FREE STATE PROJECT, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
28 January 2005
In Attendance:
- Jason Sorens (board member)
- Jean Alexander (board member)
- Eddie Bradford (board member)
- Varrin Swearingen
- CALL TO ORDER
- Jason Sorens called the meeting to order
- NEW BUSINESS
- Election of New Directors
- Jason Sorens moved to elect Varrin Swearingen director of the Free State Project.
- Eddie Bradford 2nd.
- Discussion
- Eddie Bradford moved to close discussion.
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
- 3 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 3 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes.
[Varrin Swearingen is elected to the board of directors of the Free State
Project.]
- Jason Sorens moves to elect Amanda Phillips director of the Free State Project.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes.
[Amanda Phillips is elected to the board of directors of the Free State
Project.]
[Delayed, Amanda Phillips joins the meeting.]
- Bylaws Changes
- Jason Sorens moves to adopt amended bylaws forwarded in an email from him
with the subject heading "next email?" Those amended bylaws are
here.
- Amanda Phillips 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain
- Motion passes.
[The Organizers have restructured the leadership. In redefining the roles of
the board and officers a new board was elected. This board is comprised of the
following people: Jason Sorens, Amanda Phillips, Varrin Swearingen, Evan
Nappen, Jean Alexander and Steve Cobb. The original board made the appropriate
motions to formalize this new structure.]
- Eddie Bradford Tenders Resignation
- Eddie Bradford tendered his resignation as director of the Free State
Project, Inc.
- New Directors
- Jean Alexander moves to add Steve Cobb to the board of directors.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Voting on original motion
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes
- Jason Sorens moves to elect Evan Nappen director of the Free State Project, Inc.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Voting on original motion
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Adjournment
- Jean Alexander moves to adjourn.
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 4-0-0.
Meeting is adjourned.
FREE STATE PROJECT, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
8 August 2004
In Attendance:
- Jason Sorens
- Jean Alexander
- George Reich
- Eddie Bradford
- Kat Dillon
1. CALL TO ORDER
- Jason Sorens called the meeting to order
2. NEW BUSINESS
Treasurer's Report
- Reviewed and discussed. We await response to the fundraising drive.
President's Report
- Reviewed and discussed. Discussion of more focused reporting occurred.
Reappointment of President
- Jason Sorens moved to elect Amanda Phillips President of the FSP for another term ending February 15, 2005.
- Eddie Bradford 2nd.
- Discussion
- George Reich moved to close discussion.
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
Vote 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain.
- Vote on original motion.
5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain.
Motion passed 5-0-0.
[Amanda Phillips, President of FSP for the last six months, is reappointed
for another six months.]
Appointment of Vice President
- Jason Sorens moved to elect Evan Nappan as Vice President of FSP for a term ending February 15, 2005.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
Vote 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain.
- Vote on original motion.
5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain.
Motion passed 5-0-0.
[Evan Nappan is appointed Vice President of FSP.]
Articles of Incorporation Wording Correction
There was a wording error in our Articles of Incorporation revision from
last month. It should read:
"No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of,
or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private
persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay
reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and
distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these Articles."
The end of that sentence originally said 'article the third'.
[A typographical error during the 7/11/04 meeting is hereby corrected.]
Adjournment
- Jason Sorens moved to adjourn.
- Eddie Bradford 2nd.
Vote 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain.
Motion passed 5-0-0.
- Meeting is adjourned.
Back to Minutes
FREE STATE PROJECT, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
20 February 2005
In Attendance:
- Jason Sorens
- Jean Alexander
- Eddie Bradford
- Varrin Swearingen
- Amanda Phillips
- CALL TO ORDER
- Jason Sorens called the meeting to order
- NEW BUSINESS
- Proxy Vote
- Jason Sorens moved to allow Amanda Phillips to be Evan Nappen's proxy voter.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Discussion
- Varrin Swearingen moved to close discussion.
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
- 4 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain - 1 not voting
- Vote on original motion
- 2 in favor - 2 opposed - 1 abstain
- Motion fails 2-2-1.
[Proxy voting for Evan Nappen this session is not allowed.]
- Phone Participation
- Jason Sorens moves to allow Evan Nappen to participate by phone via Amanda Phillips.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- 4 in favor - 1 opposed - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor - 1 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 4-1-0
[Participation by phone for Evan Nappen via Amanda Phillips is allowed.]
- Porc Fest/Fundraising Mailing
- Varrin Swearingen moves to approve $3,400 for the Porc Fest/Fund Raising mailing
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 5-0-0.
[Spending over $500 has to be approved by the board of directors. This vote
approves the fundraising/Porc Fest mailing.]
