Meeting of 13 December, 2014

Libertarian Party of San Francisco

Minutes of the monthly meeting held December 13, 2014 at the San Francisco Main Library

 

Members Present: Marcy Berry (Vice-Chair), Aubrey Freedman (Chair), Jawj Greenwald, Leslie Mangus (Treasurer), Starchild

Visitor: Michael Burns

 

ACTIVISM REPORTS

 

There was a post-election lull in our level of activism last month. Aubrey and Marcy overcame their social inhibitions to attend (LPSF long-time friend) Sarosh Kumana's Annual Holiday Party and mingle with some local politicos, and were surprised how much they enjoyed it.  Les and Aubrey attended another enjoyable annual event, the JSA Convention, a Santa Clara gathering for high school students interested in politics and debate.  Marcy wrote lots for the LPSF website.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(for more detailed and timely notice of events, see “Bay Area Events” section of the website, www.lpsf.org)

 

The Golden Gate Liberty Revolution's monthly meetup will be held 7-9 pm Monday December 15 at the Moksha Life Center, 405 Sansome St

 

Free Exchange meets 7-12 at Jim Elwood's home in Parkmerced on the 1st Saturday of each month (next date: Jan 3)

 

The LPSF annual election of officers will be held at the Saturday January 10  LPSF meeting in the 4th floor conference room of the Main Library.

 

OFFICERS' AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Treasurer’s Report   Les Mangus reported that, as of November 30, we had $2963.13 in the bank

 

Website Report.  Marcy Berry continues to write at least one website article a week and encourages others to contribute.  The site now has pictures.  There was a surge of traffic in the lead-up to the November elections, with over 14000 visits to the site in October and over 13000 in November. The site is gaining popularity. Since it doesn't cost even one postage stamp to promote the LPSF on its website, it clearly provides a good return on investment.

 

Membership Committee.  Aubrey Freedman reports no change in membership numbers this month, and succeeded in getting the state party to update its records of current paid-up members. He sent out an email newsletter to members and supporters in lieu of mailing individual letters, and will try to do so monthly in future to reach as many of SF's 2700 registered Libertarians as possible. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Donations/Government Filing Requirements. We discussed the level of donations and membership dues we receive and decided it was close to $2000 a year (so are expenses to cover activism and operations).  We discussed the donation button on the LPSF Meetup Group website.  Group Organizer Starchild would need to add the button.

 

Les Magnus raised an issue related to our campaign account.  This was set up to comply with campaign laws to allow us to solicit and spend $1000 and over on candidate and ballot measure campaigns.  However, we never raised or spent anything approaching $1000 specifically earmarked for campaigning, so we recently authorized him to close the campaign account.  Since then, Les and Aubrey have sought clarification from the state agency that enforces laws about political parties as to whether the threshold of $1000 that obligates a political party to file reports of contributions includes various non-campaign donations (e.g. dues, payments for general operating expenses) that would push us over the threshold.  Aubrey circulated an email response suggesting that ALL payments and contributions to a political party count (even though such laws may seldom be enforced).  So after discussion, we voted (4 to 1) to comply.  Aubrey, with Les' help, will look into what is required to register as a “campaign committee” and make required filings thereafter.

 

Tax Day Event.

 

We have a date (April 5th) and a venue (one of the Main Library meeting rooms) for our 2015 tax day event. But as of yet no speaker or topic.  Suggestions were solicited and briefly discussed.