Download if desired:

• Minutes: [100K MS-Word] (as listed below)
• Proposals [28K PDF] (not included below)

State Membership Meeting-Green Party of Michigan

Welcome. Juscha Robinson

Marc Reichardt gives opening talk about how we get there from here

George Albercook talks about wise group decisions (hand out)

The golden rule of facilitation is that the meeting belongs to the group.

Marc facilitates first business section.

Officer reports

Clearinghouse Coordinator—Dawn Wolfe (Dawn is resigning, Lynn Meadows offers to take her place.)

Approx. 420 current members

Paul Emery-Committee Manager

Ken Young—Locals Liaison

Marc Reichardt—Treasurer’s report

Marc Reichardt and Juscha Robinson-National Party Rep report

Proposal from Michigan and Wisconsin to castigate the German Greens for signing on with Bush’s agenda. This proposal passed.. 911 Emergency network, Defend Constitutional Rights. (handouts)

Lunch

Spoken word artist

Speaker: Mary Bejian handouts

Non-violent alternatives to terrorist violence, ethnic profiling since September 11, Rabi Haddad justpeaceinfo.org peace.info@imich.edu

Bylaws-Craig Harvey

Platform committee- Art Myatt is absent (due to injuries)

Ad hoc Candidate/election recruitment committee

Finance committee-Dawn talks about how it isn’t working

International committee of GPUS-Pete Schermerhorn and Alan Kaufman are the Michigan Representatives

Carolyn Dulai

Roger McClary

David Spitzley

Dawn Wolfe

Carolyn wins, David and Dawn tie (run off) David is elected

Marc Reichardt presents his proposal to amend the bylaws, changing the SCC to a larger body with elected representatives from each local.

The proposal passes as amended. The SCC will remain as currently constituted until the locals can elect representatives. Marc anticipates that this will take about one month.

BYLAWS OF THE GREEN PARTY OF MICHIGAN - As amended February 10, 2002

(latest amendments in bold)

Article I - Name and Purpose (Adopted July 20 1997)

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Green Party of Michigan.

Section 2: The purposes of this organization are to advance the Ten Key Values of the Greens through non-political and political activities.

Article II - - Membership (Adopted Aug 13, 1999; Amended April 30, 2000)

Section 1: The Green Party of Michigan shall be composed of individual Green members and members organized into locals.

A) To be considered a member of the Green Party of Michigan, all that is required is a signed statement that the person has read and supports either the Four Pillars of the Greens (grassroots democracy, social justice, peace/non-violence, and ecological sustainability) or the Ten Key Values. Unless the person is homeless, they must also provide their mailing address. It should be made clear that membership in the Green Party of MI does not keep you from also being a member of any other political party. The signature pledge is considered valid for 2 years, but it should be solicited every year along with membership dues notices (see below).

B) Membership dues (may be paid in installments):

- Full waiver of dues if (a) person states in writing that they really can not afford it this year or (b) person states in writing that they already contribute much more than this in dollars or time to Green Party efforts in Michigan. - Student or Senior or Low-income or Activist: $5/year - Regular member: $20/year - Sustaining member: $50/year - Lifetime member: $1,000 Note: Per the Michigan state income tax return provisions of recent years (through 1998 at least), "Allowable miscellaneous subtractions [from taxable income] include: Contributions to national or Michigan political parties or candidates. The maximum deduction is $50 on a single return and $100 on a joint return."

C) Voting Rights for GPMI Issues and Nominations; Status as Delegates to National Meetings: If you are a member and have attended one prior GPMI general meeting within the past four quarters, then you have voting rights at a GPMI meeting or any other way that a GPMI issue may be voted upon. Delegates to national conventions must be members with voting rights. Members attending their first GPMI meeting or who have not attended a GPMI meeting in over a year may request voting rights based on significant participation in other Green Party activities that would help make them familiar with (i) the Greens decision-making process and (ii) the current issues being voted upon. This could include, for example, participation in GPMI email discussion lists, attendance at local meetings, and/or participation in other Greens activities such as direct actions, etc. The person designated to certify such individuals who do not otherwise meet criteria for voting membership is the Party Manager.

D) The Green Party of Michigan shall hold quarterly general membership meetings which may also coincide with conventions.

Article III - Locals (adopted Feb 10 2001)

Section 1: Three or more members needed to form local

Three or more members of the GPMI may obtain recognition as a GPMI local by satisfying the requirements of Section 2 of this Article.

