If anyone is going to the Libertarian National Committee meeting this weekend, and can broadcast it for our readers, please let us know in the comments and/or at [email protected]. We would also be interested in a video for later broadcast and/or liveblogging from the meeting.
LNC meetings are taped by LPHQ staff, but those tapes are not public. Other taping and broadcast is permitted during the public portion of the meetings, but only if individuals take the initiative of being there themselves and providing the equipment and operating it. I have done this myself at several past meetings and have always been able to find equipment to borrow; the biggest difficulty is in actually being there and committing to operate the equipment.
Thanks,
-paulie
I sure hope things work out in Columbus. I want nothing more than to have a clean, safe, bed-bug free experience at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.
71 people attended LSLA
All seemed to go very well.
New officers are already off and running.
Good, because I needed some free time.
And the event did NOT lose money.
I walked by the vendors area frequently. Granted we were sitting at the front and right by the side door.
Go to the meeting, be nominated to be a voting member by your state. Normal rules for nomination that apply to other meetings.
Brett is a solid person that wants to help the LSLA. He is already working with the new officers. I deal with results.
If the LSLA thrives and wins, we all win.
Ima go out ona limb and guess that B. Pojuni is a friend of W>A>R….
That’s just far fetched 🙂
In Columbus for 2014, the vendor area will be right in front of the entrance doors to the main meeting room. You have to walk thru the vendors to get into the meeting room. No other option. Main meeting room and vendors on one floor and seminars on the floor below.
There is a $15 flat rate cab service in Columbus. Hyatt knows of this.
As for Bed Bugs, I have submitted Mr. Stevens article to corporate folks at the Hyatt. They will be responding directly to Mr. Stevens. Enjoy the ride bud.
Bedbugs, safety and cleanliness !? Wow, reckon those guys were all biten by the bugs and mind control took over ? Could be! I mean giving someone $50,000 who represents a smaller area than almost everyone’s DOGCATCHER !
They must of been HIPPMOTIZZZZZED…
You Indiana folks sho nuff need to INCREASE your contributions to the NLP. I’m afraid other areas may stop donatin’ when they hear about how this natcom spends their money !
69 69 ^ 69 69
“I had a vision of a way we could have no enemies ever again, if you’re interested in this. Anybody interested in hearing this?
It’s kind of an interesting theory, and all we have to do is make one decisive act and we can rid the world of all our enemies at once.
Here’s what we do. You know all that money we spend on nuclear weapons and defense every year? Trillions of dollars.
Instead, if we spent that money feeding and clothing the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over,
not one human being excluded … not one … we could as one race explore inner and outer space together in peace, forever.” – Bill Hicks (1961-1994)
Where is all the protest?!: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38885100#38885100
Zero Aggression Principle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXkydzqPC6M
= = = = = = = = =
Liberty Lion article on LNC selection of Hyatt Regency Columbus as the site of the 2014 Libertarian Party National Convention. Issues regarding bed bugs, safety and cleanliness raised:
http://drtomstevens.blogspot.com/2011/08/lnc-selects-hyatt-regency-in-columbus.html
@Chuck – hopefully the “high traffic vendors area” will be better than it was in St. Louis – where vendors were located down the hall from the main doors into the conference room… the only time people walked down the hall was to enter the side doors into the conference room or to go down the hall to the bathrooms.
On what day was the decision regarding the 2014 National Convention made and what was the vote?
You got a cab from the airport to the Hyatt for only 25?
It is scheduled for the last weekend of June, 2014.
I understand that one of the selling points was the proximity of ComFest (Community Festival) that same weekend. Only a block away.
Easily the biggest outreach event of the year for the FCLP and by extension the LPO. ALL the available LPO volunteers and activists are there.
ComFest itself takes up a lot of volunteer time as some of us help in planning and running the damned thing. I’m the security/safety supervisor for Saturday night. It’s a very busy weekend that takes days to recover from.
I can’t see us changing into suits and ties when a vote comes up at the Hyatt a block away.
Let alone organizing free rides to convention goers.
PEACE
In my opinion this hotel was not appropriate for a national convention.
Transportation from the airport to the hotel and vice-versa was expensive ($25 cab the only reasonable option… no Super Shuttle; no hotel courtesy shuttle; $2 bus is infrequent, difficult to navigate, and requires several transfers). There were not enough elevators for the hotel rooms. I’m skeptical a high traffic vendors area will be implementable given the meeting room layout. The meeting space is so large that there will probably be other events running concurrently.
Once on site I liked the hotel rooms, meeting rooms, and food court though. Hopefully the convention will turn out okay in the end if the Libertarian Party of Ohio plans to compensate for the hotel’s deficiencies (e.g., by renting vans to ferry convention delegates to and from the airport).
