{news} minutes Aug 2004 SCC meeting,part 1 of 4

[edubrule]

Minutes of August 31, 2004 SCC meeting--Hartford office, 7-10pm

 

Attendees:

1. Fairfield chapter:  Ed Friend

2. Hamden chapter:  Aaron Gustafson, Kelly McCarthy

3. Hartford chapter:  Ed DuBrule (NV), Elizabeth Horton Sheff, Chris Reilly (NV) (see note below*), Lynah, Joyce Tentor, Albert Marceau

4. New Haven chapter:  Ralph Ferrucci (part of meeting), Charlie Pillsbury

5. New London chapter:  Andy Derr

6. Northeast chapter:  Jean deSmet

7. Northwest chapter:  Tom Sevigny, Elizabeth Brancato (voting for Northwest chapter and for Women's Caucus)

8. Shoreline chapter:  Lindsay Mathews (facilitator), David Adams

9. Tolland chapter:  Tim McKee

10. Western chapter:  Justine McCabe, Rachel Goodkind

David Agosta (NV) (part of meeting)

     Persons known to the secretary not to be chapter voting representatives are so noted ("NV");  no votes were taken at this meeting;  some persons above came slightly late to the meeting and were not given the opportunity to declare themselves non-voting reps.

     No attendees were present from the Central CT chapter.  The West Hartford chapter and Southeast chapter are no longer counted toward quorum (see minutes of June 2004 SCC meeting).

     *An attendance sheet given to the secretary listed attendees and chapters;  it said "Chris Reilly--at large" rather than listing a chapter affiliation.

 

A.  PRELIMINARIES.  The July SCC minutes were accepted by consensus.  The proposed agenda for tonight was accepted by consensus, with the addition of an announcement by Ralph Ferrucci at the beginning of the meeting.

 

Withdrawal of Ralph Ferrucci.  Because of concerns about the process by which he was nominated, Ralph is withdrawing his name;  he will not be the Green Party candidate for US Congress from the Third District.  He takes this step "because I have a conscience and honor".  He will put his name in as a write-in candidate.  He said that many Greens who should have been allowed to vote on his nomination were not allowed to do so.   He had similar concerns about the nominating process in Connecticut for the Green Party presidential candidate.  He asked if the required pre-nomination paperwork for his candidacy had been filed with the Connecticut Secretary of State's office.  He said "I will not break laws" that relate to the nominating process.

     Charlie said that there had been a nominating convention, which nominated Ralph and Calvin Nicholson, at the end of April.  Charlie said that Party resources are limited for nominating processes.  Justine said that Ralph had not faced competition in his candidacy.  She said that she and others had devoted much effort to the process by which Connecticut Greens gave input on the presidential candidates.

     Aaron reminded us that a proposal within tonight's agenda addresses (among other matters) the way in which the Green Party selects candidates.  He said that the CTGP could write a handbook for Party members on the nominating process.  Jean said that the only requirement is to put notice in local newspapers.  She said that when nominating candidates, the Northeast chapter sends a letter to all on their mailing list, holds a candidates' night, and has a vote.  Tim said that the Secretary of State's office publishes handbooks and gives seminars for candidates.

     Charlie said that to get a full complement of ballot checkers, three Green candidates in the New Haven area were needed (Ralph, Calvin, and Joyce Chen).  He said that Ralph's withdrawal would hurt Calvin's campaign.

     There was discussion about whether the New Haven chapter (and other chapters with Third District territory) could nominate a candidate to replace Ralph.  Tom said that laws on replacing a candidate who had withdrawn (or died) may be different than the laws relating to an initial nomination.

 

B.  REPORTS  

1. Treasurer's report (read by Elizabeth Brancato).   "In the past month we took in $762 and spent $676.  $415 of those expenses were for the second insurance payment.

     "Currently we have a balance of $350.  This is $50 above the $300 in funds that can be used for non fundraising expenses.  [Secretary's note:  the $300 figure is in the financial management plan passed by last month's SCC meeting.]  We owe $302 in State office expenses and over a hundred of that is past due.

     "As always please consider being involved in the Fundraising and Budget Committees.

     "For more information on the CT Green Party Finances you can call me at 860 379-0632, email me at green at spazmo.com or look at this webpage:  http://www.kirajoy.com/CTGP/CTGP_Treasurer.html

     "Bob Eaton

     "CT Green Party Treasurer"

     (report dated 8/24/04)

 

     Tom said he had spoken to Bob this afternoon.  A mailing done to internal elections attendees (excluding those who had donated to the CTGP within the past 3 months) had so far brought in $235, with more expected.  Three persons had signed up for monthly credit card donations.  Tom spoke of $260 having been received from the national party as CT's share of the 1000-for-1000 program.

 

2. Fundraising Committee report.  Tom passed out a draft fundraising plan (Appendix 1).  Two fundraisers in CT with Pat LaMarche have been held.  There will be a fundraiser 9/11/04 at the Sherman Playhouse ("Woodie Guthrie's American Song").

3. Budget Committee report--no recent meeting.

4. Elections Committee--no recent meeting.

5. Communications Committee--two listserves have been set up (forum--for discussion of issues pertaining to the Green Party in Connecticut;  news--for articles about the Green Party in Connecticut or other relevant articles).  These are "official" CTGP listserves.  Ed DuBrule said that he feels it will be confusing to have these listserves and the current unofficial ctgp at lists.riseup.net discussion listserve and the current announcements listserve (ctgp-announcements at lists.riseup.net).  Ed recommended discontinuing the ctgp at lists.riseup.net and ctgp-announcements at lists.riseup.net listserves.  It was the consensus of the SCC that the latter two listserves should be discontinued.  Ed will post his minutes and agendas on the news listserve;  chapter reps should subscribe to the news listserve.  Aaron hopes to set up a web-based system where CT Greens can easily publicize events and Party business.

