:02 p.m. ECT.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee