Approved minutes of the 1-7-14 SCC meeting. Quorum met.
At: 7PM at Portland Senior Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT 06480.
GPCT members by chapter: Fairfield: David Bedell, Hector Lopez, Rolf Maurer; Greater Hartford: S. Michael DeRosa, co-chairperson; Christopher Reilly, treasurer; Barbara Barry, secretary; New London: Ronna Stuller. Also: Allan Brison, of Hamden: GPCT co-chairperson; Tim McKee. Waterford, CT GPCT members: Baird Welch-Collins, Joshua Kelly and Carin Estey. No other participants. Absent: co-chairperson: Linda Thompson. Facilitator: Barbara Barry.
1. Consensus: approved the minutes of the 11-19-13 SCC meeting and accepted the 1-2-14 EC meeting minutes. (Note: there were no EC or SCC meetings in December due to Tuesday holidays.)
2. Treasurer's report from Christopher Reilly: balance is $1158.16.
3. Reports from our three representatives to the GPUS: absent: Linda Thompson. TMcK: advised at 9PM tonight there will be a joint telephonic meeting of the GPUS Ballot Access Committee and the Presidential Campaign Support Committee. Goal to set up rules/vetting process for selection of the 2016 GPUS presidential candidate; VT Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent) has been approached by some GPs to be our GPUS presidential candidate or run as an Independent candidate for president in 2016. Jill Stein/ the GPUS Shadow Cabinet is still active regarding bipartisan actions needed to take austerity effects off the backs of the jobless people, poor and home foreclosure.
GPUS 30th Annual meeting will be held at the site of the 1st meeting thirty years ago: St. Paul, MN on Thursday, July 24th through July 27th, 2014. SMD: 50 candidates are running for TX state and local offices.
4. No proposals/ resolutions from chapters or a group of five GPCT members or from the EC.
5. GPCT fundraising while following the CT and federal regulations (as updated by Christopher Reilly, GPCT treasurer). Examples are: a) BAB: to contact GPCT Media Committee and other GPCT members regarding speaking at fundraisers; b) SMD: Harvey Wasserman of Ohio is an anti-nuclear activist/investigator since at least Three Mile Island even. He is willing to do a GPCT fundraiser or two. SMD will help to determine dates, times and sites of fundraising events; c) discussed GPCT fundraising merchandise to include: GPCT lawn signs, drawings and T-shirts; and d) consider requesting donations from GPCT members and/or activists. e) SMD: to contact printer about GPCT buttons in storage.
6. GPCT website: a) GPCT literature has not been developed by Melissa Schlag for placement on eventual placement on GPCT website. She was to address: GPCT 10 Key Values and GPCT concerns and solutions about state issues. BAB to do 10 Key Values; RM to do Green Party issues. b) S. Michael DeRosa did send to the GPCT website his (vetted) GPCT articles about climate change and student loans; c) Allan Brison developed a letterhead using the name: CT Green Party. RM to do a letterhead with our correct name of GPCT so it can be vetted and used by GPCT. and d) Consensus: no development of a GPCT newsletter for our website because information would be duplicitous.
7. a) AB, SMD and RS will develop GPCT literature about safe closure of nuclear power plants; b) contact Nancy Burton about Millstone nuclear power plant actions/safety. GPCT literature and recommended actions to be taken about nuclear energy will include the events in: 2010 at Fukushima, Japan; Chernobyl, Russia and Three Mile Island, PA, USA and about concerns about Milestone nuclear power plant in Waterford, CT; c) re-training of Milestone employees; d) coordinate legislative efforts with other anti-nuclear organizations e.g. Sierra Club(e.g. John Calandelli, Enfield, CT director of the Sierra Club) and Judy Friedman of PACE (People’s Action for Clean Energy) and e) contact GPCT members and experts to speak at GPCT SCC meetings and/or fundraisers. f) BAB: suggests the GPCT utilize a grading system (A, B, C, D and F) of state and federal executive and legislative officials about their support for renewable energy sources vs “clean”: nuclear, coal and oil, gas and fracking. Or GPCT to give the “Ficlkle Finger” Award to appropriate officials. g) other legislative actions: RS: support for public education i.e. decrease the number of charter schools, do appropriate student testing. The majority of a teacher’s performance grade should not be based on student performance. Student performance should impact the grading of teachers but should be more appropriate to the situation which may vary with each student and/or class. Rationale: this allows for teachers to educate students based on individual student needs. If English was a secondary language, then a teacher would likely need more time to educate that student. Limited or no state oversight of school systems by a state appointed Special Master. Increase school funding especially in school districts with lower property values. Decrease or eliminate the role of a Special Master appointed by the governor to act as a school superintendent as is the current case in New London, Windham and Bridgeport. h) RM: Governor Malloy is developing new designs for schools which will include: entry gaits, automatic locking schoolroom doors; school officials telling parents which drugs a student needs to attend school. i) SMD: misleading ads about how to repay student loans. Need a GPCT member from each of the CT high schools, colleges and universities. j) SMD: college support for children of illegal immigrants.
