From: backpack@access.digex.com (Stuart Reges)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.libertarian
Subject: "mission" and "goals": repost from libernet
Date: 17 Dec 1992 02:56:46 GMT
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com

From: "Joseph W. Dehn III" <70305.241@compuserve.com>

The following is the Mission Statement adopted by the Libertarian National
Committee at its 12-13 December 1992 meeting:

   The mission of the Libertarian Party is to move public policy in
   a libertarian direction by electing candidates of the Libertarian
   Party to public office.

The LNC also endorsed the following goals:

Image: Goal #1

    * Change the image of the LP to make it attractive to people
      anywhere in the libertarian quadrant.

    * Change platform criteria to be:
          * Maximum of 10 topical planks
          * 2-4 year perspective
          * Transitional proposals consistent with libertarian
	    philosophy and the Statement of Principles
          * Presented in a positive, solution-oriented manner so that
            it helps rather than hurts LP candidates 
          * Start from scratch at each convention
          * Majority delegate approval

    * Employ outside professionals to conduct a market analysis to
      determine how best to improve our image, attract members and
      increase vote totals.

    * Develop a strategy for TV and radio ads to attract people in the
      libertarian quadrant to join the LP.

Image: Goal #2

    * All libertarians should feel equally welcome in the LP.  No person
      within the libertarian quadrant should be considered inferior to
      any other.  The LNC should take a leadership role in promoting
      this attitude and achieving this goal.

Image: Goal #3

    * Create a sustained and proactive program to improve the LP's
      public image:
          * Establish a "Shadow Cabinet" to comment regularly on current
	    issues
          * Publish and release comments on current topics weekly;
	    topics can include items from Shadow Cabinet, what elected
	    Libertarians have done, etc.
          * Develop and vigorously market a speaker's bureau of screened
	    representatives of the LP who can convey the positive image
	    of the LP as a place where all in the libertarian quadrant
	    are welcome

Organization: Goal #1

    * Improve internal operations of the LP by:
          * Operating an efficient and effective national office by
	    4/1/93
          * Having a presentable national office by 4/1/94
          * Striving for a dual-management approach to the operation
            of the national office
          * Producing an operating handbook for state parties describing
	    their interface with the national party, services available,
	    etc.
          * Defining and implementing an ongoing strategic planning
	    process to establish goals as input prior to the beginning
	    of each budget cycle

Organization: Goal #2

    * Increase LP membership and contributor base by identifying them as
      different and distinct.  Specifically:
          * Eliminate the "oath"
          * Assure that all statistics and all communications use the
	    broadest definition of "member"
          * Establish reciprocity between national and state LP
	    membership, where possible
          * Include all registered Libertarians as non-contributing
	    members
          * Develop new outreach materials building on image changes
          * Attract mainstream, articulate, successful, functional
	    members
          * Increase proportion of minorities, women, and other groups
	    not currently well represented in the LP membership
          * Improve outreach to special interest groups

    * Improve fundraising yield from membership by:
          * Doubling percentage of prospects who contribute
          * Increasing the number of contributing members by 400%
          * Reducing by 50% the proportion of contributing members who
	    fail to maintain that status

Organization: Goal #3

    * Improve the effectiveness of LP News as a means to attract members
      and contributors by:
          * Including a monthly column on the activities of elected
	    Libertarians
          * Including to the extent possible a state-by-state list of
	    activities monthly
          * Adopting an ongoing review of the LP News editorial policy
	    to ensure consistency with desired public image and mission

Organization: Goal #4

    * Improve affiliate party support:
          * Develop a suggested blue-print for state parties including
	    organizational structure and objectives from the state level
	    to the precinct level
          * Create and distribute a "Libertarian Data Book" (vote
	    totals, ballot access facts, list of elected Libertarians,
	    etc.)

    * Develop a world-class campus organizing program, with:
          * Contacts on 500 campuses and between 100 and 200 organized
            and functioning campus clubs going into the '96 elections
          * Such a visible presence on campus that any student
            attending an American college or university will have
            heard of the LP and have some idea of what a libertarian is

Campaigns and Candidates: Goal #1

    * State and local 1994 goals are to:
          * Elect 5 state legislators (outside NH)
          * Raise $1,000,000 to support state house candidates
          * Recruit 1,500 candidates (all levels) nationwide
          * Identify and provide campaign materials and promote
	    professional campaign training

Campaigns and Candidates: Goal #2

    * Federal 1994 goals are:
          * Have 200 federal candidates file with the FEC
          * Obtain NES coverage of returns
          * Obtain 30-state ballot access by 12/94
          * Provide support for federal candidates including:
	        * bookkeeping, caging and FEC reporting
		* generic TV and radio ads
		* other services, if possible
          * Recruit qualified 1996 presidential candidates

Campaigns and Candidates: Goal #3

    * 1996 Campaign goals include:
          * 51-state ballot access
          * Enabling presidential candidate to qualify for federal
	    matching funds
          * Participation in presidential debates
          * Recruiting 50 former or current non-Libertarian office
	    holders to run as Libertarians
          * Doubling our average 1992 US House vote percentages by 1994

                                                                                
                                                                                
          
Several votes were involved in the endorsement of these goals.

The bulk of the text was passed as a package on a voice vote.  Dehn and
Gingell asked that their "no" votes on this motion be noted, giving as
their reason that there had not been sufficient time for any discussion
of most of the individual points.

"Organization: Goal #2" was voted on separately, after a discussion which
dealt almost exclusively with the question of eliminating the membership
"oath" (certification that the individual opposes the initiation of
force to achieve political or social goals).  Voting in favor were: 
Crickenberger, Dasbach, Givot, Hall, Karlan, Kohls, Neale, Prazak, and
Redpath; voting against were Alexander, Clark, Dehn, Ernsberger, Gingell,
Johnson, and McLean, with Gingell noting that she voted "no" primarily
because there had not been time to discuss the other points.

The second part of "Image: Goal #1", concerning changing the nature and
scope of the Platform, was also voted on separately.  Voting in favor
were: Clark, Crickenberger, Dasbach, Ernsberger, Givot, Hall, Karlan,
Neale, Prazak, Redpath, and Schumacher; voting against were: Alexander,
Dehn, Gingell, Johnson, Kohls, and McLean.

Several other small portions were approved separately by voice vote,
with no members asking that their votes or comments be recorded.