[Lnc-business] Complaint from state affiliate

[Wes Benedict]

Hi folks,

It's probably my fault for failing to notify the current LP New 
Hampshire leadership.

 From the note below, you can see that former Arkansas leadership Jess 
and Rodger Paxton, who since moved to New Hampshire, were organizing 
Porcfest. Rodger Paxton used to be Vice Chair of LPNH. Since he knew 
about it, I assumed the LPNH knew about it.

https://www.lpnh.org/tag/rodger-paxton/

I'm actually glad Chip Spangler wants to be informed or consulted. A few 
years ago (2015-2016), we'd send emails and make phone calls to a former 
Chair and not get responses. I am glad Chip cares about what's going on 
in NH.

 From page 92 of this report, you can see that the national National LP 
spent $36,000 on 2016 ballot access for New Hampshire. It was one of the 
highest per signature cost drives in 2016. We had to send National LP 
staff to New Hampshire to manage the drive (Nick Dunbar and Andy Burns) 
and had to pull them off other projects to free up their time to go.

Jess Mears's responsibility for attending 2018 PorcFest is to raise 
memberships and funds for the National LP.

Chip, we'd appreciate your help if you'd like to help. If you'd like us 
to cancel Jess's attendance, let me know and I'll think about it after 
letting the LNC know how much the travel expenses are that can't be 
refunded and consulting with the LNC Chair.

https://www.lp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2016_12_10-LNC-Minutes-approved.pdf

> On Wed, Dec 6, 2017 at 1:42 PM Rachel (with the Free State Project) wrote:
> Thanks for your quick response.
>
> <snip> This year, Rodger and Jess Paxton are running the event, 
> bigwigs from the LP Arkansas, <snip>


Wes Benedict, Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee, Inc.
1444 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314
(202) 333-0008 ext. 232, wes.benedict at lp.org
facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational
Join the Libertarian Party at: http://lp.org/membership

On 5/5/2018 8:53 PM, Lauren Daugherty via Lnc-business wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> The plan is for Jess Mears to attend PorcFest on behalf of the 
> national party. She attends various such events on our behalf and we 
> have heard very happy feedback about this from members across the 
> country.
>
> This event is still about 6 weeks away. Of course Jess is going to 
> contact the local affiliate about her attendance and outreach. No 
> doubt she'll do that soon but hasn't yet since the event was still so 
> far out and she has many, many things on her plate at any given time.
>
> Jess' plan for this event is the same as all of the event she has 
> attended on our behalf: to go around asking people to join the LP, 
> which is a cause I assume we can all agree is a good one.
>
> If someone has a concern like this in the future, I encourage them to 
> call HQ or email me.
>
> I've cced Jess here if anyone wants to email her with questions about 
> this. Be advised that she is unable to post to the LNC forum but she 
> can receive and respond to your emails at jess.mears at lp.org.
>
> Jess is a true team player and any attempt to characterize her or her 
> work otherwise would be very unfair and untrue.
>
> Lauren
>
> Lauren Daugherty
> Head of Development
> Libertarian National Committee
>
> On 5/5/2018 9:23 AM, Justin O'Donnell via Lnc-business wrote:
>>     All,
>>     I've copied and pasted below, a request from one of my state chairs,
>>     asking why the state party received no notice of an event being 
>> planned
>>     in their state by national, and no invitation to help out or to
>>     participate.
>>     Do we not have such a policy to involve the state affiliates in our
>>     outreach events?
>>     Justin O'Donnell
>>     LNC Region 8 Representative
>>     Hi Justin,
>>     I have a request for my LNC regional representative.
>>     The other day, LPUS sent out a tweet about how they are planning to
>>     attend PorcFest this
>>     year: [1]https://twitter.com/LPNational/status/991687794702606336
>>     Now as far as I know, there was no notification about this to the
>>     leadership of the state party prior to the announcement. It's 
>> possible
>>     something got lost because of the transition of leadership, or
>>     something was sent a long time ago, but as far as I know, no
>>     notification was sent from LPUS to LPNH regarding their plans at
>>     PorcFest.
>>     I'm trying to remember whether or not Rachel mentioned anything 
>> to me a
>>     while ago - it's possible but I don't remember such a notification.
>>     Regardless of whether or not that happened, I don't think it's a 
>> lot to
>>     ask that the state party leadership receive notice from LPUS when 
>> they
>>     are planning to attend a notable event in our state. Coordination
>>     between the national and the state party is a useful thing, 
>> especially
>>     so that efforts are not duplicated and we can make the most of our
>>     outreach efforts.
>>     Can you please investigate as to whether or not any notice was sent
>>     out, and if not, why it was not. I'd also like to know if there 
>> is any
>>     policy that exists that requires LPUS to inform the state party of
>>     notable events taking place. It's not unreasonable to expect that 
>> state
>>     parties will participate in fairs and festivals, and if the LPUS is
>>     also planning to participate in one it should absolutely be 
>> talking to
>>     the state party so that both can make the most of the effort.
>>     It makes us look like amateurs when we're caught off guard not 
>> knowing
>>     that something like this will be happening. Please investigate; 
>> thank
>>     you for your help.
>>     - Chip Spangler
>>     Chair, Libertarian Party of New Hampshire
>>
>> References
>>
>>     1. https://twitter.com/LPNational/status/991687794702606336
>