Reports for Libertarian Quarterly Meeting Prepared by James W. Lark III

CAMPUS ORGANIZING REPORT

Submitted to: Libertarian National Committee, Dec. 1, 2013

Submitted by: James W. Lark, III
Region 5S Representative, Libertarian National Committee

This report will provide information concerning efforts to build and support Libertarian campus organizations. I shall provide an updated report at the LNC meeting in Dallas should additional information become available.

1) I continue to respond to inquiries from people who want information about the LP campus
outreach effort. I am usually able to respond within 24 hours of receiving an inquiry, although the standard deviation of the response time has increased during the past year.

2) I continue to work with the Advocates for Self-Government to provide material (e.g., “Operation Politically Homeless” kits) to campus organizations. (In the interest of full disclosure, please note that I am the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Advocates.)

3) I continue to work with various state and local LP organizations to assist their campus outreach efforts. For example, I am working with J.J. Summerall of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina to promote the LPNC on campuses in North Carolina. (I gave speeches on libertarian topics at Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) on Oct. 4 and Davidson College (Davidson, NC) on Oct. 10.)

4) I continue to work closely with Students For Liberty to build libertarian groups at high schools and colleges. (I am a member of the Board of Advisors of SFL.) As part of this effort, members of the SFL board and I have found ways for the LP to use the many services available from SFL. We must be careful in so doing because we do not wish to jeopardize the 501c(3) status of SFL.

In addition, I serve as chair of the Student Libertarian Alumni Committee (SLAC). This organization assists SFL by promoting the organization among libertarians and helping to raise funds for SFL.

I addressed the SFL regional conference at Loyola University in Chicago on Oct. 19 and the European Students For Liberty conference in Belgrade, Serbia on November 2. (I also gave a lecture entitled “Challenges to Liberty” at the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade on Nov. 1.) I am currently planning our participation in the International Students For Liberty Conference next year. I am pleased to report that once again I have been invited to address the European Students For Liberty conference.

5) I have received several invitations to speak at colleges and universities during the spring semester. At this time I hope to be able to accept most of the invitations.

6) I continue to work with Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) on programs of mutual interest. I gave an address at the YAL national conference in August. (According to Jeff Frazee, YAL executive director, I have a standing invitation to address YAL national conventions.)

7) As noted previously, several liberty-oriented organizations (e.g., Cato, Reason Foundation, Institute for Humane Studies, Foundation for Economics Education) work to coordinate their student outreach programs. I participate in meetings of representatives of these organizations when my schedule permits.

8) I am investigating options concerning advertising aimed at college-age students. In particular, I am looking at opportunities in Virginia to capitalize on the performance this year by LP Virginia gubernatorial candidate Robert Sarvis. (According to various polling data, Mr. Sarvis received substantial support among those in the college-age demographic group.)

9) Allow me to express my appreciation to Molly Schwoppe of LPHQ for her assistance. In particular, she provided a great deal of help to me in October to update information about our campus contacts and organizations.

EMPLOYMENT POLICY AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

Submitted to: Libertarian National Committee, Dec. 1, 2013

Submitted by: James W. Lark, III
Region 5S Representative, Libertarian National Committee
Chair, Employment Policy and Compensation Committee

The members of the Employment Policy and Compensation Committee (EPCC) are Mark Hinkle, Jim Lark, and Bill Redpath. The members were appointed to the Committee by Geoff Neale on May 9, 2013.

The EPCC is currently preparing a revised employee manual. In the previous report, it was noted that the EPCC had established a goal of delivering the manual to the LNC no later than Dec. 31, 2013. However, in light of issues raised by the Audit Committee, it may be necessary to delay the delivery in order to incorporate whatever changes in employment policy occur as a result of these issues.

The EPCC will soon distribute a message to staff members. The message will inform the staff that the EPCC is available to discuss (on a confidential basis) the working environment or observed violations of the Policy Manual. (The EPCC is specifically charged with the responsibility to be available to the staff for this purpose; we believe staff members should be informed of this responsibility.)

MEMBERSHIP LEVEL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT

Submitted to: Libertarian National Committee, Dec. 1, 2013

Submitted by: James W. Lark, III
Region 5S Representative, Libertarian National Committee
Chair, Membership Level Review Committee

The members of the Membership Level Review Committee (MLRC) are Michael Cloud, Mark Hinkle, Jim Lark, Scott Lieberman, and Rich Tomasso. The committee was established by Geoff Neale during the LNC meeting on March 16-17, 2013. Mr. Neale appointed the members of committee, and appointed Dr. Lark to serve as chair.

The charge of the Committee was to recommend membership/contribution levels (and associated benefits) that would garner the support of a strong majority (“a supermajority”) of the LNC. The Committee provided its recommendations on July 8, 2013, for consideration by the LNC. Those recommendations are listed in the attached appendix.

Shortly after the conclusion of the July LNC meeting, Mr. Neale requested that the MLRC continue its work on recommendations concerning membership/contribution levels. As of this moment the MLRC has not chosen to change its recommendations.

In October I sent a message to the LNC to request feedback concerning the MLRC recommendations. It was the intention of the MLRC to offer a motion during the December meeting concerning membership/contribution levels, based upon the feedback received. As far as I can tell, Executive Director Wes Benedict is the only person who offered suggestions in response to this request.

