PNC 08/12/19

Attending

• Sayyida: Megan Klein Chair WI
• OGPAF: Johann Drolshagen, Webmaster
• Pirate_Joe: Joseph Onoroski, Vice-Chair, MA
• Bosun: Joseph Klein Secretary WI
• jokeefe: James O’Keefe, Massachusetts

Minutes

Record of the meeting

 

[9:02pm] Sayyida: I call this meeting to order
[9:02pm] ghostwheel left the chat room. (Remote host closed the connection)
[9:02pm] Sayyida: Megan Klein Chair WI
[9:02pm] OGPAF: Johann Drolshagen, Webmaster
[9:02pm] Pirate_Joe: Joseph Onoroski, Vice-Chair, MA
[9:02pm] ghostwheel joined the chat room.
[9:02pm] Bosun: Joseph Klein Secretary WI
[9:03pm] Sayyida: So, Lets talk about the co-op filing status
[9:03pm] Sayyida: that is where we left off last time
[9:03pm] jokeefe: James O’Keefe, Massachusetts
[9:04pm] Sayyida: im sorry jokeefe I thought I saw you post your credentials already
[9:04pm] Sayyida: my appologies
[9:04pm] jokeefe: not an issue
[9:04pm] Sayyida: Bosun, you have the floor
[9:05pm] Bosun: I sent copies of the incorporation papers to SAB list.
[9:06pm] OGPAF: SAB?
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[9:06pm] Pirate_Joe: We need to add OGPAF to the SAB as well
[9:06pm] ghostwheel joined the chat room.
[9:06pm] jokeefe: http://sab.uspirates.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi
[9:06pm] papegaai: Title: Subscribe to a Mailing List (at sab.uspirates.org)
[9:06pm] Bosun: With your permission I will file for the EIN and the IRS 527 status.
[9:07pm] Pirate_Joe: https://crew.uspirates.org/index.php?q=civicrm/a/#/mailing/2
[9:07pm] jokeefe: You cannot file with the IRS and the FEC. It is one or the other
[9:07pm] Bosun: Sorru FEC.
[9:08pm] Bosun: Sorry FEC.
[9:08pm] Pirate_Joe: Unfortunatly I never got a chance to call the OCPF
[9:08pm] Sayyida: OCPF?
[9:08pm] jokeefe: I can call tomorrow if you want
[9:08pm] jokeefe: Mass. campaign finance folks
[9:08pm] Pirate_Joe: Office of Campaign and Political Finance
[9:08pm] jokeefe: Moving forward with the EIN seems wise.
[9:09pm] Pirate_Joe: Motion to move forward with the EIN
[9:09pm] Pirate_Joe: All in favor?
[9:09pm] Sayyida: aye
[9:09pm] Pirate_Joe: or seconds?
[9:09pm] OGPAF: aye
[9:09pm] Bosun: aye
[9:09pm] OGPAF: second
[9:09pm] Pirate_Joe: ty
[9:09pm] Pirate_Joe: jokeefe?
[9:09pm] jokeefe: aye on behalf of Massachusetts
[9:09pm] Bosun: OGAF cannot vote or second.
[9:09pm] OGPAF: ooops
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[9:10pm] Pirate_Joe: https://www.ocpf.us/
[9:10pm] papegaai: Title: OCPF - Welcome to the OCPF Home Page (at www.ocpf.us)
[9:10pm] Bosun: I was going by this https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/political-organizations/filing-requirements-1
[9:10pm] ghostwheel joined the chat room.
[9:11pm] Sayyida: now that that  is taken care of, we need to talk about bylaws
[9:11pm] Sayyida: I know Pirate_Joe is working on them, or planning to and I am on board with that as wel
[9:11pm] Sayyida: well*
[9:12pm] Sayyida: is there a meeting time we should set up?
[9:12pm] jokeefe: This is the FEC guide for PACs - https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/guides/?tab=political-action-committees
[9:12pm] papegaai: Title: Guides | FEC (at www.fec.gov)
[9:12pm] Pirate_Joe: I plan to work on them Wednesday at 5:30 pm est
[9:12pm] Sayyida: awesome Pirate_Joe
[9:12pm] Sayyida: I will set up a time to join in with you
[9:13pm] Bosun: The District of Columbia code regarding a cooperative association = see SAB mail - has most of what should be reflected in the bylaws.
