[Lnc-business] Fwd: Recent VC Comments

Caryn Ann Harlos caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
Mon Jan 15 18:41:17 EST 2018 

Supposed to go to the whole list


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
Date: Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 4:40 PM
Subject: Re: Recent VC Comments
To: Elizabeth Van Horn <elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org>


When people are called cowards it is personal. Larry is usually way more
precise than that.

And as we learned with Arvin, how a message is received is just as
important as how it was intended.

In the past he has always exemplified that, so I am asking for that now.

I will drop it after this post.

On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 4:18 PM, Elizabeth Van Horn <
elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org> wrote:

> Hi Caryn Ann,
>
> I know that you'd probably co-sponsor the motion I made, (and maybe even
> vote in favor) except that you wish to abide by your Region's wishes.  I
> respect that.
>
> I'm in the same situation, only in reverse. For instance, all this time,
> I PERSONALLY have told everyone that the way to remove Arvin is to vote him
> out at the 2018 NOLA convention. That was, and still is, my personal
> position.
>
> But, I want to be able to give voice to the LP members in Region 3. That's
> what I signed up for, and that's what I told the Regional chairs I'd do.
> Other than out-of-hand unethical actions, I'll try to stick to what Region
> 3 wants. (Even if it's something I personally wouldn't do.) Because, now
> I'm representing hundreds of LP members and it would be disingenuous for me
> to take on that role, and push my personal views onto those who entrusted
> me.
>
> Larry Sharpe's commentary isn't a personal judgement of you, or others,
> who may decide to not support the motion.  It's his view on the
> *responsibilities* of the LNC role. His personal opinion.  Larry's not
> impugning your character or motivations.  He's saying what he thinks is the
> "responsibility" of the LNC members.  Just as there are LP members saying
> that they think my responsibility should be to my conscience, as that's how
> *they* view the LNC role.  I don't take it personal, if it's not directed
> at me, or a smear on motivations.
>
> I don't think Larry is indicating a judgement on your character or others
> who might act accordingly.
> ---
> Elizabeth Van Horn
>
> On 2018-01-15 17:17, Caryn Ann Harlos wrote:
>
> FYI - Many times my region says - we leave it to you.  That is their
> prerogative.  Not mine. This also protects small states to have an equal
> voice.  Montana knows that they have equal pull with me. They don't have to
> worry that me, a Coloradoan, may let unconscious prejudice for my home
> state to creep in.  I feel pretty fiercely about this.  I don't mind a
> disagreement.   I do mind greatly a judgment on my character.  To put it
> mildly.
>
> On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 3:14 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
> > wrote:
>
>> In my opinion we do what we promised to do when elected. If YOUR region
>> has no issue with that, that is YOUR prerogative. Region 1 elected me on
>> certain premises.  It is patently unfair and inflammatory to suggest that I
>> am a coward or shirking my responsibility if I do what they elected me to
>> do.  Seriously Larry, that is not right.  Don't make yourself wrong when
>> you are right in everything else you said.
>>
>> If I felt I could NOT keep that promise, I would resign.  But I really
>> take offense at you judging what the agreement is between me and my region.
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 2:50 PM, Larry Sharpe <govsharpe at larrysharpe.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Caryn Ann,
>>>
>>> In my opinion, we are representatives. We should vote on what we feel is
>>> best. As acting Region 8 rep in December, I voted for Austin for the 2020
>>> convention, when my region might have asked for Atlanta. If they had asked
>>> for Atlanta, I still would have voted for Austin and I would have explained
>>> my vote. Reps like Amash and Massie do this all the time. I assume that
>>> they select us to use our knowledge, insight and judgement. They would have
>>> the option of accepting my explanation or asking me to step down or
>>> demanding my removal. All good. If Patrick does not want to handle this
>>> issue and I need to step in as Region 8 Rep, I will vote yes to removal
>>> regardless of my states because I know that it is the best thing to do.
>>> They can ask for my explanation, my removal or both. All good. I think you
>>> should do what you think is best.
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 4:27 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>> caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Do you agree that regionals should vote yes regardless of the wishes of
>>>> their region?  Because that is what he said.
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 1:56 PM, Dustin Nanna <dustin.nanna at lp.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Could not agree more Larry
>>>>>
>>>>> Dustin Nanna
>>>>> LNC Region 3 Alternate
>>>>>
>>>>> Vice Chair/Deputy Communications Director
>>>>> Libertarian Party of Ohio
>>>>>
>>>>> (740) 816-9805
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 15, 2018 3:53 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Larry, great minds think alike ;)  I posted a similar letter about
>>>>> ten minutes ago.
>>>>>
>>>>> I will disagree sharply on one point however.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regional Representatives have a duty to their region.  To say that a
>>>>> regional should not vote the way their region wants is an abdication or
>>>>> fear.  I actually take sharp offense at that.  I have been the most
>>>>> outspoken in the past few days.  I am not afraid.  My personal position is
>>>>> clear.  But my region expects me to represent THEM and if they don't want
>>>>> us to take action - though I disagree - that is their right to make.
>>>>> Please be more careful in making such judgments against your peers.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 1:11 PM, Larry Sharpe <
>>>>> govsharpe at larrysharpe.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear LNC,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> With the most recent comments and controversy regarding our
>>>>> Vice-Chair, Arvin Vohra, we find ourselves in another quagmire, wasting our
>>>>> time and efforts, dividing us and making us look unprofessional once again.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The key word is again. This is no longer about Arvin. For clarity, I
>>>>> am not angry at him at all. This is about us and our failures. We are here
