County Convention Orientation

Wise County Republican Convention

Saturday, March 20, 2010 – 9:00 – 11:30 AM

Wise County Courthouse – 271^st District Courtroom 2^nd floor

The first purpose of the County Convention is to determine who will be the 23 delegates and the 23 alternate delegates who will be elected by the Convention delegates to represent Wise County Republicans at the Republican State Convention, which will be held at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas on June 11-12, 2010. The 54 total delegates is only a maximum, and we may send less if less are willing, able and elected to do so. Delegates do so at their own personal expense.

The second purpose is to consider the resolutions approved by some of our Wise County Precinct Conventions on March 2. These are recommendations you are asked to consider about whether the Wise County Republican Convention wishes to send on to the State Republican Convention for its Resolutions Committee to consider for Party Platform recommendations. You may approve these resolutions, amend them, or deny them (consider them at this meeting, but vote not to forward them). New resolutions may be received from delegates of this Convention. They must be in writing in two copies and submitted to the Resolutions Committee Chairman by 9:25 AM.

The third purpose is for delegates and observers at the grass roots level to have input in the political process of your Republican Party. Hopefully, such participation here and possible at the State Convention will inspire them to work for and to help our Republican candidates and our Party.

The process is as follows, and the Agenda can guide you.

The Credentials Committee is the registrar for the convention. Arriving delegates will register with the Chairman to insure official delegate status. There will be a place for the non-delegate general public to be seated as observers (left wing of the courtroom as you face the judge’s bench). The Credentials Committee report will be the enumeration of delegates present. No one may be a delegate or alternate delegate from the Precinct Convention who was not elected at the Precinct Convention of Marcy 2, 2010.

Delegates wishing to be nominated as delegates to the State Convention may indicate that when registering. The Nominations Committee will be given those names for consideration in its nominating process. Names should not be offered for nomination as delegates to the State Convention, unless such people are prepared to attend and to sustain their respective expenses.

Temporary Officers: The Wise County Republican Chairman, Mr. Allen L. Williamson, appoints Temporary Officers in advance. They are cited on the Agenda.

The Organization Committee is the group that will meet early to decide whether to recommend to the Convention that all of these Temporary Officers be elected as Permanent Officers for the duration of this convention. It is possible for the Convention to elect any replacement among those Temporary Officers for whom a nomination is made by the Committee and such may be voted by the Convention.

The Nominations Committee is to consider the opportunity to nominate up to 23 delegates and up to 23 alternate delegates to attend the State Convention June 11-12, 2010. They should consider the names of delegates who indicate such interest at the registration table today. Other nominations may be brought to the committee for its deliberation, but they should be submitted in writing (name and contact information, along with reasons this person would have merit in representing Wise County Republicans) to the Chairman by 9:25 AM Saturday. The only requirement to be a delegate is to have voted in the March 2, 2010 Republican Party Primary Election (or early voting in it). If the person did not vote in this year’s Republican Primary Election, he or she is not eligible. The Committee’s report is the nominations they decide to make. Husbands and wives may be nominated together. The Convention may be given the opportunity to vote one by one for each of the 46 positions (23 alternates and 23 alternate delegates), or the Convention may choose to elect the slate as a whole. If not enough eligible people are identified who are willing and able to attend the State Convention, then usually whatever number the Nominations Committee nominates is elected as a slate. If an insufficient (less than the maximum eligible) slate is reported to the Convention, it normally is elected by acclamation. Any eligible person whose name was submitted to the Nominations Committee, but not nominated to the Convention, may be nominated during the plenary session of the Nominations Committee Report. If such cases, that late nomination may be voted upon up or down, regardless of whether the whole slate of eligible delegates has been nominated.

The Resolutions Committee’s task is described in the second paragraph of this orientation paper.

The Rules Committee reports what rules are followed, and its Chairman acts as the Parliamentarian, should such interpretation is needed. The Rules Committee Chairman will announce that we are governed by the Texas Election Code, the Republican Party of Texas Rules and Robert’s Rules of Order. If the Committee perceived the need for additional rules, such could be recommended for the consideration of the Convention

delegates.

The Secretary records the proceedings of the Convention as Minutes of the Convention.

The Temporary Sergeant at Arms will be responsible for room set up, signage placement and keeping order when requested by the Convention Chairman.

For Committee Chairmen: The reports you are to make should be on special forms that the Convention Chairman has. You should secure these from him before your committee meeting. Rules require that Committees must have 5 to 15 members. You may ask me to add others to your committee if you wish. The Convention Chairman will have forms for people who wish to volunteer at the State Convention June 2-3 (at their own expense) for Registration Process, for Sergeant at Arms positions or for nominating 15-18 year olds to serve as Pages.