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BREAKING NEWS: Dissenting officials kicked out of Minuteman Civil Defense Corps

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> BISBEE - At least two state-level officers of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps have been expelled from the civilian border-watch group after raising questions about its executive leadership, particularly that of MCDC President Chris Simcox.
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> According to internal documents that surfaced on the Internet this week, 18 state MCDC leaders sent a memo on May 8 to Simcox, Vice President Carmen Mercer and Executive Director Al Garza asking them to attend a meeting in Phoenix to address perceived problems, including a lack of financial accountability and Simcoxâ€™s leadership style.
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> In a memo dated May 14, Simcox responded by denouncing the meeting as unauthorized and informing the 18 signers that their membership in the Minutemen organization would be terminated if they attended the meeting.
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> Simcox told the Herald/Review that he objected to the meeting not because of the issues it meant to address, but because of how it was organized.
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> â€œThe way they about it was pretty underhanded,â€ he said. â€œThe meeting was called the very day that I went on a three-week working vacation. It was basically set up so that it would be impossible for us to attend and so that it would create this kind of (conflictive) situation.â€
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> An estimated 12 or 13 state leaders proceeded with their meeting last Saturday and issued a vote of no confidence against Simcox, one of the attendees told the Herald/Review under conditions of anonymity.
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> Simcox said that two of the leaders at the meeting â€” Greg Thompson, MCDC chapter head in Oklahoma, and Bob Wright, the groupâ€™s state director in New Mexico â€” had been dismissed, while two others were still under review.
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> Wright declined to comment, saying his dismissal was an internal matter that would be resolved within the MCDC.
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> The deposed leaders are now demanding to be reinstated and have given Simcox until Friday to schedule a meeting to resolve the crisis.
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> See Thursdayâ€™s Herald/Review for more details.
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> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----
> DOCUMENT 1:
>
> Monday May 21, 2007
>
> Dear State Leaders, Chapter Leaders and fellow Minutemen,
>
> By now you have probably heard rumors or received an email about a
> massive
> purge of your National and State Leaders. These rumors are true. The
> numbers
> are staggering and to any one who is capable of reason, the
> devastating effect
> on your MCDC is inescapable. As you review the documents attached you
> will
> recognize many of the names of those leaders. Maybe one is your state
> leader, or the leader of a State in which you served on the border.
> Others you
> will recognize by their reputations as long time, completely
> dedicated Minutemen
> and Leaders. None of these men have ever had their dedication
> questioned,
> or have ever brought even a hint of disgrace or scandal to your MCDC.
> Each is
> a proven dedicated Patriot who has always kept our mission foremost
> while
> fiercely protecting the integrity of the organization you and they
> have built.
> All of you know and /or have served with at least one of these
> Leaders. You
> know their quality and integrity.
>
> What great crime was committed by this group to bring about the
> termination
> of half the National Leadership and almost half of the State
> leadership? As
> the accompanying documents, the actual termination letter, and the e-
> mails
> exchanged between this committee of state leaders and Chris Carmen,
> and Al Garza
> will clearly establish, we were terminated for Inviting Chris,
> Carmen, and
> Al to a meeting of this committee so we could discuss those issues
> described
> below. This sounds preposterous but read the documents and the e-
> mails and
> they will affirm that is the reason.
>
> The following is a rough time line and sequence of events that has
> led to
> this madness.
>
> As the serving Deputy Executive Director of MCDC I was charged with
> contacting State Leaders. Toward the end of April of this year I was
> contacted by a
> Minuteman and asked to moderate a planned conference call involving
> up to 18
> State Leaders.
>
> I agreed and thought it a good opportunity to ascertain the
> health of the organization as seen through the eyes of these state
> directors.
> During the course of this tele-conference a number of issues
> developed that
> were common to most of the directors, were of a long standing
> nature , and
> each had at different times attempted to address these issues with
> Chris,
> Carmen or Al Garza only to be put off, ignored or the promised
> resolution never
> developed.
>
> As you survey the list of grievances attached to this missive you
> will see
> that most of the issues are certainly not new, all directly affect
> the health
> of the organization, the credibility of the organization, and if
> there is
> valid problems the aftermath of those problems will directly affect
> every
> Minuteman in his community, with his family, and his friends as each
> of us has
> staked our personal reputations on our Minuteman activities.
