August 14, 2024

North Carolina Republican Party
Plan of Organization Committee
August 14, 2024

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Dan Barry.
In the last meeting, the committee left the last meeting discussing Section 2-202, discussing the
General Counsel’s role in administrative amendments. The decision was made to proceed
forward.
Chairman Barry reminded the committee that there is a provision in Article 2, 2-202 that refers
how the plan committee makes administrative adjustments with the General Counsel makes sure
that those changes are not modifying the intent of any provision of the plan. The committee may
revisit this section again.
Chairman Barry reminded the committee that Draft #7 is the working document. Draft #8a show
the changes already approved by the committee.
Tommy Fuller asked if the committee wants to put a time limit before the General Counsel to
review changes by the Plan of Organization. Bill Scholtes responded by saying that there should
not be a major time commitment to review what the committee does. Harvey West stated that he
believed the role of the General Counsel should remain as part of the new plan to provide a check
and balance to the committee, so as to preclude the perception of a power grab by the committee.
Trey Martin asked if the General Counsel reviewing the work of the Committee is a paid or
volunteer position. Chairman Barry responded by stating that the GC is a volunteer position
appointed by the NCGOP Chairman.
Mr. Martin went on to ask about the existence of the language that the GC shall be consulted. In
the current plan, that requirement does not exist. Under the current plan, the GC is consulted only
as it relates to matters of state or federal law.
After some discussion, Michael Magnenti moved that the GC language remain in place as written.
Bill Scholtes seconded the motion. The motion passed with one opposing vote.
The committee then discussed an amendment Article 2, 2-204 adding to lines 3 and 4 that the
Plan of Organization complies with federal and state law. Marshal Conrad moved for approval.
Michael Magnenti seconded the motion, which passed with no opposition.
A question came up from Michael Magnanti asking that if the state convention adopts an
amendment that has been offered from the floor, and if that amendment is inconsistent
with other provisions of the plan is still part of the plan. The answer from Bill Scholtes is yes, and
that the Plan of Organization Committee will have to offer proposals to fix the problem.
Chairman Barry than asked for a broader discussion about amendments that are brought to the
floor at the convention that were either rejected by the committee or are newly introduced at the
convention. Bill Scholtes stated that the issue should be dealt with later, because in the draft there
is a significant change as to how we deal with amendments that introduced on the floor.

In Section 2-207, it was originally written to give the power the Plan of Organization committee
to have original jurisdiction over the question a county or district plan is inconsistent with the
state plan. Under the existing plan, the question goes first to the Chair and the General Counsel.
The original language reads as follows:
Upon written notice by any Member to the Plan of Organizatioin Committee alleging that the
Plan of Orgnaization of a County or District Party is not constistent with the State Plan, the
Committee shall determine the validity of the allegation and, if that the Party’s Plan is
inconsistent with this Plan, a written opinion so holding.
The amendment removes the phrase “the Committee shall determine,” and inserts the phrase on
lines 3 and four “shall be determined in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 7-
506 (c). Additionally, the amendment removes “shall issue” on line 5 and adds “shall be issued”
at the end of line five.
Marshall Conrad moved to approve the amendment, with Michael Magnanti seconding the
motion. The motion carried with no objection.
In Section 2-301, an amendment was offered that would take the authority from the Executive
Committee by a two-thirds vote, to pass amendments to comply with federal and state law if it
impacts the Plan. The authority would be given to the Plan of Organization Committee. This is
based on the possibility of the Executive Committee either not having a quorum or failing to pass
a temporary amendment.
Several question came up in this discussion. The question came up of the Committee itself failed
to make the appropriate adjustment. Do we defer to the General Counsel or not? If a law changes,
why does any committee have to vote on this if there no option as to whether or not we comply
with the law?
Marshall Conrad mad the motion to approve the amendment. with instructions to Mike Phillips to
write a proposal making adjustments relating referral to the General Counsel. Michael Magnanto
seconded the motion, and motion carried with no opposition.
In Article 3, Bill Scholtes presented an amendment in several places. They are Section 3-302, 3-
303, and 3-307.

Current text:

Section 3-302.  Eligibility to Participate.
Any Member who resides in the precinct shall be entitled to vote at the Meeting if he or she (i)
was registered to vote in the precinct as a Republican on the previous January 31 st or (ii), if not
then registered, is registered to vote in the precinct as a Republican on the date of the Annual
Meeting but only if within the 30 days preceding the Meeting, the Member established residency
in the precinct or attained the age of 18.
Section 3-303.  Quorum.
Unless the County Plan of Organization establishes a greater number, a quorum to conduct
business at the Annual Precinct Meeting shall be one.

Section 3-307.  Certification of Results of Elections at the Annual Meeting.
Promptly after the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, the Secretary of the Meeting shall
certify to the County Secretary and the Chair of the Credentials Committee the names,
residence addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of those elected as Officers and
Delegates or Alternates at the Meeting.

Proposed changes:

Section 3-302.  Eligibility to Participate.
Any Member who resides in the precinct shall be entitled to vote at the Meeting if he or she (i)
was registered to vote in the precinct as a Republican on the previous January 31 st or (ii), if not
then registered, is registered to vote in the precinct as a Republican on the date of the Annual
Meeting but only if within the 30 days preceding the Meeting, the Member established residency
in the precinct or attained the age of 18.
Section 3-303.  Registration and Quorum.
   (a)  Upon arriving at the Annual Precinct Meeting each participant shall register by providing
his or her full legal name, address, phone number, and email address.
   (b)  Unless the County Plan of Organization establishes a greater number, a quorum to conduct
business at the Annual Precinct Meeting shall be one.
Section 3-307.  Certification and Delivery of Annual Meeting Results and Documents. of
Elections at the Annual Meeting.
Promptly after the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, the Secretary of the Meeting shall (i)
certify to the County Secretary and the Chair of the Credentials Committee the full legal names,
residence addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of those elected as Officers and
Delegates or Alternates at the Meeting, and (ii) provide the County Secretary and the Chair of the
Credentials Committee a copy of the register described in Section 3-303(a) and a copy of the
minutes of the Meeting.
The effort is to streamline and clearly communicate expectation so that all of the credentialing
process is better organized. Additionally, it is an attempt to make clear who can participate, as
well as potentially broaden who can participate.

Questions:

What is to keep people who do not track philosophically with the Republican Party? There will
always want to be people who want to take over a precinct committee in that there has always
been factionalism in the Republican Party. Broadening the ability to participate can invite danger
but, on the other hand, also invites opportunity.
After further discussion, Mike Phillips moved that the amendment be deferred until Chairman
Barry can reach out to Linda DeVore to get her input with regard to technology and timing.
Motion was seconded by Jerol Kivett. Mrs. DeVore is a retired attorney who currently chairs the
NCGOP Credentials Committee. Bill Scholtes reminded the committee that the central question
behind this amendment is to resolve who reside in their precincts to the on the day of the Precinct
Meeting or County Convention even though they were not residents on January 31 st . Chairman
Barry stated that he would talk to Mrs. DeVore. The motion passed with no objection.

Reminder: there is an in-person meeting on August 25 in Raleigh and a conference call next week
on August 21 st vis Zoom. At that in-person meeting, we will conduct a review of an opinion on
the censure question that came from the 13 th District. Time will be allocated with the definitive
start and stop time.
Chairman Barry reminded the group to not alter the documents as a means of introducing an
amendment. If a member wants to submit and amendment or change, it would need to be written
out.
There being no further business, Mike Owens moved the committee adjourn with Mike Phillips
seconding the motion, which passed with no objection

Respectfully Submitted,
Ed Stiles
Committee Secretary