NatCom Members Present:
Chair Steve Dasbach
Secretary John Famularo
Treasurer Hugh Butler
At Large Sharon Ayers
Tamara Clark
Ron Crickenberger
Don Ernsberger
Gary Johnson
Region 1 - James Dan, Alt - Gus Hercules
Region 2 - Williamson M. Evers, Thea McLean
Region 3 - Joe Hauptman, Alt - Steven R. Linnabary
Region 4 - Gary Ilardi, Alt - Harold Scott Benson
Region 5 - Dan Karlan , Alt - Jesse Markowitz
Region 6 - Alt- Pamela C. Haberkorn
Region 7 - Robert H. Franke, Alt - Jeanne Bojarski
Region 8 - Joe Barnett, Alt - Tom Paswater
Region 1 AK, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, SD, WA, WY
Rep. James Dan Alt. Gus Hercules
Region 2 CA, HI
Rep. Bill Evers Rep. Thea McLean
Alt. Terry Savage Alt. Eric Lund (as of Sep 19th)
Region 3 IN, KY, MI, OH, VA, WV
Rep. Joe Hauptman Alt. Steve Linnabary
Region 4 AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, NC, TN
Rep. Gary Ilardi Alt. Scott Benson
Region 5 DE, MD, NJ, PA
Rep. Dan Karlan Alt. Jesse Markowitz
Region 6 CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT
Rep. Joseph Brennan Alt. Pamela Haberkorn
Region 7 IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, WI
Rep. Bob Franke Alt. Jeanne Bojarski
Region 8 AZ, LA, MS, OK, TX
Rep. Joe Barnett Alt Tom Paswater
Not in region: South Carolina
Setting of Agenda: ----------------------------------------------------- 5 min
Checking of Paperwork: ------------------------------------------------ 5 Min
Resignation Administration Area Manager -------------------------------- 2 min
Advise and consent of appointment of Administration Area Manager 2 min
Convention Oversight Committee ----------------------------------------- 15 min
Directors Report ------------------------------------------------------- 15 min
Transition to National Director ------------------------------------ 20 min
Advise and consent on appointment of the National Director --------- 20 min
Development Area Convention report --------------------------------- 5 min
Marketing Area report ---------------------------------------------- -
Resignation of Organizing Area manager ----------------------------- 2 min
Advise and consent of appointment of Organizing Area Manager -- 2 min
Setting of Future election of sites of future LNC meetings --------- 15 min
Resolution evers --------------------------------------------------- 5 min
The agenda was adopted without objection.
The COC reviewed the situation with the Texas delegation and Bob Waldrop. Bob Waldrop said he did not want to do a bid where he is not wanted and withdrew his bid. The Texas delegation had further discussions with Bob and they came to an agreement where Bob could "un-withdraw" his bid with a change in hotel after negotiation with the Dallas Party. The COC decided that to allow any change in the bid would require a reopening of the bidding.
Neale presented the COC recommendation as follows:
Reopen the bidding with the following article for the next issue LP News: "The Natcom has announced the bidding for the 1996 Presidential Nominating Convention has been reopened. No acceptable bids were available on the Sept 5th 1993 Natcom meeting. We are looking for a site in a major media market" - "Other considerations are transportation and lodging costs for delegates, creative vision, speaker/program ideas, focus on details, and local LP support and enthusiasm." - "Proposals must be received no later than Nov 1st 1993".Under the new COC guidelines Salt Lake City would not be appropriate for a presidential nominating convention. The first tier cities would be: New York, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, Atlanta. The second tier cities would include Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston et. We should make an effort to contact the state chairs since so many comments were made on the floor about lack of communications. If more than three proposals are received, the COC will work with the executive committee to choose the top three for further contract negotiation and presentation to the Natcom at the December meeting.
Discussion followed and the recommendation was put forward as a motion and passed without objection.
Neale said he was waiting on a final report on the convention from Bob Waldrop within 30 days, and that he would prepare and distribute the COC report to the executive committee 15 days after that. As of now there were three points that were identified as problems:
1. Ron Paul left Houston at 4:00 am to get to SLC in time for his scheduled speaking engagement and found out there was a clerical error in the schedule sent to Ron Paul. Neale suggests that a letter of apology be sent separately from the COC and from Bob Waldrop.
2. A misunderstanding between the Dallas Party and Bob Waldrop concerning the expenses to be paid to Ron Engleman a radio personality. This is not currently an issue.
3. Russell Means was selected as the keynote speaker by the national committee in Dec of 1992. Bob did have a contract with Mr. Means. In August of 1993 Bob called Geoff Neale and said he had a problem contacting Russell Means. He had tried to contact him at the numbers given for the previous few weeks. Bob asked for and Geoff gave him permission to substitute Tamara Clark as the keynote speaker, and that Geoff would inform the executive committee. Last Tuesday Honey Lanhnam received a call from Russell asking about his tickets. (at this point Bob Waldrop was asked to address the committee) Bob said he only received a new number from Larry Dodge on Thursday morning and that he tried all day to contact Russell Means with no success. Bob suggested that in the future the LP should select and book the Keynote and Banquet speakers.
