The LNC met. The treasurer reported on June finances, which were, in what appeared to be his words, catastrophic. Income was $54,000. Outgo was $320,000. The cash balance fell by $266,000.
The LNC voted to increase the legal budget, by $80,000, with $40,000 going to pay past LPNM legal bills and mediation expenses and $40,000 for litigation expenses against the former National Chair.
There was a secret report from the Convention Oversight Committee. Only the LNC has seen it. The convention apparently lost $119,000. COC Chair Pat Ford apologized for the outcome.
LNC Member Bill Redpath called for abolishing midterm conventions. Just think, now you will need to wait four years rather than two to replace unsatisfactory LNC members.
By vote of the LNC, Regional Representative Austin Martin was removed from the meeting for being disruptive.
I’ve never seen it work. Much different dynamic online where even more think they have something to say then in person. It’s a nightmare
The whole convention loss thing was ridiculous. Many factors. But I will name a few non-factional ones.
I do not buy the story AT ALL that the original contract was short on shoulder days and if so, that should have been caught EARLY and was not. Getting extra hotel room when by then it was already OBVIOUS that attendance would be low was beyond inexplainable. How did they know? Early state conventions who only filled 60% of their delegate slots and that pattern continued.
Also, and I WAS THERE FOR THIS DECISION, Monday was supposed to be OPTIONAL OVERFLOW. It was NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SCHEDULE BECAUSE PAT FORD ADJUSTED THE AGENDA. Why should anyone pay to hear speakers when complete duty was violated by forcing speakers into business time!!!!!!
Wow, the convention lost a huge chunk of the money misappropriated from the HQ donors. How long before the rest is gone? Thinking back to the very successful 1996 convention, also a four day event with the addition of picking a presidential candidate, the contrast is pretty stark. That one was negotiated with a hotel that could fill its entire space with July 4th tourists (it was only four blocks from the Mall festivities) and wasn’t in real need of accommodating the LP attendees. Yet room fees and attendee packages were reasonable in the end. The LNC chose to let private contractors handle the convention (protection from possible losses) after bidding . The lavish 25th Anniversary banquet featured an orchestra and privately labelled wine on all the tables. The LP fundraiser more than covered their share of the convention expenses. And the contractors reported clearing $100,000.
Different FEC rules then which is why outside “convention committees” were used.
My point wasn’t to let private contractors do it, but that large convention profit is possible if efficiently negotiated, promoted, and
spending reined in.
Things are not the same as years ago. While this loss was excessive, I don’t think it possible in non-presidential years. A break even would be great.
This LPNM case is a waste of time and money that could be used towards ballot access and candidates. LPNM’s offer to rejoin the party was as good at it gets and it’s beyond idiotic that we didn’t take that offer.
I am just going to state bylaws reality. There is ALREADY an NM affiliate. The Bylaws say there can be only one. Solve that without violating Bylaws. I will wait.
If money needs to be saved, instead of abolishing midterm conventions, have the midterm conventions via online videoconference. 4 years in between national conventions would be too long.
This would not be a problem if the party was in better shape.
Agree.
It can be done online.
The technology is available.
Or just scale it back during midterms.
Business only. Smaller cheaper venues.
Bylaws and Rules would need to be amended to do that, and that can only at the moment be done at an in-person convention.
And really, as Orlando showed in 2020, a virtual convention, if not planned precisely and explained well in advance, would be a massive disaster. Voting itself would require a huge change in process.
Not saying it can’t be done, just that it’s a VERY heavy uphill pull.
Kyle Davis spoke about this a while back. He claims the technology is available to have secure voting online. He is a computer guy, I am not, so I defer to him.
The 2020 online convention planning was rushed, which was understandable given the circumstances.
I agree it’s not ideal and would take a lot of planning, but it’s better than not having a midterm convention at all, IMO.
I am in regular contact with Kyle, he’s told me the same thing, and I agree it is technologically possible. The problem is selling it to the delegates to trust it. Hell, after 4 conventions of doing it by hand accurately, it’s finally at that point for our current system.
It is not a matter of voting, it is a matter of the rest of our business, such as handling motions etc. We are not an agreeable bunch.
I am wondering if motions, amendments, points of personal privilege, points of order, etc. can all be made by delegates on-screen via some sort of chat feature visible to all on the main screen.
All interruptions would be queued on-screen and then can be addressed by the chair in the order they came in.
All delegates would have the authority to populate the onscreen chat.