Section 2: Requirements to form a local

To form a GPMI local, the organizers must submit to the State Central Committee documentation showing that the requirements for locals have been met,

A) Organizing Petition: When organized, each local shall submit to the State Central Committee a petition signed by at least three GPMI members. The petition shall include the statement below:

"We, the undersigned members of the Green Party of Michigan, do unanimously accept the Ten Key Values of the Greens and seek recognition as a Green Party of Michigan local, with the primary purpose of advancing the Green Key Values. We agree to observe and be bound by the bylaws of the Green Party of Michigan and the bylaws of this local."

B) Bylaws: Each local shall submit a current copy of the local's bylaws to the State Central Committee and the Record Keeper.

(The following paragraph C was added at the Nov 2001 SQM)

C) Status of locals: While the State Central Committee (SCC) is considering the documentation submitted by organizers petitioning to form a local, the proposed local shall be considered pending or in process of formation. All such proposed locals shall be listed equally with each other in Green reference information, to the extent possible given information available.

The SCC shall consider all documentation submitted to it promptly and in accordance with these by-laws. After any SCC meeting at which documentation is considered, the SCC, the Locals Liaison, and/or their designated representative(s) shall inform the organizers (and all known providers of Green reference information) whether the proposed local:

Has been recognized.

Can correct or complete the documentation submitted, and so obtain recognition. (In this case, all of the required corrections or completions, and a deadline for their submission in order to be on time for consideration at the next SCC meeting, shall be included in the notice to the organizers.)

Is not recognized - due to problems with the submission, and/or with the organizers' commitment to Green Party values, that are sufficiently apparent and egregious that a consensus of the SCC decides to reject the submission. (To the extent practical, such a rejection shall not be taken to prejudice future applications from the same area or by some of the same organizers, but each submission shall be considered on its own merits.) Such a rejection may be overturned at a duly-scheduled statewide meeting of the party (e.g., a State Quarterly Meeting ) - but only by consensus.

Section 3: Local operations requirements

A) All GPMI locals must maintain contact with the Locals Liaison. Specifically, each local must submit, within 7 days, any changes to the following to the Locals Liaison and the Record Keeper: a) Bylaws; b) Points of contact; c) Records of votes taken per Article IV, Section 1t-x

B) SCC delegates: Each local shall elect two delegates who are state party members to serve on the state central committee of GPMI. Two delegates shall also be elected and serve as representatives of all members of GPMI who are not members of any local. These delegates will be responsible for conveying decisions of the local on state party issues, as well as being the conduits for information and coordination between the state organization and their local. The delegates must be active participants in the listserve created for SCC activity.

Section 4: Local Funds

A) Locals who raise and/or spend money shall ensure that all funds are raised and spent in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and GPMI bylaws.

Section 5: Dissolution of locals

The GPMI State Central Committee may dissolve any local upon consensus of the Committee as in Article VII, or a vote of the membership at a state quarterly meeting as in Article VII. The State Central Committee may recommend dissolution of any local that: a) Consistently fails to comply with these or its own bylaws; b) Raises, spends, or accounts for funds improperly or questionably; c) Acts in a manner that brings discredit to the GPMI; d) Publicly consistently acts in opposition to positions of the GPMI; e) Notifies the Locals Liaison of an intent to dissolve. Voting members of the local in question shall be offered the opportunity to speak in opposition to the dissolution before the State Central Committee, if such dissolution is being considered between state quarterly meetings, or before the membership at a state quarterly meeting if that is where the dissolution is being considered, before the final decision is made. Upon deciding to dissolve a local, the State Central Committee shall mail written notice to all GPMI members who are recorded as voting members of the local.

Article IV - Officers (Adopted May 20 2001)

Section 1: Elected Officers (Modified August 11 2001)

The Green Party of Michigan shall have six elected officers, plus four Representatives to each national party organization with which the GPMI is affiliated. These officers and their responsibilities are:

Section 2: Treasurer:

A) submits to the State Bureau of Elections annual financial records for party operations according to Michigan Law as outlined in the "Handbook for Political Party Committees";

B) ensures Greens stay in compliance with state party filing requirements, including at a minimum filing the Annual Financial Statement to the state and can include reporting requirements for candidates and ballot initiatives supported by the state party;

C) disburses funds from State Campaign Finance Committee account and State Central Committee accounts and maintains the account ledgers;

D) Works with the Record Keeper and fundraising activists to ensure legally required records are collected with all funds raised (to include name, address, occupation, amount, etc. as outlined in the "Handbook for Political Party Committees";

E) Produces and submits, at every state meeting, a simple treasurer's report (report should include major income and expenses as well as other important issues);

F) Reconciles check registers with statement from financial institution where party funds are held.