>
> During the course of the first tele-conference much of the anger and
> frustration was worked through and the state leaders distilled the
> issues down to 10
> distinct areas they felt had to be addressed with Chris Simcox as
> soon as
> possible as all were tired of being put off, ignored or receiving
> promises for
> resolutions that were never kept. Knowing that Chris was doing a
> number of
> speaking engagements across the country they discussed flying to one
> of the
> cities in which he was speaking and having a face to face with him
> there. Upon
> learning that this speaking tour was in conjunction with a family
> vacation
> that plan was scrapped as all felt it inappropriate to intrude on the
> family
> vacation in this manner.
>
> It was then determined that Chris would be back in Arizona . For the
> May 19th
> Muster. The State leaders determined to set up a meeting in Phoenix
> on the
> 19th so Chris would have no problem making it as this is his home
> town and he
> would be there. Still considering myself a facilitator to this
> committee I
> set up a meeting place and time that would make it easy for Chris to
> attend.
> I then sent an e-mail to Chris, Carmen, And Al notifying them of the
> meeting.
> I did not expect Chris to be happy about it but neither I nor the
> State
> Leaders anticipated the paranoia driven nightmare we were about to be
> plunged
> into.
>
> Bob Wright
> Deputy Executive Director
>
> ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* **
>
> DOCUMENT 2:
>
> STATE CHAPTER LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
> 6501 Greenway Parkway, Suite 103-640, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
> Phone (520) 829-3112
>
> TO: Chris Simcox, President, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
> Carmen Mercer, Vice President
> Al Garza, Executive Director
>
> FROM: State Chapter Director Leadership Committee
>
> DATE: May 8, 2007
>
> RE: Requested Meeting / Content
>
> Dear Mr. Simcox,
>
> We, the State Chapter Director Leadership Committee request a meeting
> with
> you and the National Team to discuss the issues we need addressed.
> Many in the
> committee will be coming in from out of state at our own cost; we
> encourage
> you to make every effort to attend this meeting. We understand you
> will be in
> Arizona that day.
>
> Saturday May 19th 2007
> 1PM-5PM
> Clarion Hotel
> 5121 E La Puenta Ave
> I-10 & Elliot Rd
> Phoenix, Arizona (480)893-3900
>
> The purpose of this meeting is to openly address the issues and
> concerns
> that many of us as leaders continue to have, with out resolution.
> This open
> format presents an opportunity to air grievances, disputes, protocol
> practices,
> all while in a private arena. We are hopeful that the issues we bring
> to the
> table will be talked about with hopes of resolution, time frame for
> possible
> changes, and future direction.
>
> Listed below are the issues in which we would like to discuss:
>
> 1) Financial Accountability: To date, there has not been a serious
> form
> of financial accountability on many levels, to Chapter Leadership. We
> believe strongly that current accountability should be provided to
> each local and
> State chapter upon request. Current and past requests go unanswered.
>
> 2) New Chapters are not getting the tools and resources they have
> been
> instructed the will receive, such as seed money and merchandise.
>
> 3) Reimbursement of expenses not made in a timely manner if at all.
>
> 4) Micro-management from Mr. Simcox: It appears to us that 1 person
> has complete control of the organization from financial, operational,
> new
> chapter development, leadership placement, media and public
> relations. Discuss the
> problems this presents.
>
> 5) SOP: Long Arms on posts (State to State difference on SOP). I.e.:
> Setting up U- Shaped entrapments at AZ operations in April 2007.
> National
> interaction over local authority in localized issues.
>
> 6) National Leadership Restructure: Mr. Simcox should remain as Pres
> of
> MCDC with sole purpose of working our political arm and media/public
> relations. Not involved in operations, chapter management, or
> finances. We seek to
> have a National Leadership Team that represents the Minutemen body of
> volunteers, and are held accountable by the same. We would like to
> address this
> restructure to include either appointing National Leadership Teams by
> State
> Chapter Director Leadership Committee, or by an open vote from
> members of MCDC.
>
> 7) Poor communication structure throughout MCDC leadership, National
> down to local chapter levels. Recommend monthly conference calls,
> regional
> conference calls.
