Letter: Local Tea Party organizations

Eric West
Chairman
St. Johns County Tea Party

Dear Editor:

Since the last meeting of the St. Augustine Tea Party many people have asked what happened. The SATP was being coopted by outside groups, driving a wedge between members, causing chaos and creating a very disruptive atmosphere. That was evidenced by a large influx of new faces at our last meeting.

There was also a growing internal divide as to the direction that the SATP should take.

One group appeared focused on protest. Instead of developing effective strategy and taking action consistent with the Tea Party objectives, this group has turned on the Patriots that want to pursue a strategy and actions to educate, organize and influence voters, fellow patriots and our elected officials.

Typical of startup organizations, SATP has existed for almost a year without by-laws. Florida statues allow the forming Directors the first year to organize and adopt by-laws and rules as are necessary and appropriate. The Directors of the corporation complied with Florida Statutes, empanelled a board, and took the appropriate steps to insure that SATP remains consistent with its mission statement.

The chaos of those focused on protest was moving the organization away from its mission. Authority has been transferred from the incorporators to the new Board of Directors who are now involved in drafting membership rules and by-laws.

A new Tea Party is emerging, the St. Johns County Tea Party. The Rules and by-laws being drafted, upon adoption, will govern the organization and operation of the SJCTP, and will result in a more professionally run organization ready to educate, organize and influence the electorate as we approach the most important election of our lifetimes.

No more time and energy will be wasted debating one another, which is counterproductive to our cause. It is time to move on. The St. Johns County Tea Party will refocus its energy and efforts on what we want to accomplish to help save our country, as set forth in our mission statement.

We expect our shared concerns for the future of our nation will result in many previously interested in the work of the SATP becoming associated with the new SJCTP. Others who share the desire for a new focus of alternative strategy will follow a different path. This is how it should be; there is no one size fits all when it comes to Liberty.

The SJCTP will make no effort to interfere or discourage the work of those who do not support our strategies and we expect the same in return.

More Patriot groups working towards our commonly shared beliefs in Limited Constitutional Government, fiscal responsibility and the salvation of the free enterprise system, strengthens the movement.

We welcome those who share our vision to join the new St. Johns County Tea Party. We will continue to meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at a new meeting location to be announced shortly.

We also look forward to working with all Patriot groups in St. Johns County to conduct straw polls, petition the government and to join us at the SJCTP Tax Day Rally next April.

While it is unfortunate and regrettable that this internal divide over strategy towards a common goal was made so very public, it is ironically a confirmation of the passion and intensity felt by all who feel our government is taking this great nation down the wrong path, and that we have to do something about it.

The beauty and the power of the movement is that the sleeping giant is awake; Patriots are working on issues on multiple fronts with a variety of tactics to save our country from the financial destruction we now face.

We cannot fail; our children are counting on us.

Eric West
Chairman
St. Johns County Tea Party

Mr. West has been a political activist since 2004 serving in leadership roles in the Republican Party in Wisconsin, the St. Johns County REC and the St. Augustine Tea Party. He has lived in St. Johns County since 2008 is married and has two daughters in St. Johns County public schools.

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