Section 3: Record Keeper/Secretary:

A) Collects and maintains records of financial contributions, in a timely manner, for annual and other financial statements according to Michigan law as outlined in the "Handbook for Political Party Committees";

B) Maintains archives of all documents submitted to the State;

C) maintains archives of monthly bank account statements;

D) ensures ledgers are properly reconciled;

E) works with Treasurer and fundraising activists to ensure legally required records are collected with all funds raised, as in Section 2d above.

Section 4: Meeting Manager:

A) schedules, organize, and publicize state meetings at least one month before meeting date;

B) solicits and collects agenda items for party meetings;

C) drafts, publishes, and distributes party meeting agendas 10 days before state meetings;

D) ensures state meeting minutes are published within 30 days after meeting for approval at next state meeting;

E) certifies persons who have not yet met requirements for voting membership, i.e., attendance at a quarterly state meeting within the previous four quarters, as voting members based on criteria as stated above in Article II, Section 1c.

Section 5: Committee Manager/Chairperson:

A) record goals, functions, and activities of committees formed at state meetings;

B) regularly monitor progress of committee activities;

C) collect committee reports at each state meeting for publication in state meeting minutes.

Section 6: Locals Liaison:

A) if consensus cannot be reached for endorsements of events, organizations, or causes by the State Central Committee, the Locals Liaison will contact locals about statewide events, organizations, or causes that are to be considered for endorsement, and consensus of a quorum of 2/3 of all valid locals will be sought as under Article VII, Section1b;

B) deadlines for consideration of endorsements by the locals will be communicated by the Locals Liaison not to be earlier than one week nor later than two weeks from the last local being notified of a vote, and any votes not submitted to the Locals Liaison by that deadline is to be considered an abstention;

C) votes of the locals will be tallied;

D) for purposes of vote taking, the Locals Liaison is required to collect and maintain a list of all valid locals and contacts for statewide vote taking within each valid local;

E) report in writing to the state central committee or to the membership at a state quarterly meeting all matters that have been endorsed by the locals, and the tabular outcome of votes.

Section 7: Clearinghouse Coordinator:

A) sorts mail: - recycles junk mail - opens all other mail - routes mail to proper person(s);

B) responds to any questions, info requests, etc.;

C) records phone messages into a message book;

D) responds to phone messages if possible - - or else lets someone else know that they need to respond (phone them or e-mail);

E) mails out standard 'thank you' letters for new members or for any income;

F) updates phone machine outgoing message as needed;

G) checks e-mail or creates state party e-mail address to use for general state party communication with the public);

H) redesigns database as needed to easily/accurately track membership status, as well as coordinate with the Treasurer and Record Keeper regarding tracking money received from members;

I) updates database regularly - names, addresses, etc.;

J) maintains up to date list of contacts and locals around the state, as obtained from the Locals Liaison, and uses this to refer new inquiries and members to the proper local.

Section 8: National Representatives (Adopted August 11 2001):

A) Each representative will be an active participant on the e-mail work lists of the appropriate national body.

B) Each representative will strive to present the views of GPMI as a whole and/or as decided by voting, position paper, et al, on topics that require GPMI's position to be established by vote within the appropriate national organization.

C) Each representative will strive to attend the national gatherings of the appropriate national organization. If party finances allow it, GPMI will compensate reps for reasonable costs incurred in attending such gatherings, or, pending available cash flow, forward funds for use by reps to attend such gatherings.

D) In the event that only one representative is able to attend said gatherings, each representative will attempt to work with their corresponding partner to the appropriate organization by agreeing to proxy the appropriate number of votes so that Michigan maintains its proper representation in any vote that may be called.

E) Each representative will be responsible for providing detailed report on all activities of the national groups and disseminating them among the membership of GPMI at each SQM or convention. Each rep will also relate critical or time-sensitive information to the appropriate state officer for dissemination to locals or GPMI membership between SQMs as needed.

F) National reps will be chosen by election in the manner of other officer selections.

Section 9: Officer Elections

Officer elections shall be held at the spring state meeting. Any member present at the spring state party meeting may make officer nominations. Nominees shall give brief statements in support of their candidacy. If only one candidate is nominated for an officer position, they must be elected by consensus as outlined in Article VII, Section 1. If more than one candidate is nominated for an officer position, a vote shall be taken by secret ballot. In case of a tie, additional discussion will be held, another secret ballot vote, and this will repeat until a tie is broken. Officer terms begin immediately and shall be one year from election.

