(May 8, 2006)  The May 2006 meeting was opened by the NC 

AGENDA
Announcement of Washington State SC Election
Appointment of Advisory Board Recording Secretary by NC
NC Out of Town, Scott Burow Acting NC
Voter Fraud Committee Report Submitted 
Call for Motion on Voter Fraud Committee Report
Motion 06-09. Adoption of Voter Fraud Committee Report
Motion 06-10. Accept Voter Fraud Committee Report
Motion 06-10 Ruled Out of Order by NC
Call for Motion to Adopt Voter Fraud Committee's Report
EC Announcement- Open Seats 2006 Election
Resignation of Angie Rayfield, SEMA SC Representative
Vacant SEMA SC Regional Representative
Adjournment

(6 May 2006) By Darilee Bednar, NW/Plains CC Rep

FY. Mike Sweeney has called for an election in the state of Washington State for SC. This term is for 2 years. Nominations are now open.... and the election will immediately follow.

(May 17, 2006) By Darilee Bednar, NW/Plains CC Rep

Congratulations to Mike Sweeney... who continues as the SC for the state of Washington...

(May 7, 2006) By the NC:

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Donna Allen (CC Moore Co., Kleberg Co., and Jim Hogg Co., TX) as Board Secretary, replacing Ellen Pack, to serve until the end of the NC's term (Aug 31, 2006).

Please signify any objections to Donna's appointment."

(May 10, 2006) By the NC:

With 10 members signifying No Objection, 1 member accidentally signifying No Objection on Exec rather than Board-L, 1 member Abstaining and 1 member not responding - Donna Allen is confirmed as the AB Secretary, to serve until Aug 31, 2006.

No Objections: Bettie Wood, Cyndie Enfinger, George Waller, Jan Cortez, Jeff Scism, Karen De Groote-Johnson, Larry Flesher, Scott Burow, Sundee Maynez, Suzanne Shephard

No Objection posted to Exec: Darilee Bednar

Abstaining: Linda Blum-Barton

Not responding: Phyllis Rippee

(May 10, 2006) By the NC: Phyllis' No Objection crossed my post. Her "no objection" makes 11 members signifying no objection.

(May 10, 2006) By the NC: I will be out of town until last [next] Friday evening and will, so I'm told, have no on-line access. In my absence Scott will be acting NC.

(May 10, 2006) By the NC:

The Voter Fraud Committee has changed the name assigned for the following procedures to "Fraudulent Registrations" which more accurately reflects the situation these procedures address.

Procedures for Fraudulent Registrations

It is the policy of the USGenWeb Project that a member, where duly qualified, may cast only one vote per office, or per question in polls.

In the event a member registers to vote more than one time the procedures as outlined in the Election Committee guidelines will be followed.

In the event the EC, per its current guidelines, reports a possible case of Fraudulent Registrations to the NC/AB the following steps will be taken:

1. The NC/AB member will forward a copy of the report to Exec.
2. The NC will assign a sequential number to the report, notify the SC(s), ASC(s), SP(s) and individual(s) named in the report that such a report has been received.
3. The NC will seek a volunteer from the AB to lead the investigation. If there are no volunteers the NC will lead the investigation. All parties involved will be given the opportunity to provide input. All documentation will be collected by the leader only. The AB may use the services of the Technical Advisor (see below) in the investigation.
4. The person(s) being investigated will be accorded the benefit f doubt if reasonable explanations are proffered, and they will be given the opportunity for review and comment at each point of the investigation.
5. Based on discussion of the findings the AB shall determine by vote whether or not to remove the individual(s) from the Registered Voter List and whether any additional action should be undertaken.
6. The NC shall advise, via e-mail, the parties involved of the AB's determination with a cc to Exec.

In the event a possible case of Fraudulent Registrations or suspected case of aliases is reported to the NC or AB member by an individual the following steps will be taken:

1. The AB member receiving notification of a possible fraudulent registrations situation and/or suspected case of aliases will ask the notifying individual if he/she will agree to the disclosure of his/her name. If so the AB member will forward the e-mail to the NC and Exec. If not the AB member will remove all identification of the sender from the e-mail and forward the e-mail to the Exec and forward a full copy of the e-mail to the NC.
2. The NC shall notify the EC of the situation and ask the EC to check its files for possible multiple voter registrations and for any information the EC may have that has a bearing on the reported situation.
3. Items 2 through 6 above will be followed

Technical Advisor

The Advisory Board will appoint, by vote, someone to the position of Technical Advisor.

The Technical Advisor will provide advice as requested in topics including but not limited to Domain Registrations, IP Addressing (TCP/IP), Routing, Electronic Mail, FTP and General Internet Technology.

Applicants will demonstrate education and experience related to these topics.

The Technical Advisor may be requested to provide advice in relation to grievances, registration conflicts and other situations requiring the Advisor to agree to confidentiality.

