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

Thu May 7 14:55:51 EDT 2020

Nick, how do you intend to demonstrate that it will be "impossible" for a
"vast majority" of the delegates to travel to a convention in July?

On Thu, May 7, 2020 at 1:36 PM Nicholas Sarwark via Lnc-business <
lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:

> 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
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Conventions mailing list
> > > Conventions at hq.lp.org
> > > http://hq.lp.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/conventions
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Conventions mailing list
> > > Conventions at hq.lp.org
> > > http://hq.lp.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/conventions
> > >
> >
>

-- 
*Whitney Bilyeu*
Libertarian National Committee
Region 7 Representative
281.433.4966
LP.ORG