Section 10: SCC May Fill Interim Vacancies in Party Leadership

If a GPMI officer or SCC position is vacated for any reason before a completed term, the remaining SCC members shall decide by consensus, or (failing consensus) by 2/3 vote whether to a) have a current SCC member assume the duties of the vacated position; and/or b) make a temporary appointment to the SCC until the next state meeting.

Section 11: Members may initiate removal proceedings against Party Leaders

(revised at Nov 2001 SQM to change 2 members to 10 members of 2 locals)

Any ten GPMI members, representing at least two different locals, may allege that any GPMI officer or National Representative, is in contempt of the goals of the Green Party of Michigan and invoke the procedure in Section 12 of this article to seek removal of those person(s) from their leadership position in the GPMI.

Section 12: Procedure for Addressing Removal Complaints

A). To institute a recall proceeding against a party officer or National Representative, the ten GPMI members must prepare and submit to the SCC a written complaint summarizing the allegations against the persons targeted for removal and justifying the removal.

B). The SCC shall ensure that copies of the complaint are forwarded (or made accessible) to all GPMI members at least 30 days before a meeting where the removal will be scheduled for discussion. If a complaint is initiated and received by the SCC not later than 15 days before a previously scheduled state quarterly meeting the SCC may elect to schedule discussion of the recall at that quarterly meeting or to call a special meeting of all GPMI members for that purpose within 45 days of the date the complaint is filed.

C). At the meeting where the removal is to be discussed, the motion will be handled as follows:

i) complainants will have up to 10 minutes to explain their complaint and make the case for removal without interruption.

ii) the target(s) of the complaint will, collectively, have up to 20 minutes to respond to the complaint and defend their actions without interruption.

iii) the complainants will have up to 5 minutes to restate and summarize their complaint

iv) the targets will have up to 5 minutes to rebut.

D). Once the discussion is complete the GPMI voting members in attendance shall immediately vote on the question "Shall (GPMI party officer or national rep) _________ named in this complaint be removed from office?" An affirmative vote is a vote to remove, with a 3/4 supermajority needed to pass the motion and effect the removal (and with abstentions counting as negative votes). A separate vote will be held for each person targeted in the complaint with the results of each vote entirely separate.

Section 13: Concentration of Positions (Adopted August 11 2001)

A) A list of who holds each position listed in Article IV (Officers), each SCC seat, and each Committee Chair will be presented at each SQM.

B) In the event that a single member holds two or more of the positions listed in A) above (excluding shared Committee Chairs and National Representative posts), all posts they hold, except one of their choice, must be opened to re-election under the applicable rules; the current office holder may participate as normal. In the event that no nominations are made and/or accepted for a post, the member may retain that post without need for an election. This does not alter the regular election schedule for the affected posts.

Article V - Committees (Adopted April 30 2000)

Section 1: Committee Membership

All committee members other than the State Central Committee are self-selected. The state steering committee, comprised of the elected officers and national representatives of GPMI, is elected as specified in Article IV, section 9.

A) All committees other than the State Central Committee are open to any member of the party. There is no upper limit on the size of committees, but any committee may limit its voting membership for purposes of feasible working size. All standing committees aside from the SCC must maintain at least three active members in order to conduct business.

B) All committees must make written or oral presentation at every statewide membership meeting. Those committees other than the SCC that cannot are to be considered inactive and are disbanded.

C) Standing committees may be formed only at a statewide membership meeting by a vote of 2/3 of the membership. Ad hoc committees may be formed as needed, and do not have the rights or restrictions of standing committees.

D) Committees other than the SCC may be disbanded at a statewide membership meeting by the membership, by a vote of 2/3.

E) Standing committee rules and Chairs are selected in committee, and documentation of such will be forwarded to the Committee Manager.

Section 2: State Central Committees (Subsection G Adopted May 20 2001)

A) The State Central Committee shall be comprised of delegates from each recognized local in GPMI and the two non-local members’ delegates, as well as the elected officers and national representatives of GPMI. Method of election of said delegates is at the discretion of the particular local, although locals are strongly urged to balance their delegation by gender, ethnicity, orientation, and/or ability. The SCC will be the authority of the party between state membership meetings, responsible for statewide cooperative actions, changes in policy, issuing press releases and position papers, endorsements of other organizations and their actions, and other similar practices. Delegates must be active participants in state activity. Any delegate failing to participate in two consecutive votes and/or not posting to the listserve for four weeks will cause the Committee Manager to contact the origin local and request that they elect a replacement.

