From embrancato at netzero.com  Tue Mar  1 10:25:11 2005
From: embrancato at netzero.com (Elizabeth M. Brancato)
Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 10:25:11 -0500
Subject: {news} [Fwd: March 31: Selective Service ready to bring back the
	draft]
Message-ID: <42248957.3010707@netzero.com>



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	March 31: Selective Service ready to bring back the draft
Date: 	Mon, 28 Feb 2005 23:27:01 -0500
From: 	Action Center <actioncenter at action-mail.org>
To: 	embrancato at netzero.com
CC: 	action.news at organizerweb.com



Stop the Draft before it starts:

http://www.NoDraftNoWay.org

On March 31, the Selective Service System will report to 
President Bush that it is ready to implement a draft 
within 75 days.  We have to organize now to stop the draft 
before it starts.

Despite what politicians say, there is a high probability 
that the Bush Administration will attempt to reinstate the 
draft.

The U.S. military is in a quagmire in Iraq, facing a 
national popular uprising against the occupation. Soldiers 
are dying every day. A report issued in January 2004 by 
Jeffrey Record, a visiting professor at the Air War 
College, said the Army is "near the breaking point." The 
Pentagon has been forced to issue repeated "stop loss" 
orders and recall soldiers who
had retired or otherwise returned to civilian life.

Out of 10 Army Divisions, part or all of 9 of them are 
either deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Twenty-one out of 
33 regular combat brigades are on active duty in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, South Korea, or the Balkans. That's 63% of 
the Army's combat strength. This means the Army is 
extremely overextended.  The Bush Administration has been 
trying to fill the gap with Reserve and National Guard 
troops, but this is a temporary fix at best.  The head of 
the Army Reserves has recently written a memo saying that 
the readiness of his forces has been drastically reduced 
through over-deployment and is "degenerating into a broken 
force.?

Meanwhile, official U.S. foreign policy is now the 
doctrine of "pre-emptive war" and "regime change" wherever 
a leader runs afoul of U.S. corporate interests. An 
invasion of Iran, Syria, Korea, or Cuba -- all of whom are 
on Washington and Wall Street's list of targets -- would 
require tens or hundreds of thousands of new soldiers.

Enlistment rates not even able to maintain current force 
levels, much less provide troops for new invasions and 
occupations. All four services missed their enlistment 
quotas last year, and enlistments in the Reserves, 
National Guard, and regular military are at a 30-year low. 
Many current members of the armed forces plan to get out 
as soon as their current enlistment ends. According to a 
poll conducted by the military newspaper Stars & Stripes, 
49% of soldiers stationed in Iraq do not plan to 
re-enlist.

The President has given the Selective Service System a set 
of readiness goals to be implemented by March 31, 2005. As 
part of these performance goals, the System must be ready 
to be fully operational within 75 days. This means we can 
look for the Draft to be in operation as early as June 15, 
2005.

March 19 is the second anniversary of the war.  On the 
weekend of March 19-20, activists all over the globe will 
take to the streets to demand and end to the war and 
occupation.  No Draft No Way will be mobilizing to take 
part in these demonstrations, which will take place just a 
few days before the Selective Service System reports to 
President Bush that it is ready to go.  We must be in the 
streets to let them know that we oppose the draft and will 
not be used as cannon fodder in Iraq or in any new war.



Let's Organize NOW to Stop the Draft:

1) Come to NYC for the March 19 Troops Out Now 
demonstration.  Join the No Draft No Way! contingent in 
the march.  http://www.troopsoutnow.org.  Or join the 
march and rally in Fayetteville, NC, outside Fort 
Bragg--for more information, see 
http://www.ncpeacejustice.org.

2) Organize an anti-draft meeting at your school, church 
or mosque, union hall, etc. Contact us at 212-633-6646 for 
help and speakers.

3) Organize protests outside the selective service office 
in your area.

4) Donate to help build a network of educators, activists, 
and resisters to fight the draft--before it returns. 
http://nodraftnoway.org/donate-new.shtml

5) Sign the No Draft Petition. 
http://nodraftnoway.org/petition.shtml


http://www.NoDraftNoWay.org


March 19
Troops Out Now!
March on Central Park in NYC!
Regional Demonstrations Across the U.S. & Worldwide


_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
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From capeconn at comcast.net  Tue Mar  1 17:10:07 2005
From: capeconn at comcast.net (Tom Sevigny)
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 17:10:07 -0500
Subject: {news} Card carrying member of the GP
Message-ID: <00d101c51eab$6ddb32d0$a3970218@sevigny8wcbjrd>

Folks,

If you can, please become a card-carrying member of the national Green Party.  Half of the $36 will be shared with our state party.

thanks,

Tom


     
      FOR $36 A YEAR YOU CAN HELP BUILD A POWERFUL, PROGRESSIVE GREEN PARTY.
     
  
      When you become an active supporter of the Green Party of the United States, not only do you get our spanking new card, which shows the world that you stand committed to liberty, equality, democracy, justice, personal responsibility, and focus on the future.  In addition, you'll receive a Green Party button and bumper sticker, a one-year subscription to the Green Party's quarterly newspaper, Green Pages, plus all of the information you need to get involved and active as a Green today.  The future is Green!

      For $36* you can help build a powerful, progressive Green Party.
      (Half of your contribution will be shared with your state's Green Party.)

      Buy Your Green Party Card Online at

      http://www.gp.org/greenpartycard.html
     

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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Tue Mar  1 09:27:26 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 09:27:26 EST
Subject: {news} Come to the party and pass it on
Message-ID: <77.403c8915.2f55d5ce@aol.com>

Join us and Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

The Nieves For Mayor Campaign is holding a St. Patrick's Day Dinner 
Fund-raiser March 15 at the Zabbara's Restaurant in New Britain. The evening will 
include a Social hour from 6 to 7 pm., entertainment and dinner beginning at 7pm. 
The Cost is $50.00 per person. Proceeds will benefit the 2005 election. For 
reservations, call (860) 832-8141
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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Tue Mar  1 19:48:02 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 19:48:02 EST
Subject: {news} Press Release
Message-ID: <146.3fd38665.2f566742@aol.com>

Miguel Angel Nieves calls New Britain's Heroin Problem an "Unrecognized 
Epidemic"

Miguel Angel Nieves, a Green Party candidate for New Britain Mayor released 
the following statement:

   As future Mayor of New Britain, this issue should be an major issue in 
this election. I believe our Heroin use and overdose problem is a big 
concern, as we have already had three deaths in our city. Two men had been 
found dead and a third in a parking lot on Saturday, with ages between the 
ages of 30 and 50.

  Heroin use and its overdoses are unrecognized epidemic in New Britain.

    As a candidate for The New Britain Green Party, we invite the general 
community to follow the following steps that can be taken to prevent heroin 
use and the overdose deaths:

    Listen to the local community about the problems of drug problems with 
community forums, which has been unrecognized by local leaders

    Work to receive more state and federal money to prevent serious drug use 
in our city

    Address treatment and relapse concerns in New Britain with more 
programs, if needed

    Training drug users in self help programs, including CPR and rescue 
breathing

     One of the most effective strategies to prevent deaths is to train our 
City Police in the use of naloxone (Narcan) to help drug users in a case of 
an overdose.Because police officers are often first on the scene of an 
overdose, local police in the area would need to be trained in administering 
naloxone to an overdose victim, much as they would treat a heart-attack 
victim with an electronic defibrillator machine. (Naloxone is a short-acting 
opiate antagonist that, when injected shortly after an overdose, blocks 
heroin's action on the brain and restores breathing.)

Regards,
Miguel Angel Nieves
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Wed Mar  2 09:39:52 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 09:39:52 -0500
Subject: {news} Sat. March 5,
	Israeli professor/peace activist to speak -- please
	distribute widely
Message-ID: <095f01c51f35$b3c75500$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

Please  join us Saturday at this CTGP sponsored event to hear Israeli anthropologist Jeff Halper's update of the situation in Israel/Palestine.  Spread the word.

Justine

========================================================= 


 

 

Contacts:                                                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Liz Aaronsohn 860-229-0705                                                  1 March 2005

Lucy Rosenblatt 860-236-9992

Hassan Fouda 860-536-4640

 

 

Israeli Professor to speak in Hartford


Dr. Jeff Halper, the coordinating director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), will be the featured speaker of a program called ``In Search of Peace and Justice in Palestine/Israel: Realities on the Ground; Where to Go from Here."

 

The program will take place on Saturday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Halper has forged through ICAHD a new mode of Israeli peace activity based on nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience to the Israeli Occupation. ICAHD's main direct action began through resistance to the demolition of Palestinian homes in the Occupied Territories, and rebuilding demolished homes as acts of political solidarity.

 

Believing that civil society and governmental forces must be mobilized if a just peace is to emerge in Israel/Palestine, Halper also directs ICAHD's extensive program of international advocacy.  He is the author of Between Redemption and Revival: The Jewish Yishuv in Jerusalem in the Nineteenth Century,  published in 1991. His recent popular book Obstacles to Peace is to be followed by a forthcoming work from Pluto Press, called  An Israeli in Palestine: Reframing the Israel-Palestine Conflict.

.

Halper is a professor of anthropology who has taught at Haifa and Ben Gurion universities. He moved to Israel from America in 1973.  He and his wife have three children. 

~ ~ ~

 

This event is co-sponsored by We Refuse to Be Enemies (Jews, Muslims and Christians in Coalition for Peace);  The Palestine Right To Return Coalition (www.al-awda.org), The American Friends Service Committee (www.afsc.org), Council for National Interest (www.cnionline.org), If Americans Knew (www.ifamericansknew.org), Connecticut United for Peace (www.ctunitedforpeace.org), Middle East Crisis Committee (www.thestruggle.org), and the Connecticut Green Party (www.ctgreens.org).

 

 
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From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com  Wed Mar  2 12:10:48 2005
From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell)
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 17:10:48 +0000
Subject: {news} Sioux Tribal Leader to Keynote "Better Motors,
	Better Batteries" Symposium
Message-ID: <BAY14-F2647160F52B0B8934B30E8D65A0@phx.gbl>

Contacts:

Remy Chevalier                     Marshall Houston
Symposium Director               Technical Consultant
remyc@ bmbb.biz                  marshall@ bmbb.biz
203-227-2065

PRESS RELEASE - MARCH 1, 2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sioux Tribal Leader to Keynote "Better Motors, Better Batteries" Symposium 
at Pequot Museum


MASHANTUCKET, CT  -- This Saturday, Native American environmental leader and 
former Green Party Senate candidate Ed "Eagle Man" McGaa will speak at the 
Mashantucket Pequot Museum during the "Better Motors, Better Batteries" 
Symposium.  The event will bring together alternative energy professionals 
and innovative research with Tribal interest in the region.

Mixing natural spirituality, a belief that humanity is rooted in a living,  
feeling earth, and an awareness of scientific ecological principles, Eagle 
Man draws on centuries of Native American wisdom to offer practices and 
ceremonies that reestablish a nurturing relationship with nature.  He is the 
author of  several books linking native wisdom to modern ecological problems 
(Nature's Way; Mother Earth Spirituality; Rainbow Tribe).

Ed McGaa is a registered tribal member of the Oglala Sioux and was born on 
the Pine Ridge reservation. He received his Bachelor's degree from St. 
John's University, earned a law degree from the University of South Dakota, 
and has studied under Chief Eagle Feather and Chief Fool's Crow, Sioux holy 
men. He is honored by the Sioux for having participated six times in the Sun 
Dance ceremony.

He also served as a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, flying 110 
combat missions, receiving 8 air medals and 2 Crosses of Gallantry, and was 
recommended for a Distinguished Flying Cross.

McGaa drew national attention in 2002 when he went up against Democrat Paul 
Wellstone and Republican Norm Coleman for a hotly contested U.S. Senate seat 
from Minnesota, but was defeated in a Green Party primary challenge.

Connecticut is referred to in energy circles as the "fuel cell" state, 
because for 30 years it was in this state that all fuel cells for space and 
military applications were being made. But once civilian uses of fuel cells 
became attractive for both economic and environmental reasons, the cutting 
edge technologies that Connecticut once helped develop quickly began to 
spread around the world, to Japan, and now China.

Following Ed's talk, those attending the technical portion of the program 
will be invited to participate in a networking brainstorming session, 
moderated by Remy Chevalier of Electrifying Times magazine, assisted by 
members of the CT Technology Council. Come prepared with press kits, 
business cards, and any additional media materials you wish to share with 
all participants.

The BMBB symposium will aim to restore a sense of balance between energy 
technology trade overseas and the need to preserve factory floor "hands-on" 
experience in the state.

Connecticut is now faced with the hemorrhaging of state-of-the-art energy 
conversion technologies away from their birthplace. This could have vast 
negative financial and strategic consequences for future generations of 
Americans.

Connecticut is home to General Electric, our nation's number one defense 
contractor, and makers of many electric motors used commercially today. GE 
recently inaugurated its new wind power division. One of the world's largest 
suppliers of consumer batteries, Duracell has their headquarters in the 
state.  Rayovac also has facilities in Connecticut. Their subsidiary Varta 
introduced Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries to the consumer market. Then in 
2004, in partnership with RadioShack, Rayovac pioneered and commercialized 
15-minute rechargeables.

Major attention to fuel cells has diverted commercial focus away from 
improving the efficiency of pure 100% electrical battery storage (the 
buzzwords of the moment are nanotech and aerogel) as well as improving on 
motor efficiency (most commercial motors today are still copper wound) which 
would enable the mass production of a truly revolutionary new generation of 
drive trains for electric vehicles. This critical gap in R&D could give 
Connecticut, and more specifically Indian lands in Connecticut, amazing new 
high tech business opportunities.

The Better Motors - Better Batteries (BMBB) symposium, co-sponsored by the 
Weston-based think tank Environmental Library Fund (ELF) and its partner 
electric vehicle publication Electrifying Times, will give Connecticut 
companies and their representatives, as well as engineers and academics from 
surrounding schools, a chance to preserve energy technology innovation in 
our great state, while reviving all aspects of energy components R&D and 
manufacture.

Saturday's symposium will begin at 1:00 PM and is open to the public.  Visit 
www.bmbb.biz for more information.


#end of release#

http://bmbb.biz
http://ctgreens.org





From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Thu Mar  3 16:37:24 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 16:37:24 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Interview with Dr. Maathai (NewsHour,
	from Jan. 25)
Message-ID: <0ad101c52039$319c9fe0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott McLarty" <scottmclarty at yahoo.com>
To: <usgp-media at gp-us.org>; <natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org>; 
<dcsgp at yahoogroups.com>; <usgp-int at gp-us.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 3:22 PM
Subject: USGP-INT Interview with Dr. Maathai (NewsHour, from Jan. 25)


> CONVERSATION: PEACE PRIZE WINNER
>
> Online NewsHour (PBS), January 25, 2005
> http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june05/maathai_1-25.html
>
> [Dr. Maathai is currently on a tour of the US
> (February 28 to March 11), with stops in the Bay
> Area in California, Chicago, and New York City.
> For more about the tour, visit
> <http://www.gbmna.org/>.]
>
>
> Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai, the
> first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize,
> sits down with Jeffrey Brown about her ecology
> work and social activism.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: Thirty years ago, Wangari Maathai
> had a simple idea: To plant trees. It was a
> response to a growing problem affecting the lives
> of the poor in her native Kenya and many other
> areas of Africa and the developing world: The
> destruction of forests, soil erosion, water
> shortages and other types of environmental
> degradation.
>
> Maathai had won a scholarship to attend college
> in the U.S. and earned a doctorate in biology in
> Kenya. In the '70s, she founded the Green Belt
> Movement, working with mostly poor, rural women,
> who were given a small stipend to plant saplings
> of native species.
>
> She frequently led fights against state-backed
> land development and government corruption, and
> was once called a "mad woman" by Daniel Arap Moi,
> who ruled Kenya for more than two decades.
> Several times, she was beaten or arrested.
>
> But her movement has led to the planting of some
> 30 million trees, provided jobs and income to
> thousands of women, and reached into other parts
> of Africa and the world.
>
> NOBEL SPEAKER: Wangari Muta Maathai.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: In early December in a ceremony in
> Oslo, Norway, the 64-year-old Maathai became the
> first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace
> Prize. We spoke during a recent visit to New
> York.
>
> When your name was first announced, some people
> wondered why an environmentalist should win the
> peace prize. What's the connection between the
> environment and peace?
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: Well, it's not surprising that
> people ask those questions, because this is not
> the normal area that the Norwegian Nobel
> Committee looks at. But it is, indeed, a very
> important shift that they made, because when you
> look at the world, what do fight... what do
> people fight over?
>
> They are fighting over water. They are fighting
> over land. They are fighting over grazing ground,
> farming land. They are fighting over resources.
> And so managing these resources, which are
> limited on this planet, is very, very important.
> Sharing them equitably, at the national level
> especially, is very important.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: One of the things that struck me
> in reading your book about the Green Belt
> Movement is how your work is so connected to the
> everyday lives of women. I'm thinking of the fact
> that women have to walk much further to fetch
> wood because the forest just isn't there anymore.
>
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: It is important for people to
> understand that when I started, I did not start
> with that vision or with that obvious linkage
> that we are now celebrating.
>
> I started simply to meet the needs of a group of
> rural women who were telling the women at the
> National Council of Women in the early '70s that
> they needed firewood, they needed food, they
> needed to stabilize their soils, they needed
> fencing materials, building materials, fodder for
> their animals.
>
> In our part of the world, when the environment is
> degraded, when there is no firewood, when there
> is no water, when there is no food, it's usually
> the women who feel it first.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: And was there a lot of resistance
> to this attempt to give more power to women in
> your society?
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: Yes. To my surprise, there was
> resistance. And eventually, I understood that the
> reason why there was resistance is because a lot
> of these resources were actually in the hands of
> a few people who were governing the country.
>
> They were the ones who were using the timber.
> They were the ones who were... who wanted to
> privatize the forest. They're the ones who were
> using... who were selling water or were
> controlling water. They're the ones who have the
> facilities in cities and urban centers.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: And this is what led you directly
> from the needs of the environment to the needs of
> democracy.
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: Definitely. That's when I
> realized that it is very difficult to protect the
> environment if you have bad governance any place;
> that you need governments that responded to the
> needs of the people; that you need governments
> that listen to their people.
>
> But you also need people, citizens, who are
> sufficiently empowered not to fear their leaders,
> but be able to hold them accountable, to be able
> to demand that their environment be protected, to
> understand that some our human rights are
> environmental rights.
>
> You have a right to a clean and healthy
> environment. You have a right to clean drinking
> water. You have a right to fresh air, and drink
> and eat food that is not polluted or that is not
> poisoned.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: In an election two years ago,
> Kenyan President Moi's party finally lost power.
> Wangari Maathai was voted into Kenya's
> parliament, and later joined the new government
> as assistant environment minister.
>
> Recently, she's found herself in a new
> controversy after a Nairobi newspaper quoted from
> a talk she made to a group of constituents, in
> which she appeared to say that AIDS had been
> intentionally created by "evil scientists" to
> kill black Africans.
>
> In a statement on her website, she says she meant
> only to "warn people against false beliefs and
> misinformation, such as attributing AIDS to a
> curse from God," and that she is "shocked" by the
> uproar.
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: I want to clearly say that I was
> completely misrepresented, that I didn't say that
> and I don't believe it. There are people who are
> experts. I would, I should really leave the
> discussions of the nature of the virus, where it
> came from, how it behaves, to the experts.
>
> I'm not an expert. I do not claim any knowledge
> whatsoever. But I was completely quoted out of
> context, trying to respond to questions that
> people ask as you try to tell them how they
> should protect themselves.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: You know, in every article I read
> about you, you're described invariably as
> "outspoken," as "tough." There was a quote from
> one of your sons who said you have "fire on the
> inside." Where does that come from?
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: Well, I think that I am greatly
> inspired and I get fired also by the fact that I
> have had the privilege of studying in America for
> almost five and a half years. I internalized a
> lot, the need for freedom.
>
> And so, for me, it was very difficult to go home,
> where I wanted now to share the experience that I
> had in America, and face my own people trying to
> curtail that freedom, trying to prevent me from
> expressing myself, sharing what I knew and
> teaching what I knew.
>
> And I guess that is the fire that comes from
> within. I think I very much internalized that
> freedom, and you can't live in America and not
> have that.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: From when you started to now, have
> you seen great changes? Do you feel that you've
> been effective?
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: Well, I'm quite sure that I
> would have achieved much more in those 30 years
> if I had been supported by my government, if I
> had been given the freedom and the movement to be
> able to do that. But we definitely have achieved
> a lot.
>
> And, most of all, you are dealing with people who
> are empowered, who feel that they can make a
> change in their own lives, within their own
> environments and utilizing the resources that
> they have around them. That's really wonderful.
> That transformation, that feeling of
> accomplishment and satisfaction is really
> wonderful to see happening to other people.
>
> JEFFREY BROWN: Wangari Maathai, congratulations
> again and thanks for talking to us.
>
> WANGARI MAATHAI: Thank you very much for having
> me.





