LPNY Nominates Carl Person For Attorney General

At the State Convention of the Libertarian Party of New York held on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Albany, New York, Carl Person was nominated by the delegates to be the Libertarian Party candidate for Attorney General this November.

In an interview after receiving the nomination, Carl Person said:

After dropping out of high school, I joined the U.S. Army and became a high speed ship-to-shore radio operator, stationed for 2 years in Okinawa. After that, I graduated from Long Island University (B.A. in political science) and then from Harvard Law School. I worked for several years as a "Wall Street lawyer", and then went out on my own as an individual practitioner, representing small businesses against major corporations. During this period, I was instrumental in creating the paralegal field and obtained a patent (now cited by in others) for my invention of a portable global positioning system that worked from a fixed database of latitudes and longitudes instead of real-time satellite triangulation.

I have specific proposals, many that can be implemented without any new statutes. One of them is to create in New York State a stock market to finance small business, with local investors, for the purpose of expanding local businesses and hiring local employees, and keeping the money in local circulation instead of having local money, after purchases, being moved into the non-local or foreign bank accounts of multi-national corporations.

Also, I want to help municipalities in New York State obtain gainful employment for their residents and work for their small businesses through creating a local task marketplace to help residents make use of the millions of dollars of unused time that exists for the residents and small businesses in each town, village and county in NYS. I estimate that a town of 10,000 residents has about $160,000,000 in unsold time each year (at $30/hour) of unemployeds, underemployeds and persons seeking 2nd and 3rd sources of income. I believe that this task (and small business) database would result in use of at least 25% of the unsold time.

I would also use my office as NYS Attorney General to encourage the federal government to adopt my "The First 3 Are Free" idea to exempt the first 3 employees of every employer from all government regulation (including withholding taxes and payroll reporting requirements) by having them designated as "independent contractors". This simple legislative change by Congress would create millions of new jobs by encouraging small businesses to hire without the complications of compliance with payroll withholding requirements and let employers be FREE to establish their own relationships as to their first 3 employees.

I plan to promote liberty among NYS residents by promoting small business, self employment and economic independence of towns and villages, to enable New Yorkers to offset the nation's and NYS's growing economic problems. I recognize that the powers of the NYS Attorney General are awesome and want to use them for the benefit of New Yorkers, to create opportunity, hope, freedom and liberty for New Yorkers. I plan to take my program to voters throughout NYS by a pickup truck tour in which I will address voters and their concerns from the back of the truck.

Carl Person is a member of the Libertarian Party of New York and the LPUS. He founded the Paralegal Institute and is a delegate to the Libertarian Party's National Convention that will be held in St. Louis, Missouri over Memorial Day Weekend. The only chartered LPNY affiliate to formally endorse Carl Person for Attorney General prior to his receiving the nomination was the Libertarian Party of Queens County. It was Dr. Tom Stevens, the LPQC's State Representative, who recruited Carl Person to run for Attorney General and to seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party of New York.

Sam Sloan, Manhattan LP State Representative, Endorses Wayne Allyn Root For National LP Chair

On April 29, 2010, Sam Sloan endorsed Wayne Allyn Root for National LP Chair. Mr. Sloan is the Manhattan Libertarian Party's Representative to the State Committee of the Libertarian Party of New York and a delegate to the upcoming Libertarian Party National Convention that will be held in St. Louis, Missouri over Memorial Day Weekend.

In endorsing Wayne Allyn Root, Mr. Sloan said:

Of the candidates for Chairman of the National Libertarian Party,Wayne Allyn Root is by far the most active and energetic. He constantly appears in the media on radio and TV talk shows. He is the author of several books on Libertarian philosophy. His political talk radio show, The Wayne Allyn Root Show, is broadcast in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Root is a frequent guest on several nationally syndicated radio shows such as Savage Nation, The Jerry Doyle Show, and Mancow's Morning Madhouse. He has made numerous appearances on various programs on the Fox News Channel. He is a frequent speaker at Tea Party events across the United States. Root's political columns appear in the Las Vegas Review Journal and at Newsmax.com. I support Wayne Allyn Root for Chairman of the National Libertarian Party.

The effort to organize support for Wayne Allyn Root in New York State has been spearheaded by Dr. Tom Stevens, the State Representative of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, who supported Wayne Root for the Presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party in 2008 after Alden Link dropped out of the race. Alden Link, the Libertarian Party of New York's candidate for Lt. Governor also recently endorsed Wayne Allyn Root.

Two of Root's opponents, George Phillies and Ernie Hancock, have been making great efforts to recruit supporters in New York State. Mr. Phillies was a Guest Speaker at the LPNY's State Convention held in Albany, New York on Saturday, April 24, 2010. Mr. Hancock was a Guest Speaker at the Manhattan Libertarian Party's Annual Convention in January and is the MLP's featured speaker on Monday, May 10, 2010. Mr. Root has been given 15 minutes to speak at the upcoming meeting of the Manhattan Libertarian Party.

For more information on Wayne Allyn Root, visit his website at: http://www.rootforamerica.com

Alden Link Endorses Wayne Allyn Root For National LP Chair

On April 27, 2010, Alden Link announced his endorsement of Wayne Allyn Root for National Chair of the Libertarian Party.

Alden Link, who recently obtained the nomination of the Libertarian Party of New York for Lt. Governor, said:

I am proud to support Wayne Allyn Root for National LP Chair and I will cast my vote for him at the Libertarian Party's National Convention, which is scheduled to take place in St. Louis, Missouri over Memorial Day Weekend. Of all the announced candidates for National Chair, I am convinced that only Wayne Allyn Root has the personality and energy to take the Libertarian Party to the next level. He alone can take advantage of the discontent currently being expressed against incumbents everywhere and to bring many of these individuals into the ranks of the Libertarian Party.

I have been very concerned about factions within the Libertarian Party who are supporting bylaw amendments that will have the result of shrinking the party and limiting the participation of its members. There are proposed bylaw amendments that seek to end bi-annual national conventions, that seek to reduce the delegate allocation allotted to each state affiliate and that seek to restrict the number of motions made on the floor by requiring 20 seconds for any motion.

