We covered Wayne LaPierre’s boilerplate speech to CPAC and panned Mr. Bespoke $20,000 Suit‘s tired routine. We also noted that (thankfully) the NRA is working on finding a replacement. The sooner that process is concluded, the better.
Now we learn that the NRA’s President has called a special meeting on March 14th, in direct violation of the group’s corporate bylaws. (See update at the bottom of the post.)
March 2, 2021
OFFICIAL NOTICE
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TO: Board of Directors and Executive Council
The NRA President has called for a special meeting of the Board of Directors to take place on Sunday, March 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in Dallas, Texas. The sole purpose of the meeting is to provide a briefing to the Board regarding the NRA’s reorganization plan and the legal matters overseen by the Special Litigation Committee, and to take any necessary action directly related to those matters.
The NRA Board of Directors and Executive Council and will meet at the Omni Dallas Hotel, 555 South Lamar Street, Dallas, Texas 75202, (214) 744-6664. The date, time and location of all meetings are on the attached schedule of meetings and meals. [Special Note: The special meeting of the Board of Directors will start at 10:00 a.m. Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 14. Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 14. On Saturday night, remember to set your clocks forward one hour (i.e., losing one hour) to “spring ahead.”]
John Richardson over at No Lawyers – Only Guns and Money brought up the little detail of the NRA’s bylaws.
From the NRA Bylaws:
Notice of the time, place, and object of such special meetings shall be mailed to each Director at least 30 days before the date of holding such meetings.
Mr. Richardson also offered his thoughts about calling for a special meeting of the board that doesn’t satisfy the rule of law:
Now I know that the NRA Bylaws don’t mean much to Wayne and company but you would think that given both the dissolution lawsuit and the bankruptcy proceedings that dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s just might be the smart way to go. I don’t know if the Board is getting their advice from William Brewer III, NRA General Counsel John Frazer, or the Board’s attorney Wit Davis but whomever said it was OK to ignore the bylaws either doesn’t give a big rat’s ass or is an idiot.
Maybe NRA President Carolyn Meadows thought nobody would notice the lack of the required 30 days notice. Maybe the hastily-called meeting has something to do with LaPierre’s replacement. Either way, nothing can legitimately happen at this meeting as proper notice did not occur. All it will do is rack up still more expenses for the beleaguered gun rights org.
UPDATE: A reader called our attention to a correction posted by the No Lawyers, Only Guns and Money blog noting that the NRA’s bylaws have been updated to allow for 72 hours notice for “special meetings” of the board. Given the update, it appears that the notice given for Sunday’s board meeting is sufficient within the NRA’s bylaws. We regret the error.
I still think the NRA is the most visible, most effective, loudest voice supporting 2nd Amendment Rights. To my knowledge, the “gun safety” crowd denigrates no other 2A organization as frequently and with such vigor. Blue state AGs criminalize the mere existence of no other 2A org.
To your point, the NRA has internal problems. I’m a life member and have supported the NRA since 1973. Perhaps I’ve contributed to the continuance of these internal problems by not being more involved in the inner workings. But before I send another dollar their way, I want to see those internal problems resolved. WLP is one of those problems.
I concur on all points.
As do I! Get rid of Wayne…
Sure- and then you and all the other NRA haters around here will join right back up…
And of course you have a suggestion for someone to replace him as well- someone that everyone could agree on.
Right.
Off of the top of my head, Sheriff Jim Wilson, Massad Ayoob…. I dunno, how about ANYONE other than WLP or anyone OTHER than one of the cronies sitting on the extremely overstuffed board, if there’s anything left after everyone picks up their parting gifts on the way outta’ Dodge. Maybe if they had their ears to the ground instead of their snouts in the trough, they might learn why they are so universally despised among an extremely large percentage of Life Members.
This life member will begin donating to NRA again as soon as Wayne fully retires and is replaced by just about anyone, who meets your criteria. Wayne has left the Second Amendment community vulnerable at the worst possible time and deserves far less than he will ultimately collect from his association with NRA.
Something tells me it’s a head-fake.
WLP ‘retires’, but the board keeps him on as some sort of ‘Chairman Emeritus’…
Not another dime until Wayne is gone.
My thoughts on the matter exactly!
Agree…
Hopefully when Wayne leaves NRA members will grow to be more than just a bunch of crybaby fair weather friends. Politically inept snot nosed fair weather friends who accomplished absolutely nothing but putting a pleasurable sht grin on the faces of Gun Control Zealots.
It is not unreasonable for one to conclude that you are completely devoid of any semblance of principle, decency, honor, respectability, integrity, or morality.
And due to your ethical defects… this articulation will be totally meaningless to you.
Be smarter.
“smarter”….is completely ignoring this organization…and its pleas for funds…until it cleans up their act…send your contributions elsewhere….becoming a life member of anything in this rapidly changing world is a dubious course of action…make them earn your trust…preferably on an annual basis….
frankly, true.