- Quarterly Organization Reviews
- Jean Alexander moves that the board review the organization's and hence
its own performance with respect to strategic goals, on a quarterly basis .
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- 4 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain - 1 not voting
- Vote on original motion
- 5 in favor - 0 against - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 5-0-0
[A quarterly review process is approved. This process will have the board
evaluating whether the organization is meeting its strategic goals.]
- Temporary Treasurer
- Jean Alexander moves that Jason Sorens be temporary Treasurer until a new
permanent Treasurer is found.
[Amanda Phillips reports that Evan Nappen is now on the phone.]
- Amanda Phillips 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain - 1 not voting
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor - 2 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 4-2-0
[Jason Sorens is temporary Treasurer until a new permanent Treasurer is found.]
- Next Week's Meeting Format
- Varrin Swearingen moves to have next weeks meeting be on Yahoo chat.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- Discussion
- Varrin Swearingen moves to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 3 in favor - 2 opposed - 1 abstain.
- Discussion still open
- Jean Alexander moves to close discussion.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain - 1 not voting
- Vote on original motion
- 3 in favor - 2 opposed - 1 abstain
[No consensus on meeting occurs. Motion is represented. Additional discussion occurs.]
- Jean Alexander moves that next week's meeting be in Yahoo chat.
- Steve Cobb 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- 6 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor - 2 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes.
[Next week's board meeting will be held via Yahoo chat.]
- Adjournment
- Jason Sorens moves to adjourn.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 6 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes.
[Meeting is adjourned.]
FREE STATE PROJECT, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
27 February 2005
In Attendance:
- Jason Sorens
- Jean Alexander
- Steve Cobb
- Varrin Swearingen
- Amanda Phillips
- CALL TO ORDER
- Jason Sorens called the meeting to order
- NEW BUSINESS
- Revised Mission Statement
-
Varrin Swearingen moved to adopt the following revised mission statement:
The Free State Project is an agreement among 20,000 pro-liberty activists to
move to New Hampshire, where they will exert the fullest practical effort
toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the
protection of life, liberty, and property. The success of the Project would
likely entail reductions in taxation and regulation, reforms at all levels of
government to expand individual rights and free markets, and a restoration of
constitutional federalism, demonstrating the benefits of liberty to the rest of
the nation and the world.
- Jean Alexander2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 5-0-0.
[A revised FSP Mission Statement is adopted.]
- Strategic Goals for 2005
Jean Alexander 2nd
Discussion
Jean Alexander moved to close discussion.
Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
3 in favor - 0 opposed - 2 abstain
Voting on original motion
4 in favor - 1 opposed - 0 abstain
Motion passes 4-1-0.
[FSP 2005 Strategic Goals are adopted.]
Adjournment
- Varrin Swearingen moved to adjourn the meeting.
- Amanda Phillips 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 5-0-0.
[Meeting is adjourned.]
FREE STATE PROJECT, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
17 April 2005
In Attendance:
- Jean Alexander
- Steve Cobb
- Amanda Phillips
- Adam Rick
- Jason Sorens
- Varrin Swearingen
Not In Attendance:
- Call to Order
Jason Sorens called the meeting to order.
- Board Authority to Remove/Veto Choice for Department Heads
- Adam Rick moved to adopt the policy that the Board of Directors shall have
the power to remove or veto a choice of department head if a problem were
to arise.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion.
- Steve Cobb 2nd.
- Adam Rick withdrew his motion with the understanding that the Board may
exercise this power in extraordinary circumstances.
[It was determined that the board does have this authority without a vote.
Voting on such a power would actually limit the board's authority.]
- Annual department goals to the Board
- Jean Alexander moved that all officers, board members and department heads
provide annual goals that support the organizations strategic goals.
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd
- Vote: 6 aye - 0 nay - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion: 6 aye - 0 nay - 0 abstain
- Motion passes.
[All Officers, Board Members and Department Heads will provide annual goals
that support the organizations strategic goals.]
- Monthly Activity Reporting
- Jason Sorens moves that department heads make monthly reports, which are
publicly available, to the board and on the website.
- Jean Alexander 2nd
- Discussion
- [Monthly with a report of "no activity" and brief checklist reports
acceptable.]
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- Vote: 6 aye - 0 nay - 0 abstain
- Amanda Phillips recommends rewording so that reports are made to the
President/VP who then reports to the board.
- Jason Sorens revises the motion to department heads are required to
provide monthly reports, collected by the president, which are made
available to the board and on the website.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion.
- Vote: 6 aye - 0 nay - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion: 6 aye - 0 nay - 0 abstain
[Monthly reports from all department heads will be collected by the
President/Vice President and then made available to the Board of Directors and
on the website.]
Amanda Phillips leaves chat and continues participation via telephone.