[9:13pm] jokeefe: Would be good to invite people on sab to help
[9:13pm] Pirate_Joe: I hope Jokeefe, Sayyida and Bosun can join me
[9:13pm] Sayyida: jokeefe, I need to ask, are we planning on getting money from the germans? hahaha
[9:13pm] jokeefe: not legally
[9:13pm] Bosun: That would be illegal.
[9:13pm] Sayyida: so we are just not legally?
[9:13pm] Sayyida: hence the pac right?
[9:13pm] Pirate_Joe: I would advise against it
[9:14pm] Pirate_Joe: This need to be 100% American
[9:14pm] jokeefe: We haven’t spent enough to file with the FEC.
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[9:14pm] Sayyida: Pirate_Joe, i know im just going to say every current canidate is running from pacs but why are we embracing it?
[9:14pm] ghostwheel joined the chat room.
[9:14pm] Sayyida: if not for german or PPI money
[9:15pm] Pirate_Joe: In the interest of transparency, we should uphold the standards that a PAC holds us to.
[9:15pm] Sayyida: PACs aren't transparent
[9:15pm] Sayyida: they are designed to not be if you dont want them to be
[9:15pm] Pirate_Joe: Since we are doing that anyways, it will allow for our funds to not be touched unless absolutely needed.
[9:15pm] Sayyida: that really worries me
[9:16pm] Pirate_Joe: We have to report and make public everything we spend money on.  It becomes public record.
[9:16pm] Bosun: The FEC filing for a party requires all donors in their filing.
[9:16pm] Sayyida: until someone wants to not do that anymore
[9:16pm] jokeefe: FEC PACs have to file their expenditures and contributions and itemize them if the amounts meet certain thresholds
[9:16pm] Pirate_Joe: ^
[9:16pm] jokeefe: we can always lower those thresholds if we want.
[9:16pm] Bosun: I think you are confused.
[9:17pm] Sayyida: i still don't like it at all there are koch pacs for all sorts of shady things and if im confused im sorry
[9:17pm] Pirate_Joe: This database includes Federal Election Commission records of receipts from all individuals who contribute more than $200 (smaller contributions are typically not part of the public record). Bear in mind that contributions to politicians can also be made through Political Action Committees.
[9:17pm] Pirate_Joe: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent agency created in 1975 by the U.S. Congress to regulate election campaign finance in the United States. The mission of the FEC is to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) that governs the financing of federal elections.
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[9:18pm] Sayyida: the FEC doens't touch things unless pinged, you can hide things and I have filed reports on someone before. Took them weeks to arrest and get back to me
[9:18pm] ghostwheel joined the chat room.
[9:18pm] jokeefe: FEC PACs are merely a form of organization and reporting.  It is more stringent thant IRS 527s which Super PACs use
[9:18pm] Sayyida: the person I am talking about used a fake name and brought money in from england
[9:19pm] Sayyida: im just saying unless pinged they don't look for things
[9:19pm] jokeefe: The IRS isn’t going to be any better
[9:19pm] Pirate_Joe: There is a way to set it up with the bank so it auto reports.
[9:19pm] Pirate_Joe: Which is they way I would suggest so that everything we do is public record
[9:20pm] jokeefe: Massachusetts does so. Not sure about FEC rules on that regard
[9:20pm] Pirate_Joe: No secrets from our government, that's what our people deserve.
[9:20pm] Pirate_Joe: brb
[9:20pm] jokeefe: We can always require we post things more frequently to our website.
[9:20pm] Bosun: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee
[9:20pm] papegaai: Title: Political action committee - Wikipedia (at en.wikipedia.org)
[9:20pm] Sayyida: I guess im weird and don't trust the future pirates. or just future people with ill intentions
[9:21pm] jokeefe: We do our best and help find good people.
[9:21pm] jokeefe: We are only as good as our fellow Pirates
[9:21pm] Bosun: So why not just be a party?
