** DRAFT**  2007 Convention Minutes  ** DRAFT** 

Friday, August 10, 2007: General Session

5:40pm - President Chris Stampolis opened the general session and welcomed delegates to the convention.

5:45pm - Heather Lacayo, Credentials Chair, gave the preliminary credentials report listing 60 affiliated clubs with a maximum of 479 total votes available.

5:50pm - Todd Fitch, Bylaws/Rules Chair, reported that the committee met earlier in the afternoon and four bylaw changes were submitted.  Only one was accepted by the committee.
    - The accepted bylaw change was to provide 30 days notice for any bylaw changes and to allow bylaw changes to be presented at a Board of Directors meeting.

6:00pm – Assembly member Felipe Fuentes (39th AD), gave a talking about what it's like to be the newest assembly member.  Afterwards, he talked about presidential candidate Bill Richardson.

6:27pm - Micky Oskie made motion to extend the deadline for officer nominations to 3pm Saturday, August 11, 2007.  Second/passed unanimously.

6:35pm – Meeting adjourned.


Saturday, August 11, 2007: General Session

5:00pm - President Chris Stampolis opened the general session.

5:05pm – Congresswoman Dianne Watson (33rd CD), provided an update on what is happening in Washington.

5:25pm – Heather Lacayo, Credentials Chair, reported that there were 145 voting delegates present.  Julian Berger made motion to accept the report. Second/Passed unanimously.

5:27pm – Henry Vandermeir, Convention Secretariat, reported the names of the candidates running for office:

President: Henry Vandermeir
Secretary: Heather Lacayo
Treasurer: Herb Engstrom
Controller: Steve Cummings
Central Area Trustee: Les Marsden

Area Vice President, Central Area South: Jery Lacayo
Area Vice President, Los Angeles City: Marc Salzberg
Regional Vice President, Central Valley South: Helen Acosta
Regional Vice President, San Fernando Valley: Marilyn Grunwald
Regional Vice President, West LA County: Greg Valtierra
Regional Vice President, South LA County: Mark Bowen

He reported that all candidates were unopposed.

5:30pm – Mark Bowen made motion to accept all officers by vote of acclamation.
Second/passed unanimously.

5:31pm – Todd Fitch, Northern Trustee, presented the trustee’s finance audit for the previous period.

5:33pm – Greg Valtierra made motion to accept audit report. Second/passed unanimously.

5:34pm – Craig Athon gave Resolutions committee report.
Two resolutions regarding Impeachment of Bush and Cheney and Iraq War Policy were passed.  (Final resolutions passed can be viewed here: 2007 Resolutions.)

6:01pm – Herb Engstrom, Treasurer, gave brief financial overview. He explained that the current balance is between $2000-3000.  Current monthly income of approximately $500 is just a little higher than expenses and does not provide for savings.  A more detailed report with exact figures would be provided at the Board of Directors meeting on Sunday afternoon.

6:05pm - Todd Fitch, Bylaws/Rules Chair, presented the only bylaws change request:

- The bylaw change is to provide 30 days notice for any bylaw changes and to allow bylaw changes to be presented at a Board of Directors meeting.
    - David Buchanan made a motion to strike references to “Board of Directors”.  After various debate pro/con, a motion was made to table the vote until Sunday’s General session.  Second/Passed.

6:30pm – Chris Stampolis announced the award winners for 2007:

    Rookie of the Year: Cara Robin
    Lifetime Achievement: Quincy Beaver
    Club of the Year: Hayward Demos Democratic Club

6:35pm – General session adjourned


Sunday, August 12, 2007: General Session

10:25am - President Chris Stampolis opened the general session.

10:38am – Body approved four environmental resolutions with one abstain.

10:45am – Panel discussion on “Values” in relation to politics. Panelists were John Cleary, Ted Smith, and Ahjamu Makaleni.

12:03pm – Motion was made to do an informal presidential straw poll of remaining convention delegates. Second/Passed.

Total number of participants: 71
Edwards: 29
Undecided: 14
Obama: 10
Kucinich: 8
Clinton: 5
Richardson: 4
Abstain: 1

12:16pm – Bylaws amendment proposal from previous session was readdressed.  After various friendly amendments and substitute motions, the final motion was to accept only the notification portion of the amendment proposal which states that all proposed bylaw changes must be submitted to the Bylaws and Rules committee “30 days” prior to consideration by convention delegates.  Motion Passed.

12:30pm – Motion was made to instruct the incoming president to refer the reviewing of the existing constitution to the current bylaws committee or to create an ad-hoc committee for that purpose. Second/Passed.

12:35pm – Swearing in of 2007-2009 officers.

12:40pm – Presentation of award to Chris Stampolis for his services to CDC.

12:45pm – Convention closed by Chris Stampolis.