Was a decision made to hold the 2014 LPUS National Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio? If so, on what weekend? Did the motion pass? Was there any consideration of the fact that this hotel and most of Columbus is suffering from a bed bug infestation that is said to only get worse in the next few years?
Send email to [email protected] That “o” is for OHIO by the way LOL
Kevin I also read that you made some comments about getting our outfit up to speed in a number of areas at the end of the meeting. My thanks to you for doing that. If you have a written copy I would like to read it.
Thanks again
Thanks Kevin. I obviously did not read the article on LP News.
Kid: “I keep posting some really weird commercial spam for a porn theater on every thread from an IP anonymizer. I wonder why?”
Because you’re a moron. Pretty easy one.
@ 56
Michael, there was 6 months of discussion and emails on LP state chairs list. There was a story in LP news that I wrote. I was constantly giving state chairs updates on statechairs email list.
I assumed state chairs would communicate the information to the troops on the ground. Some states did that.
There is a meeting. The state chairs in attendance or their proxies get together and nominate and vote. The observation that their officers are not state chairs sends a message as to how much the state chairs value their organization.
Be nice to know how people get nominated for the LSLA other than having friends in high places. Was this in LP News?
Thanks to George Phillies and David Blau for the fine work keeping the information flowing.
@50 You need Liberty for Alabama!
Use market action to reform politics!
Give me a call.
George
I’ve got a feeling that’s a pretty short limb
http://img1.eyefetch.com/p/wj/669033-92fddfc1-38d3-49cf-bf84-fc0897df1a67.jpg
Ima go out ona limb and guess that B. Pojuni is a friend of W>A>R….
That depends on what the LP does about it.
There are no state activities to promote. The state chair inexplicably believes that state law precludes us from having teleconferences of the state committee, which is laughable. They continue to revert to a website which makes us look to the casual browser to be warmongers. I made them a better website on wordpress and offered free training for anyone that needed any; no one took me up on it. Then they went behind my back and took the site down, going back once again to one that IMO looks like crap.
I offered to be the state chair so that we could have teleconferences and a better website. My nomination was made and seconded. I was given 30 seconds to speak and was interrupted during that time. The chair claimed no one else was willing to run, which was obviously not the case. I was also told that I could not run because I can’t be there in person to help at the office, as if that requires a title. I also offered to back the chair’s re-election provided I could have teleconferences and a better website, but that was not on the table. Since the chair was re-elected, I did not wish to participate in the state exec comm any more as it seems to be a waste of time. They are now down to 3 or 4 people, as far as I know. There are no supper clubs anymore, the student clubs are not affiliated with the LP, and I no longer hear of any public outreach events. The contact information gathered from the last batch of outreach events seems to have disappeared. Several people expressed an interest in running for various offices in 2010, but they were all ignored.
I would probably include them on the inactive list, since their activities now seem to consist of pro-forma state committee meetings of 3-4 people and no real efforts that I know of to change that.
The US Supreme Court in 1970 summarily affirmed a decision of a 3-judge court in Socialist Workers Party v Rockefeller, that if the state gives a free list of the registered voters to the qualified parties, it must also give it free to the unqualified parties that are trying to get on the ballot or otherwise engaged in campaigns.
A BIG Thx Dr. Phillies ! I’m very curious as to the 19 states without activity! Really need to use this POTUS election cycle to cut significately into that figure. My state maybe on the list as the activist yahoo group spends more time promoting Ron Paul than any LP activities ! I still suspect that the Paul campaign is harmful for the LP at the moment.
Some effort should be made to get our candidate(s) onto local media in these states by phone if they can’t have a physical present. Would seem it should be a major concern to rebuild these state orgs. As decline leads to further splinttering and before you know it we’ll be like the socialists with 16 & 1/2 different Parties with most having trouble filling up a booth at the local diner ! Little to none in way of ballot access and truly just very little influence in anyway ! Use this preconvention time while we have multiple LP POTUS candidates to reach out to these inactive states.
Rebuilding the LP nationally should be priority ONE ! IMO.
* * *
Democrats can never get any sleep because they are afraid somebody somewhere is making too much money. Republicans can never get any sleep because they are afraid somebody somewhere is having too much fun. – Anonymous -> http://www.lp.org/
I keep posting some really weird commercial spam for a porn theater on every thread from an IP anonymizer. I wonder why?
@43 I have been trying to get one.
Yes, thank you.
@41 In MA it is free to candidates, town by town. “Political Parties” (In MA D R GR) can get them for free.
Does anyone have a list of those to share here?
BTW, what are they sending prospects these days? Back in the 1990s it was “Libertarianism in one Lesson,” which I found to be very helpful.
