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Comment by Cindy Falco- Di Corrado on September 2, 2011 at 10:36pm

y PETER GUINTA

peter.guinta@staugustine.com

A verbal battle for control of the St. Augustine Tea Party began immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance at their reorganization meeting Tuesday night, ending only when a frustrated Chairman Eric West gaveled the noisy and unruly meeting to a close.

West told several rowdy members, "Don't turn this into a circus."

But many loyal tea party members didn't want to listen.

They were deeply angry at the way West and board member Randy Covington had secretly fired the chapter's third board member, Lance Thate, and secretary Esther Miller on Saturday and then announced a new 12-person board without any input or notice from members.

Bob Kuczewski said, "I've never seen this board before."

His motion to have the membership vote on the new board was seconded by several members.

West said, "There's not going to be a vote on that."

The statement only added to the rumble of rebellion.

Kathy Delaney told West and Covington, "That doesn't sound good. It sounds like you guys are dictators. The tea party is all of us, not all of you."

But, apparently, it isn't.

West pointed out that since he and Covington had filed the articles of incorporation in Tallahassee, they were in charge. Legally, everyone else is an invited guest.

"You don't have to be a member of this organization," he told the dissenters.

Kuczewski said he and other members were working on drafting a set of bylaws. However, West had announced on the local tea party website that the new board would now do that job.

"This board was not elected," Kuczewski said. "How can you remove board members who are elected? It's not about getting our way. It's about getting a vote."

Miller said she'd been working on the bylaws. "That's no reason to remove me," she said.

Jim Young, attending a St. Augustine Tea Party meeting for the first time, told the embattled West, "I don't know how you got elected, but you're alienating all of these people. If they don't feel involved, they won't come back."

Vecie Yasinsac suggested that the board use Robert's Rules of Order, but West said that at a previous meeting, the membership voted down that idea, wanting to stick to a consensus form of decision-making.

Yasinsac said, "I don't think anybody should have done anything without the consent of the membership."

Joe Ryan said, "How did you two become directors? The tea party here was started by the area tea parties. What you unelected guys pulled, to throw a board member off, is an underhanded trick."

Malcolm Kingsley, husband of one of the new board members, defended West.

"He filed the corporate papers. We're invited guests and members only. What they did was completely legal," Kingsley said.

When that drew vehement comment, and control was lost of the speakers, West adjourned the meeting.

Ryan went outside, taking names for the possible formation of a St. Augustine chapter of the First Coast Tea Party, which is based in Jacksonville.

But he said he wouldn't quit.

"We're not giving up on this group," he said. "They're exercising a power play."

Several members muttered that the result of the meeting was exactly what the "progressives" wanted, to destroy the tea party. There was suspicion that "political operatives" had attended and contributed to the possible breakup of the tea party.

Richard Gould was outside. "All of a sudden, I don't know what h

Comment by Jack on September 2, 2011 at 10:12pm

There will be at three of us coming.

 

Comment by Lyndee on September 2, 2011 at 10:08pm

I will be there with 2 guests.

Comment by Daniel R. Carr on September 1, 2011 at 9:00am

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dan & I will be there.  Looking forwward to it.

Jane & Dan

Comment by john payne on August 31, 2011 at 10:02pm

my wife, daughter, and myself will attend... hopefully we'll talk about this idiotic racism coming from the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Media covering for them like water carriers!

Comment by Sandra W. Kraus on August 31, 2011 at 9:51pm

I will be there and will bring a friend.... Can't wait!!!!

Comment by Steve Avchin on August 31, 2011 at 5:05pm

My wife, Mary, will be with me.

Comment by jean winters on August 31, 2011 at 1:47pm

My husband will be attending also so there will be two of us.

Comment by mary e. domask on August 31, 2011 at 12:12pm

My husband, Jerry, is also coming.

 

Comment by Marjorie Lapinsky on August 31, 2011 at 8:35am

My husband will also be with me.  I noticed it only allowed for one check mark but you can rest assured there will be at least 4 of us (-:

"LET'S ROLL!!!!!"

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