From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Thu Mar  3 16:41:12 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 16:41:12 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT UK Greens set sights on Westminster
Message-ID: <0b0801c52039$b8e2e770$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Feinstein" <mfeinstein at feinstein.org>
To: <usgp-int at gp-us.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 2:17 PM
Subject: USGP-INT UK Greens set sights on Westminster


> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4315625.stm
> 
> Greens set sights on Westminster
> BBC News
> March 3rd, 2005
> 
> The Green Party has opened its spring conference by claiming it will 
> gain seats at Westminster at the general election, expected in May.
> 
> Joint principal speakers Caroline Lucas MEP and Councillor Keith Taylor 
> will rally the party's troops with a joint speech from a "podium made 
> for two".
> 
>  The pair will also unveil the party's election slogan "Real Choice for 
> Real Change" in Chesterfield on Friday.
> 
>  The Greens claim they could get five MPs elected in the coming election.
> 
> 
>  Speaking as delegates gathered in Derbyshire, Cllr Taylor said: "The 
> Green Party received over a million votes in the European elections and 
> - at least in a few constituencies - voters could now elect a real 
> alternative to the warmongering and deception of the Labour Party."
> 
>  Voters in the Brighton Pavilion constituency elected a Green MEP in 
> 2004, pushing Labour into third place.
> 
>  "If the people of Brighton vote the same way again, they will elect 
> the first Green MP to Parliament, and once there the Green Party will 
> change the face of Parliamentary politics for good," Cllr Taylor added.
> 
>  The Greens have elected representatives in the Scottish Parliament, 
> Welsh Assembly and London assembly, but a seat at Westminster has so far 
> eluded them.
> 
>  After the joint speech by the party's principal speakers, the 
> conference will hold panels on public services, fair trade and climate 
> change.
> 
>  The conference runs until Friday.
> 
> ---
> | Sent via usgp-int
> | To unsubscribe, please send a message to usgp-int-request at gp-us.org
> | with ONLY unsubscribe in the message
> ---
>




From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar  3 21:28:08 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 21:28:08 -0500
Subject: {news} Executive Committee meeting Mon 3/7/05, 6pm, Hartford office
Message-ID: <003601c52062$28cc2b00$7831f704@edgn2b574u14bi>

     The Connecticut Green Party Executive Committee (co-chairs, treasurer, and secretary) will meet Monday March 7 at 6pm at the Hartford office.  Any Green is invited to attend Executive Committee meetings as an observer.
   ------------------------------------------------
     The office is at 418-A New Britain Ave., Hartford.  The office is just east of the intersection of Hillside Ave. with New Britain Ave.  It's next to Roma's Bakery on the north side of New Britain Ave, across from Piolin Restaurant.  The office phone is 860-524-9448.
     If coming from the west on I-84:  Take exit 44 (Prospect Ave.).  At the end of the exit ramp are two stop signs--take a left onto a road (Caya Ave) that quickly brings you to Prospect Ave.  Take a right onto Prospect Ave.

     **When Prospect Ave. meets New Park Ave. (you'll see a Crowley Chevrolet dealership) take a right onto New Park Ave.  Take a left onto Flatbush Ave. (a Shell Gas Station and a Volkswagen dealership are on the corner of New Park and Flatbush).  Travel past Hartford State Technical College (now a branch of Capital Community College) and you'll reach Hillside Ave (a small grocery store is on the corner of Flatbush Ave. and Hillside Ave).  Take a right onto Hillside Ave.  When Hillside Ave. intersects New Britain Ave. (see another small grocery store) take a left.   The Greens office and Roma's Bakery can be seen on the left.

     If coming from the east on I-84:  Take exit 44 (Prospect and Oakwood Avenues).  At the end of the exit ramp you'll see Prospect Plaza (a shopping center that includes Home Town Buffet).  Take a right onto Kane St.  Take a right onto Prospect Ave. (a Shell Gas Station and a Burger King are at the corner of Prospect Ave. and Kane St.)  Continue along Prospect Ave. until you reach New Park Ave (you'll see Crowley Chevrolet dealership).   Then follow the directions at ** above.
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar  3 22:30:27 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 22:30:27 -0500
Subject: {news} minutes of Feb 2005 SCC meeting(quorumless),part 1 of 3
Message-ID: <008301c5206b$7b593300$7831f704@edgn2b574u14bi>

Minutes of  Feb 22, 2005 SCC meeting--Wesleyan University, Fisk Hall, 7:10-8:50pm

 

Attendees:

1. Central Connecticut chapter:  Vic Lancia, Vincent Maruffi

2. Hamden chapter:  Aaron Gustafson (facilitator), Kelly McCarthy(NV), Francis Braunlich

3. Hartford chapter:  Ed DuBrule(NV),  Mike DeRosa, Barbara Barry DeRosa, Rob Pandolfo, Albert Marceau

4. New London chapter:  Andy Derr, Chris Nelson

5. Northeast chapter:  Jean de Smet, Chris Demorit

6. Northwest chapter:  Elizabeth Brancato

7. Tolland chapter:  Tim McKee

Also attending:  Ana Lachelier of West Hartford, Connecticut;  Fred of Middletown, Connecticut

A quorum was not reached.  

 

Treasurer's report (read by Aaron)

"2/21/05

"This month's report is longer than usual so bear with me.

"Over the last month we had receipts of $1,213.39 and expenses of $500.52.  Currently we have a balance of $1,601.66.

 

"Receipts:

"Joyce Chen for State Rep.    $637.42

"Green Party US                        312.00

"Elect Nancy Burton                 123.97

"Fall fund raiser                           75.00

"Other                                           65.00

"Total......................................$1,213.39

 

"Expenditures:

"Office in Hartford rent          $250.00

"Office in Hartford phone           50.82

"Office in Hartford electric        46.77

"Reimbursements                         74.24

"PO Box (6 months)                     38.00

"Credit card processing                36.04

"Toll Free Number                          4.65

"Total.........................................$500.52

 

"I received a letter from the New London Court of Probate naming the Green Party as a beneficiary in the matter of the estate of Margaret M. Cramer.  I called the CT State Elections Enforcement Commission about this.  They informed me that we could not receive the money from an estate because they consider it a business entity.  I have been in contact with Jake Schneider the treasurer of the Green Party of the United States.  They can accept the donation and he told me they would then donate the money to us.  This is obviously good news for the Green Party of Connecticut.  I talked to the lawyer handling the estate and he estimated that our portion would be from $12,000 to $15,000.  He also estimated it would take 3 to 4 months to settle.

 

"While this money is good news for us it is also something that we need to think about very seriously.  We should develop a budget to decide how this money should be used.  We also need to keep in mind that this is a one time donation and be careful that we don't depend too much on it for ongoing expenses that we can't continue to raise funds for.  We should think of what we have been wanting to do but couldn't and also consider our debt.  I suggest a special committee be formed.

 

"Personally I think it would be nice to put some money into upcoming campaigns, and especially consider New London candidates since that is where this woman was from.  We might also consider sending some money back to the Green Party US since they are willing to help us with this.  It would be nice if we kept enough money to cover the chapter balances that are due the chapters.  The worst thing we could do is fail to budget and then end up with no money again.

 

"Since we have not approved a budget, I as treasurer have to decide what I can spend money on based on what I think are SCC approved expenses.  I came up with a table on what I understand our ongoing approved expenses to be.

 

"Item                                                  Monthly Costs                          Yearly Costs

"Half of Office Rent                           $250.00                                    $3,000.00

"Half of Office Phone estimated               25.50                                         306.00

"Half of Office Electric estimated             24.00                                         288.00

"Property taxes for items in office               6.42                                          77.00

"Toll Free Number estimated                      5.00                                          60.00

"Post Office Box estimated                         6.33                                          76.00

"Credit Card Processing estimated            42.00                                        504.00

"Chris Reilly Reimbursement                    74.00                                        888.00

"Domain Names estimated                           3.33                                          40.00

 

"Total                                                             $436.58                                  $5,239.00

 

"Other than small expenses that the executive committee can approve other expenses will need to be approved by the SCC.  In addition we are obligated to pay for chapter expenses that are within their chapter balance.  (Unfortunately we don't have the money to pay for all these balances.)  If there are approved expenses that I don't know about please forward them to me.  Include the SCC minutes showing the SCC approval.

 

"These are the currant chapter balances I have:

"Central:                $   689.99

"Fairfield:                1,119.30

"Hamden:                     54.00

"Hartford:              -1,644.02

"New Haven:          1,059.53

"New London:            156.67

"North East:               155.10

"North West:           2,075.88

"Shoreline:                    15.00

"Southeast:                 204.56

"Tolland:                    118.85

"West Hartford:          129.00

"Western:                   276.50

"North Central:             71.40

 

"Our obligated balance is $4,481.76 (this total includes being reimbursed for negative chapter balances).

 

"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"

 

     Andy, of the New London chapter, said that he had never met Margaret M. Cramer (the woman who put the Green Party in her will).  He said that she had written a letter to the editor during election season saying that people should vote Green.  Aaron pointed out that the treasurer's report lists a chapter balance for the Southeast chapter but that this chapter no longer functions.

 

Chapter reports:

(a) Central  Connecticut--had salon (to talk about "what matters");  talked about issues such as jobs leaving Middletown.  Hopefully this salon will happen every month.  (The salon was an activity planned by Greens and others.)

(b) Northeast--started taping for TV show.

(c) New London--its website contains information on the availability of their TV shows to others;  planning fundraising and strategies for elections;  may have a Green on the planning/zoning commission.

(d) Northwest--Bill C. Davis campaign;  in March may hold event on sprawl (center-edge).

(e) Hamden--will run two candidates for town council;  trying to set up an improved working relationship with New Haven chapter concerning campaigns

(f) Hartford--working with New Britain Green mayoral candidate;  Mike and this candidate appeared on a New Britain radio show.  A Hartford Green may run for Hartford Board of Education.  Demonstrations/vigils planned on Social Security issue--possibly Thursday March 10 at noon outside  several Social Security offices including Hartford and New Britain--trying to coordinate this action with other chapters.

(g) Tolland--trying to establish Manchester chapter, which may run candidates.

 

Internal elections committee report (Jean reported, with some information contributed by Ed):   Mike DeRosa, Aaron Gustafson, and Kelly McCarthy have declared they are candidates for co-chair; Barbara Barry DeRosa has declared she is a candidate for secretary;  there is no candidate yet for treasurer;  Tim McKee and Tom Sevigny have declared they are candidates for US Green Party representative.   In the past the ballot has contained three positions for US Green Party representative, and the third-highest vote-getter served as the alternate.  Alternatively, the internal elections committee could ask if anyone is interested in running specifically for the alternate position--this person, if elected, would only serve if one of the US Green Party representatives resigned or was unable to go to a meeting.

     Legally we need to treasurer to exist as a state party.  We probably won't hold elections until person(s) declare their candidacie(s) for treasurer.  Vic said he could put out the word that we need a treasurer on listserve(s);  Aaron said this has been done already on the Hamden chapter listserve.

     There is a proposal (Appendix 1) for spending for the internal elections.  Should this proposal still be offered, with its proposed spending amounts and mailing plans, if there are no contested positions (that is, if there are three co-chair candidates running for three co-chair slots, etc.)?  Though in the past "none of the above" has also appeared on the ballot, and people have been given the option of putting write-in candidates on the ballot.  An alternative might be to mail out a newsletter (perhaps in a newsprint format, like the old "CT Green Times") which contained information on the annual meeting, the need to go through the formalities of electing our officers, and other information about what's going on in the CT Green Party.  Jean said that we have to have an annual meeting, by law.

     Out internal elections were held last March;  how long should the current officers serve if we do not hold internal elections in March?  One attendee said that the bylaws state that officers serve for one year;  another attendee said that the bylaws are silent on this question.

     Within the internal elections committee, the idea of a nominating committee for internal elections has been raised.  One pitfall with this idea, however, is that such a committee might put forward a single set of candidates, and such a system might tend to discourage others from declaring their candidacies.

     The internal elections committee has filled out an application with the US Postal Service for the ability to do mailings at nonprofit rates.  (This may not be exactly the same as "bulk mailing rates".)  If this application is accepted, chapters and candidates could probably make use of this permit.

 

Report from Women's Caucus (Elizabeth Brancato):  met February 12, discussed possibilities for selecting officers without doing a costly mailing, such as each chapter contacting many chapter members (at a minimum all those who voted in the 2004 internal elections;  all people who do work for the chapter yet may not come to chapter meetings should be contacted).  Next meeting planned March 18, place to be determined.

 

US Green Party representatives' report (Tim):  national is soliciting proposals for an annual meeting to be attended by US Green Party reps.  National is still discussing possible punishment (eject from national Green Party?) of Vermont, which put Nader on the ballot, not Cobb.

 

VOTER (Mike):  many people testified at a hearing at the state capital on the paper ballot trail hearing February 14.  A group from VOTER went to see a representative of Governor Rell--she favors the paper trail bill.  Common Cause, CCAG, the League of Women Voters, and certain Democratic Party town committees support a paper trail.   The government elections committee is considering the issue of under what circumstances an audit of the paper trail ballots would be done.

     The Secretary of the State's office has to buy 769 computer-based voting machines within weeks.  In the next election we will probably see one electronic voting machine (per the Help America Vote Act) in each voting precinct.

     The Working Families Party put a bill in for permanent ballot access.

     Ana said that there will be a panel discussion titled "Connecticut's next voting machines" on March 16 from 7-9pm at the West Hartford Town Hall.

 

Legislative report (Mike):  There are four bills in the legislature dealing with expanding access to health care.  Two are single-payer bills, a third expands the HUSKY program, and the fourth ("Pay or Play") would mandate that employers of over 100 employees that didn't offer health insurance would have to pay a tax.  There may be hearings.

 

Selecting a replacement on the Process Committee for Rachel Goodkind, who has moved from Connecticut:   this was not considered, except that chapters were reminded to seek people who might be interested and that the replacement must be a female, since the two remaining Process Committee members are male and at no time may all three members of the PC be of the same gender.  See Appendix 2.
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar  3 22:30:41 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 22:30:41 -0500
Subject: {news} minutes of Feb 2005 SCC meeting(quorumless),part 2 of 3
Message-ID: <008401c5206b$8128ee60$7831f704@edgn2b574u14bi>

since the two remaining Process Committee members are male and at no time may all three members of the PC be of the same gender.  See Appendix 2.

 

Office Committee report:  Kelly presented the report in Appendix 3.  As noted in the report, the next meeting of the Office Committee will be on Saturday, March 12, at 10 am in the Hartford office.  The report is incomplete in the sense that the committee is waiting for information (for example, information from insurance agents).   The report states that "several options will be presented" by the final report of the Office Committee "for a vote by Chapter Reps at the March 29, 2005, SCC meeting".

 

Secretary's note "A":  in case of technical problems viewing the figures at the end of the Office Committee report, here are descriptions of these figures.  These descriptions were written by the secretary.

 

(1) The first figure, "2004 Total Cash Expenditures", is a pie chart.  76% of the 2004 total cash expenditures were office expenses (without the general liability insurance policy).  The remaining 24% were other expenses.

 

(2) The second figure, "2004 Total Cash Expenditures", is another pie chart.  90% of the 2004 total cash expenditures were office expenditures (with the general liability insurance policy).  The remaining 10% were other expenses.

 

(3) The third figure, "2005 Estimated Monthly Expenses", is a third pie chart.  70% of the estimated average monthly expenses are office expenses.  The remaining 30% are other expenses.

 

(4) The fourth figure is "CTGP Chapter Balances, 1/2005".  It presents figures comparable to those presented in the treasurer's report above.

 

(5) The fifth figure is "Insurance Options Cost Evaluation".   It is a graph.  The y-axis (vertical axis) contains Estimated Cost.  The x-axis (horizontal axis) contains number of events.  It gives a graphical display of the information contained in Section E of the Office Committee Report.  It plots the figures contained in Section E ($1,100, $1,270, etc.)  It also gives the cost of the three insurance options with no events per year:  $0 for event-by-event insurance policy;  $830 for General Office Policy (no office expenses);  $4,502 for General Office Policy with office expenses.

 

Secretary's note "B":  the fundraising plan referred to in the report is as follows [e-mail from Tom Sevigny to Bob Eaton 8/13/04;  very similar plan in minutes of August 2004 SCC minutes]:

 

1. Fundraising letters

a.  Four a year (March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, December 1st)

 

b. Three of these mailings will be to a select group of people (i.e. individuals who have given money over the last year, individuals who voted in the last internal election, etc.) 

 

c. One mailing will be to the entire state mailing list.
 list.

 

2. Phone solicitations

a. Shall be conducted one month after mailings are sent.  Phone calls made to those who did not respond.

