[Lnc-business] Questions for Convention Planning

[Starchild]

	I just wrote up a list of questions for the California Libertarian Party Executive Committee to consider in planning our next state convention, and figured I might as well post it here too, since basically the same questions apply with regard to planning a Libertarian national convention (I've changed a few terms accordingly). Perhaps some readers may also find this list useful in thinking about your own state conventions. 

	In no particular order, here are some of the questions I believe it's important for us ask when making a decision:

• Are the convention planners working in concert with the party leadership, the Convention Oversight Committee and the Libertarian National Committee itself, sharing decision-making on things such as planning schedule and content?
• Is the planning process open and transparent and are planners striving to be inclusive and welcoming of input and participation in the process?
• How affordable will the convention be to attend?
• Will we have free, fast WiFi in the convention business area and other public areas?
• How much visibility will the convention have to non-libertarian members of the public?
• Are speakers/presenters/programs balanced so as to appeal at least as much to people on the left as to those on the right? (Historically the LP has been somewhat imbalanced toward the latter.)
• Is the content of this programming strongly libertarian?
• Does the content of the programming include plenty of speakers and presentations who are not "the usual suspects"?
• Are there a good variety of non-speaker events and activities planned (e.g. music, workshops, films, outdoor activities, etc.)?
• Is local activism (e.g. rallies, attending events for local candidates, etc.) built into the program to take advantage of having a critical mass of Libertarians gathered in one location?
• Will the convention venue help us promote and advertise the convention?
• How much will the convention likely cost and/or earn the LNC, if anything?
• Will the convention offerings appeal to non-libertarians (price-wise and otherwise), so that as many of them as possible will attend and be exposed to libertarian ideas and we're not just preaching to the choir?
• Does the schedule allow plenty of time for business sessions?
• How conducive is the venue to business sessions (e.g. a big enough room, seating with tables, ample electrical outlets for plugging in laptop computers and such, audio/visual equipment for projecting on overhead screen(s) available, etc.)?
• Are arrangements being made to videotape speakers and presentations and put the videos up on YouTube and/or the LP.org website?
• If speaker/meal/entertainment "packages" are sold, how flexible and how affordable will they be?
• Is the convention free of any efforts to collect a "floor fee" or "poll tax" from delegates who volunteer their time to come and do the party's business?
• Will we be able to party after hours without being hassled by venue security?
• Are the convention planners helping to organize rideshares, roomshares, and homestays with local activists for those seeking such arrangements?
• Do the convention organizers have a good volunteer team to help out at the event?
• Is there enough space made available to us at a low enough price that we can have lots of space for breakout events and invite lots of vendors to have booths and/or tables at little or no cost so that there will be an exciting shopping/education/networking experience and we can maximize attendance?
• Does the convention venue have character and charm, or is it bland and sterile?
• What kinds of amenities (food, entertainment, sightseeing, other resources) can be found in the immediate vicinity and greater environs?
• How regulated and controlled is the venue (e.g. how much freedom will we have to decorate and do our own thing without running afoul of their rules?)
• How much walking will be required to get between convention areas and from convention areas to food, accommodations, and parking?
• If the convention will have a "theme", does it offer a strongly libertarian message?
• How easy is it to get to the convention location from various parts of the state?
• How much effort have convention planners made to attract media coverage?
• How much outreach/advertising has there been to attract non-libertarian attendees, including having local activists and community figures who may be able to draw their own non-libertarian audiences as part of the program?
• How youth-friendly is the convention?
• What kind of amenities does the venue itself offer (e.g. pool, gym, hot tub, photocopying/printing, etc.)?
• Will we be allowed to bring in and sell our own food and beverages, and (especially if that will be restricted) what kind of food/beverage offerings are available on site and how expensive are they?
• Are the convention organizers prepared to make a prompt and detailed report to the LNC after the convention, providing clear and detailed written information such as the contract with the venue (which should already have been made public ahead of time), a breakdown of how much the event cost, how much money was taken in, how many people attended, how many and what type of packages, room nights, meals, and other items were sold at what prices, who the speakers/presenters were and what they talked about, what compensation (cash or in-kind) each speaker or presenter received, what kickbacks the venue offered if any and who received them (e.g. free room nights, upgrades, etc.), what feedback was received from attendees, etc.?

	The more of the above questions to which organizers can give favorable responses, the more a convention bid is likely to appeal to me!

Love & Liberty,
                                     ((( starchild )))
At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
                                  (415) 625-FREE
                                     @StarchildSF

P.S. – If you haven't guessed, I'm interested in serving on the Convention Oversight Committee in order to seek to ensure that we do maximize the favorable responses we get to these questions!   :-)