<div dir="ltr">Colleagues, <div><br></div><div>As we are discussing goals, I see a glaring failure among libertarian groups, whether political, social, or otherwise. We are not setting strategic goals, period. Full stop.</div><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">This is something that I shared during my tenure as the Executive Director in Georgia. I've edited a few things to make it pertinent to our discussions here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">It's my belief that the Libertarian Party needs a <b>VISION</b> for our existence. In my opinion, that vision should be optimistic. We have yet to define what we are doing, and why we are doing it.</span><br></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">We also need a <b>PLAN</b> to attain that optimistic vision. That plan should be strategic and broad, yet focused enough to achieve that vision.</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">To supplement that plan we need <b>GOALS</b> that are aligned with the S.M.A.R.T. goal philosophy ( <a href="http://topachievement.com/smart.html" target="_blank">http://topachievement.com/smart.html</a> ), so that there is no question about their focus, achievement (or lack thereof), and position on the path to success.</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">These goals should have action plans that assign <b>TASKS</b> designed to achieve them. They should be assigned to individuals or roles within our organization with defined timelines for completion with actionable consequences for failure.</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">I believe once we've defined these items, we will be on a path TOWARD success, and I believe that we can then move to focus on the standards by which we operate.</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">As I believe we have discussed, it is my belief that the LNC should be working toward defining the "<b>big picture</b>" for our organization, our members, and our progress. All of which can be accomplished via the items I've outlined above.</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">During my tenure as Executive Director in Georgia, I saw the body float in between "fires" in need of extinguishing without any true, singular vision or even general direction goals. This makes accountability impossible. It also makes misunderstandings about roles, responsibilities, and actions much easier to bubble up. We've seen them turn into "fires," burning those who are genuinely loyal to our Party's success.</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">For me personally, it made the position stressful and tenuous at times, while being reassured that things are "going well." Often, I felt as though I was rowing a boat in a fog without a map or GPS and no idea if the people in that boat are rowing in the same direction, or if they even have paddles or are in the boat with me.</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">I share these sentiments to provide you with some feedback that I feel is important to our success and a continued relationship working for liberty. </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Thanks for taking a bit of time to read this, and I look forward to your response.</p></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div>Brett C. Bittner<div><br></div><div><a href="mailto:brett@brettbittner.com" target="_blank">brett@brettbittner.com</a></div><div>404.492.6524</div><div><div><br></div><div>"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it." -- Thomas Jefferson</div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Sep 14, 2014 at 9:53 PM, Scott L. <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:scott73@earthlink.net" target="_blank">scott73@earthlink.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">From the minutes of the Nov 2010 LNC Session:<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">“the main motion became that the LNC adopt the following goals
for the 2010-2012 LNC term: <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">1. Membership: 20,000 sustaining members by April 15, 2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">2. Organization: Operational affiliates in 48 states (out of 51
“states”). Defined as...<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">a. Runs at least 2 candidates for non-partisan or partisan
office every 2 year election cycle <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">b. Has a REAL web site (not a Meetup Group or Blog) that
is updated with news or <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">meeting info at least once per month <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">c. Has a Chair or Contact Person who responds to most
inquires within 2 business days <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">d. Place candidates on the ballot and attempt to maintain
ballot access. <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">e. The affiliate will provide the latest copy of their
bylaws and constitution to the national <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">office or post the same on their state website. <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">3. Fundraising: $1,400,000 gross revenue for calendar year 2011. <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">4. Training : Several seminars around the country in 2011 to include
training on winnable and party-building campaigns, and training that teaches affiliate
development <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">5. Political: <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">a. 200 U.S. House of Representative candidates in 2012 <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">b. 200 elected Libertarians by Apr 15, 2012 (for the purpose of this
goal, Inspectors and Judges of Elections in <u></u><u></u>Pennsylvania<u></u><u></u> only count as 1/3 of an elected
Libertarian) <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">c. 30 state ballot access by Apr 15, 2012 (that means actually
certified by the SOS or equivalent), which puts us in position for 45 or more
state ballot access by Election <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Day 2012”<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">Somehow I ended up moving the motion above, but most of the
original wording was suggested by Dr. Lark.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">Now, here is my handy-dandy ballot access chart:<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"">Number of states where the LP had ballot access<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New""><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"">Dec 2000 25 <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New""><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"">Dec 2004 26<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New""> <u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"">Dec 2008 27<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New""><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"">Dec 2012 31<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New""><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">As you can see, this chart shows how well the LP retained
ballot access after each of the last 4 presidential elections.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">The noticeable bump after the Johnson campaign was not because
Gov. Johnson himself did well enough to retain ballot access in a bunch of
states, but more likely because his coattails were able to boost a few more
statewide candidates past the ballot access retention threshold.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">I will let other LNC members come up with scorecards that
detail how well that LNC did with respect to the above goals.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">Here is the problem – after being in existence for
42 years, we are <b><span style="font-weight:bold">STILL</span></b> a
$1,000,000 per year organization, with fewer than 15,000 dues-paying members.
Yet, we keep coming up with long lists of goals, but no realistic way to
accomplish them.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">So – the BHAG:<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">From Wikipedia:<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Big Hairy Audacious Goal</span></b>
(BHAG) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_planning" title="Strategic planning" target="_blank">strategic</a> business statement similar to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_statement" title="Vision statement" target="_blank">vision
statement</a> which is created to focus an organization on a single medium-long
term organization-wide goal which is audacious, likely to be externally
questionable, but not internally regarded as impossible.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">I would like to suggest that we <b><span style="font-weight:bold">partially</span></b> put aside our unofficial Mission Statement, and have
just one BHAG<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">for the next 2 ¼ years.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">Yes – I really mean it. One goal.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="5" face="Century Schoolbook"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook";font-weight:bold">40
in 16<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="5" face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">That means the goal of this LNC would be to provide our affiliates
with 40 state ballot access on December 1, 2016.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">If we accomplish that, and we can at least maintain that
number in the 2018 mid-term election, that means we would go into the 2020
Presidential year with only 10 states where we would need to petition. That
would be a huge psychological boost to our members, and it might attract some presidential
candidates who don’t want to gamble on the LP achieving 50 state ballot
access for them in Nov 2020 if we go into January 2020 with only 31 state
ballot access.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">The neat thing is – this goal is achievable. I have
some ideas on how to accomplish this goal without gigantic amounts of money,
but before I divulge that part, I would like to see some feedback from the rest
of the LNC regarding this idea.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"> Scott Lieberman</span></font><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
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