Per Richard Winger, it is supposed to be available for free ever since a 1970s (I think) lawsuite by the Socialist Workers Party. In practice I have found that states still charge, sometimes reasonable amounts, sometimes unreasonable. I wonder whether anything can be done about that.
It went up from a Presidential year to a non-Presidential year? That’s pretty good!
LG 21 what are they elected to?
LSLA officers
I’m only online for probably about an hour today, so I’d appreciate a call later this evening with a summary of what all happened.
Discussion moved to next post.
Presentation of a tour of a hotel. It’s remote video.
GP: In university funding, you raise the money first, because once the building is done fundraising gets much more difficult.
They had a recess, and then went back to discuss conventions.
The LNC voted to avoid holidays. The State Chairs wanted the best rates. Avoid July 4, but Memorial day is fine. Only one state chair opposed Memorial Day. Cincinnatti is hotel and convention center; others are unitary sites.
Thanks to George Phillies for the summaries and David Blau for the live broadcast! I’m following the action from my iPhone while camping.
Concern as to which buildings have elevators.
Agreed with Wayne this is a bad time to buy a building. Lease for three years. Build up funds for three years and then buy later; far less risky. Two approaches: One is to accumulate money first; the other is to try to pay of the mortgage afterward.
They have recessed.
I hope you are all enjoying these. I am doing the best I can, but some people are inaudible.
Discussion of virtues of locations. Comparison with the original DC space.
Savings on first year are close to $50,000. Propose to sell fundraising as ‘we bought a building. We’re moving to another level.’
Root: Lease with option to buy, because economy is collapsing. Wait because we’re going into the worst great depression in history.
Q/ If we renovate, what happens to ADA compliance? It has a ramp and compliant bathroom.
Slightly smaller, but we could fit considerably more people than we now have. We are currently paying for space that we cannot use.
Now they are discussing property agent. Switch to fundraising issues. There are pledges.
Proposed that we are getting money that we will not otherwise get that will go toward an asset that we will keep forever.
Q How do DC prices hold up?
They are discussing virtues of a particular space, with slides of some sort.
Advanced to the building fund committee. $65000 in pledges etc in places. Watergate: Lease is expiring rates are going up.
They are proposing buying a building. No consideration of places other than DC. There is a long list of ways to raise money. Lease and purchase both considered.
Looked at a lot of properties; came down to a short list. Lease for 3-5 years favorable. Staff locations are consistent with the proposed places. They are discussing where to put the office relative to where the staff can reach.
What is the political impact of moving to Alexandria? Most of the conservative religious organizations are in (GP: places near Alexandria; did not catch exact phrase).
Possibilities of raising money, relative to the party’s 40th anniversary.
Looked at a bunch of properties (7?) Other places were in slums or converted houses.
Rent choices: People wanted, e.g., five year leases.
Extended discussion of buy vs lease, terms, etc.
Discussion of this group related to the Advocates.
They ahve hit a time limit and are arguing about time.
Outreach to minorities and training.
The discussion is forming a separate nonprofit corporation or organization and asking how information would flow back and forth and related tax etc laws. The proposed organization would be a tax-deductible non-profit group. Reservation: This would be another group in addition to the LSLA.
We are now live in the afternoon.
At 48 minutes they are still discussing what to discuss. They then move to conflicts of interest. meeting the convention site assistance person.
She does an introduction to what her organization does. We have now reached the other coverage above.
Going back to the past, the meeting start is about 22 minutes into the video.
There is a moment of reflection. Tribute to John Hospers.
Public Comment: Texas for NatCon!
Other comments.
They adopt an agenda. The Secretary is reading something inaudible.
http://corp.newmediaplus.com/executives/brett-h-pojunis
Elections: Michael Johnston (#OH vice-chair) is new chair. Aaron Starr (#CA) is new secretary. Brett Pojunis (#NV) is new treasurer.
14 hours ago
ME _ what are they elected to? and who is Brett Pojunis , is he from my state?
And at the moment there is no signal.
They are now at lunch.
Looking at phoning people, asking them to sign up for monthly pledges.
Operational affiliates: DO they respond in two days? Do we have Bylaws?
appear to be 31 active affiliates. Goal is 48. inaudible. Two days response is an obstacle.
Wes: Had 800 number, but no one checked it. Training–what do you want to define as training?
Your transcriber ahs some errands with time deadlines.
There are about 20 states with registered libertarians. Tried getting lists from states, then bought list. Some lists have phone numbers.
Q: Net present value of a donor?
Very complicated answer, not all referring to the same people. [GP: I believe break-even was being estimated.]
Q: Will the list be available to affiliates? Need to check on contract.
Also get info on current members out of this.
