At January's Central Committee Meeting we got to see the Rules for the upcoming Officer Election,

Proposed Rules that is the Body still has final say, despite the confusion of some about what part of the Central Committee makes decisions.

Here they are

 ELECTION PROCEDURES -NOMINATIONS/ELECTION

2/17/2015

1) PROCESS/PROCEDURES

a) Voting will be by secret ballot.

b) One vote per eligible voter per ballot.

c) No ballots shall leave the voting floor.

d) Must be present to vote - no proxies.

e) The winner will be by simple majority.

f) All results are final.

g) Candidates may observe the vote count.

h) Nominations require a second and will be accepted at the February meeting.

i) Candidates shall have two minutes to speak at the February meeting.

j) There will be no questioning of candidates from the floor.

k) Elections will be in the following order:

i) Chair

ii) Co-Chair

iii) Secretary

iv) Treasurer

2) WHO CAN VOTE

a) Precinct representatives and assistant representatives must check in with the credentials team.

b) Credentialed Precinct representatives and credentialed assistant representatives may vote.

c) Assistant representatives may vote only if Precinct representatives are not present.

i) If more assistant representatives are present than positions to be filled, seating shall be determined by first arrival.

d) Credentialing cuts off when all in line are credentialed.

e) Precinct representatives and assistant representatives will be notified by USPS, postmarked 10 days prior to the election.

f) Notice of the election will be posted on the Webpage, Face Book Group invite, and sent out via Mail Chimp.

Part of me wonders why we don't have these things all mapped out.

I mean Central Committees have been having Officer Elections for how many years?

Then I realise just reinventing the wheel would not be that bad if it were not for those who come up with clever ideas like--

Wouldn't the Wheel be more stable if it was SQUARE?

That is what I think of when I see something like

"i) If more assistant representatives are present than positions to be filled, seating shall be determined by first arrival"

Like every organization that I can think of the Central Committee has ranked Seniority by time of joining the Central Committee.

Recently we have included that info on the Form As at our Caucuses.

That is how we have been credentialing people  for our meetings.

But now we have some proposed Rules that treat this Election like it was a Sale at Walmart.

The credentials will be given to whoever showed up and got in line first?? 

I can see someone who has been coming to meetings for decades, working in the Committee and participating over the years voting for the Rules and then being pushed aside for the Election because someone who just joined recently showed up first.

Another item that pops out is

"i) Candidates shall have two minutes to speak at the February meeting.

j) There will be no questioning of candidates from the floor. "

 Now That HAS been how it has been done in the past.

But that was back when we announced the Election in Janurary.  held Nominations in Febuary and held the Election in March,

The idea was everyone had a whole month to know who the nominees were and to ask them questions,

So they did not need a whole lot of time to talk and there was no need for questions from the floor.

Having the Nominations and Elections at the same time throws that out the window.

 As for myself the ONE question I would ask if that was all I could would be.

What is your opinion of this portion of the Linn County Constitution? 

 "The Executive Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee,

and none of its acts shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee. "

 I don't know what others may think but I think that would be an important thing to ask someone runniing for an Eecutive Committee Office.

I have noticed in some an attitude that Constitutions, ByLaws and Rules of Order

Get in the way of what they want to do and should be disposed of  for the sake of efficiency,

And having the meetings end at 8:30  PM

So next Febuary we will choose our rules

I hope we choose to keep it simple.

Credential the way we always have and give the Body a Month between Nominations and Election to maximise an informed decsion. 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 1:00 AM CST
Updated: Friday, 23 January 2015 2:26 AM CST
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A few days ago I posted about an issue with our Chair and a couple of Local Business Owners,who have over the years supported Conservative Causes and the Republican Party with their Time, their Donations of Kind and Cash to the tune of thousands.

That post was  Show Us The Proof 

At the last County Central Committee Meeting they gave the Committee a Letter outlaying their position and reasons for not paying a $200 Bill they feel they did not agree to.

So Now I will post their side of the story here

In Their Own Words,

After which I will add a few of my own

Dear Linn County Republican Central Committee Member,

This past Thursday, January 15^th, I received an email from your chairwoman, Cindy Golding, wrongly accusing my business of failing to pay on a $200.00 advertising bill for a Senate Primary debate back in March.   I am writing this letter for two reasons: One, to set the record straight before my business relationship with the Linn County Republicans is damaged beyond repair, and Two: To express my anger at the way my business partner and I have been slandered and threatened by your County Chairwoman, Cindy Golding. 

In either late February or early March of 2014, (I do not recall) I received a phone call from Chairwoman Cindy Golding at my business, Godfather’s Pizza.  Mrs. Golding asked me to place an ad in the program for an upcoming Senate Primary debate.  I told her that because it was our busiest time of the day, I did not have time to discuss an ad with her, but Mrs. Golding said that she had “no time to wait.”  Although I was insulted by her pushiness, I told her she would speak to my business partner, Teresa Williams, who handles all of our advertising.  We could send her a copy of our ad art then we would have to see a proof copy of the brochure prior to approval. 