8. Mailing List Information under development byAllan Brison inclusive of emails.
9. a) GPCT to interact with CT legislature, our governor or the federal government may include: a) N.S.A. vs. civil rights and privacy rights; possible changes to Social Security and Medicare; fracking, immigration, etc. b) CT legislative agenda items: RM and TMcK will check with Rep.Tim Bolles about petitioning requirement. c) SMD has a meeting planned with Rep. Susan Johnson, Windham=District 49 also about decreasingcampaign petitioning requirements. d) SMD and BAB will interact with the Secretary of State’s office regarding the application of cross-endorsement regulation. e) TMcK: called into a Waterbury radio station to interact with Denise Merrill, CT Secretary of the State. He perceived she was not consistent with policies. f) DB: no updates regarding our complaint to the CT SEEC (State Elections Enforcement Commission) regarding the lack of write-in counting of the GPUS presidential candidate in 2012 in the randomly selected towns of: Bridgeport, New Canaan, Seymour, Stamford, West Haven and Hartford.
10. Discussed possible political actions such as running GPCT candidates for the November 2014 offices for: state-wide slate ie. governor, lt. governor, secretary of the state, attorney general, treasurer and a comptroller who would support a public state bank. Have ballot access in the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts but need appropriate candidates for these officers and also state senate and state representative. Need 3,500 valid petition signatures to gain ballot access for the other three congressional districts. Suggestions for seeking and vetting GPCT candidates for these officers include: outreach, print media ads, Craig’s list and college and university campuses. Consensus: DB will hand into the CT Secretary of State’s office the GPCT member names to place hold the following officers: Governor: Tim McKee; Lt. Governor: Barbara Barry and Treasurer: Rolf Maurer.
11. Consensus: the 2014 GPCT Annual Meeting and Internal Elections is Saturday, May 3, 2014. SMD to find site.
12. Status of the GPCT Bylaws Committee from members: Rolf Maurer, Cora Santaguida, Christopher Reilly, Linda Thompson, Barbara Barry, S. Michael DeRosa and Jeffry Larson. Pending.
13. See #3 above. Otherwise there are no other reports from CTGP members to the (GPUS) National Committees.
Accreditation (AC): reviews 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 2014 GPUS Annual Meeting: Tim McKee andthe absent John Went.
Ballot Assess (BA): discussion of efforts/difficulties/strategies/successes of the state Green Parties gaining ballot access: S. Michael DeRosa and the absent Edward Schwing.
Black Caucus:
Bylaws, Rules, Polices Procedure (BRPP): for the GPUS officers and national committees: Amy Vas Nunes: 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:
Diversity (DC): strategies and actions to urge/maximize diversity within the GPUS: Linda Thompson is absent.
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 S. Michael DeRosa. Justine McCabe was absent.
Latino Caucus: Hector Lopez.
Merchandizing Committee (MERCH): determines and acquires items for the GPUS. Rolf Maurer and Hector Lopez.
Media Committee (MC): writes GPUS press releases. Outreach (OC): interacts with other groups who may have similar interests of the GPUS: Linda Thompson.
Peace (GPAX): discusses/develops strategies of how the GPUS may promote peace throughout the world: Hector Lopez and S. Michael DeRosa.
Platform (PC): promotes positions on issues for the GPUS which are consistent with Green Party Ten Key Values: Justine McCabe and Amy Vas Nunes were both absent.
Presidential Campaign Support Committee (PCSC): develop strategies to support any GPUS presidential candidates. Timothy McKee.
Women’s Caucus: Martha Kelly was absent.
14. a) GPCT chapter redevelopment: AB and Jerry Martin have planned a 1-9-14 meeting at Booktraders store at 7:30PM in efforts to reactivate the Greater New Haven chapter. AB: This will be the first meeting of GPCT members in one and a half years. They will update their New Haven listserv and Facebook page. b) report from the GPCT members from Waterford, CT : Baird Welch-Collins, Joshua Kelly and Carin Estey: have been meeting monthly since September 2013. Last meeting was 1-13-13 at 6:30PM at the Waterford Public Library. They have had five to twelve GPCT registered voters at each meeting and are still recruiting more members. They consider their chapter to include the entire Waterford town along the shoreline to East Lyme. They organized a musical event with speakers at Ithaca College (in Ithaca, NY) on November 23, 2013. Event was called “Songs for Syria” to highlight anti-democratic actions and violence by the government. They plan another “Songs for Syria” event in Waterford, CT on January 24th, 2014 for the same purpose. They provided minutes of their four meetings of: 9-6-13, 10-27-13, 11-26-13 and12-23-13. Attendees vetted Waterford GPCT members.Their website is: waterfordgreenparty.org.