*********

Voter Fraud Committee:

George Waller, Chair
Cyndie Enfinger
Darilee Bednar
Linda Barton
Suzanne Shepard
Linda Davenport (ex-officio)

(May 12, 2006) Questions about Technical Advisor by Larry Flesher. Questions answered by George Waller

(May 12, 2006) Question about Technical Advisor by Phyllis Rippee. Question answered by George Waller

(May 21, 2006) By the NC:

Discussion has ceased on the Voter Fraud Committee's Report. May I please hear a motion to accept the following report? [report followed]

(May 23, 2006) So moved by Jeff Scism. Seconded by Karen De Groote-Johnson

(May 23, 2006) Question by Scott Burow asking if Jeff intended to include changes to the report as discussed on ABChat

(May 23, 2006) By Jeff Scism (Phrasing of the Motion for clarity):

I Move the following report ( first as submitted by the committee) be adopted as modified by the suggestion discussed on The ABChat list

The amended report is:

Procedures for Fraudulent Registrations

It is the policy of the USGenWeb Project that a member, where duly qualified, may cast only one vote per office, or per question in polls.

In the event a member registers to vote more than one time the procedures as outlined in the Election Committee guidelines will be followed.

In the event the EC, per its current guidelines, reports a possible case of Fraudulent Registrations to the NC/AB the following steps will be taken:

1. The NC/AB member will forward a copy of the report to Exec.
2. The NC will assign a sequential number to the report, notify the SC(s), ASC(s), SP(s) and individual(s) named in the report that such a report has been received.
3. The NC will seek a volunteer from the AB to lead the investigation. If there are no volunteers the NC will lead the investigation. All parties involved will be given the opportunity to provide input. All documentation will be collected by the leader only. The AB may use the services of the Technical Advisor (see below) in the investigation.
4. The person(s) being investigated will be accorded the benefit of doubt if reasonable explanations are proffered, and they will be given the opportunity for review and comment at each point of the investigation.
5. Based on discussion of the findings the AB shall determine by vote whether or not to remove the individual(s) from the Registered Voter List and whether any additional action should be undertaken.
6. The NC shall advise, via e-mail, the parties involved of the AB's determination with a cc to Exec.

In the event a possible case of Fraudulent Registrations or suspected case of aliases is reported to the NC or AB member by an individual the following steps will be taken:

1. The AB member receiving notification of a possible fraudulent registrations situation and/or suspected case of aliases will ask the notifying individual if he/she will agree to the disclosure of his/her name. If so the AB member will forward the e-mail to the NC and Exec. If not the AB member will remove all identification of the sender from the e-mail and forward the e-mail to the Exec and forward a full copy of the e-mail to the NC.
2. The NC shall notify the EC of the situation and ask the EC to check its files for possible multiple voter registrations and for any information the EC may have that has a bearing on the reported situation.
3. Items 2 through 6 above will be followed
4. The person(s) being investigated will be given the opportunity for review and comment at each point of the investigation.
5. The investigation may be referred to the Board if the investigator determines by evidence that the accused is not at fault or in violation, and a report describing those findings will be submitted for action by the Advisory Board. If the Advisory Board concurs with the finding, no further action is required, if the Advisory Board does not concur, then the investigation continues.

Technical Advisor

The Advisory Board will appoint, by vote, someone to the position of Technical Advisor.

The Technical Advisor will provide advice as requested in topics including but not limited to Domain Registrations, IP Addressing (TCP/IP), Routing, Electronic Mail, FTP and General Internet Technology.

Applicants will demonstrate education and experience related to these topics.

The Technical Advisor may be requested to provide advice in relation to grievances, registration conflicts and other situations requiring the Advisor to agree to confidentiality.

(May 24, 2006) Question on using word accept or adopt by Phyllis Rippee Jeff Scism answered. Adopt

(May 24, 2006) Scott Burow announced Adoption of Voter Fraud Committee Report as modified made by Jeff Scism and seconded by Karen De Groote-Johnson be numbered Motion 06-06 and open for discussion. [posting of report followed]

(May 24, 2006) Request by Scott Burow, Acting NC, for Jeff Scism to withdraw his motion.

(May 24, 2006) Jeff Scism withdrew motion 06-09 and Karen De Groote-Johnson, withdrew her second.

(May 25, 2006) By the NC:

The following motion made by Jeff Scism and seconded by Karen De Groote-Johnson, is numbered 06-10 and is now open for discussion. If you have no discussion please signify by responding "No Discussion"

I move that the Advisory Board accept the report of the Fraud Committee as modified in the discussion on AB-chat list: [posting of report followed]

(May 25-28) Discussion by the Board to determine whether the report should be Adopted or Accepted

(May 28, 2006) By the NC:

The Voter Fraud Committee has submitted a set of recommendations that it wants the Board to accept and approve. Upon approval, the committee's recommendations would then become the official procedures to be followed in any case of suspected Fraudulent Registration.