My business has a strict advertising policy that includes two separate requirements:  We MUST be presented with a contract to sign, and we MUST be provided a proof copy of the printed material in order to give final approval before distribution. Mrs. Golding DID NOT honor either of those requirements.  My business partner and I were NOT given a contract, and we were NOT presented with a copy of the final printing we require for final approval.  Because Mrs. Golding failed to fulfill the requirements we stated to her, any agreement she may have assumed she had with us DID NOT EVEN EXIST.  Furthermore, the artwork Teresa Williams had sent for a sample ad was inserted and used WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION. 

Although the absence of any type of contractual agreement left us owing absolutely nothing, we nevertheless received an invoice for $200.00 from Kim Reem of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women, at the direction of Cindy Golding.  The invoice was followed by continued demands for payment from Mrs. Golding. To pay the $200.00 that we did not owe would have indicated our acknowledgement that an agreement WAS fulfilled.  Because of Mrs. Golding’s failure to meet our requirements, her use of our logo without permission, and her unprofessional behavior throughout this ordeal, any sort of payment for any reason was simply out of the question. 

I responded to Cindy Golding’s latest email, in which she stated her intention to bring this issue before your Central Committee and threatened me with negative publicity, during the morning of Saturday the 17^th.  In my response, I recommended to Mrs. Golding that she drop the issue immediately and cease her slanderous remarks about me, my partner, and our business.  Less than 24 hours after I responded, an individual named James Knox posted defamatory messages about my business all over Facebook on our company page, the Linn County GOP Iowa Facebook page, and over 20 other peoples’ personal Facebook pages, claiming that my business does not pay its bills and calling on Linn County Republicans and others to boycott my business.  In one of his statements on Facebook, Mr. Knox references my email response to Cindy Golding on Saturday, January 15^th. 

Since Cindy Golding feels compelled to share my emails with those who in turn slander my business and its people, I in turn feel compelled to share copies of all of the slanderous statements made about my business to my attorney, along with copies of all of our communications with Cindy Golding.  I will also be forwarding items to the Godfather’s, Inc. corporate attorneys if necessary. 

I have been a staunch supporter of Republican and conservative causes for a great many years.  I have opened my business to the Linn County Republican Central Committee for a countless number of meetings, training sessions, and other activities, all at no charge, with no minimum purchase requirements, and no limits to the amount of time my facilities are used.  These meetings, training sessions, and other activities include poll watcher training, caucus training, convention preparation meetings, and candidate meet-and-greets.  Furthermore, I extend my open door policy to organizations that are not affiliated with the Republican Party, but are still made up largely by your members, such as the local Tea Party group and more.  While many businesses have begun to ostracize conservatives, I welcome them with open arms.  I have also provided unquantifiable support during meetings and campaigns in the form of free or discounted pizzas which easily equal the value of THOUSANDS of dollars.  To be treated this way in return—and by your county chairwoman, at that—is absolutely disgusting.  In order to continue our otherwise-excellent relationship, I ask this Central Committee to please discourage your chairwoman, Cindy Golding, from making any more of her despicable attacks on my business. 

Sincerely,

Keith Lacy

THOSE WHO STAND FOR NOTHING WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING. 

During the last County Central Committee Meeting both the State Chair and a Local State Central Committee Member spoke to us about the importance of not doing anything that could hinder Getting Republicans Elected.

I submit that the above is NOT the way to Get Republicans Elected

That slandering long time Conservative Donors is the opposite of Working to Get Republicans Elected.

Obviously there is a difference of opinion as to this Bill.

A wise person would take personal responsibility for their own mistake,

Would make the  Iowa Federation of Republican Women whole by paying the $200 and would apologise to Keith and Teresa for any unintended slight they might have done,

Now as to an appropriate action for a Webmaster who starts a boycott of a Republican Donors business posts the same on the County Republican Party Facebook Group Page and also posts it on the Facebook pages of some 20 other people including a sitting Congressman's page?

That is something the Committee will have to deal with.

We need to try to get it on the floor before 8:30 PM though. 

I mean if we really want to Get Republicans Elected we need to keep our own house clean,. 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 3:57 AM CST
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Who Guards the Chair? 

Everyone knows what a Chair is what they do, what they should be expected to do.

Problem is, not everyone agrees on what those factors are.

So if the Central Committee wishes to ponder this matter we should?

Refer to the     County Constitution 

 

 V. OFFICERS

The officers of this Central Committee shall be a chairman, co-chairman, secretary and

treasurer, and such other members as the County Central Committee in its by-laws may

provide. The Central committee shall organize following each general election, but no later

than the following April 1.

 

VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the

Linn County Central Committee. The Executive Committee shall transact the routine business

of the Linn County Central Committee during the interim of the meetings of the Linn County

Central Committee. Any business transacted or action taken shall be reported to the Linn

County Central Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting

 

.The Executive

Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee, and none of its acts

shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee. 

