[Lnc-business] Discussion on LP records archives

Wed Mar 15 13:08:15 EDT 2017

Thanks for all of this, Caryn Ann!

Whitney

On Wed, Mar 15, 2017 at 12:05 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <carynannharlos at gmail.com
> wrote:

> Hi Whitney,
>
> Thanks for asking.  All of the initial budget will go to direct records
> preservation (or any costs directly associated with that such as if some
> software or electronic storage is needed) but I am anticipating it will go
> to the direct scanning of prioritized records.  None has been spent at this
> time as it is very difficult to set priorities until the records are
> inventoried and organized (particularly those in the off-site storage).
> Note that I have raised about $1,200 of that initial $5,000 already and
> once things get opened to the membership I expect to raise more.  LPedia is
> very close to being re-opened (we have a meeting about this tomorrow - we
> are running into an issue with image re-scaling that we are dealing with -
> and there is an off-chance we might need to move hosts).  So once this
> initial planning is all done, a mass scanning project will ensue for which
> that money is reserved, and I fully intend to keep raising for it.
>
> -Caryn Ann
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 15, 2017 at 7:43 AM, Whitney Bilyeu <whitneycb76 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I am in favor of this effort, but would like to know how the initial
>> $5000 is likely to be spent, as well.
>>
>> Thanks for doing this, Caryn Ann!
>>
>> Whitney
>>
>> On Mar 15, 2017 1:07 AM, "Caryn Ann Harlos" <carynannharlos at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Bumping for additional commentary if any.
>>
>> -Caryn Ann
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 11, 2017 at 10:59 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I have only done preliminary inquiries - it looks like around $210 but I
>>> would need to get with Wes on exact size.
>>>
>>> Short answer- same, or hopefully less.
>>>
>>> -Caryn Ann
>>>
>>> On Sat, Mar 11, 2017 at 10:51 AM Daniel Hayes <danielehayes at icloud.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> What would a storage facility cost in Colorado?
>>>>
>>>> Daniel Hayes
>>>> LNC At Large Member
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Mar 11, 2017, at 11:37 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> None yet.  We needed to get the committee together and we are budgeting
>>>> now.  We want to spend wisely and that requires knowing what we have and
>>>> not just scanning Willy Nilly.  Once reason Jackie is going to HQ on Monday
>>>> - we will start making spending decisions after that.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Mar 11, 2017 at 10:17 AM Joshua Katz <
>>>> planning4liberty at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Of the initial $5k budget, how much has been spent?
>>>>
>>>> Joshua A. Katz
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Mar 11, 2017 at 11:03 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> This is a discussion preliminary to a motion on the records of the LP
>>>> after extensive discussion with Wes and Wes running the thoughts by Nick
>>>> Sarwark
>>>>
>>>> Here is the state of things.  On the Historical Committee end, we have
>>>> a pretty talented group that was chosen, including the original creator of
>>>> the LP.org website Joe Dehn and the LPedia curator for the past ten
>>>> years James Gholston.  LPedia has been cleaned up (gigs and gigs of spam
>>>> removed) and moved to the new server.  We are kicking the tires to make
>>>> sure it is ready to fling back open for new account creation - this is
>>>> remarkable in itself, new account creation has been disabled for years
>>>> (five years I think).  Joe Buchman has been scanning using a professional
>>>> scanner - but that is slow going as it is on off hours he gets to use as a
>>>> volunteer, but we have some high quality scans to start.  And once LPedia
>>>> gets going fundraising for the initial budget will ramp up.  I have already
>>>> raised the first 20% but it is hard to ask for support without some
>>>> "product" to show.
>>>>
>>>> A problem is that is it very difficult to get started on bulk scanning
>>>> as we don't know what we have in Virginia, compounded by the fact that some
>>>> of it is in an offsite storage facility that is not organized (it is safe
>>>> and boxed well to preserve but no one has put in the very hard time of
>>>> getting those files into shape - there have been more pressing matters -
>>>> the fact that they are safe and stored is due to heroic efforts by Wes as
>>>> far as I am concerned - the legend was that much more was destroyed in the
>>>> Watergate flood than actually was).    None of committee members live in
>>>> Virginia (one lives several hours a year but is fairly new to Party
>>>> involvement though he has made sysadmin skills), and the guiding visionary
>>>> of the whole thing - me - lives in Colorado.  We can ask volunteers to
>>>> start (and I have one dedicated volunteer going down Monday to begin-
>>>> Jackie Mason) but in general that can be a spotty method as can using
>>>> interns, but without a very systematic organization the effectiveness of
>>>> the records preservation will be less than ideal.
>>>>
>>>> So with this, I would to share  some of Wes' thoughts (to which I
>>>> concur) which were shared with Nick for the Committee's consideration with
>>>> some additional thoughts of mine at the end.  These summary thoughts from
>>>> Wes was after an extensive phone conference with me:
>>>>
>>>> ====
>>>>
>>>> I'd like Caryn Ann and the Historical committee to have access to
>>>> documents. But, coordinating and managing interns, shipping items, etc., is
>>>> going to cause a substantial  amount of interruption here at LPHQ.
>>>> Piece-by-piece, and box-by-box, training one volunteer after another how to