In a conversation with Mr. Neale on Nov. 17, he indicated that it may be best to defer consideration of motions concerning membership/contribution levels until 2014. I relayed his sentiment to the MLRC, and indicated my agreement with that sentiment. As of this moment no MLRC member has indicated an intention to make a motion during the December meeting concerning membership/contribution levels.

Allow me to request that LNC members review the MLRC recommendations again and offer comments and suggestions concerning those recommendations.

APPENDIX

MLRC recommendations to the LNC:

1) The Membership Level Review Committee recommends that the LNC approve the following motion in the form of a resolution:

Resolved, That the Libertarian National Committee recommends that the 2014 Bylaws and Rules Committee propose an amendment to Article 5 of the Bylaws.

Such amendment would authorize the LNC to establish the minimum sustaining membership donation level by a 3/4th vote of the entire LNC. It would further require that changes to that donation level must be approved by the LNC by the same vote threshold.

2) The MLRC recommends that the LNC adopt the list of membership/contribution levels and associated benefits proposed by Rich Tomasso. (The list of levels and benefits is given below, along with comments provided by Mr. Tomasso to the MLRC.)

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List of membership/contribution levels and associated benefits proposed by Rich Tomasso:

Amounts listed are either given in donations in one calendar year, or provided as a monthly pledge of 1/10th the same amount for one year. (Amounts given do not include funds received for convention packages or other purchases.)

$25 Sustaining member. Gets newsletter. Counts for delegates.

$100 Minuteman.

$500 Patriot.

$1000 Torch Club.

$5000* Chairman’s Circle.

$10000* Silver Sovereign.

$20000* Golden Champion.

$30000! Rearden Metal Paragon.

$1000^ Life Member.

* The contribution for Chairman’s Circle and higher are calculated since the close of the prior convention.

! This is an amount equal to the maximum legal contribution anyone can make in a year. I don’t have that amount on-hand but I know it’s about this much.

^ A Life Membership is a distinct purchase, available as a single $1000 payment. With that, the member no longer gets renewal mailings and has an effective expiration date of 100 years from then. Along with other listed benefits.

Perhaps we could even limit the number of Life Memberships available in a given year to make them a little more special.

Special Recognition:

If the member wishes, with a Minuteman or higher membership level, their name will be mentioned in the next issue of LP News with the thanks of the Chair and entire LNC. A similar mention will be made on LP.org

At reaching Patriot membership and higher, a special certificate suitable for framing will be mailed to the member indicating this great level of support for liberty and the LP.

At Chairman’s Circle and above, the member may have their picture printed in LP News along with their name and recognition for their donation. The same to be posted to LP.org

At the Rearden Metal level, the editor of LP News will work with that member to provide a short biographical article with a picture to highlight the member’s commitment to liberty and the LP. The same notice to be placed on LP.org.

If the member wishes, if they have achieved Chairman’s Circle or above since the close of the prior national convention, a special page in the convention program will list their name with the thanks of the Chair and entire LNC.

During the convention, at an appropriate time, the Chair will recognize en masse, in turn, new Life Members, and those who reached Torch Club or higher.

Premiums:

Monthly pledgers at $10/mo or greater (Minuteman level) will get a monthly pledge newsletter. Additional news may be made available to pledgers at greater levels.

Patriot members and above will have a special phone number and email to contact the national office with questions about national party business (memberships, dues, convention tickets, newsletters, etc).

Life members will have a distinct lapel pin indicating their status.

Torch Club members and above will have a distinct lapel pin indicating their status.

For Chairman’s Circle and above, the pin will be dated to indicate a current status, thus encouraging members at that level to maintain.

Chairman’s Circle and above will have available to them a quarterly conference call with the LNC Chair to discuss and ask questions about the future of the Party.

Chairman’s Circle and above will have the option to receive the monthly pledge newsletter.

Any limited tickets for special events will be first made available in order starting with Rearden Metal down to Torch Club and Life Members before being made available to the general membership or the public.

Staff and the Chair may issue additional premiums for membership levels such as commemorative coins, plaques, badges, certificates, thank you letters, additional Party communications, conference calls, etc. New premiums with more than a de minimus cost shall be approved by the Executive Committee.

Convention Premiums:

Patriot membership and above will have distinct ribbon for convention credentials.

Torch Club and above will have a VIP reception at the national convention. Life members may attend.

Torch Club and above will have a priority registration line at the national convention.

Chairman’s Circle and above will have priority seating at the National Convention presidential debate.

Chairman’s Circle and above will have priority seating at National Convention Banquet(s) and other special ticketed events, with the understanding that seating may be limited and will be made available first-come first-serve.

Members at Silver and above will have the opportunity for seating with keynote speaker, the national chair or LNC officer at the National Convention banquet(s).

Members at Gold and above will have the opportunity for seating with the presidential or vice presidential nominee, keynote speaker, national chair or LNC officer, or other candidate of their choice, at the National Convention banquet(s).

Members at Silver and above will have priority to reserve any available hospitality suites at the hotel, behind the presidential candidates.

Strictly subject to availability and scheduling, Gold members and above may be given naming rights to National Convention events.

With the approval of the Executive Committee, in consultation with the appropriate Convention Committee, additional National Convention benefits such as a private lounge, upgraded rooms, free amenities, comped travel to/from airport, or the like may be made available to members at the Chairman’s Circle and above.

Mr. Lark’s report for Region 5S has been posted to the Region article