PNC 05/14/2023

May 14th, 2023

Agenda

Discussion

Old Business

• USPP Conference planning update
• Wording of USPP advisory board

New Business

• Bylaws change proposal:

To change Article 4, section 3, which currently reads:

Election of Officers shall occur: 1. For all Officer positions, once every year at the Annual Meeting set forth in Art. VI §2. 2. For an Officer position which is vacated out of schedule, as soon after the vacation as possible. The election procedure for an Officer position shall be as follows:

   1. Officers shall be elected by Schulze Method via silent ballot.
   2. Representatives to the PNC shall be eligible to vote in the election.
   3. Prior to the election, the PNC shall elect an Election Committee of at least three persons to supervise the silent ballot, and to independently calculate the results.

Such that it would read:

// revised //

Election of Officers shall occur: 1. For all Officer positions, once every year during the Annual Meeting set forth in Art. VI §2.

   1. During the annual meeting, the public shall be eligible to vote in the election of officers.
   2. During all other times of year, representatives of the PNC shall be the only eligible voters in an officer election.

2. For an Officer position which is vacated out of schedule, as soon after the vacation as possible. 3. The election procedure for an Officer position shall be as follows:

   1. Officers shall be elected by Schulze Method via silent ballot.
   2. Representatives to the PNC shall be eligible to vote in the election.
   3. Prior to the election, the PNC shall elect an Election Committee of at least three persons to supervise the silent ballot, and to independently calculate the results. 

and to change Article 6, Section 2, which currently reads:

The US Pirate Party will hold an annual meeting in the two weeks prior to the first Sunday of June. The purpose of this meeting will be to: 1. hold officer elections. Elections must be held on the first Sunday of June; 2. hold on-line and/or in person gatherings for supporters to share ideas and build understanding and camaraderie among supporters. Officer nominations are due two weeks prior to the election and must be published by the Monday after nominations close. Supporters may ask questions of candidates during this period. Candidates are expected to answer supporter questions as best they can.

Such that it would read:

// revised //

The US Pirate Party will hold an annual meeting in the two weeks prior to the first Sunday of June. The purpose of this meeting will be to: 1. hold officer elections. 2. hold on-line and/or in person gatherings for supporters to share ideas and build understanding and camaraderie among supporters. Officer nominations must be completed and published a minimum of five days before the election. Supporters may ask questions of candidates during this period. Candidates are expected to answer supporter questions as best they can.

Summary

Attending

• Drew Bingaman, Pennsylvania
• California
• Indiana
• James O'Keefe, Massachusetts

Non-voting

• Anthony Jay, Party Chair

Reports

No reports were presented.

Old Business

No conference updates.

New Business

Bylaws Amendment

Discussion of the intent and purpose of the bylaws change.

Massachusetts suggested an amendment to clarify who the public is which was seconded by Pennsylvania. The amendment passed by a unanimous vote. The final text was:

To change Article 4, section 3 to:

Election of Officers shall occur: 
1. For all Officer positions, once every year during the Annual Meeting set forth in Art. VI §2.
    1. During the annual meeting, any member of the public who provides their name, address, phone number and email address, shall be eligible to vote in the election of officers.
    2. During all other times of year, representatives of the PNC shall be the only eligible voters in an officer election.
2. For an Officer position which is vacated out of schedule, as soon after the vacation as possible. 
3. The election procedure for an Officer position shall be as follows:
    1. Officers shall be elected by Schulze Method via silent ballot.
    2. Representatives to the PNC shall be eligible to vote in the election.
    3. Prior to the election, the PNC shall elect an Election Committee of at least three persons to supervise the silent ballot, and to independently calculate the results. 

and to change Article 6, Section 2 to:

The US Pirate Party will hold an annual meeting in the two weeks prior to the first Sunday of June. The purpose of this meeting will be to: 
1. hold officer elections.
2. hold on-line and/or in person gatherings for supporters to share ideas and build understanding and camaraderie among supporters.
Officer nominations must be completed and published a minimum of five days before the election. Supporters may ask questions of candidates during this period. Candidates are expected to answer supporter questions as best they can. 

Motion to adopt the bylaws change was proposed by California and seconded by Pennsylvania. Motion to adopt was passed 3-0-1 with Massachusetts abstaining.

Meeting Minutes

Recording at https://youtube.com/live/56g7P06Zjt0?feature=share.