 

3. Events

a. At least four a year with prominent speaker



4.  100 for 100 sustainer program.


a.  All fundraising appeals (letters, phone, events) shall
emphasize the 100 for 100 program.  The goal of this
program is to get 100 people to give $100 a year through
their credit cards or automatic checking.  Sustainers can
give one lump sum or in monthly installments as low as
$8.00 a month.



5.  Merchandising


a.  When financially able, the party shall promote a full line
of merchandise (pins, bumperstickers, t-shirts, hats, etc.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     If you have serious disagreements with the accuracy of anything written in these minutes, please contact the secretary, Ed DuBrule, at edubrule at sbcglobal.net or 860-523-4016.  If your e-mail or letter is titled "I remember things happened differently" or "I remember that this also occurred", I will treat your e-mail or letter (or a summary of it) as an addendum to these minutes.  Such e-mails or letters must be received within 4 weeks of the date of publication of the minutes to the News listserve to be considered addenda.

     Addenda are published to the News listserve and are considered part of the minutes.  They are brought to the following month's SCC meeting (for distribution at the time the minutes are approved/disapproved);  they are posted to the CT Green Party website as part of the minutes.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 1.  Internal elections proposal.

 

   Green Party Meeting Proposal Form



PRESENTER :  internal elections committee

CONTACT:  Jean de Smet, 39 Davis St. Willimantic CT 06226, 860-456-2188, JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net


SUBJECT:  funding appropriation for 2005 internal elections/annual meeting

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE : annually the CTGP holds internal elections and an annual meeting

PROPOSAL:
(1) A full ballot package will be sent to those Greens who voted in the 2004 internal elections, either by mail or at the annual meeting, including those whose ballots were received too late to be counted.  This totals 177 people.



(2) Other CTGP members may be sent a full ballot, depending on funds available.  Pledges will be solicited to send full ballots to as many people as possible.  Full ballot mailings will sent in the following order, as funds permit: Greens who registered within the past year; then to all registered Greens; then to all other members.   The deadline for fundraising is February 6th.   All other CTGP members will be sent a postcard.  

 

(3) The full ballot package will contain up to 12 sides (6 pages) (may vary depending on the number of candidates) and (optionally) a return envelope.


Side 1:   ballot (printed in green ink)
Side 2:   page inviting people to the annual meeting and explaining the voting process (on the back of the ballot)
Sides 3-8:  candidate statements (last year this was 6 single-sided pages)
Side 9:   information about CTGP/donation request

Side 10:  donation form

Side 11:  contact information about CTGP (one side)

Side 12:  description of Annual Meeting (one side)


(4) The postcard will contain:

**phone number and e-mail address for obtaining a ballot package by mail
**date/time/place of annual meeting and candidate forum(s)
**additional information on the CTGP as space allows

(5) Cost estimates:  One estimate (based on figures provided by Gulemo Printing, Willimantic) is:

$357  Printing/addressing 2800 small (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") postcards

 300   Printing/stuffing/addressing 200 full ballot packages

 560   Postage for 2800 postcards ($0.20 x 2800 postcards)

   74   Postage for 200 full ballot packages ($0.37 x 200) (two hundred may not be enough for bulk mail)

   75   Room rental (possibly Greater New Haven Labor Council, 267 Chapel St.)

--------------------

$1,366   total

-----------------------------------------------------

E-mail from Gulemo Printing:

Hi Jean,

     I will be assuming the 12 sides look the same as last time. First let me tell you that we can not be sure about the postage, That depends on the address list. Our best guess is about 20 cents per postcard & about 22 cents per letter. 200 letters (option 1) might not work to bulk mail. They might have to go first class.

     Postcards come in different sizes. I will give you 2 samples. Prices are including printing, stuffing addressing & mailing. Postage is NOT included.

 

Option 1

2800 Postcards size 8 ?" x 5 ?" = $501.00, size 5 ?" x 4 ?" = $357.00

200 Full mailings = $300.00

(Totals $801.00 and $657.00, respectively)

 

Option 2

2000 postcards size 8 ?"x 5 ?" = $381.00, size 5 ?" x 4 ?" = $272.00

1000 full mailings = $1000.00

(Totals $1,381.00 and $1,272.00, respectively)

 

Option 3

3000 full mailings = $2600.00

-------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 2  Excerpt from Conflict Resolution Process, revised after 1 year's experience.

 

[NOTE: explanatory notes between brackets and in italics were not approved by the SCC and are not part of the Resolution Process, but reflect comments made at the April 2003 SCC meeting when the Resolution Process was adopted; recommended additions are in bold print; recommended deletions are in bold print between brackets.]  

RESOLUTION PROCESS STRUCTURE.  The Resolution Process is a two-step process involving a standing (elected) Process Committee and ad hoc Resolution Committees appointed to dispose of each complaint.  The Resolution Process functions are in order of importance:   1) fact-finding, 2) education, 3) mediation and reconciliation, and 4) corrective action.  

The Process Committee (PC) [prosecutor/grand jury function] consists of three people from different chapters who were nominated and elected by the SCC immediately after the SCC approved the Resolution Process. [The three people nominated and elected unanimously were David Adams, Rachel Goodkind and Lynah Linwood] These three people will serve until the SCC has reviewed, ratified or amended the Resolution Process, as described in the final paragraph below, in approximately one year. Upon ratification or amendment of the Process, three people will be elected immediately to serve for one year, two years and three years, respectively. After these initial terms, PC members will be elected to serve three-year terms, and no person may serve on the PC for more than six years under any circumstances. In nominating people to serve on the PC, the SCC will consider the Party's respect for diversity. At no time may all three members of the PC be of the same gender. [Key Values 7 & 8]

The Resolution Committee (RC) ...

--------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 3

CT Green Party SCC - Office Committee Report - 2/22/05
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar  3 22:39:31 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 22:39:31 -0500
Subject: {news} minutes of Feb 2005 SCC meeting(quorumless),part 3 of 3
Message-ID: <009d01c5206b$cbe88550$7831f704@edgn2b574u14bi>

NOTE:  THE FIGURES AT THE END OF THE REPORT OVERLAP ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN;  FOR A MICROSOFT WORD COPY OF THE OFFICE REPORT PLEASE CONTACT ME AT edubrule at sbcglobal.net.



Appendix 3

CT Green Party SCC - Office Committee Report - 2/22/05

Prepared by Kelly McCarthy, Hamden Chapter

 

I. Original Proposal from Fairfield Chapter for an Office Committee (10/2004; Appendix 5)  

PRESENTER (committee, chapter(s),or group of individuals): 

Fairfield County Greens

CONTACT (name, address, phone number, email):  

Eddie Friend, P.O. Box 1747 Darien, CT 06820, 203-854-5900, Route12eddie at aol.com

SUBJECT (10 words or less):  

Creation of Office Committee

 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 

The office space rented in Hartford has become a contentious issue which has disrupted the SCC. This committee would be charged with formulating a plan that would consider the feasibility of continuing to support the office space and the associated insurance issues

PROPOSAL: 

We propose that the Office Committee be formed to prepare a report to the SCC concerning the future of the office space in Hartford.  The committee would have two main considerations.  If the office is to remain open, how would it be funded?  If the office were to be shut, how would the state party maintain the liability insurance that is necessary for chapters to hold events?  This committee would recognize the need for a timely report and recommendation to be made to the SCC in order to resolve this issue.

 

II. January 25, 2005 SCC Meeting:

Office Committee is requested by SCC to convene before next meeting; Kelly McCarthy volunteers to

work on Committee and convene before the Feb meeting.

 

III. Office Committee Meetings: 

February 19, 2005 (10.30 am @ New Haven Lib) & March 12, 2005 (10 am @ Hartford Office) 

Debating the merits of the office space in Hartford is not the purpose of this Committee. Business is primarily conducted by individuals via email and/or phone. Report and options/recommendations are approved by review at meetings; consensus is not required and, therefore, several options will be presented for a vote by Chapter Reps at the March 29, 2005, SCC meeting.  

Send additional information re: fundraising and/or insurance to the Office Committee c/o Kelly McCarthy (kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu; phone 203-230-9726); Any additional information must be substantiated and  received by March 12, 2005, to be considered by the Committee at their final meeting. Additional information deemed relevant will be provided to Chapter Reps by March 14th via email or post. 

 

III.  Background Information

A.     CTGP use of office: 

Nov 2002 - Feb 2005: 1 of 28 SCC meetings were in Hartford office

Mar 2003 - Jan 2005: 13 of 18* Executive Committee meetings were in Hartford office 

* this number does not include EC meetings that were held via conference call or cancelled

Various Committees* (Internal Elections, Diversity, etc.) used office for meetings as needed 

* at least 2+ confirmed since 2003

GP Strategy Meeting/Focus Group Jan 2005

Candidate Appreciation Day 2004

New Years Party 2001

Other events? (records not currently available)

 

B.     Greater Hartford Chapter use of office:

Regular Chapter meetings

Three 1st Dist. State Senate runs by Mike DeRosa

Two City Council runs by Elizabeth Horton-Sheff

Other local campaigns in Hartford 

Progressive movie nights: approx. every two weeks

Several fundraisers for Hartford Chapter's support of office space

Other events

 

C.    Other State Chapters:

No other Chapters reported direct use of the office for their events. Some Chapters stated that 

they were able to obtain riders for Chapter events connected to the State's general liability office  insurance policy. One Chapter stated that they were unable to schedule use of the office when they attempted to do so.

 

D.    Other Greens:

Nader & Cobb have visited and spoken @ office in 2002-2004

The GPUS has met there sometime in last 4 yrs.

 

E.     Non-Greens:

Undercurrent Newspaper previously met @ office*

VOTER meets periodically (current)*

"Bring the Troops home Now" meets weekly for upcoming events (current)*

* No funds were received by the CTGP for their use of the office

 

F.     Comments on financial situation of offices from CTGP SCC Meeting Minutes*:

* available online @ www.ctgreens.org

November 14th, 2000: The state committee approved of keeping the Hartford office open. Rent and utilities will be split evenly between the Greater Hartford Chapter and the State Party.

November 28th, 2000:  New Haven Office--The state central committee approved keeping the New Haven office open with the understanding that the New Haven chapter would be responsible for all expenses. It was further agreed upon that other chapters could open offices as long  as they raise the money themselves.

March 27, 2001: Our insurance policy is up for renewal; the rate for this year is $1236 (last year's cost about $1500). This covers events and offices; and candidates can get coverage for their campaigns for only $1. Note: Our current policy costs less than it did previously but only covers events occurring in the Hartford Office, unless we purchase an additional rider for an event on an event-by-event basis. (Ex. This meeting is not covered by our insurance, so if you hurt yourself, please don't look to us.)

May 29, 2001: Treasurer's report: .the CTGP are currently down to $360, with a $400 bill looming at the end of the month, for rent on the Hartford office.  The biggest drain on funds is that office.  B. Proposed solutions: 2. Chapters should make every effort humanly possible (and morally palatable) to promote sustaining memberships, either through credit cards or checking accounts, so that the state will have a fixed minimum monthly income.  We should have at least 30-40 of these in order to subsidize the newsletter and at least part of the Hartford rent. .  5. Hartford candidates using the Hartford HQ's for their campaigns should bear part of the rent burden.  After the election, the decision to maintain a state HQ in Hartford should be revisited.                Note: This is the first mention of a "State HQ" in the available SCC minutes.

G.    Comments about future need of state office space:

It has been suggested that we may have Green candidates for CT state-wide offices in 2006. 

This implies that we may have a need for a state office space somewhere before election time in November 2006, and this issue should be addressed at that time. However, until then, we must still address the current funding and insurance issues of the state office space in Hartford.

 

H.     Various office facts:

?         You can schedule a meeting/event at the office by contacting Mike DeRosa & putting your name on the calendar in the office.

?         To date, there is no log kept on use of the office space.

?         Various individuals (approx. 11) have keys to the office space.

?         There is no lease; the office is rented month-to-month.

?         The city of Hartford taxes the contents of the office (which have been donated by members of the Green Party, primarily the Hartford Chapter); the CTGP paid for these during 2004.

?         Bills are sent to: Electric bill: Chris Reilly / DeRosa A 2000; 418A New Britain Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 ; Phone bill: Chris Reilly / CT Green Party; 1 King Arthurs Way Apt 4. Newington, CT 06111.

?         In the case of a fire, contents of office are either covered by office policy or personal insurance of individuals loaning items.

 

 

Proposal issues addressed in IV. Funding: 

If we are to continue allocating funds for a state office space in Hartford, to what extent do we do so? And how do we raise the funds necessary to sustain it in the long-term?

 

IV.  Funding -

A.     Total % of all State funds spent on office in 2004:

Total amount minus office insurance costs: $4,741.12; % funds received = 76%*

Total amount including office insurance: $5,577.35; % funds received = 90%*

* Totals reflect ? of office rent & total of utilities and taxes. Represents a disproportionate distribution of funds. The SCC may need to address its funding priorities in light of this. See attached chart.

 

B.     Amount necessary to keep office running*: 

* State's estimated monthly portion paying only half of rent & utilities according to SCC minutes; currently paying all of utilities. 

Estimated average monthly payment: $306.00

% of monthly spending: 70% *

 

C.    Present balance of State funds:

We received two large, one-time donations this month, totaling about $1,000. Our current 

balance is $1,601.66. We have enough to pay for this month, if you don't take into consideration our debt and other one-time expenses that need to be approved by the SCC. Our annual meeting/internal elections (as estimated) would wipe out our balance. 

At some point (probably within 6 months), we will most likely receive a one-time gift of 

approximately $12,000+. We do not have this money in our hands as of yet. It is the opinion of our Treasurer, Bob Eaton, that these funds should not be used for normal operating expenses that should be covered in the long-term by a successful fundraising campaign. 

 

D.    Amount earned by State @ office events/for operations of Hartford office*: 

* total funds raised in 2004

CTGP: -0-

Hartford Chapter: unknown

 

E.  Total State debt: 

(1) office related (including balance owed to Chris R.): $2,650 all office debt owed to Chris

(2) other/not office related balances owed: $6,125.78 total debt owed to Chapters ($4,481.76 assuming Hartford Chapter repays negative balance); $594 in non-office debt owed to Chris.

 

F.  Current balance of debt/credit for all 12 Chapters; % of total debt:

            See graph: all chapters have positive balances except for Greater Hartford.

 

G.  Greater Hartford Fiscal Report:

Amount contributed by the HGP PAC for office expenses (2004): $ unknown (half of rent only) 

Financial status of Hartford Green Party PAC: unknown

Amount of funds raised by HGP PAC in 2004: unknown 

 

I.         CTGP Fundraising Plan*: 

* Fundraising plan should address current/fixed expenses as well as previous debts. 

                        See attached CT Green Party Fundraising Plan, provided by Tom Sevigny. 

 

 

J.      Feasibility of fundraising plan given current debt/income ratio:

If we continue funding the State office space at the current rate and pay off our debts (total owed to Chris R. & only half of what is owed to our Chapters) with the one-time gift ($12,000) we will be receiving in the future, we will be out of money again in approximately one year.*

* If we paid the entire debt owed to all chapters, then we would be out of funds in approximately 3 months.

 

-$3,244            Debt owed to Chris Reilly

-$3,062            Debt owed to Chapters (half of total)

-$   830            Yearly insurance cost

-$   680            Other fixed costs (800 #, CC processing, etc.)

-$3,672            Cost of ? office rent & utilities (12 months)

-$11,488

 

We have additional expenses that have not yet been approved by the SCC for fundraising, insurance riders for future events, internal elections, etc., and those are not included in the account above. 

As we do not have a current budget for this fiscal year (4/04 to 3/05), nor one for next year, it is difficult to say exactly how long these funds should last. However, in 2004, our expenses totaled  $10, 713.19 and we received only +$8,294.00 from our fundraising and in-kind donations, which left us with a negative balance of -$2,419.19. 

So, if we assume we continue supporting the office at the current rate, have the same fixed expenses and have about the same costs for additional expenses, we will spend approximately $10,700 for our next fiscal year (4/05 to 3/06). If we add to this amount our debts (Chris Reilly and half of what is owed to our Chapters-although they could request the entire amount), our expenses for the year will total $17,006. That means we will likely use at least $8,712 of the expected one-time gift of $12,000. At best, this will leave us with about a three thousand dollars to prepare for our activities in 2006; at worst, this will leave us with nothing. 

Taking into account our sluggish and largely unsuccessful fundraising plan, it seems

obvious that we do not have enough funds to sustain our current fixed expenses and spending rate in the long-term. 

 

                  

 

Proposal issues addressed in V. Insurance: 

If do not continue allocating funds for a state office space in Hartford, how would we maintain the necessary liability insurance? And what would be the estimated expense of doing so?

 

V.  Insurance -

A.     Explanation of coverage*:

*Information confirmed with Rose Irish, our agent with Joseph Krar & Assoc., Inc.

The total spending for insurance in 2004 was $1,273.03 (including the office policy, riders &

fees). In 2004, our insurance only covered events in the Hartford Office and two specific events that we obtained riders for (see below). 

The SCC needs to address the issue of continuing our current coverage type, which does not provide CTGP general liability coverage for the vast majority of meetings/events held by Chapters, or of upgrading to a more comprehensive policy, which might provide complete coverage but would obviously cost more. 

However, a more comprehensive policy may be unnecessary, as most meetings are held in public buildings and homes, which are already covered by the owners' policies. Exceptions that may require us to provide our own insurance, would include holding events in an outdoor venue, requirements of a larger event organizer, bringing alcohol into buildings, etc.  

 

 

 

B.     Cost for office insurance (yearly/monthly):

General Liability Office Policy: $830 paid yearly as a lump sum by CTGP

Total cost for office expenses & policy to maintain insurance*: $4,502/year; $375/month

* Based on estimated $306/month office expenses

 

C.    Total cost for additional event riders in 2004:

Total: $436.80 for two events; average cost of $218; $104 not reimbursed 

(Jilson Square=$332.80/reimbursed; DNC2RNC=$104)

 

D.    Cost estimate for various insurance situations:

(1) Umbrella General Liability Insurance: Unknown (Two underwriters are still working, but this would provide more coverage than we have currently. We are also looking into what the USGP and other state chapters do for insurance.)

(2) Event-by-event Gen. Liab. Insurance Policies: $100+/event; cost varies by event but general top-end estimate was $500 (confirmed w/ three agencies); this type of coverage would require us to purchase an event policy in advance of the event & generally takes more time than a rider to secure (approximately 3 weeks prior to the event)

(3) Cost of rider for SCC meeting (25 people) w/ current policy: $ ?

 

E.     Feasibility of insurance options:

Assuming the CTGP wants to continue our current level of coverage, i.e. with the ability & main

purpose of covering events that we would normally purchase separate riders for, than the estimated costs would be as follows-

 

1. Cost for 2 events per year without the general office policy (high estimate):  $1,100 (avg. $200-2,000) 

2. Cost for 2 events per year with the general office policy (not including office expenses): $1,270

3. Cost for 5 events per year with the general office policy (not including office expenses): $1,924

4. Cost for 5 events per year without the general office policy (high estimate): $2,750 (avg. $500-5,000)

5. Cost for 2 events per year with the general office policy (including office expenses): $4,938 

6. Cost for 5 events per year with the general office policy (including office expenses): $5,592

See attached graph.

