[Lnc-business] membership levels are not correct on the LP.org site for joining and contributing
Tim Hagan
timhagan-tyr at yahoo.com
Tue Jan 6 00:02:24 EST 2015
The Policy Manual states the levels are recognized by the Party, and then lists the benefits that the contributors receive for each level. The Policy Manual does not state that every level has to be listed on every membership form, nor does it disallow the form from offering other amounts, like $10/month or the Other option. I believe the policy is about dictating what benefits must be given for each contribution level, and not about what should be listed on the membership & contribution webpages. I agree with Mr. Benedict's interpretation. If the intent of the policy and the LNC is otherwise, then we should clarify the Policy Manual.
Tim Hagan
________________________________
From: Wes Benedict <wes.benedict at lp.org>
To: Kevin Knedler <KKnedler at columbus.rr.com>; lnc-business at hq.lp.org; Aaron Starr <starrcpa at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 5, 2015 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Lnc-business] membership levels are not correct on the LP.org site for joining and contributing
Dear Kevin Knedler, Aaron Starr, and the LNC:
I'd like to get our publications in line with the new membership
plans in the policy manual as soon as practical.
I think we came close months ago, but Mr. Knedler has pointed out
some things he thinks may not be in compliance.
I think one of the things he may be right about, but some he may
not be, or it is an area subject to interpretation.
I've had some discussions with the APRC and Mr. Knedler about
complying with the new membership policies, but discussions with
the APRC have the feature of being confidential. Therefore, I'd
like to do this in the open with the LNC to see if we can all get
on the same page and in a manner that can be shared be referred
back to and shared with others publicly as needed.
Most of you probably don't need to spend your time or mental
energy on this. However, I'm including the whole LNC because
handling this more privately has resulted in people not being on
the same page.
I've copied Mr. Starr on this email because I believe he was a
primary designer of some of the Policy Manual language for the
prior membership plan clarifications adopted in the 2009-2010 time
frame. Sometimes in the past when I would read the policy manual
and make an interpretation, Mr. Starr held a different view and
typically I found that the LNC was willing to go with Mr. Starr's
interpretation as was I once I clearly understood what was
intended. So I wanted to bring Mr. Starr into the conversation
before issuing a request to a programmer to have our website
updated. I'm guessing whatever changes are finally agreed upon
won't cost a lot if I wait until we're all on the same page before
making the changes.
I'd like to finish updating our old website before working on our
new website.
Mr. Knedler's suggested corrections are in his email below.
I've put my comments in red.
Additionally, I'd like to put in a request to our secretary to see
if she thinks she can re-write pages 37-41 of our Policy Manual
(without changing the meaning) to be more easily understood. I
made an attempt to make the policy manual language more
understandable on the website although I already know it's not
complete, but to explain things completely gets really
complicated:
here: https://www.lp.org/membership-levels
Since I know where Mr. Knedler stands, my preferred next step is
to wait to see if Mr. Starr has specific recommendations on the
things below.
Thanks,
Wes Benedict, Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
New address: 1444 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314
(202) 333-0008 ext. 232, wes.benedict at lp.org
facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational
Join the Libertarian Party at: http://lp.org/membership
On 1/4/2015 7:16 PM, Kevin Knedler wrote:
>Happy New Year everyone.
>
>I took a look and it is still not accurate per the LNC approved policy manual that goes back to an LNC vote in August of 2011.
> Just to be clear, the LNC postponed implementation until August 1, 2014, a deadline which was met for the most part.
On the page for donations on the lp.org site there are errors
>
>One-time donation
>MISSING $25,000
>MISSING $15,000
>MISSING $2,500There are at least two donation pages.
One I'll refer to as the "membership" page: https://www.lp.org/membership
and the other I'll refer to the "contribute" page https://www.lp.org/contribute
Neither has the $25,000, $15,000, or $2,500 options. I don't
believe the Policy Manual language requires all association levels
and amounts to be printed on all online donation forms. So I don't
think we are required to put those amounts on either page.
However, if I've interpreted the Policy Manual incorrectly, I will
have those donation options added. Even if they are not required
to be there, I'll add them if the Chair asks me to or if Aaron
Starr and several on the LNC write to me that they think it's a
good thing to do.
I'll need the requests to state whether those donation levels
belong on just the membership page, or also on the contribute
page.
There was a time in the past when contributions that were NOT in
response to a renewal offer were not counted towards membership
association levels. I think maybe they do count now with Mr.
Knedlers new plan, but that's not clear (see next paragraph). We
typically have NOT put membership levels on non membership
contribution forms like this one https://www.lp.org/contribute or on typical fundraising letters.
Page 40 of the Policy Manual says (and I believe Mr. Starr was the
original source of this) "Other contributions in response to other
than a membership renewal appeal shall not as a policy extend the
benefits lapse date, however Staff shall have the discretion on a
case-by-case
basis to extend a contributor’s benefits lapse date up to one year
from the last contribution date, if failure to do so would damage
donor relations."
I think our website is already too cluttered and our membership
programs are too complicated, plus we're supposed to get a new
website soon, so I'm not inclined to initiate an optional change
that makes things more complicated and cluttered without clear
support from the LNC.
>Monthly Pledge
>MISSING $2,500 a month
>MISSING $1,500 a month
> Same as above.
>Also there is a $10 a month level and that is not part of the policy manual.
>$15.00 is the lowest level
>Of course if someone wants to give $10 it can be in the “Other amount box” in the monthly pledge section.
> It sounds like Mr. Knedler wants me to remove the $10/month amounts from
here https://www.lp.org/membership
and here: https://www.lp.org/contribute
I disagree with Mr. Knedler's interpretation. I don't think the
policy manual prohibits offering $10/month pledges. In fact, the
policy manual on page acknowledges the existance of $10/month
pledges saying "Individuals pledging at least $10 per month using
an automated recurring payment method, such as a valid credit card
or ACH debit, shall have their benefits lapse dates extended to
the last day of the following December."
Plus, the $10/month amount is quite popular. I will not remove
those unless that is specifically ruled a requirement by the APRC,
or if the Chair or LNC directs me to remove the $10 per month
option.
The levels correspond in increments:
>
>$25,000 or 2,500 a month
>
>$15,000 or 1,500 a month
>$5,000 or 500 a month
>$2,500 or 250 a month
>
>$1,500 or 150 a month This level and above is Lifetime and Torch Club level.
>$500 or 50 a month
>$250 or 25 a month
>
>$150 or 15 a month
>$50 one time with nothing per month
>$25 one time with nothing per month
> I'm not sure that the info above is requesting. However, I think we should add to this page:
https://www.lp.org/membership
"This level and above is Lifetime and Torch Club level."
in the two places I put red circles in the image below:
Please take a look and I really hope this can be fixed.
>A lot of time was put into the policy changes .
>
>Thank you.
>
>Kevin Knedler
>
>
>
>
>
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