I have not spoken to Wayne Allyn Root about my concerns but I believe that instead of scaling back the size and frequency of national conventions, we need to build party membership so that every delegate spot is filled and so that we will soon need to find larger venues to hold our conventions instead of smaller ones. Only Wayne Allyn Root has the skill and ability to build the party in this manner. I encourage you to visit his website at http://www.rootforamerica.com

Alden Link joins Dr. Tom Stevens, LP Judicial Committee Member, who recently announced his endorsement of Wayne Allyn Root for National LP Chair.

LPNY Nominates Alden Link For Lt. Governor

At the State Convention of the Libertarian Party of New York held on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Albany, New York, Alden Link was nominated by the delegates to be the Libertarian Party candidate for Lt. Governor this November. Mr. Link will run with Warren Redlich, who obtained the Libertarian Party's nomination for Governor.

In an interview he gave after receiving the nomination, Alden Link said:

I am an entrepreneur, real estate developer and aviator. As a businessman, I am aware how government regulation can stifle the entrepreneurial spirit. As a real estate developer, I understand how eminent domain abuse has gotten out of hand. As an aviator, I feel the spirit of freedom swelling in my heart as I soar through the skies. This feeling inspires me to fight for freedom until the government learns to respect every man's natural right to life, liberty and property. I am my own man, with no political baggage, who owes nothing to any special interest. As the Libertarian Party's candidate for Lt. Governor, I will promote libertarianism with all my heart and hope to make a significant contribution to the cause of liberty.

Regarding economic policy, I intend to work for the elimination of the New York State Income Tax. Taxation is theft. I will seek to shrink the size of New York State government by cutting back on the amount of taxes it collects and the amount of money it can borrow. I will encourage localities to repeal all property taxes that give the government a permanent claim against the land and home you own. I will seek to end the over-regulation of business and barriers to free trade. I want to free up the creative spirit of entrepreneurs to develop new technologies. In short, I believe citizens have a right to keep the money they earn and that they know best how to spend that money. They will then be in a better position to purchase the services they need, to send their children to the schools of their choice, and to save for their retirement. Government involvement interferes with the efficiency of the free market. The more money people keep in their own pockets, the better.

Regarding my social agenda, I am of the belief that people are sovereign over their own bodies and have the right to do with them as they see fit without the interference of a paternalistic government. I would end the War on Drugs and would pardon and expunge the criminal records of all individuals doing time for the use and/or possession of drugs. I would repeal all laws against pornography and all other "victimless crimes". I believe gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals are entitled to full equality under the law regardless of their sexual orientations or perceived gender identify or expression. I believe the government should get out of the business of granting marriage licenses in order to allow people to enter into contractual relationships as they see fit but so long as New York State grants marriage licenses to heterosexual couples, I believe gay couples are entitled to the "equal protection" of the law.

I am honored to be the Libertarian Party's candidate for Lt. Governor and I will work tirelessly to promote the cause of liberty through the remainder of this campaign. My goal is to do my part to help the Libertarian Party obtain the 50,000 votes it needs to obtain minor party status for the next 4 years.

Alden Link is a member of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and the Objectivist Party of New York. He sought the nomination of the Libertarian Party for President in 2008 and was the candidate of the Objectivist Party for Vice-President of the United States in 2008, having appeared on the ballot in Colorado and Florida.

Dr. Tom Stevens Celebrates 32 Years In The Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks

Dr. Tom Stevens was initiated into the Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks on March 19, 1980. On that day, he became a member of Great Neck Lodge No. 1543, which later merged with the Port Washington Lodge, eventually becoming Great Neck/Port Washington Lodge No. 1543. In 1994, Dr. Stevens left Lodge No. 1543 to become a brother in Queens Borough Lodge No. 878, which is now known as Brooklyn/Queens Lodge #878. It is located at 82-20 Queens Boulevard, Elmhurst, New York 11373-4243.

Thomas Robert Stevens just received his 2010-2011 Member Card indicating he is now in his 32nd year as a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order Of Elks.

A brief history of the Elks follows:

The moving spirit for the Elks was an Englishman named Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian. Born October 22, 1842, this son of a clergyman was a successful comic singer and dancer in the music halls of London. In November 1867, Vivian arrived in New York City to try his fortune.

Other actors and entertainers soon gravitated toward his magnetic personality. With everything closed on Sunday because of New York City Blue Laws, a group of theatrical people began meeting for their own amusement under Vivian's leadership. A loose organization was formed to make sure the larder was well-stocked for these gatherings. They called themselves the Jolly Corks, a name derived from a trick introduced by Vivian in which the uninitiated purchased a round of refreshments.

When one of their members died shortly before Christmas in 1867, leaving his wife and children destitute, the Jolly Corks decided that in addition to good fellowship, they needed a more enduring organization to serve those in need.

On February 16, 1868, they established the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and elected Vivian to head it. Its social activities and benefit performances increased the popularity of the new Order. Membership grew rapidly. Elks traveling to other cities spread the word of the Brotherhood of Elks. Soon there were requests for Elks Lodges in cities other than New York. In response to these appeals, the Elks asked the New York State legislature for a charter authorizing the establishment of a Grand Lodge with the power to establish local Lodges anywhere in the United States. When the Grand Lodge Charter was issued, the founders then received the first local charter as New York Lodge No. 1 on March 10, 1871.

Dissension soon erupted. Legitimate actors headed by George F. McDonald wanted to restrict membership to the theatrical profession. This view was opposed by Vivian and his friends. Taking advantage of Vivian's absence due to an out-of-town engagement, the McDonald group summarily expelled Vivian and several of his closest friends. Years later the Order rectified this illegal act, but it gave rise to a controversy whether Vivian was actually the founder of the Order. In 1897, a formal inquiry firmly established his right to this honored title.

Vivian continued, after his expulsion from the Order, to enchant audiences across the country. He starred with some of the largest road companies of the time. Together with his actress wife, the former Imogene Holbrook, Vivian set up a repertoire theater in Leadville, Colorado. Shortly thereafter he died of pneumonia on March 20, 1880. In 1889, the Elks moved his body from Leadville, Colorado, to Mt. Hope Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. Vivian received a stipend from the Order her husband founded until her death in 1931.

