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Aaron Starr, in 2009 or 2010, was the first person to explain to me
how "benefits lapse date" and "sustaining membership lapse date" are
not the same thing. <br>
<br>
You might check with him on this. I think he would tell you that it
is NOT correct to say:<br>
"Foundation Member = Sustaining Member"<br>
"the expiration date of Association Levels is the same as the
expiration date of Sustaining Memberships."<br>
<br>
It's confusing as heck, I'll admit. Again, I did not design this
system. I argued for more simplicity and clarity. <br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">Wes Benedict, Executive Director<br>
<small><small>Libertarian National Committee, Inc.<br>
<b>New address: 1444 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314</b><br>
(202) 333-0008 ext. 232, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:wes.benedict@lp.org">wes.benedict@lp.org</a><br>
facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational<br>
Join the Libertarian Party at: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lp.org/membership">http://lp.org/membership</a></small></small><br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/28/2015 10:31 AM, Scott L. wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:392EF7679DE14F95A4FD5ABCAAA0CC50@WORK"
type="cite">
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<div class="Section1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">The
Executive Director and the
Operations Director have had PLENTY of time to figure
out the details of the
new association levels.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">I admit
that I have not become an “expert”
on interpreting these policies, because as an LNC
Regional Alternate I don’t
need to know the details of how the Assoc. Levels are
administered.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">However –
it is REALLY,
REALLY clear, even to me, that <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">
Foundation
Member = Sustaining Member<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">IOW - the
expiration date of
Association Levels is the same as the expiration date
of Sustaining
Memberships.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><br>
I think the Executive Director is accidentally
confusing the Benefits Lapse
Date with the expiration date of a sustaining
membership.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">BTW – I
agree that it was
not wise for the LNC to use the term “Foundation
Member” when the
term “Sustaining Member” is used in our Bylaws.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"> Scott
Lieberman<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"
align="center"><font color="black" face="Times New
Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext">
<hr tabindex="-1" align="center" size="2"
width="100%">
</span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="black" face="Tahoma"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold">From:</span></font></b><font
color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:windowtext"> Lnc-business
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:lnc-business-bounces@hq.lp.org">mailto:lnc-business-bounces@hq.lp.org</a>] <b><span
style="font-weight:bold">On Behalf Of </span></b>Wes
Benedict<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b>
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 7:18
AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:lnc-business@hq.lp.org">lnc-business@hq.lp.org</a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b>
Re: [Lnc-business]
requesting co-sponsors for expedited email ballot</span></font><font
color="black"><span style="color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New
Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">The term "Sustaining
Membership" is not in the section of the Policy Manual
describing
Association Levels. The expiration date of Association
Levels is different from
the expiration date of Sustaining Membership. Again, I
didn't design this
system. I argued for more simplicity. <br>
<br>
<img id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:part1.07010301.05000800@lp.org"
height="367" width="613"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Wes Benedict, Executive
Director<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Verdana" size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Verdana" size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New
Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">Mr.