- Budget
- Treasurers proposed annual budget is discussed. A few changes are suggested.
- Jean Alexander moved that the board accept the annual budget as amended.
- Adam Rick 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- Vote: 6 aye - 0 nay - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion: 6 aye - 0 nay - 0 abstain
Steve Cobb leaves the meeting
- Adjournment
- Adam Rick moves to adjourn the meeting
- Jean Alexander 2nd
- Vote: 5 aye - 0 nay -- 0 abstain
- Meeting is adjourned.
FREE STATE PROJECT, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
20 March 2005
In Attendance:
- Jason Sorens
- Jean Alexander
- Steve Cobb
- Varrin Swearingen
- Amanda Phillips (via telephone)
- CALL TO ORDER
- Jason Sorens called the meeting to order
- OLD BUSINESS
- 7th Director
- Jason Sorens moved to elect Adam Rick to the FSP Board of Directors.
- Jean Alexander2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Motion passes 5-0-0.
- Evan joins the meeting via telephone and adds his "aye" to the vote.
- Motion passes 6-0-0.
[Adam Rick is elected to the 7th seat on the FSP Board of Directors.]
- Adjournment
- Varrin Swearingen moved to adjourn the meeting.
- Jason Sorens 2nd.
- 5 in favor - 0 opposed - 0 abstain
- Amanda and Evan no longer present.
- Motion passes 5-0-0.
[Meeting is adjourned.]
Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting
August 14, 2005
Meeting called to order by Chair Jason. Adam, Jean, Steve, Jason,
Varrin, and Amanda in attendance.
Monthly Reports: July reports will be collated and posted online
shortly; August reports will wait until the VP of Operations can take charge of
collecting them.
Varrin makes motion to create Vice Presidents of Operations, Publicity,
and Resources, where Operations will include day-to-day management activities,
Publicity will cover both advertising, marketing, outreach, and related
activities, and Resources will include financial and human resources. Motion
seconded. Adam offers amendment to motion, to create Vice Presidents of
Operations and Publicity. Amendment seconded.
Amendment adopted: 4 aye (Adam, Jean, Steve, Jason), 2 nay (Varrin,
Amanda).
Amended motion adopted: 6 aye, 0 nay.
Varrin makes motion to offer Steve position of Vice President of
Publicity. Motion seconded.
Motion adopted: 6 aye, 0 nay.
Jean makes motion to offer Varrin position of Vice President of
Operations. Motion seconded.
Motion adopted: 6 aye, 0 nay.
Next Board meeting scheduled for August 28, time TBD.
Jean makes motion to rotate future Directors' meetings between
telephone and Yahoo Messenger media, starting with telephone for the August 28
meeting. Motion seconded.
Motion adopted: 6 aye, 0 nay.
Jason makes motion to adjourn. Motion seconded.
Motion adopted: 6 aye, 0 nay. Meeting adjourned.
Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting
August 28, 2005
In Attendance:
Jason Sorens
Jean Alexander
Varrin Swearingen
Amanda Phillips
Adam Rick
Steve Cobb
Evan Nappen
-
Call to Order
Jason Sorens called the meeting to order.
-
Adjournment
Jason Sorens moved to adjourn the meeting.
Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
6 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstain
Motion carries
Meeting is adjourned.
[The board discussed various business topics today that did not require a
vote including, primarily, strategy/mission change and hiring a PR firm.]
Free State Project, Inc.
Board of Directors Meeting
June 30, 2005
In Attendance:
- Jason Sorens
- Jean Alexander
- Steve Cobb
- Varrin Swearingen
- Amanda Phillips
- Evan Nappen
- Adam Rick
CALL TO ORDER
Jason Sorens called the meeting to order
NEW BUSINESS
Monthly Reports
Amanda Phillips reported that monthly reports had been sent. The remainder
of the board had not received them. Amanda Phillips was to resend the reports
the next business day. Amanda Phillips was also to forward to the board the
organization chart.
Increase Number and Quality of Volunteers
- Varrin Swearingen moved to increase the quality and number of volunteers
by approximately 100%.
- Steve Cobb 2nd.
- Discussion
- Vote to close discussion
- Aye – 7, Nay – 0, Abstain – 0
- Vote on original motion
- Aye – 3, Nay – 4, Abstain - 0
- Adam Rick moved amend the motion to - increase substantially the number and quality of volunteers.
- Jean Alexander 2nd
- Discussion
- Without objection voting on amendment
- Aye – 7, Nay – 0, Abstain – 0
- Voting on the original motion
- Aye – 7, Nay – 0, Abstain - 0
- Motion passes
Strategy/Mission Change
- Jason Sorens moved to make a public announcement requesting public input
into potential changes to the SOI and PG. Public announcement of the
request to be made via email and on the forum on 7/11, close comments on
9/1, Board decision announced on 10/1
- Adam Rick 2nd.