The legacy of Charles Vivian continues to this day. In addition to aiding members in distress, the Elks raise money for children with disabilities, college scholarships, youth projects and recreational programs for patients in veteran's hospitals.

On June 14, 1907 the Order held a Flag Day observance. This tradition later was declared a national holiday by President Harry S. Truman.

During World War I, the Elks funded and equipped the first two field hospitals in France and built a 72-room community house in Camp Sherman, Ohio, and a 700-bed rehabilitation hospital in Boston, which they turned over to the War Department. They also raised money for the Salvation Army's frontline canteens.

Their loans to 40,000 returning veterans for college, rehabilitation and vocational education were the precursor of the GI Bill.

When World War II broke out, the Elks were the only civilian organization asked to help recruit construction workers for the military, a task that was completed three months ahead of schedule. The Elks also contributed more than half a million books to the Merchant Marines so that their men would have reading material on board ship.

The Korean War again brought out the best in the Elks. They donated more than half a million pints of blood to help wounded soldiers.

When the wounded from Vietnam needed help, the Elks responded. They provided the funds for a recreation pavilion at the Navy Hospital on Guam. The wounded at Tripler Medical Center in Hawaii were sweltering in the heat. When the Elks heard of their plight, they purchased 24 air-conditioning units so these patriots could recuperate in some degree of comfort.

When Operation Desert Storm took place, the Elks again led the support for our fighting men and women in the Persian Gulf. Subordinate Lodges undertook letter-writing campaigns to help keep up the spirits of the defenders of freedom. The Elks were also among the first to welcome them home and thank them for a job well done.

Libertarian Party Of Queens County Endorses Alden Link For United States Senator

On Saturday, February 13, 2010, the Libertarian Party of Queens County voted unanimously to endorse Alden Link, who is seeking the nomination of the Libertarian Party of New York for the United States Senate seat currently held by Senator Charles E. Shumer.

Alden Link announced his campaign will focus on the following issues:

Repealing the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act
Repealing the recently adopted Health Care Bill
Legalizing Drugs
Supporting the Individual Constitutional Right of All Citizens to Keep & Bear Arms
Eliminating the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy
Supporting Equal Rights for all Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Individuals
Encouraging Private Investment To Achieve Energy Independence
Supporting Reproductive Choice
Moving the United Nations out of the U.S. (possibly to Somalia)

Alden Link sought the nomination of the Libertarian Party for President of the United States in 2008. Mr. Link is a member of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and has been selected to be a Delegate to the Libertarian Party's National Convention that will be held from May 28-31, 2010 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Libertarian Party of New York will hold its annual convention on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Hilton Garden Inn located at 1389 Washington Avenue in Albany, New York.

LPNY Reimburses CDL $449.00 For Untimely Convention Mailing Sent Out Without State Committee Authorization

At a Special State Committee Meeting held by teleconference on Sunday, February 21, 2010, the Libertarian Party of New York voted to reimburse members of the Capital District Libertarians $449.00 (7% of its current State Treasury Balance) for a Convention Registration Mailing sent out without prior State Committee authorization. This reimbursement was made even though Jeff Russell of the Capital District Libertarians had apologized to the LPNY State Committee and had indicated that those responsible for the mailing would cover its cost.

According to Dr. Tom Stevens, LPQC State Committee Representative, there were two major problems with the unauthorized mailing. The first problem was that it did not contain an option for LPNY members to register to attend only the Business Sessions of the convention for free. The second problem was that it was intentionally sent out well before the notice period required by the LPNY bylaws as an "extra mailing" and will, therefore, necessitate a second mailing being sent to all LPNY members formally announcing the convention.

The vote at the Special State Committee Meeting held solely for the purpose of authorizing this reimbursement was 9 in favor and 1 opposed. However, the one person opposed to the motion opposed it because it was felt a motion wasn't necessary to reimburse the Capital District Libertarians for the unauthorized mailing. Dr. Tom Stevens, LPQC State Representative, did not attend the Special State Committee Meeting.

Dr. Tom Stevens, LPQC State Representative, responding to the vote said:

Every State Committee Member has a fiduciary responsibility to spend LPNY State Treasury funds in a responsible manner. While I understand the desire many have to make sure that volunteers are not out money spent in good faith in support of LPNY activities, I also feel that seasoned LPNY activists should be responsible for their actions. It wouldn't have taken much effort to seek the approval of the State Committee before sending out a mailing that would cost 7% of the LPNY's State Treasury Balance, especially if the mailing was intended as an "extra mailing" that was not required by the LPNY bylaws. The Capital District Libertarians sought authorization for the deposit they needed to reserve the room at the hotel and should have come to the State Committee for authorization to do the mailing. The Capital District Libertarians also did not run the Convention Registration Fee Schedule by the State Committee for feedback. Had they done so, the absence of the "attending Business Session" for free option would have been caught immediately. People donate money to the LPNY and pay membership dues in the expectation that LPNY State Committee Members will spend that money wisely. This is a responsibility LPNY State Committee Members should take very seriously in the months and years ahead.

The LPNY State Convention will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Hilton Garden Inn located at 1389 Washington Avenue in Albany, New York.

LPQC Members Elected As Delegates To 2010 LPUS National Convention

The following members of the Libertarian Party of Queens County have been elected to serve as delegates from New York State to the Libertarian Party's National Convention that will be held May 28-31, 2010 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri: Mark Axinn, Andrew Clunn, Dan Halloran, Dodge P. Landesman, Alden Link, Carl Person, Sam Sloan & Dr. Tom Stevens.

Each of the delegates have been encouraged to purchase at least the mandatory Basic Package, which costs $99.00 up front. However, a $50.00 rebate is available for those who purchase the Basic Package and who reserve a room in their name at the Renaissance Grand Hotel for a minimum two-night stay. The special convention room rate is $109.00 per night plus applicable taxes and fees. To be eligible for the rebate, each delegate must keep a copy of their Convention Registration Fee receipt and a copy of their final Hotel Bill. Rebate forms will be handed out at the National Convention. All reservations can be made through links at http://www.gatewaytoliberty.com/

Delegates have been informed that Southwest Airlines is the least expensive carrier flying from New York City to St. Louis although most of its flights are not direct. Most stop in Chicago. However, the fare on Southwest can total less than $300.00 round trip. It has been suggested that delegates fly into St. Louis on Friday morning and leave on Monday afternoon. Of course, if a delegate has more time to spare, adding an extra few days to the trip can serve as a nice vacation.

Dr. Tom Stevens, LPQC State Representative, who made the motion to have the above-mentioned individuals elected as delegates, has requested that he be told when each of the elected delegates has purchased the Basic Package, made their room reservations, and purchased their round trip airline tickets. Time is of the essence since Convention Registration Fees and airline fares both go up the closer it gets to the event.

Bill McMillen Informs LPNY He Will No Longer Be The Contact For The Hotel At Which The LPNY Is Holding Its Convention

After receiving criticism for sending out an unauthorized Convention Registration mailing to all Libertarian Party members living in New York State that provided no option for delegates to register to attend the Business Session of the LPNY Annual Convention for free, LPNY Member Bill McMillen has now announced that on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, he intends to call the Hilton Garden Inn, where the LPNY Convention is scheduled to hold its Annual Convention on Saturday, April 24, 2010, to tell them he wants his name removed as the contact for the contract he signed as a member of the Capital District Libertarians on behalf of the Libertarian Party of New York. Unless immediate action is taken to communicate with the hotel and provide a new contact person, Bill McMillen's action may very well jeopardize the LPNY's ability to hold its Annual Convention at that hotel requiring it to start making new plans from scratch for a new location.

Bill McMillen sent out a mailing last week to all Libertarian Party members living in New York State without having obtained approval for the mailing from the State Committee nor did he or anyone else run the Convention Registration Fee Schedule by the LPNY State Committee for feedback. He came under criticism by Dr. Tom Stevens, LPQC State Representative, for apparently establishing a "poll tax" and "floor fee" for voting at the Business Session of the Annual Convention since no option was provided for an LPNY member to register for free to attend and vote exclusively during the Business Session. Dr. Stevens conceded that this was probably just an oversight and an error. However, he stated that it would probably now necessitate a refund to all those who pay $25.00 for the "speakers and business session" option but who only wished to attend the Business Session. Dr. Stevens also criticized the Convention Fee Schedule for charging registrants $50.00 if they wanted to partake in the "deli lunch" offered from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. before the business session commenced. He believed that price for a "deli lunch" to be a bit steep.

On Sunday, February 14, 2010, the State Committee was notified that even though Bill McMillen signed the hotel contract as a member of the Capital District Libertarians on behalf of the LPNY and therefore was not financially responsible, that he would nevertheless call the hotel on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 to tell them to remove his name and number as the contact for the event. The LPNY has been told that without a contact person, the Hilton Garden Inn will no longer hold and reserve the rooms we contracted for. The result will be that the Libertarian Party of New York will need to search for a new location at which to hold its Annual Convention in Albany, New York this year.

Since the Libertarian Party of New York authorized the Capital District Libertarians to contract for the convention location, the CDL must designate someone new to be the contact person for the hotel and must have that person substituted by Tuesday, February 16, 2010 if they intend to save the contract Bill McMillen has now placed in jeopardy by his impulsive ultimatum.

Libertarian Party Fails To Maximize Income From Membership Dues

Basic Membership (a/k/a Sustaining Membership) in the Libertarian Party requires a $25.00 contribution. A number of members from New York State recently decided they wished to be relieved of the responsibility of keeping track of their renewal dates and would prefer to increase their annual contribution to the Libertarian Party to $36.00 annually by joining the Liberty Pledge Club and making a monthly contribution.

These members were told they could not make that increased contribution to the party through a monthly pledge and that the only way they could join the Liberty Pledge Club is if they donated a minimum of $10.00 per month for an annual contribution of $120.00. As a result, these members have kept their annual contributions at $25.00.

Dr. Tom Stevens, a member of the Libertarian Party, stated:

This policy of requiring a minimum monthly pledge of $10.00 for an annual contribution of $120.00 makes no sense. If a Sustaining Member wishes to increase his or her contribution from $25.00 to $36.00 or $48.00 or some other figure lower than $120.00, the Libertarian Party should set them up in the Liberty Pledge Club and take their monthly contribution. Whatever credit card fee is charged for this automatic processing is more than covered by the increased contribution that member is making to the Libertarian Party. The monthly minimum contribution required to join the Liberty Pledge Club should be immediately reduced to $3.00 per month, which is $36.00 per year. A member may be inclined to donate $5.00 per month, which would be an annual contribution of $60.00 per year. The Libertarian Party is losing an opportunity to increase the revenue they collect from dues. The leaders of the party should rectify this situation without further delay.

Dr. Tom Stevens serves as a member of the Judicial Committee of the Libertarian Party and is the LPQC State Representative to the Libertarian Party of New York.

LPNY Opposes LPUS Mandatory Convention Registration Fee

On Sunday, February 7, 2010, the Libertarian Party of New York passed the following motion opposing the institution of a mandatory convention registration fee imposed upon all elected delegates seeking to attend the Libertarian Party's National Convention in St. Louis over Memorial Day Weekend:

MOTION: Whether or not the Libertarian Party's National Committee has the legal right to assess a registration fee upon all duly elected delegates attending the LPUS National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri over Memorial Day Weekend, the payment of which is being treated as a mandatory prerequisite to the Credentials Committee seating said delegates, it is the opinion of the Libertarian Party of New York that such a mandatory registration fee should not be assessed for delegates who wish to attend and vote exclusively at the business sessions of the LPUS National Convention.

Dr. Tom Stevens, who serves as the State Representative of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, drafted and proposed the motion. During debate, he said: "putting aside the issue of whether the Libertarian Party's National Committee has the legal right to assess a mandatory registration fee on duly elected delegates, the payment of which has become a prerequisite to the Credentials Committee seating said delegates, this motion merely expresses the opinion of the LPNY that such a fee should not be assessed for delegates who wish to attend and vote exclusively at the business sessions of the LPUS National Convention. While this motion will have no impact on the rules adopted for this convention, I hope that national takes our opinion into account when establishing the rules for the 2012 LPUS National Convention."

Sam Sloan, State Representative of the Manhattan LP, supported the motion stating that "some of our most important activists make an extraordinary effort to simply attend the convention" and that "requiring a mandatory registration fee would effectively exclude these individuals from participation during the business sessions of the national convention."

Blay Tarnoff, State Representative of the Nassau LP, in opposing the resolution called the language of the motion "bellicose" and stated that "a $25.00 mandatory registration fee" was acceptable to him. Joseph Dobrian, LPNY Vice-Chair, who spoke in favor of the motion stated, "there is nothing "bellicose" in the language of the motion". Dr. Stevens then spoke again pointing out that the mandatory convention registration fee is $99.00, not $25.00. M Carling, who serves as LPNY Secretary and in a number of appointed positions on the national level, warned that although he will ask for national's financial help with upcoming statewide petition drives both this year and in 2012, he fears his requests will fall on "deaf ears" if the LPNY expresses its opposition to the mandatory convention registration fee. In the end, Chris Edes, LPNY Chair, broke a tie and voted in favor of the motion. He will be informing national of the LPNY's opinion on this issue.

Dr. Stevens stated: "It is important that the Libertarian Party of New York express itself on this issue. In my opinion, the LPUS can charge for its cocktail parties, for convention materials, for access to the vendor floor or even to hear speakers. However, it should not require a mandatory registration fee be paid before the Credentials Committee will seat a duly elected delegate. In my opinion, every duly elected delegate should be credentialed and should have the right to vote during the business sessions of the LPUS National Convention."

OPNY Holds Read-In To Celebrate Ayn Rand's Birthday

On Tuesday, February 2, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Objectivist Party of New York held a Read-In to celebrate Ayn Rand's Birthday at Panera Bread located at 160 Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station, New York.

OPNY members brought the following books written by Ayn Rand to the Read-In: Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, Anthem and We The Living. Each person read their book for 15 minutes identifying an interesting quotation or situation. Then each person shared their thoughts on that text during a 30 minute discussion period. This format was then repeated a second time.

Dr. Tom Stevens, OPNY President, hosted the event.

Objectivist Party Governing Board Holds Meeting In Manhattan

On Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., the Governing Board of the Objectivist Party held a meeting at Cafe Mocha located at 116 2nd Avenue (on the southeast corner of 7th Street) in Manhattan.

Present at the meeting were Dr. Tom Stevens, Dodge P. Landesman and Dallwyn Merck. Jonathan Damgaard Jakobsen was unable to attend.

The current state of the Objectivist Party was discussed as was its policies and programs.

OPNY Holds Executive Committee Meeting In Manhattan

On Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., the Objectivist Party of New York held an Executive Committee Meeting at the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant located at 140 2nd Avenue in Manhattan.

Present at the meeting were the following officers:

President - Dr. Tom Stevens
Executive Vice-President - Andrew Clunn
Vice-President - Dodge P. Landesman
Secretary - Dallwyn Merck

The following officers were absent:

Treasurer - Ronald S. Ramo
Executive Assistant - Jay Stempel
Youth Coordinator - Peter Schonert

Upcoming events and plans for the future were discussed.

Sam Sloan Elected To Represent The Manhattan Libertarian Party On The LPNY State Committee

On January 30, 2010, Samuel Howard Sloan was unanimously elected to serve as the representative of the Manhattan Libertarian Party to the State Committee of the Libertarian Party of New York. The election took place at the Manhattan Libertarian Party's Annual Convention, which was held at the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant located at 140 2nd Avenue in New York, New York.

Sam Sloan is currently a resident of the Bronx and has announced his intention to seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party of New York for Governor in 2010. He was given an opportunity to address the packed convention hall and surprised everyone by beginning his remarks in Pashtun, which he claims to have learned while imprisoned in an Afghan jail. Sam Sloan is a Muslim and is known in Islamic circles as Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan.

Mr. Sloan previously served as an officer of the Manhattan Libertarian Party, having been elected Director of Media Relations for a one-year term in 2006.

Read more about Sam Sloan in an article that appeared in the New York Sun on June 30, 2004 entitled "The Man In The Yellow Cab: Sam Sloan" at: http://dackman.homestead.com/SamSloanSun.htm

OPNY, OPAZ & OPIN Adopt Joint Affiliate Platform

The Objectivist Party of New York, Objectivist Party of Arizona and Objectivist Party of Indiana have adopted the following joint affiliate platform, which has been uploaded to the Affiliate Platforms section of the Objectivist Party website at http://www.objectivistparty.com/

VICTIMLESS CRIMES: We believe the government has no right to criminalize conduct consensually agreed to between adults that cause no direct harm to others. We believe in people taking responsibility for their own lives and oppose paternalistic government. As a result, we seek the immediate decriminalization of marijuana, prostitution, pornography, gambling and other victimless crimes.

MONETARY POLICY & TAXATION: We believe the government has no right to cause inflation and devalue our currency by permitting the Federal Reserve to "print money" or by borrowing money in order to balance the budget. We also oppose the large percentage of people's earnings the government takes through taxation. As a first step toward the goal of drastically reducing taxation on a federal, state and local level, we support the institution of a 10% federal flat tax and the elimination of all income and property taxes.

GAY ISSUES: We believe the government should not discriminate against anyone on the basis of that person's sexual orientation. On a federal level, we support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and the military's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". On a state level, while our ultimate goal is to get the government out of the marriage business, we support full recognition of gay marriages so long as the government continues to issue marriage certificates to heterosexual couples.

IMMIGRATION: We support the right of all countries to control their own borders and to set the conditions immigrants must meet in order to obtain permanent residence and citizenship. We would give state law enforcement officials the power to enforce immigration law and to deport illegal aliens. We would grant immigration preferences to those with special skills; to those who would create jobs; to those who ideologically support free enterprise and respect for individual rights; to those who are committed to the use of science and reason instead of faith and mysticism when evaluating and discovering objective reality; and to those who believe in self-reliance and the pursuit of productive and purposeful lives.

DEFENSE: We believe one of the primary purposes of the federal government is to provide for the national defense. Toward that end, we would support expanding the incentives offered to encourage citizens to join the military and the National Guard. However, we oppose any form of involuntary servitude including the reinstitution of a draft.

CIVIL LIBERTIES: We believe the government must respect the individual and constitutional rights of all citizens including the right to keep and bear arms. We oppose all forms of censorship and invasions of privacy. We believe in the strict separation of church and state and believe "In God We Trust" should be removed from the country's coins and courtrooms.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & MONUMENTAL PROJECTS: We believe the entrepreneurial spirit should be encouraged by reducing corporate taxation and bureaucratic regulation. We support the identification and development of privately financed grand scale monumental projects that can inspire citizens to lead heroic lives and to contribute more to their civilization.

Objectivist Party Of Georgia Adopts Affiliate Platform

On January 26, 2010, the Objectivist Party of Georgia adopted the following platform, which has been uploaded to the Affiliate Platforms section of the Objectivist Party website at http://www.objectivistparty.com/

FREE MARKET CAPITALISM: We advocate a completely free market with no government interference. We oppose tariffs, embargoes, rent controls, wage controls, corporate taxes and all other forms of government interference in private businesses. We oppose any and all legislation which forces or "encourages" employers to hire employees based on any standard other than their ability to perform the required tasks (e.g. affirmative action). We oppose any and all legislation which forces banks to lend money to unqualified candidates (e.g. the Community Reinvestment Act). We oppose all government bureaucracy which interferes with the rights of individual citizens to contract freely with businesses and individuals of their choice (e.g. the Food and Drug Administration), and we radically oppose the socialization of ANY industry in the United States and its territories, especially the health care industry.

TAXATION: We advocate a flat-rate income tax at both the Federal and State levels. We oppose all sales tax, property tax and progressive income tax structure. We radically oppose all tax-funded welfare programs, including but not limited to medicare, medicaid, government subsidized housing, and food stamps.

EDUCATION: In order to reduce the burden of taxation on citizens who do not have children, and to raise the overall standard of achievement in our nation's schools and universities, we advocate the gradual dissolution of the public school system in favor of privately funded education.

IMMIGRATION: We support the right of all countries to control their own borders and to set the conditions immigrants must meet in order to obtain permanent residence and citizenship. We would give state law enforcement officials the power to enforce immigration law and to deport illegal aliens. We would grant immigration preferences to those with special skills, to those who would create jobs and to those who ideologically support free enterprise and respect for individual rights.

GAY RIGHTS: We oppose all forms of prejudicial discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation. We advocate the immediate and unconditional legalization of gay marriage nationwide, and condemn the United States Military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

VICTIMLESS CRIMES: We advocate the immediate and unconditional legalization of gambling, prostitution, marijuana, alcohol and tobacco use for all individuals aged 18 years or older. We also call for the gradual legalization of other narcotics with restrictions (no driving under the influence, no using in the vicinity of children, no sale to minors, etc.) for all individuals aged 18 years or older. We advocate the right of adults to willfully engage in any activity that does not negatively affect others.

Fraternity Initiations - Girlfriend For A Night

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Fraternity Initiations - Group Showering

Fraternities throughout the 1970s engaged in many initiation activities that were "rites of passage" for the new pledges. Many of these rites included sexual activities that the senior members of the fraternity went through when they pledged and that were then visited upon proposed new fraternity members. These rites were believed to create a special bond between the brothers as evidenced by similar hazing in fire departments and in military units throughout the years.

None of these hazing activities were considered gay in nature and, in fact, most fraternities did not accept gay members. The rule was "As long as you're not gay, it's O.K." even if the fraternity initiation rite contained an extreme amount of sexual conduct. The justification was clear and logical. The pledges who engaged in these sexual hazing activities were being forced to do so to get into the fraternity so they weren't gay and the older brothers forcing the pledges to engage in the behavior were doing so to denigrate and belittle the pledges so their activities weren't gay either.

One such fraternity initiation activity I witnessed (although did not participate in) was Group Showering. Most of the fraternities that had their own houses had open showers with no stalls that had multiple shower heads. Whether the pledge lived in the house or off campus, they were required to assemble in the very early morning (usually around 7 a.m.) to take a group shower with the rest of the pledges and then to have breakfast together with the rest of the fraternity brothers.

All the pledges were required to get naked and to enter the shower at the same time. Each was given a bar of soap and they were told to "lather up" their fellow pledges and "to clean every inch of their bodies". No pledge was allowed to clean himself. All were encouraged to remain in a group and to work on each other. If a pledge sported an erection, the supervising brother would instruct the pledges to make sure every inch of that erect cock was clean as well. This often led to the pledges cumming. If a pledge did not get hard, he was left alone. Any brother not enthusiastically participating in the group showering activities would receive a black mark on their pledge record, which often resulted in that pledge receiving especially unfavorable treatment during future pledge activities. After the group shower, the pledges dried each other off with towels and then were required to eat breakfast naked before dressing and going to class.

These "rites of passage" were favorably looked upon by most fraternities. They promoted bonding and yet did not involve hazing that risked the life or health of the pledges. They did not involve forced alcohol consumption or the infliction of pain. Also, these activities took place prior to A.I.D.S. being a consideration and before all such activities were being classified as "gay" by future pledge classes.

Dr. Tom Stevens had an opportunity to observe fraternity initiation activities during the time he served as President of the Student Council of the Washington Square & University College of Arts & Science at New York University in Greenwich Village, New York where he was influential in approving budgetary requests made by fraternities associated with that school. He was not a member of any fraternity at the time but was given access to witness many fraternity initiation rites.

Fraternity Initiations - Giving Your Brother A Helping Hand

Fraternities throughout the 1970s engaged in many initiation activities that were "rites of passage" for the new pledges. Many of these rites included sexual activities the senior members of the fraternity went through when they pledged and that were then visited upon proposed new fraternity members. These rites were believed to create a special bond between the brothers as evidenced by similar hazing in fire departments and in military units throughout the years.

None of these hazing activities were considered gay in nature and, in fact, most fraternities did not accept gay members. The rule was "As long as you're not gay, it's O.K." even if the fraternity initiation rite contained an extreme amount of sexual conduct. The justification was clear and logical. The pledges who engaged in these sexual hazing activities were being forced to do so to get into the fraternity so they weren't gay and the older brothers forcing the pledges to engage in the behavior were doing so to denigrate and belittle the pledges so their activities weren't gay either.

There was an exception to the "denigrating and belittling" aspect of fraternity initiation rites that came up in the bonding that was supposed to take place between a pledge and his assigned Big Brother. It was the Big Brother's responsibility to help the pledge through the initiation process, to help the pledge learn about the history of the fraternity and to be mentally ready to accept the "proofs of loyalty" that were to follow. This bond between the Big Brother and the pledge was expected to last for life. As a result, there were a number of bonding activities a Big Brother could utilize to create that special bond.

The most common bonding activity used by Big Brothers in the fraternities I was familiar with was generally referred to as "Giving A Brother A Helping Hand". This activity did not take place in public but usually in the Big Brother's dorm room. The reciprocal activity included the Big Brother and the pledge getting naked. One would lie on his back on the bed while the other would massage his body with a soothing lotion. The purpose of this activity was to provide a relaxing and pleasurable experience for the person massaged. At some point, the massaged guy would get hard and the massager would then give him a "helping hand" until he came. After being cleaned up, they would change places. This bonding would be repeated many times during the pledge period and the goal was to create a special bond between the two guys. It was considered most likely that this was the first time the pledge ever had another guy touch his dick so this first experience was expected to, and did, create a bond between them that could never be broken.

Depending on the inclinations of the two guys involved, this "secret" activity sometimes was shared later in life whenever the two got together, sometimes even after the two married their respective wives. This was not considered "gay sex" because neither dude was attracted to guys sexually. It was just considered two guys giving each other a "helping hand".

These "rites of passage" were favorably looked upon by most fraternities. They promoted bonding and yet did not involve hazing that risked the life or health of the pledges. They did not involve forced alcohol consumption or the infliction of pain. Also, these activities took place prior to A.I.D.S. being a consideration and before all such activities were being classified as "gay" by future pledge classes.

Dr. Tom Stevens had an opportunity to observe fraternity initiation activities during the time he served as President of the Student Council of the Washington Square & University College of Arts & Science at New York University in Greenwich Village, New York where he was influential in approving budgetary requests made by fraternities associated with that school. He was not a member of any fraternity at the time but was given access to witness many fraternity initiation rites.

Fraternity Initiations - Eat The Cookie!

Fraternities throughout the 1970s engaged in many initiation activities that were "rites of passage" for the new pledges. Many of these rites included sexual activities that the senior members of the fraternity went through when they pledged and that were then visited upon proposed new fraternity members. These rites were believed to create a special bond between the brothers as evidenced by similar hazing in fire departments and in military units throughout the years.

None of these hazing activities were considered gay in nature and, in fact, most fraternities did not accept gay members. The rule was "As long as you're not gay, it's O.K." even if the fraternity initiation rite contained an extreme amount of sexual conduct. The justification was clear and logical. The pledges who engaged in these sexual hazing activities were being forced to do so to get into the fraternity so they weren't gay and the older brothers forcing the pledges to engage in the behavior were doing so to denigrate and belittle the pledges so their activities weren't gay either.

One such fraternity initiation activity I witnessed (although did not participate in) was Eat The Cookie! (referred to elsewhere as Soggy Biscuit). In its simplest, and most innocent form, pledges were lined up naked in a circle facing each other. On the floor in the middle was usually a black and white cookie, which is pretty solid and larger than most cookies. Pledges had to jerk off on the cookie and the last pledge to cum had to eat the cookie. This turned out not to be as horrible as it sounds because most of the guys couldn't shoot straight and in most instances missed the cookie entirely.

The more common form of Eat The Cookie! which had more bonding potential and lasted much longer had the pledges lined up naked next to each other. Usually the other fraternity brothers took seats facing them in order to observe the rite with a ringside seat. The first pledge was told to jerk off on the black and white cookie. After he did so, he passed the cookie to the pledge to his right. That pledge held the cookie near to his cock while the first pledge jerked him off. There was usually a time limit placed on how long each pledge now had to cum on the cookie, which increased the pressure. If the pledge could not cum on the cookie, he had to eat it. But in order to increase the chances of the pledge succeeding in his task, he needed to coach the first pledge as to how best to get him off. Such instructions included such advice as "hold it harder", "squeeze tighter" and "do it faster".

If the second pledge was able to ejaculate on the cookie, it was passed to the third pledge and then it was the duty of the second pledge to help the third pledge cum. If the second pledge failed to cum and ate the cookie, then the third pledge was given a new black and white cookie to cum on (without any time limitation) and then he aided the fourth pledge in the same manner described above. This went on for two or three full rounds so everyone had a chance to succeed or fail.

These "rites of passage" were favorably looked upon by most fraternities. They promoted bonding and yet did not involve hazing that risked the life or health of the pledges. They did not involve forced alcohol consumption or the infliction of pain. Also, these activities took place prior to A.I.D.S. being a consideration and before all such activities were being classified as "gay" by future pledge classes.

Dr. Tom Stevens had an opportunity to observe fraternity initiation activities during the time he served as President of the Student Council of the Washington Square & University College of Arts & Science at New York University in Greenwich Village, New York where he was influential in approving budgetary requests made by fraternities associated with that school. He was not a member of any fraternity at the time but was given access to witness many fraternity initiation rites.

