1997 Convention Slated

The 1997 state convention will be held at the University of Puget Sound, Room MAC103, on June 21, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Due to the large number of business matters this year, the SEC voted to hold a business meeting only, with no speakers. Be there!

A new Region was certified for Island County, chaired by Dave Maas. Maas also becomes Regional Representative on the Executive Committee. The energetic new Region sent four people to the SEC meeting. According to Brett Wilhelm, membership chair, they're already attracting thirty people per meeting--twice their known membership.

The LPWS "unofficial" web site was voted an "official" party web site, which can now be expanded and linked from the LPHQ site. The site will eventually be moved to a commercial server, but can now be accessed at http://www.wolfenet.com/~liberty/lib/LPWS.htm

Please visit the site, and click the "webmaster" link to email your comments and suggestions.

The Publicity Chair was declared vacant. Mike Hihn was voted to fill the vacancy.

There was further discussion regarding paid staff, with no action taken. Mike Hihn outlined an alternative proposal, with details to follow at the next meeting. The alternative would contract for a part-time "Consulting Director" paid by voluntary monthly pledges plus incentives based mostly on membership growth, with a minimum expense of $250 per month. This would expand the current Office Manager function to add professional management of budgeting, candidate and leadership development, strategic planning and media outreach. In effect, a formal staff and board structure would be created now, then grow as the party grows.

Under the Unified Membership Plan, LPHQ has offered to assume our membership prospecting costs and activities, at no cost. Some states are abandoning their own 800 numbers and info kits, and listing LPHQ's 800 phone number in their literature. No vote was taken, but there was general agreement on replacing our own info kit with a letter, and forwarding all inquiries to LPHQ for follow-up. Deciding whether to keep the LPWS 800 number, which is listed in directories throughout the state, will require more experience with the new system.

----MH