Last updated on May 16, 2024
(Announced within meeting: The Committee minutes are now available at
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Y3HCETUa99kexwEKkvZb6tj8U5ZnbceK?usp=sharing )
Chair opens. Chair says much has been done. Committee has been working on challenges.
There was a technical issue with the reporting sheet format. It is being fixed.
We will ask the people bringing challenges to be recognized if needed. We will not let people be bashed. Chair apologized for what happened at the last meeting. Committee: We will notify challengers and challenged with as much notice as we can if there is a challenge.
Q: Mr. Jacob: Are you aware that you must have 5-day notice? Yes. State and local bylaws match? State Bylaws are acceptable of they are as tight or tighter but not looser than the national bylaws.
Carol: How do you handle ambiguous state bylaws, e.g. bylaws not well-written. We ask if the requirement is looser than national We are not here to change their bylaws. Proposes state bylaws are subordinate to national bylaws.
How do we decide: We have a committee of 15 good people to make a majority decision. We can make mistakes. The last buffer is the convention. We try to do the best we can so that the convention does not complain.
Do convention packages affect credentialing? No. We are not going to charge members $225 to attend a business meeting. You do not have to buy a package to be seated.
27 members of the 35-member LPMI delegation, the LPOK alternate list, and one LPMO delegate have been challenged. The not-challenged MI delegates are the chair and the top 6 vote getters, according to a person in chat. Some MI delegates are also facing MI Judicial Committee review.
Credential Committee members do not interact with a review of their own state’s delegation.
Committee has had no problem getting bylaws and minutes from states where the information was needed.
Questions are now opened to the LNC members.
Yeniscavitch: What is the notification process here? If we find an issue, we ask the state chair for more information. State chairs have been extremely responsive.We want to be sure that anyone who is qualified and on the list, we want to be sure they are seated.
At this point, we are down to the last few people being reviewed. Some delegations are not quite complete. We have some quality control checks not yet completed. We have not had problem reaching delegation chairs.
McArdle: Are you having heated disputes? A: Not in the last month. Hlavka thanks all state chairs and committees getting use the information we needed.
McArdle: Happy to hear this, and everything sounds to be fine. Thank you to the committee for doing the work.
Jacobs: Q? When does the convention start? Hlavka: Always thought a convention started when it is called to order. I have never heard this question before.
Hogarth: Are there challenges from Washington State? Some states say they can add delegates at convention.
Hlavka: I will not speak to the LNC motions changing the Credentials Committee members. I will not politic through the media here. I will not negotiate through the media.
Alison Graham: Committee is currently functioning well.
Jay Gillotte: Appeal in MI is that normal alternates are removed and the alternates will then be appointed by the chair. Hlavka: Once we come to the most proper conclusion everyone will know.
Tuniewicz: 2 questions. State has fixed responsibilities. Send names and addresses of delegates by fixed date. Where does the proposal that the credentials committee can review state bylaws come from. JJ claims it is Roberts. There are suggestions that there may be challenges on the floor? How do we weed out bad challenges and make a rapid decision. Hlavka: Challenges must have named challengers and substantive evidence or they are rejected. Carman: We are trying to be clear, precise, and transparent as possible. McArdle will be issuing a ruling tonight.
Issue: what do we do with bylaws. We will apply your written bylaws.
Harlos explains that delegates added after convention starts need a 7/8 vote of the convention. Arkansas bylaws make it particularly easy to add alternates. Look at their bylaws.
Various important technical issues discussed. Credential report can be amended form the floor before being adopted.
Meeting ends.
Thanks to the credentials committee for this Town Hall. It was a great help.
Was all this credentials paranoia over last-minute alternates, and if they are technically past the last-minute, requiring 7/8th approval by convention?
This is why better communication is essential. Vagueness inspires speculation, which can lead to assuming ill intent.
I hope the town hall was also reassuring to the incumbent secretary and Mr. Malagon. If so, I encourage them to withdraw from seeking seats on the credentials committee. It will go a long way to calming matters.