Conference HighLights
July 13-14, 2001
Salt Lake City, Utah
Our sixth National Conference was a real success with
featured speakers Dr. Frank Creel, Chairman of the Steering Committee of
the Independent National Committee; and Joel Skousen, author/editor of
the Internet newsletter "World Affairs Brief." We also
had several other speakers.
Evening Social
We kicked off our National Conference with a Friday
evening social at Belgian Waffle and Omelet Inn in Midvale (Salt Lake),
Utah. We enjoyed our dinner and visiting with each other, then we
all took turns introducing and commenting about ourselves. We
learned a lot more about our featured speakers, Frank Creel and Joel
Skousen, as we asked them to give a greater view of their goals and
backgrounds.
Business Meeting
Saturday morning, we held our National Committee business meeting in
the Salt Lake County Commission Chambers, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
We heard state reports live for Utah, Nevada and Virginia. State
reports were read (in absentee) for Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii,
Indiana, New York, Tennessee and Wyoming. These were followed by a
national report by our national chairman. The reports were very
positive and reflected the sudden interest and growth in the Independent
American Party.
We made one change in our slate of national officers. We
released Patty Arnold, of Draper, Utah, as Assistant at Large; and
elected Richard L. Wilde, of Ogden, Utah, in her place
The crux of our business meeting was deciding whether or not to
associate with the Independent National Committee (INC), an umbrella
organization for a coalition effort of like-minded political
entities. First we heard a 28-minute audio tape presentation by
Don Webb of Alabama (who was one of the founders of the INC). Then
Dr. Frank Creel of Virginia (who is current head of the INC) gave a
brief presentation. Pro and con comments by our absentee state
representatives were also read.
Next we began a question-and-answer period, with Frank Creel
answering questions. There was a spirited and lengthy discussion
and debate. Finally, several motions were made; and we were able
to reduce these into a simple motion of whether or not we wanted to
associate with the INC. This motion carried by over 72%. We
then passed a resolution that outlined the terms of our association with
the INC.
The resolution stated that we would "associate" rather than
"affiliate" with the INC; we would retain our autonomy and
sovereignty as a national political party; and we would have an easy
means of dissolving our association with the INC should there be a
desire to do so.
Freedom Forum
Saturday afternoon we held our Freedom Forum in the same County
Commission Chambers as the business meeting.
Our first speaker was Dr. Frank Creel. He founded the Constitution Action Party in 1995.
In March he became
Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Independent National Committee. He
served two years in the Peace Corps in Turkey and three years in the US Army.
He
separated from the service as a first lieutenant and decorated combat veteran of
Vietnam. A Fulbright-Hays scholar, he earned his doctorate in Comparative
Politics of the Middle East from the University of Chicago. He retired from
federal service in the international trade area last November.
Frank's address was titled "Religion and Patriotism."
Between speakers, Richard Wilde treated us with a beautiful medley of
patriotic songs.
Our second speaker was Joel Skousen. He is author and editor of World Affairs Brief, a weekly
Internet and printed news analysis service. A political scientist by training,
he specializes in philosophy of law and Constitutional theory. He was a US
Marine fighter pilot in the Vietnam era. During the late `70s he began an
architectural career designing and consulting on high security residences and
retreats throughout North America. In the 1980's he was Chairman of the
Conservative National Committee in Washington DC and served as the Executive
Director of Conservative Digest.
Joel's address was titled, "Strategies for the Preservation
of Liberty."
Following that address, our National Chairman, Bruce Bangerter, gave
closing remarks that encouraged about the destiny and future of the
Independent American Party.
Barbecue
Saturday evening we had a barbecue at David Gourley Park in Kearns
(Salt Lake), Utah. We enjoyed hamburgers, salads, chips, punch,
and visiting with each other. The weather started out nice, but
became cold and windy before our speakers were through.
We heard a brief presentation on VoteScan by Mark Faux. Will
Christensen, State Chairman of the Utah IAP, spoke on "The
Independent American Party and Freedom." Dan Hansen,
former State Chairman of the IAP of Nevada, spoke on "Independent
Americans on the Offensive." And Larry Garske, one of our
IAP National Advisors, spoke on "Rescinding Utah's Call for a
Con-Con." The National Conference then
adjourned until January 2002.
All of the addresses by our Conference speakers are published on
our web site.