Executive Director:<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">Does
your e-mail below mean that
you and the Operations Director are disregarding the
directive that I copied
from the LP web site about an hour ago?<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"> <a
href="https://www.lp.org/membership-levels"
title="https://www.lp.org/membership-levels"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.lp.org/membership-levels</a><u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">
“</span></font><font color="black"><span
style="color:windowtext">Convention
registration fees do not count towards association
levels.”<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">I have
a capture of that web page in
case the Chair, or anyone else, wishes to examine
the evidence.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">
Scott Lieberman<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Verdana"
size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"
align="center"><font color="black" face="Times New
Ro" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times
New\000D\000A Ro";
color:windowtext">
<hr tabindex="-1" align="center" size="2"
width="100%">
</span></font></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="black"
face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold">From:</span></font></b><font
color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:windowtext"> Lnc-business [<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:lnc-business-bounces@hq.lp.org">mailto:lnc-business-bounces@hq.lp.org</a>]
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">On Behalf Of </span></b>Wes
Benedict<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b>
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 7:03
AM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:lnc-business@hq.lp.org">lnc-business@hq.lp.org</a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b>
Re: [Lnc-business]
requesting co-sponsors for expedited email ballot</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New
Roma" size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New\000D\000A Roma""><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Robert Kraus and I
interpreted the bylaws to mean that the convention
registration counts as
Sustaining membership. Obviously Alicia Mattson sees
things differently. <br>
<br>
Sustaining membership is different from the benefits
lapse date. It is
confusing.<br>
<br>
I didn't design our complicated membership plan, but
I did put forth a genuine
effort to explain it on page 15 of this LP News:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
<a
href="http://www.lp.org/files/lp_news/2014-4_LP_News.pdf"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.lp.org/files/lp_news/2014-4_LP_News.pdf</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Wes Benedict, Executive
Director<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Verdana" size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Verdana" size="2"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana">GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times
New
Ro" size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New\000D\000A Ro""><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"
cite="mid:CA+Jr9xEDFuBJKWrKjpXVhWhK-y+7-_99BMHVNJeZWkbOxJNROA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times
New
" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times
New\000D\000A"">Since I know that
some humans have a tendency to stop reading an
email if it's more than two
paragraphs long, let me point out that at the
end of this message I am
requesting sponsors for an expedited email
ballot.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
Previously this term it has been necessary to
deal with the reality that LNC
members are to be sustaining members of the
Party. In the previous case,
I raised a point of order because an at-large
LNC member who had been a
sustaining member at the convention when he
was elected had since allowed his
sustaining status to lapse. At its December,
2014 meeting, the LNC
re-appointed that member to the seat after the
sustaining status was reinstated.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">As the Secretary
has
specific duties related to credentialing
questions and determinations of
sustaining membership counts, now it is my
job to once again raise a point of
order regarding a member's status.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">For convenience,
I have copied the relevant bylaw
provisions below:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Bylaws Article 5.3:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">"Sustaining
member” is any Party member who
has given at least $25 to the Party in the
prior twelve months, or who is a
life member.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times
" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times\000D\000A""><br>
Bylaws Article 5.6:<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
Only sustaining members shall be counted
for delegate apportionment and
National Committee representation. Only
sustaining members shall be eligible to
hold National Party office or be a
candidate for President or
Vice-President.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt"><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Bylaws Article 8.4:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">A National
Committee member shall be a sustaining
member
of the Party, and shall not be the
candidate of any party except the Party or
an affiliate.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">During our 3/29/15
<st1:city u4:st="on"><st1:place u4:st="on"><st1:city
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city>
meeting, Doug Craig was declared elected to
the at-large vacancy. On
4/16/15, Robert Kraus informed me, Wes
Benedict and Nick Sarwark that Doug
Craig had lapsed but that he had renewed on
4/16/15.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">I asked for clarity
on
what date Mr. Craig had lapsed because it
matters procedurally whether the
lapse occurred before or after the 3/29/15
meeting in which the LNC elected him
to the at-large vacancy.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Raiser's Edge
records
indicate that his last sustaining-level
donation had been on 7/26/13.
Since then the only transactions had been
his purchase of a convention package
on 5/6/14, and then his sustaining-level
renewal on 4/16/15.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">I look at Bylaw
Article
5.3 and see that a person must have "given" at
least $25 in the prior
12 months, or be a life member. Since Mr.
Craig is not a life member, the
question is whether he had given at least $25
in the 12 months prior to 3/29/15
when the LNC acted to fill the vacancy. To
me, "giving" money
is a very different thing from a purchase of
goods/services such as a
convention package or a t-shirt, so I do not
think that the convention package
qualifies towards sustaining membership.<br>
<br>
My conclusion is that Mr. Craig's sustaining
membership lapsed on 7/26/14 (one
year after his 7/26/13 donation), and that it
wasn't renewed until 4/16/15.