>>>>> again because of our inaction. This is our fault; our responsibility. We
>>>>> cannot prevent all of these issues before they arise, but we can certainly
>>>>> act every time they do. I am disappointed in our organization. We need to
>>>>> be better, bolder and smarter.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Arvin bullied many of our constituents last year (Veterans, Military,
>>>>> Teachers, Parents, etc...) and we did nothing. We hid behind policy and
>>>>> procedure, cowering, hoping the bully would just go away. His enablers
>>>>> tried to intimidate and squelch us. And together, with our inaction, we
>>>>> empowered Arvin to do more. So, he did.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, as he bullies even more and moves into the realm of children,
>>>>> will we fail again? Please no! This time we must act. We must act quickly
>>>>> and decisively, or we will pay tenfold in the future. There are three
>>>>> reasons why we must:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Moral: We have created this bully, by standing by while his enablers
>>>>> created false narratives and fantasy scenarios and pressured us by
>>>>> selfishly invoking our "values" for their needs. These enablers are flunky
>>>>> bullies that defend Arvin so that they can bully too. As they silence us,
>>>>> they punish our members, our donors, our candidates and our
>>>>> advocates.  Good leaders do not let that happen.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Practical: To make change in this nation, we need to grow our party.
>>>>> Alienating has proven to fail. Democrats called Vietnam Vets "baby-killers"
>>>>> when they came home. How did that work out?  His enablers will say that we
>>>>> are not being honest. They are wrong. We can be honest without being mean.
>>>>> We can be principled without alienating. These enabling-petty tyrants see
>>>>> little value in growth that may lessen their control of their local
>>>>> fiefdom. Good leaders can see the big picture and act accordingly.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Professional: NO other public professional organization in the country
>>>>> would accept this behavior. As an officer in a public organization, your
>>>>> speech (public or private) represents that organization. Whether that
>>>>> is fair or not is irrelevant and we see that EVERYWHERE. Some of Arvin's
>>>>> enablers think that private opinions are somehow immune. These are the
>>>>> thoughts of naïve idealists.  When you voluntarily take a position in a
>>>>> public organization, you also volunteer to curb your speech, both public
>>>>> and private. If you are not prepared to do that, you shouldn't accept the
>>>>> position. Good leaders must hold their own accountable.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> This is not about Arvins's correctness, nor his attitude. It isn't
>>>>> about him at all. Because an "Arvin" will always pop up here and there. It
>>>>> is about us. Do we have the moral courage as an organization to quell
>>>>> behavior that is both impractical and unprofessional, or not? Will we set
>>>>> the precedent and create the environment within this organization that
>>>>> promotes growth with principle and communication with compassion and
>>>>> support our candidates and advocates, so we can make real impact in our
>>>>> nation? Or will we encourage angry pettiness and stay in the basement of
>>>>> history smugly watching as our rights get voted away, but feeling warm in
>>>>> our righteousness?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I realize that acting will cause strife in our party. We have strife
>>>>> already. This strife is required growing pain for us to make the next step.
>>>>> If we don't accept this short-term pain for long-term gain, we will suffer
>>>>> even more, as the recent issues from our inaction last year have shown.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> We must prioritize this and vote to remove Arvin from his position
>>>>> now.  Anything else shows that we will kowtow to bullies, that we are ill
>>>>> prepared to lead and that we are not ready for the big leagues. As we grow
>>>>> in stature and influence, the nation will be watching.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> There is a second motion (the 2nd in less than a year) from the Region
>>>>> 3 Rep, Elisabeth Van Horn, to remove Arvin. The first motion came from
>>>>> Region 8 Rep, Patrick McKnight, last year. We need to second either motion
>>>>> and vote on it as soon as possible.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> An abstention in this vote is an abdication of responsibility and a
>>>>> sign of fear. We need to be bold more than ever. The buck must stop
>>>>> somewhere. Let it stop here. A no vote validates this behavior and
>>>>> encourages more of it. Let's not be here again in 6 months wasting more
>>>>> time and energy.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> We must not hide. Let's get this done now. If we don't, we will hamper
>>>>> our growth, handicap our candidates and discourage our advocates.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Let's fix this.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Larry Sharpe
>>>>>
>>>>> Region 8 Rep Alternate, LNC
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Larry
>>>>> *Larry Sharpe*
>>>>> Larry Sharpe for Governor <http://www.larrysharpe.com/>
>>>>> 445 Park Ave, 9th Floor
>>>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=445+Park+Ave,+9th+FloorNew+York,+NY+10022&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>>>> New York, NY 10022
>>>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=445+Park+Ave,+9th+FloorNew+York,+NY+10022&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>>>> <https://www.facebook.com/LarrySharpe4Gov/>
>>>>> <https://twitter.com/LarrySharpe>
>>>>> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp2EegvSGEsgc-diPwc0ZHQ>
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/neosage/>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Larry
>>> *Larry Sharpe*
>>> Larry Sharpe for Governor <http://www.larrysharpe.com/>
>>> 445 Park Ave, 9th Floor
>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=445+Park+Ave,+9th+FloorNew+York,+NY+10022&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> New York, NY 10022
>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=445+Park+Ave,+9th+FloorNew+York,+NY+10022&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> <https://www.facebook.com/LarrySharpe4Gov/>
>>> <https://twitter.com/LarrySharpe>
>>> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp2EegvSGEsgc-diPwc0ZHQ>
>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/neosage/>
>>>
>>>
>>
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