LPQC
NewsLPQC
NewsThe Official Newsletter of the Libertarian Party of Queens County
Volume 1, Number 1 Premier Issue October 1995
Queens County Libertarians Form Local LP Chapter
LP Presidential Hopeful to Appear on National TV Debates
Queens County Libertarians Form Local LP Chapter
John Procida, a Flushing businessman, is a man of vision and action. When he saw a need for a civic association in his neighborhood, he started one. When he saw a need for an association of Italian-Americans in Flushing, he started one. And when he saw a need for a local chapter of the Libertarian Party in Queens, he started that too.
In September 1994, Mr.Procida contacted the Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) to find out how to start a local chapter. He learned that he would have to notify all LPNY members living in Queens of a convention for the formation of the new chapter, and that at least seven LPNY members would have to attend. His first announcement was for a convention on October 6, but fewer than the required seven LPNY members attended. Those who did attend worked out plans for a telephone campaign to draw a quorum to a subsequent meeting.
Then, on November 12, 1994, ten people, including eight LPNY members, convened at Mr.Procida's offices to form the Libertarian Party of Queens County (LPQC). Bylaws were adopted, several policy matters were debated and voted on, and the following officers were elected: Christiana Mayer, Chair; John Clifton, Vice-Chair; Adam Mayer, Secretary; Jim Strawhorn, Treasurer; and Bradford Arter, Representative to the LPNY.
The next step was to obtain certification by the LPNY. On November 19, at an LPNY State Committee in White Plains, Ms. Mayer and Mr.Arter presented the names of the LPNY members who had attended the founding convention, the names of our officers, and our bylaws. After brief deliberations, the State Committee voted to certify the LPQC as a county organization of the LPNY. This made the LPQC an official subunit of the LPNY and in turn, of the national Libertarian Party.
Getting Growing
In December 1994 and January 1995, the LPQC Committee (which is comprised of the five elected officers) met to discuss strategies for growth. The tasks facing the committee ranged from administrative matters (such as opening a bank account) to developing a vision of what the LPQC should be and how it should operate. A major challenge was finding a place to have monthly meetings. Our goal was to find a place easily accessible by public transportation which can accommodate 25 to 50 people and has room for a literature table. We contacted organizations which have such rooms; they were either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. We decided that, until we reach a size which will permit meeting-space rental to be a reasonable fraction of our income, we will do as many other political clubs do: meet in restaurants.
There was a lull in our activity during the spring. One officer fell and suffered serious injuries, and two others were busy with night school. Nevertheless, we organized and held a convention on June 17, thereby meeting the requirement in our bylaws for a convention to be held in the spring of each year (see LPQC's First Convention).
First General Meetings
Following the convention, there was another brief lull, but Mr.Clifton and Mr.Strawhorn soon returned to work on finding a place for monthly meetings. Mr.Strawhorn visited several several restaurants in Jackson Heights and inquired as to whether they could accommodate the LPQC's meetings. The owner of Shaheen International Sweets & Restaurant, a Pakistani-Indian-Bangladeshi restaurant, agreed to let us meet there, at least on a trial basis. Shaheen is close to a major subway stop and bus terminal (74th St. and Roosevelt Ave.) and has excellent, inexpensive food. Although it doesn't have separate meeting rooms, its dinning area is pleasant and comfortable. Especially helpful is the fact that Shaheen's beautiful tables from India can easily be pushed together to form a conference table.
Mr.Clifton sent out a notice announcing a meeting for Saturday, August 12. At that meeting, we discussed the status of several projects: an LPQC brochure, a newspaper advertising strategy, a public-access television program, and a meeting format which will be engaging to a broad range of people, from the curious to long-time libertarians. We agreed to continue at Shaheen on the second Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At our September 9 meeting, we implemented our general plan for meeting format: open with a brief business meeting, then have a lunch break, followed by a resource-sharing program. Our topic that day was "Downsizing, Trade Treaties, Technology- The War Against the Working Man." We had a lively discussion of the effects of government policies on job creation (and job destruction). Throughout our exchange, we stamped approximately 600 brochures from National with our new LPQC stamp.
So, the LPQC is up and running. It has grown from a vision in John Procida's mind to its present membership of 17 people. We are working on concrete projects to inform the community about libertarian values and draw in more members. Before long, we will be supporting our own candidates for office, winning elections, and implementing libertarian policies.
Incidentally, we're in good company. The previous organizations founded by Mr.Procida have flourished. There is nothing to stop the LPQC from continuing in that tradition.
By Jim Strawhorn
LP Presidential Hopeful to Appear on National TV Debates
Harry Browne, who is seeking the Libertarian Party presidential nomination, will appear in three nationally broadcast debates in the coming weeks, alongside Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. The debates are sponsored by City Vote, a multi-city, non-binding presidential preference poll which will be conducted in conjunction with local elections on November 7 in at least 16 cities across the country. The first debate will take place in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 8. It will be covered by Twin Cities Public Television KTCA/KTCI (a PBS affiliate) and CSPAN. The second will take place in Spokane on October 22, and the third will likely be held in Boston on November 5.
According to LP national chair Steve Dasbach, "This marks the first time that a candidate seeking the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination will appear in debates with candidates seeking the nomination of the Democratic or Republican parties. Harry Browne's inclusion in these debates points out the value of the Libertarian Party's record of ballot access achievement, and the importance of early success in fundraising. It also demonstrates the opportunities created by moving our nominating convention to 1996."
Mark your calendars, and be sure to have your VCRs ready to record!
