Minutes of the Operating Committee of the America First Party

Monday, July 10, 2006

BE IT REMEMBERED that the Operating Committee of the America First Party met on Monday, July 10, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. East Coast Time, pursuant to the previous resolution of the Operating Committee.

The Chairman led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Hey delivered the invocation.

The Secretary called the roll of Operating Committee members:

Present:

• Jon Hill of Massachusetts, Chairman
• Martin McClellan of Florida, Vice-chairman
• John Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary and Treasurer
• Joe Spitzig of Ohio, Platform Committee Chairman
• Peter Browning of Florida, Party Building Committee
• Tom White of Massachusetts, Candidates Committee Chairman

Absent:

• Mike Eller of Michigan, Finance Committee Chairman
• Mike Fleharty of Ohio, Ballot Access Committee Chairman
• JC Schweingrouber of Ohio, Public Relations Committee Chairman

A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 9:25 p.m.

Mr. McClellan moved the adoption of the standard Agenda. Mr. White seconded the motion. The Agenda was adopted by unanimous vote.

The Chairman delivered his report. Two additional press releases have been issued. The Chairman has been working with the Finance Committee, which will meet again tomorrow evening to discuss the fund raising project.

The Chairman mentioned some options relating to the Finance Committee's work.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes for the July 3, 2006 meeting of the Operating Committee. Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the minutes as published. His motion was seconded by Mr. White, and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Secretary reported that all the thank-you letters, reminders, and other monthly mailings have been completed.

The Treasurer reported that the party's bank balance is $898.62. There are no outstanding invoices at this time. The July FEC report has been submitted and may be viewed at the FEC's web site.

Mr. Browning delivered a Party Building Committee report. He reported that he has been contacting prospects in Florida and working with New Hampshire to establish a party building contact for that state party. He has been checking with the party building contacts regarding their use of the party building web site and database.

Mr. Spitzig reported that the Platform Committee has compiled a list of technical corrections to the Platform and forwarded them to the National Committee for approval.

Mr. Hey reported that the Rules Committee does not have any issues outstanding at this time.

The Chairman discussed a resolution relating to the party's strategy to be forwarded to the National Committee for consideration.

Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the motion to forward the Resolution to the National Committee. The motion was seconded by Mr. McClellan.

The Resolution to be forwarded for consideration by the National Committee reads as follows:

Resolution on Electoral Strategy

Whereas, The America First Party recognizes the need for expeditious action to solve the many grave problems which affect our nation; and,

Whereas, The America First National Committee understands that generating expeditious action requires a timely, intense, and efficient focus of energy, talent and resources; and,

Whereas, many similar political organizations have failed or are failing in their missions due to misdirection of precious resources to activities where there is little likelihood of success; and,

Whereas successful presidential campaigns require tens of millions of dollars in funds, and large numbers of workers to secure ballot access; and,

Whereas, successful challengers for congressional seats typically spend about $1 million; and,

Whereas, during the 2003 and 2004 electoral seasons, the average cost of a state representative campaign was more than $50,000, with winning candidates spending an average of more than $90,000; and,

Whereas, during this same time period, the average cost of state legislative races in about 25% of the states was about $15,000 or less; and,

Whereas, a recent study of one state's State Representatives showed that over 60 percent of them held local elected offices before being elected to the state assembly, and that more than 75% were involved in local affairs before acquiring their state house seat,

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

That, although it is the right of state parties to establish their own strategies, it is nevertheless the sense of the National Committee that the the goals of the Party would be best served by focusing on running candidates for county and municipal races; and,

That, it is the sense of the Members that the quest for local offices should be considered an intermediate goal, and that higher offices should be the ultimate goal; and,

That, it is the sense of the Members that there should be an openness to campaigns for state representative or higher office, when the circumstances relating to the candidate's name recognition and/or funding prospects favor a successful outcome.

The motion was adopted, Mr. White casting the lone dissenting vote.

Mr. Hey made a motion that the following Resolution be forwarded to the National Committee for adoption. The motion was seconded by Mr. Browning. The Resolution to be forwarded reads as follows:

Whereas, Dan Charles possesses unique knowledge and experience as the founding Chairman of the America First Party; and

Whereas, Mr. Charles has expressed his willingness to provide assistance and advice to the committee chairmen and officers; and

Whereas, the National Committee wishes to take advantage of said offer for the benefit of the Party;

Now therefore be it resolved by the National Committee:

That Mr. Charles be admitted to membership on the Leaders and Committee Monitor reflectors.

The Motion to forward the Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

Further discussion was held regarding the Resolution on Strategy that had been adopted earlier.

Mr. Hey moved that a teleconference meeting of the National Committee be called for Monday evening, July 17, 2006 at 9 p.m. East Coast time. His motion was seconded by Mr. McClellan and adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. McClellan provided an update on his candidacy for the school board.

There being no further business, upon motion made by Mr. Hey, seconded by Mr. McClellan, and adopted by unanimous consent, the meeting was adjourned at 10:38 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee