2023 June Meeting

Call to Meeting

Hello Natives!

As is our custom and tradition, we hold our meetings after the Utah GOP SCC meetings. This Quarter’s SCC meeting has been juggled around a little bit to accommodate their Special Election Convention. I withheld noticing this meeting until that proverbial dust settled.

I’ll report on my re-petitioning to the UTGOP for continued recognition as an auxiliary.

Our bylaws could use some updating. I will bring a copy of our bylaws to “redline” with potential changes, which we will then Notice and vote on at our next Convention. I anticipate these to be primarily housekeeping in nature.

We anticipate the SCC Meeting will adjourn around 1:30pm, and have tentatively scheduled our meeting to being at 2pm – however, our official start time may be later than this to accommodate the business of the SCC.

Hope to see you there!

Chief Joseph Levi

Minutes

1. Call to Order

Meeting was called to order with more than 10 members present (including those in-person, as well as those participating digitally).

2. Customs & Traditions

Discussion was held on prior customs and traditions that we would like to see continued.

3. Officer Reports

Our Secretary had a conflict and asked that the Chief take his duties for this meeting.

Chief Levi reported on the preceding SCC meeting and updated members about Caucus. He asked that we make a concerted effort to reach out to Natives in our communities and friend-circles, and invite them to attend Caucus. He reminded us that “Caucus” is a based on a Native American word and tradition.

4. Bylaw Changes Discussion

Chief Levi presented his recommendations for changes to our Bylaws. After discussion, the proposed changes were supported without objection and will be forwarded on to the body at our next Convention.

A question was raised regarding an email with went out to Auxiliaries by the Party Secretary which was felt to include requirements for information regarding re-petitioning which is not required by the UTGOP Bylaws. Chief Levi read the emails he received. He noted that rather than answering the requested questions, he went to the UTGOP Bylaws and responded and provided his responded to each of the “criteria established in Section 3B”. The consensus of the body was that this was the correct and proper way for an Auxiliar to re-petition to the UTGOP State Executive Committee.

Chief Levi reminded the body that the next steps are for the UTGOP Executive Committee to meet and evaluate the responses — but since this is “business”, that it could only be done when a quorum of the UTGOP Executive Committee was present, which has historically does not have a good track record. He reminded the body that the Auxiliaries had been providing the necessary members to the UTGOP Executive Committee to count toward Quorum, where other members of the EC (specifically Elected Officials) traditionally did not show up. He reminded the body that when the matter was brought up by Gina W. in a prior SCC meeting that Chief Levi argued “if the problem is about not having a Quorum present, perhaps it would be better to remove from the quorum requirement Elected Officials, who should be present to report”, but not to vote on whether or not they’re doing what the EC and SCC are directing them to do.

Chief Levi reminded the body that Auxiliaries no longer have a vote on the Executive Committee.

Chief Levi continued: When a quorum of the EC meets and reviews the information provided by Auxiliaries in their re-petition, the UTGOP Bylaws states that if they determine ” … that an auxiliary no longer meets any of the … criteria, it may recommend rescinding the auxiliary status of that group to the State Central Committee.” They do not “approve” or “reject” Auxiliaries, they simply review the provided information, and if they determine one of the 7 requirements in section 3B has not been met, then (and only then) can they “recommend rescinding the auxiliary status of that group to the State Central Committee”. There is no “recommendation for re-approval” or “re-certification”.

Once initially approved, an auxiliary is an auxiliary until a quorum of the EC meets to review the re-petitioning documents provided to them, determines that one or more of the requirements was no longer met, adds an agenda item to the next SCC meeting with a recommendation “rescinding the auxiliary status of that group”, discussion is had, a motion is made and seconded to rescind the auxiliary status, and a majority vote of a quorum of the SCC is held to affirm that recommendation. No requirement for a vote for re-acceptance of an auxiliary is present in the UTGOP Bylaws.

A request was made by the President/Chair of another auxiliary who attended the meeting to provide this information so they could respond to the Party Secretary in-kind. It was felt that the Secretary was requiring more than that which was required by the UTGOP Bylaws, and had provided factually incorrect information regarding the provided “requirements”.

Chief Levi assured us that he had complied with the UTGOP Bylaws in regards to our organization’s re-petition to maintain our auxiliary status.

5. Pow-Wow/Q&A

Further discussion was had on politics, requiring ID to vote, displeasure with the perception of potential fraud due to mail-in-balloting, and COVID and COVID ID cards.

6. Adjourn

Having no further topics for discussion, the meeting was adjourned without objection.

Notes for Reference

Taken from the Utah Republican Party Bylaws (as amended on 08-13-2022):

B. Auxiliaries. The State Executive Committee shall ensure that groups petitioning for official auxiliary status meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Have submitted a copy of the group’s bylaws to the State Executive Committee for review and;
2. The group’s stated purpose and bylaws comply with and assist in the Party’s purpose of electing Republicans to office and;
3. The group provides a list of at least 25 active members and their contact information to the State Executive Committee and;
4. All voting members of the group are registered Republicans, except for teenage and college age groups who are old enough to vote shall be registered Republicans.
5. The group shall accept all registered Republicans who meet eligibility requirements as set forth in the auxiliary’s bylaws. Teenage and college groups may accept members not old enough to vote as set forth in their bylaws.
6. The group’s documents shall outline a method of election of officers with terms of office not being greater than two years. The auxiliary shall provide written proof an election for officers has been held within the past two years with a minimum of 25 credentialed members, or 10 credentialed members for teenage groups, participating in the election.
7. The group shall meet at least quarterly with a minimum of 10 members in attendance. Notice of all meetings shall be noticed to all members.

C. To remain a Party Auxiliary, an Auxiliary shall re-petition prior to the 1st State Central Committee meeting following each State organizing Convention by providing documents meeting criteria established in Section 3B.

D. The State Executive Committee shall also assist and mentor auxiliaries to remain productive in helping the State Party achieve its goals. If the State Executive Committee determines that an auxiliary no longer meets any of the above criteria, it may recommend rescinding the auxiliary status of that group to the State Central Committee.