Fraternity Initiations - The Elephant Walk

Fraternities throughout the 1970s engaged in many initiation activities that were "rites of passage" for the new pledges. Many of these rites included sexual activities that the senior members of the fraternity went through when they pledged and that were then visited upon proposed new fraternity members. These rites were believed to create a special bond between the brothers as evidenced by similar hazing in fire departments and in military units throughout the years.

None of these hazing activities were considered gay in nature and, in fact, most fraternities did not accept gay members. The rule was "As long as you're not gay, it's O.K." even if the fraternity initiation rite contained an extreme amount of sexual conduct. The justification was clear and logical. The pledges who engaged in these sexual hazing activities were being forced to do so to get into the fraternity so they weren't gay and the older brothers forcing the pledges to engage in the behavior were doing so to denigrate and belittle the pledges so their activities weren't gay either.

One such fraternity initiation activity I witnessed (although did not participate in) was the Elephant Walk. Pledges were lined up in a circle naked (on their feet or on their knees). They were told to place one of their thumbs in their mouth and their other thumb deep into the crack of the ass of the pledge in front of them. When everyone was in place, they were instructed to more forward together as a group. If any of the guy's thumbs fell out of the ass crack of the guy in front, they had to switch thumbs and continue on their journey.

Another version of the Elephant Walk I witnessed had the guys lined up naked in a circle. Their left hand was placed on the left shoulder of the guy in front of them. Their right hand had to reach behind and get a good grip on the erect cock of the guy following behind. Then they all had to move in a circle as instructed.

These "rites of passage" were favorably looked upon by most fraternities. They promoted bonding and yet did not involve hazing that risked the life or health of the pledges. They did not involve forced alcohol consumption or the infliction of pain. Also, these activities took place prior to A.I.D.S. being a consideration and before all such activities were being classified as "gay" by future pledge classes.

Dr. Tom Stevens had an opportunity to observe fraternity initiation activities during the time he served as President of the Student Council of the Washington Square & University College of Arts & Science at New York University in Greenwich Village, New York where he was influential in approving budgetary requests made by fraternities associated with that school. He was not a member of any fraternity at the time but was given access to witness many fraternity initiation rites.

LPQC Elects New Officers At Annual Convention

The Annual Convention of the Libertarian Party of Queens County was held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Bohemian Hall at 29-19 24th Avenue in Astoria, New York.

The following officers were unanimously elected at the LPQC Convention to serve during the remainder of 2010 and until the next Annual Convention is held:

Chair - John Procida
Vice-Chair - John Clifton
Secretary - Dallwyn Merck
Treasurer - Ronald S. Ramo
Membership Director - Dr. Tom Stevens
State Representative - Dr. Tom Stevens

Congratulations to all who were elected!

Libertarian Party Of Queens County Endorses Sam Sloan For Governor

The Annual Convention of the Libertarian Party of Queens County was held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 10: 30 a.m. in Bohemian Hall located at 29-19 24th Avenue in Astoria, New York.

The delegates attending the LPQC Annual Convention voted unanimously to endorse Sam Sloan, who is seeking the nomination of the Libertarian Party for Governor in 2010. Items mentioned favorably during debate included Sam Sloan's commitment to donate $5,000.00 to the statewide petition drive should he receive the nomination and his active involvement in the Libertarian Party over the past few years.

Sam Sloan first joined the Libertarian Party in the 1970s but became increasingly active in the party starting in 2002. In 2006, Sloan was elected to serve as Director of Media Relations of the Manhattan Libertarian Party. He sought the nomination of the Libertarian Party for Governor in 2006 and Mayor in 2009. He recently addressed the Libertarian Party of Queens County regarding his book "The Slave Children of Thomas Jefferson". Mr. Sloan was also a candidate for an At-Large position on the National Committee of the Libertarian Party and was a delegate to the LP's National Convention in Denver, Colorado in 2008.

Samuel Howard Sloan was born September 7, 1944 in Richmond, Virginia. Sloan attended the University of California, Berkeley and later worked for two years for the Wall Street Investment Banking firm of Hayden, Stone & Co. in the over-the-counter trading department. In 1970, he established Samuel H. Sloan & Co., a registered broker-dealer primarily trading over-the-counter stocks and bonds. The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) brought civil actions against Sloan & Co. in 1971-1975 alleging he had failed to maintain adequate books and records. After years of litigation, Sloan in 1978 prevailed in the U.S. Supreme Court. Sloan argued the case pro se even though he was not an attorney. The opposing attorney was Harvey Pitt, who was later Chairman of the SEC from 2001 to 2003. Sloan won before the U.S. Supreme Court 9-0. Sloan is the last non-lawyer to argue before the court. In July, 2006, Sam Sloan was elected to the Executive Board of the United States Chess Federation.

Sloan has written an extensive lexicon of Khowar, a language spoken in Chitral, Pakistan. Sloan had a minor role in a commercially-produced film, that later became a video game, Mahjong Horoki Classic. Sloan drove a taxicab in New York City for several years. He is now primarily a publisher of books and DVDs about chess, go and other subjects. Sloan has travelled to over 80 countries. Sloan has been married three times. Sloan's second wife, Honzagool, was a native of Khowar and together they had a daughter born in New York State on October 15, 1981. Sloan converted to Islam and thus is also known as Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan.

The LPNY Annual Convention, at which the decision regarding the nomination will be made, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Hilton Garden Inn located at 1389 Washington Avenue in Albany, New York.

Dr. Tom Stevens Designated Delegate To 2010 Libertarian Party National Convention

On Sunday, January 3, 2010, the State Committee of the Libertarian Party of New York designated Thomas Robert Stevens a delegate from New York State to the 2010 Libertarian Party National Convention that will be held from May 27-31, 2010 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Tom Stevens served as a delegate from New York State to the Libertarian Party National Conventions held in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

The 2004 LPUS National Convention was held from May 27-31, 2004 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 2006 LPUS National Convention was held from June 28-July 3, 2006 at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower located in Portland, Oregon.

The 2008 LPUS National Convention was held from May 23-26, 2008 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (formerly the Adam's Mark Hotel) located in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Tom Stevens currently serves as Membership Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and serves on the State Committee of the Libertarian Party of New York representing the LPQC as its State Representative.