Accepted Minutes of the May 26, 2015  telephonic EC meeting at 6:00 PM.                                      EC attendees: co-chairpersons: Rolf Maurer, S. Michael DeRosa; treasurer: Christopher Reilly; and secretary: Barbara A. Barry. Co-chairperson: Linda Thompson absent due to medical condition.

EC updated GPCT information and developed the agenda for the next SCC meeting:

• Next SCC meeting, Monday, June 8, 2015:  BAB to arrange a facilitator and timekeeper; method of voting for our reps to the GPUS standing committees; use a ballot (with ranking, NOTA and write-in)like that used at our 4.25.15 annual meeting; consider selecting 1-2 people to count these ballots. Deadline for members to submit their names: by 11:59PM, Sunday, May 31, 2015.
  • Discussed continue updating the mailing list with the information acquired from our recent mailing and sign-in sheets from meetings. Who should do this?
  • Consensus: Present internal election results of 4-25-15 annual meeting by Christopher Reilly.
  • Election of 3 GPCT delegates to the GPUS annual meeting for July 23 to 26, 2015.
  • Process to be used to determine present and future composition of any GPCT Committees (e.g. Budget, Dispute Resolution, Fundraising and Outreach, etc.). Consensus: one GPCT member per chapter. Additionally At-large representative(s) should come from geographic areas that are underrepresented to the GPCT e.g. northern CT, western CT, etc. Objective: to have mix of members from under represented areas & heavily represented areas.
  • Present to GPCT: Status of GPCT legislative proposals to CT Legislature.
  • Updates about activities of interest to the GPCT: Algonquin Pipeline;  May 30, 2015  Green-Rainbow MA GP convention;  CT People’s Climate March,  Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 11:15AM at  210 Capital Avenue, Hartford, CT; and  Thursday, June 25, 2015:  Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign in Philadelphia.   
• Consensus from EC to SCC: change contact person from Ed Dubrle, former GPCT secretary to BAB, current secretary for This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Rationale from David Bedell: This might be a good time to reset the email forwarding for alias This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to forward to Barbara instead of Ed Dubrule. Ed's been conscientious about handling these, but he says he doesn't feel up-to-date enough to respond properly to inquiries.     
  • Determine order of agenda items.  
  • Reviewed GPCT bylaws regarding: a) Regional Chapter Membership: Any group of five or more individual members, resident in a cohesive geographical or political area, may form a Regional chapter provided that the group appoints an official who will inform the Green Party of Connecticut on a continuing basis of Chapter membership, meeting place and schedule, minutes of meetings and other significant Chapter activities, and shall in a timely manner transmit to the Chapter members significant communications from the State Party and shall commit to compliance with all other requirements established by the Green Party of Connecticut for the conduct of Chapters. The chapter shall also provide regular representation at Party Conventions and State Central Committee Meetings, and timely response (positive or negative) to Party requests for action and information. b) Bylaws Amendments and Revisions:  Any Chapter may, provided two thirds of its full membership concur, propose to the State Central Committee amendments or changes to the Green Party of Connecticut Bylaws. The State Central Committee shall refer the proposal to all active Chapters for review and recommendations. Each Chapter may, by a two thirds majority of its full membership, recommend rejection, State Central Committee approval, or submittal of the proposal to the next following Party Convention for consideration of the full membership. If two thirds of the Chapters recommend approval, the State Central Committee may enact the change or refer it for Convention action. If Convention action is called for, members in good standing but unable to attend the Convention shall each be entitled to vote by absentee ballot. And c) Ethical Standards:  All members shall comport themselves in ways that reflect the Green Party of Connecticut's Purpose and Principles at all times, and shall make particular note of actions such as the following unacceptable modes of conduct: 1. Making commitments or position statements that conflict with Party or Chapter policies, principles, or ethical codes. 2. The advocacy or practice of racial, sexual, ethnic, or religious discrimination 3. Betrayal of trust in matters affecting Party or Public welfare. 4. Indulgence in or use of any form of violence. 5. Irresponsible advocacy such as that based upon misrepresentation or gross ignorance of pertinent facts. 

b) GPCT bylaws Ethical Standards: All members shall comport themselves in ways that reflect the Green Party of Connecticut's Purpose and Principles at all times, and shall make particular note of actions such as the following unacceptable modes of conduct:   1. Making commitments or position statements that conflict with Party or Chapter policies, principles, or ethical codes. 2. The advocacy or practice of racial, sexual, ethnic, or religious discrimination 3. Betrayal of trust in matters affecting Party or Public welfare.  4. Indulgence in or use of any form of violence. 5. Irresponsible advocacy such as that based upon misrepresentation or gross ignorance of pertinent facts.

