[Lnc-business] Recent concerns and issues

[Caryn Ann Harlos]

I would prefer to have this discussion in Miami.  I will say just viewing
that list in general (context could change my view), I have very little
issue with that list, and if those words really trouble you, that is
unreasonable.

You can take issue, thus the discussion. I take issue with the way you seem
to go out of your way to be offended.  An example off the top of my head,
would be the wildly uncharitable (something makes me think you might add
that phrase to your list) way you found to be offended by my statement that
a volunteer speaking on behalf of the party beyond our official statements
is out of bounds.  Your reaction was way over the top.

So yes, I absolutely stand by my assertion.

That list you gave is not what I’m referring to.  As a bare list (would
need to read the context), I found offense to those to be....  a vast
over-reaction and simply not the way real people live.

I will never not be authentic.  FOR ME, a life in which that list is
examples of offense, is phoney and plastic.  For others it might not be.
And if that is your standard, I think you are out of touch to everyday
people.

I’m going to be blunt.  You were.  Absent some really over the top context
(which there may be), that list is ridiculous and pretentious.  And if that
is the reason for your very aloof comportment, a tad mean-spirited.

People are different.  With some broad boundaries.  I will never live or
agree to a world where those mere phrases are scandalous.  I’ve been a
legal professional for almost my whole life and I cannot think of one
workplace that would agree.  And no, I wouldn’t dare to place these mere
words as examples of a medical issue.  That would be bizarre.

That type of expression is not medical - it’s me.  And that’s exactly the
me that those who elected me know and like.

That is not what I’m referring to.

I will say though in general, I found your tone when you did address the
potential of a medical issue inappropriate and disrespectful.  None of the
mere words were.  But the tone certainly was.

Now, I don’t have Tourette’s but I’m picturing a person with such a horrid
disorder reading your words feeling completely worthless.

There is more to life than stiff politeness Mr. Bishop-Henchman.  The stuff
of life is tolerance.

I come from a hardscrabble life.  A lot of our constituents do.  And they
would find your demonization of the culture of the common man quite
entitled and patronizing.

I will be blunt again. That statement - to me - reads as if you think you
are better than other people.  And that’s offensive.

If you are completely unwilling to consider that you can come across
poorly, that is a problem.

Whenever anyone comes to a problem discussion and utterly refuse to even
consider they have a part, that is a huge red flag.  No one is that
perfect.

Thank you for your input.  It has convinced me this discussion is even more
needed than I thought.  I am a bit agog that you thought that post was
reasonable and honoring of human dignity.

The vast majority of people would read that list and react similarly (again
with the caveat that context can make or break).

I would also suggest you go and read everyone.  You are grossly applying
unequal weights and measures.  You are blind to the exact same style used
by your friends.  And there is nothing wrong with them doing so.

Heck, Nick himself is quite the barbed wordsmith.  He is not called
snarkwark for no reason, and for the most part, I love the sarcastic
style.  Please be more consistent in your targets, because you most
definitely are not.  And no, I’ll never confirm to that rigidity and many
many invaluable people with the same have served, and currently do.

;tldr I am shocked you find that mere list of words scandalous and I’ll
never be as sterile as you seem to be requiring and for that, I’m not
sorry.  It’s unreasonable.  And you way of communicating

For times, in context, of inadvertent or purposeful catty rudeness (which
nearly everyone is at times, I absolutely do).

On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 4:52 PM Joe Bishop-Henchman via Lnc-business <
lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:

