[Lnc-business] Jul Membership Report

Fri Aug 11 09:21:27 EDT 2017

I think fundraising a much more important metric, and you raise excellent
points Joshua.  Would everyone be amenable to a roundtable on this topic?

-Caryn Ann

On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 7:19 AM, Joshua Katz <planning4liberty at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I would like to add a suggestion here in a different direction.  Do we
> care?  This term, we have not adopted goals, but we did last term - and
> increasing or maintaining memberships wasn't on the list.  I'm not being
> sarcastic here, I'm being serious - maybe memberships is not a metric we
> find all that illuminating.  Sure, we need funds, and paid memberships are
> one way of obtaining funds, but only one way.  They're a way that
> non-profits, seemingly across the board, have found to be declining in
> importance and value.  Maybe that's part (I think most things that happen
> are over-determined and we should look for patterns, not 1-1 relationships)
> of what this declining number is telling us.
>
> I agree we should not simply expect a drop in support following the
> Presidential year.  A drop in paid memberships?  Maybe.  People have many
> reasons to become members, and if those are temporary reasons (attending
> convention, considering running for LNC) they might not renew when those
> reasons no longer apply.
>
> It's become a trope that "millennials don't join things."  If that's true,
> then we should start now to plan what our organization can look like in 10
> years with a different model.  Personally, I think that regardless of what
> millennials do, we should be making those plans, because a membership model
> is a temporary solution, not one that will always be best once we've
> attained a certain size and level of success.
>
> I don't know that membership is a useful thing to watch while driving, so
> to speak.  I'm much more interested in races won, registered voters in
> places where that can happen, contested nominations, and similar markers.
> Those too are long-range indicators, though, and I suspect that the sorts
> of solutions we are likely to come up with regarding membership, will drive
> those as well.
>
> Joshua A. Katz
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 8:06 AM, Patrick McKnight <
> patrick.joseph.mcknight at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Caryn Ann,
>>
>> Being defensive and mischaracterizing my statements is also not helpful.
>>
>> I only need a few minutes to present my proposal.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Patrick McKnight
>>
>> On Aug 11, 2017 9:02 AM, "Caryn Ann Harlos" <carynannharlos at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> And here is another reason- to say no plans is simply not accurate.
>>> Perhaps I just see more of what is happening since I interact with staff
>>> more than usual and am on the APRC (which means I see every single piece of
>>> output).  The staff effort is amazing.  Lauren, Jess, and Andy are bringing
>>> us to a new level of professionalism and thus attractiveness.  There has
>>> been several years of branding and infrastructure building.  The press
>>> secretary position will add another dimension. Nurturing relationships with
>>> larger donors (we have to have funds to do anything) is from what I can see
>>> better than ever.
>>>
>>> You get much more support by realistically assessing what we are doing
>>> well, and what can be a lot better otherwise it is basically just scolding
>>> people and ignoring what we have done.
>>>
>>> I think Larry would tell us that's not how to motivate to greatness.
>>>
>>> Some of the things done have been stunning.  Others not so much so.
>>>
>>> But a circular firing squad never does.
>>>
>>> Let's come to the table with more ideas.
>>>
>>> How long should we put on the Agenda Patrick?
>>>
>>> -Caryn Ann
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 6:50 AM Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> It's not defensive- it's tired of talk and this same speech.
>>>>
>>>> Doing is better than talking.  I support your email idea.
>>>>
>>>> I was wondering what everyone did since last meeting.
>>>>
>>>> Yelling at the rest of the LNC isn't helpful.
>>>>
>>>> -Caryn Ann
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 6:46 AM Patrick McKnight <
>>>> patrick.joseph.mcknight at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Jason,
>>>>>
>>>>> That's fantastic! Congratulations! Do you have some best practices you
>>>>> can share? NJ registered voters are also exploding, but we haven't been
>>>>> able to convert that into national memberships which is what's at issue.
>>>>> Have you also experienced that in Nevada?
>>>>>
>>>>> Caryn Ann, thank you as always for your hard work. But I'm not sure
>>>>> why you are getting so defensive, with all due respect this isn't about
>>>>> "you". This is about the fact we are a national organizations without a
>>>>> national strategy to stop losing members. Is our national strategy for LNC
>>>>> members to call people in their free time? That's a nice gesture but I
>>>>> don't see that as a solution. I suspect there is something wrong with our
>>>>> brand and the way we are messaging our principles. But at this point I
>>>>> don't think anyone really knows because we haven't asked our members for
>>>>> their feedback.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have made a suggestion that we do a survey of our members to gather
>>>>> this information. Then we can use this data to construct a strategy.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Patrick McKnight
>>>>> LNC Region 8
>>>>> Chair, NJLP
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 8:30 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>>>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> How many LNC members took me up on my challenge to call lapsed
>>>>>> members?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It's easy to say what others or "we" should do.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The last time you said this Patrick I took it to heart and *I* did
>>>>>> something.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I call lapsed members nearly every day.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It's hard to get people on the phone, but when I do (do we want the
>>>>>> truth?) this is what I hear in order of frequency:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1. Economy is bad and they lost their job
