[Lnc-business] Affiliate Support and Raiser's Edge

[Wes Benedict]

I'm not ready to address affiliate use of the new Raisers Edge NXT yet. 
We don't have our own national database working on it yet, although we 
are working on that and making progress. Robert has loaded a draft set 
of our data to it, and Blackbaud is working to configure things for us.

I recommend we get the national database working before trying (and 
probably failing), to get it to work for the states too.

Andy Burns and Ken Moellman are both busy trying to salvage a few 
websites that were broken when someone who didn't know enough about what 
they were doing moved things.

I think that there is a major risk of corrupting our financial data that 
must go into FEC reports if you start experimenting with mixing state 
contribution records with our national contribution records.

So, I advise against a motion on this at this time, but there is the 
possibility that if you pass a motion on this, that could move this to a 
higher priority over restoring old website content, onboarding staff 
we've hired to help with these kinds of projects, filing campaign 
finance reports for facebook ads, etc.

So, just because I say I'm not ready, and I don't think now is a good 
time for this, doesn't mean that the LNC might strongly feel otherwise. 
So, if a motion is passed, I will do my best to have staff comply.

This note was typed in haste, so it's possible I've got a detail or two 
above off.

Thanks,

Wes Benedict, Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
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 2/15/2017 6:10 PM, Daniel Hayes wrote:
> Wes,
>
> Please give us an update on what we are doing regarding getting 
> Raiser's Edge up and running with regards to state affiliates. I had 
> been prepared to get a motion together to make this happen but as it 
> seems that you were working in that direction I held off on the 
> motion.  We have 5 or 6 states ready to go as test subjects to work on 
> getting this up.  Are we at an impasse on this?
>
> I suggest we start even more basic than that.  Let's start with one 
> state.  Louisiana.  It's not that big.  I am a board member of that 
> affiliate and have been the biggest fund raiser for that affiliate.  I 
> have authorization from Rufus Craig the LPL Chairman to use this 
> program and get it up and running for La. As I am a LNC member I have 
> an interest and a duty to protect our data. I also have a NDA signed 
> with the LNC.  We could have Andy work with Keith Thompson our LPL IT 
> officer and me to get it up and running and start beating on it to 
> work out any kinks of how it will work with each affiliate.  Once we 
> have that all figured out we can roll it out to other affiliates.
>
> John Wilford, Chair of LP Texas related a story from a member that 
> came over from the GOP.  He told us about how the GOP tried to do this 
> but had some problems with the data getting altered by too many 
> people.  He suggested some restrictions on the information coming down 
> from the LNC relative to editing.  I understand that Robert has some 
> concerns regarding this and I agree that those are legitimate.  It 
> strikes me that there should be some permissions that are able to 
> restrict data editing while allowing recording of various touches so 
> state and LNC don't walk over each others toes.
>
> States that have good ballot access often feel like they have the 
> short end of the stick.  I have heard members claim that the way 
> National handles ballot access is welfare for states receiving that 
> help. I don't see it that way but some do.  The reason I wanted to be 
> on the Affiliate Support Committee is I wanted to change that.  
> Pushing to get affiliates use of a program like Raiser's Edge could go 
> a long way to changing that idea.  Andy Burns has helped a lot to 
> change that negative sentiment, but we need to give him the tools he 
> tells us he needs.  To my hearing, he feels that testing  Raiser's 
> edge in states is the start of figuring out one of the biggest needs 
> states have, that being data.  The ASC survey supports that.
>
> As a LNC member I have the authority to put forward motions 
> that create policy with regards to how staff is directed.  That of 
> course requires the motion to pass etc.  I think its so much easier 
> when we let staff know what our members are wanting and staff can just 
> address Committee members asks and needs without a motion.  I thought 
> that was the direction we were going with regards to RE NXT. Please 
> let Andy get more involved with the initial set up to help get 
> things ready for evaluation and further deployment to state affiliates.
>
> Daniel Hayes
> LNC At Large Member