Stuart also expressed concern about the projected negative cash flow. The current net cash after the $28,000 raised at the banquet is $181 assuming all outstanding bills are paid. New cash may come from the recent fund raising letter by Bill Redpath, and the large number of membership renewals expected in the next few months. Certain vendor payments have been delayed in the past and could be put into a 30 to 60 day category.
Dasbach said the previous Executive committee reviewed resumes and prepared reports on 5 candidates. After reviewing those reports Dasbach has selected Gene Cisewski. Bill Hall had verified all letters of reference. Dasbach feels that Mr Cisewski has the experience and the necessary skills. Since Mr. Cisewski must give 4 week notice at his current employment, there is the necessity for an immediate interim director to pick up from Stuart Reges and continue until Gene Cisewski can take over. Mr Perry Willis a former national director has been asked to come on board in the next week and to remain through the transition process sometime in November. Perry would handle the immediate problems while working on documenting the system and later training Mr. Cisewski. The current director's salary is 50K and the new director's salary would be the same with the intention of raising it to 65K in 1994. Perry Willis' cost will be approximately 4.5K per month plus $2000 in travel expenses for him and his wife. They will stay in the downstairs apartment which is currently being rented on a week to week basis by a former intern. A discussion followed on the budgetary problem of double salaries during the transition and various interim director options including Nick Dunbar and Dean Ahmad at $40 per hour. Possible short term budget cut possibilities were:
Adjustment to the budget was discussed to cover the projected transition cost of $20,000. Motion to increase salary line items by 20,000 passed without objection.
Fund raising at the convention netted about $25,000
Motion was passed without objection.
There was a discussion concerning locating future meetings at transportation hubs to reduce air fares and not scheduling meetings in conjunction with state conventions to avoid the potential hard feelings when the Natcom members are not able to attend key convention functions. Ohio, Kansas City, and Virginia had offered to host future LNC meetings. It was moved to accept the Arlington, Virginia proposal from Rich Sincere for the 11th and 12th of December. The motion was passed without objection.
It was moved to have the April Natcom meeting in Kansas City on April 16th and 17th. It was passed without objection.
It was moved to have the August meting on the August 20th and 21st with the site to be decided later. The motion passed without objection.
The LP News Editor, Randy Langhenry was directed to publish the proposed schedule along with a request for proposals for a site for the August 1993 meeting and proposals for dates and sites for future meetings.
"Whereas the overall situation regarding the use of drugs in our society, and the crime and misery which accompanies it, continues to deteriorate for several decades, and whereas our society continues to attempt at an enormous financial cost and a loss of civil liberties to resolve the problems through the criminal justice system with the accompanying increases in prisons and the number of inmates, and whereas the hugh untaxed revenues of the illicit tax trade are undermining legitimate governments worldwide; Whereas the present system has spawned a cycle of incarceration of disproportionate numbers of African Americans, Hispanics, and other minority groups; Whereas the number of other people who have contracted AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases from contaminated hypodermic needles are epidemic under of our present system, and whereas in our societies zeal to pursue a criminal approach, legitimate methods of relieving the pain and suffering of patients has been suppressed.The resolution passed on a voice vote.
Therefore be it resolved that our society must recognize drug use and abuse as the medical and social problems that they are, and must be treated with medical and social solutions. Further be it resolved that an objective commission be immediately empowered by the President and by Congress to recommend revisions of the drug laws of these United States in order to reduce the harm our present policies are causing"
Mr. Karlan moved:
"That the executive committee specifically consider Mr. Ahmad's proposal, taking into account that the $40 per hour proposed rate does not require the payment of benefits."Mr. Reges said that Perry Willis as a temporary employee would not be eligible for any benefits. Mr. Evers thought this would constitute micro-management, and that the executive committee was assumed competent to decide this type of issue.
The motion failed on a voice vote.
Ernsberger requested a clarification on the policy concerning the distribution of the minutes of the executive committee. Dasbach replied that he did not have a copy of the current policy manual covering this area but it was his intention to have the Secretary distribute the executive committee minutes to the natcom and the area managers.
A clarification of the status of the APRC (Advertizing and Publication review committee) was requested. Dasbach said that there are no expected changes to be made before the December meeting when all the committees appointments would be reviewed.
Ayers moved that Dasbach be appointed Chair of the executive committee. The motion was passed without objection.
530502 television ad development, reduce expense from 10,000 to 0
5403063 funding winnable races, reduce revenue from 250,000 to 0
" reduce expense from 100,000 to 0
540307 campaign support, reduce expense from 30,000 to 0
Motion was passed without exception
Respectfully submitted,
John D. Famualro
Secretary