Approved minutes from the May 28, 2013 SCC meeting of the Green Party of Connecticut at 7PM. Location: at Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480. Quorum was met.
GPCT Attendees: Fairfield: Cora Santiquida, David Bedell, Hector Lopez, Rolf Maurer; Greater Hartford: co-chairperson: S. Michael DeRosa, secretary: Barbara Barry. Also: from Norwich: Linda Thompson, co-chairperson, John Lancz; from Hamden: Allan Brison, co-chairperson; and Tim McKee from Bethany. Facilitator: Barbara Barry, GPCT secretary.
1. Approved: a) February 18, 2013 and March 18, 2013 SCC meetings; b) accepted the EC minutes of: 3-4-13 and 5-13-13 meetings and c) approved the minutes of the 4-27-13 GPCT Annual Meeting.
2. Treasurer's report by Christopher Reilly (who was unable to attend this meeting) was provided to the secretary for presentation. Balance: We started the month with a balance of $273.33 and ended with a balance of $215.99. Expenses were for renewal of GPCT domain name and for 1-888-long distance phone.
3. Reports from our 3 representatives to the GPUS: Linda Thompson: the GPUS July 25 to 28, 2013 Annual Meeting is seeking members to do/attend workshops; Tim McKee: the GPCT proportional representation to the GPUS due to the multiple formulas including the number and types of candidates has been changed from five to three. We currently have three representatives to the GPUS so no further action by the GPCT is needed. Update regarding the Black Caucus national committee: activity is unknown. And S. Michael DeRosa: there has been ongoing discussions about whether the International Committee of the GPUS should pay the dues (approximately $500) to continue to be part of the International Green Party Organization.
4. Any proposals/resolutions from chapters or a group of five (5) CTGP Members or from the EC
From the 5-13-13 EC meeting to the 5-28-13 SCC meeting:
- From Allan Brison: proposal for the GP of CT to support the NCES (National Center for Educational Statistics) list of on-line college courses. a) AB agreed to clarify for BAB and the GP of CT: whether these courses were accredited by the appropriate collegiate and professional associations; if established colleges and universities were recognizing these courses as credits; if these courses were provided by for-profit or non-profit entities. AB: he has had no response back from the organization about BAB’s concerns. b) AB clarified the list of universities which offer on-line and brick and mortar post-graduate degrees are just a list which is found via other routes including websites. c) AB stated that there was no unique correlation with Green Party Ten Key Values or concerns or ideals. Consensus: AB to get back to the SCC and EC when he receives feedback from the requestee.
- From Linda Thompson:
a. update the Green Party of CT lists for: mailing, emails and phones. Consensus: AB would acquire list from Jerry Martin, New Haven. Then BAB will coordinate list with the 2010 CT Secretary of State’s office, Greater Hartford list and Ronna Stuller’s list. c) GPCT will acquire the updated registered voter list from the CT Secretary of State’s Office, once funds are raised this year.
b. Consensus: define responsibilities of and form GPCT Committees for: Outreach, Membership, Diversity, Media and Fundraising;
c. Consensus: the SCC agreed to an all day retreat for EC members. LT to get back to EC regarding potential dates.
d. LT will be a featured speaker about human illness due to environment affect put on by the Left Forum on June 7 to 9, 2013 at Pace University in Lower Manhattan. Theme: Mobilizing for Economical/ Ecological Transformation. Topics: Ecological Crisis and the Catastrophe of Environmental Illness. Other speakers: Benjamin Barson: scientific Soul Sessions; Dr Margaret Flowers: Secretary of Health for the Green Shadow Cabinet; Cecile Lawrence: Green Party New Yorkers Against Fracking; and Zoltan Vaci: GeoCleanse International.
Consensus: LT is a speaker at this event regarding environmental chemical effects on humans and she will put the event information on GPCT listserv; EC and the SCC agree that the GP of CT may table at this event.
