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���� Front Page
LNC approves zero dues
At their meeting in Kansas City Aug. 5-7, members of the Libertarian National Committee voted set lower membership dues for the national Libertarian Party at zero, opening the door for anyone to become a member of the party at no cost.
This overturned their earlier decision -- made in late February -- to double membership dues from $25 to $50.
The LNC also voted to end the United Membership Program (UMP), which served as an agreement between the LNC and the Libertarian Party�s state affiliates. Through that agreement, each state was provided with revenue based on how many dues-paying members of the national LP lived in the state.
Within the same motion, members of the national staff were instructed to develop plans and set aside funds to begin extensive training for LP members, state officers, campaign managers, activists and candidates.
The areas of training will include ballot access, FEC compliance, fundraising, database usage, member recruitment and candidate recruitment and training.
�The shift to a zero-dues structure, which is slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2006, will essentially move the national LP from an organization heavily focused on membership to an organization that is focused on winning elections above all else,� said LP Communications Director Shane Cory. �At national headquarters, we have already started planning to make a seamless transition to zero dues.�
State party affiliates are also considering their best course of action in moving forward -- deciding whether to begin charging dues or to operate on a contribution-only status like the national party. The UMP phase-out process will begin Sept. 30.
After Jan. 1, 2006, the only requirement of membership to the national LP will be for the individual to certify that he or she does �not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals.�
Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, new members will receive a welcome package but will not receive a subscription to LP News. Instead, the official party newspaper will be available by a separate subscription process.
Current members whose memberships are set to expire after that date will receive LP News for the remainder of their current subscription.
�Members should note that membership in the LP remains important as it will count toward the member�s home state delegate allocation at the LP�s national convention,�
Cory said.
The 2006 convention is set for the weekend immediately preceding July 4.
�Also, the National Libertarian Party�s income will soon be based solely upon donations from its members, so supporters of the Libertarian Party are strongly encouraged to start a monthly pledge in order to ease this transition.�
In addition to preparing for the move to zero dues, LP headquarters staff has already begun preparation for the training the LNC instructed them to provide.
�We�ll have very exciting news to share in the coming months, regarding that training,� Cory said. �Let me just say that we won�t simply be putting together training manuals. We�re going to work hard to create an intensive program that will greatly benefit the LP.�
- Published in the September 2005 issue of LP News -
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