Wyoming Republican Party
State Central Committee Meeting
Minutes
2-25-2012
Minutes taken by Secretary Geri Hockhalter
Chairman Hooper called the meeting to order at 9:00 am
Invocation: Erin Begeman
Pledge of Allegiance: Khale Lenhart
Appointment of Proxy Committee Chairman Hooper, Geri Hockhalter, Marti Halverson
Roll Call and approval of Minutes.
Report: Nathan Winters reported on Parliamentary procedure, and handed out pamphlets. It will become very important as we move into the county and state conventions, to know and understand .
Remarks: Chairman Hooper
Tammy reported on the Straw poll. CST had an article this morning on straw poll.
Legislative update: This is a 20 day budget session in an even numbered year. There were 125 bills filed. 47 bills killed. This was a high amount of bills. 47 bills will be amended. The 3rd reading will be Monday. The wolf issue is ahead of schedule, Redistricting is ahead of schedule.
Report of proxy committee: 56 present with 10 Proxies. Quorum was called.
Treasurers report: Doug Chamberlain we currently have, $79,952.00 with Senator Barrasso’s donation of $25,000.00. County share reports were not given out, but will be sent to county chairs next week. Laramie County presented a check for $1000.00 towards their shares; Arch Coal PAC presented a $2,500.00 check for convention. We also received a donation of $1,600.00 from several people We were also informed by Flip McConnaughey that Senator Enzi and representative Lummis also donated $5,000.00 each to the party. Fremont County gave $100.00 towards their county shares. Bruce Brown donated $100.00. Bruce Brown made a donation of $50.00, John Angst made a donation of $100.00 to be used towards Fremont County shares.
Motion to approve: Treasurer’s report. Jim Bunch second, Karl Allred, motion passed.
District Reports:
District 7: Barry Peterson,
District 5: Charles Curley
District 6: Bill Perkins
District 3: Cheri Harriet
District 2: Karl Allred
District 1: Paul Miner
District 4: Brian Scott Gamroth
Doug Chamberlain and David Horning reported: The WYGOP computers were not compromised by any State GOP personal.
Bonnie Foster: for Natrona County made a proposal to man the State office in Casper, in return for payment of their county shares. Long discussion followed.
Motion: To accept Natrona County proposal as written, John Birbari, second, Marti Halverson.
Motion failed.
Motion: Bill Tibbs moved to direct the Chairman to hire an executive Director. Second: Fred Harrison
Motion passed.
Motion: Karl Allred motion to accept the motion which came out of the executive committee. Second: Khale Lenhart. Motion failed.
Motion: To accept the recommendation of 2-25-12 Executive Committee meeting. To incorporate some form of the Natrona County plan if possible. Karl Allred. Second: Khale Lenhart. Motion failed Motion:
Motion: Bill Tibbs. Direct the chairman and the executive committee to open an interim office for the campaign season in Casper, with authority to hire an interim director. And hire a temporary ex to director. Second: Fred Harrison. Motion failed:
Motion: Island Richards. Move, too amend, previous motion to say, hire a permanent Executive Director. Second: Bill Novotny. Motion passed:
Motion: to accept minutes of previous meeting. Second: Suzette Moline. Motion Passed:
Greg Schaefer: report on the RNC on costs and arrangements.
Next meeting of the SCC: July, 13 and 14 2012 Star Valley Wyoming.
Doug chamberlain moved to adjourn Karl Allred second: Motion Passed
The meeting was adjourned at 3:18
Respectfully submitted,
Geri Hockhalter, Secretary
Wyoming Republican Party
State Executive Committee Meeting
Minutes
February 24, 2012
State Chairman Tammy Hooper called the meeting to order at 2:00.
Secretary: Geri Hockhalter taking minutes.
Invocation: Brian Scott Gamroth
Pledge of Allegiance
Remarks Chairman Hooper
Thanked everyone for coming. Announced Liz Cheney will be attending. There will be a Reception at the Governors residence Friday evening.
Report from legal counsel
Kevin Voyles. There is no news from the IRS as of yet. David and Kevin will make a vigorous push to get the penalty waived. Too use of party information by office staff. In their opinion the employee did not violate any laws nor provide any confidential party information to anyone. The recommendation from party legal counsel would be to move forward in a positive manner and when hiring the next executive director makes sure there is a clear understanding they work for the party and no moonlighting would be allowed.
Geri Hockhalter asked about an employee manual. Chairman Hooper, Paul Miner and Clark Stith have been working on an office procedures manual and she would ask that it be given to legal counsel to make sure we were in compliance with the election code and any other legal aspects.
