MINUTES OF CRYSTAL COAST TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
1 MARCH 2011
Meeting held at Golden Corral, Morehead City, NC
Meeting called to order at 6:08 PM by President BOB CAVANAUGH
Pledge of Allegiance led by Greg “Rudi” Rudolph
Invocation by ROY MUSSER
23 were in attendance
President BOB introduced our guest speaker for the evening – Greg ‘Rudi’ Rudolph, Shore Protection Manager, who spoke on ‘Proposed Sea-Level Rise State Policy’ utilizing power point visuals. This program is funded by the local occupancy tax. Some of the items he touched on were ‘climate and sea level’, ‘state approach’ and ‘proposed policy’. Scientists estimate the average air temperature and sea level has increased by approximately 13 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 feet, respectively in the past 18,000 years. Although greenhouse gases are considered the main vehicle behind global warming and sea-level rise, factors such as dust from volcanic eruptions and air pollution, solar activity, ocean currents, water evaporation from oceans, and a host of other variables can impact climate and/or sea level response. The Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) was charged with protection, preservation, development, and management of the southeastern coastal plains. In the 1990’s CRC developed a scientific panel to study beach nourishment sediment, inlet hazard zones boundaries, and other more science-intense topics. This data is usually used to help create policies. The panel recommended that a rise of 1 meter (39 inches) be adopted as the amount of anticipated rise by 2100 for policy development and planning purposes. This 1 meter is considered a bench mark for use in land planning development, which could impact Carteret County in health and human safety, building requirement, even flood insurance, especially ‘down east’. It is important to remember and realize there is no absolute certainty pertaining to the benchmark. BOB thanked Mr. Rudolph and asked him to keep us informed as to the development of this program and encouraged him to please come back any time.
Treasurer’s Report – NANCY BOCK, Treasurer, reported that we have $1,359.00 in the bank.
April Rally Discussion –
We need to get up with Rev. Willie Montague to find out what the cost of his travel here will cost.
BOB will contact Bob Chambers, Newport, about a permit for the rally.
NANCY wanted to know if the sound system had been secured. BOB will get up with them to determine cost. BOB has a covered trailer for the sound system that we can use in case of rain. ALEX DAVIS set up the system last year, so maybe we can talk him into coming back and help.
KEN LANG reported on the speakers he has lined up –
Becky Gray, John Locke Society, has agreed to speak, and would like to have a table available for their promotional supplies.
Katy Trout, with Civitas, will provide a speaker and will also need a table.
CATIE MIDGETT, a teen member of the Crystal Coast TEA Party Patriots, has agreed to speak again at this rally. CATIE has spoken at the last three or four rallies.
KEN said he had talked with Lockwood Phillips and he has agreed to MC the event. KEN also asked him about coming and speaking at one of our meetings. KEN hopes to get this arranged within the next couple of weeks.
DIANE LANG and FRED DECKER talked to State Senator Jean Preston at the CCRW Reagan Birthday Dinner last Saturday night at the Leon Mann Senior Citizens Center. Sen. Preston said she thought she might be able to rearrange her schedule and attend. She would talk with her aides and hopefully work something out.
KEN said he had sent an invitation to the Carteret County Board of Commissioners and, so far, only Billy Smith had responded. Mr. Smith said he thought there was something else going on during that time frame but would check and get back with us about his availability. KEN said he had had no other response from the commissioners. He hopes to be able to invite them to attend one our meetings and talk with us.
ROY MUSSER said he had attended the rally in Raleigh, Saturday, February 26th. The pro-union rally was organized by the State Employees Association of NC (which does not have formal negotiation rights, because NC is one of two states that ban collective bargaining for public workers). Roy said there were about 200 to 250 supporters of Wisconsin’s public employees in dispute with Gov. Scott Walker. Roy was among the smaller group of anti-union (100 to 150, many who said they were affiliated with the TEA Party movement) demonstrators. He reported that there was a lot of ugly name calling and he really had to work hard to maintain his cool. He said he didn’t think he would be going to another rally without a chaperon! He was interviewed by the Raleigh News and Observer and told them “We’re trying to get all the sickness out of this country so we can get back to the foundation.”
HOWARD and PEGGY GARNER and NANCY BOCK reported on the Carteret County Republican Women Reagan Birthday dinner. Pat McCrory was the guest speaker and gave a very interesting and informative speech. He was not really enthused with Charlotte being tapped for the next Democratic convention.
Upcoming Events –
March 11 – Joe McCleese and wife will be speaking at a meeting in Greenville at Parker’s Barbecue.
March 12 – The program which was to be hosted by Chris Parr at the Carteret Community College, Morehead City, has been cancelled.
March 12 – BOB will be promoting the TEA Party Patriots at the Saint Patrick Day Festival in Emerald Isle.
CLAYTON and GRACE GILLIKIN reported that they had not been able to obtain any further information on having a barbecue fund raiser down east, but would keep trying.
TOM AUSTIN thought that we ought to attend the viewing of the Ayn Rand movie ‘Atlas Shrug’ with all of us wearing our TEA Party shirts. We might want to get a copy of a DVD of hers and show it at one of our meetings.
HOWARD said he had told Senator Jean Preston that he really liked and agreed with the bills that had come out so far in Raleigh. She told him if he liked those he would really be impressed with what is coming up.
Meeting adjourned approximated 8:00PM
Minutes submitted by Secretary PEGGY GARNER