That would mean he was not a sustaining member
on 3/29/15 when the LNC took
action regarding the vacancy.<br>
<br>
Given my conclusion that he was not a
sustaining member at the time, I believe
the motion adopted to name him to the at-large
vacancy is null and void because
it violated the bylaws which require
sustaining membership for LNC members.<br>
<br>
For convenient reference, relevant citations
from Robert's Rules are below:<br>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">RONR p. 430-431,
439 make
it clear that in an election, members may
only vote for eligible nominees, thus
votes cast for an ineligible person are
actually illegal votes.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">RONR p. 445,
regarding
challenging an election, states:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">"Otherwise, an
election
may be contested only by raising a point of
order. The general rule is that
such a point of order must be timely, as
described on page 250, line 30 to page
251, line 2. If an election is disputed on
the ground that a quorum was not
present, the provisions on page 349, lines
21–28, apply. Other exceptions
to the general timeliness requirement are
those that come within the five
categories listed on page 251, lines 9–23,
in which cases a point of
order can be made at any time during the
continuance in office of the
individual declared elected. For example: <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times
" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times\000D\000A"">
•
If an individual does not meet the
qualifications for
the post established in the bylaws, his or
her election is tantamount to
adoption of a main motion that conflicts
with the bylaws...."<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times
Ne" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times\000D\000A Ne""><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Here
is the relevant
portion of the cross-referenced passage
on RONR p. 251:<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">"The
only exceptions
to the rule that a point of order must
be made at the time of the breach
arise
in connection with breaches that are
of a continuing nature, in which case
a
point of order can be made at any time
during the continuance of the breach.
Instances of this kind occur when: <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">
a)
a main motion has been adopted that
conflicts with the
bylaws (or constitution) of the
organization or assembly,<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-left:33.5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic">[items (b) through (e)
snipped for
brevity]</span></font></i><br>
<br>
In all such cases, it is never too late to
raise a point of order since any
action so taken is null and void. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">My
conclusion is that
according to our rules, Mr. Craig's
election was in violation of the bylaws,
thus that motion is null and void and we
still have an at-large vacancy.
Now that Mr. Craig has renewed his
sustaining membership, he is eligible to
be
properly elected to that vacancy.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman"
size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We
just need to proceed
to act again to fill the vacancy. I
suspect that the outcome of a second
vote now will be the same as it was
then, but we should go through the
process
of doing it properly so as to remove any
cloud of doubt. Making the
effort to do it properly will show
respect to the rules, and it settles the
question now so that it won't come up
later if a contentious vote is decided
by
a margin of Mr. Craig's vote.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">At this time
I'm raising a point of order that Mr.
Craig's election on 3/29/15 is null and
void because it violated the bylaw
requirement that LNC members must be
sustaining members of the party.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#888888"
face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#888888"><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times
" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times\000D\000A"">Unfortunately,
I am not
bringing this up at the most ideal time. My
to-do list following the <st1:city
u4:st="on"><st1:place u4:st="on"><st1:city
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city>
meeting was much larger than usual. When
this was first brought to my
attention, I didn't have the bandwidth to
fully process it immediately, and it
just got added to my to-do list. If the
chair or I had brought this
matter to you earlier, we would have had
more breathing room to address this
before our May 3 electronic meeting.<br>
<br>
I was just thinking we could address it on
May 3, but as I started writing this
message it occurred to me that the
electronic meetings are special meetings, so
we can't add agenda items at the last
minute. We could address a
credentialing question of who is eligible to
vote during the meeting, but we
couldn't add an agenda item for filling a
vacancy.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times
" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times\000D\000A""><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times
" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times\000D\000A"">There
is still an option
for the full LNC to address the issue before
then, though. Mail ballots
can end early <u>if all LNC members will
promptly vote or specifically abstain
rather than waiting the full 10 days</u>.
With cooperation from all of
you, we can still finish an email ballot
before May 3. <br>
<br>
I spoke in favor of another candidate for
this position, but I'm willing to
co-sponsor an email ballot so the LNC can
have a chance to resolve the matter
before our May 3 meeting.<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black"
face="Times
" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times\000D\000A""><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><font
color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">I'm asking that
either
the chair sponsor, or 3 other LNC members
promptly co-sponsor with me an email
ballot to elect Doug Craig to the at-large
vacancy created by Evan McMahon's
resignation.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<pre><font color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""> Alicia <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></pre>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="black" face="Times New
Roma" size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New\000D\000A Roma""><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
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