- From BAB:
a. CT Senate legislative bill: SB 1138 passed to support acquiring electricity from gas, coal, oil and hydroelectricity from Montreal/Quebec, Canada. The amendment LCO 6421, lost support in the CT legislature. This amendment was in support of smaller forms of hydroelectricity which might have smaller impact on the environment and less loss of electricity over electrical wire. RM to write Op-Ed piece for the GPCT and send to TMcK for media distribution and to the GPCT website.
b. the May 10, 2013 events in Norwalk, Westport and Danbury, CT in support of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution was attended by various GPCT members. The amendment is against “corporate personhood”;
c. No update at this time regarding status of the U.S. Federal Election Committee audit at the Jill Stein for President office in Madison, Wisconsin. The audit started Tuesday, April 30th and is anticipated to continue for 4 or more weeks. It is anticipated to be expensive so donations may be made to the Ben Manski, the campaign manager for Jill Stein when she ran as GPUS presidential candidate November 6, 2012. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; request was authorized and paid for by Jill Stein for President, P. O. Box 2552, Madison, WI 53701 http://www.jillstein.org.
d. Discussed: BAB request that GP of CT members volunteer one hour of their time for any GP of CT activity/event of their interest: writing op-ed articles and letters to the newspaper and online editors; write for: GP of CT website, Facebook, etc.; speak at GP of CT SCC meetings or at sponsored public events; interact with CT legislatures about bills we would be supporting or opposing; etc. The one hour commitment could be every month or once a year or any specified time that member was willing to do so.
e. Report of the GP of CT Internal Elections Committee regarding the finalized results of the votes from the 4-27-13 GP of CT Annual Meeting. CR emailed BAB that he will provide at the next SCC: the actual ballots and final results of the voting at SCC.
f. Withdrawal of Cora Santaguida of the Fairfield Chapter due to health reasons to the GPUS National Committees of: Diversity, Dispute Resolution Committees and the Black Caucus.
Approved by consensus: for all the 6 proposals: a) b) c) d) e) and f).
g. Also: SMD: we need to purchase the latest voter list from the State of CT. Consensus: to purchase after funds are acquired; the 6-2-13 fundraiser with Jill Stein has been cancelled by her due to another commitment. SMD continues to seek another time and place for her fundraiser.
h. LT: suggests a fundraiser with Christopher Hedges. Deadline for candidates to announce they are running in the November 5, 2013 election: August 7, 2013. CT requires political parties notify the CT SOS about which candidates they are endorsing and must be done by September 4th, 2013. BAB: suggest GPCT candidates attend fundraisers.
5. CP of CT Bylaw recommendations from the 4-27-13 GP of CT Annual Meeting: see Addendum I. a) consensus to approve throughout the GPCT Bylaws, changing the term “the Party” to its full name of: “Green Party of Connecticut”. And b) consensus to approve the change the GPCT Bylaws, II, Party Structure and Functions, Executive Committee to indicate that “the Executive Committee shall be composed of five” people. This update was required to accurately reflect that addition of a third co-chairperson in 2000 which was amended elsewhere in the 2000 GPCT Bylaws but not in the Party Structure and Functions section. c) secretary will provide the updated GPCT Bylaws to the CT Secretary of the State. d) new GPCT Bylaws committee was needed due to the expiration of the previous committee at the time of the GPCT 4.27.13 Annual Meeting. New Bylaw members are : Cora Santaquida, Rolf Maurer, Christopher Reilly, Barbara Barry, Linda Thompson and S. Michael DeRosa.
6. Update about the GPUS Annual Meeting to be held July 25 through July 28, 2013 in Iowa City, Iowa: TMcK: attendees will need to travel via car or if flying attendees will also need to travel a distance via car or train; attendees may purchase rooms on the campus of Iowa State University, the site of the meeting.
7. Update regarding potential fundraisers: SMD: the June 2nd Jill Stein fundraiser/speech to the GP of CT has been cancelled by Jill Stein. She has not gotten back with a clear idea about her next available dates.
