FSP Sedition

[Friday]

FSP Participants, Friends, libertarians, lend me your eyeballs, and let us discuss what is to be done with our beloved FSP.

As has been discussed at great length on this forum and elsewhere, the FSP has "issues".? ?

The current configuration of the Board of Directors is self-appointed and meets in secret.? The minutes of its meetings are a joke, IMHO. Some Directors and department heads go MIA for months at a time, yet retain access to internal leadership discussion lists, while other very active members are refused admittance.? ? ?There hasn't been a board election since the summer of 2004.? ?The winner of that election became so disgruntled, for reasons that were never publicly spelled out, that she not only quit the Board, she quit this forum (FSP forum).? Several other Boardmembers and officers have disappeared over the years.? Even public DISCUSSION of BoD elections has been relocated to the Participants Only section, preventing prospective members from being fully informed about the history of an organization that, let's face it, asks for a rather large dose of personal sacrifice. Calls for even token electoral representation on the Board by members have been denied.? It appears to have analysis paralysis; it has been sitting on over $30,000 in organizational funds for months now, unable to decide whether to spend it on a marketing campaign or a paid employee (resulting in the money being spent on neither).? If I were prone to paranoia, I'd find some of this deeply disturbing. Oh wait... I AM prone to paranoia.? ? ?

Exciting and inspiring things are being done by early movers and friends of our cause in New Hampshire.? This is the proof that our concept is feasible, and must be shared with the rest of the world. However, in a vain attempt to comply with IRS registration standards and to adhere to a concept that the FSP is "merely a bus", and takes absolutely no positions on anything at all, discussion of such things is verboten here.? Several times when an FSP participant has gained media exposure, they have been ignored or publicly disavowed by the organization.? I don't know about you, but all of this seems extremely counterproductive to me.? What we need is publicity; why do we run away every time we get some?? I'm referring to the Free Town imbroglio, the Outlaw Manicurist, the Unidentified Flying Objector, and now Lauren Canario.? Our spokesperson recently indicated to a newspaper reporter that the FSP has no position on eminent domain. What?!?!? If we can't even admit that we do have a position on eminent domain (we're AGAINST it!!!), what the hell do we stand for? What's the point of joining this organization?? ????

With all due respect to the members of the Board and some members of the Organizers, who have contributed huge amounts of time, energy and money to bringing this outrageous concept into reality, and some of whom have already made the move, they alone do not comprise the FSP.? *I* am the FSP. WE are the FSP.

There's a growing schism between those who, officially, hold the reins of power over FSP policy, publicity and funds, and those of us who have actually put our lives where our mouths are by moving to New Hampshire and becoming political activists, in some cases at enormous personal cost.? The denizens of the FSP forum, and those of the NH Underground forum, each pretend that the other doesn't exist (except for a few gadflies? Wink ).? The FSP leadership seems repulsed or frightened by the radicalism expressed on the Underground; yet, as far as I can see, the majority of regular posters there are bonafide FSP early movers, or NH natives friendly to our cause, or FSP participants who seem serious about relocating within the next few years.? The official forum, meanwhile, is dominated by nonmembers engaged in endless discussion that has nothing to do with the FSP.? The early movers who are running for political office (or have already won) post in neither place, and we therefore lose the ability to point to their successes (or noble defeats) as a recruitment tool.

With the recent BoD decision to remove the officially "unofficial" 2006 deadline, while retaining the now utterly arbitrary goal of 20,000 signups, and a new emphasis on encouraging people to move as soon as possible, we must address certain unpleasant realities.? Our Director, President and Media Representative, Amanda Phillips, has recently enrolled in Harvard Law School.? It appears very doubtful that she will relocate before finishing her program. And when she does, she will presumably have a mountain of school debt and will need to find as high-paying a job as possible to work on paying it off.? Do you think she'll be taking her first post-law school job in New Hampshire... or staying where she is in greater Boston?

Our Chairman of the Board and founder, Jason Sorens, meanwhile, has recently relocated farther away from NH than he was already living. He has purchased a house and obtained a tenure-track teaching job... at a public university.

I'm not trying to slam Amanda and Jason too much; they have both been extremely dedicated to the FSP concept for years, and have dedicated countless hours of their lives in promoting it.? Amanda is well-spoken and charismatic and makes a great spokesperson. The FSP is Jason's baby.? But I think those of us who comprise the FSP need to ask ourselves: with our recruitment numbers remaining in the toilet for over a year now, and the new direction of the organization, will it help or hurt our chances of success having Amanda and Jason at the helm?? At a bare minimum, I think it is fair to ask for a firm statement of intent to move by such-and-such a date by anyone holding a leadership position.

What is to be done?? I don't know.? But I do know that the current system is increasingly not just ineffectual, but idiotic.? And I have far too much invested in the FSP to just walk away now.? I know some of you others have as well, or plan on doing so in the near future.? It's time to try something new, preferably with the sanction of the leadership, but without it if need be.

The concept of the FSP will succeed or fail by our actions.? Let's discuss this, and take action.? I welcome all ideas.? Please post them here, IM me, email me, or call me (I'm in the Porcupine directory).? If you're *really* paranoid, I'll even meet you in a crowded pub and remove all my bugged fillings first.? ?


(This message will also be posted on the Underground forum, for the benefit of those early movers who have become so frustrated with the FSP leadership that they won't even look at this forum anymore.)

[Lex]

We're moving to NH no matter what.

[Kat Kanning]

We're moving to NH no matter what.

