The BCGOP Executive Committee met at Ryan’s on Patton Avenue at 6:30 pm on Monday, November 21, 2005. Chair George Keller opened the meeting with an invocation, followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the USA. Acting Secretary Alice Keller called the roll.

Minutes of the previous meeting are available on the BCGOP web site in the protected area. Attendees accepted the current Treasurer’s report (attached).

Candidate Eric Gorney stated his intention to file at the end of January to oppose NC State Representative Bruce Goforth (D).

Vice-Chair Chuck Durand noted the good job accomplished by our paid poll workers and by our volunteer poll workers in the recent city election. He plans to make phone calls to recruit volunteers who have worked in previous elections. He also stated the importance of the return of GOTV phone call lists with corrections so that these corrections can improve the quality of our lists.

Chair George Keller offered his congratulations to Carl Mumpower on his reelection to the Asheville City Council and to Joe Dunn and Matt Hebb for their persistent, though losing, campaigns. He thanked Beverly Kirkland and Chuck Durant for their efforts in recruiting paid poll workers and to Beverly Kirkland for recruiting phone callers for the GOTV efforts at BCGOP Headquarters. Thanks also to Kathie Lack for recruiting and organizing volunteer poll workers, to Kathy Rhodarmer for recruiting and organizing volunteer workers to keep HQ open 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Monday through Friday on a continuing basis, and to Craig Young for his “prodding.”

Tim Peck has established a Yahoo group mail and information site which posts information about upcoming events and provides a place for electronic conversations about political topics of current interest. He provided attendees with information about the site and particulars to customizing its format for individual convenience and use.

Kathie Lack spoke about lessons learned about volunteer poll worker issues and also suggested the formation of teams within the BCGOP for particular functions, such as infrastructure, fundraising, pr/advertising, and candidate development.

George Keller informed attendees of the status of BCGOP Headquarters on 53B Shiloh Road, Volunteers can sign up to work there at www.buncombegop.org on the HQ manning chart. One of the ongoing activities at HQ will be the training of volunteers in the use of Voter Vault. In addition, volunteers will be making calls to continue to improve the accuracy of our phone lists and to identify Unaffiliated voters who are conservatives.

Jerry Orr made the following motion, seconded by Kathie Lack:
Whereas the Republican Action Club has had a most successful and productive organizing year, and
Whereas the Asheville-Buncombe Republican Action Club (A-BRAC) membership desires to function as an independent organization under the Buncombe County Republican Party with independent control of its finances and the ability to report directly to the BCGOP Executive Committee on its activities,
Therefore, I move that the BCGOP Executive Committee recognize the A-BRAC as an independent organization representing the best interest of the BCGOP and reporting to the BCGOP Executive Committee as of 1-1-06.

This motion PASSED.

Jerry Orr made the following motion, seconded by Anna Cannon:
Whereas the pledge campaign to gain support for BCGOP in the amount of $100.00 per year, or less than $10.00 per month, has had a success rate of about half of the regular attendance at BCGOP Executive Committee meetings, and
Whereas the membership of the BCGOP Executive Committee must by considered the most loyal supporters of the Party, limited in their support only by the constraints of their purses, and
Whereas the cost of meals at the restaurants chosen for the regular BCGOP Executive Committee meetings has been between $10.00 and $15.00 for each attendee, and
Whereas the BCGOP now has an office facility that provides both a site for BCGP Executive Committee meetings and an additional Party expense that must be covered, and
Whereas the regular attendance of 25 to 30 members at each meeting with each attendee contributing $15.00 could provide the BCGOP with as much as $4,500.00 in operating funds each year,
Therefore, I move that the BCGOP Executive Committee hold its meetings at the new office location, with each attendee requested to contribute the equivalent of their dinner bill, plus tip, to the Party.
Further, I move that the BCGOP Executive Committee consider the desirability of providing light or moderate refreshments at these meetings, either directly or as pot luck, as a courtesy to those who must miss supper to attend.

This motion DID NOT pass.

Announcements:

The next meeting of the BCGOP Executive Meeting will be Monday, January 23, 2006.

The 2006 Lincoln-Reagan Day Reception and Dinner will be held at the Crest Center on Saturday, February 11.

Club Status Reports:

Blue Ridge Republican Women’s Club, 2006 President Mary Jane Westall;

Buncombe County Republican Women’s Club, 2006 President Alice Keller;

Republican Men’s Club, 2006 President Bill Porter,

Asheville-Buncombe Republican Action Club, 2006 President Craig Young;

Young Republicans of Buncombe County, currently inactive;

College Republicans, currently inactive.

The meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Alice Keller, Acting Secretary