The Libertarian Party of Tennessee will hold its state convention on March 8 and 9 at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport in Nashville, TN.
Organizers have lined up a roster of speakers of interest to libertarians, and plan to deal with proposed bylaws changes as well.
Among items being considered, according to a notice linked from the party's Web site, are:
- Regional coordinators have been tied to "the four geographic regions of the state." A proposed bylaws change would make the designation of regions flexible, driven by demand and needs.
- Another proposal would simplify membership requirements for the state party. Current rules include several specific ways to become an official member. The proposed change would provide two avenues beyond Tennessee citizenship: either national party membership, or contribution of $25 or more to the state party during the previous 12 months, excluding fees for events.
- A provision requiring officers be members of the party by means of the contribution qualification is being proposed. In other words, simple national membership qualifies an individual for party membership, but not for holding office.
- Another provision would similarly require qualification for membership via contribution in order to vote at a party convention.
- The discretionary fund of the party chair would be reduced under another proposal. Current bylaws specify a budget of 10 per cent of the total party budget or $2,500, whichever is less. The amendment, if passed, would limit the chair's discretionary fund to 5 percent of the total budget or $1,000, whichever is less.
- Current bylaws require that proposed amendments to the bylaws be published in the party's pre-convention issue of its newsletter. A proposed amendment would change that requirement to distribution to attendees at the beginning of the convention, as well as explicitly reserve the privilege of proposing amendments to members.
Scheduled speakers include Hedy Weinberg, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee; James Baird, Assistant TN State Director for the Fair Tax Nation; Drew Johnson, editor of the Free Press opinion page at the Chattanooga Times Free Press; Radley Balko, former senior editor at Reason magazine and current senior writer and investigative reporter for the Huffington Post; and Michael Lotfi, campaign chairman for Shaun Crowell's 2012 U.S. Senate campaign and owner of TheLibertyPaper.org.
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