D) The State Campaign Finance Committee shall administer the financial support of statewide and local candidates on behalf of the state party.

E) The State Campaign Finance Committee shall be comprised of officers as in Article IV, Section 1, but have separate ledgers, bank accounts, and reporting requirements from the state steering committee.

F) The State Federal Campaign Committee shall administer the financial support of federal candidates on behalf of the state party.

G) The state party newsletter shall be paid for by these committees in the following manner: in proportion to that part of the newsletter that discusses federal candidates, the State Federal Campaign Committee shall finance the newsletter; in proportion to that part of the newsletter that discusses statewide or local candidates, the State Campaign Finance Committee shall finance the newsletter in accordance with state and federal law; all other costs associated with the newsletter shall be paid for by the State Central Committee.

Eliminate original section F. (description of role of former SCC)

H) The SCC shall ensure that, whenever the GPMI passes a motion that creates standing policy or procedure, such decisions are compiled and maintained in a document to be know as the GPMI "Rulebook", along with any other standing or ad hoc committee policies and procedures submitted. The SCC shall also ensure that:

i) A hardcopy of the most current Rulebook is available for use at every statewide party meeting.

ii) The Rulebook is readily available to all GPMI members and locals and is maintained in its entirety in at least one generally accessible electronic format (such as flat text, Rich Text Format, or HTML) in addition to any other electronic or non-electronic formats.

Section 3: Platform Committee

The Platform Committee shall coordinate proposed platform position and submit them for approval as per Article VII. The Platform Committee is required to bring to the general membership all proposed platform positions and may include recommendations to the membership for disposition.

Section 4: Bylaws Committee (Adopted May 20 2001)

A) The Bylaws Committee shall serve as a standing committee to consider proposed changes to the bylaws of the state party.

B) The Bylaws Committee may make editorial changes to the Bylaws (such as renumbering, reordering, and re-phrasing ) as appropriate to improve clarity, accommodate amendments, and maintain readability and consistency throughout, so long as they do not alter the content, meaning, or effect of the Bylaws. The Bylaws Committee shall submit all proposed editorial changes to the SCC. If the SCC decides that any specific change does alter the content, meaning, or effect of the Bylaws, the SCC shall notify the Bylaws Committee within 30 days and the change shall not by made except through the normal amendment process.

C) The Bylaws Committee shall ensure that a paper copy of the most current version of the Bylaws is available for use at every statewide party meeting.

D) The Bylaws Committee shall forward official copies of each revised version of the Bylaws to the Record Keeper and the Media Committee, and shall ensure that the full text of the Bylaws is readily available to all GPMI members and locals in at least one generally-accessible electronic format (such as flat text, Rich Text Format, or HTML), in addition to any other electronic or non-electronic formats.

Section 5: The state party may remove any committee members at its discretion by decision of the SCC or at a state quarterly meeting by a 2/3 vote of the majority.

Article VI - Candidates and Officeholders (Adopted August 11 2001)

Section 1: Nomination of candidates for President, U.S. Senate, and Michigan statewide offices.

A) The Green Party of Michigan may nominate candidates for President, U.S. Senate and statewide office at a statewide convention on or before the Tuesday following the first Monday of August in election years, in accordance with state law.

Section 2: Reserved for rights and responsibilities of persons nominated or elected to public office as candidates of the Green Party of Michigan.

Section 3: Nomination of candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, State Legislature, County, City and Township offices

A) The Green Party of Michigan may nominate candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, State Legislature, County, City and Township offices at district and county caucuses as required by state law. Such caucuses shall be open to any and all Green Party of Michigan members as defined in Article II of these Bylaws that live in the district or county for which the caucus is called.

B) One or more Green Party Local(s) operating under Article III of these Bylaws and formally recognized by the Green Party of Michigan may request and obtain permission from the Green Party of Michigan at any statewide membership meeting to convene a county and district caucus for the purpose of nominating candidates for state legislative, county, city and township offices as provided by state law. Such request shall be made at a statewide membership meeting no earlier than 190 and no later than 110 days before the statewide convention held in accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of these Bylaws and Section 3A above..

