Past meeting minutes

May 21 Meeting Minutes Added by Mark Petzold on May 24, 2009 at 2:56pm Minutes of the Tea Party of West Michigan May 21, 2009 Great Lakes fluid Power 4170 36th St SE Kentwood, MI 49512-2903 16 members in attendance The meeting was opened with Prayer. It was suggested we all view the video regarding democracies & republics which is on our site. Getting our Message Out. One member suggested we put flyers on bulletin boards in restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses. Telephone poles were also mentioned but it was pointed out that these are not public property. Mark Petzold will broadcast on our website requesting RSVP’s for our various events. Healthcare Now is having a rally on May 30th to promote universal health care. We will join with Grassroots in Michigan to form a counter protest. See site for details. We are to watch for a significant date for Cap and Trade in order to organize a protest. We are still trying to find out what the Tea Party Convention scheduled for June 13 in Lansing is all about. Apparently it is a training opportunity but there is uncertainty about delegates. See site for information regarding car pooling etc.. Bloggers challenge is how we connect and get things done. We each introduced ourselves. Mark Petzold explained our organizational goal is to be low on structure and high on principle. The steering committee is nearing completion of forming our principles. Once completed, they will be posted on our site and discussed in future meetings. One of the attendees has a knowledge of law and will give a ten minute overview of what we as a group can legally do in the current climate. We need to look into initiatives and write statutes to hold our politicians accountable. The steering committee is not static, in other words, people will be moving in and out. Prayers are requested for the Tea Parties and that we stay with our goals and avoid grassroots conflicts. We must work together within our own and with Tea Party groups in other areas. We will support and publicize other parties. Judge Andrew Napolitano has a book out–Dred Scott’s Revenge. This is a recommended read. Emphasis is to be put on our growing and organizing. We have to communicate and network to continue growth. We must remember that as a group, we are non partisan A tutorial is needed on organization of the political parties, starting with precinct delegates. Most of us are still learning how to use our web site. One feature we should be using to get our message out and to increase our membership is the “invite” item. A forum is for groups open discussion. A blog is for individuals sharing information. Comments or responses can be made in both features. A web site of note is CAFR1.com – Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports. This site lists where government money comes from and where it goes Our July 4th Tea Party is now to be held at Riverside Park. It will last an hour and a half and the goal is to stay focused on the theme “Reclaiming our Independence” Our next meeting will be held on May 28th. Watch our site for location. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM. Last updated by Mark Petzold May 24.