Minutes Of ACRP By Laws Committee Meeting

Meeting convened via telephone conference call on March 14th. at 8:01 p.m.

Participating in the call were Chairman Randy Bishop, Co-Vice Chair Jim Gurr, Secretary Priscilla Miller, Greg Valerio, Steve Grill and Brenda Ricksgers.  Excused Committee members; Laura Bogdan, Gerald Averill and Kim MacMaster.

Randy made a motion to ADD the following language to:  Article 1- Section 3. Membership; “Any elected official who was duly elected as a “Republican” during the most recently held primary or general election in Antrim County, shall be required to be a dues paying Member of the Antrim County Republican Party for the entire term of their said elected office.”

Said motion was friendly amended by Steve Grill, to add the following language;…”Any candidate who is running as a Republican in a primary or general election in Antrim County shall/must be a member of the Antrim County Republican Party.  If they chose not to be a member of the ACRP, the ACRP will not endorse or publicly certify them as a member in good standing of the ACRP.  They will not receive any support monetarily or manpower for their candidacy from ACRP.  Finally, any candidate must be a paid member in good standing for at least one year prior to any primary election.”

Amended motion was supported by Greg Valerio Discussion followed.

Calling the question: Jim Gurr – Passed with unanimous vote.

Article IV -Section 1; Officers:  Randy made a motion to remove the words; ”of the opposite sex of the Chairperson” from the by laws.
Supported by Priscilla Miller.  Calling the question: Jim Gurr  Passed with unanimous vote.

Motion by Randy Bishop to amend : Article VII – Section 2 to read; It shall be the policy of the Local Party not to endorse or support individual candidates in contested Republican Party primary election, UNLESS determined by a vote of 2/3 of the membership of the ACRP in attendance at a regularly monthly meeting prior to said primary election to make such an endorsement. Supported by Steve Grill: Discussion followed. Calling the question: Greg Valerio  Passed with unanimous vote.

In Addition: Priscilla Miller noted under duties of officers; ACRP By Laws state, “Treasurer shall render a statement of the revenues, disbursements, and outstanding obligation, and the cash balance of the Local Party at all regular meetings.”  All members voted unanimously to have the ACRP Treasurer adhere to this By Law.

Jim Gurr: made a motion to amend Article IX: Section 3 – Amendment to read: “These By Laws may only be amended by a vote of the membership after the January election of new board officers and executive committee members, via a By Law Committee determination at a vote of a future monthly meeting.  Supported by Priscilla Miller. Discussion followed. Randy: Discussion closed. Passed unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

Priscilla Miller

ACRP Secretary

Antrim County Republican Party Meeting Minutes for Monday, February 20, 2017

Meeting convened at 7:30p.m. in the Forest Home Twp. Hall

Randy Bishop: Pledge:  Jim Gurr: Invocation

Treasurer’s Report: Laura Bogdan was absent. Randy gave report: Corporate Acct: $33.69 ($100. was donated toward the bus to state convention) $641.09 in State Acct.

Secretary’s Report: Priscilla Miller: Read January 26th minutes. Motion to approve: Greg Valerio  2nd. Sherry Comben: Motion approved.

Gerald Averill raised question as to why Stacy Cole was a Custer Twp. delegate, to state convention when she resides in Chestonia Township?  Triston Cole stated that they live near the Custer township border.  Apparently an error at the County Clerk’s Office. Randy will check with  Cheryl Guy.

Co-Vice Chair Kim Mc Master, gave a recap of the Mich. State Convention. 196 delegates crammed in a small room for four hours/ longest running caucus in the state.  Jesse Osmer won chairmanship of 1st. Dist. Committee with a 56-60 vote spread.  Kim and Jim Gurr also won election to the committee. Ron Weizer is the new chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.

Co-Vice Chair Jim Gurr, Democrats are vengeful and spoiling for a fight. We had better start working on the same page in order to be formable.

Randy: President Trump has just 60 days to undo Obama’s executive orders.

Discussion:  On dealing with Democrat’s concerted efforts to disrupt legislator’s town halls. Both Congressman Bergman and State Rep. Triston Cole have had a large group of loud, disruptive agitators interrupting their events.  Our members need to become active and attend these events. State Rep Cole cautioned, these militants are looking for a confrontation.  He advised remaining calm and not confronting them.

Discussion on ERN article and importance of ACRP becoming visible at parades and other county events.

Per a motion made by Co-Vice Chair Jim Gurr at the January County Convention: “to enter into the record that Antrim County Republican Party intends to amend its by-laws to become compliant with MRP by-laws by Monday April 17, 2017 in the following manner: Within 60 (sixty) days, subject to receiving updated the MRP and District by-laws, Antrim County GOP will, by subcommittee, revise the Antrim County Republican Party’s by-laws and will present the proposed by-laws to the membership for 30-day consideration for approval by the Monday, April 17 meeting.”  Volunteers to serve on the By-Laws Subcommittee are; Greg Valerio, Gerald Averill, Steve Grill, Brenda Ricksgers plus the five (5) officers of the Executive Board.
The meeting of this subcommittee will be held via; a conference call and they will have the new proposed by-laws ready for discussion at next meeting on March, 20th.

Randy: We need to have the discussion on officials running as Republicans are dues paying members and individual members of executive committee endorsing candidates.

Brenda Ricksgers: Special election on May 2nd. for renewal 911 millage.

Motion to adjourn: Triston Cole, 2nd.Kim MacMaster. Meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.