> > paul) I agree, state and local parties should certainly pursue this in > > their areas as well, and if national can help out that's great, but > > Steve does have a valid point that it is a lot cheaper and easiet for > > the national office to attend and staff an event in the DC area.
Susan> Right. But *my* point is that these tables don't have to be run by > 'staff'. In act I think they *shouldn't* be tabled by staff members > for more than half the time, even in DC. We shouldn't have to pay > people to do volunteer-level work. Paul) Fair enough, and I'm not sure they were necessarily paid on the weekend, although as salaried (rather than hourly) employees you can argue they were. Regardless, there's certainly nothing stopping local and state parties, or individual members, from tabling anywhere. Or, if and when they do, posting the pictures and video, sharing tips and tricks and outreach materials and what works well, etc. Those things should definitely be done. I hope they will be done more. I'm trying to encourage them, as best I can. As for DC - unfortunately, the DC LP appears to be moribund, but there are active branches in nearby parts of Maryland and Northern Virginia. So, certainly, events could be covered with volunteers - if and when volunteers show up. Just like in any city. > > After all, they only have a small handful of folks working in the DC > > office right now, and their financial situation is not that great - > > way down from what it was a decade ago, or even five years ago - and > > sparing the staff and travel costs for out of town events can be > > prohibitive in terms of both time and money. ... > Yes, that's why staff should NOT necessarily have to travel. > > I don't disagree that DC events should not be missed - I just don't > think an event should *have* to be in DC for the LP to table it. Paul) I agree, the LP should ideally be at all events all over the country. But then somebody has to actually be there, and there is nothing stopping them from being already there, is there? Since Steve asked me for specific suggestions, I have done (and am doing) my best to provide them. It's an open discussion; feel free to contribute. I see you made one suggestion in the discussion thus far, but it was one I had already made in the discussion right above you. If I can get them to table at Take Back America or any of the other events suggested that would be a specific victory, rather than just beating them up for all the things they (or, I should say WE) don't do, I thank them for what they DO do, and then suggest some small concrete step in the direction I want the party to take. I hope it works. > And will they be tabling at the March on the Pentagon the 17th of this month? Paul) Dunno, but I already asked. They may be in Orlando for the State Chairs and LNC meeting that day, but then again maybe not. In any case I brought it to their attention. There will also be local events all over the country for those who can't make it to DC. Maybe even in Orlando? I'll try to make either DC or Orlando that day if I can. If you can help hook me up with work in NC between now and then I'll be more able to afford it. > Were they tabling at the previous antiwar event? Did they try to get a table? > > God forbid word should ever leak out that the LP is antiwar. > > -- > Susan Hogarth > http://www.colliething.com > Paul) Susan, thanks for designing the flyers/postcards and attending the Jan. 27 event with the NC LP. I don't know of any other LP members who attended in an organized manner, but then not everyone always posts it on the web, or in the same places I frequent. The designs and discussion are still up for anyone who wants to grab them or contribute to improving them. I'll post the URLs in a separate message, the browser is acting all screwy right now. BTW you never did tell me...did you print any off for Jan 27, distribute them, and if so how did it go? No big deal if you didn't, of course, I'm still glad you were there and wish I had been too. We can still use the stuff you designed for Mar 17 and maybe get some other folks involved. -p