C) The State Central Committee may convene county and district caucuses for districts and counties in which no Local has requested permission under Article VI, Section 3, Subsection A) of these Bylaws. In the case of nominations for general election candidates, the SCC will request and obtain permission to convene such a caucus from the Green Party of Michigan at a statewide membership meeting no earlier than 190 and no later than 110 days before the statewide convention held in accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of these Bylaws. The SCC may convene such caucuses to nominate candidates for special elections without obtaining permission from a statewide meeting if there is full consensus on the committee.

D) Caucuses held under this section shall be convened no earlier than 60 days before and no later than 15 days before the statewide convention held in accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of these Bylaws.

E) The body convening a caucus under this section shall notify, by U.S. mail or E-mail, all Green Party of Michigan members eligible to participate in the caucus of the time and place at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the caucus.

F) No caucus held by a local Green Party shall nominate a general election candidate for an office that will supplant the GPMI's choice for the "Top of Party Column" on the Ballot as defined by MCL Section 168.685 and clarified by Attorney General's opinion No. 5306, May 8, 1978, or the most recent applicable legislation and decisions.

Section 4: The State Central Committee may convene a special district or county caucus to nominate candidates for special elections. The State Central Committee shall notify, by U.S. mail or E-mail, all Green Party of Michigan members eligible to participate in the caucus, of the time and place at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the caucus.

Article VII - Decision Making of the Green Party of Michigan (Adopted April 30 2000)

Section 1: Decisions of the Green Party of Michigan shall be made through either: a) a consensus of individual Green Party members attending a quarterly state meeting or if a consensus cannot be reached, 67% (2/3) vote of members present; or b) a vote of the State Central Committee.

Section 2: Decisions include matters of state party business, amendments to these bylaws, and additions and amendments to the platform of the Green Party of Michigan.

Section 3: Proposals may be made by any member of the party as an individual, as a representative of a local, or as a committee member.

Section 4: Proposals may be suggested at a local or in committee and forwarded to the state party at a state quarterly meeting through a representative of the local.

Section 5: Proposals may be submitted to the state party at a state quarterly meeting in writing by someone not able to attend with a "yes" or "no" vote only, with no amendments.

Discussion about facilitation. George, Albercook will facilitate.

Discussion of Resolution A. (Juscha Robinson-Ann Arbor). This resolution is the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, an anti-war, anti-war on terrorism group. Alan Kaufman wants to expand discussion to include organizing around this issue. The resolution passes. Alan’s idea about organizing around this issue will be taken up later. (See pdf file of Proposals and Resolutions.)

Discussion of Michigan AIDS Platform (Jodie Bargeron-Grand Rapids) Passed as amended.

Green Party of Michigan AIDS Platform Jodie Bargeron

(This version is amended as discussed at the SMM.)

Given the importance of national healthcare to the Green Party, it seems the party is in a unique situation among political parties in the fight against AIDS. The proposed policies are the result of interviews with service providers, as well as research conducted among Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Michigan State Health Department, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In the proposed policies support is interpreted as endorsing already existing programs throughout the state, whereas advocacy is interpreted as endorsement and the legwork of putting these policies into action.

1. The Green Party of Michigan will advocate for education among the populations most affected by HIV/AIDS: gay men of colour, injection drug users (IDUs), women, adolescents, and racial/ethnic minorities.
2. The Green Party supports using state tax money for needle exchange programs. The Green Party advocates lifting the ban on state tax use for needle exchange programs. Needle exchange programs provide clean needles for dirty needles, as well as counseling for IDUs and introduction to rehabilitation programs. They are recognized as being essential to controlling the spread of AIDS among IDUs.
3. The Green Party supports education and support for partners of People with AIDS (PWAs). The Green Party will advocate for the rights of Partners at the local and state levels.
4. No PWAs should be denied services because of their immigration status. The Green Party supports programs that provide services to undocumented residents, as well as those beginning the process of becoming an American citizen. The Green Party will advocate for creating health centers specifically for those PWAs who are not yet legal citizens.
5. The Green Party supports increased funding to the Ryan White CARE Act (Include cite to Ryan White Care Act here.) Many service providers believe that these measures are essential to stop the spread of AIDS. It is also apparent to those providers interviewed that these measures cannot move forward by the other political parties. As a growing left-wing party, the Green Party may provide the means to help PWAs and their partners.

