[Lnc-business] Caryn Ann Harlos fundraising and membership recruitment
Elizabeth Van Horn
elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
Fri Feb 23 18:39:45 EST 2018
I don't appreciate your attempt to paint my honest question as a
character attack. I was dumbstruck when I saw that you were reimbursed
for 'membership recruitment" to your own state affiliate conventions,
and the verbiage leaped off the page to me. As it was your words to the
platform committee, "If we plan one at a convention, I’ll just plan on
going to the convention and do some national membership recruiting."
I thought it was odd then, and still do. At no time have I attacked
your character, and if anything, you're the one doing the attacking, by
implying that I have. You're " truly and deeply offended"? So, am I.
My replies to this whole incident have been respectful, and I'm offended
that you're replying Joshua Katz's emails and appealing to him, as if
I've attacked you. You've replied with hyperbole.
You had written:
["If we plan one at a convention, I’ll just plan on going to the
convention and do some national membership recruiting."]
I'd just learned that you *were* being reimbursed for volunteer efforts
for national membership recruiting to conventions within your region.
So, I asked:
"So, I certainly hope you weren't thinking that you'd be reimbursed for
travel and lodging for the volunteer efforts that we're doing for the
platform committee."
You want your character to be above reproach? Then act with the
transparency that this would have needed. No one has impugned your
character, that you have chosen to take that way is on you.
---
Elizabeth Van Horn
On 2018-02-23 17:54, Caryn Ann Harlos wrote:
> Joshua there is “moving forward” with my involvement on that. I will
> continue as I have always done - when at events for other reasons, I
> will recruit.
> The whole public insinuation regarding an separate committee when no
> question was ever asked of me was wildly and inappropriately out of
> line.
> Lest there be anyone who thinks it “odd” I ask Wes to send me the
> membership shirts to use in recruitments - perhaps I have a little
> side
> business going on “hey mister want a LP shirt on the cheap?” - and I
> am
> sent recruiting materials. When the most innocent comment is used
> to
> publicly make a disparaging comment about someone who took on a
> challenge to raise memberships, one can’t be too careful.
> I have a humble request. If anyone thinks something said is “odd”
> ask
> me directly.
> That’s normal courtesy.
> With that, I would decline to even work with a private donor on this
> as
> I have zero time for veiled character attacks.
> And if anyone would like to shocked that I have membership
> recruitment
> supplies and there are any wily plans for LP shirts, say so now and
> I’ll ship them back.
> Joshua, I appreciate your tone and reasonableness. As this was
> something sanctioned by people in the Party with authority to do so
> I
> am sure you understand why it did not in a million years seem to be
> a
> conflict which by nature is work NOT approved by the Party.
> In the abundance then of caution I would like to disclose that I am
> Region 1 representative. Of course that is by due process of the
> Party
> but so was sending me in fundraising roles as far as I knew.
> And I ask for consistency. Then the Chair and Vice Chair should no
> longer be sent either.
> And that would be ridiculous. I volunteered my time, my vacation
> time,
> and my family time always to go above and beyond. I’m a good
> recruiter and offered those skills.
> I am by the insinuation above. Ask me
> questions directly.
> -Caryn Ann
> On Fri, Feb 23, 2018 at 3:29 PM Joshua Katz
> <[1]planning4liberty at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Okay, I will remember in the future. I don't care how I'm
> addressed
> one way or the other.
> Like I said, my distinction is not about quantity, it's about
> how
> it
> was spent. The ED and Ms. Harlos did not act with malice. The
> expenditures were, we're told, approved by the chair. Ms.
> Harlos
> acted
> in reliance on representations made to her. She is not the
> right
> place
> for this expenditure to fall, now that it's been made. Moving
> forward,
> the issue should be addressed.
> Joshua A. Katz
> On Fri, Feb 23, 2018 at 4:17 PM, Elizabeth Van Horn
> <[1][2]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org> wrote:
> 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][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 tha[3]t 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][4](202) 333-0008 ext. 232,
> [1][4][5][4]wes.benedict at lp.org
> [2][5][6][5]facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational
> Join the Libertarian Party at:
> [3][6][7][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][8][7]robert.kraus at lp.org>
> To: Wes Benedict
> [5]<[8][9][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][10][9]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 2. [12][11][10]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 3. [13][12][11]http://lp.org/membership
> 4. mailto:[14][13][12]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 5. mailto:[15][14][13]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 6. mailto:[16]Operations at LP.org
> References
> 1. mailto:[15][14]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 2.
>
>
> [16][15]https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are
> +n&entry=gmail&source=g
> 3. tel:[17](202) 333-0008 ext. 232
> 4. mailto:[18][16]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 5. [19][17]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 6. [20][18]http://lp.org/membership
> 7. mailto:[21][19]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 8. mailto:[22][20]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 9.
>
>
> [23][21]https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+
> total+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
> 10. tel:[24]202.333.0008 x 231
> 11. mailto:[25][22]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 12. [26][23]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 13. [27][24]http://lp.org/membership
> 14. mailto:[28][25]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 15. mailto:[29][26]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 16. mailto:[30]Operations at LP.org
> References
> 1. mailto:[27]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 2. mailto:[28]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 3.
>
> [29]https://maps.google.com/?q=t+Caryn+Ann+is+unable+to+take+the+t&e
> ntry=gmail&source=g
> 4. tel:(202) 333-0008 ext. 232
> 5. mailto:[30]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 6. [31]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 7. [32]http://lp.org/membership
> 8. mailto:[33]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 9. mailto:[34]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 10. mailto:[35]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 11. [36]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 12. [37]http://lp.org/membership
> 13. mailto:[38]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 14. mailto:[39]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 15. mailto:[40]elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 16.
>
> [41]https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&e
> ntry=gmail&source=g
> 17. tel:(202) 333-0008 ext. 232
> 18. mailto:[42]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 19. [43]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 20. [44]http://lp.org/membership
> 21. mailto:[45]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 22. mailto:[46]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 23.
>
> [47]https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+tota
> l+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
> 24. tel:202.333.0008 x 231
> 25. mailto:[48]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 26. [49]http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 27. [50]http://lp.org/membership
> 28. mailto:[51]robert.kraus at lp.org
> 29. mailto:[52]wes.benedict at lp.org
> 30. mailto:[53]Operations at LP.org
>
> References
>
> 1. mailto:planning4liberty at gmail.com
> 2. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 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
> 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+
> 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:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 28. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 29.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=t+Caryn+Ann+is+unable+to+take+the+t&entry=gmail&source=g
> 30. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 31. http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 32. http://lp.org/membership
> 33. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
> 34. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 35. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 36. http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 37. http://lp.org/membership
> 38. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
> 39. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 40. mailto:elizabeth.vanhorn at lp.org
> 41.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=n+Ann+and+Jess+Mears+together+are+n&entry=gmail&source=g
> 42. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 43. http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 44. http://lp.org/membership
> 45. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
> 46. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 47.
> https://maps.google.com/?q=Harlos+pegged+as+solicitor+for+a+total+of+$2,33&entry=gmail&source=g
> 48. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 49. http://facebook.com/libertarians
> 50. http://lp.org/membership
> 51. mailto:robert.kraus at lp.org
> 52. mailto:wes.benedict at lp.org
> 53. mailto:Operations at LP.org
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