1. Executive CommitteeAn Executive Committee of five, the  Co-Chairpersons, the Treasurer, and the Secretary, shall be responsible for establishing the agenda for State Central Committee Meetings, duly considering recommendations and requests by State Central Committee and chapters, and for informing State Central Committee members and Chapters of the agenda a week in advance of each meeting. It shall monitor the activities of Party committees and Chapters, assuring a full understanding of Party standards and objectives; and shall recommend to the State Central Committee any non-routine action that the State Central Committee should consider.  and
2. respect for diversity, non-violence, 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.

• SMD to find place for next SCC meeting, June 8, 2015.
• GPUS: Starlene Rankin has resigned as a Steering Committee co-chair.  A vacancy election is hereby initiated. Bylaws Section 6-3.4 states, "If a special election is necessary to fill a vacancy, the Steering Committee shall call for an online election, with a nomination period of three weeks to commence on the next regular starting date as defined in Article VI of the GPUS Rules and Procedures, followed by a two-week discussion period and a one-week vote." The next regular starting date is today, 4.26.15.  Therefore, the nomination period will be 4/26 thru 5/17; the discussion period will be 5/18 thru 5/31; and the voting will be 6/1 thru 6/7. Budd Dickinson,  Secretary, National Committee Discussion Forum.

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Agenda for the  Monday, June 8, 2015     6:30PM  SCC meeting at the Portland Waverly Center .  Time allocated for this agenda:   THREE hours.

1.  (5-10 minutes): Review and: a) approve the minutes of March 16, 2015 SCC meeting and the April 25, 2015 GPCT Annual Meeting and b) accept EC minutes of the: May 11, 2015 and May 26, 2015 meetings and the emergency EC meetings of:   March 30, 2015,  April 2, 2015 and April 6, 2015 and c) accept minutes of March 28, 2015 Fundraiser with Jill Stein.

2.  (5 minutes): Treasurer's report from Christopher Reilly.                                                                        3.  (5-10 minutes): Secretary’s report from B. Barry:  a) seeking Freedom of information request to the CT SEEC (State Elections Enforcement Commission) requesting what CT money was used to distribute to the CT (Democrat and Republican) candidates financial campaigns since enacted in 2005. b) people who can authenticate petitioners’ signature on a petition: Notary public; justice of the peace; attorney admitted to the CT bar; Secretary of the State; judge of a court of record; family support magistrate; clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal; commissioner of deeds; town clerk of the town indicated on the petition.   c) change the GPCT contact person for websites: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to Barbara Barry, current GPCT secretary from Ed Dubrule, former GPCT secretary.                                                                                                   4.  (5-10 minutes): Reports from our 3 representatives to the GPUS: S. Michael DeRosa, Linda Thompson and Joshua Steele Kelly.                                                                                                             5.  (15-20 minutes): Feedback regarding the April 25, 2015 GPCT 2015 Annual Meeting at Portland Waverly Center and mailing list. The results of the 4-25-15 GPCT Annual Meeting and rationale for the results. See Addendum I from Christopher Reilly, Internal Elections Chairperson who ran the computer software for the Internal Elections Committee and observers.

6. (20-30 minutes): Ballot election of our (3) GPCT representatives to each (GPUS) Committee. Deadline determined by the EC: by 11:59PM Sunday, May 31, 2015. 

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.                            Ballot Access (BA): effots/strategies/successes of the state Green Parties gaining ballot access.        

Black Caucus.     

Bylaws, Rules, Polices Procedure (BRPP): for the GPUS officers and national committees:

Dispute Resolution (DRC): mediation of any disputes within the GPUS.                                Diversity (DC):  strategies/actions to urge/maximize diversity within the GPUS.        

Eco Action (EA): develop strategies for the GPUS regarding ecological matters.     

Finance (FinCom): determine how to spend the GPUS money.         

Fundraising (FC): raises money for the GPUS.                                                                                Green Party of the US internet news: write articles for the GPUS website.                                        International Committee (IC): develops/promotes GPUS positions re: world issues. 

Latino Caucus.                              

Merchandizing Committee (MERCH): determines/acquires items for the GPUS.   

Media Committee (MC): writes GPUS press releases.

Outreach (OC): interacts with other groups who with similar interests with the GPUS.                       Peace (GPAX): discusses/develops strategies of how the GPUS may promote peace throughout the world.                                                                                                                                                   Platform (PC): promotes positions on issues for the GPUS which are consistent with GP Ten Key Values.

Presidential Campaign Support Committee (PCSC):  develop strategies to support any GPUS presidential candidates.

Women’s Caucus. 

7. (15-20 minutes): Election of three GPCT delegates to the GPUS annual meeting of July 23 to 26, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri.          

8. (15  minutes): a) Updated status about the GPCT 2015 legislative proposals to the CT Legislative;   and b) any volunteers and/or liaisons with organizations with similar views who may wish to help promote the GPCT agenda:

CT public banking: Ed Heflin. Urban/suburban/rural farming: Paul Gobell and Barbara Barry. Demilitarization of the police: Rolf Maurer and Barbara Barry. Universal healthcare: Barbara Barry. Promotions of MUDs (municipal utility districts: Barbara Barry and S. Michael DeRosa. Common Core Curriculum reform: Baird Welch-Collins, Emily Garfinkel and Joshua Steele Kelly. Renewable energy: S. Michael DeRosa. Ballot access: S. Michael DeRosa. Decriminalization of cannabis and use of hemp economy: Rolf Maurer, Baird Welch-Collins and Cindy Day. Conversion of military property/businesses to renewable energy sources: S. Michael DeRosa and Rolf Maurer.              

10. (5 minutes): Discuss: March 28, 2015 GPCT fundraiser with Jill Stein, GPUS 2012 presidential candidate who has a 2016 presidential exploratory committee.                                                                  11. (5-15 minutes): Composition of each GPCT committee: EC Consensus: one GPCT member per chapter. Additionally At-large representative(s) should come from geographic areas that are underrepresented to the GPCT e.g. northern CT, western CT, etc. Objective: to have fair mix of members from under represented areas and heavily represented areas of GPCT membership.               12. (5 minutes): GPCT Budget Committee:  Linda Thompson and Christopher Reilly.  Goal setting: need money to petition for the GPUS 2016 presidential candidate.  Advertise events in the print and digital media.                                      

13. (5-15 minutes): Formation of GPCT Conflict Resolution Committee with Linda Thompson as per the 4-25-15 the Conflict Resolution Workshop attendees.                                                                           14. (5-10 minutes): Report from GPCT Fundraising Committee.

15. (5-10 minutes) Report from Linda Thompson of the GPCT Outreach Committee: goal setting i.e. selection of GPCT member liaisons with other CT organizations with similar values e.g. Able Child, HempCT, CT Sierra Club, True Colors, Environmental Justice Network, organizations supporting urban/suburban/rural farm to table farming.                                                                       16. (10 minutes): Updates about the expansion of the Algonquin Pipeline from our liaison, Tim McKee with the alliance of GPs of NJ, NY, RI, MA, PA, OH, WV, ME and the GPUS. The energy company plans to expand the pipeline to a ME seaport so fracked oil and gas may be exported. Here's a link to the Spectra Energy description of the project:  http://www.spectraenergy.com/Operations/New-Projects-and-Our-Process/New-Projects-in-US/Algonquin-Incremental-Market-AIM-Project/           

17. (5-10 minutes): Discuss joining the Libertarian Party in their court case regarding allowing out of state people to collect petition signatures.  

18.  (5-10 minutes): Past events of interest to the GPCT: a)  CT People’s Climate March,  Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 11:15AM at 210 Capital Avenue, Hartford, CT. and b)  May 30, 2015 Green-Rainbow Party of MA convention.   Future activities: Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign in Philadelphia June 25, 2015.

19. (15 minutes): a) GPCT chapter reports:  Greater Fairfield; Greater Hartford; City of New London; Greater Norwich; and Waterford, CT. b) approved minutes to secretary.

20.  Determine the next SCC meeting date/time/place.  

21.  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, GPCT secretary for the GPCT EC: Linda Thompson, S. Michael DeRosa, Rolf Maurer and Christopher Reilly.