 

            As these estimates show, if we do not continue allocating funds for a state office space in Hartford, than we still can afford comparably inexpensive coverage. If we only plan on providing insurance for a couple of events per year, then the total cost of the insurance is nearly the same in #1 (purchasing single event policies) & #2 (total insurance cost not providing office expenses). 

Likewise, the costs in #3 & #4 show the benefits of maintaining the office policy itself, if we plan on insuring more than two events per year (as is outlined in the Fundraising Plan). Clearly, if we continue paying for a general office policy and half of the office expenses, the cost (regardless of the number of events) eclipses any other option. 

 

 




 

 

                  

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Fri Mar  4 07:10:04 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2005 07:10:04 -0500
Subject: {news} =?iso-8859-1?q?Fw=3A_USGP-INT_URGENT_=3A_Assassination_att?=
	=?iso-8859-1?q?empt_against_Peruvian_Green_Party_official_Flor_de_?=
	=?iso-8859-1?q?_Mar=EDa_Hurtado?=
Message-ID: <0c0a01c520b3$1a530390$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

Dear all,
I'm forwarding messages the USGP International Committee has received from 
Peruvian Greens about attempts to assassinate Flor de Maria Hurtado Valdez, 
Secty General of the Peruvian Green Party and an elected official there.
Flor was an observer at the USGP Presidential nominating convention in 
Milwaukee.

In the next message, I'll be sending the letter the IC has composed and sent 
to Peruvian officials.
I would like to suggest that the CTGP send a copy of this letter (or our own 
version) to Peruvian officials in solidarity with Flor and the Peruvian 
Greens.

Justine McCabe
CTGP rep. to International Committee


----- Original Message ----- 

Subject: USGP-INT URGENT : Assassination attempt against Flor de Mar?a 
Hurtado


Friends,

We have received very serious and disturbing news
from Per?. On Friday, February 18, two armed men
made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate our
dear friend Flor de Mar?a Hurtado Valdez, who is
Secretary General of the Peruvian Green Party
(Partido Alternativa Verde de Per?) and an
elected council member in Iquitos, Per?. You
might remember Flor from her work at our
convention in Milwaukee, where she spoke to the
Women's Caucus, our forum on international Green
issues, and our international reception.

The Peruvian Greens are asking for our help, to
protect Flor's life, and to support her tireless
efforts on behalf of Indigenous communities in
the Amazon forest, and for the forest itself.

In the next two messages, we're sending the following:

1) Spanish and English versions of the urgent
letter we received from Per?, reporting the
assassination attempt and asking for our help
(thanks to Trisha Novak for the translation);

2) Spanish and English versions of the letter
we're sending, as requested, to various Peruvian
officials, on Flor's behalf (this document will
be ready later today or tomorrow).

Here's what you can do:

Please distribute both of these documents to your
own state party, to whatever leadership or other
party body can most quickly respond, with a
request for similar letters to the officials (and
copies to the Peruvian Greens). Our letter can be
amended as needed and used as a template.

If possible, please also distribute the February
21 message from Gonz?lez to your party membership
(original Spanish and English translation), via
e-mail lists or newsletter. If yours is like most
Green parties, your membership includes people
who are directly connected to forest protection,
Latin American solidarity, and human rights
organizations, who may not yet be aware of this
situation.

For your information, we've already conducted a
quick but relatively thorough search, and can
find no mention of this incident in any of the
regional or national media, in Per? or elsewhere.
So except for what we do to publicize this threat
on Flor's life, it's unlikely that her danger
will ever be known to those who might be in a
position to help.

For a Green future,

Tony Affigne
  Green Party of Rhode Island
Julia Willebrand
  Green Party of New York State
Co-Chairs, International Committee
Green Party of United States

-------------------------------------------------------
21 February 2005

URGENT - THEY WANT TO ASSASSINATE HER

NOTICE TO THE FEDERATION OF GREEN PARTIES OF THE AMERICAS

The Green Alternative Party of Peru wishes to
report to the member parties of the FPVA the
grievous assassination attempt on the life of the
National Secretary General of our organization,
Flor de Mar?a Hurtado Valdez, by two unknown
armed  individuals as she was leaving her home
last Friday afternoon.

Flor de Mar?a Hurtado Valdez is leading a
significant mobilization in the Amazon area of
Peru in defense of the Amazon jungles and the
indigenous and native communities.  This struggle
is taking place in the following setting:

l.  The State of Peru and the regional government
of Loreto have undertaken a process of
exploitation of the Amazon forests without
conducting environmental impact studies and
without the ecological zoning set forth in the
laws of Peru, thereby violating their own laws,
without giving recognition to the ancestral right
of the indigenous people to their own territory
in accordance with Agreement 169 of the OIT.

2.  Mafioso groups of traffickers in illegally
cut timber have taken advantage of an irregular
process of auctioning the Amazon forests in order
to continue enriching themselves through
"laundering" lumber.

3.  Thanks to the determined participation of the
Secretary General of the Partido Alternativa
Verde, the regional headquarters of the Peruvian
justice system has just issued a pronouncement,
through a transcendental resolution that favors
the native community, to exclude 700,000 hectares
of Amazon forest.

4.  Twenty-seven million hectares of the Amazon
territory have already been deforested.  This
over-exploitation has resulted in abandonment and
poverty for the peoples of the Amazon area of
Peru and is an assault on the rights of the
indigenous communities, who have not been
contacted [regarding the deforestation of their
lands].

5.  The handing over of the Amazon forests to
mafiosos trafficking in lumber has expelled
indigenous men and women from their lands,
infringing on their ancestral right to use their
own natural resources for subsistence, which
amounts to genocide.

For these reasons, we call on all our colleagues
in the FPVA and the GLOBAL GREENS to initiate a
solidarity chain, requesting respect for the life
our green leader, Flor de Mar?a Hurtado Valdez,
as well as to repeal the Ley Forestal Number
27308 of the Forest Concessions in the Amazon
area of Peru and to call a halt to the
nonsensical action of auctioning an additional
14,000,000 hectares, leaving the planet without
its green lungs.

We will greatly appreciate your addressing your
feelings about this situation to the following
e-mail addresses, and we hope for a pronouncement
from the various green parties and from the
Federation requesting guarantees for the life of
Flor de Mar?a Hurtado.

Green blessings,

Alex Gonz?lez
President

---------------------------

Presidente Alejandro Toledo
Presidente de la Republica del Per? (President of the Republic of Per?)
Palacio de Gobierno - Lima
atoledo at presidencia.gob.pe

Se?or F?lix Murazzo Carrillo
Ministro del Interior (Minister of the Interior)
Plaza 30 de Agosto N? 160 - Lima
ministro at mininter.gob.pe
fmurazzo at mininter.gob.pe

Eduardo Bruce Montes de Oca
Presidente Ejecutivo, Instituto Nacional de Radio y Televisi?n del Per?
   (Executive President, National Institute of Radio and Television)
Av. Jos? G?lvez N? 1040 Santa Beatriz - Lima
presidencia at irtp.com.pe
ebruce at irtp.com.pe

Sr. Robinson Rivadeneyra Reatigui
Presidente del Gobierno Regional de Loreto
   (President of the Regional Government of Loreto)
Av. Abelardo Qui?ones Km. 1.5 - Iquitos
rrivadeneyra at gorel.gob.pe

Sr. Alvaro Quijandria Salmon
Ministro de Agricultura (Minister of Agriculture)
Pasaje Francisco de Zela 150 - Lima
aquijandria at minag.gob.pe






From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Fri Mar  4 07:25:04 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2005 07:25:04 -0500
Subject: {news} Solidarity Action for CTGP?: USGP-INT IC letter to Peruvian
	officials
Message-ID: <0c2801c520b5$32eefe20$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

Dear CTGP Executive Committee and all Greens,

Below is a letter (in Spanish and English) drafted by IC members to the 
office of Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo/Peruvian officials on behalf 
of Flor. As IC Co-chair Tony Affigne writes, "With appropriate revisions, 
this can serve as the basis for additional letters from state parties. 
Please do what you can to help spread the word on Flor's behalf."

US Greens may not be hold office as widely as we'd like but surely we can 
speak out in solidarity with international Greens who are endangered.  I'd 
be happy to modify this slightly with mention of CTGP if EC will email to 
officials listed below.

Justine

--------------------------------------------------------------

Presidente Alejandro Toledo
Presidente de la Rep?blica
Palacio de Gobierno - Lima
Rep?blica del Per?

Su Excelencia:

Le escribimos con el mayor respeto, pero tambi?n
con gran consternaci?n, para pedir urgentemente
su ayuda. Hemos recibido noticia que dos
pistoleros intentaron asesinar a nuestra querida
amiga Flor de Mar?a Hurtado Valdez, Secretaria
General del Partido Verde Alternativa de Per? y
Regidora de la Municipalidad de Iquitos.

Se nos ha informado tambi?n que ella est? en
peligro a causa de su trabajo en defensa de los
pueblos ind?genas y el medio ambiente del bosque
amaz?nico en la regi?n de Loreto.

Esperamos que usted haga todo lo posible para
proteger la vida de Flor. Ella es una lideresa
bien conocida entre los partidos verdes de todas
la Am?ricas y en el mundo entero, y sentimos
profundamente cualquier peligro que la amenaza.
Flor es nuestra amiga y compa?era y le pedimos a
usted que su gobierno reconozca la importancia de
ella al pueblo de Per? as? como al prestigio
internacional de su pa?s.

Tambi?n pedimos que trabaje por la derogatoria de
la Ley Forestal No. 27308 y de las Concesiones
Forestales en la Amazon?a del Per? y para parar
el desprop?sito de la subasta de bosques en esa
regi?n.  La destrucci?n de su patrimonio
viviente, los pulmones del planeta, no puede ser
una ruta sostenible hacia el progreso econ?mico y
social.

Respetuosamente,

Dr. Tony Affigne
Dra. Julia Willebrand
Co-Presidentes
Comit? Internacional
Partido Verde de los Estados Unidos
PO Box 57065, Washington, DC 20037, USA
mailto:intcomm at gp-us.org
http://www.greenpartyus.org

----------------

Your Excellency:

We write to you with deepest respect, but also
great concern, to request your urgent assistance.
It has come to our attention that our dear friend
Flor de Mar?a Hurtado Valdez, Secretary General
of the Partido Verde Alternativa de Per?, and
Regidora de la Municipalidad de Iquitos, has been
the target of an assassination attempt.

We have also learned that she is in danger
because of her effective work on behalf of the
Indigenous people, and the natural environment,
of the Amazon forest in the region of Loreto.

We urge you to do whatever you can to protect
Flor's life. She is a very well known leader
among Green parties everywhere in the Americas,
indeed, in the world, and we feel very deeply any
danger which confronts her. She is our friend and
our compa?era, and we ask that your government
recognize her importance, both to the people of
Per?, and to your nation's international prestige.

We also urge you to work for repeal of the Forest
Law Number 27308 and the Forest Concessions in
the Amazon area of Per?, and call a halt to any
further timber auctions in that region. The
destruction of your living patrimony, the lungs
of the planet, can never be a sustainable route
to economic and social progress.

Respectfully,

Dr. Tony Affigne
Dr. Julia Willebrand
Co-Chairs
International Committee
Green Party of the United States
PO Box 57065, Washington, DC 20037, USA
mailto:intcomm at gp-us.org
http://www.greenpartyus.org

These are the officials who received the letter:

Presidente Alejandro Toledo
Presidente de la Rep?blica del Per? (President of the Republic of Per?)
Casa de Gobierno - Lima
atoledo at presidencia.gob.pe

Se?or F?lix Murazzo Carrillo
Ministro del Interior (Minister of the Interior)
Plaza 30 de Agosto N? 160 - Lima
ministro at mininter.gob.pe
fmurazzo at mininter.gob.pe

Eduardo Bruce Montes de Oca
Presidente Ejecutivo, Instituto Nacional de Radio y Televisi?n del Per?
   (Executive President, National Institute of Radio and Television)
Av. Jos? G?lvez N? 1040 Santa Beatriz - Lima
presidencia at irtp.com.pe
ebruce at irtp.com.pe

Sr. Robinson Rivadeneyra Reatigui
Presidente del Gobierno Regional de Loreto
   (President of the Regional Government of Loreto)
Av. Abelardo Qui?ones Km. 1.5 - Iquitos
rrivadeneyra at regionloreto.gob.pe

Ing. Manuel Reynaldo Manrique Ugarte
Ministro de Agricultura (Minister of Agriculture)
Pasaje Francisco de Zela 150 - Lima
mmanrique at minag.gob.pe






From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Fri Mar  4 23:33:39 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2005 23:33:39 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: AFSC CT Community Calendar
Message-ID: <004b01c5213c$b52e6c40$a48cf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kasha Ho 
To: Kasha Ho 
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 7:53 PM
Subject: AFSC CT Community Calendar


Friends,

Here is the next edition of our AFSC events calendar.  Please note especially the preparations for the statewide Anti-War Demonstration in Hartford for March 19th ? we hope to see all of you there to make the connections between this unjust war being waged in Iraq and the war on our communities here in Connecticut.  Keep up the good work. 



Kasha Ho'okili Ho

American Friends Service Committee

Hartford, Connecticut

phone: 860.523.1534

fax: 860.523.1705



Message from Bob Nave about the Death Penalty: 

(see below for AFSC statement on Supreme Court decision)



The United States Supreme Court has just struck down the Juvenile Death Penalty in the United States!!!!  What an ENORMOUS VICTORY!!!!  Write letters to the editor heralding this enormous step towards abolition of the death penalty - the evolving standards of justice are on the march on our side!  For more information: robertnave at cnadp.org 203-206-9854
www.DontKillInMyNameCT.org



Every Saturday until March 19th

Person to Person Outreach for March 19 Demonstration

Also in New Haven ? contact AFSC 860.523.1534 for info.

10:00am- 12:00noon

La Paloma Sabanera coffeehouse, 

405 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. 

We have had fabulous results with this effort ? I highly encourage you to participate. After a brief training, we'll walk in pairs through the neighborhoods, with maps and literature, knocking on doors and asking people to march with us. The more people on the doors, the more 

people coming to the march. 

If you are planning on coming, please contact Caitlynne Palmieri at 860-547-0122 or caitlynnep at hotmail.com



Every Tuesday until March 19th
Organizing Meeting for March 19 Anti-War Demonstration

7:30 p.m. 

CT Green Party HQ, 418A New Britain Ave. Hartford

Contact: AFSC 860.523.1534

Friday, March 4
NEWS TO ME

7:30pm

Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts

359 Washington St., Hartford

Parking: The parking lot on Brownell Street 



HartBeat Ensemble: the play is about a group of Hartford kids who get the opportunity to make their own TV news program by using the corporate media's resources- they must struggle not to have their work 'white washed' - there is a talkback afterward, too- everybody should come because your ideas and suggestions will influence the creation of the play!

Fee: $5-$10 sliding scale (no one is turned away for lack of funds) 

For more information call: 860-548-9144 



Saturday, March 5
Professor Jeff Halper

Coordinating Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions 

7:00 p.m.

Charter Oak Cultural Center

21 Charter Oak Ave, Hartford CT 06106

Sponsored by We Refuse to be Enemies.

Co-Sponsored by: Palestine Right To Return Coalition (www.al-awda.org) American Friends Service Committee (www.afsc.org) Council for National Interest  (www.cnionline.org) Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions  (www.ICAHD.org) If Americans Knew(www.ifamericansknew.org) Connecticut United for Peace (CTUP) Middle East Crisis Committee

Driving directions: www.charteroakcenter.org/contactus.htm



Saturday, March 5
Professor Jeff Halper

Coordinating Director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions 
"In Search of Peace and Justice in Palestine/Israel" 
2:30 PM
AFSC Peace Study Group
Living Word Fellowship Farm, Voluntown, CT



Sunday, March 6
Professor Jeff Halper

"In Search of Peace and Justice in Palestine/Israel"

9:00am

First Congregational Church, Old Lyme, CT

(See above)

Monday, March 7
New Neighborhood Policing Plan.

12:00noon

City Hall Function Room (2nd floor)

Hartford



Downtown District Community Forum on the City?s New Neighborhood Policing Plan with Mayor Eddie Perez and Police Chief Patrick Harnett.  Residents will be able to ask questions to city officials and meet the officers. For further information, please visit www.hartford.gov/police or contact the Mayor?s Office at (860) 543-8500.



Tuesday, March 8
The Opportunity For All Campaign

Call Your Senators and Rep. 

FEDERAL BUDGET ACTION DAYS!

TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR MARCH 8:

1-800-247-2971

This toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a new budget campaign, www.saveourservices.org  If you can't get through on that line, please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or find your Senators' direct line at www.senate.gov. 

( See below for more details)



Tuesday, March 8
No Sweat CT Student Press Conference and Legislative Hearings

1pm: Press Conference

2pm: Labor Committee Hearings

The Legislative Office Building, Hartford

210 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106.  

On Tuesday, March 8, at 2pm, there will be hearings in front of the labor committee at which supporters and opponents of the bill will testify about why they believe it should or should not be passed.  Before the hearings, at 1pm, students from throughout the state will come together in room 310 is for a press conference to alert the media and the public about our movement against sweatshop exploitation.  At least one student will testify, and it would be very powerful to have a representative from each school in the state standing beside this student while they speak.  Folks should stay at the hearings as long as they can, but it's most important that we pack the room until 4pm.  For more information, contact Kath Golub at (860) 349-6925.



Wednesday, March 9
Chris Doucot, "When Never Again Happens Again: Genocide in Sudan," 

7:00pm Harry Jack Gray Center, Room D, University of Hartford. 

Chris is a founding member of the Hartford Catholic Worker, and will present a power-point slide presentation on his recent trip to Sudan. He will be returning to the refugee camps in the Darfur area in April. 

Contact Tim Black: tblack at hartford.edu



Thursday, March 10
The Case Study of Vieques, Puerto Rico

Demilitarization, Environmental & Economic Justice Conference

Why Viequense Women Keep On Fighting

3:30pm

Central Connecticut State University

Founders Hall (Davidson)

1615 Stanley St, New Britain, CT



Women from three leading community organizations share their stories of women?s participation in the civil disobedience campaign to end the Navy?s bombing and in the present struggle for justice in Vieques.  COLADA Performance! Sponsors: Voz Latina Media Project and the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques.  For more information, contact Milly Guzman 860.668.2067 or latinoscontralaguerra at yahoo.com

Saturday, March 12
Women Working in Maquilas
2:00pm Webster Hall, West Hartford Public Library
20 South Main Street, West Hartford

Nicaraguans Jaquelene Sevilla Gaitan and Maria Dolores Roblero will speak from their own experience about the dismal working conditions at sweatshops in "free trade" zones, and the threats workers face when they stand up for their rights. Together they will share stories of hope and resistance.  Katherine Stecher, representing the Nicaragua Network, a national Nicaragua solidarity organization, and Campaign for Labor Rights, a grass-roots anti-sweatshop group, will speak on supporting workers' struggles around the world. SweatFree Communities organizer Liana Foxvog will present on how to get involved in the current campaign for a State of Connecticut "sweatshop-free" purchasing policy, and how it is part of an international movement strategy. Katherine will translate. Contact Liana Foxvog: liana at sweatfree.org



Sunday, March 13
Mock Terror Attack: What Should We Fear?

3-5pm

A Community Forum
All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Congregation
60 Huntington St. New London

A Mock Terror Attack is being planned on New London by the Department  of Homeland Security. New London will be "attacked" on April 4th, the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Is this a $16 million "drill" or a scare tactic? Who benefits from this "mock attack"? What should we fear? What will make us secure?
Speakers: Megan Bartlett, Emergency Medical Technician in New York City, first responder on 9/11, founder of "Ground Zero for Peace," The Reverend Edward Rodman, Civil Rights Activist, Professor of 
Pastoral Theology and Urban Ministry, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.
Childcare provided. Questions, call St.Francis House, 860-437-8890

Tuesday, March 15
No Sweat ConnecticutPlanning Meeting4:00pm King Davis Labor Center77 Huyshope Avenue.   Meet in the library.  Everyone is encouraged to attend so we can plan our strategy for pushing our bill through to victory. Contact Peggy Buchanan: pbuchanan at snet.net

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
Connecticut?s Next Voting Machines

7 - 9 P.M.

WEST HARTFORD TOWN HALL

Panel discussion, contact Rich Sivel: 860.231.7428 



Saturday, March 19
March and Rally Against the War in Iraq
Statewide antiwar march and rally in Hartford.
12:00pm.
360 Broad Street Hartford CT 06105 
 
March will begin at noon in front of the State Armory at 360 Broad St., Hartford. Rally will be at 1:00pm at Barnard Park (South Green) on Main Street in Hartford.   
Contact: Meg Scata megscata at yahoo.com 860-347-5488

Sponsored By: CT United For Peace, American Friends Service Committee, Connecticut Coalition for Peace and Justice, Volunteers of the Hartford Undercurrent, Northeast Coalition for Peace and Justice, Latinos Contra La Guerra, Middle East Crisis Committee, Al-Awda (The Palestine Right to Return Coalition), Middletown Alliance For Peace, CT Green Party, Hartford Bring The Troops Home Now Committee, CT Trans-Advocacy Coalition, C.L.A.S.H. Collective, Southern Connecticut State University Antiwar Coalition, November 3rd Coalition, Peace Action Stamford/Greenwich http://www.ctunitedforpeace.org
Week of April 4th
MOCK TERROR ATTACK IN NEW LONDON

Counter events are being planned.

VOLUNTEER GROUPS ARE NEEDED 


We hope for a large turn out for this 5 day event.  Information on pre events is there plus you can get posters via Adobe Acrobat E-mail by request from riveredgerecord at aol.com

For more information:  http://www.hometown.aol.com/riveredgerecord/index.html



Friday and Saturday, April 8,9
New England-wide AFSC Conference

?Hope and Hard Work: Another America is Possible?

Building 34, Vassar Street
MIT ? Cambridge, Mass.



We have hope that another America is possible.  Together we can do the hard work to bring it into being.

Space is limited and registration will be on a first come first served basis. If you will need childcare, please contact us at (617) 661-6130 by April 1, 2005. Facilities are wheelchair accessible. Directions will be sent upon receipt of registration.

TUESDAY, APRIL 12
Nuclear Proliferation with Jonathan Schell

7 - 9 P.M.

WEST HARTFORD TOWN HALL



Will be mobilizing for May 1st rally in NYC in preparation of the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  Looking for sponsors and cosponsors now.

Contact Joe Wasserman: 860.561.1897 or Mims Butterworth: 860.521.9506




WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Amy Goodman

7-9pm
Conard High School Auditorium, 110 Beechwood Road West Hartford

Talk and booksigning, cosponsors needed. Contact Kathy Hucks: 860.561.8401









AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE APPLAUDS

 U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION

 U.S. JOINS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN BANNING

 JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY



(Philadelphia, PA - March 1) ? The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) today welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing the execution of juvenile offenders, a ruling that conforms with public opinion at home and international human rights norms abroad.



?This decision confirms what we all know and what science recently has proven: kids are different,? said Tonya McClary, AFSC national criminal justice representative. ?Kids are different from adults and by their very nature cannot qualify as the ?worst of the worst? standard used by some to justify a sentence of death.?



McClary noted that a historically broad coalition of national civil rights groups, religious denominations, legal organizations and medical associations had urged the court to strike down the juvenile death penalty.  Late last year, the Service Committee, along with a coalition of religious groups, filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of executing minors.  



In addition, polls demonstrate solid public opposition against the practice.



?We applaud the fact that the court recognized the strong consensus against the juvenile death penalty,? McClary said. ?This consensus is further evidence that the U.S. public does not want the death penalty applied too broadly.  We also hope that this brings us one step closer to eliminating the death penalty overall.?



In keeping with Quaker beliefs, AFSC maintains that every person has value in the eyes of God and that human life is sacred.  Therefore, taking the life of another human being is never justified.  Furthermore, we recognize the special consideration that should be given children.  They can not be held to the same standard of culpability as adults and have immense potential for change and rehabilitation.



Including Missouri, from which Roper v. Simmons sprang, 31 states ban the execution of juvenile offenders. Of the remaining states, only 12 have juvenile offenders on death row.   They are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Currently there are two juvenile offenders on Pennsylvania?s death row. To read more about the juvenile death penalty and learn about a coalitional campaign to end juvenile executions, please visit http://www.ncadp.org/juvenile_action.html



During the past two decades, 22 juvenile offender executions have occurred in the United States, including 13 in the state of Texas. Nine such executions have occurred since the year 2000. Six of those nine took place in Texas and involved an African American offender. The other three executions took place in Oklahoma and Virginia. More than half of the juvenile offenders on death row are housed in two states ? Alabama and Texas ? and about two-thirds are people of color.



 ?Today the United States takes a major step toward joining the 21st Century,? McClary said. ?The U.S. Supreme Court has confirmed that standards of decency have evolved and the execution of youthful offenders is indeed a cruel and unusual practice. Today the Court sends a signal to the few states that still execute juvenile offenders that this inhumane practice is no longer an option.? 



The American Friends Service Committee Criminal Justice program works nationwide to eliminate the use of prisons, jails, and executions as a ?solution? to crime and violence.  The group challenges the morality and effectiveness of the ?get-tough-on-crime? mentality. It believes taking the life of another human being is never justified.  A main focus of the work has been through the Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty Project (www.deathpenalty religious.org), which has galvanized and organized the religious community to be vocal and visible in the struggle for abolition.



The Service Committee has been integrally involved in legislative efforts against the death penalty in a number of states, including New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming.



The Opportunity For All Campaign

Call Your Senators and Rep.

FEDERAL BUDGET ACTION DAYS!

TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR MARCH 8:

1-800-247-2971

This toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a new budget campaign, www.saveourservices.org  If you can't get through on that line, please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or find your Senators' direct line at www.senate.gov. 



?   Ask your Senators and Rep. to tell the Budget Committee they will vote against any budget that fails to protect children, older people, and families by cutting Medicaid, nutrition programs, education, job training, housing, and other vital services.



?   Tell them to oppose any budget that cuts basic services now or sets rigid caps that cut more and more each year.  Tell them these cuts will hurt your state.



The House and Senate Budget Committees are expected to draft their budget resolutions starting the week of March 7.  That's why we are asking you to call and to encourage everyone you know to join in on March 2 and/or March 8. 



TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR MARCH 8:

1-800-247-2971

This toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a new budget campaign, www.saveourservices.org  If you can't get through on that line, please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or find your Senators' direct line at www.senate.gov. 



What's at stake:  Congress will be working off the President's budget recommendations, which made cuts in Medicaid, Food Stamps, child care, housing, and many other vital services.  



The President's budget not only proposed cuts for the coming year, but proposed a 5-year cap (not one dime more) on the total amount for programs that need annual appropriations (so-called "discretionary" programs -- like education, housing, WIC, Head Start, and many more).  Inflation alone will shrink these programs by 16 percent in the 5th year.  The House and Senate Budget Committee chairs have been talking about applying a similarly restrictive cap on basic programs like Medicaid, Food Stamps, services for abused and neglected children, child care, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  (If you read about caps or cuts in "mandatory" or "entitlement" programs, this is what they're talking about.)  



PLEASE CALL IN TO OPPOSE THESE UNFAIR AND UNWISE CUTS!
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Sat Mar  5 14:29:15 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 14:29:15 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Israeli peace activist Jeff Halper Today (Saturday) in
	Hartford
Message-ID: <008401c521b9$9f094b60$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


Dear All,

Please join us for the CT Greens-sponsored event.

Justine McCabe
--------------------------------------------------------

 Dr. Jeff Halper, the coordinating director of the Israeli Committee Against
 House Demolitions (ICAHD), will be the featured speaker Saturday, March 5,
 at 7 p.m. at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Avenue,
 Hartford, CT 06106. Driving Directions below.

 The program is tltled ``In Search of Peace and Justice in Palestine/Israel:
 Realities on the Ground; Where to Go from Here."

 The event is free and open to the public.

 Halper, an American who has lived in Israel since 1972, has forged
 through ICAHD a new mode of Israeli peace activity based on nonviolent
 direct action and civil disobedience to the Israeli Occupation. ICAHD's
 main direct action began through resistance to the demolition of
 Palestinian homes, including the rebuilding of demolished homes as acts
 of political solidarity.

 Believing that civil society and governmental forces must be mobilized
if a just peace is to emerge in Israel/Palestine, Jeff also directs
ICAHD's extensive program of international advocacy. He is the author
 of Between Redemption and Revival: The Jewish Yishuv in Jerusalem in
 the Nineteenth Century, published in 1991, and his recent popular
 book Obstacles to Peace is to be followed by a forthcoming work from
 Pluto Press, called An Israeli in Palestine: Reframing the
 Israel-Palestine Conflict.
 .
 Halper is a professor of anthropology who has taught at Haifa and Ben
 Gurion universities. Halper moved to Israel from American in 1973. He
 and his wife have three children.

 This event is sponsored by We Refuse to Be Enemies (Jews, Muslims and
 Christians in Coalition for Peace); The Palestine Right To Return
 Coalition (www.al-awda.org), The American Friends Service Committee
 (www.afsc.org), and Council for National Interest (www.cnionline.org),
 Middle East Crisis Committee, Conecticut United for peace and the Green 
Party of CT (www.ctgreens.org)

 For more information Contact Liz Aaronsohn 860-229-0705, Lucy
 Rosenblatt 860-236-9992 or Hassan Fouda 860-536-4640

 Driving Directions:

 From 91 North or 91 South
 Take Exit 29A ("Capitol Area"). Proceed through tunnel under Hartford
 Public Library. Immediately enter traffic circle and exit at about the
 "9 o'clock" position, in order to head south on Hudson Street. Turn
 left at second traffic light (Buckingham Street). Continue east through
 traffic light at Main Street, at which point Buckingham becomes Charter
 Oak Avenue. Charter Oak Cultural Center is the second building on the
 right.

 From West of Hartford
 On I-84 East bear right towards the "Capitol Avenue" exit. Take a left
 and continue east on Capitol Avenue until it dead-ends at Main Street.
 Turn right on Main Street, and then left at the first traffic light
 (Charter Oak Avenue). Charter Oak Cultural Center is the second
 building on the right.

 From East of Hartford
 From I-84 West take Exit 48 (Asylum Avenue). Turn left at the light
 onto Asylum Avenue. Proceed east until the road bends to the right and
 becomes Jewell Street. Stay on Jewell Street, always keeping the
 adjacent Bushnell Park on your right, as it winds through the city.
 Enter the traffic circle; exit it at about the "noon" position and
 continue south on Hudson Street. Turn left at second traffic light
 (Buckingham Street). Proceed east through traffic light at Main Street,
 at which point Buckingham becomes Charter Oak Avenue. Charter Oak
 Cultural Center is the second building on the right.

 





From aol_an at yahoo.com  Sat Mar  5 14:54:07 2005
From: aol_an at yahoo.com (The Pen)
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 11:54:07 -0800
Subject: {news} Should the bankruptcy abuse prevention bill be rejected
Message-ID: <B0003685558@mail21.cisp.com>

The Senate Republican leaders have now filed for cloture (a 
move to preclude a filibuter) on the bankruptcy abuse prevention 
act, which will be voted on this coming Tuesday.  With the 
exception of a minor rewording of the definition of "special 
circumstances" every proposed amendment, including 
restrictions on predatory lending practices and corporate 
retirement fund theft so far has been blocked.  The banks and 
credit card companies pushing for this would like to believe this is 
a fair way to restrict bankrupty filings.  Do you?

Here is a one click page where you can send your personal 
message to both of your senators and your house representative 
too, all with one click.

http://www.usalone.org/bankruptcy.htm
 
And remember we will set up a custom action page for any issue 
of your own you like for no charge, and you get a snazzy drop-in 
dynamic menu for your own web page to help promote it at

http://www.usalone.org/action_center.html

Please forward this message and post this link everywhere you 
can to everyone you know.

Or if you want to get off our list, just email back indicating same.

NEVER SEND SPAM. IT IS BAD.



From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Sun Mar  6 14:07:41 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 14:07:41 -0500
Subject: {news} Prof. Stephen Zunes, "All Set For War with Syria" 
Message-ID: <023601c5227f$c5e53110$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

FYI: Background piece on situation in Syria, Lebanon.

-----------------------------------------------------------------



All Set for War With Syria 
 
by Stephen Zunes
AntiWar.com, March 2, 2005
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/zunes.php?articleid=5017

 
The broader implications of the Feb. 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister  Rafik Hariri, who was seen by many as the embodiment of the Lebanese people's efforts to rebuild their country in the aftermath of its 15-year civil war, are yet to unfold. A Sunni Muslim, Hariri reached out to all of Lebanon's ethnic and religious communities in an effort to unite the country after decades of violence waged by heavily armed militias and foreign invaders. 
 
The assassination took place against the backdrop of a growing political crisis in Lebanon. This began in September 2004, when Syria successfully pressured the Lebanese parliament, in an act of dubious constitutionality, to extend the term of
the unpopular pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, a move roundly condemned by the international community. Washington was particularly virulent in its criticism, which can only be considered ironic, given that the United States attempted a similar maneuver back in 1958 to extend the term of the pro-American president Camille Chamoun.  The result was a popular uprising suppressed only when President Dwight Eisenhower sent in U.S.  Marines. 
 
Hariri had his critics, particularly among the country's poor majority, whose situation deteriorated under the former prime minister's adoption of a number of controversial neoliberal economic policies. A multi-billionaire businessman prior to becoming prime minister, there were widespread charges of corruption in the awarding of contracts, many of which went to a company largely owned by Hariri himself.  A number of treasured historic buildings relatively undamaged from war were demolished to make room for grandiose construction projects. 
 
The size and sophistication of the explosion that killed Hariri, his bodyguards, and several bystanders have led many to speculate that foreign intelligence units may have been involved. Initial speculation has focused on the Syrians, who had previously worked closely with Hariri as prime minister. That relationship was broken by the Syrians' successful effort to extend the term of President Lahoud, with whom Hariri had frequently clashed as prime minister. As a result, Hariri was poised to lead an anti-Syrian front in the upcoming parliamentary elections in May. 
 
Hariri made lots of other enemies as well, however, including rival Lebanese groups, the Israeli government, Islamic extremists, and powerful financiers with interests in his multi-billion dollar reconstruction efforts.  A previously-unknown group calling itself "Victory and Jihad in Syria and Lebanon" claimed responsibility for the attack, citing Hariri's close ties to the repressive Saudi monarchy.  As of this writing, there is no confirmation that they were responsible for the blast or if such a group even exists. 
 
While Syria remains the primary suspect, no evidence has been presented to support the charge. Damascus has publicly condemned the killings and denied responsibility. Syria's regime, while certainly ruthless enough to do such a thing, is usually not so brazen. They would have little to gain from uniting the Lebanese opposition against them or for provoking the United States and other Western nations to further isolate their government. 
 
The United States, however, has indirectly implicated Syria in the attack and has withdrawn its ambassador from Damascus.  
 
 
Syria's Role in Lebanon
 
Syrian forces first entered Lebanon in 1976 at the invitation of the Lebanese president as the primary component of an international peacekeeping force authorized by the Arab League to try to end Lebanon's civil war. The United States quietly supported the Syrian intervention as a means of blocking the likely victory by the leftist Lebanese National Movement and its Palestinian allies. As the civil war continued in varying manifestations in subsequent years, the Syrians would often play one faction off against another in an effort to maintain their influence.  Despite this, they were unable to defend the country from the U.S.-backed Israeli invasion in 1982, the installation of the Phalangist Amin
Gemayel as president, and the U.S. military intervention to help prop up Gemayel's rightist government against a popular uprising.  Finally, in late 1990, Syrian forces helped the Lebanese oust the unpopular interim Prime Minister General Michel Aoun, which proved instrumental in ending the 15-year civil war. (Given that General Aoun's primary outside supporter was Iraq's Saddam Hussein, the United States quietly backed this Syrian action as well.) 
 
The end of the civil war did not result in the end of the Syrian role in Lebanon, however. Most Lebanese at this point resent the ongoing presence of Syrian troops and Syria's overbearing influence on their government. 
 
The Bush administration, Congressional leaders of both parties, and prominent media commentators have increasingly made reference to "the Syrian occupation of Lebanon." Strictly speaking, however, this is not an occupation in the legal sense of the word, such as in the case of Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara or Israel's occupation of Syria's Golan region and much of the Palestinian Gaza Strip and West Bank (including East Jerusalem), all of which are recognized by the United Nations and international legal authorities as non-self-governing territories. Lebanon has experienced direct foreign military occupation, however: from 1978 to 2000, Israel occupied a large section of southern Lebanon and - from June 1982 through May 1984 - much of central Lebanon as well, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Lebanese civilians. 
 
A more accurate analogy to the current Syrian role would be that of the Soviets in the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe during much of the Cold War, in which these nations were effectively client states. They were allowed to maintain their independence and distinct national institutions yet were denied their right to pursue an autonomous course in their foreign and domestic policies. 
 
Currently, Syria has only 14,000 troops in Lebanon, mostly in the Bekaa Valley in the eastern part of the country, a substantial reduction from the 40,000 Syrian troops present in earlier years. This does not mean that calls for an immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces and an end to Syrian interference in Lebanon's political affairs are not morally and legally justified. However, the use of the term "occupation" by American political leaders is an exaggeration and may be designed in part to divert attention from the continuing U.S. military, diplomatic, and financial support of the real ongoing military occupations by Israel and Morocco. 
 
