Minutes of State Convention

[Nancy Shearer Spirkoff]

On November 15, 2008, the Constitution Party of Arizona held its State Convention and new officers were elected for the 2008-10 term.  Following are the minutes of that outstanding meeting:

Minutes of the Organizational State Convention of the Constitution Party of Arizona
 
November 15, 2008 – Comfort Inn, Scottsdale, Arizona
 
Meeting called to order at 3:00 PM by Chairman Nancy Shearer Spirkoff Chiasson.
 
The invocation was led by Pastor Tim Coleman.
 
Nancy Chiasson led the flag salute.
 
Chairman Chiasson appointed Ralph Hughes as Convention Secretary.  She then welcomed everyone to the convention and gave a brief history of her involvement in politics and the Constitution Party.  Every person in attendance then introduced themselves and told how they became involved in the CP.
 
Credentials were considered and 25 of the 27 persons in attendance were found to be in good standing and were credentialed as voting members of the Convention and members of the Constitution Party of Arizona State Central Committee.  A list of the credentialed members is attached hereto.
 
The Treasurer's report was given by Stephanie Cox.  She reported that the initial $100 that was deposited to open the party bank account was still there, and that no additional contributions had been received.
 
A break was taken to allow the attendees to read the proposed bylaws.  David Jenkins moved to approve the bylaws as presented.  Chris Bragan seconded the motion.  After some discussion the motion passed without dissent. A copy of the adopted bylaws is attached hereto.
 
Adoption of a platform was discussed.  A motion was made by Veronica Milek and seconded by Thom Strawn to adopt the following statement:
 
America needs the leadership of the Constitution Party of Arizona
 
We pledge to:
 
·       Stop the undeclared wars which are daily costing American lives and billions of tax dollars;
 
·       End America's dependence on foreign oil;
 
·       Stop reckless spending, including foreign aid, and take care of America's domestic needs;
 
·       End debt financing of the Federal government;
 
·       Get rid of the Federal income tax, and restore a tariff-based revenue system;
 
·       Immediately terminate international trade agreements such as NAFTA, WTO, and the FTAA, and stop sending high paying American jobs to foreign countries;
 
·       Close the borders to illegal immigration, and stop all government subsidies to illegal aliens;
 
·       Defend America's moral values; keep God in the pledge of allegiance;
 
·       Protect the right to life of the innocent unborn and the elderly;
 
·       Support high standards in education, including encouragement of private schools and home schooling;
 
·       Stop judicial tyranny and legislating from the bench;
 
·       Defend Second Amendment rights;
 
·       Restore a debt-free, interest-free money system;
 
·       Uphold traditional marriage and family values.
 
The Constitution Party of Arizona adopted the Constitution Party National Platform as it's own in Convention November 15, 2008.  To read the entire platform go to www.constitutionparty.com
 
Join us as we work toward ballot qualification in Arizona and a return to Constitutional Government as envisioned by our founding fathers for our State and nation.
 
After some discussion the motion passed without dissent.
 
Discussion ensued regarding affiliation with the national Constitution Party.  A motion was made by Chris Bragan for the Constitution Party of Arizona to continue its affiliation with the national Constitution Party.  The motion was seconded by Stewart Cole and passed without dissent.
 
Discussion ensued regarding peoples wishes with regard to officers for the 2008-10 term.  Patricia Quinn made a motion to elect the following slate of officers for the 2008-10 term:
 
Chairman – Mark Hubler
Vice-Chairman – Chris Bragan
Secretary – Mike Braunberger
Treasurer – Stephanie Cox
 
Teri Jarmin seconded the motion and there being no further nominations from the floor, the slate was approved by acclamation.
 
It was agreed that Chairman Hubler would appoint the following people to fill additional offices:
 
Parliamentarian – Thom Strawn
Chaplain – Pastor Tim Coleman
Organizational Liaison – Ken Becht
 
Discussion ensued regarding the need for National Committeemen Ken Becht and Randy George offered to hold the positions.  Stuart Cole made a motion to elect Ken Becht and Randy George and National Committeemen for the 2008-10 term.  The motion was seconded by Pastor Tim Coleman and passed without dissent. 
 
It was agreed by all that should the elected National Committeemen not be able to attend a national meeting, the State Chairman holds the power to appoint alternate Committeemen to represent the State party at the national meetings on a case by case basis.
 
Discussion of a strategy for ballot access was discussed.  It was determined that the first step necessary was to acquire local leadership for each of Arizona's counties.  To this end it was agreed that Chairman Hubler would make the following appointments of temporary county chairmen to start organizing in the following counties:
 
Apache County -  Mark Haynes
Coconino County – Stuart Cole
Maricopa County – Chris Bragan
Navajo County – Wayne Jones
Pinal County – Randy George
Yavapai County – Thom Strawn
 
It was further agreed that:
 

1. The additional county chairmen would be recruited for the remaining nine counties;
2. That Chairman Hubler would acquaint himself with the petitioning rules and regulation in preparation for the ballot access drive;
3. That the party would begin raising money to help with the ballot access drive; and
4. That recruiting new party members would have very high priority.

 
Outgoing Chairman Chiasson thanked everyone for their participation, making the first CPAZ State Convention a great success, and expressed how honored she was to have had the opportunity to meet and work with such outstanding people.
 
Incoming Chairman Hubler thanked everyone for the honor of being elected chairman and expressed his desire to do everything in his power to advance the State organization and attain ballot access for the 2010 election.
 
Ken Caproni gave a presentation on "Intrinsic Terrestrial Energy," a copy of which is attached hereto.
 
There being no further business, at 7:30 PM, Stuart Cole made a motion to adjourn the convention.  Janine Braunberger seconded the motion and it passed without dissent.
 
These minutes are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and are submitted as a permanent record of this convention.
 
 
 
___________________________________________                    ______________________
Ralph Hughes, Convention Secretary                                           Date


Constitution Party of Arizona State Convention Delegates and members of the 2008-10 State Central Committee
Ken Becht
Christopher Bragan
Michael Braunberger
Jeannine Braunberger
Ken Caproni
Stuart Cole
Pastor Tim Coleman
Stephanie Cox
Tim Dixon
James Whitman Evans
Randy George
William Godwin
David Hetzler
Mark Haynes
Mark Hubler
Ralph Hughes
Teri Jarman
David Jenkins
Ralph Jones
Wayne Jones
Veronica Milek
Robert Oughton
Patricia Quinn
Thom Strawn