Libertarian National Committee August 30, 2023 Meeting Liveblog

Addendum: Actual vote on the post facto contract approval for Mr. Padgett.

Meeting actually starts at 8 PM. People are now coming in to the meeting. Meeting called to order. Region 8 is not represented. Region 7 elected Beth Vest as the Regional Alternate.

Preferred date for the next in-person LNC meeting will be December 2 and 3 in Orange County. Motion to do this passed 14-0-0, the Chair not voting. Treasurer is not here yet. Region 1 had no report. Region 2 had a written document but no statement. Region 3, let written report stand for itself. Region 4 appointed Miss Meredith Hayes as their new Alternate. Region 5 – document speaks for itself. Region 6 has been extremely busy, currently with region meetings to teach best practices, and a long list of other activities. Region 7 — appears to have enough signatures for ballot access in Arkansas. Region 0 – I’ll let my report speak for itself.

Committee Reports: Affiliate support committee is doing an affiliate handbook and college outreach. They asked state officers for tips for whoever replaced them.Handbook at 77 pages is almost complete. It will be sent out in a few weeks.

Audit Committee:Independent Audit for 2022 has been completed. Auditor completely approved the financial reports. Audit report will be available soon. There will be a management response.

Award Committee: We have met informally.

Ballot Access Committee: Potential budget request estimate was 1.3 million dollars, if we petitioned for every state, but some states are cost-prohibitive. The Chair of the Ballot Access Committee is going over the report in One-Note. There are a list of states and how the LP is doing in each. [The entry for Massachusetts is correct.]

Candidate Support Committee: Report stands as written.

Committee Oversight Committee has filled vacancies. LNC chose Grand Rapids for the 2026 convention. Contract is being reviewed. Web site is being maintained. List of packages for 2024 will be available by the end of September.

EPCC. We are now using PayCheck for our HR operation. Employee policy manual is being assembled.

Historical Preservation: The 1970s two-inch video reels have been digitized. All of them were in adequate condition for digitization.

Information Services: We are doing modest technical upgrades.

Ford reports that affiliate-in-a-box has been rescued. Janel Holmes had seven volunteers helping her for special election petitioning for MA State Senate. She may have enough signatures. There is now a Libertarian State Representative in Vermont. LPNH membership since spring is up 10%. LPNY has 19 candidates running for local office. LPNJ has candidates volunteering for this and next year. Maine is doing a registration drive. Apparently that there is an issue related to the No Labels Party drive.

There will be discussion on the Michigan legal situation and on a contract, both in executive session. They are settling the NDA issues for the new LNC members. They are in recess to do this. Problem solved. They are going into executive session to discuss pending litigation and personnel issues, these being Michigan and Mr. Padgett. They have now returned and are back in order. Motion to secure the $20,000 bond in the way most advantageous to the party as approved by the Chair and Treasurer. Motion passes 16-0-0 the Chair not voting.

Move to remove from the table the termination motion. Passed without objection.

Motion to approve the contract, not to be renewed beyond 10/26/23, the relevant committee then to draft language dealing with the issue. Motion passes 9-2-5, the chair not voting.

Moved and seconded to adjourn. Chair is aware that we are still working on the financial reports. Meeting adjourned at 10:43.

Addendum: Vote on the motion on nepotism issues, including the post facto approval of a hiring contract:
No – Bowen, Tuniewicz
Abstain – Dassing, Hagopian, Nanna, Pantke, Yeniscavitch, the Chair not voting.
Yes – Blankenship, Cowen, Ford, Haman, Harlos, Malagon, Nekhaila, Rufo, Watkins