>
> 8) Full explanation of the status of the 501C-3, relationship between
> Denier, Declaration Alliance, Alan Keyes, MCDC PAC, MCDC Fence and
> any other
> organization that MCDC has agreements with or intends on interacting
> with.
>
> 9) National HQ Office, is it worth the 60K annual expense to man and
> fund?
>
> These are the issues we would like to discuss at great length. We
> firmly
> believe in the organization we have all built, and do not want to see
> it become
> fractured. This is our effort to keep MCDC whole, and make it
> possible for
> future growth. We look forward to meeting with you and sharing our
> ideas.
>
> Semper Vigilans,
>
> Bob Wright, NM State Director, National Leadership, Committee Chair
> SDL
> Committee
> Bill Irwin, National Operations Officer
> David Jones (Pineapple 6), Prescott AZ Chapter Director
> Pete Lanteri, NY Chapter Director
> Greg Thompson, OK Chapter Director, New Chapter Development Director
> Hal Washburn, WA Ops Director
> Warren Mcquiggen, National Communications Officer
> Walter Adams, PA Chapter Director
> Jim Furnison, OH Chapter Director
> Ed Hayes, KS Chapter Director
> Jeff Henry, CO Chapter Director
> Dennis Murphy, NE Chapter Director
> Ron Oplinus, NH Chapter Director
> Claud Leblaus, WA Chapter Director
> Tom Franiac, MO Chapter Director
> Jim Carter, TN Chapter Director
> Mike Forest, OR Chapter Director
> Stacey O'Connell, Minuteman, past Phoenix Chapter Director, past AZ
> Chapter Director
>
> ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* **
>
> DOCUMENT 3:
>
> Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
> 6501 Greenway Parkway ● Suite 103 - 640 ● Scottsdale , AZ
> 85254
> : Phone (520) 829-3113
>
> TO: Bob Wright
>
> May. 14, 2007
>
> Subject: Unauthorized State Directors Meeting in Phoenix, AZ
> 5/19/2007
>
> To: Bob Wright and Appended CC List
>
> In response to your letter of May 8, 2007 to Chris Simcox, Carmen
> Mercer and
> Al Garza you are notified that the meeting scheduled for Saturday May
> 19th
> 2007 at 1PM-5PM at the Clarion Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona you have
> proposed is
> unauthorized, and under no circumstances is it sanctioned or approved
> by the
> Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, Inc.
>
> Further, the Board of Directors of MCDC, Inc. has at no time
> authorized a "
> State Leadership Committee" and this shadow entity and any business
> or actions
> proposed by it violate the organizational chain of command most
> recently and
> formally agreed to in leadership meetings held with national
> leadership
> volunteers October 2006. By calling a "State Directors Meeting" you
> have
> violated the official corporate By-Laws of MCDC, Inc. regarding legal
> authority for
> conducting business and affairs for the corporation.
>
> Additionally, the proposed listed agenda is not within the scope of
> any
> tasks assigned to Bob Wright, who volunteered to report to Al Garza
> in a purely
> administrative role to provide support to MCDC Board-appointed
> national
> leaders to plan successful border operations and assist in expanding
> the number of
> state locations seeking to establish MCDC chapters.
>
> This proposed meeting therefore cannot be called by Mr. Wright nor
> his
> associates, nor conducted to address MCDC business as it relates to
> any aspect of
> MCDC operations, procedures or organizational structure.
>
> It is the right of anyone to freely assemble. However, this letter
> will
> serve as notice to all those listed in the "CC Appendix" of Mr.
> Wright's May 8,
> 2007 communication that Bob Wright, Greg Thompson, Stacey O'Connell
> and Bill
> Irwin have been terminated for cause as volunteers and volunteer
> leaders
> within MCDC. This proposed meeting is not an MCDC sanctioned meeting
> and should you choose attend with the stated purpose and meeting
> agenda, you will be
> terminated by MCDC.
>
> Your written response, confirmed via facsimile sent to 281-242-9820,
> for
> MCDC Arizona Headquarters records, is required by 5 PM EST on
> 5/16/2007. Your
> response must include a statement of whether you have elected to
> withdraw from
> this proposed unsanctioned meeting and wish to continue with MCDC
> affiliation, or resign.
