Presidential Ballot Access

by: AuMass

Mon Nov 21, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EST

Massachusetts libertarians need to do their part to help in this process.  We've already spent the money we raised for Presidential ballot access; it's been spent  on our Federal lawsuit, which did get Bob Barr on the 2008 ballot, and which has at least clarified the law relating to petitioning and substitutions.

For 2012, we need 12 volunteers.  Your mission is to re-register and line up with Joe Kennedy, who ran as the candidate of the "Liberty' Party.  11 volunteers will be the Presidential Electors; one volunteer will be the US Senate  Candidate.  The National Party is planning on handling ballot access in Massachusetts, but they will doubtless be grateful for anything you choose to do to help get our Presidential candidate on the ballot.

State Committee Minutes, September 25 Meeting

by: AuMass

Sun Nov 20, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EST

Call to Order
Meeting called to order on September 25th, 2011 at 2:15pm in Worcester. Present were committee members David Blau, George Phillies, Dick Martin, Alwin Hopfmann, Bob Underwood, and Bob Clark.
The agenda for today's meeting is Officer reports, Working Group reports, George has bylaws amendments to discuss. The upcoming convention. The agenda was adopted.   The minutes from the August meeting were distributed via email on September 23rd. With no objections, these minutes are adopted. However, George mentioned that the minutes contain things that we're going to do before the next meeting. It would be nice if the minutes got out very quickly. They would be of more use that way.

Officer Reports from State Convention

by: AuMass

Sat Nov 19, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EST

Editor
Massachusetts Liberty continues to appear on a regular monthly basis, in both paper and electronic editions. It's almost unique.  Almost no other state parties are bringing out a monthly newsletter.

Membership Secretary
As of October 1, 2011 we had 120 members.  Over the past three years we have had 200 members reach their expiration date; of these, 120 still belong.  That's far better than the national party is doing. We continue to send out a four-piece series of renewal letters, followed by an electronic reminder.  I am still trying to set up a terminal telephone contact reminder and have not yet been able to bring this to fruition.

Treasurer
As of October 1, 2011, we had 2069.82 in the Federal (FEC) account, and $4056 in the state (OCPF) account.  From October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011, the Federal Account had $7498 in income, and $10,635 in expenditures.

From October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011, the State Account had $5090 in income and $2987 in expenditures. MORE BELOW FOLD

Good Libertarian News

by: AuMass

Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EST

On October 22 the Libertarian Party of Illinois held another Presidential debate.  Live coverage was planned; expect to be able to find this debate on the internet.  

Oregon is having a special Congressional election.  The Libertarian Party of Oregon has a candidate,  James Foster; his Facebook page is James Foster for Congress.

State Convention 2011

by: AuMass

Tue Nov 15, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EST

October 9, 2011.  Libertarians from across    Massachusetts gathered in Worcester for the 2011 State Convention of our Libertarian Association.  A business-packed four-hour event including a hot lunch listened to a Presidential debate, heard reports from officers and from our LNC representative, elected a new committee, and elected delegates to the national convention.  

Thanks to State Committee member Bob Clark, you can watch the convention on the internet.  Bob taped the entire event and put it up on YouTube.  To see the event, go to YouTube.Com and search on Libertarian Association of Mass. 2011 Convention. The Presidential debate starts at Part 9.

Much More below fold:

Know Your National Platform

by: AuMass

Mon Nov 14, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EST

Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.

1.6    Self-Defense
The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights - life, liberty, and justly acquired property - against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.

Your State Committee

by: AuMass

Mon Nov 14, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EST

Officers
Chair - David Blau
Editor - George Phillies
Membership Secretary - George Phillies
Operations Facilitator - Bob Clark
Political Advisor - Alwin Hopfmann
Press Outreach - Bob Underwood
Recording Secretary - Bob Clark
Treasurer - George Phillies
Webmaster - Bob Clark

Wanted: Candidates for Office!

by: AuMass

Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 19:53:05 PM EST

Your State Committee has resources we will use to support your campaign. Yes, we have advice - people who have run for office or helped others get on the ballot.  We can't get you on the ballot by ourselves, but we can explain how to do it relatively painlessly.

Contacts really can help.  Besides our own membership list (120 names) and the national membership list (twice as large) we have a file of 13,000 Libertarian members and contacts going back over the past two decades.  We have an extremely extensive list - close to 13,000 names -of registered Libertarian voters from Massachusetts, including in many cases their email addresses.

Money can be important.  We expect to supply each of our candidates who assembles a campaign with treasurer a modest token of our support - $500 to cover legitimate campaign expenses.

Web and social pages reach young people who don't read the newspapers.  Several members and friends are happy to assist with web and facebook page  design, assist with the subtleties of twitter and other electronic social tools, and help craft electronic advertising and outreach campaigns.

Presidential Ballot Access

by: AuMass

Mon Oct 24, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EDT

Massachusetts libertarians need to do their part to help in this process.  We've already spent the money we raised for Presidential ballot access; it's been spent on our Federal lawsuit, which did get Bob Barr on the 2008 ballot, and which has at least clarified the law relating to petitioning and substitutions.

For 2012, we need 12 volunteers.  Your mission is to   re-register and line up with Joe Kennedy, who ran as the candidate of the "Liberty' Party.  11 volunteers will be the Presidential Electors; one volunteer will be the US Senate  Candidate.  The National Party is planning on handling ballot access in Massachusetts, but they will doubtless be grateful for anything you choose to do to help get our Presidential candidate on the ballot.

How Many Candidates Should We Run?

by: AuMass

Thu Oct 20, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EDT

Which is why your Editor spent his lunch time today developing another candidate for State Representative.  I hope to have more on this news next month.

The purpose of a political party is

   To Advance its Agenda via Political Action.
   To run Candidates for Office and Win Elections.
   To Use Electoral Victory to Put Its Program into Effect.

MORE BELOW FOLD

July 24, 2011 Minutes Part III

by: AuMass

Mon Oct 17, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EDT

Lawsuit motion #1
I move to spend the Presidential ballot access fund ($1000) to reimburse me in part for expenses related to the lawsuit, namely paying $2320.48 to pay for half of the certiori printing fees for the Supreme Court appeal.

July 24, 2011 Minutes Part II

by: AuMass

Fri Oct 14, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EDT

Alwin believes that Clay Walsh has learned how to campaign very well, especially at the local level. Our expertise has been more at the state and federal levels, so Mr. Walsh will hopefully come up with some good use of the money we sent like radio advertising, and that he will be a good model for an effective local campaign. On Clay Walsh's web site http://electwalsh.com you can see a debate among the nine candidates for councilor-at-large. Alwin said Mr. Walsh did a very good job.

State Committee Minutes 7/24/2011 -- Part I

by: AuMass

Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EDT

MORE BELOW FOLD

Know Your National Platform

by: AuMass

Fri Sep 30, 2011 at 21:02:15 PM EDT

1.3    Personal Relationships
Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.

1.4    Abortion
Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

STate Convention Agenda

by: AuMass

Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 00:00:00 AM EDT

10:00 AM Registration and morning coffee
Tea-Coffee-Hot Cocoa
Danish Pastry -- Hot Rolls

10:15 Convention opening:
      State Chair David Blau

10:25  Greetings from
      LNC Regional Representative
      Vicki Kirkland