In September of last year, the United States - along with France and Great Britain - sponsored a resolution before the UN Security Council that, among other things, called upon "all remaining foreign forces to withdraw from Lebanon." UN Security Council resolution 1559 was adopted with six abstentions and no negative votes and builds upon UN Security Council resolution 520, adopted in 1982, which similarly calls for the withdrawal of foreign forces. 
 
The Bush administration, with widespread bipartisan Congressional support, has cited Syria's ongoing violation of these resolutions in placing sanctions upon Syria. Ironically, however, no such pressure was placed upon Israel for violating UNSC resolution 520 and nine other resolutions (the first being adopted in 1978) calling on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. In fact, during the Clinton administration, the U.S. openly called on Israel to not unilaterally withdraw from Lebanon as required, even as public opinion polls in Israel showed that a sizable majority of Israelis supported an end to the Israeli occupation, during which hundreds of Israeli soldiers were killed. 
 
Today, many of the most outspoken supporters of a strict enforcement of UNSC resolution 1159 - such as Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer of California - were also among the most prominent opponents of enforcing similar resolutions when they were directed at Israel. In short, both Republicans and Democrats agree that Lebanese sovereignty and international law must be defended only if the government challenging these principles is not a U.S. ally.

 

(Israel was finally forced out of Lebanon in May 2000 as a result of attacks by the militant Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah. Four months later, the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip began. Militant  Palestinians claim they were inspired by the fact that Israel ended its 22-year occupation not because of the U.S.-led peace process and not because of the United Nations - which was blocked by the United States from enforcing its resolutions - but because of armed struggle by radical Islamists. Though, for a number of reasons, such tactics are unlikely to succeed in the occupied Palestinian territories, the support of extremist Islamist groups and the use of violence by large sectors of the Palestinian population under Israeli occupation can for the most part be attributed to the United States refusing to support an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon through diplomatic means.) 

 

What Next? 
 
Whether or not the Syrians played a role in Hariri's assassination, his death will likely escalate pressure by the Lebanese to challenge Syria's domination of their government. Once centered primarily in the country's Maronite Christian community, anti-Syrian sentiment is growing among Lebanese from across the ethnic and ideological spectrum. Ultimately, the country's fate will be determined by the Lebanese themselves. If the United States presses the issue too strongly, however, it risks hardening Syria's position and allowing Damascus to defend its ongoing domination of Lebanon behind
 anti-imperialist rhetoric. 
 
While there are many areas in which the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad should indeed be challenged, such as its overbearing influence in Lebanon and its poor human rights record, there is a genuine fear that increased U.S. efforts to isolate the regime and the concomitant threats of military action against Syria will undermine the efforts of Lebanese and Syrians demanding change. 
 
One major problem is that most charges against the Syrian government by the Bush administration and the Congressional leadership of both parties are rife with hyperbole and double standards.  For example, the United States has demanded that Syria eliminate its long-range and medium-range missiles, while not insisting that pro-Western neighbors like Turkey and Israel - with far more numerous and sophisticated missiles on their  territory - similarly disarm. The United States has also insisted that Syria  unilaterally eliminate its chemical weapons stockpiles, while not making similar demands on U.S. allies Israel and Egypt - which have far larger chemical weapons stockpiles - to do the same. The United States has demanded an end to political repression and for free and fair elections in Syria while not making similar demands of even more repressive and autocratic regimes in allied countries like Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. 
 
Contrary to U.S. charges that Syria is a major state supporter of international terrorism, Syria is at most a very minor player. The U.S. State Department has noted how Syria has played a critical role in efforts to combat al-Qaeda and that the Syrian government has not been linked to any acts of international terrorism for nearly 20 years. The radical Palestinian Islamist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have political offices in Damascus, as they do in a number of Arab capitals, but they are not allowed to conduct any military activities. A number of left-wing Palestinian factions also maintain offices in Syria, but these groups are now largely defunct and have not engaged in terrorist operations for
 many years. 
 
Much has been made of Syrian support for the radical Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah. However, not only has Syrian support for the group been quite minimal in recent years, the group is now a legally recognized Lebanese political party and serves in the Lebanese parliament. During the past decade, its militia  have largely restricted their use of violence to Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon and in disputed border regions of Israeli-occupied Syria, not against civilians, thereby raising serious questions as to whether it can actually still be legally considered a terrorist group. 
 
Currently, the Bush administration has expressed its dismay at Russia's decision to sell Syria anti-aircraft missiles, claiming that it raises questions in regard to President Vladimir Putin's commitment against terrorism. The administration has been unable to explain, however, how selling defensive weapons to an internationally recognized government aids terrorists. 

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Congressional leaders have also accused Syria of threatening the Arab-Israeli peace process. However, Syria has pledged to provide Israel with internationally enforced security guarantees and full diplomatic relations in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory seized in the 1967 war, in concordance with UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, long recognized as the basis for peace. They have also called for a renewal of peace talks with Israel, which came very close to a permanent peace agreement in early 2000. However, the right-wing U.S.-backed Israeli government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has refused to resume negotiations and pledges it will never withdraw from the Golan, thereby raising questions as to whether it is really Syria that is primarily at fault.  

Another questionable anti-Syrian charge is in regard to their alleged support of Saddam Hussein and ongoing support of anti-American insurgents in Iraq. In reality, though both ruled by the Ba'ath Party, Syria had broken diplomatic relations with Baghdad back in the 1970s and was the home of a number of anti-Saddam exile groups. Syria and Iraq backed rival factions in Lebanon's civil war. Syria was the only country to side with Iran during the Iran-Iraq war and contributed troops to the U.S.-led Operation Desert Shield in reaction to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Syria, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2002, supported the U.S.-backed resolution 1441 demanding that Iraq
cooperate with UN inspectors or else face "severe consequences." The Syrian government has substantially beefed up security along its borders with Iraq, and U.S. military officials have acknowledged that relatively few foreign fighters have actually entered Iraq via Syria. Most critically, there is no reason that Syria would want the insurgents to succeed, given that the primary insurgent groups are either supporters of the old anti-Syrian regime in Baghdad or are Islamist extremists similar to those who seriously challenged the Syrian government in 1982 before being brutally suppressed. Given that Assad's regime is dominated by Syria's Alawite minority, which has much closer ties to Iraq's Shi'ites than with the Sunnis who dominate the Arab and Islamic world, and that the Shi'ite-dominated slate that won the recent Iraqi elections shares their skepticism about the U.S. role in the Middle East, they would have every reason to want to see the newly elected Iraqi government succeed so U.S. troops could leave. 

Despite the highly questionable assertions that form the basis of the Bush administration's antipathy toward Syria, there have essentially been no serious challenges to the Bush administration's policy on Capitol Hill. Indeed, Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid have strongly defended President George W. Bush's policies toward Iraq and Lebanon and helped push through strict sanctions against Syria based upon these same exaggerations and double standards. (See my article "The Syria Accountability Act and the Triumph of Hegemony," Oct. 27, 2003.) During the 2004 election campaign, Senator john Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, criticized President Bush for not being anti-Syrian enough.  


Among the few dissenters is Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who expressed his concern to Secretary of State Rice during recent hearings on Capitol Hill that the tough talk against Syria was remarkably similar to what was heard in regard to Iraq a few years earlier. One of only eight members of Congress to vote against the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act in the fall of 2003, he warned his fellow senators that the language was broad enough that the administration might later claim it authorized military action against Syria. 

As long as the vast majority of Democrats are afraid to appear "soft" toward the Syrian dictatorship and as long as so few progressive voices are willing to challenge the Democrats, President Bush appears to have few obstacles in his way should he once again choose to lead the country to war. 


Stephen Zunes is a professor of Politics and chair of the Peace & Justice Studies Program at the University of San Francisco. He serves as Middle East editor for Foreign Policy in Focus and is the author of Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism (Common Courage Press, 2003). Posted with permission from Foreign Policy in Focus.

 Other articles by Stephen Zunes:

Abstract: U.S. Policy Towards Syria and the Triumph of Neoconservativism http://www.mepc.org/public_asp/journal_vol11/0403_zunes.asp

The Swing to the Right in U.S. Policy Toward Israel and Palestine http://www.mepc.org/public_asp/journal_vol9/zunes.pdf

US Security Assistance to Israel  http://www.fpif.org/pdf/vol7/03ifisrael.pdf
 
 
  
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Mon Mar  7 14:26:26 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 14:26:26 -0500
Subject: {news} Vieques Conference: Why Viequense Women Keep On Fighting.
	March 10 *3:30pm CCSU *7pm Htfd City Hall
Message-ID: <001b01c5234d$5a861dc0$63a4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Milly Guzman 
To: enegron at prfaa.com ; Lucy.Hernandez at po.state.ct.us ; hernandez at ccsu.edu ; fernando.betancourt at po.state.ct.us ; Werner.Oyanadel at po.state.ct.us 
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 11:10 PM
Subject: Vieques Conference: Why Viequense Women Keep On Fighting. March 10 *3:30pm CCSU *7pm Htfd City Hall


Demilitarization, Environmental & Economic Justice Conference: 

The Case Study of Vieques, Puerto Rico

 

First Series : Why Viequense Women Keep On Fighting

 

Women from three leading community organizations share stories of women's participation in the civil disobedience campaign to end the Navy's bombing and in the present struggle for justice in Vieques. 

Thursday, March 10

3:30 pm  Central CT State Univ.
Founders Hall (Davidson)
1615 Stanley St, New Britain, CT
Free Event!   COLADA Performance!  CCSU Visitor Parking: Welte Garage (West)
CCSU Parking in Welte Garage      For Directions go to: http://www.ccsu.edu/viewbook/find_us.htm
____________________________________________________________________________
7 pm  Hartford City Hall 
 Council Chamber Rm 2nd Fl
550 Main Street, Htfd. 
For Directions go to: http://www.mapquest.com

Sponsors: Todo Con Vieques, The Committee for the Rescue and Development of  Vieques and Voz Latina Media Project 

Co-sponsors: American Friends Service Committee, Latinos Contra La Guerra, The Greater Hartford Cuba Coalition, Bring The Troops Home Now Committee, Assata Shakur Project

CCSU Local sponsors and endorsers : The Caribbean Center, COLADA, Ruth Boyean Women's Center, Latin American Student Organization and Progressive Student Alliance




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! 
Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web 
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Tue Mar  8 08:13:04 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 08:13:04 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Bulgarian Green leader threatened with death
Message-ID: <042a01c523e0$910382a0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Feinstein" <mfeinstein at feinstein.org>
To: <usgp-int at gp-us.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 7:47 AM
Subject: USGP-INT Bulgarian Green leader threatened with death


> http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2005/2005-03-08-03.asp
>
> Bulgarian Green Leader Threatened With Death
>
> VIENNA, Austria, March 8, 2005 (ENS) -  Award-winning Bulgarian 
> anti-nuclear activist Albena Simeonova has received threats on her life 
> due to her public opposition to the construction of a nuclear power plant 
> in Belene, in the northern part of the country, Greenpeace said today. 
> Simeonova, a Greenpeace activist, was honored with the 1996 Goldman Prize 
> for Europe.
>
>  Greenpeace, together with Bankwatch and Friends of the Earth Europe, is 
> calling on the Bulgarian government to secure her safety and prevent these 
> threats from happening again.
>
>  Albena Simeonova has been opposed to the Belene nuclear power plant since 
> the early 1990s. (Photo courtesy Goldman Prize)
>  Simeonova, 40, who is portrayed as an obstacle by the nuclear industry, 
> started to receive anonymous calls at the end of 2004.
>
>  On February 23, two men showed up at her house door threatening to kill 
> her if she did not stop her resistance against plans to build the nuclear 
> power plant in Belene.
>
>  The men also warned her to leave the region of Nikopol, her homeland.
>
>  Simeonova is one of the leaders of a Bulgarian movement that stopped 
> plans for the construction of a nuclear power station near Belene in the 
> early 1990s.
>
>  Plans for the power station were revived in 2003, and she was one of the 
> first people to ask attention for the problems the project would create. 
> She alerted national and international organizations about the revived 
> plans and since has been one of the motors behind resistance against 
> Belene.
>
>  "This is not only a serious threat against my life," said Simeonova, "it 
> represents a threat to all who campaign against nuclear plants trying to 
> protect their lives and the local environment."
>
>  "We are shocked to hear that her life is threatened due to her opposition 
> to this nuclear project," says Jan Haverkamp from Greenpeace 
> International. "She is a pioneer for a clean environment in Bulgaria."
>
>  "Belene is the real threat, not Albena Simeonova," he said. "This plant 
> is completely unnecessary for Bulgaria and for the region."
>
>  Greenpeace argues that Bulgaria does not need the Belene nuclear power 
> plant because the country has one of the largest renewable energy 
> resources in the European Union, with potential for wind energy, as well 
> as geothermal and hydropower.
>
>  With its large agricultural sector, Bulgaria could cover a significant 
> part of its energy needs with renewable energy, Greenpeace says. "These 
> clean energy sources are economic, abundant, create thousands of jobs and 
> pose no threat to human life and the environment," the organization said 
> in a statement.
>
>  Greenpeace opposes the construction of the Belene reactors because of the 
> high level nuclear waste the reactors will generate.
>
>  In February, Greenpeace joined Bulgarian court proceedings against the 
> approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment on the Belene Nuclear 
> Power Plant. Haverkamp says Greenpeace objects that the procedure has been 
> manipulated, that vital data are missing and important analyses not have 
> been carried out.
>
>  In reaction to the Greenpeace appeal, the Bulgarian authorities have 
> tried to expel Greenpeace from court by manipulating formal arguments.
>
>  Cranes loom over the construction site for the Belene Nuclear Power 
> Station in northern Bulgaria. (Photo courtesy Greenpeace)
>  "Obviously, the Bulgarian authorities are afraid for objective challenges 
> of the decision procedure around the Belene nuclear power plant. They now 
> try to silence opposition with far fetched formalities," said Haverkamp, 
> consultant for nuclear energy issues in Central Europe for Greenpeace.
>
>  "It is clear that Greenpeace is seen as a threat to the project, and I 
> would say, rightly so," said Haverkamp. "Belene is economically and 
> environmentally a bad project that needs to be halted."
>
>  Educated as a chemist, Simeonova worked as a senior ecologist for the 
> city of Botevgrad on environmental issues early in her career.
>
>  She then became the executive director of the Foundation for Ecological 
> Education and Training, founded by the Bulgarian Green Party in 1991. 
> Campaigning against the construction of nuclear power plants, in 1994 
> Simeonova organized the first public debate between the proponents and 
> opponents of nuclear power.
>
>  She originated Ecological Inspectorates where citizens can call to report 
> local environmental problems and get a swift, independent response from 
> professionals. Sometimes Simeonova alone responds.
>
>  Bulgarian municipalities have now organized their own Eco-Inspectorates, 
> or have provided funding to NGOs to start them. The original four 
> inspectorate programs have grown to 25 and more are being planned.
>
>  To work towards nationwide coordination of environmental groups, in 1993 
> Simeonova persuaded Bulgarian organizations to come together in an 
> association called the Green Parliament. She also has involved citizens of 
> Bulgaria and Romania to address the problems of trans-boundary pollution.
>
>  As vice president of the Bulgarian Green Party, in 1995 Simeonova 
> organized a dialogue involving members of the Green Parties of Western and 
> Eastern Europe.
>
>  In 1996 Simeonova co-founded the Bulgarian Green Federation. Though not a 
> lawyer herself, she has written municipal environmental regulations. In 
> 1997 Simeonova helped establish the Green Justice Association, which works 
> together with local authorities and NGOs to create new environmental 
> legislation.
>
>  Simeonova has worked with the international E-LAW network of 
> environmental lawyers since 1995.
>
> ---
> | Sent via usgp-int
> | To unsubscribe, please send a message to usgp-int-request at gp-us.org
> | with ONLY unsubscribe in the message
> ---
> 





From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Tue Mar  8 11:01:27 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 11:01:27 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT FW: Message from Alex Gonzales/(corrected)
	translation
Message-ID: <05c001c523f8$1740a020$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

Re: USGP-INT FW: FYI: Mg from Alex Gonzales/translationDear all, 
An update on the situation with Peruvian Green, Flor de Maria (Like Flor, Alex 'Gonzales was also an observer at the USGP presidential convention in Milwaukee).

Justine


----- Original Message ----- 
From: juliawillebrand 
To: usgp-int at gp-us.org 
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: USGP-INT FW: FYI: Mg from Alex Gonzales/translation


    Dear IC,

    The following msg just received from Alex Gonzales, President of the Green Party of Peru.

    Julia Willebrand
    USGP International Committee Co-chair
    FPVA Co-president

    212 877-5088-- 



  ----------
  From: Alex Gonzales <alexrolfidgonzales at yahoo.com.mx>
  Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2005 14:54:17 -0600 (CST)
  To: juliawillebrand <julia.willebrand at verizon.net>
  Subject: Re: Hello and how are you?

  Vamos a mantenerte informada de proximas actividades para proteger la vida de Flor de Maria. 
  Se est?n haciendo algunas investigaciones al respecto.
  Las amenazas contra Flor de Maria no son un hecho aislado, presumimos que van a ser acciones contra los Verdes del Per?.
  Te pedimos que estes alerta.
  Tu colaboraci?n va a ser valiosa.
  Bendiciones Verdes 
  Alex Gonz?les

  Computer translation: (CORRECTED)

  We are going to keep you informed about UPCOMING activities to protect the life of FLOR DE MARIA. 
  Some investigations ARE BEING CARRIED OUT WITH REGARD TO THAT.
  The threats against FLOR DE MARIA are not ISOLATED OCCURRENCES, we presume that THERE WILL BE actions against the Greens of Peru.
  We ask you to be alert.
  Your collaboration is going to be valuable. 
  Green blessings 
  Alex Gonz?les




  --- | Sent via usgp-int | To unsubscribe, please send a message to usgp-int-request at gp-us.org | with ONLY unsubscribe in the message --- 



Julia Willebrand
USGP International Committee Co-chair
FPVA Co-president

212 877-5088-- 

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From timmckee at sbcglobal.net  Tue Mar  8 16:23:16 2005
From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee)
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 13:23:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject: {news} "Time To go Joe " web site
Message-ID: <20050308212316.33258.qmail@web81105.mail.yahoo.com>

Web site collects pledges from those who want Lieberman out
			a.fullstory_linkbar {				color: #333366;				font-size: 10px;				font-family: verdana;				text-decoration: none;			}			a.fullstory_linkbar:hover {				text-decoration: underline;			}		By Don Michak, Journal InquirerMarch 08, 2005Email to a friend  Voice your opinion  A southern California computer engineer has created an Internet site to collect cash pledges that would help pay for a Democratic primary election challenge to U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, whom he calls "a Democrat in name only." J. M. Ivler, a Stamford native living in Los Alamitos, says that after only a week in operation, his Web site, timetogojoe.com, collected about $12,000 from residents of Connecticut and several other states who abhor the three-term senator's generally conservative politics.

