State
Quarterly Meeting Report
Traverse City, Spring 2001
May 19-20,
2001
DRAFT
Contents:
Section 1: Summary of
Events………………….page 1
Section 2: Meeting
Minutes……………………. page 3
Section 3: Materials
…………………………… page 16
SECTION 1:
The following is a list of major issues that were taken to a vote at this meeting. For details about discussion on these issues, please see the Meeting Minutes (Section 2).
Election of Officers to State Central Committee
Treasurer: Marc Reichardt
Clearinghouse
Coordinator Dawn McClain
Locals
Liaison: Kevin Henehan
Meeting
Manager Ray Ziarno
Committee
Manager Paul Emery
Record
Keeper Adrianna
Buonarroti
Members
At Large:
Lynne Meadows
Matt Abel
Doug Campbell
Rick Stahlhut
Jim Moreno
Lou Novak
State
Representatives to Association of State Green Parties (ASGP) and Green Party
USA (GPUSA):
In light of the discussion about the
fact that 1) state reps had not previously been elected, but usually
volunteered to take over the posts and 2) that Steve Herrick is a member of the
ASGP Steering Committee, a post that would be lost to us at a crucial time for
the Party (see discussion of Boston Proposal in the Minutes, Day 2), 3) that there are no term limits for state
rep positions in the bylaws, and 4) that after the GPUSA caucus in August,
there may only be one national Green Party OR Michigan may disaffiliate with
GPUSA, thus making two of our state reps unnecessary, a decision was made to
refer this matter to the SCC to decide on a procedure for electing state reps.
Green
Party of Michigan Reform Proposals- See Section III, Materials, for an annotated
version of the Reform Proposals with their current status.
Bylaws
Proposals
(24 ballots returned)
- Replacement of Article IV (Officers):
Accepted by a vote of 19 Accept, 5 Modify
- Replacement of Article VI (Candidates for
Office): Returned to committee for revision by a vote of 10 Accept, 12 Modify,
2 Reject
- Addition to Article V, Section 2 (Rulebook):
Accepted by a vote of 21 Accept, 2 Modify, 1 Reject
- Replacement of Article V, Section 4
(Responsibilities and editorial rights of the Bylaws committee): Accepted by a
vote of 21 Accept, 2 Modify, 1 Reject
Platform
Proposals
(30 ballots returned)
-
Preface: Accepted by a vote of 23 Accept, 2 Modify, 5 Blank
-
Affordable Housing: Accepted by a vote
of 24 Accept, 5 Modify, 1 Blank
-
Public Education Funding: Accepted by a
vote of 26 Accept, 2 Modify, 2 Blank
-
Native Americans: Accepted by a vote of
25 Accept, 2 Modify, 3 Blank; clause on Leonard Peltier Accepted by a vote of
16 Accept, 3 Modify, 5 Reject, 1 Abstain, 5 Blank
-
Sexual Orientation: Accepted by a vote
of 28 Accept, 2 Blank
- Tax Justice: Accepted by a vote of 24 Accept, 4 Modify, 2 Blank
- Animal Rights: Accepted by a vote of 19 Accept, 7 Modify, 2 Reject, 2 Blank
- Trade Issues in Michigan: Accepted by a vote of 21 Accept, 5 Modify, 1
Reject, 3 Blank
- Living Wage: Accepted by a vote of 26 Accept, 2 Modify, 2 Blank
-
Rape
and Sexual Violence: Returned to the
committee for revision by a vote of 18 Accept, 10 Modify, 2 Blank
SECTION 2:
ASGP—Association
of State Green Parties
AWOG—Amber
Waves of Green (state newsletter)
DNR—Department
of Natural Resources
FEC—federal
election commission
FTAA—free
trade area of the Americas
GPMi—Green
Party of Michigan
GPUSA—Greens/Green
Party USA
ICQ—an
internet chat system
IRV—instant
runoff voting
PRA—personal
responsibility amendment
SCC—State
Central Committee of the GPMi
SQM—State
Quarterly Meeting
TC—Traverse
City
(Note: When words are associated with speakers,
they are paraphrases—unless quoted or in proposals.)
Next
SQM’s announced: August 4-5, Wyandotte
MI. November 10 & 11 (?) Grand Rapids.
Welcome
from Tom Mair, TC. Tom described the
many TC actions--Tax day demonstration, FTAA banner hang, FTAA demonstration,
Earth Week, “rock the boat”—combining music and politics very successfully.
JoAnne
Beemon—Green drain commissioner of Charlevoix County. She explained how every paradise is endangered by a force. How people like to see Engler as villain—but
he’s just a handmaiden to big money.
Read “Mandate for Leadership” by the Heritage Foundation. The Market and Profits are gods to these
people. It is appropriate for the GP to
talk about ethics. There is a higher
power than global capitalism and market forces. The higher power is democracy.
We have to un-corrupt government.
Downsizing government is popular these days, but the most efficient form
of downsized government is a dictatorship.
We need an ethic larger than corporate care. Any time you hear abatement, it is a corporate subsidy. Their agenda is Privatize--what happened to
the common good? We need a new
“eco-nomics.” The time to organize is
now. Everything is endangered. We can do this.
A
“moment of silence” was held as a gesture of consideration for Ken Mathenia’s
loss; he lost his daughter to a traffic accident a few days prior to this
meeting. Ken is a long-time Green Party
activist and officer, the Locals Liaison chair and active in the Bylaws
Committee.
Dawn
McClain: Described how “realos” (politics) and “fundis” (Green
values) need to come together, because we need both. Principles without action are just talking. Action without principles is, like our
current government, evil. We need
strong politics and a strong social movement.
Don’t label people. We must form strong locals and strong state
party. It’s not about proving we are
right—it’s about doing what IS right.
She then described the way the process was going to be run today.
Kevin
Henehan has PRA amendment petitions. A
short discussion involving the Personal Responsibility Amendment…medical
marijuana use, etc….ensued.
Great
pollution information and maps available by county from http://www.scorecard.org. Well worth a visit.
Pete
Ponzetti is running for Green nomination for Mich. House of Representatives
slot..51st District, Genessee County. His webpage…. http://www.expage.com/votepete2002
Darren
Wilkinson is running for Green nomination for Mi Secretary of State. His
webpages: http://expage.com/wilkinson4sos
&
http://members.tripod.com/wilkinson4sos/
Treasurer / Committee
reports
Treasurer’s
Report (Marc Reichardt). ~$650 currently
in cash account. Fundraising is fairly
steady. A Green supporter recently
donated $1,000. Still over $10,300 in
debt from petition drive. Debt reduced
roughly $4,000 since Kalamazoo meeting.
“Adopt the debt” concept from Ken Mathenia has helped greatly. Reminder to pick up AWOGs--$1/each donation.
Ken
Mathenia(not present) sent word that people wishing to offer donations in
memorial for his daughter should be sent to the GPMi for the purposes of
retiring the debt.
Fundraising
committee (Dawn McClain). Fundraising
committee is bogged down because everything is taking place by email--but no
action happening. She’d like to propose
the creation of “regional fundraising committees” so people can actually meet
in person. Craig adds that we’re on the verge of taking credit card info on the
web page.
No
other reports.
Peter Schermerhorn—makes proposal.
Any committee that cannot make a report at an SQM be dissolved. [no action taken]
Locals
Liaison—Ken Mathenia resigning.
Responsible for keeping a copy of the local bylaws and polling locals
for endorsements. Advises locals of
GPMi and SCC actions, and generally is the main “connection” between GPMi and
the local chapters.
Clearinghouse
coordinator—Dawn McClain has held office since January. She is willing to serve a full term of one
year. Responsible for correspondence,
emails, phone messages contributions, files of green-related information. She
inherited multiple databases, has caught up on communications and has issued an
updated membership list. Working on a
contributors database. Ideally, the
person in this position must have access to a computer with Excel/Word or
ability to convert. Maybe Access
database as well.
Committee
Manager / Chair—Marc Reichardt. He is
willing to serve a full term. Paul Emery is an additional candidate for this
position.
Treasurer—Marc
Reichardt is using QuickBooks to handle info.
The position is open to anyone wishing to run. Marc willing to serve a full term.
Record
Keeper—Chris Vannier is resigning.
Keeps minutes of SCC and SQM meetings.
Record keeper should post SCC meetings to main meeting list. Record keeper should also be helping
treasurer. Signs election related state
documents.
Party
Manager—Ray Ziarno. The position
requires a current, accurate membership list.
The manger is basically a coordinator who helps organize the SQM—but
local Green coordinator, along with volunteers, has much of the
responsibility. Handles announcements
for SQM. Finding or accepting
volunteers to help organize SQMs. A
detail person. Have to keep on bugging
people for details. Ray is willing to
continue serving in this position.
At-large
positions (six positions) on SCC. Lynn
Meadows, not present, but willing to continue serving. Robert Bruce resigned. Darren Wilkinson resigned. Jim Moreno is willing to continue
serving. Elizabeth Forest not
present. Need to be member of
GPMi. Access to Internet important. Meetings are conducted by ICQ (Internet) and
occasional face-to-face meetings.
National
Green parties—GPMi has reps. You must
have access to Internet for these positions.
Darren Wilkinson—Secretary of
State Candidate
He
will focus on election reform and instant runoff voting (IRV). Every vote and
every citizen counts. Encourage energy
efficiencies. Keep a more accurate
history of our state including the Underground Railroad, and the Native Americans. Thanks to you who have decided to run or
have worked for causes. “I wish all of
you vision…. and a mission and bravery… and spirit … and patience… and safe
travels.”
Rick introduces the concept of Open Space workshops for tomorrow (Sunday).
Since
the 1980’s northern Michigan was the site of the most extensive oil and gas
exploration in the nation. 20% of the
land ended up being used for oil/gas drilling, although the original plan was
for a much smaller area. State owned
forest. Decisions made in Lansing. Needed to have a full time watchdog—was 6
people. Now approx. 2400 members. Got a number of bills passed. Formed a coalition to move decisions about
the north woods from Lansing to the town halls.
Canadian company wanted to tap the gas under the
lake. Slant drilling. Citizen advisory committee. Michigan Natural Resources trust fund. Partnership model destroyed. Competition for use of the shoreline. Governor wants to allow drilling to proceed
without any citizen’s oversight or planning.
We don’t say NO.
We say HOW. Political
reasons—instead of opposing the offshore drilling, we are recommending the
state follow the science boards’ recommendations, which include forming a
citizen’s advisory committee. Facts
about GL drilling.
Bush energy plan is a “faith based approach; we have
faith that all will be well if we drill all of the oil and gas under public
lands.” We recommend a risks /
oversight approach instead. For
example, lots of problems in the Manistee area—accidents with “sour gas.” Kids knocked unconscious. The state didn’t change regulations—instead
instituted the official “nose” program—investigate, but it will take 2 days to
get there. The supposed benefit of GL
drilling? DNR says if we tap, then
state will get $100 million (royalty is normally 20%). Are 32 hours of light and heat in the US
worth the risk?
Question: why is your president of the board a land developer—conflict of
interest? Answer: We are not an
organization that says no, we say, ‘how to’.
We don’t think it’s bad what he’s doing. He’s being responsible.
Christopher Wright from Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay presented maps and a short summary of the history and current conditions of the Grand
Traverse Bay Watershed.
Dawn
announces—457 members in the state party.
Proposal (Pete S)—For officers of the party, or committee chairs, or reps, no one can hold more than one office. Action: tabled to Bylaws Committee, with instructions to craft a proposal that possibly limits number of offices that can be held or requires that a person that holds more than one position protect one position each SQM and the others go for a vote. If no one wants it, it stays with the person who currently holds it.
Elections
Nominations
· Chair/committee manager: Marc Reichardt and Paul Emery
· Treasurer: Marc Reichardt
· Locals Liaison: Doug Campbell, Kevin Henehan
· Clearinghouse Coordinator: Dawn McClain
· Record keeper: Adrianna Buonarroti
· Party manager: Ray Ziarno
· At large: Rick Stahlhut, Elizabeth Forest, Lynn Meadows, Lou Novak (debt reduction problem), Jim Marino (youth voting), [Matt Abel comment—let’s enlarge the SCC to include all counties], Matt Abel, Doug Campbell.
