Minutes of the Operating Committee of the America First Party

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Minutes of the Operating Committee of the America First Party Tuesday, March 11, 2003

BE IT REMEMBERED that the Operating Committee of the America First Party met on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, pursuant to the previous resolution of the Operating Committee.

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
• James D. Jones of Tennessee, Party Building Chairman
• Michael O'Brian of Michigan, Platform Committee Chairman
• Romelle Winters of New Hampshire, Public Relations Committee Chairman

Absent:

• James Edwards of Tennessee, Candidates Committee Chairman
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi, Ballot Access Committee Chairman

Mr. Warren Baldwin of Tennessee was present as a guest of the Operating Committee.

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 9:10 p.m. EST.

The Chairman led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Secretary gave the invocation.

Mrs. McHugh moved the adoption of the Agenda as proposed by the Chairman. Her motion was seconded by Mr. Lovell and adopted by unanimous vote, Mrs. Winters abstaining.

The Chairman delivered his report. The link from Antiwar.com to our site and petition against the war has resulted in a large increase in hits to the party's web site.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had circulated draft minutes of the March 4 meeting of the Operating Committee. The Secretary stated that he would wait until the next meeting to ask for approval since most members had not yet reviewed the draft.

The Treasurer reported contributions and disbursements since the last meeting.

Mr. Jones moved the adoption of a Resolution to submit to the National Committee a Resolution regarding the publication of an advertisement in the American Free Press. Mr. Lovell seconded the Resolution.

A friendly amendment was accepted to add the phrase "or black and white" to the ad.

A friendly amendment was accepted to change the target publication date from April 14 to April 28.

A friendly amendment was accepted to add the language "to be allocated from party building funds".

The Resolution, as amended, reads as follows:

Be It Resolved by the Operating Committee of the America First Party that the following resolution be recommended to the America First National Committee:

Be It Resolved by the America First National Committee:

That, the America First National Committee does hereby authorize the expenditure of up to $1000, to be allocated from party building funds, for the purpose of purchasing a one-page full color or black and white advertisement in the American Free Press; and,

That, the purpose of the advertisement shall be to encourage the readers of the American Free Press to become involved by joining the party, contributing money, or both; and,

That, the America First National Committee directs the Public Relations Committee to create the ad; and,

That, unless the Public Relations Committee submits the proposed advertisement to the America First National Committee for its approval at the same meeting at which this resolution is passed, that the authority to review and approve this advertisement is granted to the Operating Committee; and,

That, the Operating Committee is granted the authority to authorize changes to the advertisement, without regard to the advertisement's manner of initial approval; and,

That, the advertisement shall be submitted to the American Free Press for publication in the issue dated April 28, 2003.

On the final question, the resolution was adopted by majority vote, with the Secretary abstaining.

The Chairman moved that the Operating Committee call a National Committee meeting for 9 p.m. EST on Tuesday evening, March 18, 2003. His motion was seconded by Mr. Lovell. After some discussion, the motion was adopted by unanimous vote.

There being no further business, upon motion made by Mr. O'Brian, seconded by Mr. Lovell, and adopted by unanimous vote, the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee