[Convention] FW:[adcom] Re: - Decision Needed on Interim Registration Period

[Jim Bosman]

Conv Com - below is an email Merelice sent to Adcom.
Not sure if it was also sent to the Conv Com list so I
am posting it here. Apologies for double-posting if it
is just being held temporarily in the mailman program.


Jim

In a message dated 4/7/04 9:15:23 PM,
nallepuh at zeeprime.com writes:

<< As to lack of turn out, that is in NO WAY our
commitee's fault.  >>

I can understand the sensitivities of the convention
committee at this time. But let me reassure everyone
that at no time during the adcom meeting did we 
place any blame on anybody. We have all had to cope
with less than desirable conditions in our various
efforts. I speak as one who worked very hard (and 
several times around the clock) to get out a
newsletter that simply was not moving along. And so we
had to go back to it when we thought we were mostly 
finished! We did our best and rolled with the punches.

In discussing the convention, I think the adcom
identified a genuine problem -- the real possibility
that the Party could incur a significant financial 
loss, a loss we simply cannot afford. In fact, our
hope instead is that the State Committee will
undertake a vigorous phone campaign (or something) to
get people to the convention. But the problem has to
be made unmistakably clear. And the State Com must be
galvanized; neither the adcom nor the convention 
committee can solve this problem without broad
involvement.

It was natural then for the adcom to want to explore
various solutions. Our thought was to be able to go to
State Com with ideas, not just problems. And we 
were in touch with the convention committee while we
were still in the middle of discussions. We hoped that
by identifying the problem, EVERYONE would start
sharing ideas and suggestions. If this did not come
across in communications with you, I apologize on
behalf of AdCom. I don't believe that was our intent.

We are, however, into problem-solving. And that
includes finding suitable child care, if it turns out
to be needed. To single out that deadline as the only 
one that is non-negotiable is unnecessary. Of course,
the best scenario is for everyone to meet every
deadline. But since that hasn't happened, a little 
compassion goes a long way in trying to meet
everyone's needs, along with the Party's need to stay
solvent. In particular, I think that if Lisa and
Chicago need childcare, the Party should extend itself
to them, given the enormous service they have just
extended to the Party as organizers of a successful
16-day statewide march (during which the convention
registration deadline fell).

So I ask you not to read blame and condemnation where
they don't exist.  I do think it was valid for you to
point out that, in our eagerness, we should not 
have taken some actions without your knowledge. But if
your initial reaction was to resist doing anything or
to become defensive, then it's hard not to 
want to jump in and do some fact-finding. I hope you
will take our fact-finding and include it in your
report at State Com with whatever recommendations you 
deem effective.

Sincerely, Merelice


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