· ASGP—Marc Reichardt, Steve Herrick, Dana Cunningham, Darren Wilkinson
· GPUSA: Marc Reichardt, Juscha Vannier
Proposal from Steve Herrick—Steve and Marc stay on until three months later.
Another proposal (from Doug Campbell)—We elect the person who will, in August, replace Steve. Let them learn from Steve during the overlapping period.
Proposal from Pete Schermerhorn—we send this to bylaws—table until next quarterly meeting. Action: Group agrees to send to Bylaws Committee and defer decisions until next SQM.
Results
· Committee Manager—Paul Emery
· Treasurer—Marc Reichardt
· Locals Liaison—Kevin Henehan
· Clearing—Dawn McClain
· Record keeper--- Adrianna Buonarroti
· Party Manager—Ray Ziarno
· At Large—Lynn Meadows, Rick Stahlhut, Jim Moreno, Doug Campbell, Lou Novak, Matt Abel.
· ASGP/GPUSA—as is (see above).
GPMI Reform package
1 a All GPMI members should be mailed a postcard 4 x/year. It should contain a brief reminder of the upcoming SQM and where to go for more info (migreens web, email and phone; local web). [Action: consensus—I think]
Proposal [who?]—pass the entire Reform as package in one shot. Two blocking concerns. Pete Schermerhorn and David Spitzley. Blocked.
1 b. Action: consensus. All members having E-mail capability will be contacted at least monthly by the state party. In addition to SQM information, E-mail will contain details on how to join discussion groups, start a local, updates of state party actions, and related information.
1 c. there should be a statewide phone chain using regional volunteers in each area code for emergencies or as necessary. Action: WITHDRAWN
1 d Included in all GPMI party to member communications shall be the statement “Access the platform and the bylaws or call phone number ….” [Action: consensus—I think]
1 e. Action: consensus
Other issues
Proposal (Jim Nicita)—resolved that the GPMi apply for state recognition by the FEC. Action: consensus.
** End of Day 1 **
Day 2
Minutes from Sunday, May 20,
2001
Kevin- begins
talking about reform package proposal
items 23467 refer
toSCC
Kevin proposes
item 5 for discussion
a proposal is made
to send #5 to committee
ellis-UPNORTH
reports that no Local reports are being
made at meeting-
Kevin- wants Petes
idea to be his suggestion.
Withdraws 1a of
his reform proposal
(Ray)
ITEMS 2,3,4,6,7 OF
KEVIN HENEHEN'S REFORM
PACKAGE WAS
TABLED, TO BE
FORWARDED FOR SCC CONSIDERA-
TION. OTHER ITEMS WERE WITHDRAWN, OR
TABLED FOR FUTURE
CONSIDERATION.
(if you need the
reform package...let me know.)
Kay blocks. States that the proposal is violent.
Kevin wants to
drop the listserv moderators name, but
keep on with
listserv proposal.
Kevin reads aloud
from his reform proposal
Pete- says MIGREEN
list is not official
can't make
moderator shut down.
says that listserv
issue is wrong for this
level.
>
Art- Says that it
is inappropriate for anyone to tell
anyone else what
to do
Speaker says MI
GREENS list is OUR REPUTATION
Speaker says The
list is to refer people to.
Dawn has already dropped MIGREENS list.
22 pass
48- Suggests that
we request that MIGREENS be dropped.
David- compares
Greens to FOMOCO.
He is concerned
about the Moderator changing the
name of the
listserv.
Kevin- wants to
strike a
CONSENSUS- is not
reached.
The stack cont
Let it be resolved
that the GPMI strongly reccomends
to the moderator
of the discussion group
MIGreeNS@yahoo.com
A VOTE IS CALLED.
Art calls for a
vote-
12 for it
8 in favor
7 abstentions
The vote does not
pass.
Kay blocks. States that the proposal is violent.
Kevin wants to
drop the listserv moderators name, but
keep on with
listserv proposal.
Kevin reads aloud
from his reform proposal
Pete- says MIGREEN
list is not official
can't make
moderator shut down.
says that listserv
issue is wrong for this
level.
Art- Says that it
is inappropriate for anyone to tell
anyone else what
to do
Speaker says MI
GREENS list is OUR REPUTATION
Speaker says The
list is to refer people to.