The ByLaws 

V. OFFICERS

The officers of the Central Committee shall consist of a Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary and

Treasurer whose terms shall be for a period of two (2) years and the same shall be elected

immediately following each general election, but no later than the following April 1. The

Central Committee shall elect either from its’ membership or otherwise a chair, co-chair,

secretary, treasurer and other officers as it may determine. After notification of an election,

any vacancies in said offices shall be filled by the County Central Committee.

A. Duties

1. The Chair shall be the Executive Officer and conduct all meetings of the Central

Committee and assist in the formulation of policies for the conduct of the affairs of the

Republican Party and such other matters as may be assigned.

2. The Vice-Chair shall conduct all meetings in the absence of the Chair and assist in

formulating policies matters as may be assigned.

3. The duties of the Secretary are to keep the minutes of the meetings and read them at the

following meeting, unless waived.

4. The duties of the Treasurer are to keep records of all receipts and disbursements. All

checks shall be signed b the Treasurer and countersigned by the Chair or Co-Chair.

Checks in excess of $500.00 and not previously budgeted shall have the approval of the

County Central Committee. The Treasurer shall prepare a two-year budget for approval

of the County Central Committee and the same shall be presented at the first meeting of

the non-elective calendar year. 

 

And since the ByLaws also say

IX. RULES OF ORDER

Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall prevail unless modified by these by-laws. 

 We should refer to them as well

Art. X. The Officers and the Minutes.

58. Chairman or President. The presiding officer, when no special title has been assigned him, is ordinarily called the Chairman, or the President, or, especially in religious assemblies, the Moderator. In organized societies the constitution always prescribes his title, that of President being most common. In debate he is referred to by his official title and is addressed by prefixing Mr. or Madam, as the case may be, to that title. In referring to himself he should never use the personal pronoun; he generally says, "the chair," which means the presiding officer of the assembly, regardless of whether his position is permanent or temporary. If his position is only temporary he is called the chairman. 

********************************************

This Section is lengthy so I encourage the reader to use the link above.

But this portion needs to be emphasised

*********************************************

The chairman sometimes calls a member to the chair and takes part in the debate.

This should rarely be done, and nothing can justify it in a case where much feeling is shown

and there is a liability to difficulty in preserving order. If the chairman has even the appearance of being a partisan, he loses much of his ability to control those who are on the opposite side of the question.

There is nothing to justify the unfortunate habit some chairmen have of constantly speaking on questions before the assembly, even interrupting the member who has the floor.

One who expects to take an active part in debate should never accept the chair, or at least should not resume the chair, after having made his speech, until after the pending question is disposed of.¹ The presiding officer of a large assembly should never be chosen for any reason except his ability to preside. 

******************************************** 

 The chairman of a committee usually has the most to say in reference to questions before the committee; but the chairman of an ordinary deliberative assembly, especially a large one, should, of all the members, have the least to say upon the merits of pending questions.

********************************************* 

I will leave it to those who have attended our meetings to determine if these last stipulations have been adhered to. 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 12:13 AM CST
Updated: Wednesday, 21 January 2015 9:48 AM CST
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This Weekend the Webmaster took a break from defaming me. 

And decided to slander a local Conservative Business which has a stellar record of supporting  Conservative Causes with Time and Donations.

Now I fully understand why our Webmaster has been casting aspersions on me, because I have been saying some not nice things about him

In my opinion TRUE things but I admit not nice.

So I expect and almost welcome his incoherent responses,

I mean how else can I gauge how effective my articles have been.

What I don't understand is why attack this business?

I spoke with one of the co-owners.

It seems that some time ago our Chair called one of them about Noon,

They are in the Food Services Industry and so they were SWAMPED.

Our Chair was told

One: They could not Talk

Two: That the other Co-owner handled all their advertising

Three: Their standard requirement for ANY ad including donation ads was to receive a Proof Copy for their review.

They never got ANY Proof Copy.

Sometime latter they DID get a Bill for an advertisement  that had been placed WITHOUT their approval.

They have since gotten dunning letters and threats to go Public,

You have a nice business here it would be a shame if we had to smear it with slander. 

This weekend they did go Public.

Our webmaster put a libelous statement on the LCRCC Facebook Group Wall.

It has been taken down.

He also placed a libelous statement on the Business's Facebook Wall

It has been taken down.

He still has a libelous statement on his own Facebook Wall with a link to the Businesses Facebook Wall

Due to their not paying a bill to our LCRCC

I decided

to boycott this place. I ask that you do too

. I will

gladly inform you when they do so you can

return,

but until then all my Cedar Rapids friends

please do

not go there 

  I say GO there have a nice meal and let them know not all members of the Linn County Republican Central Committee are of the same moral character as the little group of lynch mobbers that have congregated on his Facebook Walls Liking his Statement and Commenting.

