Open Letter to SDEC Members
By Stan - Date: 2003-02-09 20:16:07

OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE SDEC

As the Chair of the Progressive Populist Caucus, I have several suggestions recommended by members of our Steering Committee to increase the effectiveness of the SDEC representing the grassroots people of our Party.

First, purchase and read a copy of Roberts Rules Of Order, if you have not already done so. RRO are the people’s vehicle for assuring democratic process in a meeting environment. Had you done so, on January 15 you would have challenged the Party Chair’s presence in the meeting while a resolution pertaining to her was debated. That was a patent violation of RRO.

Had you done so, you would have called for a verbal Treasurers Report, required at these meetings, which was omitted, excepting the very sparse detail you found in your packet after the meeting. You would have also asked in that meeting if an audit of the Party’s 2002 financial reports had been undertaken, an absolute requirement under Party rules.

Had you read RRO, you would have asked the Party Chair for a copy of the Party’s income and expense report and when she reported the receipt of only $140,000 from the Hughes Estate, you would have been in a position to challenge that report with a question of the whereabouts of the $250,000 also received in October 2002. And you would have asked why there is an apparent discrepancy between DNC reports on receipts of $500,000 from the Hughes Estate and the $140,000 reported by the Party Chair (only after members of the Progressive Populist Caucus challenged her to report the Hughes Estate bequest, splitting the Estate 50-50 between the DNC and you, the SDEC).

Further, you would have been in a position to ask the Party Chair who the beneficiary of the Hughes Estate was. You would have learned that you, the SDEC were the beneficiary. If you have any doubt, contact the Progressive Populist Caucus; we have a copy of the Executor’s letter and the Will. That means you have a major stake in the reporting and handling of these funds.

Likely too, your gratitude to Ms. Hughes would have moved you to honor her for her generosity.

Finally, we implore you to exercise your authority and power in representing the grassroots of our Party. Ask inquiring questions. Get informed. Take charge. Express opinions on matters of the Party’s future. This is not a benign monarchy. We are counting on you to become engaged and lead. We hope you will support your Vice Chair and leader of the Tejano Democrats, Juan Maldonado, as he demands information, transparancy and accountability for the finances of our Party from the Chair.

Stan Merriman Chair
Progressive Populist Caucus
www.texaspopulists.com