[9:21pm] jokeefe: FEC rules
[9:21pm] jokeefe: Have to start as a PAC
[9:21pm] jokeefe: Went through this with the Greens in 2000
[9:22pm] jokeefe: After the EIN, we need a treasurer, which requires a bylaws change
[9:22pm] Sayyida: we are 10 min til time
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[9:22pm] jokeefe: Suggest those roles be our first objectives in changing the bylaws.
[9:22pm] Bosun: Look at the chart. https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/taking-receipts-political-party/contribution-limits-party-committees/
[9:22pm] papegaai: Title: FEC | Party | Contribution limits for party committees (at www.fec.gov)
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[9:23pm] Bosun: A political party can do more than a.PAC and has the greatest transparency.
[9:23pm] jokeefe: It can certainly allocate its money most freely.
[9:24pm] jokeefe: But $5000 yearly contribution limit is pretty high
[9:24pm] jokeefe: for a PAC
[9:24pm] jokeefe: Mass. limits us to $500/yr/person
[9:25pm] Bosun: DC filing basic puts us under Federal limits.
[9:26pm] jokeefe: Not sure what that means
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[9:26pm] Pirate_Joe: 5k Jokeefe
[9:26pm] Pirate_Joe: 5k per person
[9:26pm] jokeefe: ok
[9:26pm] ghostwheel joined the chat room.
[9:27pm] Bosun: Things like the 2020 democratic convention are DC corporations for that reason.
[9:27pm] jokeefe: Here is how much PACs can take/give money wise: https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/nongui.pdf
[9:27pm] Pirate_Joe: really it's the only way we will compete on a national level
[9:28pm] Pirate_Joe: OGPAF, even though your not to voting status yet, it does not mean we do not value your input
[9:28pm] Pirate_Joe: what do you think?
[9:29pm] OGPAF: you all are in a box
[9:29pm] OGPAF: you need multiple entities
[9:29pm] OGPAF: multiple flows
[9:29pm] itspara joined the chat room.
[9:29pm] OGPAF: yes, take outside money
[9:29pm] Bosun: Compare https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/partygui.pdf
[9:29pm] OGPAF: raise raise taise
[9:29pm] OGPAF: and influence pedal
[9:29pm] OGPAF: stop playing by the rules
[9:29pm] OGPAF: write them anew
[9:30pm] jokeefe: So bylaws are the next action? Discussion on Wed. 5:30pm?
[9:30pm] OGPAF: the web platform that I a=bout to give you will allow voting on every election, every candidate, and every contributor in the world
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[9:30pm] OGPAF: Pirates should be bigger because it is international
[9:30pm] Sayyida: but we are not with PPI
[9:30pm] Pirate_Joe: I would like to set up one org at a time so we can continue to build a stable base
[9:30pm] ghostwheel joined the chat room.
[9:31pm] Pirate_Joe: Motion to add 10 minutes to time?
[9:31pm] OGPAF: but build from the top down not the bottom up
[9:31pm] Sayyida: second
[9:31pm] Pirate_Joe: All in favor?
[9:31pm] Sayyida: aye
[9:31pm] Pirate_Joe: Aye
[9:31pm] Bosun: Aye
[9:31pm] jokeefe: ok
[9:31pm] Pirate_Joe: Motion passes
[9:31pm] Sayyida: where are we meeting for the bylaws
[9:31pm] Sayyida: google chat?
[9:32pm] Pirate_Joe: Hangouts, Aye
[9:32pm] Pirate_Joe: To go back to OGPAF, what would you suggest we do first?
[9:32pm] Pirate_Joe: I understand you want to get the website going, correct?
[9:32pm] OGPAF: talk about the site, build chapters, build members, guide them
[9:33pm] OGPAF: yes, you have to do something in DC - either doesn't really matter in the long run
[9:33pm] OGPAF: then do the party
[9:33pm] OGPAF: then do the states as chapters form - their responsibility as a chapter
[9:33pm] OGPAF: then let them set up sub chapters
[9:33pm] Pirate_Joe: Agreed, long run if we run multiple EINs, then we can do it all
[9:33pm] OGPAF: I already have UCLA and USC ready to go
[9:33pm] OGPAF: 1 EIN per entity, but very few entities
[9:33pm] OGPAF: just localize the main entity in most cases
[9:34pm] Pirate_Joe: Jokeefe was not here during your explanation, could you give links?