8. Reports from CTGP members to the (GPUS) National Committees.
Accreditation (AC): reviews any state chapter which petitions to join the GPUS; reviews criteria for state delegates to GPUS annual meetings and conventions.
Annual National Meeting (ANMC): working on the July 25-28, 2013 GPUS Annual Meeting: TMcK: see above. John Went was absent.
Ballot Access (BA): discussion of efforts, difficulties, strategies and successes of the state Green Parties gaining ballot access: SMD: New Mexico is seeking GPUS money to help their ability to do 2013 petitioning for ballot access. Edward Schwing was absent.
Black Caucus: *****Cora Santaguida withdrew as of 5-11-13***.
Bylaws, Rules, Polices Procedure (BRPP): for the GPUS officers and national committees: Amy Vas Nunes was absent.
Coordination Campaign (CCC): distribution of GPUS money to Green Party public office candidates.
Dispute Resolution (DRC): mediation of any disputes within the GPUS organization: ***Cora Santaguida, withdrew on 5-11-13.
Diversity (DC): strategies and actions to urge/maximize diversity within the GPUS: Linda Thompson. *****Cora Santaguida withdrew on 5-11-13.
Eco Action (EA): develop strategies for the GPUS regarding ecological matters.
Finance (FinCom): review and determine how to spend the money of the GPUS organization
Fundraising (FC): raises money for the GPUS operations.
Green Party of the US internet news: acquire and write articles for the GPUS website.
International Committee (IC): develops/promotes GPUS positions regarding world issues. Hector Lopez and SMD: see # 3 above. Justine McCabe was absent.
Latino Caucus: Hector Lopez: no update.
Merchandizing Committee (MERCH): determines and acquires items for the GPUS. Rolf Maurer and Hector Lopez: no update.
Media Committee (MC): writes GPUS press releases.
Outreach (OC): interacts with other groups who may have similar interests of the GPUS: Linda Thompson: is considering re-branding.
Peace (GPAX): discusses/develops strategies of how the GPUS may promote peace throughout the world: Hector Lopez and S. Michael DeRosa: no activity at this time.
Platform (PC): promotes positions on issues for the GPUS which are consistent with Green Party Ten Key Values: no report as Justine McCabe and Amy Vas Nunes were absent.
Presidential Campaign Support Committee (PCSC): develop strategies to support any GPUS presidential candidates. Timothy McKee: our 2012 presidential candidate, Jill Stein, continues to travel around the U.S. and internationally to raise GP concerns and to support and energize state chapters.
Women’s Caucus: no report as Martha Kelly was absent.
9. Political actions to be taken in the near future: a) response to President Obama’s and the Justice Departments spying on the Associated Press; b) response by RM to the use of domes by any federal, state or municipal governmental agency, police, army, first responders, corporate entity and/or private persons…whether oversees or in U.S. airspace. He may also address GPCT concerns about CT Congressional Representative Esty and also: solar flares/surges which have the risk of stopping world-wide internet functioning and stopping our energy plants and power grids inclusive of nuclear energy. This lack of energy at nuclear facilities could quickly lead to melt-downs and unprecedented catastrophes. DB: Congress in 2010 passed a law that mandated that the federal government help provide surge protection to the power plants/grids. However, this was nullified when the Senate removed that language from the legislation and c) the difference between a federal 501 (c) 3 and 501 (c) 4 was discussed.
10. Chapter reports: verbal report to the attendees and the written approved minutes to the CTGP secretary/EC members: Greater Hartford: SMD: chapter is looking for possible candidates for: Hartford mayor and/or City Council. LT of Norwich: is working with other GPCT members to develop a Norwich Chapter. They have done community outreach and advised the Norwich Bulletin of these developments.
11. Selection of the June 25, 2013 as date of the next SCC meeting. Location and time to be determined.
12. Other suggestions: consensus: send information about WorldCantWait and Guantanamo to GPCT listserv.
GREEN PARTY TEN KEY VALUES: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender equality.
Barbara Barry, secretary of the Green Party of Connecticut