New York Libertarian Party State Committee
Minutes: July 8, 2000
Sloatsburg, NY
Present:
Rich Cooper (Chair), Blay Tarnoff (Vice Chair), Audrey Capozzi (Vice
Chair),
John Clifton (Treasurer), Caryn Cohen (Secretary), Bob Goodman (At-Large),
John
Ayling (At-Large), Bonnie Scott (At-Large), Don Silberger (At-Large;
Hudson
Valley Rep.; Arr. 11:50), Brad Arter (At-Large; Queens Rep.), Chris Garvey
(Suffolk Rep.), Jeff Russell (Capital District Rep.), Bridget Rutty
(Central NY
Rep.), Stephen Healey (Monroe Rep.), Bob Armstrong (non-voting), Jeff Doty
(Newsletter Editor; non-voting), Bill Bombard (non-voting), David
Gilmartin
(non-voting) (Absent: Immediate Past Chair, Nassau Rep., Brooklyn Rep.)
The meeting was called to order at 10:47 am.
Treasurer's Report:
John Clifton distributed a Treasurer's report. The ending balance, as of
7/7/00, was $14,568.11. The report concluded that, with the addition of
pledged
contributions and the LP UMP July check, the actual balance should be
about
$17,400.
New Business:
Board of Elections Information
Richard Cooper attended a Campaign Finance Seminar. He indicated that we
must
file with the Board of Elections, as we are a political committee. He
distributed an "Important Dates to Remember" sheet. Candidates must file
separately. Regional parties, if unsure whether to file, should contact
the
state.
Chris Garvey moved to accept the members of the "Committee to Fill
Vacancies,"
as listed on the nominating petition. Brad Arter seconded. Bonnie Scott
questioned Rich Cooper's presence on the committee and asked whether his
intention is to run candidates. Rich indicated that he does want
candidates,
but not ill-prepared ones. Bonnie commented that the Party needs to
mentor
people to encourage them to run as candidates. The motion passed with no
nays
and two abstentions.
Bob Goodman moved to accept the listed electors. Blay Tarnoff seconded.
The
motion passed unanimously.
Petition Drive
Jeff Russell reported that the National Committee has not committed any
financial help as of this time. Rich Cooper did not feel that the New
York
Party should pay everyone who collects signatures, as formerly proposed by
Dottie-Lou Brokaw. The NYLP has typically gotten 5-6,000 volunteer
signatures.
Rich suggested awarding a cash prize to high-volume petitioners. There
was a
short discussion regarding what has worked to motivate petitioners in the
past;
i.e., petitioning seminars, group petitioning parties, and publicizing the
existence of large, public events. Bonnie Scott moved to award $300 to
the top
petitioner, and $150 to the second and third highest signature gatherers.
John
Clifton moved to amend the motion to award the first place winner life
membership in the LP. John's motion to amend failed. Bonnie's motion
passed
unanimously.
Chris Garvey moved that Rich Cooper place two ads (at one inch each, for
$55 per
inch) in Backstage magazine to attract petitioners. The motion passed
unanimously.
Rich Cooper suggested that the party needs captains to manage groups of
petitioners. He offered to contact the Browne campaign regarding
assistance
with petitioning.
Alternative Methods to Hold State Committee Meetings
Rich Cooper suggested that we hold State Committee meetings via conference
calls. A discussion was held regarding the relative merits of holding
audio
conference calls, Internet chat meetings, video conference meetings, or
voting
over e-mail. Caryn Cohen expressed concerns regarding the drawbacks of
e-mail
votes, such as the lack of continuity of discussion, the confusion which
occurs
when various people log on and receive messages at different times, and
the
difficulties involved in keeping track of different votes. Jeff Russell
proposed that we use a speaker phone at the Sloatsburg meeting room and in
Buffalo. Chris Garvey moved to allow people to attend State Committee
meetings
by alternative means (i.e., audio conference, computer, etc.). Such
people
would be counted as officially attending for purposes of the bylaws. The
motion
passed 10-2. John Ayling proposed a subcommittee to study alternatives to
meeting in person; the following people volunteered: Chris Garvey, John
Ayling,
and Bonnie Scott.
New Chapter
Chris Garvey moved to accept Monroe County as a new Libertarian Party of
New
York Chapter. Stephen Healey reported that thirty people attended a
founding
convention on February 15, 2000. He presented to the state secretary a
written
text of the bylaws and a partial list of members voting in favor of LPMC
bylaws.
Stephen indicated verbally that there are officers of the Monroe County
Chapter.
He was elected both chair and representative to the State Committee. The
motion
to accept Monroe County passed with one nay vote.
2001 State Convention
Chris Garvey moved to hold the 2001 State Convention in New York City.
The
motion passed with one abstention. Volunteers to the Convention Committee
consisted of: Rich Cooper, Jodi A. (not at State Committee meeting; Rich:
please
supply last name), Caryn Cohen, and Blay Tarnoff.
Newsletter Ads
There was a discussion regarding the issue of whether to accept ads from
outsiders in Free New York. Rich Cooper recommended that we do not run
such
ads.
Petitioning
Jeff Russell discussed the details of the petitioning process. He
indicated
that local coordinators are needed from each geographic area. He
suggested the
following guidelines for the coordinators:
-Compile a list of names of people willing to collect signatures in your
area.
-Collect petitions.
-Keep track of paid petitions.
-Verify all information on the petitions. The Board of Elections website
will
list districts according to address.
Brad Arter moved that we send copies of the petition with a sheet of
instructions to all members. The number of pages to be sent to each
person was
left up to Jeff Russell's discretion. The motion passed unanimously. Don
Silberger moved to budget $1,000 for this mailing. The motion passed
unanimously.
Fundraising Letter
The most recent fundraising letter, which cost $866.52, has so far raised
$200.
Harry Browne Campaign
David Gilmartin is the New York coordinator of the Browne campaign
Roy Innis Endorsement
John Clifton agreed to write a letter to Roy Innis asking whether he would
be
willing to endorse John Clifton for senate.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2000, 11:30, at the
LPNY
Annual Picnic, at Jim Harris' house in Westbury, Long Island.
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 PM.