[Lnc-business] [Lnc-discuss] Mark Hinkle's alternative motion to buy a building

[Vicki Kirkland]

I believe Mark posted the co-sponsors for his motion.
VK



On Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 1:35 AM, Daniel Wiener <wiener at alum.mit.edu> wrote:

> Starchild,
>
> The Secretary has not yet put forth the motion to be voted on.  We don't
> even know if there are four co-sponsors at this point.
>
> Dan Wiener
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 16, 2012 at 8:37 PM, Starchild <sfdreamer at earthlink.net>wrote:
>
>>         I vote "no" on this motion, for reasons I previously discussed
>> below. I had hoped that Mark might revise it and give me grounds to
>> consider supporting it, but this has not happened.
>>
>> Love & Liberty,
>>                                 ((( starchild )))
>> At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
>>
>>
>> >> On Mon, Dec 3, 2012 at 10:32 AM, Mark Hinkle <mark at garlic.com> wrote:
>> >> Dear LNC,
>> >>
>> >> I'm seeking co-sponsors for this motion:
>> >>
>> >> Moved, that the LNC approve the purchase of an office in the greater
>> Washington, D.C. area, to be named in honor of David F. Nolan, contingent
>> on the following conditions:
>> >>
>> >>      • A minimum of 20% of the down payment shall be raised from
>> dedicated contributions.  If a portion of that is in the form of pledges,
>> the pledges must be converted to cash before a purchase contract and
>> mortgage agreement are finalized.
>> >>      • The monthly payment of principle, interest, and OTM (Overhead,
>> Taxes, and Maintenance) shall not exceed our current lease payments at the
>> Watergate complex.
>> >> This motion will constitute authority to incur a mortgage if the above
>> conditions are met and if this motion passes by the necessary two-thirds
>> vote as specified in the Libertarian Party’s Bylaws.
>> >>
>> >> The final decision on what property to buy shall be ratified by the
>> LNC's Executive Committee by a majority vote once the above conditions are
>> met.
>> >>
>> >> RSVP................Mark Hinkle,
>> >> LNC At-Large & Retired LP Chair
>> >> Tel: 408-779-7922
>> >> --
>> >> "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless
>> minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
>> >>                                             - Samuel Adams
>>
>>
>> On Dec 3, 2012, at 6:48 PM, Starchild wrote:
>>
>> > Dan,
>> >
>> >       What is the cutoff point of equity below which one cannot sell a
>> building? If there is such a fixed point, and if we buy, it does seem to me
>> it would make sense to plan any proposed purchase in such a way that we
>> meet that minimum threshold quickly, so that if our purchase plans don't
>> end up coming to fruition, at least we do not have to walk away from money
>> we've already sunk into making mortgage payments, but have at least the
>> chance to recoup them by selling. However I don't claim to have any
>> particular expertise about real estate transactions, so maybe I'm missing
>> something here.
>> >
>> >       What I told Mark Hinkle when he called me last night to lobby for
>> my vote for his alternate motion, I'll say here as well -- I'm potentially
>> open to voting for a motion including language addressing the issues and
>> concerns raised in the document copied below about how to get the most out
>> of a Libertarian "brick and mortar" space. The more of these concerns a
>> motion to buy a building addresses, and the more strongly it addresses
>> them, the more likely it is to get my support. Conversely, a motion that
>> offers nothing to address these concerns is unlikely to get my support.
>> >
>> >       One of my inspirations in terms of what a more functional and
>> effective LP headquarters could look like is the "Freedoms Phoenix"
>> workshop in Phoenix, Arizona. Here is a 9-minute video from 2010 where
>> Ernie Hancock (LP member and former candidate for national chair, and the
>> guy responsible for the "Ron Paul r3VOLution" meme, for those who don't
>> know him) gives a tour of the space and explains what they do there --
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFeeB41UpI8 .
>> >
>> >       I'm not saying the Freedom's Phoenix space is perfect -- in the
>> video, Ernie touts its *lack* of external visibility as an advantage, which
>> makes little sense to me since he goes on to say how they have lots of
>> events there, and obviously the video and other information about the space
>> is out there on the Internet as well so it's not like they're really hiding
>> from anyone. I think almost any libertarian brick-and-mortar space is
>> missing an opportunity by not seeking to expose passers-by to libertarian
>> graphics and information. The Freedoms Phoenix space also feels a bit cold
>> and uninviting; it could use more of a homey touch, imho. But there is a
>> heck of a lot to like about the impressive work they've done down there. It
>> is a functional space where people (not just a few insiders, but lots of
>> freedom supporters) can come in and work and get stuff done. It doesn't
>> look like a corporate office, and has a significant feel of being a
>> community space, a place where libertarians can hang out, bond, network,
>> etc., a place to which people can contribute in various ways without a lot
>> of bureaucracy or hassle.