After joining SAF, I began regularly receiving profligate mail-outs containing inane “surveys” representing nothing more than belittling solicitations for more money. So, I called them and suggested that my donations are meant to be used defending the Second Amendment- not wasted on sending paper back to me asking for more money.
The mail stopped… for a month or so.
But after donating again… the imbecilic mail-outs returned.
So, now I’m considering calling them back and suggesting that for every month I don’t receive any superfluous mail from them- I’ll make a donation. And for each unsolicited supplication I get- I’ll skip a monthly donation.
Seems like a win-win to me… if they don’t waste my money asking me for money- I’ll send them money.
Easy-peasy (one would hope).
Agreed
Oh really? Then how do you explain how/why the NRA has supported Every. Single. Anti-Gun. Bill that has come up in the federal government? You expect me to believe that an organization that has supported the NFA, GCA, various state laws that required a permit to carry concealed….the list goes on. This does not speak to me of an organization that is pro-gun rights to me or anyone else with half a brain.
Makes you wonder what the price tag for Wayne was,,,,just sayin!
I mean, the entire board is in WLP’s pocket. What consequences would they realistically face from ignoring the bylaws of the organization? Honest question, not rhetorical. There doesn’t seem (from my perspective) to be any form of effective self regulation here.
If there was they wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.
Well the problems are epic. Throwing out Wayne is a good start. The rest of his allies on the Board all need to resign as well, the whole board would be a good start. Supposedly Wayne returned $300,000 in expense money he wasn’t entitled to. Is the real number that needs to be repaid; 10 times or 20 times that and will we ever know. In addition to stealing money for himself, friends and family, another issues is using organization funds to elect his allies, using the California NRA Members’ Councils over decades. Besides a violation of IRS rules, its probably a RICO violation as well. This went on for decades. I’ve been a life member since 1982 and once I found out about the NRA being Wayne’s personal “Piggy Bank”, I stop supporting them. Having a 12 person board, limited to one 4 year term, with open broadcast meetings and a Vice-President, who after the President’s 2 year term expires, would become President, would help a lot. The organization needs to get back to serving the members and the principles enshrined the U.S. Constitution. Holding my Breath.
The board size needs to be reduced and the position of Executive VP needs to be eliminated and all staff need to be at-will employees with 12 month employment contracts. Same goes for vendors as well. We need 3rd party audits that are available for members to review.
The board size needs to be reduced and the position of Executive VP needs to be eliminated and all staff need to be at-will employees with 12 month employment contracts.
THAT!
Note that Mr. Richardson penned a correction to the notification time line. https://onlygunsandmoney.com/2021/03/06/a-correction-on-nra-bylaws.html
So they are following their bylaws in announcing this meeting. So much for this article, then.
Bet you a hundred bucks it’s a CYA session so the 395 members of the board (just a slight exaggeration) can get their story straight about how they all totally reviewed and approved the Chapter 11 plans, sure, and LaPierre didn’t make the decision without them, yeah, that’s the ticket.
“The sole purpose of the meeting is to provide a briefing to the Board regarding the NRA’s reorganization plan and the legal matters overseen by the Special Litigation Committee, and to take any necessary action directly related to those matters.”
Guess you have trouble reading…
And I guess it wouldn’t be intelligent to explain the battle plan to all 76 Board members, or take suggestions and debate. The notion around here that “everyone” on the board is somehow in WLP’s “pocket” is ludicrous as well-
I’m betting the vast majority of posters here do not know one NRA Board member personally.
This kind of hatred and piling-on should show everyone with any semblence of intelligence just why a person can shout “Hands Up- Don’t Shoot!” and have a large segment of a certain population or political wing believe it- even when there is proof to the contrary. Thank God that even in the NRA, we don’t allow lynch mobs.
One could be curious to hear the answer to this question…
“I do wonder when this bylaw was changed and why. I do know that it was not voted on at either of the last two Meeting of Members as I attended both of those from start to finish.”
Thanks for posting that link. It is stupid to have a 30 day notice for a Special Meeting for any organization. Now we can focus on the real concern…what’s the burning issue that requires a special meeting?
Reorganization of financing, moving the charter to Texas, dealing with pending legal actions by leftists and government entities who are on record as being out to to bankrupt NRA, among other things.
Correct! I have been a member of a couple of different boards of charitable organizations, and there is a distinction made between “regular” and “special” meetings. The 30-day minimum applied to “regular” meetings, but not to “special” meetings. “Special” meetings have separate rules in the by-laws, because they may need to be called to order to deal with pressing issues that don’t fit the routine.
Imagine that. A organization running roughshod over it’s members and squandering their monies, not following their own bylaws. The horror, the horror. I will not give them another dime until WLP is gone and they have settled all their lawsuits. The membership should gen up a class action suit against WLP but he’s probably immune due to an indemnity clause.
Gotta tell ya- I’ve been a Life Member since 1979 or so, a full tag upgrade from Life to Endowment, to Patron, to Benefactor (Think that was aroubnd $3K) and give generously and willingly every year to NRA and its various wings- ILA, PVF, Golden Eagles ($250 per), plus Founder ($1000) and Trailblazer ($2500) at NRAWC.
