[Lnc-business] Vice-Chair

Fri May 19 03:10:44 EDT 2017

>From the historical email archives (emphasis added):

“If the LNC took the time to meet, debate, and vote on every idea that some member somewhere has, we'd be meeting every day.  I do not think LNC members are obligated to put forward a motion that they don't even support just because one person asked them to.  I think part of the job of being on the LNC is understanding what things are or are not productive uses of our time.  It's not just about the time of the person putting forth the motion, but it is the time of 16 other LNC members, plus 8 alternates, and potentially some staff.  Sometimes it is our job to thank the person for the suggestion but politely reject an idea brought to us.”

--Alicia Mattson (September 16, 2016)

“Alicia, I strongly, but respectfully, disagree.  The number of members who actually try to get something heard is infrequent.  If there were a deluge, you would have a point, and then I would encourage stricter minimum standards to be in place but there isn’t.   And yes, I do think Regional Representatives (I think differently of Officers) DO have an obligation to bring forth motions asked by members (there can be some minimum bars) even if they do not support it.  I will ALWAYS follow that rule and it was a promise I made to my region, and they elected me on it.  If it got to be so much that this was even a concern on time, I would set stricter bars.  But each motion I have brought has had merit, and I supported each one […] Just like Arvin was perfectly justified in bringing that motion to disqualify Weld at the post-convention LNC meeting though he didn’t support it.”

--Caryn Ann Harlos (September 16, 2016) 

“If a majority of Region 1 Chairs asked me to sponsor, I would do so.  That doesn't mean I would vote for it. In order for me to consider voting for it (and it is just a consideration because I have deep reservations about over-reach and future unintended victims of LNC over-reach), I would do what I believe a representative should do.  I would ask the Chairs and the delegates of Region 1 who elected Mr. Vohra.  I don't take overturning the decision of the delegates to be my job or purview, at least not my sole job or purview.  And there simply is not enough time in an email vote to do such a canvas, thus leading to an express abstention if this proceeds to email vote.  I want to hear from the delegates, and I would need to hear from them in substantial support and that simply does not happen in 10 days. This is not ad hoc for this.  This has been my consistent position on all positions of import such as this, I have older emails on those past issues where I followed the same process.  It requires 2/3 vote of the entire LNC to pass.  I think it would be impossible to even reach all of the delegates from 2016 from Region 1 - people moving etc., so I would require a 2/3 approval of responding delegates.”  

--Caryn Ann Harlos (May 18, 2017)

Aaron Starr

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From: Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces at hq.lp.org] On Behalf Of Caryn Ann Harlos
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 10:52 PM
To: Libertarian National Committee list
Subject: Re: [Lnc-business] Vice-Chair

Thank you for your input Steve.  On difficult decisions of great import, my position remains the same as it did back when people were urging me to disqualify our Presidential ticket or to censure Bill Weld.  As a representative, there are some decisions that are referred to the persons who directly elected me and directly elected Mr. Vohra.

If a majority of Region 1 Chairs asked me to sponsor, I would do so.  That doesn't mean I would vote for it. In order for me to consider voting for it (and it is just a consideration because I have deep reservations about over-reach and future unintended victims of LNC over-reach), I would do what I believe a representative should do.  I would ask the Chairs and the delegates of Region 1 who elected Mr. Vohra.  I don't take overturning the decision of the delegates to be my job or purview, at least not my sole job or purview.  And there simply is not enough time in an email vote to do such a canvas, thus leading to an express abstention if this proceeds to email vote.  I want to hear from the delegates, and I would need to hear from them in substantial support and that simply does not happen in 10 days.

This is not ad hoc for this.  This has been my consistent position on all positions of import such as this, I have older emails on those past issues where I followed the same process.  It requires 2/3 vote of the entire LNC to pass.  I think it would be impossible to even reach all of the delegates from 2016 from Region 1 - people moving etc., so I would require a 2/3 approval of responding delegates.  

This is what I believe is the right way to handle and is in line with how I have handled my representation in the past.  However, 10 days is not enough time for me to do my duty, and I think an email vote is way too trivial to the gravity of this motion.

-Caryn Ann

On Thu, May 18, 2017 at 11:15 PM, Steven Nielson <stevennielson at lpwa.org> wrote:

Distinguished Leaders of the LNC - 

I had originally voiced my opposition to a motion for removal, however strongly encouraged action by our Chairman to address the comments made by our Vice Chairman. Since that time there have been, as Mr. Sharpe noted, several further communications that have caused concern with my original position. The circumstances have since changed and as such my position of general neutrality has also changed. 

Mr. Vohra holds a position of great influence when it comes to perceived positions of the national party. What he does while in this position, both "on the clock" or off, directly impact perception. It is a reality that every single one of us who hold a position of influence must face. 

