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

Elizabeth Van Horn elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
Fri Feb 23 18:16:30 EST 2018


I didn't insinuate, I asked a direct question.  As for the courtesy of a 
direct inquiry, I suggest that all of this could have been avoided, with 
the courtesy of direct communications with this board.

---
Elizabeth Van Horn


On 2018-02-23 18:02, Caryn Ann Harlos wrote:
> Like usual - I omitted a “no” - Joshua there is no moving forward at
>    least with my volunteering on this.  I will decline.
>    I will do things on my own as I have done.  Less effectively and 
> less
>    often but more peacefully.
>    My integrity is my highest possession and to have an insinuation 
> stated
>    by a peer without even the courtesy of a direct inquiry is my cutoff
>    point.
>    It is said Libertarians have trouble accomplishing things and eat 
> their
>    own.
>    QED.
>    I never thought I would regret my recruiting success.  The LP has
>    surprised me once again.
>    -Caryn Ann
>    On Fri, Feb 23, 2018 at 3:49 PM Elizabeth Van Horn
>    <[1]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org> wrote:
> 
>      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][2]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][3]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][4]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >           [2][5][4][5]facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational
>      >           Join the Libertarian Party at:
>      >      [3][6][5][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][6][7]robert.kraus at lp.org>
>      >                   To: Wes Benedict
>      [5]<[8][7][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][8][9]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >              2. [12][9][10]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>      >              3. [13][10][11]http://lp.org/membership
>      >              4. mailto:[14][11][12]robert.kraus at lp.org
>      >              5. mailto:[15][12][13]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >              6. mailto:[16]Operations at LP.org
>      >      References
>      >         1. mailto:[13][14]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>      >         2.
>      >
>      >
>      
> [14][15]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][16]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >         5. [16][17]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>      >         6. [17][18]http://lp.org/membership
>      >         7. mailto:[18][19]robert.kraus at lp.org
>      >         8. mailto:[19][20]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >         9.
>      >
>      >
>      
> [20][21]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][22]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >        12. [22][23]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>      >        13. [23][24]http://lp.org/membership
>      >        14. mailto:[24][25]robert.kraus at lp.org
>      >        15. mailto:[25][26]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >        16. mailto:[26]Operations at LP.org
>      >
>      > References
>      >
>      >    1. mailto:[27]planning4liberty at gmail.com
>      >    2. mailto:[28]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>      >    3. mailto:[29]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >    4. [30]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>      >    5. [31]http://lp.org/membership
>      >    6. mailto:[32]robert.kraus at lp.org
>      >    7. mailto:[33]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >    8. mailto:[34]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >    9. [35]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>      >   10. [36]http://lp.org/membership
>      >   11. mailto:[37]robert.kraus at lp.org
>      >   12. mailto:[38]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >   13. mailto:[39]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>      >   14.
>      >
>      
> [40]https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&e
>      ntry=gmail&source=g
>      >   15. mailto:[41]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >   16. [42]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>      >   17. [43]http://lp.org/membership
>      >   18. mailto:[44]robert.kraus at lp.org
>      >   19. mailto:[45]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >   20.
>      >
>      
> [46]https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+tota
>      l+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
>      >   21. mailto:[47]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >   22. [48]http://facebook.com/libertarians
>      >   23. [49]http://lp.org/membership
>      >   24. mailto:[50]robert.kraus at lp.org
>      >   25. mailto:[51]wes.benedict at lp.org
>      >   26. mailto:[52]Operations at LP.org
> 
> References
> 
>    1. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>    2. mailto:planning4liberty at gmail.com
>    3. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>    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. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   10. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   11. http://lp.org/membership
>   12. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   13. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   14. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>   15. https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&e
>   16. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   17. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   18. http://lp.org/membership
>   19. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   20. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   21. https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+tota
>   22. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   23. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   24. http://lp.org/membership
>   25. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   26. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   27. mailto:planning4liberty at gmail.com
>   28. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>   29. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   30. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   31. http://lp.org/membership
>   32. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   33. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   34. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   35. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   36. http://lp.org/membership
>   37. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   38. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   39. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
>   40.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&entry=gmail&source=g
>   41. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   42. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   43. http://lp.org/membership
>   44. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   45. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   46.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+total+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
>   47. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   48. http://facebook.com/libertarians
>   49. http://lp.org/membership
>   50. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
>   51. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
>   52. mailto:Operations at LP.org



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