Dawn has already dropped MIGREENS list.
22 pass
48- Suggests that
we request that MIGREENS be dropped.
David- compares
Greens to FOMOCO.
He is concerned
about the Moderator changing the
name of the
listserv.
Kevin- wants to
strike a
CONSENSUS- is not
reached.
The stack cont
Let it be resolved
that the GPMI strongly reccomends
to the moderator
of the discussion group
MIGreeNS@yahoo.com
A VOTE IS CALLED.
Art calls for a
vote-
12 for it
8 in favor
7 abstentions
The vote does not
pass.
(Ray)
A MOTION WAS MADE
TO DELETE THE "MI GREENS"
NAME FROM THE
CURRENT LISTSERVES. AFTER
CONSIDERABLE
DISCUSSION, AND BLOCKING
CONCERNS, THE
MOTION DID NOT PASS
BreAKOUT OPEN
MeetiNG Is beguN.
Rick outlines.
Rick-Alternative
Media - several sentences.
Kay Bond- living
wage proposal
{conservatioN-
mobilize on Nat. Gas. Prices.
IRVotng once was
A2 mayor elected in this way
Pete Schermerhorn
process of living values, meetings.
understanding
consensus
National Level
Representing. -how to get involved in
BOSTON initiative!
(Ray)
NORMAL BUSINESS
WAS RECESSED, AND THE
PARTICIPATING SQM
ATTENDENTS WERE ALLOWED
TO BREAK INTO
WORKING GROUPS (BREAK-OUTS)
TO INFORMALLY
DISCUSS VARIOUS
ISSUES..RELEVANT TO FUTURE
PARTY AND
INDIVIDUAL INVOLVEMENT. SUBJECT
ISSUES INCLUDED...
MEDIA, PROCESS (meetings,
consensus, etc. ),
LIVING WAGE, ENERGY CONSER-
VATION, NATIONAL GREEN INVOLVEMENT, AND
INSTANT RUNOFF
VOTING (IRV). AFTER LUNCH,
AND A
PRESENTATION, BREAKOUT "ORGANIZERS"
PRESENTED SHORT
INFORMAL REPORTS ON
RESULTS OF THE
SESSIONS. CONSENSUS TOOK
PLACE THAT THE
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS WERE
VALUABLE, AND
SHOULD CONTINUE AT FUTURE
SQMs.
Chris Grobbel
presents about
Mecosta Perrier
Controversy
Can the Green
Party adopt a resolution, start a
proposal.
Chris is asked to
provide the Greens with a draft
proposal that
would provide a starting point for a
resolution.
He says he will
jot down a few things.
______________
(Ray)
CHRIS GROBBEL
PRESENTED AN EXCELLENT
SLIDE SHOW AND
TALK REGARDING PERRIER
GROUP'S PLANS FOR
A BOTTLING WATER PLANT
IN MECOSTA COUNTY,
MICHIGAN. SLIDES AND
DETAILED
STATISTICS WERE PRESENTED, AND
CHRIS REQUESTED
THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
GREEN PARTY OF
MICHIGAN IN OPPOSING THIS
PROPOSED
EFFORT. BY CONSENSUS, IT WAS
AGREED THAT A
RESOLUTION WOULD BE SENT
TO THE GOVERNOR,
AND MEMBERS OF MICH.
LEGISLATURE,
OPPOSING THE PERRIER PLAN.
CHRIS GROBBEL
VOLUNTEERED TO PEPARE
SUBJECT
RESOLUTION, AND RAY ZIARNO AGREED
TO FORWARD SAID
RESOLUTION TO THE GOV.
AND STATE
LEGISLATURE MEMBERS. THE
RESOLUTION WAS
PRESENTED, READ, AND
APPROVED BY
CONSENSUS.
(EXACT WORDING OF
THE RESOLUTION WILL BE
ADDED TO THE
MINUTES AT A FUTURE DATE,
AND PRESENTED AT
THE NEXT SQM.)
People decide to
hear breakout groups reports.
{Platform comes to
the Fore, AS David begins speaking}
Kay- The Green
Party will provide computers for the
economically
disadvantaged members so they can fully
participate
The green party
will find provide used computers for
the economically
disadvantaged members so they can
fully participate.