Having seen the dialog, something soured here. I'm not

sure

what might cause an organization to change demeanor.

The ad and related communications are all above

board, but

remain unpaid.  

 I would say finding out someone tried to CHEAT you and hold you responsible for a Bill you never agreed to MIGHT change one's demeanor.

I understand. It appears this is the result yet again of nefarious activity by one of our executives! 

EXACTLY the business owner I spoke to was quite clear on that point.  The Chair was TOLD what they required before they would authorise payment

The Chair did NOT satisfy the requirements and dunning the business for a Bill they did not agree  to MIGHT constitute nefarious activity by one of our executives ie the County Chair.

In addition placing this lie on the Facebook Wall of others and thereby giving the impression that they agree and approve of that Lie COULD also be considered nefarious action, not by an Executive, just a Webmaster.

I have seen a lot of pretty words on some FB Walls but not much walking the walk to go along with talking the talk.

 Anyone who gathered on the Webmaster's Wall to disect the reputation of two good and decent people who have always supported Conservatives and Conservative causes and never BOTHERED to first find out their side of the story from them?

Should hang their heads in shame,

And they need to stop posting religous statements and try living a few.

You can come after me all you want.  I figure if you can't run with the Big Dogs you'd best stay on the porch.

But these people whose reputations you have besmirched are

INNOCENT

  The old Abbe mounted the pulpit and began his sermon with a voice that cut the air like a whip lash. "Christians!!" "Christians, when the Lord of life and death shall ask me on the day of judgment, 'Pasteur de la Roudaire, where are thy sheep?',

I shall not answer him. When the Lord asks me the second time,'Pasteur de la Roudaire, where are thy sheep?', I will still not answer him.

But when the Lord shall ask me the third time, 'Pasteur de la Roudaire, where are thy sheep?', I shall hang my head in shame and I will answer him,

'They were not sheep, Lord, they were a pack of wolves.'"

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 6:46 AM CST
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Little Bill Dahlsten has lost his Webmaster and does not know where to find him.

Leave him alone and he'll come home wagging his tail behind him.

Or not and at this point I am not certain which is to be most desired.

In the manner of Kipling

Hand me the Old Cigar Box

Give me a Cuba Stout

For things are running crossways

The SubCommittee and Webmaster are Out.

Part of it might be Literacy Issues

The Charter of the Communications SubCommittee as voted on and adopted by the Central Committee states

Mission Statement - The objective of the Communications Team is to manage the LCRCC correspondence including Facebook, website, news releases and online calendar 

and

• Coordinate the use of the LCRCC web site and Facebook content 

Our webmaster varies between

 "And I do not see the website as under communications"

to 

I will not be reporting to the communications team. PERIOD. You and the rest of the team do not communicate, your lack of understanding of technology hinders this and the continual desire to meet on a Saturday evening in a bar opposes any modicum desire to be effective in meeting

When he is not saying things like

"Last the dissolution of website hosting.  If you present this YOU will look like an uncommunicative old f**t! " 

As for the Time of the meeting?

Very few people have to get up early Sunday morning to go to work.

We do not start so early as to interfere with those attending services on Saturday night, nor end so late as to interfere with those attending services Sunday.

We do not start so early that one cannot have dinner at home before the meeting, nor start so late that it is onerous for those who wish to eat at the meeting.

We meet at the Starlite and yes it does have a Bar along with serving food.

But I recall the Webmaster goes to the Organization Meeting and walks by a much larger Bar on the way to the meeting room where he sits back and enjoys his Beer during the meeting.

So I am myself sanguine about his moral bleeting,

Particularly since he did not have those problems when he WAS attending our Saturday Night meetings, Why he even brought his daughter.

So unless he has had some moral epithany I doubt his veracity on this.

I do recall a Saturday Night when both he and the County Chair were at the Starlite with me.

It was just the three of us.

The County Chair stated that they COULD change the time and place of the meeting but felt it best to let the Body decide.  Some wanted to move to the CR Library.

When I informed the County Chair and the Webmaster that that Chair did not have the authority to over rule a decision made by the Body and Voted on as to where and when the meeting was held.

They  got ALL worked up.  How DARE I suggest that the County Chair did not have the Authority to Veto the Full Committee!!

That was the LAST Time either ever attended one of our Saturday Night meetings.

I have some misinformed people refer to some of us having,  whisper it ,  Secret meeting?

It has been open knowledge that we have had formal and informal meetings every Saturday Night at the Starlite for YEARS,

Never been a Secret, never been hidden and there are from 8 to 10 people who do not seem to have any problem attending regularly. 

Besides like the venue of the Org meeting we have our Communications meeting where you cannot see the bar.

As to the name calling I really don't care how the Webmaster refers to me.

If he chooses to post on one of my friends Facebook Wall

James Knox Daniel W Kauffman = ass

at least I can understand what he is saying, unlike

 James Knox Kind of funny. Everyone knows a treasurer should balance tge checkbook, be accountabke, report accurately on expenditures but I guess you and the auther of this lie of a blog! 