Advertisement

               '); } //-->    "We've got around a year to do it and we're doing an average right now of about $400 to $500 a day," he said Monday, adding that he expects much more money to be pledged as people learn about the site.

Ivler said he wants to help raise $1 million "to help someone put Joe's political career out to pasture."

He vowed that the site "won't take one penny" from the effort and that once a Democrat opponent to Lieberman is listed on the primary ballot, only that candidate would be given access to the pledge list. The roster would be destroyed after the primary, he said.

Ivler's site, which features photographs of Lieberman being warmly embraced by President Bush on the night of the president's January state-of-the-union address, berates Lieberman for "standing shoulder to shoulder with a president who has lied constantly to the American public.'

It attacks the senator for supporting the confirmation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and says Lieberman voted for the war in Iraq and "has never complained about being lied to."

The site saves its most intense criticism, however, for Lieberman's position on the proposed revamping of Social Security, citing news reports that he has been working with Republicans to forge a compromise.

Lieberman has said he refuses to let partisanship interfere with solving problems like the solvency of Social Security, telling The Day of New London this week that while some think Bush would "sink with" his plan to privatize the system, "we are not winning because the victory here is to solve the Social Security problem."

Moreover, Lieberman several days before had joined 41 Democrats in urging the White House to reject private accounts funded with Social Security dollars.

But Ivler, reached at his home Monday, insisted that Lieberman was again undercutting his own party's position, despite polls he said suggest that a majority of Americans don't support a radical restructuring of Social Security.

"There's no need to let this debate on Social Security happen on President Bush's terms," Ivler said. "You don't negotiate when you've already won. You win the battle and make President Bush eat the loss.

"What's happening is the Democrats have won the battle, and once we put the demon of dismantling Social Security to bed, then we can address whether there's any fundamental challenges to the system that have to be addressed," he added.

Ivler described himself as a fiscal conservative first drawn to politics by Ben Wattenberg, a former aide and speech writer to President Lyndon B. Johnson who went on to become an adviser to Sen. Henry Jackson's Democratic presidential campaigns in 1972 and 1976.

Ivler said he has been a lifelong Democrat who has contributed to Democratic causes, helped Democrats win public office, and once even mounted his own unsuccessful campaign for Congress in California.

Ivler also insisted that while he doesn't believe in "purging" by a political party, he feels he can honestly "say this person is a DINO -- or Democrat in name only.''

Ivler also volunteered that while growing up in Stamford he attended the Bi-Cultural Day School in town, a Hebrew Day School he says Lieberman "supposedly supports."

In the first post on his Web site, Ivler also mentioned the school, saying he wanted to do so "before I take the heat and get called anti-Semitic."

"Being Jewish doesn't mean getting behind a fundamentalist Jew when he is wrong," he wrote. "And Joe is wrong!"

Ivler began soliciting pledges about a month after a great deal of Internet chatter that actor and philanthropist Paul Newman was considering a 2006 primary bid against Lieberman, although state party officials told the Journal Inquirer they doubted the 80-year-old Westport resident would make the run.

At the same time, several leading Democrats said they wouldn't be surprised to see Lieberman challenged from the left in a primary.

One even spelled out an obviously well-considered scenario in which a challenger could be bankrolled by thousands of small contributions generated through the Web, much like Howard Dean, the 2004 presidential candidate who's now chairman of the Democratic National Committee.



?Journal Inquirer 2005 	.opinionsHeader {		font-size: 12px;		font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;		font-weight: bold;		color: #333366;		text-decoration: none;	}	a.opinionsNavlink {		font-size: 12px;		font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;		font-weight: bold;		color: #333366;		text-decoration: none;	}	a.opinionsNavlink:hover {		text-decoration: underline;	}	a.opinionsButtonBar {		color: #333366;		font-size: 10px;		font-family: verdana;		text-decoration: none;	}	a.opinionsButtonBar:hover {		text-decoration: underline;	}	.opinionsNameLine {		font-size: 12px;		font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;		font-weight: bold;	}		.opinionsText {		font-size: 12px;		font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;		font-weight: normal;	}Email to a friend  Voice your opinion  Top



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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Sun Mar  6 21:27:08 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 21:27:08 EST
Subject: {news} Please Help Me!
Message-ID: <5b.64f2e67e.2f5d15fc@aol.com>

Please Help Me!

 REMEMBER to become part of our rally in favor of Social Security.  On March 
10th, people who believe that it's time to do something about the Social 
Security issue now are taking it to the streets in New Britain. Folks from all 
around the City will meet in front of the Social Security Administration on 100 
Arch Street at 12:00 noon where there will be a rally and speeches by community 
members and leaders.

Please bring your printed flyers supporting Social Security and Nieves For 
Mayor Campaign, send emails to friends and families, and write letters to the 
newspapers. The more people knocking on the doors, the more people coming to the 
rally. You can be proud of your contribution to the rally when you see people 
that you have invited.

Regards,
Miguel Angel Nieves
Mayoral Candidate
New Britain Green Party Co-Chairman
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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Mon Mar  7 14:39:29 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 14:39:29 EST
Subject: {news} The New Britain Green Party
Message-ID: <129.58344d2c.2f5e07f1@aol.com>

It is with great honor to inform you that New Britain Green Party have found 
a new place where to meet. Starting on March 21st the New Britain Green Party 
will start meeting at the second floor of the YMCA of New Britain located at 
50 High Street. Everyone is welcome to come as a visitor or to become permanent 
members. This is only the beginning. The meeting will start at 7:00pm but if 
you need more information please call us today at 860-832-8141

Regards,
Miguel Angel Nieves
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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Tue Mar  8 18:32:52 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 18:32:52 EST
Subject: {news} New Bank Account
Message-ID: <1a6.33435a89.2f5f9024@aol.com>

Today with this type of weather We have open the Nieves For Mayor Bank 
Account. Our Bank will be People's Bank. Now if you want to donate to my campaign 
you can go to your local People's Bank and deposit your donation. All you need 
to say is that you want to donate to Nieves For Mayor Campaign and the Bank 
will do the rest. Just remember that if you donate more then $10.00 you need to 
call Annette Alicea, Campaign Treasurer at 860-833-7545 and provide your 
personal information. 

Regards,
Miguel Angel Nieves 
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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Tue Mar  8 22:15:10 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 22:15:10 EST
Subject: {news} Help us Help New Britain ESL Program
Message-ID: <f6.4be54693.2f5fc43e@aol.com>

State Legislator will visit the ESL program in New Britain on Monday. The 
purpose of the visit is to cut the program funding by 76%. This means that many 
of the Hispanics Residents that wants to learn English will loose this 
opportunity. Please join with me on this day and rally in favor of the New Britain ESL 
program. Every person deserve the opportunity of learning. The rally will 
start at 9:00 AM on Monday, March 14, 2005. Bring your flyer supporting the ESL 
Program and Nieves For Mayor Campaign. For more information please call 
860-832-8141. Thank you!

Regards,
Miguel Angel Nieves
Mayoral Candidate 

PS. Sign up to be a member of New Britain Green Party at 
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen
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From riverbend2 at earthlink.net  Wed Mar  9 10:18:51 2005
From: riverbend2 at earthlink.net (John Battista)
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 10:18:51 -0500
Subject: {news} Single Payer being heard Monday, March 14
Message-ID: <002101c524bb$4d43cb20$1102a8c0@newm2.ct.charter.com>




Proposed Bill 6303 is being heard Monday, March 14 in the Public Health Committee.  The hearing starts at 11:00; however, this committee hears bills in order and I was told this will be the last one heard.  

This is an important chance to speak out on Universal Health Care!  The bill has only minimal language; so, most of us will probably testify on the concept rather than particular details.  Bill language follows.



     Proposed Bill No. 6303 
        
      January Session, 2005
        LCO No. 2004
     
            
      Referred to Committee on Public Health 
        
      Introduced by:
        
      REP. GERAGOSIAN, 25th Dist.
        

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

That the general statutes be amended to establish a single payer health care system to provide universal health care under a single standard of high quality care for every resident of the state; to maintain and improve the quality of such care, while maintaining patient choice and coordinating services in a continuum emphasizing the promotion of good health, and primary and preventive care; to establish effective cost controls for the health care system; and to finance the health care system in an equitable and affordable manner.

Statement of Purpose: 

To establish a system to finance health care for every resident of Connecticut. 
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 10 22:48:10 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 22:48:10 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Peace Demonstration at UConn- seeking materials!
Message-ID: <001901c525f2$e5855100$e5fbf504@edgn2b574u14bi>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <XDaylily at aol.com>
To: <greens at ctgreens.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 4:32 AM
Subject: Peace Demonstration at UConn- seeking materials!


> Dear Friends,
>
> I am Sarah Kowaleski, representing Strike One, a coalition of progressive 
> students at UConn who are calling for an end to the Iraq war. In 
> demonstration of our goal of peace, we will camp out on the East Campus 
> lawn, visible to traffic which will pass on RT-195. We will begin our 
> demonstration in the early morning of Sunday, March 20, marking 2 years 
> since our last demonstration, and camp for roughly two weeks. Our last 
> camp-out demonstration was a success and we had the support of the 
> University! In order to have a successful campaign, we are seeking to 
> borrow camping materials. Please contact me if you would be able to lend 
> or donate any of the supplies that we are currently seeking. We will 
> arrange a pick-up if you cannot drop them off. Your support is GREATLY 
> appreciated!!! Myself and the members of Strike One will also participate 
> in the Hartford Peace March & Rally on the 19th, should anyone want to 
> meet up or discuss! (860)965-5426.
>
> Thanks so much!
> Sarah Kowaleski
>
> Supplies needed:
> tents
> cabin tent
> coolers
> gazeebo/canopy
> tarps
> Plastic sheeting
> rope
> pallets
> blankets
> sleepingbags
> disposable propane
> fire extinguisher
> trash barrels
> poles
> stakes
> duct tape
> outdoor furniture
> milk crates
> tables
> cardboard/foamcore
> flashlights
> old car batteries
> water coolers
> teapot
> saucepans
> skillets
> tools
>
>
>
> 




From chapillsbury at igc.org  Fri Mar 11 10:46:24 2005
From: chapillsbury at igc.org (Charlie Pillsbury)
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 10:46:24 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: dump Joe, Universal Health Care, and other matters
Message-ID: <001401c52651$7b0f8bb0$6901a8c0@EXDIR04>

courtesy of the Deaniacs.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Marjorie Clark 
To: d4ct at democracyforct.com 
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 2:36 AM
Subject: March Planning Meeting


Hello, from the now famous Marjorie Clark.  Yeah, right.  

Either way, for those who feel that Joe Lieberman's days should be numbered, the press is having a field day with our cockeyed optimism.  I will only say that the folks who think it will never happen should beware the power of grassroots activism, viral marketing, rapid response and small donations.  

For those of you who are wondering what the heck I'm talking about, the "dump Joe movement" (Can I just say how much I hate that title?  Can't we say "challenge Joe?"),  is gathering some momentum, and the NY Times contacted me (of all people) to comment.  Jim Dean has asked for us, as DFA members, to distance ourselves from this effort as a group.  What you do on your own time is up to you, and you didn't get these links from me.  http://www.dumpjoe.com or http://www.timetogojoe.com.

Please visit http://www.democracyforct.com for upcoming actions and events, and if you haven't already, bookmark it, because the content is changing almost daily.  Who'd have thunk there would be so much to do when there wasn't an election?!

There is too much going on in this state to list here - I'd be up until 3am, and that's just not acceptable.  So here are the events (that I know of) for the coming week:

Saturday, March 12, 11 AM
"Let's Get a Dialogue Going...A Universal Health Care Panel Discussion"
UConn School of Law
Panel Members: CT State Senator Chris Murphy, John Battista, MD, Al Shaiken, Naomi Shaiken, Gretchen Vivier, Health Care For All Coalition
RSVP to mallett at student.uchc.edu 

Sunday, March 13, 11am - 2 PM
A Tribute to Nancy Beals
Cascade, North Room
480 Sherman Ave, Hamden (turn off Whitney at Mt. Carmel Church)
$50/person or $500/table
To reserve a seat please RSVP to DTC Chair, Joe McDonagh (Welcome home from Moldova!) at 203.288.3890

Monday, March 14

Hearing on HR6303 - Single Payer Health Care System
11:00AM
Legislative Building, Room 1D
Hartford
To read the bill go to http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/tob/h/2005HB-06303-R00-HB.htm

Democracy for CT - New Haven Host Committee Planning Meeting
7 PM, 
Koffee? on Audubon (corner of Church)
Working meeting for the agenda and structure of the April meeting.
All are invited, especially team leaders.

Wednesday, March 16
No Voter Left Behind: Electronic Voting in CT
7 PM
West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium
50 South Main Street, WH; 3rd floor 
Moderator: State Representative Andrew Fleischmann
Featuring Panelists with Expertise in Computers and Electronic Voting
from Common Cause, TrueVoteCT, and local Universities 
Contact: Rich Sivel ~ 860 558 9436 or rich.sivel at comcast.net
Sponsored by West Hartford Citizens for Peace & Justice 

Every Friday - Blood Drive at New Haven Red Cross Chapter House
703 Whitney Ave.
12:45 - 6 PM
Call 1-800-GiveLife (800 - 448-3543)
or go to http://www.givelife.org   to make an appointment

Saturday, March 19th 
Bring The Troops Home NOW March and Rally in Hartford
March: 12 Noon - Intersection of Capital & Broad
Rally: 1 PM - Barnard Park (South Green)
Sponsored by CT United for Peace and Justice and American Friends Service Committee
Visit http://www.democracyforct.com/ to download a Flyer to Post
This action is happening world wide from March 18 - 20th, the 2nd anniversary of our going to war with Iraq.


Marjorie Clark
Dean Democrat & Web Manager
Democracy for CT - New Haven
http://www.democracyforct.com 
Empowering people to preserve Democracy, one day, one vote, one office at a time

http://www.LittleFishStudios.com     
113 Dunn Rd.
Hamden, CT 06518
203.288.6831 
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Fri Mar 11 23:38:42 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:38:42 -0500
Subject: {news} Urgent: No nuke waste on Native lands! Please help by signing
	nat'l group letter to U.S. NRC by Sunday, March 13.
Message-ID: <020901c526be$4ab6c1a0$7afbf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

(This came to my inbox.  Apparently it was sent to the CT Green Party website.  --Ed Dubrule, secretary)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kevin Kamps 
To: Kevin Kamps 
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 2:00 AM
Subject: Urgent: No nuke waste on Native lands! Please help by signing nat'l group letter to U.S. NRC by Sunday, March 13.


Dear Anti-Nuclear Friends and Colleagues in Connecticut,

 

I'm writing you about a critical environmental justice matter of great urgency. Culminating a seven-year process, a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Licensing Board on February 24, 2005 ruled in favor of granting a license to the proposed Private Fuel Storage (PFS) high-level radioactive waste dump targeted at the Skull Valley Goshute Indian Reservation in Utah. 

 

Opening of this dump would initiate the transportation of thousands of casks of high-level radioactive waste across the U.S. by truck, train, and barge, putting millions of people in jeopardy of a Mobile Chernobyl from an accident or terrorist attack (to see how close such routes would pass by you, go to http://www.ewg.org/reports/nuclearwaste/find_address.php.) 

 

In addition, the Skull Vally Goshute community is already surrounded by toxic industrial and military facilities, such as U.S. Army nerve gas incinerators and storage, the Dugway Proving Ground for chemical/biological/radiological weaponry, and the Hill Air Force Base/Utah Test and Training Range, the single biggest emitter of gaseous chlorine in the U.S. (Magnesium Corporation on the Great Salt Lake), a "low" level radioactive waste dump, hazardous waste dumps and incinerators, etc. Adding high-level radioactive waste to this toxic mix is blatant environmental racism. 

A national, group sign-on letter at http://www.nirs.org/alerts/02-24-2005/1 , urging the NRC Commissioners to reject the PFS license application, will be sent to the NRC Commissioners next Monday, March 14. Please sign on to this letter, by sending your name, title (if any), organization, city and state to kevin at nirs.org  by 5 pm Eastern time, Sunday, March 13 at the very latest. 

We currently have about 20 Native American groups (including Skull Valley Goshute tribal opponents to the dump targeted at their community), 20 national U.S. groups, over 150 regional/state/local U.S. groups, and a dozen international groups signed onto this letter. If you'd like to see the full list of those groups already signed on, let me know. 

The groups signed on from CT thus far include:

Andrea Wells
Bethlehem Bytes
Bethlehem CT

Sal Mangiagli, board member with the Citizens Awareness Network
CT Chapter, Haddam CT

The Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone 

Nancy Burton

Redding Ridge CT 

Peg Ryglisyn, Connecticut Opposed to Waste, Broad Brook, CT

Mitzi Bowman, Coordinator

Don't Waste Connecticut

New Haven, CT 

 

Barbara Backman

PACE (People's Action for Clean Energy)

Canton, CT

 

We're very thankful for their support!

Please consider signing your group onto this important letter aimed at preventing radioactive racism - the dumping of high-level atomic wastes from giant nuclear utilities on a tiny Native American community. And please spread the word to other, kindred spirit groups which might also sign on. Thanks for your help! 

---Kevin Kamps, Nuclear Information & Resource Service, Washington, D.C., 202.328.0002 ext. 14, kevin at nirs.org , www.nirs.org 

 

 
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Sat Mar 12 00:25:37 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 00:25:37 -0500
Subject: {news} CTGP Executive Committee endorsed a planned talk by Michel
	Warschawski
Message-ID: <02c601c526c6$58f10de0$7afbf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

The Executive Committee of the Connecticut Green Party endorsed a planned talk by Michel Warschawski.
--Ed DuBrule, secretary
---------------------------------
Dear Liz, Mike, Bob and Ed,
I think it will be very important that we endorse Warschawski event as Chris Gavreau of CTUP is requesting so that it appears 
on the March 19th flyer?  We'll have to do this pretty immediately.  ...
Thanks,
Justine
...

