[20783] in APO-L
Re: automated response
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mark Stratton)
Wed Aug 25 00:19:36 1999
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 23:19:55 -0500
Reply-To: Mark Stratton <stratton@INDY.NET>
From: Mark Stratton <stratton@INDY.NET>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Rich,
My disclaimer: I do not speak for Brother Schroeder (he does a pretty good
job for himself.)
As a political scientist, instructor, and partisan employee of the Indiana
General Assembly, I would think, *in general*, common sense would dictate
what is partisan or political activity. The AIDS quilt, and related
activities, is not political in and of itself - members of either side of
the political continuum may partake in events, but it's not necessarily
poltical. During the 1996 convention, there was a resolution (I believe)
that would have established, or sought to establish, ties with the Red
Cross. Someone objected saying the RC is a political organization - it is
not. THe former head, Elizabeth Dole, was quite connected to a well known
partisan (and indeed, she herself was a member of the presidential cabinet
at one time) but that does not make the Red Cross a political organization.
As a general guideline, if something (group, message, etc.) seeks the
endorsement of a candidate or is a political campaign (for example, a grass
roots flat tax campaign), those are political; organizations which provide a
service (similar to ourselves) should not be viewed as political.
Now, that aside, there are about a thousand lawyers who will tell me what
the law defines as political or partisan activity (but you know, lawyers can
sometimes make the laws even harder to understand.) :-) (and I know - I
work with hundreds of them DAILY!)
Jerry, do you have anything more substantive than my generality?
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: Rich Quodomine <satan_scores@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 11:00 PM
Subject: Re: [APO-L] automated response
> >From: "Gerald A. Schroeder" <gschroed@CAPACCESS.ORG>
> >Reply-To: "Gerald A. Schroeder" <gschroed@CAPACCESS.ORG>
> >To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
> >Subject: Re: [APO-L] automated response
> >Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 17:53:11 -0400
> >
> >This is a list server for the use of members of Alpha Phi Omega, a
> >college-based, coeducational service fraternity. As a 501(c)(3) tax
> >exempt, non-profit charitable organization, Alpha Phi Omega is prohibited
> >from engaging in partisan political activity, and its policies very
> >clearly prohibit such activities. Accordingly, in the future please do
> >not use this list to send messages concerning any candidate for President
> >of the United States.
>
> Jerry --
>
> Just a quick question. The list can respond, too. While I clearly
understand
> not endorsing a given candidate or party over the other, what is defined
as
> partisan political activity? Can we help out with a "burning issue" group,
> such as Planned Parenthood or Citizens for Life? We have assisted before
> with the presentation of the AIDS quilt in WNY. WHile not inherently
> political, it did attract several groups associated with the left. In
other
> events, I am sure some chapters have unintentionally gotten themselves
> involved with political groups from any wing. So, where does one draw the
> line in a gray area such as this? I am aware chapters should use their own
> judgement, but does anybody have rational guuidelines or ideas for where
we
> should or should not go in terms of causes?
>
> -- Rich Quodomine
>
>
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