This body has an opportunity before it, nay an obligation before it to take an official position on such actions of those who hold the highest positions of influence within our ranks.

I am merely an alternate to Ms. Harlos, and as such I am not eligible to second the motion made by Representative McKnight. However, I strongly encourage a second and a vote by this body, and by doing so either support or oppose both the statements made and the subsequent actions taken by our Vice-Chairman. 

In Liberty,

Steven M. Nielson

Alternate Regional Rep. Region 1

On May 18, 2017 9:37 PM, "Patrick McKnight" <patrick.joseph.mcknight at gmail.com> wrote:

I totally agree with Larry. For me the lack of remorse is astounding. I personally sent Arvin an email about this and received no response. We can't grow by making offensive generalizations and calling people names. This is unacceptable behavior. 

Therefore I must, with a heavy heart, make a motion to remove Arvin Vohra from his position as Vice Chair under Article 6, Section 7 of our Bylaws. Who will second this motion?

Thanks,

Patrick McKnight

Region 8 Rep

On May 18, 2017 10:12 PM, "Larry Sharpe" <lsharpe at neo-sage.com> wrote:

Dear LNC,

The idea that we as the LNC should do nothing as a committee regarding Arvin Vohra's comments is alarming to me.

If a Board Member or member of the Executive Team at Pepsi ever said anything negative about Pepsi customers publicly he/she would be relieved immediately, regardless of whether they were on the clock, off the clock, on Facebook, in a crowd or announced that is was only their PERSONAL opinion that "X" group of people are bad. This would happen even after an apology. If you choose to take on a public role, there WILL be constraints on your private life. If you don't like that, you shouldn't take on this role. The LNC is NEVER off. Our words will always be used to hurt the cause whenever possible. I have been an officer of a public company and I was never "off". I could never publicly say disparaging things about our customers. That's the price I agreed to pay to take that position. Ours is no different.

What if the comments were about divorced women? Or were race related? Would we just say, "Oh well, that's his personal opinion? Yeah, I know he's a racist, but you know, what are you gonna do, right?" I hope not, because no other organization, private, public, profit or nonprofit would stand for it, and neither should we.

Arvin blatantly insulted veterans. That is about 20 million voters and their supporters (maybe another 25 -50 million?).

After multiple lengthy notes explaining why he was right, he finally provided a weak "I'm sorry that you are so sensitive" apology hidden in another self-righteous diatribe. There is still no real apology for the actual insult. Then he went on to insult teachers, another 3 million voters!  Then he went on to call our candidates tricksters and lairs. Obviously, he doesn't feel like he's done anything wrong and he has no intention of stopping. 

He has poor judgement, no remorse and a severe lack of empathy. He is making it harder for us to grow, that's one of our primary goals, and he's not stopping.

Because of his actions, it is harder for us to get volunteers, donations, members and candidates! And the volunteers and candidates that we have must spend more time doing damage control instead of being productive with the precious time they give us. 

Everyday the damage continues and the pain festers. And some of you want to wait until 2018!? No waiting until 2018. We must lead and we must handle our own. We need to act now.

As soon as we start consistently winning at the State level and become a threat, our enemies will comb through our data and use this against us. What story will we tell?

"Yes, he called our veterans murderers and we did nothing about."

They will hear that we agree with him:

*	Our veterans are murders
*	Our teachers are enemies
*	Our candidates are liars and trickster

It is what voters will think and that is what matters for a political party. That will come back to haunt and crush us once we have several candidates that are about to win.

Or we can say:

"Yes, he called our veterans murderers and we acted quickly and decisively. We do NOT agree with that, and that's why we acted." 

He has every right to his voice and opinion, just not publicly while he represents the LP.

This is not about disagreeing on an issue or platform point. It is about insulting millions of voters and purposely, actively, continually hurting our efforts to grow and win which is in direct violation of article 2 of our bylaws.

I am a huge proponent of second chances, but he has had many and refuses to adjust his behavior.

Any officer in any organization, public or private, profit or non-profit who created and continues to create this much damage would be removed. So should he. 

Those of you who know me know that I rarely stand my ground on an LNC issue. I usually say my opinion, respect the answer, do damage control as needed and then continue my work. Not this time. For my brothers and sisters who were called immoral murders here, I will not fall back.  

I initially was going to ask for a motion to officially ask Arvin to apologize, or maybe for a censure. But that time has passed. Because I am an Alternate, I cannot propose a motion, so I request for any At-Large LNC member or my Regional Rep, Patrick McKnight, to propose a motion to remove Arvin Vohra from his position as Vice-Chair under Article 6, section 7 of our Bylaws.

Let him fight for liberty outside of LP leadership.

-- 

Larry

Larry Sharpe

The Neo-Sage Group, Inc.

http://TheNeoSage.com/

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http://www.linkedin.com/in/neosage

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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 <mailto: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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