LNC Special Meeting 3/2/2025 Liveblog

We await the start of the meeting.  Meeting came to order at 7:03.  They reach the consent agenda.One item is removed.  Consent agenda then passes.

Next topic: Watkins moved to sell the HQ Building.  Lam Seconded.  Watkins wants FEC and tax questions to be postponed. Roof is leaking badly.  A sale price has been agreed upon with a buyer.  It will sell for $640K with an appraisal of $800K.  We cannot afford to fix the roof.  There is a major leak. We cannot afford to move staff to DC.  The building currently costs $23k a year in expenses.

ERedpath: I want to address FEC matters.  I have been in touch with Paula Edwards.  She has done an analysis.  She recommends that we ask the FEC for an advisory opinion on what we can do with the proceeds.  She believes that we may not be restricted on how we spend the money.

Watkins says he communicated with the FEC.  An advisory opinion is needed.  We should put the funds in an account until we get an FEC ruling.  Harlos: There is an issue with a donor who maxxed out on both the general and the building fund FEC limits and had a legal concern.

Yeniscavich/Watkins put money in a restricted account.

Ford:There is already a collapse in local real estate prices.  Sell the building post haste.  People who paid for the building need to be engaged with, because they are concerned.

Lam: Want money segregated until matters are clarified.

Watkins: Leak began in 2021.  Some work was perhaps done.  Front offices were flooding.  Roof is not sloped properly.  We are selling below what we paid for it, so there are no capital gains issues.

There was an estimate that a new roof would cost $100K give or take.

Redpath had not heard that Watkins  had asked for an Advisory opinion.

Malagon moves the question. Secretary is setting up the vote sequence. Vote is 11-4 to call the question.

Vote on the main motion:  Darr abstains. Harlos Abstains. Nanna abstains.  Redpath abstains.  Thompson No. Yeniscavich Abstains.  Ford abstains.  Vote was 8-1 with 6 express objections.  There is agreement that the money will go into an interest-bearing account with no risk of principle.

Chair reports May 17-19 for an in-person board meeting in Grand Rapids is workable.  This will be at the 2026 convention site.

We advance to committee vacancies.  For APRC:  Darr nominates Thompson.  Harlos nominated. She had resigned from the committee given the former chair. Bost nominated by Watkins.  They advance to a vote.  Vote is 8-9-10 for Harlos and Thompson.

Convention Oversight Committee. Ford talks at length for Justin Carman. Malagon nominates Ms. Halessy. Kyle Davis is nominated.  Ford keeps speaking at length for his candidate.  Yeniscavich announces that she is resigning from the Convention Oversight Committee.  Vote is moved to an email ballot.

EPCC: One opening.  Bost elected.

Audit Committee: We will use the same audit firm as last year.

Other committees need to be appointed at the next meeting.

Malagon extended motion on data. Hays seconds.   Malagon speaks for his anti-secrecy motion. LNC members should explain their votes.  We just elected the least qualified person to a committee.  Claims only five people watch the LPCA livestream.  Nekhaila rules the motion is out of order.  Malagon wanted to see all text messages from the Chair on any topic.

Chadderdon motion: withdraws his motion calling for vigorous defense of trademarks.

Chair will speak to fundraising initiative starting the end of next month. Convention theme contest advancing.  Hawaii Chair sent a message to the entire LNC; an LNC member says it should have gone only to the chair.  Meeting adjourns.