> Having done a fair amount of HR training and compliance matters, I take
> the importance of HR greatly, as well as the importance of
> professionalism and communication to achieve results.
>
> I take issue with the characterization that there is a mutual
> communication problem. To illustrate this, I have a compiled some of the
> disparaging words or phrases Ms. Harlos has used to describe me or
> something I’ve said, in the first few months of this term, on this
> public e-mail list:
>
> •       demeaning
> •       shaming
> •       dictate
> •       ridiculous
> •       way out of bounds
> •       twisting
> •       don’t believe that for a second
> •       scolding
> •       overly sensitive
> •       not a good characterization
>
> That takes us up to about a year ago; there’s been plenty more since.
> It’s been so disproportionate and personal that I – and I think many of
> you – have had to disengage. Ms. Van Horn and Ms. Mattson have chosen
> not to let stuff go unchallenged, and although the back-and-forth puts
> us all in a terrible light, I have trouble faulting them for it.
>
> Perhaps I am all of those words and phrases. And this is politics,
> people will say mean stuff about us. I’ve been to almost every
> statehouse in the country, and have been in my share of arguments and
> shouting matches about serious issues. But if we’re going to talk about
> effective HR, saying or e-mailing that stuff to co-workers would be
> reprimand-able or even fire-able.
>
> I can’t speak to whether medical accommodations require us to permit
> this conduct.
>
>
> JBH
>
> ------------
> Joe Bishop-Henchman
> LNC Member (At-Large)
> joe.bishop-henchman at lp.org
> www.facebook.com/groups/189510455174837
>
> On 2019-11-01 17:32, Caryn Ann Harlos via Lnc-business wrote:
> > Ms. Adams, I am in agreement with your bullet list, and have one to add
> > of
> > my own, though I am not sure how to address.
> >
> > We have a policy manual that addresses behaviours concerning
> > "workplace"
> > interactions focusing on sensitive issues such as prejudice and sexual
> > harassment.  I believe we watch a video and that is that, and it is a
> > lip
> > service only policy.  This week there were allegations of breach of
> > that
> > policy.  It does not matter for this point whether anyone thinks those
> > allegations were correct.  It makes no difference really anyone's view
> > on
> > any of the actors involved.  The fact is that a very volatile situation
> > was
> > allowed to continue with such allegations, and the Chair was nowhere to
> > be
> > found.  I do not find that acceptable.  While I typically appreciate
> > Mr.
> > Sarwark's handsoff approach, there are times that is not appropriate,
> > and
> > that was one of them.  This isn't the only time that I felt that pretty
> > serious allegations were ignored that could cause the Party legal
> > problems
> > in the future.  I would like this to be addressed as well and
> > procedures
> > put into place to keep such things from happening.
> >
> > I further will state something that I ask everyone to step back and
> > consider dispassionately.  Many of us have a lot of experience in the
> > corporate or semi-corporate world.  There are certain duties of HR
> > departments, or in the absence of that structure, the management.  One
> > of
> > those is how to deal with the new introduction of a disability into the
> > workplace.  Typically, issues are anticipated and addressed ahead of
> > time
> > by the manager, and information and education provided.  Absolutely
> > nothing
> > like that has been done in this situation, nor in any of my
> > observations of
> > past LNCs, but that knowledge is limited.
> >
> > Everything, absolutely everything, was very badly handled, and almost
> > everyone that was a significant participant in the particular rabbit
> > trail,
> > myself included, had a part to play.  I would only exclude Mr.
> > Longstreth
> > and Ms. Sexton.  And the absent Chair most certainly did.
> >
> > I have to be my best advocate, no one else will be, and this board
> > needs
> > some serious intervention on issues of communication with aspies, and
> > that
> > includes myself obviously.  The end result was a figuratively screaming
> > match at a person in overload - which is not so flatteringly called
> > (though
> > accurate), an autistic meltdown.  Yelling does not help there any more
> > than
> > yelling at an autistic young person to stop "stimming" (such as
> > hand-flapping etc).
> >
> > I would hope that the Chair or the ED would proactively prepare to
> > implement procedures on handling disability in this workplace, and be
> > prepared to start that discussion in Miami.
> >
> > *In Liberty,*
> >
> > * Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome
> > (part of the autism spectrum).  This can affect inter-personal
> > communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas.  If anyone
> > found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social
> > faux
> > pas), please contact me privately and let me know. *
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 3:16 PM Caryn Ann Harlos
> > <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> I was able to find a copy - here is a link.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zGZVOP8KhiTEVm3cbD2iekMl3f425a61/view?usp=sharing
> >>
> >> *In Liberty,*
> >>
> >> * Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome
> >> (part of the autism spectrum).  This can affect inter-personal
> >> communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas.  If
> >> anyone
> >> found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social
> >> faux
> >> pas), please contact me privately and let me know. *
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 3:14 PM Caryn Ann Harlos