Paul Miner asked about the criminal investigation. Kevin Voyles explained it was not investigated as criminal by law enforcement, but rather by an individual with a law enforcement background.
Doug Chamberlain reported the forensic investigation of the office computer showed no illegal use. Only one invoice was located for a company in Washington DC. They indicated 10 deliverables at $250.00 each. No illegal activities were found. Doug Chamberlain agrees with legal counsel to move the party forward. The US attorney’s office told Doug they would need more information than given to them to proceed in a legal investigation.
Brian Varn reported the former employee is no longer working for Senator Enzi. Chairman Hooper concurred.
Chairman Hooper then introduced Governor Mead, who thanked us all for our work. He also asked what he could do to help the party with fundraising. He also explained scheduling for his office. If we would like to schedule the Governor for a Lincoln Day dinner, we should try to coordinate his visit with some other official function. The Governor’s scheduler is Ruth Critchfield. He asks that we submit a request for his attendance at LDD as soon as possible. He is firmly committed to travel to help out. He would also be glad to help with contact for other state Governors for our LDD meetings.
Paul Miner reported on the office manual. He and Clark Stith went through the manual made some minor changes and will forward it to Chairman Hooper for approval.
Treasurer’s report
Doug Chamberlain reported total assets of $36,929.92 as of 2-23-2012. Additional donations came in today of $1,687.00. Chairman Hooper reported Senator John Barrasso made a donation to the Republican Party in the amount of $25,000.00. $79,952.00. Report given no questions, report filed.
Motion: Karl Allred made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report.
Second: Dicky Shanor. Motion passed.
Chairmen Hooper reported on the State Party office, and state party fundraising. Donations are coming in, in various amounts. The office is still unstaffed and we still have a lease. Chairman Hooper thanked Charles Curley for his good work with the state party Web site.
Brain Scott Gamroth presented a plan for Natrona County GOP to run the office with volunteer staff at a cost of working off their $20,000.00 in county shares. A handout on the plan was given to all in attendance.
Bonnie Foster continued reporting on the plan.
Motion: Doug Chamberlain moved to accept the plan.
Second: Paul Miner. Discussion followed.
Karl Allred would still like to see the office in Cheyenne.
Chairman Hooper would like to see a committee to vet volunteers, rather than Natrona County. Dicky Shanor expressed his concern on liabilities, suggesting we give legal counsel a chance to look it over.
Motion: Bill Perkins, move to amend motion to read. The State Party elected officials will formulate, if possible a plan to enact the Natrona County plan.
Second: Doug Chamberlain.
Amendment carries.
Motion: Chuck Kenyon motion to fix Nov. 16th as an end date.
Second: Doug Chamberlain Motion failed.
Question called on motion to amend.
Motion carries.
Report: RNC Greg Schaefer. Hotel rooms will run $300.00 per night, with a 5 night minimum. Air fare; expect to be $500.00 to $1000.00. Greg is working on ways to offset some of these costs.
Report: Dicky Shanor platforms, resolutions and bylaws. He has talked to all of the county committee chairs. Explained these are guidelines to help us have a smoother convention. Dicky will give out his cell phone # tomorrow for questions.
Report: Bill Novotny straw poll seven counties left to caucus. It is going well. We have generated some national interest in our state. If done again we need to compress the time frame.
Report: Bill Novotny candidate recruitment.
Report: State convention, Chairman Jim Geringer, honorary Barbara Cubin. Has gotten bids for printing.
Theme, Republicans for a reason, with thanks to Park Counties Tonia Grdina. Tammy will ask Chairman tomorrow for names of delegates to State Convention in alphabetical order and number of votes, then alternates in order elected. Tentative agenda will be passed out tomorrow. Chairs and co-chairs were announced and will be sent out. Chairman Hooper would like to see 20% of convention delegates to state convention to be under 40 years old. Tammy will be delivering call to convention to Secretary of State and mail call to each County Clerk office. RNC is helping with many details of the state convention.
Saturday evening we will have dinner with Vice President Dick Cheney and Liz Cheney. Sunday will be a brunch with Vice President Cheney and Liz Cheney for 25 people. Cost $1000.00.
You must have a credentials chairman to be seated at convention.
Geri will send Charles Curley a link to Mn. precinct caucus.
Brian Scott Gamroth: move to adjourn:
Second: Chuck Kenyon
Adjourn 4:00
Respectfully submitted
Geri Hockhalter
Secretary
Wyoming Republican Party