>>>> ship, scan, etc. Negotiating pay-rates for interns, etc. Answering hundreds
>>>> of questions.  It adds up quickly.
>>>>
>>>> I'd like to send Nick Dunbar with a 20' U-Haul filled with the
>>>> historical documents that are in our storage unit and basement. We'll
>>>> include the shelves from the storage unit as well, and will shut down our
>>>> storage unit.
>>>>
>>>> I'd like to deliver it all to Caryn Ann's neighborhood so she can
>>>> manage the project directly, rather than trying to coach an intern or
>>>> handful of semi-reliable volunteers from afar, with us at LPHQ having to
>>>> support the volunteers and interns, explain parking, arrange keys, etc.
>>>>
>>>> The 20 foot Uhaul will cost about $1700 plus $700 gas. All will easily
>>>> fit in that, and won't get nearly as damaged as if we shipped via carrier,
>>>> plus it will require less TLC preparing the stuff to ship. We'll have to
>>>> spend on some boxes and tape. Motels and expenses for Nick along the way
>>>> plus a flight home. Overall, I'd estimate a roughly $5,000 expense.
>>>>
>>>> I moved the entire contents from one storage unit to another a year ago
>>>> to go from a rate of approximately $400/month to $228/month. I know what
>>>> I'm getting into. I used movers that cost about $400 to to unload from one
>>>> unit, and upload to another unit in around 4 hours.
>>>>
>>>> If Caryn Ann fails to make things happen, we'll know the address of the
>>>> storage unit and can always go through the process of moving things back.
>>>> The LNC will pay for and be in control of the storage unit, just like we
>>>> are in control of the one here. They're about to raise our rent from
>>>> $228/month to $248/month and we'll just shut it down after we empty it and
>>>> send things to Colorado.
>>>>
>>>> I've had access to all this stuff for years, and it never reaches high
>>>> enough priority for LPHQ staff to deal with.  It's worth giving Caryn Ann
>>>> and her volunteers and committee a shot at taking the stuff, organizing it,
>>>> and scanning and preserving and posting it online.
>>>>
>>>> ======
>>>>
>>>> This would require approval of an additional $5000 in expenses.  I was
>>>> already thinking I would have to fly out to Virginia over the summer and
>>>> spend a weekend in that storage unit - this would save me that trip so I
>>>> would commit to a donation for this cause, in fact I have been considering
>>>> a life membership, so if this passes I would sign up for that at the
>>>> monthly rate to have a life membership at the end of one year and while in
>>>> CO, Nick can stay in our guest room.  Wes is confident he could fundraise
>>>> the majority of this money as well through several membership emails.
>>>>
>>>> When the LP gets the records back they will be organized and
>>>> inventoried to be of use for years to come.  And I will be able to make
>>>> meaningful recommendations to the LNC as to culling.  And if the LNC in the
>>>> future ever wants to make records retention decisions they will actually
>>>> know what they have.
>>>>
>>>> I can also get the state party here behind setting up a committee of
>>>> volunteers as a Historical Committee Support group to arrange organization
>>>> weekends in which I can spend weekends down with volunteers getting this
>>>> stuff into shape, and I will be able to directly supervise any bulk
>>>> scanning company we use.  And will be able to make sure we are not paying
>>>> to have 50 copies of one thing scanned because I will be able to curate the
>>>> items before they get sent out.
>>>>
>>>> I think also if we video-documented this, it would be an interest piece
>>>> for next convention.   Also, though I haven't priced this out, I think the
>>>> storage costs would be less in CO. The facility doesn't have to be in
>>>> Castle Rock, we are spread out and more towards Denver in a less pricier
>>>> region would be more convenient for more volunteers here.
>>>>
>>>> I am soliciting thoughts preliminary to making a motion.  I also ask
>>>> Wes to weigh in as he is closest to the issue.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> *In Liberty,*
>>>> *Caryn Ann Harlos*
>>>> Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska,
>>>> Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
>>>> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
>>>> Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
>>>> <http://www.lpcolorado.org>
>>>> Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
>>>> <http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org>
>>>> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> *In Liberty,*
>> *Caryn Ann Harlos*
>> Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska,
>> Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
>> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
>> Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
>> <http://www.lpcolorado.org>
>> Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
>> <http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org>
>> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>>
>> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
>> *We defend your rights*
>> *And oppose the use of force*
>> *Taxation is theft*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> *In Liberty,*
> *Caryn Ann Harlos*
> Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona,
> Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
> Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
> <http://www.lpcolorado.org>
> Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
> <http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org>
> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>
> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
> *We defend your rights*
> *And oppose the use of force*
> *Taxation is theft*
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Lnc-business mailing list
> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>
>
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