>> >
>> >       Since what a building offers is often considerably more important
>> than specifically where it is located, and therefore we shouldn't
>> automatically eliminate excellent spaces from consideration simply based on
>> their location, I will also be more open to a motion that does not limit
>> our building search to the Washington D.C. area. That being said, so far
>> I've really only heard two options for relocating outside D.C. that seem
>> like they could potentially outweigh the advantages of being located in or
>> very near the U.S. capitol district:
>> >
>> > (1) Basing our national HQ in New Hampshire, both to support, and be
>> supported by, the Free State Project. I think the FSP is something that is
>> likely to continue building over time, and therefore it's sort of an
>> investment in the future. I think we should also try to work with and
>> support other libertarian groups to the extent that we practically can. Not
>> only does it increase the solidarity and strength of the libertarian
>> movement as a whole, but they may return the favor by trying to do more to
>> help and support the LP. In practical terms, New Hampshire offers not only
>> the freest political climate in the nation, but a strong base of
>> liberty-minded activists who could potentially volunteer at headquarters
>> and help out with projects.
>> >
>> > (2) Having a mobile office based out of a large RV, which could
>> hypothetically be parked in the D.C. environs most of the time, perhaps
>> moving around a bit to show up at D.C. protests on the national mall,
>> important press conferences, etc., but go on the road during campaign
>> season to make appearances with presidential, state and local LP
>> candidates, at other (L)ibertarian events, etc. This option could be
>> considerably cheaper than either buying or leasing a building, and would
>> allow us major public visibility compared with a fixed location via having
>> our "office" plastered with Libertarian propaganda like the Gary Johnson
>> vans that were driving around, as well as the flexibility to quickly
>> relocate to different areas if desired by this or future LNCs. (Thanks to
>> California LP member Mike Seebeck for this idea)
>> >
>> >       During this whole discussion about what to do about the LP's
>> national office (indeed, in lots of other LNC discussions too!), it's
>> important we keep in mind that the "options on the table" are whichever
>> options we choose to put on the table.
>> >
>> >       To the extent we make a habit of assuming that people won't
>> support an idea just because it's new or unfamiliar, we may be shooting
>> ourselves in the foot by precluding consideration of fresh new ideas and
>> perspectives.
>> >
>> >       "Why should I vote Libertarian when everybody knows that
>> realistically it's going to be Obama or Romney?" We know how that kind of
>> thinking hurts the LP and the freedom movement out there in the real world.
>> We know how the unwillingness to truly consider doing something differently
>> because people don't think others will consider it, and therefore assume
>> "that will never happen", can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We also
>> know that some of our opponents realize this too, and deliberately
>> encourage "that will never happen" thinking in the hopes that it will
>> become a self-fulfilling prophecy!
>> >
>> >       So it's good to be similarly aware of these dynamics within our
>> own organization, and to understand when the main reasons for not giving
>> something a chance are "political" rather than factual. Many individuals
>> may be privately thinking, "Boy, that actually doesn't sound like such a
>> bad idea, but I don't want to be the one to stand up and say so." This is
>> where being vertebrates comes in!  :-)
>> >
>> > Love & Liberty,
>> >                                   ((( starchild )))
>> > At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
>> >
>> >
>> > The Ideal Libertarian “Brick & Mortar” Space
>> >
>> > When Libertarian Party or other pro-freedom groups reach a certain size
>> and have a certain amount of money at their disposal, talk inevitably turns
>> to procuring some kind of office. The national Libertarian Party has an
>> office, as does the California LP (circa 2012).
>> >
>> > Unfortunately, our party is not getting as much benefit from these and
>> other similar spaces as it could. Indeed, the term “office” itself may be
>> part of the problem, in that it can prevent people from thinking outside
>> the box when it comes to the potential of brick-and-mortar spaces!
>> >
>> > Here are some questions to ask about a proposed – or existing –
>> brick-and-mortar location, roughly in order of importance. The more
>> questions you can answer with a “Yes”, the more of an asset the space is
>> likely to be to the LP and to the libertarian cause.