Someone is claiming that where there is registration by party for Ls this data is available to state parties for free. [GP: Not! Varies with state.]
Renewal letters do better than general letters when printed on envelope.
We spent about 2 cents a name. We also got email addresses.
Wes remains hopeful of reaching the budget total.
We have more money in the bank than almost ever in the history of the party. …Inaudible discussion… interuption: very loud laughter.
Worst issue: Membership growth. going in the wrong direction. We have moved from 15 thousand to 14 thousand [GP: the monthly reports show slightly smaller numbers.] To reach 16 thou by the next convention we need investments.
A decade ago invested a lot of money in project archimedes. Had money in budget for prospecting. Did a prospect mailing to reason magazine subscribed. 0.5% repsonded. Spent $15,000; brought in $10,000. Lost about $20 a member. Pursuing registered L voters did pretty well. About 200,000 registered Libertarians in US. Mailed 50,000. Got a lot of additional information. 25,000 random, 25 000 recently registered.
I sent an email earlier in the week to all the members of the committee and Wes about the out of date of the information on the website and asked that it be entered at the meeting during the public comment period. Anyone know if any such event happened?
dead silent. The mail ballots are being recounted.
A long list of states was read.
Correction to minutes: Motion was defeated 0-12 not 12-0.
Staff reports: 2010 about 800 candidates on the ballot. 2008 around 600 candidates. Total votes for all candidates grew from 12 to 15 million between 2006 to 2010.
Fundraising appears up. monthly pledges up from $20,000 to $33,000.
Secretary is reporting. Please project your voice more, dear. I can hear an occasional word. Now it’s occasionally did silent.
They are taking a break.
WHen I type “I” I am quoting a speaker. Any of my own notes will have format [GP: No, it’s not flat, either.
]
Membership #s disappointing but our balance sheet situation si the best in 8+ years.
Membership #s trending down but ought to turn around in Pres election year. We are over budget in one area already discussed.
Addressed Aaron on membership donor issue.
Monthly pledges at all time high. Legal limit on cash donation discussed.
Move to move $1000 from affiliate support to litigation. AffSupp currently $9000, dropped to $8000. LPCA cannot afford suit against top-two. Are any other parties involved? Suit is being brought by who?
Issue of dormant state parties. Redpath: sometimes LNC has to act when state party is inactive.
SOmeone I’ve made several phone calls and several emails to Kevin Takenaga. He has not returned my emails or phone calls.
Dan Wiener? Winger gave presentation at LPCA state convention about lawsuit. CA is trying to drag things out to exhaust money.
QUestion moved. Motion being blasted. LPCA needs to suck it up grow up and answer phone call. I think it’s a joke.
Is LPCA actually opposed? From CA officers speaker could contact he got little sense of urgency.
Roll call vote. They get really loud when they laugh. It sounded as though the motion passed on roll call, I think 11-7, but it was hard to hear.
Ballot access. Oregon: Had Sinawki send LPO a cease and desist order. They are still saying they are the LPO.
CA: Lawsuit on top-two advancing.
We have 181,000 facebook fans. Unhappiness with some activities on facebook by ‘bad apples”
Trying to engage state affiliates in web activity.
HQ property search.
Treasurer: Very consistent month to month. Fundraising is short for year perhaps $100,000 need to pick up fudraising and will come even.
Through July short 8.53%. Current liabilities under $40,000. We are below budget but running a surplus $29,000 so far this year.
Chair’s report: Has been working 40 hours a week on LP activity. Press releases, blog radio. Much background noise.
Talks about hotels. Contacts chain HQs and gives specs for convention.
If we are looking out a year and a half, many sites and cities are already filled.
Q. What if the site closes down in the next six years? It depends on the time frame for corrections. Have handled under one week notice.
Speaker knows how to project voice. Others are less audible.
Person addressing LNC: We are acontract negotiator. We now what hotels want we are (if I understood) paid as a fraction of hotel rooms filled. We have a contract with the hotels. We are so large we have people working with particular hotels or areas.
They appear to be discussing hotel arrangements for future conventions.
Q When you come back with a proposal for 2016 will you have multiple sites?
Person: Tell me how many you want. I’ve done up to 35. I do not make any decisions.
SOmetimes hard to follow.
If you are comfortable being six years out, so am I.
http://j-tv.me/rfWKkO
10 AM They are discussing compensation to someone.
Reverse chronological order
Found it…
https://twitter.com/#!/MassLP
Thanks!
Where?
Didn’t see anything about it at http://twitter.com/#!/davideblau
Paulie, I was at LSLA, but will not be at the LNC meeting.
David Blau of Massachusetts said he would try to broadcast and tweet. He already tweeted LSLA. Contact him about a LNC broadcast.