[Lnc-business] Caryn Ann Harlos fundraising and membership recruitment

Elizabeth Van Horn elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
Fri Feb 23 17:49:45 EST 2018


Well, Caryn Ann, it's you who have used the word sinister, not I.

You wrote:

" My comment was simply and only how I would spend my time.  Which I do 
at every event."

In which case, you can do without being reimbursed, by the national LP. 
Glad we're in agreement.

---
Elizabeth Van Horn


On 2018-02-23 17:10, Caryn Ann Harlos wrote:
> Elizabeth I am shocked frankly at an ability to read something sinister
>    but not everything.
>    My comment to the Platform Committee had ZERO intentions of that.
>    I have already clearly stated here that recruitment trips are just 
> that
>    and nothing more.  My comment was simply and only how I would spend 
> my
>    time.  Which I do at every event.
>    On Fri, Feb 23, 2018 at 2:54 PM Joshua Katz
>    <[1]planning4liberty at gmail.com> 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][2]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][3]wes.benedict at lp.org
>           [2][5][4]facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational
>           Join the Libertarian Party at:
>      [3][6][5]http://lp.org/membership
>              -------- Forwarded Message --------
>              Subject: Harlos Fundraising
>                 Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:27:47 -0500
>                 From: Robert S. Kraus [4]<[7][6]robert.kraus at lp.org>
>                   To: Wes Benedict [5]<[8][7]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][8]wes.benedict at lp.org
>              2. [12][9]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>              3. [13][10]http://lp.org/membership
>              4. mailto:[14][11]robert.kraus at lp.org
>              5. mailto:[15][12]wes.benedict at lp.org
>              6. mailto:[16]Operations at LP.org
>      References
>         1. mailto:[13]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>         2.
>      
> [14]https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&e
>      ntry=gmail&source=g
>         3. tel:(202) 333-0008 ext. 232
>         4. mailto:[15]wes.benedict at lp.org
>         5. [16]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>         6. [17]http://lp.org/membership
>         7. mailto:[18]robert.kraus at lp.org
>         8. mailto:[19]wes.benedict at lp.org
>         9.
>      
> [20]https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+tota
>      l+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
>        10. tel:202.333.0008 x 231
>        11. mailto:[21]wes.benedict at lp.org
>        12. [22]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>        13. [23]http://lp.org/membership
>        14. mailto:[24]robert.kraus at lp.org
>        15. mailto:[25]wes.benedict at lp.org
>        16. mailto:[26]Operations at LP.org
> 
> References
> 
>    1. mailto:planning4liberty at gmail.com
>    2. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>    3. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>    4. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>    5. http://lp.org/membership
>    6. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>    7. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>    8. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>    9. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   10. http://lp.org/membership
>   11. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   12. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   13. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>   14.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&entry=gmail&source=g
>   15. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   16. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   17. http://lp.org/membership
>   18. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   19. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   20.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+total+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
>   21. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   22. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   23. http://lp.org/membership
>   24. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   25. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   26. mailto:Operations at LP.org



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