Dave- Proposes
that we send this resolution to the
SCC.
Kay agrees.
(Ray)
KAY BOND MADE A
PROPOSAL THAT THE GREEN
PARTY OF MICHIGAN
ASSIST IN PROVIDING/DONATING
WORKING COMPUTERS
TO ECONOMICALLY DISAD-
VANTAGE MEMBERS,
TO ALLOW THEM TO FULLY
PARTICIPATE IN
PARTY BUSINESS AND EVENTS.
AFTER CONSIDERABLE
DISCUSSION, DAVE SPITZLEY
PROPOSED THAT A
RESOLUTION DETAILING SUCH
WOULD BE FOWARDED
TO THE SCC, TO BE CON-
SIDERED AND
REPORTED AT THE NEXT SQM.
Tom-proposes that
meetings could be evaluated at the
end.
Ray-suggests that
everyone who wants to comment on
meeting can write
it out.
A call for a vote?
Write down your
concerns an mail them y. to Ray.
abstention?
(Ray)
TOM MAIR PROPOSED
THAT SOME SORT OF
EVALUATION SHOULD
BE MADE AT THE END OF
SQM MEETINGS. AFTER CONSIDERABLE DIS-
CUSSION, IT WAS
DECIDED THAT ANYONE DESIRING
TO SUBMIT A
WRITTEN EVALUATION OF A MEETING
COULD DO SO AT THE
END OF SUBJECT MEETING,
OR PRESENT SUCH TO
THE MEETING MANAGER
VIA E-MAILS OR
LETTER. SUBJECT EVALUATION
WOULD BE KEPT ON
FILE AND UTILIZED FOR FUTURE
SQMs BY THE
MEETING MANAGER
Words of wisdom
and lifting
requires work,
dedication, cultivation.
FUTURE FOCUS!
State Nominating
Committee
was a marvel.
Advice -personal
responsibility each of us have a
personal
committment
Kevin is praised
for tenacity.
Find a person to
replace you after you have done
something.
How can we seize
the day and make our next
meeting better!
AWOG- get a
bundle? distribute?
(Ray)
JIM NICITA, A
LONGTIME GREEN PARTY MEMBER,
GAVE A FAREWELL
(AND MOTIVATIONAL) TALK
TO THE
PARTICIPANTS, STRESSING THAT THE
GREENS, AS A
MINORITY PARTY, NEEDS WORK,
DEDICATION,
CULTIVATION, AND FOCUS. EVERY
ONE OF US IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS
OF THE PARTY, AND
MUST DISCHARGE THAT RE-
SPONSIBILITY BY
PERSONAL COMMITMENT. JIM
RECEIVED A ROLLING
THUNDER OF APPLAUSE...
AND... THE SPRING
2001 SQM WAS ADJOURNED.
**End
of Day 2**
SECTION 3:
* Some materials have been
annotated with status of items at the end of the meeting.
GPMI
REFORM PACKAGE: All of the following guidelines will be helpful for smooth functioning
of the GPMI infrastructure, as we head into another potentially chaotic
campaign season. However, the drafters acknowledge that GPMI staffers are
overworked and currently dealing with a large backlog of data entry, and other
urgent tasks. Therefore, we recommend that these guidelines, with the exception
of the latter section labeled “Other Efficiency Proposals,” should not go into
effect until the November Quarterly Meeting. This will give GPMI staffers the
extra window necessary to deal with overdue data entry and consolidate the GPMI
databases into a single, workable resource. In addition, these proposals are
not to be considered as new Bylaws, but rather simply a kind of “binding
procedure” that staffers can follow in the future, like administrative
guidelines for office workers.
(The status of each item after the Traverse City
Quarterly Meeting can be found in bold text.)
