LPBC March 2022 Meeting Minutes

Libertarian Party of Bay County, FL Meeting Minutes (Match 17, 2022)

Officers Present: Joey Ferguson (Chair), Richard Caisse (Vice Chair), Patrick Leistner (Treasurer), David Agosta (Secretary).

Members Present: John Latham , Kimberly Ann Caisse , Elaine Agosta .

We met at Applebee’s, of Callaway, FL.

7:00 PM: Joey called meeting to order. Patrick presented our last meeting minutes (October 2021). David made motion to accept and Joey seconded. Approved unanimously.

7:01: Patrick presented the Treasurer’s Report. We currently have $2,117.71. We received $30.00 total contributions, from Elaine and David; since November. David contributed an additional $20.00, buying a new LPBC T-shirt. So, we took in $50.00, in contributions.

Patrick filed proper annual renewal charter registration, with the Bay County Supervisor of Elections. But, we needed to file new charter registration, with the Libertarian Party of FL (LPF). All officers signed it and Patrick mails this weekend.

7:02: David motioned accepting the Treasurer’s Report and Patrick seconded. Approved unanimously.

We moved to “Old Business”. Patrick reminded us, of first Adopt A Highway clean-up event. It was Saturday and volunteers meet at Oaks By the Bay Park.

The park is center of our road stretch (Beach Dr. to Beck Ave). Afterwards, volunteers meet at the Tap-Room restaurant, for social gathering. Patrick brings the supplies and equipment. Voluntary additional equipment welcomed.

7:04: 40 LPBC T-shirts we’re made; 32 currently available. Patrick brings them Saturday, for volunteers to see and purchase ($20.00 each). Also, one gets raffled off as door prize; for the post clean-up gathering.

7:05: Discussed improving our LPBC website. Right now, it’s a basic and minimum. Patrick encouraged us improving it, making it professional. David said he’ll contact Brevard County, FL LP Vice Chair Mari Peele for help. (I contacted her the following Friday. We’re having a phone conference, one week from said Friday).

7:07: Moving to “New Business”, discussed moving meetings to new location. Needing room, for increased attendance, we agree to a central Panama City location. Callaway is eastern, Bay County. Driving distance is long, for Panama City Beach members/visitors.

Discussed three locations, but found positives; with Patrick’s location of “The Place”. David said we can discuss another location, as attendance grows. We agreed with the assessment.

David motioned for moving meetings, to “The Place” and Joey seconded. Approved unanimously.

7:15: Discussed expenditures, for Fiscal Year 2022. With respectable Treasury reserves, we discussed spending on membership drives and advertising. Patrick discussed postcards.

About 560 registered LP voters live in Bay County. Many don’t know, the LPBC exists. While the Adopt A Highway program’s a boost, it’s general advertisement. Direct mail advertising reaches voters best. He added, 40-50% of Bay County LP voters, don’t have phone numbers. Yet, they have mailing addresses.

He presented a professional graphic design, of potential postcards. We loved the look, he made. A budget for making and mailing postcards, is $100.00. (500 4×6 postcards). A low and respectful budget, David backed Patrick’s suggestion. Everyone concurred with Patrick’s idea.

Rick made motion to approve allocation of $100.00 funds and Joey seconded. Approved unanimously.

7:20: Patrick made motion to approve our official LPBC email and David seconded. Approved unanimously. (LPBayCounty@gmail.com)

7:22: Discussed resuming our guest speaker program. We agreed this remains a “win/win” for speakers and us. Speakers get opportunity, to reach the Bay County Libertarian vote/support. We continue gaining credibility, with general Bay County voters.

Discussed three opportunities, for guest invites. We agreed to invite Luis Valdes, from Gun Owners of America, FL, Anthony O’Rorke and the winner of the Callaway Ward 2 election. We’ll send out respected invitations and see if all are interested. If potential guest accepts, we’ll name dates for speakings.

7:28: Finishing “New Business”, we moved to open discussion.

Kim suggested new advertising. We make LPBC bumper stickers. Having our own LP chapter, on our cars, show fellow drivers we exist. We agreed and Patrick said he’d look at a budget friendly option.

7:31: Joey discussed we each get the Discord social media App. On top of Facebook, he feels it’s a broader way, to promote and push the LPBC agenda.

Patrick discussed helping out the Escambia County Libertarian Party, FL. He got the idea, as different Bay County locations just had Mardis Gras parades. The ECLP has a parade float, they haven’t used in awhile. They participate in their County’s respected parades; to advertise the LP. Their float needs repairs and improvements. Their asking for monetary donations, helping with repairs; a $1,000.00 budget.

He said we should make a $100.00 donation. He added he’s asking the LPF to considering donating $500.00, to the ECLP float repairs. If surrounding LP chapters help, it helps the LPF see, this isn’t “bad money” being asked for. If four other LP chapters donate $100.00, it shows the LPF, the chapters are serious; helping each other. $500.00 from LP chapters, may move the LPF matching the remaining $500.00.

David added possible benefits, of the donation. Patrick confirmed the ECLP loans out their float; to fellow chapters. This promotes the general LP brand name and message, across the Panhandle and State. An additional $100.00 expenditure was affordable, at this time. (He did stress, this is something we can’t do every month. We must be wise, with Treasury dollars).

Joey called for a vote to approve, the $100.00 ECLP donation and David seconded. Approved unanimously.

7:44: Joey discussed fundraising, for the LPBC Treasury. He asked for ideas. David discussed the Bay County Gun Show, is back at the Fairgrounds. They hold a show twice yearly. We could raffle off a respectable door prize. As member Anna Marie Morris knows the show organizers, she could help get a table, for little to no cost. We liked the idea and will talk to her and James , about it.

7:46: John and Patrick discussed making presentations, on candidates and issues; for future elections. The coming Panama City Beach municipal elections, are a prime example. We can’t endorse candidates, but share views on issues (amendments, spending or tax revenue).

They spoke of putting our views, on our website and social media pages. David spoke a way, to share candidate information; without endorsement (as most aren’t LP candidates).

The elections arr open/general. We can post a “tale of tape”, on candidates’ views. He brought up the Christian Coalition doing candidate scorecards, they send to individuals or organizations.

They list general topics, voters ask of. It shows the candidates agree/support or disagree/against. Doing this, the LPBC shares general candidate information and remain neutral. Call it, “Presenting FYI to voters.”

7:51: Patrick said we should move posting the LPBC’s disagreement; with proposed changes to the PCB charter. We agreed with the logic. John made a motion, to post “against” view, on our social media and Patrick seconded. Approved unanimously.

7:54: Joey asked, was there more open discussion. Nothing was said. Rick made a motion to adjourn and Joey seconded. Approved unanimously and meeting adjourned.

Our April meeting is at The Place, in downtown Panama City; April 21, 2022.

In post minutes information, our Adopt A Highway clean-up was successful. 10 volunteers showed and 25 lbs of trash picked up. Some volunteers came from Washington and Santa Rosa County LP. Amongst them, was new LPF Secretary Edward Appler. We were honored to have him; as our guest.