[Lnc-business] Caryn Ann Harlos fundraising and membership recruitment
Elizabeth Van Horn
elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
Fri Feb 23 17:17:49 EST 2018
Likewise, I agree with most of Joshua Katz's reply to me.
It's returning funds that shouldn't have been disbursed. If the amount
were large, like in the thousands, would you still not want it returned?
What if it were 10K? I ask, as the amount of funds shouldn't' matter.
It's the principal.
(Also, I don't use "Ms" or other honorifics, my name is sufficient. If
you wish to be addressed as Mr. Katz, I'm happy to do so, btw.)
---
Elizabeth Van Horn
On 2018-02-23 16:54, Joshua Katz wrote:
> I agree with most of Ms. Van Horn's points, although I'd emphasize that
> my issue is more about disclosure of potential issues to the board
> ahead of time and the potential fiduciary issues I see here. I
> explained some, I can find more. The solution to that is, in the
> future, disclosure to the board of transactions involving LNC
> members,
> and the orientation I mentioned earlier. Anyway, I am writing to
> express disagreement with one point: I almost always disagree with
> clawbacks or requested clawbacks absent actual malfeasance. I would
> disagree with requesting the return of funds or stopping funds in
> progress.
>
> Joshua A. Katz
> On Fri, Feb 23, 2018 at 3:21 PM, Elizabeth Van Horn
> <[1]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org> wrote:
>
> Wes, here's my feedback, and I don't mind saying that I was
> shocked
> to read that an LNC member is being reimbursed to attend state
> conventions within their own region.
> Dear LNC,
> Caryn Ann Harlos has recruited a lot of dues-paying members
> by
> attending state conventions and getting people to join or
> renew.
> At first, she did this at state conventions she was attending
> in her
> region at her own expense.
>
> I've no problem with this. LNC representatives often attend state
> conventions within their own region, and if she works to boost
> national membership while there, that's cool.<<<
>
> Her results were so strong that I asked her if she would be
> willing
> to go to some other states outside of her region to do
> similar
> fundraising efforts if her travel expenses were reimbursed.
>
> < This is something that should have been told to the LNC, and
> even
> discussed. Why are we only finding this out, after someone
> inquired? Where's the transparency?<<<
>
> We have been struggling to keep membership from falling. We
> send
> renewal emails and renewal letters that perform reasonably
> well
> but
> pretty much exhaust that method. Other methods we try have
> very
> low
> ROI. Caryn Ann's ROI has been comparatively strong.
> Caryn Ann attended the Washington State convention last
> weekend
> and
> recruited 18 to 20 dues-paying members for the national LP.
> That trip is one in which we have reimbursed her for her
> travel.
>
> I have a problem with this. Many LNC Regional Representatives
> will attend state conventions within their region. If any of them
> do membership recruiting for national while there, that's
> something
> they choose to do. Are you suggesting that Caryn Ann wouldn't
> have
> tried to boost membership at a state convention within her region,
> if she wasn't reimbursed? Because, I doubt that. This was
> something she was doing as she chose to do, while attending
> conventions within her own region. This isn't something that an
> LNC
> member should be reimbursed for. <<<
>
> I'd like to send Caryn Ann to more state conventions to have
> her do
> this work. No one else has done this as successfully as Caryn
> Ann.
> Caryn Ann is a volunteer so we don't pay her for her time.
>
> Wes, you don't know what others have done regarding recruiting, as
> most people do it as a normal part of being in the LP. I, nor
> most
> others, keep a log of the people we've gotten to join the LP, as I
> see it as a given this is done.<<<
>
> Wes, do you know why my own state affiliate has let national
> membership drop? Because, they're unhappy with the national LP.
> At
> my last state convention, our officers said that they want people
> to
> keep state memberships current, but national doesn't do anything
> for
> them, so they don't care much about that. I had to mention that
> our
> delegate count is tied to national membership, and since then, I
> followed -up on that, but our numbers still have dropped. I've
> been
> thinking of a way to reverse that, but if LPIN is successful in
> reversing that trend, it's because our volunteers are passionate
> about the LP and liberty actions. Not because anyone is being
> reimbursed for the expenses of travel and time. (My state isn't
> the
> only one that feels this way, btw)<<<
>
> For conventions that Caryn Ann is unable to take the time to
> attend,
> I will be sending our staff member Jess Mears. The thing with
> Jess
> is that we pay her for her hours to travel, attend, and
> return
> from
> state conventions. She's unlikely to get as high of a ROI.
>
> I personally wouldn't send anyone to state conventions to boost
> national membership, if the national LP is paying for it.
> Instead,
> we should work to create a better LP that's responsive to it's
> members and the public, and we grow through people seeking to join
> us. Organic growth.<<<
>
> I received a complaint today that it is inappropriate for
> someone
> running for a position on the LNC to have travel reimbursed.
> I sympathize with the complaint, but do not think it's a
> violation
> of our policies.
>
> It's a matter of principal. Byreimbursing Caryn Ann Harlos for
> traveling to state conventions within her own region, the LP is
> subsidizing her efforts as a regional representative. This is
> inappropriate.<<<
>
> Nevertheless, I bring this up to the LNC for your feedback.
> If
> you
> request a stop to sending Caryn Ann Harlos or any other LNC
> member
> to state conventions for the purpose of recruiting
> dues-paying
> members, we can end the program.
>
> Yes, I'm requesting a stop to reimbursing LNC members for travel
> to
> state conventions within their own region. I also am requesting
> that Caryn Ann repay the LP for the reimbursement costs of any
> state
> conventions she attended within her region.