Shoot I HAVE said not nice things about him so turn about is fair play.

But could he do it more coherently or MAYBE use the Edit Button to tidy it up? 

Hmm that was dumb our Webmaster never edits the Fan Page,

He leaves multiple identical posts up there for ever.

I don't understand that.  The Web Page itself looks really good, give credit where credit is due.

But his unedited Fan Page looks like a mashup by a teenager.

At least the two duplicate posts of his children opening Christmas presents was finally taken down.

Cute kids but not normal Party activity.

I guess that is the problem with auto posting, it NEEDS follow  up editing, which is lacking,

As for the meeting time and place?

I heard the SubCommittee Chair was berated by the County Chair over this issue.

So I questioned him.

Were you given a List of people who wish to attend our meetings but cannot do so on Saturday?  

NO?

Were you given contact information of  people who wish to attend our meetings but cannot do so on Saturday?  

NO?

Were you given days of the week that might be better for people who wish to attend our meetings but cannot do so on Saturday?  

NO?

Were you given times that might be better for people who wish to attend our meetings but cannot do so on Saturday?  

NO? 

So let me see if I understand

A charge was made that there are some people who wish to attend our meetings but cannot do so on Saturday.

Whose names are                              UNKNOWN

Whose contact info is                         UNKNOWN

Who wish to attend on days that are   UNKNOWN 

At times that are                                 UNKNOWN 

Somehow the above does not strike me as

Constructive Input

and anyone who thinks it is?

Should not attempt to walk and chew gum at the same time.

I have an idea for anyone who may wish to attend the Communications meeting but cannot on Saturday Night

It is a Test

Devise a method of Communicating with the Communications SubCommittee

Hint: contacting the County Chair does not seem to be working for you. 

Now that I have finished this I think I will go over to Town  and Country Godfathers, have a nice meal and support a Good Conservative Business. 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 3:29 PM CST
Updated: Sunday, 18 January 2015 9:27 PM CST
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Everyone knows what a Treasurer is what they do, what they should be expected to do.

Problem is, not everyone agrees on what those factors are.

So if the Central Committee wishes to ponder this matter we should?

Refer to the     County Constitution 

 

 V. OFFICERS

The officers of this Central Committee shall be a chairman, co-chairman, secretary and

treasurer, and such other members as the County Central Committee in its by-laws may

provide. The Central committee shall organize following each general election, but no later

than the following April 1.

 

VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the

Linn County Central Committee. The Executive Committee shall transact the routine business

of the Linn County Central Committee during the interim of the meetings of the Linn County

Central Committee. Any business transacted or action taken shall be reported to the Linn

County Central Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Executive

Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee, and none of its acts

shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee. 

The ByLaws 

V. OFFICERS

The officers of the Central Committee shall consist of a Cahir, Co-Chair, Secretary and

Treasurer whose terms shall be for a period of two (2) years and the same shall be elected

immediately following each general election, but no later than the following April 1. The

Central Committee shall elect either from its’ membership or otherwise a chair, co-chair,

secretary, treasurer and other officers as it may determine. After notification of an election,

any vacancies in said offices shall be filled by the County Central Committee.

A. Duties

1. The Chair shall be the Executive Officer and conduct all meetings of the Central

Committee and assist in the formulation of policies for the conduct of the affairs of the

Republican Party and such other matters as may be assigned.

2. The Vice-Chair shall conduct all meetings in the absence of the Chair and assist in

formulating policies matters as may be assigned.

3. The duties of the Secretary are to keep the minutes of the meetings and read them at the

following meeting, unless waived.

4. The duties of the Treasurer are to keep records of all receipts and disbursements. All

checks shall be signed b the Treasurer and countersigned by the Chair or Co-Chair.

Checks in excess of $500.00 and not previously budgeted shall have the approval of the

County Central Committee. The Treasurer shall prepare a two-year budget for approval

of the County Central Committee and the same shall be presented at the first meeting of

the non-elective calendar year. 

 

And since the ByLaws also say

IX. RULES OF ORDER

Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall prevail unless modified by these by-laws. 

 We should refer to them as well

Art. X. The Officers and the Minutes.

62. Treasurer. The duties of this officer vary in different societies. In probably the majority of cases he acts as a banker, merely holding the funds deposited with him and paying them out on the order of the society signed by the president and the secretary. He is always required to make an annual report, and in many societies he also makes a quarterly report which may be in the form given below. If the society has auditors the report should be handed to them, with the vouchers, in time to be audited before the meeting. The auditors having certified to its correctness, submit their report, and the chair puts the question on adopting it, which has the effect of approving the treasurer's report, and relieving him from responsibility in case of loss of vouchers, except in case of fraud. If there are no auditors the report when made should be referred to an auditing committee, who should report on it later.

