Minutes of April 2, 2005 State Convention, Business Session held at the Marriot in Cedar Rapids

Meeting was called to order by Chairman, Mark Nelson at 2 PM. ExCom members present were: Mark Nelson, Jason Gross, Richard Moroney, Richard Campagna, Christy Welty, Heather Clark, Jeremy Oehlert, and Kevin Litten.

The certificates of recognition for the candidates who ran in 2004 are still at the National Director's office and where therefore unable to be awarded. Mark Nelson stated that he would work on getting them to Iowa so that those who earned them could receive them. Richard Moroney then called for applause to recognize all those who ran in the past year.

Mark Nelson noted that all the books, videos, and political memoribelia he had placed on a side table were free for the taking or that those in attendance could leave a donation to the party for whatever they took.

Jason Gross gave the treasurers report in Timothy Hird's absence. In brief, we started 2004 with a balance of $1194, we had an income of $7106 with expenses of $6167. We then started 2005 with a balance of $2175.

The chair then asked if any new members were present. One member, Sue Piper of Center Point, Iowa stated that she was. A motion was made to allow Piper to vote at the convention without the 30 day waiting period. Motion passed.

A motion was made that Mark Nelson, because of his role as National Treasurer, should enlighten those present about some of the goings on at the party's national headquarters. Nelson then responded to various questions about the proposed dues increase, from $25 to $37 or $50 yearly; how our new Raisers Edge database program was working out; what Joe Seehusen, our National Executive Director, has been doing and what he is up to; and finally about national headquarters moving two floors up at the Watergate Building in Washington,D.C.

A request was made by the chair for any new bylaws or platform changes. None were proposed.

A discussion on who best to fill what position for the next two years of the party's Executive Committee then took place. After much discussion and a waving of our secret ballot procedure by the members present, the following members were elected: