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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>You have all read the e-mails on the State Chair’s
e-mail list regarding re-instituting SOME form of the Unified Membership Program.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>If I have been reading the mail correctly, I
**think** it is perfectly legal for the National LP to collect dues money and
then send it to FEC filing affiliates. If that is true, then it would
only take a moderate amount of programming to have our web site do that. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>In other words – for people who join the LP, we
would add $25 to their shopping cart for the National LP, or more, and
simultaneously add either a fixed amount for every state that is FEC Filing, or
we could use a look-up table and add whatever amount of money that particular FEC-filing
state wanted us to charge for membership. For example, if <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Rhode Island</st1:State></st1:place> wanted us
to charge $25 for one year, and the applicant wanted to join the National LP
for one year, then LP.org site would<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>add those 2 numbers together and charge the applicant $50
for one year of unified membership to the National LP and the LPRI. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Obviously these states would not have a way of joining on
their web site, other than linking to the National LP’s join page. There
are a few kinks to be worked out, eg: Life Members, but I don’t think the
kinks would be anything more than a minor bump in the road to implementing
this. Of course, this would also apply to state members who are renewing
their state LP memberships.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>For non-FEC filing states – assuming we get the
blessing of our FEC consultant – we could have the applicant join the National
LP on LP.org, and then on the confirmation page we would beg them to join their
state’s LP, and then have a HUGE link that directs the new National
member to that state’s “join our state LP” page.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Unless you have a good objection to the above, I suggest
we pass a motion in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State>
this weekend that directs staff to implement the above changes by the end of
September. Assuming this is legal, I don’t see any down side to
doing this. Over the next year, this could add what – several thousand
new members to the National LP? And it would likely increase membership
for all participating affiliates as well.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Needless to say – joining either of the above
options would be optional for all state affiliates. Although if the
non-FEC filing option is legal, I can’t imagine why any state would refuse
the chance to direct brand new National members to their join page.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><br>
Scott Lieberman<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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