It should always be remembered that the financial report is made for the information of members. The details of dates and separate payments for the same object are a hindrance to its being understood, and are useless, as it is the duty of the auditing committee to examine into details and see if the report is correct. The best form for these financial reports depends upon the kind of society, and is best determined by examining those made in similar societies. The following brief report is in a form adapted to many societies where the financial work is a very subordinate part of their work:

REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE M. L. SOCIETY
FOR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31, 1914.

Receipts.

Balance on hand January 1, 1914....           $ 25.75 Initiation fees ...................  $ 50.00 Members' dues .....................   150.00 Fines .............................    10.50   210.50       Total ........................           $236.25

Disbursements.

Rent of Hall.........................$ 80.00 Electric lights .....................  22.00 Stationery and Printing..............  15.00 Repair of Furniture..................  10.00 Janitor .............................  60.00  $187.00    Balance on hand March 31, 1914.....           49.25     Total............................          236.25                             S........ M........,                                             Treasurer  Examined and found correct.    R........ V........ }    J........ L........ } Auditing Committee.

 This portion needs to be emphasised

 It should always be remembered that the financial report is made for the information of members. The details of dates and separate payments for the same object are a hindrance to its being understood, and are useless, as it is the duty of the auditing committee to examine into details and see if the report is correct 

All of the tireless requests for drilled down data are properly the responsibility of the Financial/Audit Subcommitee which we have.

Of course they MIGHT want to know the reaon for requests.  Mainly because if everyone demanded detailed information continually they would have little time for anything else in their lives.

What we saw recently was a hysterical reaction to a common issue with financial reporting. Mistakes happen things are over looked.

It appears that the Ethics Board is mainly interested in the Record being Correct and if there are Errors that they be Corrected.  That is all.

No Dire threats of Violations, Penalites and Fines

OH MY! 

Which seems to have so upset some of our Central Committee members that in a fit or Outrage they CALLED the Ethics Board and COMPLAINED about  the absence of Declarations of Violations, Penalties or Fines.

Let us put that in perspective if someone's place of Employment were being audited by the IRS and the Finding was that there were Book Keeping issues that could be easily corrected but nothing warranting further action AND that someone called the IRS and COMPLAINED.

I don't think it would be because of their interest in Justice, but more likely because they wanted someone REMOVED from the Company.

Most likely someone whose presence they found inconvienient?

Our Treasurer has BEEN inconvienient to some of the Executive Board

He informed the Chair that due to the FACT that they Committee had authorised with a Vote payment  for services she was required to sign some checks.

Which the Chair REFUSED TO DO. That constitutes a de facto  ILLEGAL Veto of the Body's Decision

Remember that Pesky portion of our Constitution which states

 The Executive

Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee, and none of its acts

shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee. 

Yep the Chair left THAT part of the Constitution on the floor shattered

Then there was a Check which should not have been signed.  The Chair had been informed that the Body had NOT authorised a payment and in fact the Finance SubCommittee had chosen to propose an alternate  solution.

KNOWING that the Treasurer had refused to sign the check due to it's violation of the Bodies wihes 

The Chair created a Hysterical Faux Crisis where the Check HAD to be signed and convinced the Co-Chair to ILLEGALLY sign a check with them.

Remember that part of the ByLaws which state

 All

checks shall be signed b the Treasurer and countersigned by the Chair or Co-Chair.

Yep that portion of the ByLaws lay on the floor shattered as well.

But some may say what about all the MISTAKES in the DR-2 forms???

Yep there were mistakes and the Chair with the help of others sent a nice long list of them to the Ethics Board

Linn County Republican Central Committee DR-2 Disclosure Audit May 2013 – October 2014

And the Ethic Board sent them back a nice letter

 Ethics Board Cover Letter 

Along with a CORRECTED  list with  all the mistakes that THEY had missed in addition to the ones they found

Corrected List

It would appear that we are ALL Human and sometimes overlook things even when we are trying to find them.

So it would appear this whole issue was more like Tales Told By Idiots, Full of Sound and Fury Signifying

 NOTHING

The State Central Committee has NO interest in any further pursuit of this issue.  As a matter of Fact a source on the SCC stated that to their knowledge there WAS NO RPI Investigation.

My information is that the Ethics Board is drafting a letter that in their Determination all issues have been dealt with and they also have no interest in further pursuing this issue,

It would appear from some emails I have seen that they HAVE also determined that some members of our Central Committee are pathetic jokes, but that as well is not cause for official action 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 3:35 PM CST
Updated: Saturday, 17 January 2015 4:09 PM CST
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 Now it is true that using the Ethics Board in an attempt to silence someone is not something unknown to the Central Committee.

I recall about 6 or 7 years ago, I was doing about the same thing I am doing now.

Writing articles on this Website detailing what portions of the County Constitution, ByLaws and Rules of Order a previous Executive Board was violating , when---

I got a phone call at home from the State Ethics Board inquiring  who was on the Board of Directors of something called the Linn County Republican Whigs.

