RESOLUTION #7-2020 to clarify meaning of “inimical to the best interests of the club” when evaluating membership applications and grounds for expulsion.

BROOKLYN YOUNG REPUBLICAN CLUB INC

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RESOLUTION #7-2020 to clarify meaning of “inimical to the best interests of the club” when evaluating membership applications and grounds for expulsion. 

Introduced by: 

Jonathan J. Judge, Member, BYRC Board of Directors

November 11, 2020

WHEREAS, Current events over the last few years have created profound gulfs between Republican Party principles and positions taken by self-described Republicans that entirely undermine the principles of the party.

WHEREAS, Article II of our Constitution & Bylaws declare the primary object of our club is to promote and to secure support for the principles of the Republican Party among those who live, work and study in Brooklyn under 40 years of age.

WHEREAS, The principles of the Republican Party are defined distinctly in the Republican Party’s quadrennial platforms at the national, state and local levels over the last couple of decades, which have consisted of the following:

  1. We believe the United States of America is unlike any other nation on earth. We believe America is exceptional because of our historic role — first as refuge, then as defender, and now as exemplar of liberty for the world to see.
  1. We believe — as did the Declaration of Independence: that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  1. We believe our constitutional system — limited government, separation of powers, federalism, and the rights of the people — must be preserved uncompromised for future generations.
  1. We believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well by individuals, and that the most effective government is closest to the people.
  1. We believe that good government is based on the individual and that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized.
  1. We believe political freedom and economic freedom are indivisible. When political freedom and economic freedom are separated — both are in peril; when united, they are invincible. That’s why we believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex, gender or national origin. We believe that persons with disabilities should be afforded equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity as well.
  1. We believe that Americans value and should preserve their feelings of national strength and pride, and at the same time share with people everywhere a desire for peace and freedom and the extension of human rights throughout the world.
  1. We believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideals with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.
  1. Finally, we believe that the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

WHEREAS, Membership eligibility defined in Article III of the Constitution & Bylaws requires any applicant to have a general preference for or any sympathy with the principles of the Republican Party and a desire to promote the objects of the Club.

WHEREAS, Membership application rejections and member expulsions may only be made on the grounds that the individual’s membership would be “inimical to the best interests of the Club” by the Board of Directors.

WHEREAS, It is the Board of Directors’ obligation to protect the integrity of the Club’s operations to advance its objects and ensure new and existing members are sincerely dedicated to advancing those objects with integrity.

WHEREAS, A lack of knowledge and experience about the genuineness of an applicant’s general sympathy with or preference for the party’s principles, as stated within, and support for the objects of the club before admitting a member is inherently inimical to the best interests of the club.

WHEREAS, The breadth of such rejection criteria may also lead to detrimental abuse because of specific positions held according to an individual’s conscience regarding support of candidates in an election or policy positions that are contrary to some other segment of the party’s membership or leadership.

WHEREAS, Providing clarity about what constitutes “inimical to the best interests of the club” is necessary to ensure a just, respectable and principled evaluation of new and existing members.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT:

RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Young Republican Club Inc., that grounds for rejecting a membership application or expelling a member as “inimical to the best interests of the club” shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

  1. An applicant who does not receive the sponsorship of at least two voting members of the Board of Directors attesting to the applicant’s general sympathy with or preference for the Republican Party’s principles and support for the objects of the club.
  2. An applicant or member who has not attended at least two meetings or events of the club within the last 12 months.
  3. An applicant or member who seeks to advance, contrary to the principles of the Republican Party, any ideology or policy, directly or indirectly, that defends or contributes to:
    1. the continued existence or legacy of systemic or institutional racism, 
    2. white supremacy or any racial, ethnic, or religious supremacy or nationalism of any kind, 
    3. sexism, 
    4. xenophobia, 
    5. transphobia, 
    6. homophobia, 
    7. nativism,
    8. sympathy with the causes of the Confederate States of America, or
    9. acts of hate, exclusion, disenfranchisement or discrimination of any kind against American citizens or any person because of matters of conscience or immutable characteristics.
  4. An applicant or member who seeks to undermine support for equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all persons, or to advance policies whose consequences would be evidently tantamount to the same.
  5. An applicant or member who seeks to advance theories or arguments substantially lacking an objective and independently verifiable factual basis.
  6. An applicant or member who seeks to advance any anti-republican platform, movement, faction or person whose effect would substantially be to undermine liberty as non-domination, the integrity of due process, the rule of law, separation of powers, federalism and limited constitutional democratically-elected republican government, which are our only bulwarks to protect and promote liberty and justice for all.

RESOLUTION STATUS

Introduced November 11, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting

Adopted, with quorum being present:

In Favor: Joel Acevedo, Jonathan Judge, Jay Cruger

Opposed: None

Abstain: None