Discussion of Resolution in Support of Pro-Voters! Referendum Petition Drive (John La Pietra- Marshall)Doug disagrees but won’t block. Passed , and let it be addressed in Secretary of State Campaign. (Text of resolution:

Whereas the Michigan Legislature has this session passed a bill labeled Senate Bill 173, and Governor Engler has signed it into law as Public Act 269 of 2001; and

Whereas SB173/PA269 would end Michigan voters’ ability to cast a "one-step" straight-ticket ballot (or even to use that convenience and then mix or split their tickets) – thereby slowing voters, discouraging them from voting further down the ballot, and putting more of them at risk of violating the two-minute limit in the voting booth imposed by Section 168.786 of state law; and

Whereas, moreover, SB173/PA269 has other provisions that would require challenged voters to show picture IDs before they can fill out a ballot — a totally unnecessary step, considering that the bill would also change Michigan from affidavit voting to provisional voting, in which ballots are set aside and not counted until the eligibility of the challenged voters who cast them is verified; and

Whereas, furthermore, in voting for SB173, the Legislature rejected several positive reforms – including early voting, vote-by-mail, unrestricted absentee voting, making Election Day a holiday, identifying state Supreme Court candidates by the parties nominating them, using Federal funds to improve the accuracy and reliability of vote-counting processes and the capability of the staff performing those processes, and having the Secretary of State save seniors and handicapped citizens from waiting too long (or waiting outside) to vote; and

Whereas a petition drive – referred to as the PRO-VOTERS! drive – is being started to raise the necessary 151,356 signatures (5% of the 3,027,104 votes cast in the 1998 gubernatorial election) to put a referendum on repealing SB173/PA269 onto the November ballot.

To support the PRO-VOTERS! petition drive for a referendum in November on repealing SB173/PA269 of 2001 and its anti-voter provisions; and

To support, by word and action, the repeal sought by the referendum, which repeal would retract the step Michigan has now taken down the wrong road to reform; and

To support positive steps down the right road, toward genuine election reforms (including Instant Runoff Voting, proportional representation, easier ballot access, and restoration of the full power of referendum and initiative) – reforms that encourage all citizens to vote, campaign, and run in elections . . . reforms that make voting more expressive of voters’ true preferences and views, and so lead to better representation of those preferences and views in government.

Carolyn Dulai asks that George stop facilitating. Motion is waved down.

Passage of Resolution in Suopport of the MERIT Petition Drive. (John LaPietra- Marshall) (Text of resolution not yet available.)

Craig’s Proposal E-Removal of Members. Joe Ditzhazy says he won’t agree, but that he would except it if it were the same as the removal process for officers. (The text of this proposal is included in the pdf file of Proposals.)

Discussion of John LaPietra’s 3 proposals. 1^st one (Resolution Opposing the Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001 sent to the SCC after discussion. The other two (Resolution Opposing Bush Military Budget, Resolution calling for Action around the G-8 Energy Summit) passed without objection.

Text of Proposals:

Whereas, on December 20, 2001, U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R, MI-07) introduced H.R. 3598 – titled the "Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001" and described by Smith in its introduction as a bill "To require the induction into the Armed Forces of young men registered under the Military Selective Service Act, and to authorize young women to volunteer, to receive basic military training and education for a period of up to one year"; and

Whereas H.R. 3598 would re-establish a universal military draft and a national compulsory service system, and require even conscientious objectors whose objections were not overridden by local draft boards to undergo "basic military training and education that does not include any combatant training component" before having the possibility of being transferred to a national service program – which transfer would be at the discretion of the government rather than of the individual conscientious objectors.

To declare its opposition to the re-activation of the military draft in general, and to that portion of the program described in H.R. 3598 as well as the bill’s "non-combatant" foreign/domestic service components; and

To call for the withdrawal of H.R. 3598, currently in the House Armed Services Committee’s Readiness Subcommittee; and

To publicize its opposition to H.R. 3598 by all practical means, including press conferences and statements to the media – with particular emphasis on general and campus media, and on events, in the Congressional District and state theoretically represented by Smith; and

To invite all similarly-concerned organizations and individuals (such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Friends Service Committee, the Michigan Peace Team, Rev. Father Peter Dougherty, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, and others) to take part in such events, and join in making such statements, of opposition to H.R. 3598.

Whereas the Bush administration has proposed a $379 billion Defense Department budget for Federal fiscal year 2003; and

Whereas this amount would be a $48 billion increase over the FY2002 military budget – the largest increase in two decades, and more by itself than any other nation in the world spends on its military;

Whereas Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has claimed at Congressional hearings that the increase is necessary to prepare for future wars, but has ignored the benefits of preventing future wars by "draining the swamp" of the conditions that breed conflict; and

Whereas $10 billion of the budget is described as an anti-terrorism "war reserve", and another $7.8 billion is budgeted for next year’s portion of the Bush faith-based missile-defense program; and

Whereas its own auditors admit the Pentagon cannot properly account for a quarter of its own spending – a total of $2.3 trillion, or $8,000 for every man, woman, and child in America.