I replied, "Bu-but we don't have a Board of Directors we are a FACEBOOK Group.

It seems someone (turned out to be the Chair at the time) was concerned that someone might confuse the Linn County Republican WHIGS with the Linn County Republican PARTY when we took out an ad opposing a Local Option Sales Tax Extension and had wait for it--

Filed a complaint with the State Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

Turns out that the cost of the ad was below the amount where it was required to be reported and the Ethics Board thought the reason for the complaint ie someone might confuse the Republican Whigs with the Republican Party was a tad lame?

In any event we decided to fulfill all the Ethics Boards requirements as if we HAD spent an amount that required notification and--

the Iowa Conservative Union was born.

Bringing the ICU into this is fitting because it was why one of the Little Piggies was so incensed that the Ethics Board saw no reason to take any definititive action.

 It seems that the the Central Committee's Treasurer wrote a check on the LCRCC account that should have been written on the ICU account.

When he determined his error he wrote a check to make good the amount erroneously withdawn from the LCRCC acount and informed the Ethics Board.

NO Smoking Gun.

I believe the incident has been referred to by one of the members of the Ethics Board as

 " the famous $100 check transaction"

(note they do not usually make sarcastic references to something they take seriously)

So the Little Piggies and Goldilocks went looking for another Smokng Gun.. 

One of the little Piggies approached the Treasurer of the ICU trying to get access to the ICUs financial records.

The little Piggy tried coaxing and tried smooth talking.

It was  Goldilocks who played Bad Cop.

Informing the ICU Treasurer that they might be in serious trouble and therefore should open the bank records to Goldilocks and the Little Piggies so they could HELP them.  

One of the Little Piggies even went so far as to be Outraged I tell you OUTRAGED!! because they thought the ICU Treasurer had LIED to them about why the Bank Records could not be made available to them,.

Me I think the fact that it would have been totally Unethical and a Complete Violation of his Fiduciary Responsibilites should have been reason enough.

But I guess small matters of morality such as that are not that important to them. 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 8:47 AM CST
Updated: Friday, 16 January 2015 9:06 AM CST
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It was the Best of Times.  It was the Worst of Times

It was a Time of Hope.  It was a Time of Despair.

We had Everything.  We had Nothing.

Our Novemenber Central Committee meeting in a word was so much like the above paradoxical literary couplets as to be amazing.

We were told the SKY IS FALLING

Ethics Violations, Penalities Fines OH MY

We were ALSO told

After looking over the various LCRCC financial statements and DR-2 forms, there does not appear to be any misuse of funds or other intentionally deceitful practices. 

We were told

" RPI conducted an independent investigation and provided me with the following summary:" 

 A member of the State Central Committee however has stated that to THEIR knowledge there was no RPI investigation.

There may however have been a Legal Opinion requested by them based on information given to them.

The question of the origin of "After looking over the various LCRCC financial statements and DR-2 forms, there does not appear to be any misuse of funds or other intentionally deceitful practices." is a mystery to me.

To complete the couplet paradigm not one but two positions were affected.

A Parliamentarian was disposed of and a Treasurer was persuaded to step aside until matters were resolved with RPI and the State Ethics Board.

The disposal of the Parliamentarian was not a surprise to me.

I mean if you continually tell someone that what they have done, what they are doing and what they wish to do would be a violation of the Group's Constitution, ByLaws and Rules of Order one of two things will happen.

They will modify their behavior OR they will develope some way to get rid of you. 

I recall the first time these concepts came up. I was at the Starlite sitting with the Chair and the Webmaster after a Communications Subcommittee meeting.

 The Chair announced there were some who wished to move the meeting to the Cedar Rapids Library and while they COULD make that decision it might be better to let the Committee do so.

I informed them that the Chair did not have that authoirity.  A little matter of the County Constitution which says

The Executive Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn Conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee.unty Central Committee, and none of its acts shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee

And since the time and place of the monthly meetings had been set by a vote of the Central Committee it had to remain the same until the Committee voted otherwise.

Boy did they NOT like THAT.  Gave me all kinds of arguments, while I set thinking is this a problem of Reading Comprehension or just a Total Disregard for our Rules of Order??

I mean to ME "subject to the orders of " means what it says, unless of course we are operating under "Alice throught the Looking Glass" rules where words mean what they are TOLD to mean .

I forsaw a problem that would eventually arise so my removal was not a surprise. 

I do think it would have been courteous to inform the person affected.

It was strange to discover one was not the Parliamentarian by having the Chair announce there was no Parliamentarian in attendence.

Of course the reason for the Treasurer asked to step aside was because--

Hmm along with these financial issues could it ALSO have been because the Treasurer told the Chair that since the Committee had voted upon and authorized payments they were REQUIRED to sign the checks paying those funds.

You know that pesky little section I quoted above about who gives Orders.

But the Chair REFUSED.  Because they did not feel like doing what the Committee had voted to authorize?

