Fifteen Tips for Potential National Convention Delegates
By Marc Montoni
Things a Delegate Should Do
1. Do a thorough read of the Delegation Chair's Manual:
http://www.lp.org/archives
2. Make your travel & hotel http://www.denverlpcon.com
3. If you're planning to attend only the Business Session, please inform the Credentials Committee to ask what the procedure will be for those who are not purchasing the other convention packages. Note that if you are elected Delegate, you are NOT required to pay **any** fee to get into the Business Session, even though there is a $99 "Junior Congressman" package advertised that purportedly is for those "Only here to do business". The convention website http://www.denverlpcon.com
Naturally, the convention host committee is within its rights attempting to "upsell", but it should be noted that several LNC members have demanded that members -- who have already supported the organization with donations and who have made the investment in traveling to the convention -- should have to pay even more to sit in their delegate seat once they arrive. They have argued their position by calling "free" delegates "freeloaders" "subsidized" and "povertarians". This position has been roundly refuted with cites from Robert's Rules; in addition, it isn't even clear that requiring elected delegates to pay more is even legal (and for that matter, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans *require* a floor fee). Fortunately, this idea was rejected at the LNC level. However, it may still be an issue you will have to deal with. Assert your rights!
4. If you plan to attend any of the extra-cost components of the National Convention, register early.
http://www.denverlpcon.com/
5. Find out what the procedure will to seek a delegation seat with your state LP.
PLEASE NOTE: There are some LP leaders out there who are trying extremely hard to make sure only "their" people will apply for delegation seats, much less get appointed to them. Some of these efforts have been extremely blatant and exclusionary (such as sending official Party notices only to their own circle of ringers), and in some cases are probably illegal under Robert's Rules and perhaps even some state nonprofit or political party law. However, questionable legality has not stopped them. It is up to *you* to become familiar NOW with the procedures in your state, and to make sure you get your fair try at winning a delegate seat.
6. SHOW UP at your state LP convention, with your LP activity resume in hand, and do what you need to do to be among those considered for a delegate seat.
7. Read through the current LP Platform, such as it is:
http://www.lp.org/issues
8. Review the Platform Committee's agenda, read through the Reformer's Platform agenda, as well as other materials such as the previous platforms:
http://libertarianmajority.net/
9. Study the Restore04 proposal:
http://www.restore04.com
10. Study the length and content of some of our competitors' platforms:
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu
http://www.democrats.org/pdfs
http://www.gop.com/images
http://www.constitutionparty
http://www.gp.org/platform
11. Read through the current LP Bylaws:
http://www.lp.org/organization
12. Study the Bylaws Proposals from the Bylaws Committee, and be sure to review any comments on each proposal:
http://lpbylaws.blogspot.com/
13. Get yourself a copy of Robert's Rules:
http://search.barnesandnoble
http://search.barnesandnoble
14. Watch "Parliamentary procedure made simple: how to conduct a meeting". Available at most large-ish public libraries. Example:
http://catalog.henrico.lib.va
If you can't find it at your local library, don't forget your municipality's law library, as well as school and college libraries. I saw a few university copies available on this search:
http://www.google.com/search
15. Above all, if you want to be a delegate, you need to have some accomplishment behind you. Don't wait to organize a booth, do a fundraising round for the Party, recruit candidates and members, or organize your home precinct. DO IT NOW. Next week is too late; next month is too late. Do nothing and show up at your state convention and those who have done their homework will be first in line for those precious delegate seats -- ahead of YOU. Get away from the computer, get off the couch, and engage in a real political act.
Things a Delegate Should NOT Do:
1. DO NOT remain unfamiliar with or clueless about convention procedures.
2. DO NOT Wait until the last minute to make your travel plans.
3. DO NOT fail to speak to the Credentials Committee if you're planning to attend only the Business Session.
4. DO NOT forget to register early.
5. DO NOT ignore the procedure to seek a delegation seat with your state LP.
6. DO NOT miss your state LP convention and miss the only opportunity you will have to state your qualifications.
7. DO NOT remain unfamiliar with the current LP Platform.
8. DO NOT remain uninformed about the Platform Committee's objectives.
9. DO NOT forget to study the Restore04 proposal.
10. DO NOT remain ignorant of what our competition has in their platforms.
11. DO NOT remain unfamiliar with the current LP Bylaws.
12. DO NOT forget to study the Bylaws Proposals from the Bylaws Committee.
13. DO NOT complain when parliamentary tricks are used to silence and bypass you, and you don't know how to counter them.
14. Ditto.
15. DO NOT expect to be elected Delegate by sitting at your PC.