Administrative
guidelines:
1)
Every registered member of the party should be contacted regularly by the GPMI,
as follows.
a. Everyone should be mailed a postcard four times a
year, one month prior to the upcoming Quarterly Meeting. This should contain
information for the Quarterly, while giving the person enough time to make that
date available. It should also contain basic GPMI information, and instructions
how to contribute money and renew a membership. Passed as the following
rewrite: “All GPMI members should be mailed a postcard four times per year. It
should contain a brief reminder of the Quarterly Meeting and where to go for
more info – GPMI web, email and phone, and local web, email, and phone.”
b. Everyone who has submitted an email address
should be contacted at least monthly by the state party. All the information
above should be contained. In addition, there should be instructions how to
join Green discussion groups, start a local, find a local already in existence,
and updates of state party actions. Currently, this function is covered by the
“Weekly Updates” from Ken Young. Therefore, this section would simply formalize
that relationship and lay down some simple requirements. Passed.
c. There should be a statewide phone chain, using
regional volunteers in each area code, to contact every member of the state
party, quarterly, by phone. Cost would be minimal; the Clearinghouse
Coordinator would make five or six long distance calls, and then each of the
regional coordinators would contact the volunteers in their own area, who would
then divide up the calls among themselves. The Clearinghouse Coordinator should
write a sample script for phone contacts and submit this to the SCC for
approval, as well as solicit volunteers, within a month of the passage of this
section. Discussed and withdrawn.
d. Every member of the state party, and every new
member from now on, should receive an annotated copy of the GPMI Bylaws. The
Bylaws Committee should produce these by going through the Bylaws item by item
and offering a brief explanation of each: what they mean, how they work, etc.
This will address a persistent problem in the GPMI: very few people are
familiar with the structures and procedures laid out in the Bylaws, ands all
sorts of contrary proposals are often introduced, and sometimes passed, before
anyone notices that they violate the Bylaws. Included with this annotated copy
of the Bylaws should be a list of the other regulations and procedures passed
by the GPMI. All members are owed this basic familiarity with GPMI rules. Passed
as the following rewrite: “All GPMI communication with members should include a
brief reference to where to find a copy of the bylaws and the platform, whether
by web or mail address.”
e. All SCC meetings, time, date, and place, must be
posted on the state party website with at least one week’s notice. All SCC
members, with contact info, should likewise be made available on the state
party website. Passed.
2.
Those who donate money MUST be recognized. Currently, when you send in a check
to the state party, you do not get a receipt or an acknowledgement of any kind.
Thus, contributors are unaware of whether their contributions were received or
when they were cashed. This is unacceptable. Therefore, all those who send
contributions should be sent a receipt within one week of their contribution
being received. In the case of money sent in as part of an application for or
renewal of state party membership, this receipt should be accompanied by a
confirmation of membership status, a copy of AWOG, contact information for the
nearest local, and instructions how to start one. Because of the work involved
in assembling new member packets, the timetable should be two weeks from
receipt instead of one. [suggest last sentence be changed to: “New member
packets can be pre-stuffed and sent out upon receipt of memberships.”] Numbers
2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 Referred to SCC for decision. SCC will provide report of
decision to next Quarterly Meeting.
3)
Local organizers should be assisted, not hindered, by the state party. Bob
Zuidema, who is trying to establish a local in Mecosta County, (Big Rapids
area) reported to me that he experienced delays of up to two months in
communicating with and obtaining materials from the state party. In addition, I
have requested database information from the state party and been made to wait
two weeks without response, at which time I was shunted to another person, who
again did nothing for over a week before passing me to a third person, who
looked up everything I needed in less than an hour. This is unacceptable. Therefore,
a. When an organizer contacts the state party
requesting to form a new local, he should receive his materials within two
weeks. These should include a list of all the contacts from that area in the
GPMI database.
b. The GPMI should notify the relevant local
whenever the database entries for their area are changed or updated.
c. When the GPMI receives a new membership with no
local specified, the individual in charge should immediately find the closest
local to that applicant. The applicant should be notified of that local and
provided with contact info within one week. The local organizer, in turn,
should be notified of the applicant and provided with the info on the
membership form. This will help ensure that organizers and volunteers are connected.
4)
State party websites and hotline recordings should be updated at least monthly.
These are our two most important outreach tools.
