LPWI: Minutes of June 8, 2003
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LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN, INC. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin – June 8, 2003 Preliminary MINUTES This EXCOM meeting was held at the St. Croix National Golf Course, as part of “Liberty Weekend 2003” hosted by the St. Croix Valley Libertarians. Called to order at 1:15PM by State Chair Ed Thompson. Members Present: Ed Thompson – Chair, Rolf Lindgren – Vice-Chair, Craig Mohn – Treasurer, Randy Palmer – Secretary, Jim Sewell - 1st District, Ben Masel – 2nd, Paul Kitzmann – 3rd, Nick Piergrossi – 6th, Tim Krenz – 7th, Jim Mueller – At Large, Robert Haynes – At Large Others present: Jeremy Keil, Adrian Augustine, Ross Gabrick, Jim Fulner, Corrina Haynes, Edward Ellman, Wil Roettiger, Carina Browne Introductory remarks: Ed Thompson gave a brief speech expressing about his concern about the direction of the party. He outlined a program that included working with small business groups, finding electable candidates and winning some higher offices. Parliamentarian: Ed Thompson made a motion to appoint Jim Mueller the Parliamentarian for the EXCOM. Seconded by Ben Masel. Passed. Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of the March 22nd meeting was made by Tim Krenz. Seconded by Jim Mueller. Corrections: Members Present: Add Craig Mohn – Treasurer. Others Present: Tom Ender and Julie Cordry. Passed as corrected. Treasurer’s Report: Former Executive Director, Jeremy Keil, presented a summary of the previous six months. He reported that while Party income was up due to pledges and donations, the expenses exceeded income largely due to the Director’s salary. He was able to recruit 130 members in the first ten weeks but only 30 members in the next ten. Credit pledges were at $955 per month plus $100 per month by mail. The Party still owes Bob Collison for a past loan. The Party’s website is being hosted for free by Corey Scholka of WisNet. Local affiliate dues are not being collected nor distributed. The Database cleanup is ongoing with 1300 past and current members plus 5000 prospects. 80% of the list needed to be updated. Jeremy reported that he would stay in Wisconsin and continue to help the LPWI in a transition period. Tim Krenz made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Jim Sewell seconded it. Passed. Signatories: Nick Piergrossi made a motion to accept the following resolution: “The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin (LPWI) designates Craig Mohn and Ed Thompson as authorized signatories on all LPWI accounts.” Seconded by Paul Kitzmann. Passed. Judiciary Committee: Ed Thompson proposed the following members be appointed to the Judiciary Committee: Carl Schoen, Dave Path, Ross Gabrick, Jim Mueller and Lotty Macik. Paul Kitzmann made a motion to approve. Seconded by Jim Mueller. Passed. Standing Committees: Tim Krenz made a motion for the EXCOM to create standing committees to made up of paid-up LPWI members nominated by the Chair, approved by individual (or slate) during the term of the EXCOM or until that member resigns or is removed by 2/3rds vote of the EXCOM. The committees are to include, Public Relations, Finance, Campaign/Government, Membership and a Committee of the Chairs. Each committee is to be made of five members. Motion seconded by Jim Mueller. Passed. Public Relations Committee: Ed Thompson nominated the following members to the Public Relations Committee, “The official voice of the party:” Ross Gabrick, Tim Krenz, Paul Kitzmann, Adrian Augustine, Randy Palmer. Motion by Craig Mohn to accept was seconded by Rolf Lindgren. Passed. Finance Committee: Ed Thompson nominated the following members to the Finance Committee, “to work on fundraising, budget and staff:” Brian Pitlick, Craig Mohn, Rolf Lindgren, Jeremy Keil and Jim Mueller. Motion to accept was made by Jim Sewell. Seconded by Nick Piergrossi. Passed. Campaign/Government Committee: Ed Thompson nominated the following members to the Campaign/Government Committee, “to recruit candidates and win elections:” Robert Haynes, Paul Kitzmann, Jim Maas, Jim Mueller and Ben Masel. Motion by Craig Mohn to accept was seconded by Jim Sewell. Passed. Membership Committee: Ed Thompson nominated the following members to the Membership Committee, “to work with recruitment, colleges and local affiliates:” Corey Scholka, Robert Haynes, Tim Weseley, Adrian Augustine and Nick Piergrossi. Randy Palmer suggested that the nine local affiliate chairs be Ex-officio members of this committee. Motion to accept was made by Paul Kitzmann. Seconded by Jim Sewell. Passed. Committee of Chairs: Jim Mueller made a motion to make all standing committee chairs plus the State Chair a member of the “Chair Committee” and to make the Judiciary Committee chair and Ex-officio member. Seconded by Paul Kitzmann. Passed. Jim also made a motion to take a 15 minute break to allow the respective committees to meet and select a chair. Seconded by Paul Kitzmann. Passed. The following members were chosen as chairs of their committees and will make up the Committee of Chairs: Tim Krenz, Public Relations; Robert Haynes, Jr., Membership; Paul Kitzmann, Campaign/Government; Brian Pitlik, Finance. Ed Thompson, State Chair will preside over this committee. 