Per Strugis (quoted below) to accomplish the above, a motion to adopt the recommendations of the committee is to be made by the committee chairman. After such move the motion goes forward in the same manner as any other motion (2nd, discussion and voting).

Ruling:
Motion 06-10 made by Jeff and 2nd by Karen as stated: " I move that the Advisory Board accept the report of the Fraud Committee as modified in the discussion on AB-chat list: ... " is therefore Out of Order for the following reasons:

1. The motion uses the word accept when the intent of the committee is to have its recommendations adopted as the Project's official guidelines in any case of suspected Fraudulent Registration, and,
2. The motion was not made by the committee chair.

Strugis, pg 188 Consideration of Committee Reports, Item 4 states: A report may be adopted ... "accept" is sometimes used instead of adopt, but the word "adopt," which cannot be misunderstood, is preferable."

Pg 189, Presentation of Committee Recommendations, ... the chair of the committee reads the first recommendation of the committee and moves its adoption .."

Pg 264 - Definitions of Parliamentary Terms: "Out of Order" - Not correct from a parliamentary standpoint, at the particular time.

(May 28, 2006) By the NC:

Motion 06-10 has been declared Out of Order by the NC. Any motion declared Out of Order becomes null and void and requires no further action. To proceed with a determination on the report of the Voter Fraud Committee the following is now on the floor:

The Voter Fraud Committee has submitted its set of recommendations (Procedures for Fraudulent Registrations) to the AB for consideration and adoption. Per Strugis the committee chairman is to read the recommendations and move for their adoption. In the medium we operate in "reading" the recommendations is impossible. Since the committee's recommendations were received by the NC from the committee chair, with this posting of the committee's recommendations the recommendations are considered to have been read.

Under Strugis the committee chair is required to move the motion for the acceptance and adoption of the committee's report/procedures. George is the chair of the Voter Fraud Committee. George do I hear a move for the following motion?

I move to adopt the following procedures as the Project's official procedures to be followed in any case of suspected Fraudulent Registrations [copy of report followed]

(May 13, 2006) By the NC:

*Please forward to all USGenWeb lists and members*

The USGenWeb Election Committee would like to announce the open seats for the National 2006 Election.

Nominations for these positions will begin June 1, 2006 and end June14, 2006. A form will be made available for nomination submissions. The URL will be announced later.

Please bookmark and visit the USGenWeb Project National 2006 Election pages for more information. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~usgwelections/national-2006/index.html

Open Seats:

National Coordinator
One Year Term Ending 8/31/07
Incumbent: Linda Haas Davenport

Representative At Large
To complete Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2007
Incumbent: Scott Burrow (Appointed by AB April 2006)

NENC County Coordinator Representative
To complete Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2007
Incumbent: Jeff Scism (Appointed by AB October 2005)

NENC County Coordinator Representative
Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2008
Incumbent: Jan Cortez

NWPL County Coordinator Representative
Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2008
Incumbent: Darilee Bednar

SEMA State Coordinator Representative
Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2008
Incumbent: (Vacant May 7, 2006)

SEMA County Coordinator Representative
Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2008
Incumbent: Linda Blum-Barton

SWSC State Coordinator Representative
Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2008
incumbent: Larry Flesher

SWSC County Coordinator Representative
Two Year Term Ending 8/31/2008
Incumbent: Phyllis Rippee (Appointed by AB April 2006)

Respectfully,
The USGenWeb Election Committee
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~usgwelections/

(May 07, 2006) By Angie Rayfield:

Because of some personal issues, I unfortunately find myself needing to give up my counties on an immediate basis, and of course, this will require my immediate resignation from the Advisory Board.

I've greatly enjoyed my time with the Board and of course the project as a whole, and I'm looking forward to the time when things calm back down and I can return as a volunteer.

Thanks to all of you.

(May 14, 2006) By the NC:

With Angie Rayfield's resignation the SEMA SC Regional Rep seat is vacant. Should the AB appoint a new SEMA SC Regional Rep or should the seat be left vacant for the remaining 3 months of this AB's term?

The following members responded to leave the seat vacant for the remaining 3 months of this AB's term: Jeff Scism, Larry Flesher, Jan Cortez, Karen De Groote-Johnson, Bettie Wood, Sundee Maynez, George Waller, Cyndie Enfinger and Suzanne Shephard

(May 21, 2006) By the NC:

I posted a message on the SC list asking for volunteers to fill the SC SEMA rep vacant seat. I received only one response (a no thank you). Today I sent a personal message to each SC and ASC in the SEMA region. I will post an update after I hear back from the SCs and ASCs.

(May 21, 2006) By Bettie Wood:

I have received emails concerning why this is being done when we seemed to be in agreement to wait until nominations/national elections. I just thought it was important to note that we got a private email citing Article VI, Section 8 of our bylaws In the event a board member is unable to complete his/her term, the Advisory Board will appoint a replacement to serve until the next scheduled election.

(June 5, 2006) By the NC: The May meeting is adjourned.