I love that attitude

We're talking about your post, Friday.  I completely sympathize.  My gut reaction is a putting all the leadership positions up for a vote would be the best.  I could tell you stories that would make your head spin.  Russell hasn't stopped ranting since your post, and he hasn't even read it yet 

Keep these in leadership (going down the list):
Varrin Swearingen
Bob Hull
Sandy Pierre
Dan Mcguire
Phil Denisch
Brian Sullivan
Jennifer Dorsett (I don't know anything about this person)
Kate Rick
Tim Condon
Neil Alexander
Nik Ludwig    
Tim Bauman    
Tom Parker    
Margot Keyes
Chris Harrison
Chris Lawless

It's really important to get these people out of leadership:
Amanda Phillips
Jean Alexander
Steve Cobb
Adam Rick

[Kat Kanning]

Oh yeah, I agree completely that the secret lists and meetings need to end.

[Fluff and Stuff]

The FSP is fine. ?The problem is that the members are having a hard time getting others to sign up. ?The problem is the the members outside of NH are not active enough. ?The leadership hardly matters. ?You a doing a great job Friday

[Kat Kanning]

Tim, yes.  He doesn't get in the way of action and doesn't debate pointlessly.  He got arrested for the FSP, after all

[Kat Kanning]

What would be awesome is to round up the people who've quit after becoming disenchated with the leadership and bring them back in.

[Russell Kanning]

     I totally agree with you Sandy. I still love the idea of concentrating our efforts in NH, whether political or non-political. I haven't wanted to lose the FSP as a tool to accomplish that, but I have also not wanted to do a hostile takeover of the organization. They have been making poor decisions for a while now and it has gotten to the point that I no longer point people to the fsp website for inspiration.
     We are the FSP. It makes sense that we all somehow vote on what the org should do. Guys like Steve Cobb look at us as customers not stockholders. I totally disagree. I would support any efforts to take back the FSP and get it back to our original goals of recruiting people to move to NH and work for a free society. We have disagreements as to the best methods, but the vast majority of us have the same goal. We are not a "think tank" the FSP is about doing something. If necessary I will just leave the FSP, but we shouldn't have to give up on this organization.
     The FSP, as an idea,does stand against evil government like eminent domain stealing of people's land. The current leadership is not inspiring people and is turning off volunteers and recruits. I like the idea of voting for better leadership and a more decentralized approach from now on. If they will not give it up peacefully, we can just leave them behind and work around them. If the overwhelming majority agrees with us, than we can move forward, with or without the current leaderships help. If most people disagree with us, then I will just ignore the fsp like I do so many other useless think tanks and splinter groups in the liberty movement.
     They FSP was started because of the ineffectiveness of other groups. We shouldn't let the FSP join the pile of useless groups. Sandy you have inspired me to do something about it.

[Kat Kanning]

I actually did quit, and the leadership confirmed to me that I was supposed to be stricken from the roles. I wonder if I'm still on there like Larry...

Who are you?  Did you get a letter in the mail about PorcFest?

[Michael Fisher]

I hope this was caused in part by my comments in the recent Wire article. ?

Analysis paralysis, lack of transparency, federal regulations due to 501c4 status, disavowing the actions of members, lack of leadership, out-of-state leadership...

I'm not sure the FSP can be saved without drastic, immediate action.

If we start a new organization or hit the reset button on the FSP, maybe this time we can come up with a better plan that will win the hearts of the people in this state. ?We will recruit people to the freest state in the country in order to challenge every injustice, promote volunteerism and charity throughout the state, and work for freedom on every front, even if that results in various local movements for free towns, and even if some of the members disagree with it.

[Russell Kanning]

I agree Mike.

[CNHT]

FSP Participants, Friends, libertarians, lend me your eyeballs, and let us discuss what is to be done with our beloved FSP.
As has been discussed at great length on this forum and elsewhere, the FSP has ?issues?.? ?

I too wonder about the out-of-state leadership, and the seeming lack of mission of the FSP 'mother' org. They seem to have collected lots of money, but what are they doing with it? If their mission is simply to recruit movers to NH, then shouldn't they spend that money on advertising? Should they not capitalize on what's going on here already?

To wit, I have NO DOUBT in my mind as to the dedication and activism of those who have landed here in NH, and as Friday says, sometimes at great personal expense. I continue to be impressed.

I think the thing to keep on doing is to demonstrate how the people who HAVE come here, are making things happen wherever they go.
All one need do is read this forum, and see our public calendars to know what we are doing and the effect we are having even in small numbers.

I once had someone in another state ask me if I knew Russell, seeing as he was in Keene and I was in Bedford...I said "Of course I know Russell!"

The fact that all the groups collaborate is impressive to them. (NHLA, GONH, CNHT, RLCNH, LPNH, Regional Porcs, etc)

All I can say is keep up the good work, and as FSPers, send your complaints and suggestions to the FSP:

Secret meetings are not the way to go...and any org that continues that way should be suspect.
Even if folks go to meetings as members where they are not allowed to speak, they should still be allowed to attend and hear.
CNHT meetings, BTW, are open to all, even non-members who are curious.

- Jane

[Kat Kanning]

The Underground was formed out of frustration for the FSP leadership.  I viewed it as the only way to get things done, despite the leadership, so had to go "underground".

[CNHT]

The Underground was formed out of frustration for the FSP leadership.? I viewed it as the only way to get things done, despite the leadership, so had to go "underground".

And it's been very effective I might add!
Whatever is going on is usually posted/discussed here.
It's a good thing...

[Kat Kanning]

Eddie ran for the board saying he was going to open up communication.  When he actually tried to do that, he was pilloried so bad, he just shut down.  That's what he was elected for, and the rest of the leadership prevented it.