>
> As for "sending her" to other state conventions, this should be
> discussed by the LNC.<<<
> A reasonable question might be, "I'm willing to go to state
> convention at the expense of the LNC and recruit members--why
> don't
> you send me?" The answer is that Caryn Ann proved her
> willingness
> and capability within her own region. No other LNC members
> have
> mailed us several envelopes of dues-paying members from their
> states. Caryn Ann and Jess Mears together are not able to
> attend
> every state convention. If you are interested in helping, and
> willing to prove your ability first at a state in your region
> or at
> another state at your own expense, let me know and we might
> be
> able
> to try that. And then we can report the results.
>
> Wes, I know a woman who renewed her membership due to a FB post
> that Andy Craig made. (She publicly wrote that he's the reason she
> renewed) I'd wager that Andy is responsible for quite a number
> of
> people renewing or joining the LP. As Andy's an excellent
> advocate
> for the cause that is the LP. If you want to find someone who's
> out
> there building up hope in the LP, and getting people on board,
> he's
> the one. You probably don't know this stuff, as Andy doesn't seek
> to be recognized for his efforts, he probably sees it as normal
> for
> people who support the LP.
>
> Nor, do I know of others within the LP who keep track of how many
> people they've recruited. So, your statement asking people to
> "prove your ability", is moot.<<<
> (truncated)
> ---
> Elizabeth Van Horn
>
> On 2018-02-22 22:56, Wes Benedict wrote:
>
> Dear LNC,
> Caryn Ann Harlos has recruited a lot of dues-paying members
> by
> attending state conventions and getting people to join or
> renew.
> At first, she did this at state conventions she was attending
> in her
> region at her own expense.
> Her results were so strong that I asked her if she would be
> willing
> to go to some other states outside of her region to do
> similar
> fundraising efforts if her travel expenses were reimbursed.
> We have been struggling to keep membership from falling. We
> send
> renewal emails and renewal letters that perform reasonably
> well
> but
> pretty much exhaust that method. Other methods we try have
> very
> low
> ROI. Caryn Ann's ROI has been comparatively strong.
> Caryn Ann attended the Washington State convention last
> weekend
> and
> recruited 18 to 20 dues-paying members for the national LP.
> That trip is one in which we have reimbursed her for her
> travel.
> I'd like to send Caryn Ann to more state conventions to have
> her do
> this work. No one else has done this as successfully as Caryn
> Ann.
> Caryn Ann is a volunteer so we don't pay her for her time.
> For conventions that Caryn Ann is unable to take the time to
> attend,
> I will be sending our staff member Jess Mears. The thing with
> Jess
> is that we pay her for her hours to travel, attend, and
> return
> from
> state conventions. She's unlikely to get as high of a ROI.
> I received a complaint today that it is inappropriate for
> someone
> running for a position on the LNC to have travel reimbursed.
> I sympathize with the complaint, but do not think it's a
> violation
> of our policies.
> Nevertheless, I bring this up to the LNC for your feedback.
> If
> you
> request a stop to sending Caryn Ann Harlos or any other LNC
> member
> to state conventions for the purpose of recruiting
> dues-paying
> members, we can end the program.
> A reasonable question might be, "I'm willing to go to state
> convention at the expense of the LNC and recruit members--why
> don't
> you send me?" The answer is that Caryn Ann proved her
> willingness
> and capability within her own region. No other LNC members
> have
> mailed us several envelopes of dues-paying members from their
> states. Cary[2]n Ann and Jess Mears together are not able to
> attend
> every state convention. If you are interested in helping, and
> willing to prove your ability first at a state in your region
> or at
> another state at your own expense, let me know and we might
> be
> able
> to try that. And then we can report the results.
> Below is a report from Robert Kraus with some of the
> fundraising
> results from Caryn Ann.
> I welcome your feedback.
> Wes Benedict, Executive Director
> Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
> 1444 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314
> [3](202) 333-0008 ext. 232, [1][4]wes.benedict at lp.org
> [2][5]facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational
> Join the Libertarian Party at: [3][6]http://lp.org/membership
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject: Harlos Fundraising
> Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:27:47 -0500
> From: Robert S. Kraus [4]<[7]robert.kraus at lp.org>
> To: Wes Benedict [5]<[8]wes.benedict at lp.org>
> I have [9]Harlos pegged as solicitor for a total of $2,335.00 for
> 82
> members 49 of which where new (these 82 folks have also
> contributed
> a
> net total excluding conv related gifts of $6,261.74 since 2016
> convention - bunch of them to Hist Preservation of course so she
> has
> her
> fans)
> In addition she is likely 95% responsible for the $12,120 raised
> for
> Historic Preservation
> Finally she has given $2181 herself since the 2016 convention (non
> convention related - however $1525 was for Hist Preservation)
> --
> Robert S. Kraus - Operations Director
> [6]Operations at LP.org
> Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
> 1444 Duke Street
> Alexandria, VA 22314
> Ph: [10]202.333.0008 x 231
> References
> 1. mailto:[11]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 2. [12]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 3. [13]http://lp.org/membership
> 4. mailto:[14]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 5. mailto:[15]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 6. mailto:[16]Operations at LP.org
>
> References
>
> 1. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 2.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&entry=gmail&source=g
> 3. tel:(202) 333-0008 ext. 232
> 4. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 5. http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 6. http://lp.org/membership
> 7. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
> 8. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 9.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+total+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
> 10. tel:202.333.0008 x 231
> 11. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 12. http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 13. http://lp.org/membership
> 14. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
> 15. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 16. mailto:Operations at LP.org
More information about the Lnc-business
mailing list