The LPQC's first annual convention was held on June 17, 1995, in the Harvest Room of Jamaica Market in Jamaica Queens. Approximately 18 people, including eight new members, attended. Blay Tarnoff, Chair LPNY;and Dottie Lou Brokaw, Vice-Chair LPNY, were featured speakers.
After LPQC Chair Christiana Mayer called the convention to order, Mr.Tarnoff spoke about the importance of local organizations to the future of the LPNY. He emphasized the need to keep mailing lists in good order, stay in touch with members, solicit contributions, and get involved with local issues. He noted also that while some members will be more active than others, everyone who joins is vital to our efforts.
LPQC Vice-Chair John Clifton gave presentations on two areas - the 1996 Presidential race, including information on the three Libertarian Party front-runners, and the LPQC's efforts to develop a public access television program.
Ms. Brokaw presented the keynote address. She spoke about the importance of small matters - about exemplifying the libertarian philosophy while doing the "little" things that are needed to get our message out and build our organization. She reminded us that libertarianism is fundamentally about being civilized, about good manners: We treat one another with civility; public policy also should treat people with civility and respect. She stated the importance of the "platinum rule": Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. That's libertarianism in a nutshell.
Election of officers for the 1995-96 year followed Ms. Brokaw's speech. The officers elected were: John Clifton, Chair; Christiana Mayer, Vice Chair; Jim Strawhorn, Secretary; Jim Strawhorn, Treasurer; and Brad Arter, Representative to LPNY. Several amendments to the bylaws were approved. Article I was modified to allow people residing outside of Queens to join but not vote on business matters. (The restriction on voting was included because, several months ago, a number of people living outside of Queens wanted to join, intending to out-vote the Queens residents into holding our meetings outside of Queens.) The convention also approved the institution of a pledge requirement for membership in the LPQC.
Four certificates of appreciation were presented: to John Procida, for being our founder; to Dottie Lou Brokaw, for being our first keynote speaker; to Jim Harris, for his assistance in helping us get started; and to Michelle Yaskel (in Absentia), for being our first dues-paying member. We will continue until we succeed in our efforts to present Ms. Yaskel's certificate to her.
By Jim Strawhorn
Welcome to the LPQC's first effort in periodical publishing. Things have been moving fast for the LP in Queens County, following our formation last fall and the chapter's first convention in June. We've established a stable schedule for official activity, centered around our regular get-togethers at Shaheen Restaurant in Jackson Heights (the second Saturday of each month, 11a.m.) and this newsletter. Editor Jim Strawhorn has worked many hours to bring you a first rate edition of LPQC News. We're laying the ground work for a durable, responsive membership and a high profile presence for LP events and ideas in Queens County. We're glad to have you as part of the libertarian wave!
One avenue of media exposure I have been spearheading is the TV project, in the form of getting the LPQC (or libertarianism in general) onto public access cable. Queens Public Access Television of QUICS/Time-Warner is the local outlet, but has been difficult to deal with, due to complications relating to their production training and certification procedure. After several talks with QPTV and some video-savvy people, including Dottie Lou Brokaw (Vice Chair, LPNY), Alan Maropolous (of LPNY County), and Elliott Werner (of LPQC), it appears the easiest and cheapest way to put on a regular program is through a "homemade" process. That is, a team of one or two people shoot and edit a show outside traditional studio and prepare it in a format acceptable for airing.
I am now the proud owner of a Miro DC1 video capture board and Adobe Premiere 4.0 (the leading video-editing software), which, in conjunction with my 75 MHz Pentium and SVHS VCR, should be sufficient for editing a program at a level of professionalism equaling or exceeding what could be produced in a public-access TV studio. After a few more details are worked out (shooting and production plans, guests, outside-provider submission process to QPTV, etc.), the LPQC could be airing by the end of this year. Stay tuned!
Other projects in the works: A fund-raiser for the LPQC (tentatively slated for early next year) with celebrity guests, and the formation of a libertarian think tank which can develop reasoned libertarian policy formulations for Queens, New York City, and the entire region. If you have additional ideas on these or other fronts, or would be interested in volunteering time or talents in any of these enterprises, feel free to contact the LPQC.
Until Next Time, Peace and Freedom.
By John Clifton
Our members are in general agreement that the LPQC's monthly meetings should consist of two main components - a brief business meeting and an informative program. For meetings at which we don't have an outside lecturer or program leader, we will use a home grown approach, called a resource-sharing forum. A topic will be announced, and everyone is invited to share their ideas, knowledge, and questions about it. If possible, write up your thoughts in one or two pages. Written submissions from those who wish to offer them will be assembled into a notebook - LPQC's own working papers on the subject. Copies can then be made for anyone who requests them. For example, if the topic is political persuasion, jot down (and perhaps word process) your thoughts about the subject, and bring them to the meeting and share them. No one needs to make a formal speech; just express your own ideas in your own words.
Whether or not you'd like to bring written materials to present at our resource-sharing forums, we hope you'll bring YOURSELF to all of our meetings. We are working hard to develop interesting programs, and there is a good chance you'll learn something. Also, our monthly gatherings will enable us to get to know one another better, which will facilitate our growth into a large, politically active and effective - organization.
By Jim Strawhorn
We hope you enjoy this, the premier issue of LPQC News. This is your newsletter, and it will develop as you wish it to. Please offer your suggestions, your submissions, and if possible your help!
LPQC News
Jim Strawhorn, Editor
Bradford Arter, Associate Editor
LPQC News is published bimonthly by the Libertarian Party of Queens County (LPQC). Opinions expressed in LPQC News are not necessarily official positions of the membership or the officers of the LPQC.
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