Then in addition to the Checks that Were Not Signed But Should Have Been.

There was the Check Which Was Signed But Should NOT Have Been. 

An Insurance Policy was going to expire!

The Sky Was Falling.

A check HAD to be signed.

It did not matter that the Body had not aurhorized the payment.

It did not matter that the Finance SubCommittee which the Chair had declined to recognize at a previous meething had TOLD the Chair that they were looking at another Company. 

No that Check had to be signed and since the Treasurer for the above reasons refused to sign it the Chair convinced the Co-Chair to sign a check with them.

Why does this matter?

Just a little detail of our ByLaws which state

All checks shall be signed b the Treasurer and countersigned by the Chair or Co-Chair. 

Now if a check is NOT signed by the Treasurer? What should it be called?  Some might say the answer is

                    ILLEGAL 

 But we have now an Update on progress.

An update which lets us know

"To date, the IECDB has reviewed our records and they have identified additional issues beyond those stated above" 

What the Update does NOT say is that the additional  issues were given to us on wait for it--

 Dec the 9th

 Ethics Board Cover Letter 

The Original DR-2 form can be seen HERE 

The Report with additions marked in Red HERE 

Yes there are quite a few questions that could come to mind.

Like instead of asking the Treasurer to step aside and going to the trouble of appointing an Interim Treasurer why was this issue  not handed to our Financial Committee.

 Oh well it does not matter the latest info from a member of the State Central Committee is that RPI does not have Any that is NO interest in pursuing this issue further.

And my information is that the Executive Director and Legal Counsel for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board is drafting a letter which should state that they also will not be taking this matter further,

So all of this appears to be OVER.

I do understand that on the issues of Violations, Penalites and Fines OH MY!  Someone from this Committee called the Ethics Board and ARGUED with them about not punishing anyone.

So if at this months meeting if everything is NOT returned to normal

We will have to ponder if there were other reasons for asking the Treasurer to step aside rather than the ones stated. 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 2:04 AM CST
Updated: Thursday, 15 January 2015 3:00 AM CST
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 Have you ever had a trader amongst you? We do!

           https://www.angelfire.com/ky/kentuckydan/HotIssues/

 I 

 almost rushed out and had cards printed up that said.

I took you to be a man of honor and integrity. As such, I was quite amazed at the amount of misinformation and outright wrong statements you have made in your blog.  I suggest that you verify your information before putting it out there for the world to read.   

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 8:29 AM CST
Updated: Saturday, 20 December 2014 1:15 PM CST
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We have up to this point mainly discussed the various portions of the County Constitution, ByLaws and Rules of Order that our Chair has trampled upon.

I have  tried to explain why this should matter to folks.

It seems like this pattern is to some extent endemic.

We have periods where the Executives respect the Rights of the Committee.  See themselves as Trusted Servants not Rulers.

Then we have the Inverse. Those who must control every aspect and ignore totally Constitutions, ByLaws and Rules of Order as if they did not exist.

Sometimes it seems that these things become what that they want them to be and not what they are.

I was told recently by one of the Chairs of a Subcommitee that the Chair informed them that they HAD to change their Charter.

That the portion where they report to the Full Committee should be replaced with report to the Secretary and the Chair,

That this was IN The ByLaws!!

People the ByLaws comprise a page and a half.  I have read them numerous times there is nothing in them that remotely resembles that claim.

Check for Yourself HERE 

You might think that if someone needs such total control there might be some benefit they could show us.

Some record of Sucess that in some eyes justify the total violation of all our Rules of Order?

But I am afraid that the record for the LCRCC this year is a lot like that of the Light Brigade.

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

"Forward, the LCRCC!

 Yes this year we have had all the sucess of a brigade of light calvary charging emplaced cannon.

In good years we have had vibrant enthusiastic meetings with healthy numbers.

We are down to a half or so.

We have had in the past very sucessful events and fund raisers.

We did nothing for 7 months and then the last 5 months of the year?

We had an event every other month two of them at the peak of an election cycle.

Not sure that was effective scheduling.

I did not attend the First one.

I was offered over time in an air conditioned factory versus an outdoor event in August.

Nope. I stayed inside

The Second was the Chili Cook Off that USED to be in the Spring and in the past was a roarinig sucess,.

Attendance of a hundred almost two.

But we moved it to the Fall,

We also moved it to the Victory Office so along with a Disasterous Event we could interfere with their work while at the same time packing everyone in like sardines.

I think the 5 tickets I bought was 1/6th of their gross.

Then there was the Christmas Event where we rattled around in a room we have in the past packed,

Great speakers and guests they were about 1/6th of the attendance.

Folks we really need to find someone who knows what they are doing and is also willing to let the Commitee do the Job it has done so well in that past.

If this keeps up we will be back to where we were a few years back

Dead broke and almost empty rooms 

Posted by ky/kentuckydan at 6:55 AM CST
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