Note: I will not be able to attend this meeting because of work.
Please bring extra copies of this.
==================
Suggested Agenda
Approve Last Month's minutes. (attached below)
Chair's Report-
1. The Pa. Ballot Access Committee's Voters' Choice Act is now the top priority. Every member is expected to write a letter to the editor about the draconian ballot access requirements for third parties. Also go to your state rep and state senator's offices and ask them if they will support the Voters' Choice Act. Finally, please call talk radio about improving Ballot Access. The Committee has mailed a copy of the bill to every Pa. legislator.
2. We need a vote on whether to increase the # of At Large Board members from 'up to 3' to 'up to 5', while holding quorum requirements constant at 4.
3. Russ Diamond has tentatively agreed to speak at our Holiday Party at John Harvard's in Monroeville on Dec. 21st.
4. Consider signing on as an Operation Clean Sweep local coodinator. I have been emailed by 5 potential Clean Sweepers and my 'territory' is Monroeville.
5. Libertarian of the Week goes to anyone who runs for a board position or who completes the actions requested in #1 above.
6. You can nominate me for a board position if you wish. I would prefer not to be Chair in 2006, though. I'll still do the event horizon, etc.
Treasurer's Report. Last month we unofficially reported a balance of about $571 in the Treasurer's absence. Would the Treasurer please explain whether this is accurate? Since our balance is typically around $1,000 could he explain our expenditures for the last few months?
Outreach Report-
1. Ken Krawchuk has pulled the trigger on the Voters' Choice Act. I have emailed everyone in my mailing list about the VCA , including Greens, Constitution Party members, student libs, OCS, TJTT and so on. Please complete the three actions suggested above and Cc: me a copy because this is important enough for me to follow up on personally.
2. Becoming an Operation Clean Sweep local coordinator will plug you into a network of good citizens -- some of whom might be libertarians without knowing it.
I have suggested to them that 'A clean sweep needs a ballot access broom."
3. Perhaps we need some flyers that say 'libertarians support Operation Clean Sweep"? We need materials with out new phone number on them.
Technology Report-
1. Verify that our new phone number is 412-904-2976. Also is there a message there? If the number is okay, then we should put it on all of our materials.
2. Did we switch from Pair.com to GoDaddy.com? (Johannes)
3. Could Johannes put something about the Ballot Access Committee's Voters' Choice Act on our web site? On threeriverspost?
Elections Report.
1. We have no candidates running right now, so let's skip it to save time for nominations.
State Party Report.
1. The LibPenn went out last week. Future issues will have more pages. Submission dates for articles and target mailing dates are on the Event Horizon.
2. The number one priority is getting lawmakers to sponsor the VCA.
3. LPPa State Convention will be held March 3-5th at the Atherton Hotel in State College.
4. The LPPa will soon start its own blog.
===========
Unfinished Business.
We must vote on whether to raise the number of At Large Board members from 3 to 5, while holding quorun requirements at 4.
=============
New Business.
1. Who is sending out the ballots for the chapter elections? We have to get the details decided today. Do we have an up to date Membership list?
2. Nomination of LPPgh officers for next year.
Anything else?
Adjourn.
==============
Attachment #1
Ken Krawchuk just pulled the trigger on the Pa. Ballot Access Coalition's new Voters' Choice Act (often called the VCA).
"To help build a groundswell of support, we are asking each Libertarian to perform each of these 3 action items:"
1. Send a Letter To The Editor on Monday, October 17th.
Submit your letter about the Voters' Choice Act to your local newspapers. Sample letters and talking points are available at
www.lppa.org/vca 2. Call in to Talk Radio: Thursday and Friday, Oct 20th and 21st.
Call in to your favorite talk radio show. Express your opinion about the Voters' Choice Act.
3. Call your Representatives: Tuesday, October 25th.
Call your State Rep. and State Senator. Ask them if they will be co-sponsoring the Voters' Choice Act. Locate your representatives at
www.legis.state.pa.us You can download the Voters' Choice Act and its accompanying white paper at
www.PaBallotAccess.org.
Strike a blow for Liberty by supporting the Voters' Choice Act!
To get statewide candidates on the ballot, Libertarians usually need "only" around 25,000 valid signatures. But in 2006, we will need 67,070! This is over 33 times what the old parties need for the primaries! When you add in a safe cushion, the total balloons to over 100,000!
The Voters' Choice Act reforms Pennsylvania's draconian ballot access laws in two ways: By making it easier to form new political parties, and by making it much easier for third party and independent candidates to get on the ballot.