>
> If you fail to respond within this deadline to the above referenced
> fax
> number, MCDC will assume you have elected to resign all association
> and
> affiliation with Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.
>
> If you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter
> further, do
> not hesitate to contact any of the members of the Board of Directors
> or the
> Executive Director, listed below.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
> Chris Simcox, President â€“ MCDC Board Chairman
> Carmen Mercer, Vice President â€“ MCDC Board Member
> John Acer, Secretary â€“ MCDC Board Member
> Al Garza, Executive Director
>
> Cc:
> Bill Irwin, National Operations Officer
> David Jones (Pineapple 6), Prescott AZ Chapter Director
> Pete Lanteri, NY Chapter Director
> Greg Thompson, OK Chapter Director
> Hal Washburn, WA Ops Director
> Warren Mcquiggen, National Communications Officer
> Walter Adams, PA Chapter Director
> Jim Furnison, OH Chapter Director
> Ed Hayes, KS Chapter Director
> Jeff Henry, CO Chapter Director
> Dennis Murphy, NE Chapter Director
> Ron Oplinus, NH Chapter Director
> Claud Lebas, WA Chapter Director
> Tom Franiak, MO Chapter Director
> Jim Carter, TN Chapter Director
> Mike Forest, OR Chapter Director
> Stacey O'Connell
>
> ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ****
> **
>
> DOCUMENT 4:
>
> MEMORANDUM
> TO: Chris Simcox
> FROM: State Directors and National Leadership Ad Hoc Committee
> DATE: May 21, 2007
> SUBJECT: Motion
> SENT: Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested
>
> Enclosed please find a Motion, passed by the State Directors and
> National
> Leadership Ad Hoc Committee on Saturday, May 19, 2007 by unanimous
> vote of 13
> of the members.
>
> Motion:
> Resolved May 19, 2007 by the
> State Directors and National Leadership Ad Hoc Committee
>
> Whereas; the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps Deputy Executive Director
> was
> directed to contact the State Directors on a regular basis
> And
>
> Whereas; in the course of fulfilling the directive, many questions
> arose and
> requests for a national meeting to discuss problems was
> overwhelmingly asked
> for by the State Directors. Therefore a meeting was scheduled at a
> time
> and place thought to be convenient for Chris Simcox; this meeting was
> offered
> in good faith with a goal of resolving these important issues
> including managerial misconduct, in confidence and minimizing the
> turmoil within the organization
> And
>
> Whereas; Chris Simcox responded to the proposed meeting with the
> attached
> letter which threatens the very existence of the organization at a
> time in our
> nation's history when it is vital for all citizens to work to secure
> our borders and prevent amnesty.
>
> We therefore move, and resolve that we have lost confidence in Chris
> Simcox'
> s ability to lead Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.
>
> We move that Mr. Simcox reinstate the unjustly terminated Minutemen
> immediately, and restore them to the positions they held.
>
> Mr. Simcox shall be given through May 24, 2007 to schedule a meeting
> for all State Directors, to be held no later than 10, June 2007. At
> which the issues enumerated in the attached letter sent to Mr. Simcox
> on May 8, 2007 will be discussed and resolved.
>
> In addition a business plan will be developed at this meeting that
> will provide
> the volunteers an effective voice in the direction and leadership of
> MCDC.
> The plan must include a Leadership Council, or Board of National
> Leaders and
> State Directors which will, from that date forward provide input and
> oversight
> into the organization in an effort to end the one man rule MCDC
> currently
> operates under. All expenses incurred by the state directors to
> attend this
> meeting will be reimbursed by MCDC.
>
> Failure to respond to this motion by May 25, 2007 will result in the
> entire
> matter being turned over to the national media for their
> investigation.
> Passed by a unanimous vote of 13 ad hoc committee members:
>
> Please contact Bob Wright if you have any questions or comments.
>
> Bob Wright
> Deputy Executive Director
>
> END OF DOCUMENTS.
>
>

No wonder they call Simcox, "The Little Prince". The Red is typical of his long standing high handed practices. This is not the first schism in his organizations. Gilchrist himself left early.