I’ve also been a 35+ year volunteer recruiter as well as active lobbyist for 2A issues in IA and federally under NRA’s banner and I’ve never once regretted any of it, nor have I ever felt “roughshod”. Most of the ones who do, at least those whom I deal with on a regular basis are also the ones that rarely donate, do not volunteer, don’t bother to contact their city council, county supervisors, state and federal elected reps, and have never volunteered or helped with any candidate’s political campaign and think $35 is too much for a yearly membership.
Sitting back and wanting someone else to take care of your 2A responsibilities is not much different than the entitlement class thinking working taxpayers owe them a monthly check for being alive in America.
Just saying.
They don’t give a rat’s ass
Wayne must go.
If the United States Congress and the Supreme Court can ignore the Constitution of the United States, then what’s a silly little by-law to an organization with 5 million or so members… Does anyone really care? As a life member I want what ever is best for the organization, there have been some serious changes in the past couple of months and the quicker they can get back on track, the quicker (hopefully) they/we can send big spender Wayne packing and maybe get some people in there who actually care about gun rights and the 2A…
So would anyone care to take a w.a.g. at what the amount of Wayne(ker)’s “Golden Parachute” will end up costing the organization if he really does finally get cut loose this weekend? 10 million, 15 million?… no amount is going to provide a just reward for a job well done! Probably best to think about it as a divorce… it’s expensive because it’s worth it.
NRA supported the NFA, GCA, FOPA with Hughes Amendment, AWB, and locally in the mid 2000’s they supported turning PA in NJ as far as gun laws. Locals stopped it, but the NRA Rep showed up to get his picture taken.
The problem is older and deeper than WLP. NRA has never gotten a dime or a minute of my time. I volunteered for FOAC and GOA.
bring in the pratts and merge the nra and GOA to form a super group…donate to the SAF…without the SAF our gun rights would already be over
Due to relative size, if NRA and GOA merged, the resulting entity would be indistinguishable from NRA. Leave GOA alone. Also, send money.
I want to hear the details on the dump PepeLePew movement the article mentioned.
Sounds to me like the author of this article and his sources, should obtain a copy of the NRA bylaws and give a read through. Maybe before, they open their pie hole.
would you rather he give a CPAC speech in a $20-at-goodwill, made-in the ’70s polyester suit?
that would be refreshing…this is a flannel shirt/ blue jeans kind of outfit…watching them parade around in their expensive suits at the conventions was the first clue they were out of touch….
$20-at-goodwill, made-in the ’70s polyester suit?
Maybe not a “Goodwill” special, but you get a pretty damn nice suit for a LOT less than 20 Grand… In fact I could get 8 or 10 knock your boots off suits for that…
Hopefully, the board meeting is about Wayne LaPierre’s resignation.
While the NRA was in its little “time-out” the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) have actually been filing lawsuits to challenge major infringements on Second Amendment rights including including challenges to the State of Pennsylvania’s and Allegheny County’s carry restrictions (Cowey v. Mullen), Philadelphia’s Gun Permit Unit policies and practices (Fetsurka v. Outlaw), Pennsylvania’s ban on carry by adults under 21 years of age (Lara v. Evanchick), California’s Handgun Ban and “Roster” laws (Renna v. Becerra), Maryland’s carry ban (Call v. Jones), New Jersey’s carry ban (Bennett v. Davis), New York City’s carry ban (Greco v. New York City), the federal ban on the sale of handguns and handgun ammunition by federal firearm licensees (FFLs) to adults under 21 years of age (Reese v. BATFE) and most recently, a new challenge to the Maryland laws which, among other things, classify revolvers as “assault weapons” and make transportation or even storage of most firearms in one’s home illegal in blatant violation of Heller.
Just thought some folks might need to remember it is deeds, not bare words or names, which actually effectuate change.
Shit, it sounds like they wouldn’t be able to find time to go haberdashering or help an “intern” find a nice apartment….sucks to be them, right Wayne ?
Any of you who think the NRA should hang around haven’t been paying attention. Ever notice that their history on their website doesn’t mention how they have compromised from the first gun control in the 1930s, in the 1960s, and as recently as Clinton’s “assault” weapon ban. The NRA is one big compromise after another. They begged us for donations while lavishing much of those on LaPierre. Screw the NRA. There are much more effective, uncompromising pro-Second Amendment organizations that don’t put out cute magazines, but put their money into the fight. I left the NRA years ago when it was clear that they were just there for the coin.
Ever notice that their history on their website doesn’t mention how they have compromised
No but I DO hope you’ve noticed the number of gun ranges they support and the thousands of children that have learned to safely handle firearms through NRA sponsored classes.. The NRA was never intended to be a political organization.. It was founded with the purpose of TEACHING Black folks how to safely and effectively defend themselves against groups like the Democrat founded KKK after the Civil War… The Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America (and separately funded). ILA is responsible for preserving (or not) the right of all law-abiding gun owners NOT the NRA, two distinctly different groups under one roof…