BE IT REMEMBERED that the Operating Committee of the America First Party conducted a vote by electronic mail, on Thursday, April 29, 2004.
Pursuant to Article VI Section 5 of the Party Constitution, the following Resolution was placed before the Operating Committee by the Secretary for consideration and vote, the Secretary having first been requested so to do by Messrs. Charles, Hill, and Hey:
Resolved, that the Operating Committee recommends the adoption of the following Resolution by the National Committee:
Whereas, the America First Party of Florida was first affiliated with the America First National Committee on July 2, 2002; and
Whereas, Mr. Gaurav Ahuja and Mr. Martin McClellan were seated as members of the National Committee on July 2, 2002; and
Whereas, Messrs. Ahuja and McClellan at all times during their tenure faithfully performed the duties incumbent upon their membership on this Committee; and
Whereas, Messrs. Ahuja and McClellan withstood efforts by that certain faction which sought to corrupt the Party and undermine its rules and its platform; and
Whereas, Messrs. Ahuja and McClellan, at the direction of the Executive Committee of the America First Party of Florida and upon the recommendation of key Party leaders, resigned their positions on this Committee in order to protect their State Party from the actions of said faction; and
Whereas, the membership of the America First Party of Florida in convention assembled has adopted a Petition to Re-Affiliate with the America First Party, and has submitted the names of Messrs. Ahuja and McClellan to serve as its National Committee members; and
Whereas, the Party Constitution grants to this National Committee the sole authority to judge the qualifications for membership and to decide the membership of this Committee; and
Whereas, the Party Constitution imposes strict scrutiny requirements upon the National Committee before any new members may be added to the Certified List of National Committee members; and
Whereas, the Party Constitution permits the National Committee to waive these requirements for good cause; and
Whereas, Messrs. Ahuja and McClellan are well known to the members of the National Committee, and it is apparent that they possess fidelity to the Party, its Rules and its Platform; and
Whereas, the America First Party of Florida has ballot access and an enrolled membership of over 200 registered voters;
Now therefore the America First National Committee does hereby FIND, ORDER, and ADJUDGE:
That the circumstances and the facts in the matter of the seating on this Committee of Messrs. Ahuja and McClellan are extraordinary and unique; and
That there exists good and sufficient cause to waive the scrutiny requirements of Article III Sections 11 and 12 of the Party Constitution and to seat Messrs. Ahuja and McClellan on this Committee immediately; and
That it is in the best interests of the Party that the America First Party of Florida should take its place as an affiliated State Party instanter; and
That the aforesaid provisions hereby be waived, and the Certified List of National Committee members be, and hereby is amended to include the names of Mr. Gaurav Ahuja and Mr. Martin McClellan as members from the state of Florida.
The Secretary received "aye" votes from Mr. Hey, Mr. Charles, Mr. Hill, Mr. Golmon, Mr. Carroll, and Mr. White.
The Secretary received no vote from Mrs. Winters.