> >> <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Mr. Longstreth there is a third letter clarifying for Mr. Sarwark
> >>> that
> >>> there were specific questions.
> >>>
> >>> I think I can speak for nearly all the signers that in a do-over we
> >>> would
> >>> only include the ethical issues rather than the management
> >>> frustrations.
> >>>
> >>> Honestly we felt we had one chance to have our chair’s full attention
> >>> and
> >>> asked everything that was building up.  Mr. Sarwark notes some were
> >>> style
> >>> complaints.  That doesn’t mean they were not important but he has no
> >>> ethical obligation to answer those.
> >>>
> >>> The third letter focused on the ethical issues.  We do not believe
> >>> that
> >>> ignoring the questions is at all proper.
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 3:06 PM Richard Longstreth via Lnc-business <
> >>> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> For reference, Erin and several others on the LNC have been trying
> >>>> to get
> >>>> answers to some questions from the Chair and the Executive Director
> >>>> for
> >>>> nearly a month without much progress. I am providing a link to a
> >>>> letter
> >>>> that was sent to the Chair on October 8th and his response so that
> >>>> the
> >>>> public may have full context of everything Erin has brought forth in
> >>>> her
> >>>> email. No signers of the letter objected to it's becoming public as
> >>>> these
> >>>> are serious issues concerning our Party and it's future. Even if
> >>>> there is
> >>>> no wrong doing, the LNC and membership deserve to understand the
> >>>> motivations of certain activities and full transparency.
> >>>>
> >>>> Letter to Chair Sarwark, October 8:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2iKd8j9elY0V3BYeldhME41c1NZZ2NtNTlNS0xCWWFLenp3/view?usp=drivesdk
> >>>>
> >>>> Response from Chair Sarwark, October 9:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2iKd8j9elY0SDFjRlhSaDJpSWFpVU55ZC1FajRDVnVrZ04w/view?usp=drivesdk
> >>>>
> >>>> Richard Longstreth
> >>>> Region 1 Representative (AK, AZ, CO, HI, KS, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)
> >>>> Libertarian National Committee
> >>>> richard.longstreth at lp.org
> >>>> 931.538.9300
> >>>>
> >>>> Sent from my Mobile Device
> >>>>
> >>>> On Fri, Nov 1, 2019, 12:58 Erin Adams via Lnc-business <
> >>>> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> > All,
> >>>> > Recently many questions and concerns have been raised by LNC
> members to
> >>>> > this list. The questions have, in my opinion, mostly gone unanswered
> >>>> and
> >>>> > the concerns have not, also in my opinion, been addressed in any
> >>>> productive
> >>>> > manner.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > The issues are not going to simply go away and I very much look
> >>>> forward to
> >>>> > having the opportunity to discuss them in person in Miami and will
> >>>> > certainly be asking these same questions at that meeting. There were
> >>>> > serious ethical concerns and questions brought up in a series of
> >>>> > communications that have not even been addressed that need to be,
> >>>> Mainly
> >>>> > our ED's involvement in political events connected to other
> political
> >>>> > party's, and Lack of disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
> by
> >>>> our
> >>>> > ED and our Chair   , That may be better addressed in person.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > For me, the question becomes, what next? How do we as an LNC address
> >>>> these
> >>>> > issues and move forward in a way that is conducive to progress?
> >>>> >
> >>>> > I have a few suggestions.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > One: I think it behooves us to put aside personal differences and
> >>>> > Personality conflicts and focus on the issues.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Two: I think that there absolutely have been failures to follow
> policy
> >>>> > that need to be addressed so that they can be prevented moving
> forward
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Three: I think one issue we all seem to agree on is that our policy
> >>>> manual
> >>>> > is problematic and I would volunteer to work with others on this
> LNC to
> >>>> > correct that.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Four: In reading the contract of the new DD I feel that we have
> limited
> >>>> > risk in at very least giving Our new DD an opportunity to do this
> job
> >>>> as
> >>>> > she has been placed in a horrible situation not of her design.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Five: Absolutely this LNC needs and should expect better and more
> >>>> frequent
> >>>> > communication from our ED and each other. I feel like we ALL can
> >>>> improve on
> >>>> > our communication, Myself included
> >>>> >
> >>>> > I truly hope and believe that as a group, we CAN come together and
> >>>> achieve
> >>>> > success in dealing with concerns and issues and I feel that even tho
> >>>> we,
> >>>> > from time to time, seem to not be a conducive team, I have seen the
> >>>> amazing
> >>>> > work this LNC can and has done when we simply decide to put aside
> our
> >>>> > differences and do so.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Erin Adams Region 7 alt.
> >>>> >
> >>>>
> >>> --
> >>>
> >>> *In Liberty,*
> >>>
> >>> * Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's
> >>> Syndrome
> >>> (part of the autism spectrum).  This can affect inter-personal
> >>> communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas.  If
> >>> anyone
> >>> found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social
> >>> faux
> >>> pas), please contact me privately and let me know. *
> >>>
> >>>
>