After
determining a quorum of the committee, TCRC members at the March 25 meeting in
Brownwood approved minutes of the February 19 session, accepted subcommittee
reports, agreed to set annual budgets for committee and subcommittees and
established a policy regarding news media inquiries.
Bob
Phipps, chairman of the Subcommittee for County Ratification, explained the
plan, which establishes an organizational structure designed for efficient
delegation of authority. The plan calls for north and south zones, with a total
of 10 geographic districts. Each district has 20-22 counties. The subcommittee
will identify and appoint a regional director for each zone. Regional directors
will identify and appoint five district coordinators to assist in organizing
county ratification committees within the specified districts.
The
subcommittee also has prepared a detailed and comprehensive handbook for each
unit. Included in the handbook are specific instructions for finance as well as
publicity and advertising. Each county ratification committee will be
responsible for funding expenses related to ratification in that county.
Phipps reported that several candidates
for appointment have been identified, and the subcommittee will now begin
aggressive efforts to fill the zone and district positions. "We've already
had a number of people contact us, volunteering to help in their home
counties," Phipps said. "We are lining up these volunteers, explaining
the process, and will put them to work shortly."
County
ratification committees will be formed when at least six citizens in a county
petition the subcommittee for appointment. District coordinators will review the
petitions to determine the qualifications of the applicants and make a
recommendation to the regional director. In consultation with the subcommittee,
the regional director will approve or reject the petition. The county
ratification committee will consist of not less than six and not more than 12
citizens living in that county.
Michael
Deardorff reported on Subcommittee for Publicity and Advertising plan, including
a potential slogan, "Texas Constitution 2000, It's About Freedom." The
plan for county ratification committees includes using direct mail, full color
posters, advertising for newspapers, radio, TV. and cable; full color flyers and
three-fold brochure, publicity news releases and printing of the complete
constitution for inserting in the county newspaper.
County
ratification committees will be presented a "press kit," complete with
examples of materials available from the subcommittee, and an audio tape to be
used in assisting with fund raising efforts.
TCRC
chairman Wes Burnett presented a report on behalf of Rick Rickard, chairman of
the Subcommittee for Finance. The plan establishes procedures for county
ratification committees regarding fund raising and administration of funds.
"County ratification committees may pursue any and all fund raising
projects they feel is appropriate, as long as those projects are lawful,"
Burnett explained.
Funds
collected by the county ratification committee will be forwarded on a weekly
basis to the Texas Constitution Ratification Fund, which will maintain separate
accounting for each county and disburse funds upon receipt of authorized
purchase order requests.
TCRC
members agreed that all news media inquiries will be referred to the
Subcommittee for Publicity and Advertising.
Attending
the meeting were Burnett, Deardorff, Alex Martinez, Bob Phipps and Tom Stults.
Unable to attend due to business commitments were Rickard and secretary Keith
Potts. The TCRC agreed to meet April 22 at 11 a.m. in Lampassas at a site to be
determined later.
Wesley
W. Burnett, Chairman