6.  Diversity Committee--no recent meeting.

7.  Women's Caucus--meeting planned--contact Elizabeth Brancato or Lindsay Mathews.

8.  Bylaws, Rules, Policies, and Procedures Committee--see "Old Business" below.

9.  Executive Committee--items from the minutes of the 8/15/04 Executive Committee meeting were summarized.  (These minutes were published to the announcements and news listserves 9/3/04 and 9/4/04 respectively;  contact Ed for a copy.)

     Amy Vas Nunes has filed a complaint with the CT Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities related to the Battista-vs-Vas Nunes complaint (Resolution Committee decision issued) and related to the issues in the Vas Nunes-vs-Sevigny complaint (Resolution Committee decision not yet issued).  The SCC tonight authorized Charlie to prepare a response (working with others in the Party, especially the conflict resolution committees) to this complaint.

     Elizabeth Horton Sheff discussed the concept of starting a nonprofit arm of the CTGP.  She attended a HUD workshop on the subject of grants availability for human services work.  Tom said that the Maine Green Party set up a non-profit wing.

10.  Chapter reports (1 minute each) and campaign reports (1 minute each).

a. Hartford.  Elizabeth Horton Sheff reported some of her work on the Hartford City Council:  passed resolution on new WalMart not being to sell guns or ammunition;  resolution on death penalty;  Keep Them Reading Campaign (distributed books);  worked with Mayor Perez on tracking the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority waste site;  instituted Human Capital Development Agenda;  introducing a resolution on having international observers monitor the US November election;  grandparents' day at Capitol.

     Joyce Tentor said that the Sheff vs. O'Neill lawsuit has gone back to court--the state has inadequately complied with its promise to serve students with sufficient magnet schools seats.

b. Northeast:  many went to NYC for the counter-Republican Convention protests;  Juan Perez (Green who ran for City Council on Working Families Party line) took federally-funded job and hence can't run again for his seat by law.  Juan trying to get the City Council to deal with the issue of the Patriot Act's mandated access to library patrons' records.

c. Western:  Justine described how the incidents at the Village Fair Days--after having paid $300 for a booth, the head of the fair tore down a sign on the booth, prevented her from leaving the booth to petition for Nader, and refused to allow her to open her booth the second day of the fair.  (For more details see the 8/15/04 Executive Committee minutes--see above.)  The chapter has gone to the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union and the press.

d. Northwest:  playwright Bill C. Davis plans a Green Party run for Congress in 2006;  an op-ed piece has been submitted declaring this intention.

e. Shoreline:  Colin Bennett campaign for state senate district 33.

f. Hamden:  interest in working with a nationwide organization sponsoring house parties to support educational reform;  chapter now has officers and bylaws;  writing pamphlets (organic garden and lawn care, alternative energy, household chemicals, Hamden Greens);  interest in merchandising for Greens (T-shirts etc.);  distributing flyers to get more people at meetings;  had booth at New Haven Folk Festival;  Hamden Middle School is on toxic waste site.

     Also trying to get energy efficiencies into plans for a new school;  involved with governmental environmental commissions

g. Fairfield:  John Amarilios candidacy for state senate district 36 and Nancy Burton candidacy for state house district 135.  Met with Pat LaMarche.

h. New London:  starting TV show (see www.nlgreens.org --accessible via www.ctgreens.org --for schedule);  working with Love Makes a Family's Equality Knocks campaign (see www.lmfct.org) .

i.  Tolland:  supporting additional public transit buses to Hartford;  opposing paving over a Manchester park;  part of Saturday weekly antiwar protest;  US Representative John Larson coming to Manchester Community College (to be asked questions on Iraq etc.)

j.  New Haven:  Joyce Chen's campaign for state house district 93;  Calvin Nicholson's campaign for New Haven registrar of voters;  Ralph Ferrucci campaign (see above).  Holding 9/14/04 fundraiser at Charlie's home with Joyce Chen, Calvin Nicholson, and Medea Benjamin.  It will be a challenge for Calvin's campaign to organize and get the 4000-6000 votes needed to win.  A League of Women Voters-sponsored debate with all three registrar of voter candidates may be held.

     Elizabeth Horton Sheff said that she has gotten calls from progressives and "labor union calls"--why is the Green Party running a candidate (Joyce) against progressive Toni Walker?  Charlie said that there is no Republican in the race, hence the district will elect either of two progressives.  Charlie said that Joyce does have a lot of support (he gave details of New Haven politics involving the mayor).  Joyce doesn't need to give up her city council seat to run (elections held in different years). 

 

11.  Report from US Green Party representatives.  Tom reported that there are 405 Green Party election campaigns in the US at this time.  Greens win 25-50% of the campaigns they enter nationally.  The CCC received 45 applications for assistance (website assistance, financial assistance);  Joyce Chen is getting $250 from the national Party.  Campaigns of special interest:  Bob Kinsey (Colorado--polling more than 30% in a three-way race for US Congress);  Patrick Driscoll (polling 22% in a three-way race for Congress).

     Tom said that Caleb Kleppner, associated with the Center for Voting and Democracy, now lives in New Haven;  would he be interested in forming a committee do an initiative on instant runoff voting?  Kleppner got IRV passed in San Francisco.

     Tim reported that Utah and Vermont may place Nader (rather than Cobb) on the ballot, and there is talk that this step may cause them to be kicked out of the national Party.

 

12.  VOTER--no report

 

C.  OLD BUSINESS
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