Minutes of the BCGOP Executive Committee meeting on Monday, 22 Oct 2007, at the Ryan’s Restaurant on Brevard Road near Biltmore Square Mall.

Meeting called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Chairman Mark Delk.

Invocation by John Sutton.

Pledge by all in attendance.

Secretary Keller made motion to accept the minutes of the September meeting as posted on the website. Motion passed.

29 members of the Executive committee were present for the meeting.

Ed Osada presented the Treasurer’s report, which included the total cost of the Asheville Primary flyer and its net cost after contributions. Mark entertained a motion to spend $400 from the ball game to round out funding for the flyer; the motion was made and passed.

Rich Mills reported that essentially all judges are in place. He said there were still precinct chair openings.

Our Vice Chair for Fundraising, Rick Jenkins, reported that we could choose to have our time at the ballgame on Friday, August 29 or Saturday, August 30. As high school football games will have begun by that weekend, Yelton made a motion to have our affair on Aug 30. Motion passed.

Rick surfaced the idea of having a NASCAR personality as well as a political speaker for the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, someone such as Felix Sabates of Chip Ganassi Racing. He will call his friends in the racing industry and have some solid suggestions in a week or two.

Mark Delk introduced Victor Burgess from Woodfin, who spoke of his run for the US Senate, opposing Mrs. Dole in the Republican Primary.

Delk announced that Spence Campbell, candidate for the US House, will speak next month. Also, Trena Parker from the Buncombe County Board of Elections would like to speak to us “soon.”

Delk reminded us of NC Treasurer Les Merritt’s need for many contribution checks:

The address for Les Merritt's campaign is P.O. Box 37548 Raleigh NC 27627
The phone number for the treasurer is (919) 833- 4345
The web site is www.LesMerritt.com.
A contribution form is available on the website.

Many members of the BCGOP Executive Committee contributed “on the spot.”

Michael Muller, who is working for the Russell campaign, reported that there will be a preview of an upcoming Russell ad at Magnolia’s on Wednesday, Oct 24, at 7:00 p.m. For information on the Russell campaign, call Michael at 275-5522.

Chairman Delk is looking for help getting Republicans who are in assisted living or other confining facilities to the polls for early voting or on election day, November 6.

Civitas offers a candidates’ school. After some discussion, Bill Lack made a motion, which passed, to invite them to bring a school to Buncombe County. Don Yelton then made a motion, which passed, to offer the invitation even if the BCGOP incurred some associated costs.

Chairman Delk reported that the LWV would have an Immigration Forum on Nov 15, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. and would like Buncombe County Republicans to furnish a speaker. Frances Cosgrove made a motion, seconded by Alice Keller, to send Eric Gorny. Eric accepted the challenge.

Lincoln-Reagan Day committee chair Robin Ramsey reported on planning process. She wants a profit of $10,000 or more. Tickets will be $50 per person, or $250 for a sponsoring couple or $550 for a table sponsor. The next meeting of the committee will be at noon on Friday, November 16, at Magnolia’s Restaurant. A Save-the-date card will be mailed in November. There will be a silent auction. Bill Lack will talk to Steve Forbes about speaking to us.

Kathie Lack reported that the ACTION club as Carl Mumpower as speaker.

Bill Ported reported that the Men’s Club speaker was Charles Thomas, after remarks by candidates Bill Russell and Dwight Butner.

Alice Keller invited us all to the Buncombe County Women’s Club December 1 luncheon at the Bonefish Grill. Charles Thomas will be the speaker.

Robin Ramsey reported that Carl Mumpower spoke to the Blue Ridge Republican Women’s in October. Their November meeting will be held on the second Thursday, with Charles Thomas the speaker.

The new president of the Young Republicans is Linsey Henthorn.

There was no report from the Latte’ nor Junior Republicans.

Kathie Lack made a motion to eliminate “Lincoln” from our LRDRD celebration, based on conversations with HK Edgerton at ACTION club meeting(s). During the discussion of this motion, Don Yelton introduced a motion to invite HK to speak to the Executive Committee. George Keller, stating that the order of the two motions was reversed in his mind, moved to table Lack’s motion. The motion to table passed. Then the motion to invite HK was resurrected and it passed. There was considerable, and quite varied, discussion of the role of members’ ancestors in the War Between the States.

On Tuesday evening, October 23, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Don Yelton reported that on URTV, cable channel 20, there will be a discussion of cleanup of the CTS site in Buncombe County.

Bill Lack discussed an upcoming Freedom Works expedition to DC in November.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. by Chairman Delk.