American Reform Party
Of Utah
History of the American Reform Party
In August 1996 despite the fact that Reform Party organizing efforts had been active for nearly a year no national organization existed. At the second nominating convention in Valley Forge, Reform Party members met on two successive days. The meeting attendees, unanimously voted to issue a call for an organizing meeting to be held the following month with the goal of establishing the Reform Party as a democratic, self-governing, free-standing national political party.

Thought was given to forming a steering committee at Valley Forge, but the unanimous consensus was that all Reform Party state organizations and/or interested activists should have fair notice and equal opportunity to participate in the formation of a National Steering Committee.

Immediately after the call was issued, efforts were made to identify the appropriate Reform Party contacts. Members and interested persons in all 50 states were sent a meeting call by mail.

The organizing meeting was held September 28, 1996 in Schaumburg, Illinois, fifteen states were represented. The meeting was conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order. After considerable discussion it was decided to seat the six uncontested state delegations in attendance.

All attendees participated in the meeting and passed these recommendations:

The six states should form a steering committee.

Communicate to states how they can join

Communicate results with Dallas and ask them to join

Send all communications to at least one person in each state represented

Adopt a set of bylaws governing the steering committee

Seat additional states as their organizations develop.

Provide interim governance of the national party until national convention.

Draft a proposed national party constitution.

Call constitutional convention

Dissolve at completion of convention

The six seated states convened following the main meeting and officially passed the above motions. The newly formed committee was named the Reform Party National Steering Committee (RPNSC).

The RPNSC held periodic teleconferences to conduct its business.

The next national meeting was held in Washington DC in June 1997. The RPNSC was renamed the National Reform Party Committee (NRPC).

The NRPC voted unanimously to declare independence from Ross Perot and the National Organizing Committee (NOC) formed in Nashville, Tennessee. The members agreed that it was essential for the new party to grow beyond the influence of a single individual if it was to succeed as a credible third party choice for the American people. It was also decided to call for a founding convention to take place in late September or early October in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Dr. Linda S. Witherspoon, elected NRPC chair at the meeting, said, "Following a national meeting held in Alexandria, Virginia, the city originally surveyed and laid out by George Washington, we are striving to overcome the inertia which has prevented the Reform Party from moving forward and realizing its full potential to be the voice of the American people. We have therefore called for a national founding convention in Schaumburg, Illinois.

"We are taking the initiative to ensure that the Reform Party is a free-standing, self-governing organization based in the best traditions of democracy. The NRPC is a people-driven organization in which nationally respected leaders should feel free to lend their support for the modern reform movement. The American people have been waiting for evidence that the Reform Party will become a credible, broadly-based national party and not one focused on the personality of a single individual," Dr. Witherspoon continued.

"The road ahead requires hard work and dedication. Our founding convention is a direct path to the destination of creating a strong, responsible third party in the American political system," she concluded.

NRPC Vice Chairman Phil Madsen said, "NRPC members and supporters share the concern that Ross Perot and his political operative Russ Verney have an inordinate amount of power in the emerging party which is often exercised in anti-democratic and self-serving ways. This tends to disenfranchise and otherwise discourage large numbers of citizens and candidates from participation in the party. We are hopeful that the NRPC convention will be the fast track to reenergize citizen activism in the American political system."

The founding convention was held on October 3-5 in Schaumburg, Illinois.
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