>>>>>> 2. They've been a member and they felt we're no longer representing
>>>>>> what we claim to (i.e. the last election was a missed opportunity, the
>>>>>> candidates did not represent a different enough liberty message)
>>>>>> 3. Waxing and waning interest in politics concurrent with the
>>>>>> election seasons
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That is what I hear.  The stories of number 1 are heartbreaking.
>>>>>> I've gotten my rear chewed out with stories of 2 and managed to retain some
>>>>>> of them by being nice and letting them yell.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My effort alone is obviously a drop in a sea. But I decided to be
>>>>>> part of the solution.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -Caryn Ann
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 6:21 AM Patrick McKnight <
>>>>>> patrick.joseph.mcknight at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> All,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't understand why our declining membership isn't our number one
>>>>>>> priority as an organization. These reports come out showing we have a real
>>>>>>> problem and no one seems to notice. Too often the LNC is too busy having
>>>>>>> pointless philosophical debates amongst ourselves while people are voting
>>>>>>> with their feet and leaving the party.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I would like us to do an email survey of our membership to determine
>>>>>>> what people like and don't like about the party. I don't accept this
>>>>>>> culture of failure that since our numbers went up last year they have to go
>>>>>>> down this year.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't pretend to have all the answers to this problem. But I think
>>>>>>> a good place to start is simply asking our membership. It would be free and
>>>>>>> we might learn something.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Interest in liberty is exploding, if our numbers don't reflect that
>>>>>>> we are doing something wrong.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>> Patrick McKnight
>>>>>>> LNC Region 8 Rep
>>>>>>> Chair, New Jersey Libertarian Party
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Fri, Aug 4, 2017 at 10:13 AM, Robert Kraus <robert.kraus at lp.org>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Attached thank you for pointing that out!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Live Free!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Robert*
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Robert S. Kraus - Dir of Operations
>>>>>>>> Operations at LP.org
>>>>>>>> Libertarian National Committee
>>>>>>>> Ph: 202.333.0008 x 231 <(202)%20333-0008>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Join today: https://www.lp.org/membership
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> LP FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/libertarians
>>>>>>>> size=3 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *From:* Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces at hq.lp.org] *On
>>>>>>>> Behalf Of *Aaron Starr
>>>>>>>> *Sent:* Thursday, August 03, 2017 4:32 PM
>>>>>>>> *To:* lnc-business at hq.lp.org; lnc-business at lp.org; 'LP-State
>>>>>>>> Chairs'; staff at lp.org
>>>>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [Lnc-business] Jul Membership Report
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Robert,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> For some reason the report compares July 2017 with June 2016, so
>>>>>>>> the prior year data point did not get updated from last month’s report.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Can you revise this report to compare July 2017 with July 2016?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Aaron Starr
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> (805) 583-3308 Home
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> (805) 404-8693 Mobile
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> starrcpa at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *From:* Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces at hq.lp.org] *On
>>>>>>>> Behalf Of *Robert Kraus
>>>>>>>> *Sent:* Thursday, August 03, 2017 9:32 AM
>>>>>>>> *To:* lnc-business at lp.org; 'LP-State Chairs'; staff at lp.org
>>>>>>>> *Subject:* [Lnc-business] Jul Membership Report
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Jul Membership Report is attached. Open to find out who is no
>>>>>>>> longer tied for 10th!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Live Free!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Robert*
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Robert S. Kraus - Dir of Operations
>>>>>>>> Operations at LP.org
>>>>>>>> Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 1444 Duke Street
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Alexandria, VA 22314
>>>>>>>> Ph: 202.333.0008 x 231 <(202)%20333-0008>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Join today: https://www.lp.org/membership
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> LP FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/libertarians
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Lnc-business mailing list
>>>>>>>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>>>>>>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Lnc-business mailing list
>>>>>>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>>>>>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> *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>
>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Lnc-business mailing list
>>>>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>>>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> *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>
>>>> 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*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>> *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>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Lnc-business mailing list
>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Lnc-business mailing list
> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>
>

-- 
*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>
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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