Consensus: SCC attendees endorsed the GPCT recognition of the Waterford, CT GPCT chapter.
c) Chapter reports: Greater Hartford: BAB: January meeting: BAB, CR and SMD communicated updated GPCT information. GPUS annual meeting is scheduled for July 24th through 27th, 2014 in St. Paul, MN. Reason for site location: this was the site of the initial GPUS national meeting. CR will try to update our Greater Hartford chapter website. BAB advised of the development of a Wethersfield Town Charter Committee to revision the city council. This is an opportunity for GP members to voice and effect potential change. Seeking candidates for our ballot lines for: 1st Congressional District and 1st District of the State Senate. We are considering having speakers come to our meeting or GPCT SCC meetings or for chapter fundraising. Next meeting: after the 1-28-14 SCC meeting. New London: RS: NL members were invited and attended the 12-23-13 meeting of the Waterford, CT members. The Greens have been invited to provide quarterly articles to the HUK magazine. NL Greens may want to start their own Green Gazette and use Twitter to publicize their stand on issues. RS also provided minutes of the NL meetings of 12-1-13 and 1-5-14 to the CTGP secretary. Fairfield: DB: meeting pending.
15. Discussed. Consensus: GPCT secretary to send GPCT condolences to the family and associates regarding the two deaths of GPCT members. a) Obituary of Bob Eaton who served as treasurer of the CT Green Party in 2004-2005. Robert F. Eaton, 1959 – 2013.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?pid=168098814
Published in the Hartford Courant on Nov. 20, 2013
Robert F. Eaton, 54, of New Hartford, passed away November 14, 2013. He was born in Burlington, NC on July 10, 1959 to Lois and Favre Eaton. Bob graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture and Art, with a degree in Industrial Design in 1982. He was married to Elisa Kayser Eaton. Bob was employed by the Hartford Insurance Group in their Audio Visual Department from 1982 to 1993. He did independent consulting for ESPN and CPTV. In 1993 he started his own business, Spazmo Video Graphics and Animation. Professional recognition includes Amiga World Magazine International Animation Competitions 2nd place in 1990 and 3rd place in 1993. He was a staunch advocate of peace and social justice, giving his time and energy to the Connecticut Green Party, Winsted Area Peace Action and several local campaigns. He played trombone and was one of the founding members of the Harmonious Brass Choir. He served as co-chair of the Music Parents Association at Northwestern Regional #7. He was an avid jogger, skier, vegan and purveyor of bad puns. He is survived by his wife, Elisa, and daughter, Kira, of New Hartford; parents, Lois and Favre Eaton of Prescott, AZ; sister, Joy Eaton of San Mateo, CA; foster sister, Lucy Laccavole of Manchester, CT; several nieces and nephews and the extended Truong family. A Celebration of Bob's Life will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 7:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Society: East, 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, CT. In lieu of flowers an education account has been set up for Kira Eaton. Contributions can be sent to Northwest Community Bank, New Hartford Branch, PO Box 413, New Hartford, CT 06057.
and b) Chris Nelson's obituary appeared in the New London Day. Chris was treasurer of the New London Greens and also served as treasurer of the CT Green Party around 2002. This was a great loss. Published in The Day on Dec. 27, 2013.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theday/obituary.aspx?n=chris-nelson&pid=168757565
New London - Chris Nelson, 43, passed away last week. Chris was passionate about his work as a shipwright, which took him all over the country restoring historic wooden boats using traditional methods. He was a proponent of livable cities and was dedicated to building a vibrant New London. In addition to participating in several community groups, Chris served on the planning and zoning commission where he advocated for mixed-use, high-density neighborhoods. Chris helped launch and sustain an active third party, the New London Greens, which opposed the use of eminent domain and provided important perspectives on local issues.
Born and raised in New York City, Chris graduated from Yale University and trained as a boat builder at The Landing School in Maine. He moved to New London in 1999. He loved sailing and basketball. He will be remembered for his brilliant mind, dry wit, progressive politics and his laughter. Chris leaves behind many friends and colleagues who will miss him dearly. He is survived by his parents, Joan and Michael of New York City; sisters, Emily of New York City and Jennifer of Baltimore, Md.; brother-in-law, Carrick Mollenkamp; nephew, Quentin; and former wife and good friend, Laura Cordes of West Hartford. The family will be creating a fund in Chris' memory to honor his life and work. For more information, please contact cnmemorialfund@ gmail.com. c) RS will keep GPCT advised of an anticipated memorial for Chris, possibly in NYC for this spring.
16. Consensus: Next SCC meeting to be the last Tuesday of January i.e. 1-28-14.
17. No other suggestions.
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.
Submitted by Barbara Barry, secretary of the Green Party of Connecticut