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

Caryn Ann Harlos caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
Thu May 7 15:41:46 EDT 2020 

I have a question for the body.  I believe that the entire LNC is not being
represented by our general counsel but rather Mr. Sarwark is.  Do we have
any recourse to ask for additional counsel?  This is pretty outrageous,
that I would join in costs if other LNC members felt we needed
representation due to this usurping of power by our Chair.  I have said for
two years now there are no officers in this party other than our Chair.
Now there is effectively no LNC.  Figureheads would be a promotion.

*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 Thu, May 7, 2020 at 1:35 PM Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
wrote:

> I too would like to know how the "vast majority" was determined.  Our
> largest affiliate California has instructed the LNC otherwise.  Colorado is
> nothing to sneeze at and there is nothing preventing us from attending.
>
> Respect the decision of the LNC.  You are presiding officer not overlord.
> If you insist on putting our general counsel in the untenable position of
> rendering a parliamentarian opinion, I will be moving that the LNC retain
> and actual PRP.
>
> I do not know what has caused this strange shift of behaviour but this is
> not the very tempered behaviour of the Chair I have worked with for four
> years now who knew how to respect the hierarchy in place and accept things
> he thought were bad decisions.  You are free to appeal to the Judicial
> Committee l like anyone else.  You are not free to disregard the LNC and
> usurp all power to yourself.
>
> *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 Thu, May 7, 2020 at 1:32 PM Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Our counsel is not a parliamentarian.  I am aghast he would offer an
>> opinion outside his area of speciality.  No parliamentarian would render
>> that opinion.  If anyone decided to sue over this, I firmly believe Mr.
>> Hall would be in danger of malpractice.  This LNC is in dereliction of its
>> duty by not retaining a PRP for that determination.  Further, you do not
>> have authority as Chair to override the decision of the LNC.  This has gone
>> beyond a ridiculous power grab.  The LNC has decided.  Period.
>>
>> *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 Thu, May 7, 2020 at 12:55 PM Whitney Bilyeu via Lnc-business <
>> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>

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