To declare its opposition to the Bush military budget, and to any increase in military spending until and unless the Pentagon can account for all of the trillions of dollars already given to it – and makes good to the American people any waste, fraud, or mismanagement uncovered in that accounting; and

To call for the proposed increase in military spending to be put instead to better use – in direct and indirect support of peace – as an ounce of prevention for the world’s ills and the epidemics of violence they can bring, rather than a pounding of purported cure.

Whereas the Bush Administration has invited the energy ministers of the Group of Eight (G-8) nations to an energy summit at the Renaissance Center in Detroit on Thursday and Friday, May 2-3, for which event the nominal host would be U.S. Energy Secretary (and former U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan) Spencer Abraham; and

Whereas the Bush Administration’s declared policies and priorities in the field of energy – including, but not limited to, drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, refusing to raise CAFÉ standards, propping up the nuclear-power industry by renewing the Price-Anderson liability-limits act and trying to store nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain, Nevada – are dangerous to the health, natural environment, and security of the nation and the world, as well as inefficient and unsustainable purely as energy policy; and

Whereas the dates of the proposed G-8 energy summit fall close to the international Labor Day of May 1; and

Whereas an international "mayday" on the topics of energy, the environment, and the situation of organized labor and individual laborers is greatly needed in today’s urgent world situation – and entirely appropriate to issue at the time of the G-8 energy summit.

To send out a loud, public "mayday" call on the subjects of energy, the environment, and the situation of organized labor and individual laborers – in the U.S. and around the world – on and around International Labor Day, May Day, May 1, 2002; and

To support, promote, encourage, and take part in peaceful protests against the Bush administration’s short-sighted and narrow-interested energy policies and priorities at the G-8 energy summit in Detroit on May 2 and 3, 2002.

Roger McClary’s pioposal for a Constitutional Amendment about privacy. Concerns are raised about encouraging a Constitutional convention and giving legislators leeway to put anything they want into the Constitution (especially at this moment in our history.) Not passed.

Two by-laws proposals offered by Joe Ditzhazy. Sent to the SCC after brief discussion about intimidation. George tries to facilitate this, but Alan interferes, saying that parties are able to represent themselves without facilitation. Discussion terminated due to lack of time.

By-laws proposal I: (Joe Ditzhazy)

That the office of Locals Liaison description include:

The Locals Liaison will summarize and be the Steering Committee vote for four ex-officio position on the steering Committee which shall be:

1. Local elections coordinator
2. County wide and county office elections coordinator
3. State wide and state office elections coordinator.
4. Federal elections coordinator.

By-laws proposal II (Joe Ditzhazy)

No Green Party member in good standing shall be banned from participating in any Party activity"

1. without demonstrating that the person or persons seeking the ban have clearly notified the member.
2. without the person proposed to be banned [being given] a clear opportunity to state his or her defense to the issue and an open and recorded vote of 2/3rds having been met to enforce the ban.

Peace group- SCC undertake task (This is Alan’s idea about the April 20^th rally-organization.)

Non-locals- Pursuant to bylaws changes passed yesterday, those members of GPMI not represented by a local should have two elected representatives. This group elected John LaPietra as one of them..

Fundraising-Did not meet.

His signature proposal- 100 Mwatt wind-generated power plant. The state would pay for and own it.

Encouraging consumers to buy fuel efficient vehicles. For every mile over or under the CAFÉ standards, there would be a percentage point increase or decrease in the sales tax on new vehicles.

Jim Moreno-Mt. Pleasant City Council—elected in last year’s election

Issues he ran on: Grassroots democracy, diversity

Ray Ziarno-Secretary of State Gives a rousing speech about the power of the SOS.

Joe Ditzhazy- County Executive for Wayne County

Issues are prostitution and drugs, downsizing and pulling together the many police organizations.

Bill Riney- State Rep. 52^nd District

Elliot Smith-State Senate- 18^th District

Rob Haug- Ann Arbor School Board

Issues: Civic education, facilities improvement

Discussion of how we support our candidates.

Joe Ditzhazy gives presentation about 10 things every successful candidate must do.

Bill Riney from FAIR gives presentation.