[Lnc-business] [COC 2018-20] Fwd: Request for LNC Consideration

Thu May 7 14:36:51 EDT 2020

Dear Colleagues,

It is my ruling as Chair, and supported by the opinion of the Libertarian
National Committee's special counsel, Oliver Hall, that “place” in the
bylaws can mean a virtual convention in the situation where it is
impossible for the vast majority of the selected delegates in the party to
travel to a physical location.

As such, a virtual convention held on Memorial Day weekend would be a
proper convention and compliant with the bylaws.

Yours in liberty,
Nick

On Thu, May 7, 2020 at 2:26 PM Whitney Bilyeu via Lnc-business <
lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:

> The COC's job is to plan a convention, in accordance with bylaws. The LNC
> is responsible for final decisions. No one is being forced to do anything,
> especially by the COC. It is not the COC's job to suggest a convention plan
> that is not in line with bylaws. The COC's job is to put together plans,
> offer options for the LNC to choose, and make suggestions where applicable.
>
> The LNC could have moved to change plans at any time...it didn't. The LNC
> could have voted this past Saturday to do something other than
> postpone......It didn't.
>
> If an LNC member wants something other than an in-person convention, in
> accordance with bylaws, they should move such. The LNC will
> decide.....again.
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 4, 2020 at 9:36 AM BetteRose via Conventions <
> conventions at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>
> > I believe it was the LNC that voted for the in person convention. The CoC
> > may have 'pushed' for that outcome but we didn't make the final decision.
> >
> > My concern is, that as deaths continue to rise we may again have to find
> > another venue and move the convention once again.  This will be hard on
> > most of the delegates and won't play well in the press.  I see that the
> > Democrats are already having trouble with that same issue.
> >
> > BetteRose Ryan
> > Publisher
> > Bent Briar Publishing <http://www.bentbriarbooks.com/>
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Alicia Mattson via Conventions <conventions at hq.lp.org>
> > To: Libertarian National Committee list <lnc-business at hq.lp.org>
> > Cc: Alicia Mattson <alicia.mattson at lp.org>; Convention Oversight
> > Committee <conventions at hq.lp.org>
> > Sent: Sun, May 3, 2020 11:34 pm
> > Subject: Re: [COC 2018-20] [Lnc-business] Fwd: Request for LNC
> > Consideration
> >
> > Well, I meant to send that to the COC email list, but I was going to come
> > here and say pretty much the same thing.
> >
> > From this forwarded message below, Valerie Sarwark wrote to us:  "The
> > Convention Oversight Committee is essentially committing suppression of
> > delegates by attempting to force an in-person convention."
> >
> > Force?  Suppression of delegates?  Those of differing opinions are
> > attempting to achieve their desired result, too.  Is that force?
> >
> > We're getting a lot of email these days, and it's easy to skim and miss
> > details, so I wanted to highlight this.  The demonizing of the COC is as
> > shameful as it is absurd.
> >
> > -Alicia
> >
> >
> > On Sun, May 3, 2020 at 10:28 PM Alicia Mattson <alicia.mattson at lp.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > Forwarding for those of you not on the LNC.  The rhetoric being spewed
> > about the COC is becoming more and more outrageous.  There was quite a
> bit
> > of it flung around during the Bylaws and Rules Committee meeting today as
> > well...
> >
> > -Alicia
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> > From: *justin.odonnell--- via Lnc-business* <lnc-business at hq.lp.org>
> > Date: Sun, May 3, 2020 at 12:01 PM
> > Subject: [Lnc-business] Fwd: Request for LNC Consideration
> > To: <lnc-business at hq.lp.org>
> > Cc: <justin.odonnell at lp.org>
> >
> >
> > Attached is a letter to the LNC from a Region 8 Member and New Hampshire
> > delegate for the LNC's consideration.
> >
> > Justin O'Donnell
> > LNC Region 8 Representative
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Valerie Sarwark
> > Date: May 3, 2020 2:55 PM
> > Subject: Request for LNC Consideration
> > To: Justin.Odonnell at lp.org
> > Cc: Pat.Ford at lp.org
> >
> > Justin,
> >
> > As my regional representative, please forward this letter to the LNC
> > business list.
> >
> > Pat,
> >
> > Thank you for your responsible "no" vote in yesterday's meeting.
> >
> >
> > ****
> > Dear Members of the Board,
> > I am a delegate to the National Convention representing the state of New
> > Hampshire. This is the third convention to which I have the great
> privilege
> > of serving as a delegate.
> > I would like you to strongly consider retaining the original convention
> > dates and move to an electronic business meeting. The nomination of
> > presidential ticket and LNC positions should be filled as soon as
> possible
> > to ensure we have the strongest start to Election Day (which is only 180
> > days from now).
> > The Convention Oversight Committee is essentially committing suppression
> > of delegates by attempting to force an in-person convention. The country
> is
> > in the middle of a pandemic with many states not even open for gatherings
> > of over 10 people. The country is in the middle of an economic collapse
> > with millions unemployed and unable to pay rent. You are now asking these
> > people to somehow rearrange their schedules, spend more money and
> > potentially put their lives at risk.
> > In addition to the financial constraints on many of our delegates (the
> > majority of which are dues-paying members of the party), you are not
> > considering those affected by scheduling as far as their children. I have
> > spent YEARS as active as possible and trying to make the party a more
> > welcoming place for families. Although both my husband and I have been
> able
> > to work through this time, it seems financially irresponsible to drag the
> > entire family to a yet-to-be-determined site. With so many that are in
> the
> > same situation (or potentially worse off), would you feel comfortable
> > asking them to go into debt just so they can have their voices heard?
> > We’ve all blocked this time. We’re all ready for this meeting. We all
> want
> > to participate but we are now being told that we have to reschedule
> > everything within a couple of weeks. We are in the middle of an emergency
> > and forcing people to shuffle their schedules, lives, and finances around
> > is quite ridiculous. This isn’t about courage or principles. This is
> about
> > doing the best thing for the delegates that represent the party. Other
> > political meetings with greater participants have already occurred.
> > Shouldn’t we show the world that we are serious, considerate, innovative
> > and ready to adapt?
> > The best choice for some is not the best choice for all. An online
> > convention, held Memorial Day weekend, will not exclude delegates. You
> need
> > to consider the right thing to do for ALL of the delegates.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Valerie A. Sarwark
> >
> >
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