The Libertarian Party needs to be a “BIG TENT”, not a “pup tent”, if it is to be large enough to elect libertarians to public office, to start shrinking government—in our lifetime. We envision an LP that is inclusive to all libertarians who fall within the "L" quadrant of the Nolan Chart & Smallest Political Quiz, not just one particular subset of libertarians.

We intend to organize the BIG TENT elements in your state, and YOU CAN HELP!

Help us finish the job already begun! We made great progress at the 2006 LP National Convention; we eliminated most of the overly radical planks – the planks which kill our most promising campaigns. However, there is more to do. We need to replace many of the deleted planks; the platform is currently incomplete. And we still need to do something about that ambiguous and divisive membership pledge.

And once we finish these tasks, we need to elect an LNC committed to re-branding the Libertarian Party – as a party representing all libertarians, not just the radicals. Only then will we see the fruits of our labors: more LP members, more Libertarians elected to public office, more liberty.

Meanwhile, many in the party are attempting to sidetrack the Portland reforms by radicalizing as many state platforms as they can, thus narrowing the appeal of the LP. They have already succeeded in some states.

Although they followed the rules, we who want to grow the LP into a major third political party, need not take this lying down! We must get organized at the state level or they could undo our hard won successes, and turn the LP back into an irrelevant debating society.

Fortunately, the forces of reform have prevailed at some state conventions. But we need your participation at your state convention to ensure continued success! It would be most helpful for LRC members to also be seated as delegates, in order to support reform minded proposals on the convention floor.

Help block these efforts by the so called “Purists” — those who attempt to maintain a narrow and highly restrictive definition of who is a “Libertarian”. It's becoming clear that many purists resist what we reformers desire: to transform the LP into a big tent major political party dedicated to reducing government by engaging in real-world politics.

There are many ways that you can help!

For starters, Please download some LRC fliers and take them to your next state convention or meeting (http://reformthelp.org/caucus/promote/table.php). These flyers were effective at the Portland National Convention and we have added some new ones.

Help us staff an LRC information table at your State Convention. Even if you just download some flyers at the last minute, and hook up with other reform-minded Libertarians there, this will spread the word and help us get organized locally.

We intend to get organized for the long haul because we don't want the historic votes in Portland to become a footnote in LP history. We intend to find a solid group of LRC-friendly volunteers in each state.

The Libertarian Reform Caucus is seeking enthusiastic State Coordinators - PLEASE let us know if you, or someone you know, can help!

LRC Coordinators will be key in recruiting LRC-friendly delegates for the 2008 Denver National Convention. Functions of an LRC Coordinator include the following:

1. Help Organize Pragmatists at your next Convention. Be a county delegate to your State-Con, staff an LRC table, and reach out to fellow Pragmatists. Seek delegates for the 2008 Denver National Convention. We have guidelines that will help you to organize the Pragmatist floor debate.

2. Assess the overall makeup of your incoming State Officers and its likely 2008 Nat-Con delegation – is it LRC-friendly, neutral or hostile?

3. Recruit suitable Coordinators and Helpers for major counties and for nearby States. If your state already has a coordinator, they will certainly need assistants and specialists. Many hands make light work.

4. Stay active and in touch with LRC activitists in your state and make sure that LRC-friendly activists know about the exciting new features of our www.ReformTheLP.org web site. We have added a lot of new stuff since the Portland Convention and we will add more to assist the state LRC groups.

5. Attend the 2008 Denver National Convention as a delegate. Help hand out LRC literature on the convention floor and at the LRC table. Actively recruit LRC support.

Turning the Libertarian Party into a real political party is an uphill battle. We need more activist LRC members to step up to the plate. Those who prefer that the LP be an exclusive social club, have already begun a concentrated effort to re-radicalize the LP Platform in 2008.

The more LRC delegates we have at Denver, the easier it is to hang onto the gains from Portland. The “Purists” will undoubtedly have a large contingent at Denver. In fact, we anticipate their calling for a suspension of the rules in an attempt to ram the entire old platform back into place. Therefore, we need to recruit more LRC-friendly delegates who are willing to attend.

We need to do more just than hang on. There are more tasks that must be done before the libertarian pragmatists, moderates, and “incrementalists” feel welcome within the LP. We realize that you might not be able to do all of them, but we hope everyone who wants a viable LP in the near future to do at least some of them.

We will support you from afar as best we can, but in the end remember these ten two-letter words: If it is to be, it is up to me.

Thank you so very much for you time and support of the Libertarian Reform Caucus, and please let me know if you are interested volunteering in any capacity, including becoming an LRC State Coordinator.

For liberty,

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