In only five months, the petitioning window will open for us. Whether or not we have to collect over 100,000 signatures lies in your hands. Remember the mantra of the grass-roots activist, ten words of two letters each: "If it is to be, it is up to me."
The time has come for action! Helping is as easy as 1-2-3. Here's the plan: On October 19th, we are putting a copy of the Voters' Choice Act and its White Paper into the hands of every state senator and state representative.
You can download the Act and its accompanying White Paper at
www.PaBallotAccess.org .
Please do these three action items before Election Day.
=====================
Attachment #2 Sept. minutes.
MEETING MINUTES - JMC
September 21, 2005
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 by Chairman Tim Crowley. The location was Rauterkus headquarters, and there were four board members present.
The Chair?s report included items for discussion, such as the upcoming elections for a new board and consideration of the number of at-large members, and December?s holiday party. The Chair recognized the work of all involved in the Pitt/CMU outreach events.
In the absence of the Treasurer, there was no treasurer?s report, but Harold Kyriazi reported that our current bank statement shows a balance of $571.
In the outreach report, Dave Powell reported on the activities at Pitt, including participation in the Activities Fair, at which 45 students signed up for e-mail announcements, and the showing of a movie, attended by 33 students. Tim Crowley reported on the progress of creating a ?Keystone Quiz,? modeled on the ?World?s Smallest Political Quiz.?
In the area of technology, Mark Rauterkus reported on our options regarding telephone answering systems and software. Harold Kyriazi moved, and Henry Haller seconded, to authorize the expenditure of up to $15 per month for a Libertarian Party phone line at Rauterkus headquarters. The motion passed unanimously. 412-904-2976 will be the number.
In the elections report, we learned that no County Council candidate has been found. Mark Rauterkus, however, is planning to run for City Council, District 3, in the special election anticipated to be upcoming in early 2006.
Tim Crowley reported on LPPa priorities and activities. Of interest to Western Pa., Clarion County is now an ?A? county.
There was some discussion of plans for the holiday party. The consensus was to leave the date at the regular meeting date of December 21, and to hold it at John Harvard?s Pub in Monroeville, where it was held last year. If the date of the 21st is not available there, we will try for the 14th. Tim Crowley will pursue this.
Concerning the number of at-large board members, Mark Rauterkus moved, and Dave Powell seconded, that the Bylaws be amended to increase the number of at-large board members from 3 to 5. Note that the number needed for a quorum would remain at 4. Thus, there should be fewer problems achieving a quorum if this passes. Since this is a Bylaws change, it was required to be tabled until the next meeting to allow further discussion and consideration of the motion.
Henry Haller moved to adjourn at 8:55, which passed without objection.
Submitted by:
-- -- Henry Haller
-- -- Secretary
====================
Attachment 3- Event Horizon
United Nations Day (Oct 24) This could be another
opportunity for a press release.
October 30th. Russ Diamond will be back in Pgh for a
meeting at 11 AM. Russ has a definitely confirmed at a
Presbyterian Church on Mt. Washington on Sunday,
October 30 at 11 am. Another OCS event will possibly
be held at the American Legion in the Allegheny Valley
later in the day. This is an opportunity for L/libertarians
to meet with Operation Clean Sweep members. A clean
sweep needs a Ballot Access Broom. We can set up
joint events with Clean Sweep by emailing
publicity@pacleansweep.com (Jerry Kelley), or
coordinators@pacleansweep.com (Michele Diehl)
with your dates and a few details.
(NOTE: All dates in this calendar are subject to change
without notice!)
==========Nov 2005=========
Third Wed - November 16th, LPPgh meeting 7pm, Ritters.
November 18th, deadline for submitting articles to the late
December LibPenn.
===========Dec 2005=======
First Wed. 8PM The Pitt Libertarian club meets in
room 637 of the William Pitt Union building.
First Saturday of month, LPPa conference call.
Saturday December 10, 2005 - LPPa Board Meeting
Valley Forge Brewing Company, Chester County
Dec 15th Bill of Rights Day - we need a press release and
some kind of newsworthy event.
Wed, Dec. 21st Holiday Party. 7-10pm. John Harvard's
on Business route 22 in Monroeville. (same place as
last year) Russ Diamond has agreed to speak here, but
it is still tentative. We could invite some OCS leaders to
fill up the room. Last year we had 24 and the room can
hold 40. We may have room for a few students too.
Dec. 26th - target delivery date for LibPenn
Dec 28 to Jan 2nd. record the C-Span II annual
Political Campaign Management lectures from American
University. Check C-span web site.
December 29th, deadline for submitting articles for the
Feb. LibPenn.
