[Lnc-business] Jul Membership Report

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

I received this and think it is helpful:

1) If you don't ask you don't get. The biggest problem with
lasing/declining membership is that you have to constantly ask new people
to join, and lapsed members to renew - multiple times - or they won't.

2) Capture more info through things like web issue petitions; these may be
good lists to hit up for new members/contributors.

3) I'm fully aware of why staff doesn't often like this idea, but give
people more options of specific projects to target their donations to.
Joshua mentioned that younger people are not as apt to follow the
membership model which has traditionally worked for organizations in the
past. People today increasingly want to be able to customize everything to
their own individual tastes rather than follow the herd and get the same
helping of slop as everyone else in line. From craft beer to gastropubs to
... you name it ... people want more individual choice and control over
their money than in the past. Give it to them!

4) The monthly donor model should be pushed much more often than it has
been. It's opt-out for a longer period of time - typically 3-5 years on the
average bank or credit card - and the same $120 is psychologically easier
in 12 monthly chunks of $10 than in one fell swoop. I know that it does get
mentioned, but it hasn't been emphasized to the degree that - for example-
I have seen some state parties push their monthly donations at various
times in the past. CA and NV in past years come to mind.

5) It would take a lot of work to capture and make good use of the info,
but we need to start cataloging people's skill sets and various
non-monetary ways they can help the party. If we can find ways to get
people actively involved in some kind of volunteer capacity they will be
not only saving the party money but it will make them more likely to
contribute financially as well.

6) I agree with Nick's goal of having lots of candidates up and down the
ballot. But what practical steps have been taken to get us to that 2,000
candidate goal? The last time national set a candidate goal that high was
iirc around year 2000 or 2002 and Ron Crickenberger was very active in
trying to get people signed up as candidates all over the country. I think
we ended up with around 1,400 or so if memory serves. If there has been an
effort of that scale this year above and beyond stating the much higher
than usual goal I honestly have not seen it.

7) The survey idea could be useful. There should be some effort put into
getting a good representative sample.

That's it off the top of my head, but I've posted similar lists of
suggestions in the past, particularly when I was an LNC alternate in
2012-2014.

Paul Frankel
205-534-1622 <(205)%20534-1622>

On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 9:54 AM, Daniel Hayes <danielehayes at icloud.com>
wrote:

> Patrick,
>
> I am amused that I JUST got this from the NAP(National Association of
> Parliamentarians).
>
> [image: image2.JPG]
>
> Daniel Hayes
> LNC At Large Member
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 11, 2017, at 9:38 AM, Daniel Hayes <danielehayes at icloud.com> wrote:
>
> Caryn Ann,
>
> Either Patrick or George Phillies brought this up on the ASC call last
> night.  I said many of the same things you did Caryn Ann. I brought up two
> people's name from this board as being particularly focused on this. Guess
> which two? It was suggested I not be so defensive.  Like you, maybe I see
> and know more of what's going on.  Just yesterday while I was trying to
> prep for two conference calls, to my ADHD chagrin, Robert, gave me the
> first TEST access to Raiser's Edge. You and I both have our own
> personalized donation links.
> David pointed out that more Libertarians outside of the board need to look
> in the mirror and take responsibility. I agree, but I think this board
> needs to set the example.   I think I declared a $5000 give or get to the
> LNC which I have blown through.
>
> On a note, when I brought up the great work that Lauren is doing l, the
> ASC agreed on that.
>
> It was brought up that there has been growth in membership following some
> elections. I didn't ask the question of how much was being spent to gain
> each of those members.  I know at some point in our history we were
> spending $400/ member.
>
> I am not saying and don't think this is where Patrick is coming from, but
> I KNOW a lot of this rhetoric is coming from people positioning themselves
> for LNC runs. There is this inevitable thing that happens where everyone
> screams about what an awful job the LNC is doing.  Guess what that probably
> does?  Cuts into membership.
> Instead of this tactic of saying how awful of a job we are doing, I wish
> everyone instead would simply point out how they could do better. But J can
> only control me.
>
> Another thing though. IF a state affiliate has grown but National has
> slipped, who is that on? Do we want National competing with Affiliates for
> the almighty $25?
>
> In any event I have about 3 reports I have to work on.  We can discuss
> this at the meeting.
>
>
> Daniel Hayes
> LNC At Large Member
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 11, 2017, at 8:21 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <carynannharlos at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> 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*
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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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