2004 Committee: Ed Thompson made a motion to create a special committee to plan for the state convention to be held in Madison before the presidential election and nominated Rolf Lindgren, Ben Masel, Jeremy Keil, Adrian Augustine and Jim Mueller to serve on that committee. Seconded by Jim Mueller. Passed. Employment & Compensation: Paul Kitzmann made a motion to refer employment and compensation issues to the Finance Committee. Seconded by Nick Piergrossi. Passed. Liberty Weekend: Ross Gabrick, of the St. Croix Valley Libertarians, reported that the Saturday night event was a successful event. They got some financial help from some small businesses and hoped that other affiliates would host similar events in the future. Ex-com E-mail List: Paul Kitzmann made a motion to refer to the issue of Aaron Bitterman access and use of information on the e-mail list to the Public Relations Committee. Jim Mueller seconded the motion. Passed. Ben Masel cautioned all users of the e-mail list to avoid discussing legal and employment issues on the list. Membership Dues: Jim Mueller made a motion to refer membership dues issues to the Membership Committee. Seconded by Tim Krenz. Passed. Elections Board Resolution: Adam Dick, who was the first Libertarian on the State Elections Board, moved out of state [Secretary’s Note: to serve on Congressman Ron Paul’s staff]. Kirby Brant will replace him on the board. Jeremy Keil proposed that we adopt the following resolution: The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin thanks Mr. Adam Dick for his service representing the Party on the State Elections Board. Ed Thompson’s vote total during the 2002 run for governor qualified the Party for a seat on the nine-member board. Based on his past service, the Party appointed Adam and he set the standard of Party representation which we vow to maintain through the successful winning of voters to the Libertarian cause. Because of his knowledge of Party principles and his dedication to defending freedom, Adam [was] the ideal promoter of liberty on the State Elections Board. The Party hereby expresses our deep gratitude and grants Adam an honorary Life Membership in the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin. Paul Kitzmann made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Jim Sewell. Passed. Seventh District Organizing Committee: Tim Krenz reported that a group of Seventh District members would have an organizing meeting in Amhurst in July. Small Business Resolution: Jeremy Keil proposed that the EXCOM adopt the following resolution: Whereas a political party focused on constituents is more united than one divided by issues, and Whereas the experience of the 2002 Ed Thompson campaign has shown that small business owners are drawn to Libertarian politics, and Whereas the marketing research undertaken by Mr. Mark Schreiber has clearly identified small business owners as a constituency that will benefit the Libertarian Party, The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin hereby resolves to - focus its efforts on recruiting small business owners into the Party - promote issues which will create jobs and rid small business of excessive regulations and taxation in Wisconsin, and - call upon the Libertarian National Committee to focus on small business constituency as a means to grow the Libertarian Party and achieve electoral success. Jim Mueller made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Jim Sewell. Passed with an abstention by Ben Masel. Platform Committee: Jim Mueller made a motion that the members of the standing Campaign/Government Committee also serve on Platform Committee. Jim Sewell seconded the motion. Passed. Tim Krenz, “NOTA” Presidential Primary: Ben Masel made a motion that the LPWI conduct a Presidential Preferential Primary and that the Chair notify the State Election Board of our intent. The LPWI secretary is to inform the National Party. Seconded by Jim Mueller. Passed. St. Croix National Resolution: Tim Krenz suggested that the Excom adopt the following resolution: The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin expresses our deep appreciation to St. Croix National Golf Course and to Manager, Mr. Drew Ekstrom for their generous services and support in providing facilities for Liberty Weekend 2003. St. Croix National helped make the event a great success, illustrating the Party’s position of cooperating with small business for mutual benefit. We wish to extend a special thanks to Drew Eckstrom for his personal involvement. “Thanks, Drew!” Jim Mueller made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Paul Kitzmann. Passed. Next EXCOM Meeting: Ed Thompson requested that the EXCOM meet bi-monthly during the organizing process. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00PM, August 10 at Ed’s TeePee Supper Club in Tomah. The following meeting is scheduled for 1:00pm on October 19 in Stevens Point at a location to be determined. Adjournment: Robert Haynes moved to adjourn. Seconded by Jim Mueller. Passed unanimously. Submitted by Randy Palmer, LPWI Secretary |