PPC Annual Meeting Minutes January 15, 2003
By Stan Merriman - Date: 2003-01-30 11:44:46

MINUTES

The Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party met for its Annual General meeting on January 15th. Quorum was declared at 1:50 pm. Meeting was held at the TGIF restaurant at the Radisson Hotel in Austin on Caesar Chavez and Congress Ave. This meeting is required by our Standing Rules adopted November 23, 2002.

While waiting for a quorum, the State Chair, Stan Merriman accepted the resignation of Tim Mahoney, Central Texas Regional Chair.

A Call to Order was made and once a quorum was established, Julie Lusby moved, seconded by David Van Os to accept Tim Mahoney's resignation. Voting count for resignation was 5 For and 1 abstaining.

State Chair Stan Merriman explained meeting rules on who could vote at an Annual Meeting. Several agenda items were declared as permanent policy or Standing Rules related and thus should include votes by both the Steering Committee and general membership. Explained that each issue for general membership will be declare prior to a vote. Any non-board member may vote if he or she has attended at least one regional meeting before the Annual Meeting.

Discussion:

Ann Casey asks a question about those who go to regional meetings to disrupt. Can they vote as Stan has just stated. He declared that each region can determine their own voting criteria. Further discussion about Voting Policy occurred.

Board attendance was declared: All present excluding the Treasurer.

Non-board participation was declared:

A. West Texas

1. Louis Earl
2. Sheryl Zettner

B. Central Texas

1. Jim Parrish
2. David Ward

C. Houston/SE Texas

1. Charlotte Cox
2. Mary K. Merriman

D. San Antonio

1. Rolando Rocha

Once the voting roll was established the, proposed agenda was accepted.

November 23 Minutes were adopted by a motion by David Van Os and seconded by Mark Runnels.

Nominations were accepted for Membership Chair vacated by the resignation of Frank Ortega.

Nominations were: John Curley, nominated by Melissa McIntosh. Approved by acclamation.

Motion was made to expand the State Board to include a new region in West Texas, as required by the Standing Rules. Motion by Ann Casey and seconded Mark Runnels.

Unanimous vote and Wild Horse of El Paso was made the fifth Vice Chair of the State Board.

Non Board members were allowed to vote on this issue.

Discussion of qualifying additional Regional Caucuses or areas.

David Van Os said that the State Party relies on Senatorial Districts for its political divisions. Stan suggested a committee of one person from each established region to come back and report a proposal on criteria for establishment of regions.

This Committee will consist of :

1. DFW (Ann Casey)
2. San Antonio (Rolando Rocha)
3. Houston (Charlotte Cox)
4. West Texas (Wild Horse)
5. Central Texas (David Ward)

Anna Casey will chair the Committee.

Next order of business was a request from the Chair to update regional member lists.The Chair has asked San Antonio and Austin delegations to provide this list and share it with the State Steering Committee.

Report of Strategy Committee made by the Chair in absence of its Chair, John Courage. Three Resolutions had been created and submitted to SDEC members-One on decentralizing the State Party and a second on Creating a SDEC Campaign oversight Committee. A third urging MBM to resign as Party Chair.

A Strategy Committee Report was also made by Anna Marie Schroeder.

Mark Runnels asks who was on this Committee. The Chair enumerated the members, posted in the November meeting minutes.

Resolutions included:

• SDEC empowerment
• Party regionalization
• MBM resignation
• Party Reform resolution drafted by Bruce Barrick.

Bruce Barrick made a report on the Party Reform Resolution.

Anna Marie Schroeder made a Motion to accept and support the Party Reform. Resolution, which had not previously been addressed by the Steering Committee. Vote was unanimous.

David Van Os reported about the Resolution Committee of the SDEC.

Future Actions by the Caucus were then discussed.

1. Discussion about next steps for SDEC and its committees. (We weren't sure what SDEC committee was appropriate to pursue the resignation of MBM); this to be explored by SDEC members on our Steering Committee.

Anna Marie Schroeder reported on SDEC activities after we started our meeting.

We decided that we should pursue a strategy of:

1. Approaching County Chairs with a mailing about our Reform agenda, MBM and why should she needs to resign.
2. Form a delegation to visit MBM
3. Form a Caucus strategy committee to plan for the next State Convention 2004.
4. Assist County Chairs to work on grass roots Party rebuilding

Motion to accept the plan future actions made by

David Van Os, seconded by Ann Casey . Adopted

A Strategic Plan for the Progressive Populists Caucus, proposed by the Chair, was adopted.

Jim Mattox interjected a few words encouraging us to pursue our Reform agenda

General discussion ensued on how to deal with a Regional group of the Caucus which has initiated something that is against a state policy.

Van Os explains a previous parliamentary ruling, accepted by the Chair, which gave State Caucus policy priority over Regional initiatives. Motion made to accept this policy by Mary K. Merriman. The motion carried with one dissenting vote.

David Van Os suggested future changes to the Standing Rules to clarify this relationship between regional groups and the Statewide Caucus.

Mark Runnels questioned further the issue of conflict between Regional groups versus state PPC. Motion made by Chair to wave Reg. Reports. Kathy Curley seconded and motion passed.

Ratification was made of the creation of a Steering Committee discussion list as well as a General membership discussion site, both on Yahoo Moderated by Wildhorse. David Van Os introduced discussion on openness/ versus practicality issue of communications. One main point is "If we vote then must be in open." All agreed. It was agreed that the Steering Committee site would only be used for ideation and non-binding discussion.

Van Os moved implementation of these sites with these policies. Seconded by Kathy Curley.

A majority voted to create these two discussion sites. 2 dissenting votes.

Status of Caucus view of ?Texas Talk? discussion site created by Geoff Staples was discussed; it was decided that it would remain an independent discussion site not operated by the PPC.

Chair supported on the creation of a Communication Committee-under the Sgt.At Arms. He announced it’s creation and asked Anna Casey to implement.

Motion to table next three agenda items. Tabled were:

1. Standing Rules amendment on ?recall?
2. Discussion on membership qualification and dues
3. Chair policy on membership data base.

New Business

• A proposal to participate in Gray Panther Teach-In on Feb. 2; Melva Jean Cain volunteered to staff. Approved.
• A Proposal to Co-sponsor Statewide Protex Conference Jan. 24-25. Merriman volunteered to staff. Approved
• Jim Mattox urged our use of the tag line the democratic wing of the Texas Democratic Party. Approved.
• David Van Os apologized that he suspended his run for State Party Chair in 2002 out of respect for Party unity.
• David Van Os moved and second by Barrick to put the position of Strategy Chair on the Steering Committee.

John Courage was nominated for this position on the Steering Committee. Passed unanimously.

Motion made to establish a succession when State Chair of PPC is incapacitated for temporarily absent.

Issue was tabled for our next meeting due to time.

Adjourned 4:10

Submitted by Bruce W. Barrick
Secretary of the Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party