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________________________
>> > • Does the space function as a kind of libertarian community center
>> (i.e. users have a sense of it not just being the private space of party
>> officers or paid staffers who work there, but belonging to the whole party
>> and to some degree the whole libertarian movement) that is important to the
>> local LP chapter, pro-freedom activists, and friendly community groups as
>> well as to people in the party?
>> >
>> > • Is the space economically sustainable and cost-efficient (i.e. does
>> it have cheap rent or overhead)?
>> >
>> > • Can activists make lots of things (meetings, speakers, workshops,
>> parties, etc.) happen at the space with a minimum of advance notice and
>> bureaucracy?
>> >
>> > • Is the space located in a high-visibility location such that messages
>> and materials can be displayed which will be readily seen by passers-by?
>> >
>> > • Is the space readily accessible (i.e. centrally located, in a
>> walkable neighborhood, in proximity to mass transit and
>> convenient/affordable parking, accessible to people with disabilities)?
>> >
>> > • Is the space a friendly, welcoming place for locals and
>> out-of-towners to drop in and visit, sit down and have a cup of coffee,
>> read some back issues of party newsletters, chat with other libertarians,
>> get online to do some activism, use the bathroom, take a shower, etc.?
>> >
>> > • Is the space geared toward providing things for interns and
>> volunteers to do, both long-term and on a drop-in basis?
>> >
>> > • Does the space serve as a distribution hub for activist materials
>> (free literature and other items which activists can stop in and pick up in
>> bulk for distribution or passers-by can peruse or take with them to learn
>> about libertarianism)?
>> >
>> > • Is the space transparent in its operations so that people can readily
>> discover how to fully make use of it and get things done (e.g. are there
>> easily learned procedures for scheduling events or using equipment, posted
>> office hours during which specific named staffers will be on hand to answer
>> questions, etc.)?
>> >
>> > • Is the space in proximity to centers of political power (U.S. or
>> state capitol, city hall), and public spaces (plazas, parks, and other
>> gathering places) to serve as a ready base camp for protesting, lobbying,
>> and other outside political doings?
>> >
>> > • Does the space have a participatory feel to it (e.g. are activists
>> easily able to contribute their own decorations, materials, and so on to
>> enhance it), and do its users have a say in how it is run?
>> >
>> > • Does the space have a minimum of rules and restrictions (e.g. are
>> eating, drinking, smoking, animals, bicycles, rollerblades, etc., allowed?)
>> >
>> > • Does the space have an “organic” feel to it, a sense of being a place
>> with a soul (e.g. is it comfortable, is it aesthetically pleasing, is there
>> art, is the lighting friendly, is it neither too messy nor too pristine,
>> etc.)?
>> >
>> > • Does the space offer temporary to long-term storage for protest
>> signs, banners, button-making machines, audio/PA equipment, and other
>> materials people might not readily be able to store at home or might desire
>> to maintain in a shared, accessible group space?
>> >
>> > • Does the space serve as an effective workshop for activists to get
>> things done (making signs and banners, filming and recording, creating art,
>> etc.)?
>> >
>> > • Is the space accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to trusted
>> activists, and does it have places for people to crash if necessary?
>> >
>> > • Does the space include a store where people can buy pro-freedom
>> merchandise and supplies?
>> >
>> > __________________________________________________________________
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Dec 3, 2012, at 11:12 AM, Daniel Wiener wrote:
>> >
>> >> I'm replying to this suggested motion on LNC-Discuss.
>> >>
>> >> I for one am not willing to vote for Mark's motion, and I strongly
>> doubt that there is a two-thirds majority of the LNC which will do so.  I
>> am very leery of imposing long-term obligations on future LNC's which could
>> mire the Libertarian Party in a financial quagmire, and this applies to
>> both long-term leases and mortgages.  I will only vote to purchase an
>> office if there is a sufficiently large down payment that I can be
>> confident our mortgage will not sink under water, and if we commit to
>> paying off the mortgage in a short time span.  These are very uncertain
>> economic times, and I believe there are significant risks in the commercial
>> real estate market in Washington, D.C. (and elsewhere).  But if we have a
>> large enough equity, we can at least sell the building as a last resort if
>> we're forced to by future financial exigencies.
>> >>
>> >> Dan Wiener
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Lnc-discuss mailing list
>> > Lnc-discuss at hq.lp.org
>> > http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-discuss_hq.lp.org
>>
>>
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