- Discussion
- Jason moved to close discussion
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd.
- Aye – 6, Nay – 1, Abstain – 0
- Vote on original motion
- Aye – 7, Nay – 0, Abstain – 0
- Motion carries.
Org Disc List
- Adam Rick moved to eliminate the orgdisc list
- Varrin Swearingen 2nd
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moved to close discussion
- Amanda Phillips 2nd
- Aye – 7, Nay – 0, Abstain – 0
- Vote on original motion
- Aye – 6, Nay – 1, Abstain – 0
- Motion carries
Organizers List
- Adam Rick moved to eliminate the organizers list
- Amanda Phillips 2nd
- Discussion
- Varrin Swearingen moved to close discussion
- Jason Sorens 2nd
- Aye – 7, Nay – 0, Abstain – 0
- Vote on original motion
- Aye – 3, Nay – 4
- Motion fails
Adjournment
- Jason Sorens moved to adjourn the meeting.
- Jean Alexander 2nd.
- 7 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Motion passes
- Meeting Adjourned.
FREE STATE PROJECT, INC.
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
In Attendance:
Jason Sorens • Jean Alexander • Varrin Swearingen • Amanda
Phillips • Steve Cobb
-
New Board Member
- Jean Alexander moves to put the longest empty board position to a vote of
a body comprised of the current sitting board members and all volunteers listed
on the org chart as of today. Condorcet voting will be used if there are more
than two candidates.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nds
- Discussion
- Jean Alexander moves to close discussion
- Varrin Swearingen 2nds
- 4 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstain
- Discussion is closed
- Vote on original motion
- 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Motion passes 5-0-0
Amendment to Motion
- Jason Sorens moves to inform the electorate of the legal
requirement that Free State Project, Inc. directors must be FSP
participants and of the legal age of majority in the state of Nevada.
- Varrin Swearingen 2nds
- Discussion
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion
- Varrin Swearingen 2nds.
- 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstain
- Motion passes 4-0-1
[Adam Rick's board seat is still not filled. According to the Bylaws if a
board seat is not filled within two months, the board must send the matter to a
body of its choosing to vote for a new member. The board has selected the
volunteers listed on the organizational chart as of this meeting in addition to
the board to be this body. The amendment is to ensure that the Bylaws
requirement that board members be FSP participants and of legal age in the
state of Nevada be communicated to the voting body and any potential
candidates.]
-
Ownership of Doers
- Steve Cobb moves to make Varrin a co-owner of FSP-Doers
- Varrin Swearingen 2nds
- Discussion
[Amanda Phillips, who had a previous commitment for 2:45pm leaves the
meeting.]
- Jason Sorens moves to close discussion
- Jean Alexander 2nds
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Motion passes 4-0-0
[This motion makes Varrin Swearingen, VP of Operations and Director, a
co-owner of FSP-Doers.]
-
Organizers List
- Varrin Swearingen moves that Jason Sorens be the administrator of
the Organizers list.
- Jean Alexander 2nds
- Discussion
- Varrin Swearingen moves to close discussion
- Jason Sorens 2nds
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 3 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstain
- Motion passes
[The organizers list, in a previous meeting, had been reduced in size and
set up with Adam Rick as administrator. Adam Rick has declined to continue in
this role so the Board has set Jason Sorens as the administrator of the
organizers list.]
-
FSP First 1000 Pledge
- Varrin Swearingen moves that the FSP start a pledge at Pledge Bank to
secure commitments from 1000 people to move to NH to fulfill the FSP's mission.
Participants must commit to move (or have moved since 10-1-03) from outside of
NH to the state of NH by 12-31-08. The pledge will close on 12-31-06.
- Jason Soren's 2nds
- Discussion
- Jean Alexander moves to close discussion
- Varrin Swearingen 2nds
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Motion passes
[The First 1000 Pledge is an effort to get those most motivated to work
for liberty to commit to an earlier move than our SOI requires.]
-
Porc Fest Budget
- Varrin Swearingen moves that Porc Fest be allotted a net budget of
$6,000 for Porc Fest 2006.
- Jason Sorens 2nds
- Discussion
- Jean Alexander moves to close discussion
- Varrin Swearingen 2nds
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Vote on original motion
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Motion passess
[The board set the budget for 2006 Porc Fest. It is higher than last year
anticipating that we will keep and perhaps expand last year's reputation as
the biggest libertarian gathering of the year. The budget is "net". The Porc
Fest team can do its own fundraising to expand its spending as it deems
necessary.]
-
Adjournment
- Jason Sorens moves to adjourn
- Steve Cobb 2nds
- 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstain
- Meeting is adjourned
Participants
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