Protecting Institutional Memory And Preserving Party History

January 2nd, 2008 | posted by porterj

I strongly agree with the following recommendations from the LNC IT Committee on November 11, 2006 and as an At-Large Representative I would support adding this historical information to lp.org.

Several LP members have recently contacted LNC members to complain about content removed from the website. A number of LNC members have also told me they think addressing website content issues should be a priority.
One of our greatest party assets is our rich 30 year history. This history (and the associated institutional memory) should be highlighted on our website. The need for certain data is rather obvious, such as candidate lists. This is historic material and useful when debating, or attempting to convince a reporter that LP members have worked hard for their ideas for thirty years. Extra website content usually translates to more hits. Online resources can help our volunteers be more effective.
The following information used to be on the website, but is no longer available:
• List of presidential and vice-presidential candidates
• List of elected/appointed Libertarians
• Ballot access history
• Presidential vote totals by state
• Convention history
• Past officers
• Success 97 and 99 seminars
• Drug war issue information
• LNC meeting minutes before the 2004 term
The IT Committee recommends that the LNC ask staff to restore all of the information above to the website. This information is available through the Internet Archive (among other places).
Internet Archive:
http://www.archive.org/
Other additional information would be very useful:
• List of all current candidates (not just the 1/5 of them included in candidate tracker)
• Archives of every LP News issue
• Speaker biographies, photos, and write-ups about our conventions
• Biographies & press-quality photos for LP leaders and presidential candidates
• Speakers’ bureau