5)
Locals must show evidence of life. Each local should contact the GPMI Locals
Liaison quarterly with information about membership, recent meetings, and
recent actions, and use this opportunity to synchronize the information in the
local and state databases. Locals which do so will be considered active,
eligible to vote in Locals Polling. Locals missing the contact deadline twice
in a row will be downgraded to inactive, and lose their voting rights in Locals
Polling procedures. In addition, each local should send at least one member to
each Quarterly Meeting; if they are unable to do so, they should explicitly say
so to the Locals Liaison. These rules are intended to prevent the atrophy of
Green locals. Discussed and referred to Bylaws Committee for further study.
Bylaws Committee will return to next Quarterly with finalized language and
Bylaws section for approval.
6)
At the end of each Quarterly Meeting, the organizers should announce the date
and city in which the next one will be held.
7)
The state party website should always include a section detailing the exact
procedures which interested members should follow to get an idea passed and
implemented in the GPMI. Very few people know the proper procedures, or which
body (the local, the SCC, or the Quarterly) has jurisdiction, whether a
proposal needs to be a Bylaw or not, etc.
Other
Efficiency Proposals:
1)
Email list-serves. These are closely associated with the state party, through
the
word “migreens” in their titles. This leads people to believe they are representative of and under the supervision of the GPMI; therefore, even if this is not the case, the greatest care must be taken to avoid harming the GPMI’s public image via these tools. This problem was partially addressed when a disclaimer was added to all messages on the discussion list, stating that opinions expressed there were not necessarily those of the GPMI. The following two proposals should help as well. All GPMI officers, and all chairs of locals, should be required to be members on the GPMI business list-serve (provided they use email). A lot of our inefficiency problems arise from the fact that a lot of important people are not in the loop. This email list is pretty much the only avenue of communication for Greens statewide, especially if they don't or can't regularly attend the Quarterlies. Discussed and withdrawn. Informal recommendation: the Locals Liaison or a designee should provide regular summaries of important items of discussion to local chairs and party officers not using migreens-business, or their designees.
A more civil discussion list. The current migreens list has been prey to trolls using intimidation. The situation is compounded by the fact that the moderator of this list, Randym Jones, is rarely available and seems unable or unwilling to create or enforce rules of etiquette for the list. For example, I once actually received a death threat via the discussion list; I brought it to the moderator’s attention, asking that the person be removed, and it was ignored. Obviously, intimidation is not covered under respect for diversity, and our devotion to free and open dialogue does not have to mean we allow ourselves to be harassed. Therefore, the party should pass a resolution, as below, advising Randym to close down the migreens discussion list-serve. It should then be replaced immediately with another one, with clear rules of etiquette, and within the jurisdiction of the state party. This list should exclude those who have used legal or other threats against others previously. This would recap a similar procedure undertaken with the business list a while ago
RESOLUTION:
Let it be resolved that the GPMI strongly recommends to Randym Jones that the
migreens discussion list-serve should be closed down, effective one month from
today. The state party feels that the level of discourse has grown too
belligerent to continue operating the list under the word “migreens.” The list
will be reconstituted under GPMI supervision, and all participants will be
invited to join the new list, excluding only those who have used legal or
physical intimidation against other list members in the past. The new list should
have one primary rule: intimidation (defined as physical or legal threats) is
prohibited. Offenders will get a warning, and be expelled at the second
offense. After a period of six months, the offender may then be readmitted,
subject to the same rules. The new moderator will reserve the right, at the
recommendation of the GPMI, to institute additional rules as well. Other than
this, total freedom of speech and opinion should be practiced on the new list,
as customary. Finally, the GPMI wishes to thank Randym Jones for his work up to
now. Discussed and modified. Discussed again and modified again. Rejected
after additional discussion. Informal recommendation: an interested
person should establish their own list, which could then be considered the
“official” one in place of migreens.
Bylaws
Proposals
For each Bylaw Proposal
below, please circle “Accept”, “Modify”, or “Reject”. In addition to the voting options, there is also an area for
Comments. If you vote to Modify a plank,
please write suggestions on what needs to be changed in the plank. In any case, feel free to add any comments
you wish; improvements are always possible.
If the final vote on a plank is:
-
2/3 or more “Accept”:
The plank will be adopted as written and added to the official GPMI platform
-
2/3 or more “Reject”:
The plank will be discarded, and no further work will be done on the plank
- Otherwise: The plank will be sent back to the Platform committee for revis