[9:34pm] OGPAF: 3 entities tops nationwide
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[9:34pm] OGPAF: links to what?
[9:34pm] Pirate_Joe: the site you are working on
[9:35pm] jokeefe: What are the three national entities?
[9:35pm] OGPAF: www.piratesparty.org, usa.piratesparty.org, california.piratesparty.org
[9:35pm] Pirate_Joe: PAC, 527, and another that I don't recall
[9:35pm] OGPAF: definitely 527, probably 501 c4, and maybe 501c6
[9:36pm] OGPAF: each state/chapter will have its own site and domain
[9:36pm] jokeefe: We only need one national party at this point. We don’t have enough people power for more than one.
[9:36pm] Sayyida: down to 4 min
[9:36pm] OGPAF: thats why I recommend highly forming a standing staff
[9:36pm] jokeefe: Start with one FEC PAC and build from there.
[9:36pm] jokeefe: If we need to add a 501c3, we can do that later
[9:37pm] OGPAF: I don't think we will qualify as a c3
[9:37pm] jokeefe: 501c4 then
[9:37pm] OGPAF: Think: PAC, Party, Member Organization
[9:37pm] Bosun: You can't be a c3 and be political
[9:37pm] jokeefe: Well not exactly
[9:38pm] jokeefe: can still advocate
[9:38pm] jokeefe: on issues
[9:38pm] Sayyida: like churches?
[9:38pm] Bosun: I agree but just PAC and Party on national - the member organizations are state,
[9:38pm] jokeefe: citizens united opened pandoras box
[9:38pm] Pirate_Joe: Or special interest groups with financial backing
[9:38pm] Sayyida: jokeefe, noted
[9:39pm] Sayyida: we are down to the lat min or so
[9:39pm] Sayyida: Bosun and I will be in DC or on a trian next meeting
[9:39pm] OGPAF: PAC is not bad - file away
[9:39pm] jokeefe: NY Greens tried having two orgs. It didn’t work out well when the leaders of both went different directions.
[9:39pm] OGPAF: hence standing staff
[9:39pm] Bosun: Irather not be part of the corruption chomping away at the republic.
[9:40pm] Pirate_Joe: I think we are in agreement then....
[9:40pm] Pirate_Joe: Motion to form a PAC right now?
[9:40pm] jokeefe: We are at time and until we hear from OCPF, Mass. cannot move forward.
[9:41pm] Pirate_Joe: Then motion is tabled until the next meeting
[9:41pm] jokeefe: Also, we need to amend our bylaws to elect a treasurer, IIRC.
[9:41pm] jokeefe: or at least separate secretary and treasurer
[9:41pm] Sayyida: so next meeting,
[9:41pm] Bosun: Compare party and PAC we can do both if you want.
[9:41pm] Sayyida: I will be on a train to DC with Bosun
[9:42pm] Pirate_Joe: I need to make arrangements but I will attempt to join you in Sayyida and Bosun
[9:42pm] Sayyida: we might not have signal. Can we have the next meeting on the 26th
[9:42pm] Pirate_Joe: *in = ,
[9:42pm] Sayyida: woohoo
[9:42pm] Pirate_Joe: Motion to Adjourn
[9:43pm] jokeefe: 26th is fine
[9:43pm] OGPAF: im good with 26th
[9:43pm] jokeefe: 2nd
[9:43pm] Pirate_Joe: All in favor?
[9:43pm] Sayyida: aye
[9:43pm] Pirate_Joe: aye
[9:43pm] jokeefe: aye
[9:43pm] Bosun: aye
[9:43pm] Sayyida: who has the minutes? Bosun?
[9:44pm] jokeefe: Posted notes at https://wiki.pirate-party.us/PNC_08/12/19#Minutes
[9:44pm] OGPAF left the chat room. (Quit: https://webchat.pirateirc.net/)
[9:44pm] Pirate_Joe: Motion passes
[9:44pm] papegaai: Title: PNC 08/12/19 - United States Pirate Party (at wiki.pirate-party.us)
[9:44pm] Sayyida: thank you jokeefe
[9:44pm] Pirate_Joe: Good night everyone!
[9:44pm] Sayyida: good night!
[9:44pm] jokeefe: good night
[9:44pm] Sayyida left the chat room. (Quit: Leaving)