BEXAR COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
County Executive Committee Secretary's Minutes
BCDP Home

BEXAR COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

MEETING OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

JANUARY 13, 2007

 
The meeting was called to order in the meeting room of Travis Park Methodist Church by the County Chair, Carla Vela, at approximately 10:55 a.m. on January 13, 2007, following the breakfast honoring a number of long time Democratic Party activists.
 
Approval of Agenda.   A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda for the meeting of December 5, 2006.  The motion passed.
 
The pledge of allegiance and moment of silence for fallen comrades in arms was conducted prior to the beginning of the awards ceremony and was not repeated at this meeting.  Because of the inadequacy of the sound system, John McConnell asked that any person who does not have the floor should remain silent.  He then asked for repetition of the motion so that every precinct chair knows exactly for what he is voting.
 
The motion as repeated was to ratify the business conducted at the December CEC meeting.  Although there was no quorum then, it was stated that we now have a quorum. The motion was seconded and passed without further discussion.
 
Mr. McConnell continued to insist that we are violating Roberts’ Rules of Order, as well as the rules of the Democratic Party and our local rules.  Due to lack of a quorum, defined as 50% +1, John McConnell made a motion that we adjourn until we have sufficient sound equipment and a quorum is present.  There was no second.
 
Further investigation indicated that we do not have a quorum, and on a point of order Karl Am-Rhein stated that he heard John McConnell make a motion and he inquired if the motion was seconded.  It was not.  Therefore, the motion failed for lack of a second.
 
Approval of Minutes.  Following announcement by Madeleine Dewar, Executive Director, of a quorum inasmuch as 43 precinct chairs signed in, the Chair asked that we dispense with the reading of the minutes of the December meeting as well as the Treasurer’s report.
 
Old Business.  The matter of approving the list of pending precinct chairs was discussed.  During this discussion, in order to be sure that everyone understood, Zada True-Courage stated that we are recessing – not adjourning.
 
The matter of voting by ballot was discussed.  Mr. McConnell objected to use of a ballot as being in violation of the election code, Texas party rules and the standing rules of the local Democratic Party.  He believes that the election code requires that such approval must be done at a meeting with 50%+1 of the precinct chairs attending.
 
At this point the Chair stated that we have a motion on the floor and she asked if there is a second.  The motion, as repeated by Angie Garcia, was: That the rules be suspended until we have a quorum as required and then it will be legitimate.  There was no further discussion and the motion passed.
 
New Business:
 
Report of Rules Committee.  Ian Straus reported on the results of three meetings (December 27, 2006 and January 3 and 10, 2007) of the Rules Committee concerning proposed amendments to implement the CEC resolution previously approved in response to Andrew Thomas’s report on legal matters as well as to better define responsibilities and to better manage the BCDP’s affairs in accordance with experience in the 2006 campaign.
 
After reading each of the proposed amendments, Mr. Straus made a motion that the CEC approve the ten recommended amendments to the Standing Rules of the Bexar County Democratic Party, as enumerated in the Committee Report   There was no discussion and the motion carried.
 
A motion was made by Zada True-Courage that we recess this meeting until we reconvene in February and at that time we will vote on the ballot sent out by mail.  The motion was seconded.  There as no discussion and the motion carried.
 
John McConnell reported that an ad hoc committee previously appointed for the purpose of setting up a training session for individuals interested in parliamentary procedure has scheduled such training from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, February 10 at the headquarters of the GLI Distributing Company, 803 South Medina Street. The location is somewhat difficult to find, but it is at the corner of South Medina and San Fernando Streets.  The name of the parliamentarian/instructor is Nylanne Scheidegger.  Refreshments will be provided.
 
Announcements:
 
1.   Larry Meads reported sponsorship by Precinct 4176 of a series of Saturday night movies at Bexar County Democratic Headquarters beginning on February 3.  The first movie is entitled “The Ground Truth”. 
 
2.  Announced by Bryan Gerard, the Stonewall Democrats will meet on Monday, January 15, 2007 at Grady’s Barbecue on San Pedro Avenue starting at 6:30 p.m.
 
3.  Zada True-Courage invited those interested to view a movie, “Iraq for Sale”, to be presented by the San Antonio Area Political  Action Coalition, on Sunday night, January 14, at Bethany United Methodist Church, 500 Pilgrim Avenue, starting at 5:30 p.m.
 
4.  Bob Miller announced the February meeting of the Northeast Bexar County Democrats at Luby’s on Tesoro and Loop 410 at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 3.  Roger Herr will be the speaker.
 
5.  Sally Bolster stated that the Bexar County Democratic Women will meet on Monday night at 6:00 o’clock at Grady’s on Fredericksburg Road.
 
6.  A meeting of the Progressive Populist Caucus on February 3 was announced by Mark Camaan.  The location for this meeting has not yet been determined.
 
7.  Gina de la Garza announced a film “Truth Be Told” will be shown on Sunday, January 14, at 7:00 p.m.
 
Following the announcements, Zada True-Courage moved that this meeting be recessed until Tuesday, February 6.  The motion was seconded and there was no discussion.
 
The meeting recessed at 11:30 a.m.
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Jane M. Humble, Secretary

Political Advertising Donated, Bexar County Democratic Party, Fernando Contreras, Treasurer.