urpccm011406

The Utah State Republican Party Central Committee Meeting was held on January 14, 2006 at the State Capitol. The following is a synopsis of points of interest in the meeting as follows:

ALL WEBER COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE IN ATTENDANCE!!

TRAINING:
Training from the State Party on the web-based responsibilities of County Party Chairs, and Vice-Chairs was presented prior to the meeting.

AGENDA ITEMS OF INTEREST
For starters we argued about the agenda for the first 50 minutes of the convention. I'm not sure if I am accepting this as a way of life now or if I am just getting numb to it. It's like, OK....first order of business argue about the agenda for an hour enduring motion after motion, amending motion, discussion, point of information, clarification, etc. while accomplishing actual business comes to a grinding halt. Finally, it was decided that all resolutions submitted by executive committee members would not be considered, only the Constitution and Bylaws (C&B) committee proposals with no amendments or changes allowed. I don't know how we let that happen but it somehow did and unfortunately a couple good resolutions submitted were not considered. However, action taken on the C&B committee proposals negated the need for the most important resolutions #1 and #2 (thank goodness)

ELECTION OF NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN
FYI - The national committeeman attends meetings in Washington D.C. with the Republican National Committee (RNC). He is a liaison between the Utah Republican Party and the National Party and is responsible for among other things fundraising. Two individuals ran for this position Fred Lampropoulos and State Senator Curt Bramble. Fred Lampropoulos won the election for a two year term. FYI - he is the CEO of Merit Medical a 200 million a year company and has the unique ability in his daily activities to raise funds from those that he associates with. Further, Fred is a very personable and likable individual who treats others respectfully and with dignity. I was very impressed with Mr. Lampropoulos during his run for Governor and continue to admire his humility. I believe time will validate that his election to this position will be one of the best moves that the Utah State Republican Party has ever made. Fred also participates in a band with Governor Huntsman that has tentatively agreed to entertain us at the Weber County Lincoln Day dinner (thanks to Jan Zogmaister's quick thinking) Get your tickets to the Lincoln Day dinner now before they are long gone!

#1 CONSTITUTION ARTICLE VI CHANGE - PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO OBTAIN 10% OF STATE DELEGATES ENDORSEMENT PRIOR TO SUBMITTING ANY RESOLUTIONS, BY-LAWS, OR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. - (FAILES)
As I have stated in the title this resolution would require any member to get the endorsement of 10% of state delegates to submit a change. This requirement is difficult if not impossible as that would amount to approximately 350 delegates endorsement. This proposal is ridiculous and fortunately most executive committee members recognized this as an attempt to all but eradicate the individual member from participating in the process of change. My take is that this proposal had a couple of intentions:
a) To limit the vast majority of changes to a select few who could manipulate party direction and "control" the direction the party takes. I chalk this up to the elitist mentality of we are the supreme beings who are more enlightened than you peasants therefore we know what's best for you better than you do. Example - the movie "Braveheart" where you have the "nobles" if you will and the "commoners".
b) To clean up conventions so that they are not brought to a stand-still by proposals that interfere with the ability to accomplish party business.
As I have watched the cluster of confusing and frustrating proposals that effect the ability of the party to accomplish completion of party business since my first meeting in May, 2005; I have felt that a possible solution would be to designate specific meetings that would be for the express purpose of resolutions, by-law amendments, and constitutional changes. This would prohibit these proposals from interrupting party business meetings and clean up the entire process. There are some potential side-effects such as:
a) Many would not attend the meetings set aside for resolutions, by-law amendments, and constitutional adoptions meaning that the numbers of actual members participating in these meetings would be much fewer than those members acting at a nominating convention where candidates are running. However, the members who attend would be informed and passionate about changes made to the party platform while it would be fair to say that many at a nominating convention are there to support certain candidates and do not care about much else. Considering both sides of this issue and seeing first hand the negative effect of disruption of meetings I would like to see the party plan special meetings for proposals to change the by-laws, submit resolutions, etc.

#2 CONSTITUTION ARTICLE XII CHANGE - PROPOSAL TO CHANGE STATE DELEGATE ALLOCATION - PASSES:
The language of this change would clear up the issue that the State party does not mandate how State delegates are allocated whether in precinct caucus meetings or county convention or whether appointed or elected. The decision for doing so is left entirely to the Counties. Some argue that the State should control how State delegates are selected I feel that the State should leave that decision to the Counties. Example of why I feel County's should make these decisions: For those of you who are familiar with the fiasco in the May, 2005 St. George executive committee meeting; you know that there were several pointy heads claiming that we (Weber County attendees) were not "technically" State delegates yet. Claiming we had not met a technical point of the State requirements even though the positions had been vacated and the prior members resigned. The State party ruled that we did have due status to participate in the meeting. The meeting turned out to be a complete embarrassment to the Republican party based partially on this issue. This proposed change would correct this problem and The executive committee members voted in favor by 2/3 vote so that the vote needed at nomination convention must only be a majority vote.

#3 AND #4 BYLAW AMENDMENT PROPOSALS SCRATCHED FROM CONSIDERATION - STRUCK

#5 PLATFORM CHANGE PROPOSAL - TO CONSIDER CHANGES TO PARTY PLATFORM AT THE ORGANIZING CONVENTION ONLY - FAILED:
This proposal would implement some of the changes as described earlier in focusing these types of changes at a specific time (organizing convention.) It does not address resolutions or constitutional changes but makes some positive headway. I support this and would support additional meetings specific to when proposals are made but this required a 2/3 vote and narrowly missed enough votes.

This report was furnished by Terry L. Thompson, Weber County Republican District 6 Chair, for which courtesy we thank him.