>>From:  [Chris Gauvreau]Gauvreau at aol.com
>>To: ...
>>Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 11:32:24 EST
>>
>>Dear friends,
>>
>>In my opinion the Halper tour was a fantastic success. ...
>>We now have an opportunity to continue this educational work.   Michel
>>Warschawski will be in the states on a book tour in April.   He is free to
>>speak in
>>CT on April 17 and 18, while on his way from NYC to Boston.   He has two
>>books
>>now being distributed in the US: Israel: An Open Tomb and On the Border.
>>You can see summaries of these books at teh websites for Monthly Review
>>Press
>>and South End Press.   Warshawski is the founder of the Alternative
>>Information
>>Center in Jersualem and has been the best known Israeli dissident in 
>>Israel
>>for almost 4 decades.   You can google the AIC, visit their website and 
>>get
>>a
>>feel for their current work and   composition.   Personally, I cannot
>>imagine
>>a more important next step in our educational process.
>>
>>I believe that it is important that we have an exciting educational event
>>planned in time to flyer at the March 19 demonstration.   It would be a
>>mistake
>>to let the discussion lag in the larger movement, just when we are making
>>such
>>progress.    I am willing to get a room and produce a flyer.   MECC has
>>agreed
>>to sponsor and take responsibility for logistics. All of the rest of you
>>have
>>had some discussion about the possiblility of relating to this event.
>>Could
>>folks consider developing a procedure to consider endorsement so that a
>>flyer
>>could be out in a week and a half?   Money is not an issue here, as his
>>tour
>>is being sponsored by South End Press.   Mainly, they want to sell books
>>and
>>get some new reviews and interviews to promote sales.   I am especially
>>open to
>>suggestions and help on getting interviews or reviews of the books to
>>coincide with his visist.
>>
>>In Solidarity,
>>Chris
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Sat Mar 12 21:05:21 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 21:05:21 -0500
Subject: {news}
	Exec Committee endorsed March 19 march/rally against Iraq war;
	info on the march/rally
Message-ID: <0ed301c52771$65071d80$f9fbf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

At its 3/7/05 meeting, the Executive Committee of the CT Green Party endorsed the march and rally against the war and Iraq which will occur in Hartford on March 19.  Information on this event, taken from the American Friends Service Committee calendar sent 3/4/05, is below.  (The entire calendar was published on the News listserve 3/4/05.)
-----------------------------------------------
Every Saturday until March 19:

Person to Person Outreach for March 19 Demonstration

Also in New Haven--contact AFSC 860.523.1534 for info.

10:00am- 12:00noon

La Paloma Sabanera coffeehouse, 

405 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. 

We have had fabulous results with this effort--I highly encourage you to participate. After a brief training, we'll walk in pairs through the neighborhoods, with maps and literature, knocking on doors and asking people to march with us. The more people on the doors, the more 

people coming to the march. 

If you are planning on coming, please contact Caitlynne Palmieri at 860-547-0122 or caitlynnep at hotmail.com

Every Tuesday until March 19:
Organizing Meeting for March 19 Anti-War Demonstration

7:30 p.m. 

CT Green Party HQ, 418A New Britain Ave. Hartford

Contact: AFSC 860.523.1534

Saturday, March 19:
March and Rally Against the War in Iraq
Statewide antiwar march and rally in Hartford.
12:00 pm.
360 Broad Street Hartford CT 06105 
 
March will begin at noon in front of the State Armory at 360 Broad St., Hartford. Rally will be at 1:00pm at Barnard Park (South Green) on Main Street in Hartford.   
Contact: Meg Scata megscata at yahoo.com 860-347-5488

Sponsored By: CT United For Peace, American Friends Service Committee, Connecticut Coalition for Peace and Justice, Volunteers of the Hartford Undercurrent, Northeast Coalition for Peace and Justice, Latinos Contra La Guerra, Middle East Crisis Committee, Al-Awda (The Palestine Right to Return Coalition), Middletown Alliance For Peace, CT Green Party, Hartford Bring The Troops Home Now Committee, CT Trans-Advocacy Coalition, C.L.A.S.H. Collective, Southern Connecticut State University Antiwar Coalition, November 3rd Coalition, Peace Action Stamford/Greenwich http://www.ctunitedforpeace.org
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Sat Mar 12 21:34:37 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 21:34:37 -0500
Subject: {news} CTGP committees: contact secretary if your committee wants to
	report at an SCC meeting
Message-ID: <0ee101c52775$3e05c6b0$f9fbf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

Every SCC meeting has a section of the agenda where committees report.  To simplify the process of constructing SCC agendas, the Executive Committee requests that committees that wish to report at an SCC meeting notify the secretary of this.  The SCC agenda is published to the News listserve one week before the SCC meeting, so please contact the secretary before then.
Thank you,
Ed DuBrule, secretary
edubrule at sbcglobal.net
860-523-4016
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Sun Mar 13 21:59:48 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 21:59:48 -0500
Subject: {news} RE: Palestinian right of return: Letters on "Going Home" -
	Hartford Courant's Northeast magazine
Message-ID: <006901c52841$e53d1ce0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

Dear Greens,
Today, the Hartford Courant published my letter and 3 others all in support 
of the Palestinian right of return, a position endorsed by CTGP and USGP. 
As CCSU Prof. Sadu Nanjundiah notes below, this media success was the result 
of many letters and calls by progressives opposing US and Israeli policies 
preventing Palestinian refugees from returning home--a seminal and 
continuing source of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Justine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sadanand, Nanjundiah (Physics)" <sadanand at mail.ccsu.edu>
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 2:46 PM
Subject: [al-awda-CT] Letters on "Going Home" - Northeast magazine



 Friends

 Several letters criticizing the cover article (that appeared four weeks 
ago)
 justifying the unfettered right of Jews anywhere in the world to settle 
down  in Israel withoutallowing the right of the ative Palestinian people to 
their own land, finally appeared in the Northeast magazine today. There was 
not a single letter in support of the appalling article (it can be read at:
http://www.courant.com/news/local/northeast/hc-israel0220.artfeb20,0,7398883.story?coll=hc-utility-local-northeast)

Why the Hartford Courant waited as long as it did to print these letters 
critical of the utterly unjustfiable emigration enterprise is not clear. But 
if one considers the paper's support for Israel and the strong pressure 
exerted on it from the pro-Israeli community in the Greater Hartford region, 
it is likely they wanted to "balance" the letters critical of the article.
If people had not called/written to ask that they publish these letters in 
the interest of honesty and fairness, I would not be surprised if they had 
been scuttled altogether.

 Sadu
 _________________________________________________________________________

 http://www.courant.com/news/local/northeast/hc-letters0313.artmar13,0,7309262.story No Going Home While native Californian Lisa Klug waxes poetic ["Going Home," Feb. 20]about her own multiple journeys and that of other American Jews to their"spiritual" home in Israel, millions of Palestinian refugees - "earthly"natives of that same land  remain unable to return to their homes there. Ms. Krug proudly recounts Zionism's efforts to settle Palestine with Jewsbeginning in the 19th century. Yet she omits that crucial, andless-than-uplifting, context in which recent Jewish aliyah has occurred: toa land already populated with Palestinian Arabs who'd inhabited amulticultural place for centuries; that to make Palestine Jewish, Israelihistorians confirm that 75 percent of the majority Palestinian Christian andMuslim population - 800,000 people - were expelled by Zionist forces between1947-49, and another 350,000 in 1967; and that to implement a theological"right" of return exclusively for Jews, Israel has continued to violateseveral bodies of international law, United Nations resolutions and the U.N.Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirming the right of all refugees,including Palestinians, to return home, regardless of how they left. Imagine the joy Ms. Klug would find in reporting the story of Palestinianhomecoming? The fact is, Israel can't be an insurance policy for Jews while so manynative Palestinians are prevented from returning home. By omitting the legalright and longing of Palestinian refugees to return in an essay about Jews"going home" to Israel, Ms. Krug perpetuates the denial and misinformationthat has fueled more than 50 years of conflict between Palestinians andIsraelis. Palestinians and Israelis are inextricably linked by their attachment tothe same place they all call home. "Going home" must be for all. Justine McCabe, Ph.D. , New Milford Had I been afforded the opportunity to present another Jewish perspectiveon Israel other than Ms. Lisa Alcalay Klug's, my opinion would have beenentitled "Stealing Someone Else's Home," as there is nothing to be proud ofwhen the very foundation of Israel was built on the dispossession of anotherpeople and atop their hundreds of destroyed villages. Ms. Klug'sjustification for theft based on her religious beliefs is abominable and notcompatible with any concept of democracy. Furthermore, the litmus [test] forbeing a Jew depends only on having a Jewish mother, or if one converts toJudaism, therefore, anyone can be entitled to a home in Israel with thosequalifications alone. It is bizarre that Ms. Klug mentions that Israel's Law of Return for Jewsthat welcomes any person with one Jewish grandparent as a full citizen ofIsrael is the same criterion used by the Nazis to establish the "FinalSolution." This very criterion that was used in Nazi Germany's ReichCitizenship Law of 1935, which defined who was a Jew and deprived them ofGerman citizenship, is used by the Israeli state that deprives thePalestinian refugees of their inalienable right of return and citizenship toIsrael based solely on the fact that they are not Jews. Both laws areequally racist. The same kind of racism that once prevailed in German society is seen ...in Israel by the use of dual racist laws, a lenient one for Jewish settlers,and oppressive defense laws that collectively target anyone of Palestinianidentity to be subjected to wanton destruction of their homes and property,ethnic cleansing, indiscriminate killing, abuse and humiliation. Ironically,this is what is described as "the only democracy in the Middle East." Public discussions by Israeli officials regarding the "transfer" of Arabcitizens from the Israeli state is no different than what was once proposedin Nazi Germany when it was suggested transferring all the Jews to theFrench colony of Madagascar. The so-called "Jewish" problem of the 1930s hasnow become the "Arab" problem in the Zionist state of Israel, where evenproposed racist legislation is brought before Israel's Knesset supportingJewish-only communities. I can only wonder what Ms. Klug's reaction would beif such proposals by the Christian community were brought before the U.S.Congress that suggested legislation to specifically exclude Jews. Unlike Ms. Klug, I do not wish to live halfway around the world in asociety that gives me the right to trample on someone else's rights ordeprive them of their rights and their homes simply because they are notJewish. Tragically, history continues to repeat itself. The roles may change, butman's inhumanity to man goes on. Marlene Newesri , New York City As an American Jew, I was touched by the emotion expressed by those"returning" to Israel, in the article entitled "Going Home." But I wasstruck by the total lack of mention of Palestinians. It is like talkingabout American history without mentioning Native Americans or slavery. The article talks about the "longing" of Jews to "return to Zion" butignores the longing of Palestinians, many of whom still hold a key to ahouse they left in 1948, or which was demolished more recently before theireyes. The article says the phrase "Next year in Jerusalem," the closing line ofthe annual Passover seder, has deep resonance for all Jews. But there areother Passover lessons that resonated with me growing up: "If we forget ourbondage, how can we preserve our freedom? And if we remember our bondage howcan we stand aside when others are not free." And, in the words of the greatRabbi Hillel, "If I am not for myself who will be for me? If I am not forothers, what am I? And if not now, when?" These are the words that were passed down to me at my family's Passovertable. I have passed them to my children and now to their children. It is my belief that the peace, safety, security and freedom of Jews inIsrael is dependent on recognizing the legitimate longing of ALL thechildren of Abraham to GO HOME. Lucy Rosenblatt , West Hartford I assume The Courant, in the interest of fairness and balance, will soon doa cover story about the forced expulsion of the native Palestinianpopulation to make way for Lisa Klug's colonists "going home" to Israel. Whynot start with the Israeli Cabinet's recent vote to enclose several illegalsettlements within the new - and also illegal - separation barrier, whichwould seize yet another chunk of Palestinian land and put an estimated10,000 Palestinians under direct Israeli rule? John Lanefski , New Haven




From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Mon Mar 14 07:17:38 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 07:17:38 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Green Marshals needed for 3/19 ANTI-WAR march and rally
	in Hartford
Message-ID: <008701c5288f$d0d3c120$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

Dear Greens,

Chris Gavreau of CTUP needs more marshals for the March 19th anti-war march/rally in Hartford and has reached out to us.

Let's show Green participation in this important action.

Please contact me or Chris.
Thanks, 
Justine   


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Gauvreau at aol.com 
To: justinemccabe at earthlink.net 
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 1:22 PM
Subject: justine, we are really short for marshals for 3/19


Dear Justine,
Can the Green Party contribute some marshals for the demo on 3/19?  We have a long march route and are expecting a lot of people and are still slugging it out with the city over whether or not we can march on the street instead of the sidewalk.  All in all, we think we need about 30.  The team will meet for training and organization on Sat. the 19th at 9 am.  I will give the location to anyone that you designate.
In Solidarity,
chris 
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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Mon Mar 14 08:12:15 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:12:15 EST
Subject: {news} You Are Cordially Invited!
Message-ID: <7b.40fdb077.2f66e7af@aol.com>

You are cordially invited to hear
Miguel Angel Nieves
announce his candidacy for
Mayor of New Britain
Friday, April 15, 2005
8:00 p.m.
Puerto Rican Society of New Britain
152 High Street
If you cannot attend but would still like to support Miguel, please call 
832-8141, or email electnieves at yahoo.com
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From v.maruffi at lycos.com  Mon Mar 14 10:58:30 2005
From: v.maruffi at lycos.com (Vincent Maruffi)
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 10:58:30 -0500
Subject: {news} Re:  3/19 ANTI-WAR march and rallyin Hartford
Message-ID: <20050314155830.93FB1C610F@ws7-5.us4.outblaze.com>

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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Mon Mar 14 20:59:23 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:59:23 -0500
Subject: {news} Panel discussion "Stop Violence Against Women" UConn Stamford
	branch March 16
Message-ID: <000c01c52902$df2207f0$4735f704@edgn2b574u14bi>

(Information from David Bedell of the Fairfield chapter)

Stop Violence Against Women
The Power of Change Is in Our Hands

Wednesday, March 16
7:00-8:30 PM
UCONN Stamford campus

Panel Discussion with:

     *  Fahima Vorgetts, Women for Afghan Women
     * Barbara Heffernan, Executive Director, Domestic Violence Crisis
           Center, Stamford and Norwalk
     * Zehra Arat, Professor of Political Science at SUNY, Purchase
     * Christine Hanson, Executive Director, Miles Foundation, working 
          with victims of violence associated with the military

Sponsored by Amnesty International and the Women's Studies Program, 
UCONN Stamford
Contact   251-8411
http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/northeastern/03162005stamfordsvaw.html
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From chapillsbury at igc.org  Mon Mar 14 23:02:09 2005
From: chapillsbury at igc.org (Charlie Pillsbury)
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 23:02:09 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: forum on voter-verified paper ballots 7 p.m. Wed. West
	Hartford 
Message-ID: <001201c52913$c31fb640$841efea9@S0031616584>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Andy Sauer, Executive Director, Connecticut Common Cause 
To: Charles Pillsbury 
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 9:01 PM
Subject: Join us for a forum on voter-verified paper ballots


Dear Charles,

As Connecticut moves closer to selecting the next generation of voting machines, democracy advocates have been stressing to state legislators the importance of maintaining the integrity of the state's electoral process.  As recent events around the country have demonstrated, voting technology is not infallible.  To ensure that new electronic machines accurately count the voters' selections, Connecticut Common Cause and our allies have been working with state legislators to ensure that any new voting technology purchased will be equipped with a voter-verified paper ballot (VVPB). 

To address concerns and questions from our members and other citizens, Connecticut Common Cause will be participating in "Leave No Voter Behind!," a public forum on electronic voting in Connecticut, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street.

This event will be a unique opportunity to discuss the intricacies of the VVPB issue, address misinformation and inaccuracies, and discuss strategies for ensuring the passage of VVPB legislation.  Speaking at the forum will be: 

  a.. Rep. Andy Fleischmann, D-West Hartford
  b.. Andy Sauer, Common Cause Connecticut
  c.. Mike Fischer, Computer Science Department, Yale University
  d.. A representative from Connecticut Citizen Action Group
  e.. Mary Stanton, Executive Vice President of the Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut
Connecticut Common Cause has been an outspoken advocate for Senate Bill 55, "An Act Promoting Voting System Accuracy, Integrity and Security Through Voter-Verified Paper Records."  The legislation guarantees a voter-verified paper ballot in all new voting technology purchased in Connecticut.  Under the legislation, when voters using electronic voting machines to cast their vote, a paper "receipt" would be printed out, verified by the voter and stored in a secure box.  In the event of a recount, the votes on paper ballots would be recounted, not the "total" displayed on a computer screen.  

To read Senate Bill 55, click here.

There are those who argue that during an age where computers dominate a myriad of critical functions, we should trust machines to accurately record the people's votes.  As the Common Cause report "Voting 2004: Report from the Voters" details, too many questions about electronic voting machines remain unanswered.  Without voter-verified paper ballots, the answers to those questions will remain a mystery. 

To read the Common Cause report "Voting 2004: Report from the Voters," click here.

Connecticut is poised to purchase the first round of electronic voting equipment this year.  Without a state law requiring the Secretary of the State to purchase voting machines with voter-verified paper ballots, Connecticut voters will have no assurances or guarantees that the vote they cast will be counted accurately.  We hope you will be able to attend this important event this week.  If you have any questions, feel free to call us at (860) 549-1220 or e-mail us at common.cause at snet.net.



As always, thank you for your continued support for Common Cause.

Sincerely,

Andy Sauer,
Executive Director
Connecticut Common Cause

Support Common Cause Connecticut





To remove yourself from this mailing, please click here 
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From JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net  Tue Mar 15 20:26:10 2005
From: JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net (Jean de Smet)
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 20:26:10 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Campaign Finance Reform Rally @ John Rowland's sentencing
	-- Friday, 3/18, 11:45 AM New Haven
Message-ID: <004901c529c7$24642220$f7e0f504@jeansmet>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Murphy 
To: *John * Murphy (CCAG) 
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 9:42 PM
Subject: Campaign Finance Reform Rally @ John Rowland's sentencing -- Friday, 3/18, 11:45 AM New Haven


CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM RALLY

 

 

DATE: Friday, March 18



TIME: 11:45 AM to 2:30 PM



PLACE: U.S. District Courthouse building

              141 Church Street

               New Haven, CT



CONTACT: John Murphy (860) 995-3389



 

 

The Connecticut Citizen Action Group is sponsoring an event supporting publicly financed elections on March 18, 2005 in front of the U.S. District Courthouse, 141 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510.  The event starts at 11:45 AM and court starts at 1 PM.  Most people will be staying until after the sentence is handed down, but please stop by even if you only have 5 - 10 minutes during lunch.  Connecticut needs publicly funded elections NOW.  Please come and participate in the fight for fair and clean elections.  

 

Ex-Governor John Rowland will be sentenced for his crimes against Connecticut.   In exchange for large campaign contributions, Rowland sold out Connecticut, granting special favors and state contracts to his friends and donors.  The scandals surrounding his reign as governor have brought to light the corruption of campaigning in Connecticut, and its detrimental results.  In order to have open, accountable government, good schools in our communities, and health care that works for all of us, we have to end the undo influence of large lobby groups because they are the ones footing the bill to get politicians elected into office.  We need public funded elections before we suffer another embarrassment.

 

In addition, we urge you to send letters to the judge ruling on Rowland's case, insisting on the maximum sentence of 21 months in prison for betraying Connecticut. Address your concerns to the Honorable Peter C. Dorsey, U.S. District Court, 141 Church St., New Haven, CT 06510, or send an e-mail to the court clerk's office at CTOpinions at ctd.uscourts.gov.

 

Directions to the court house and area parking will follow on Wednesday.  Please come and demand that trust be restored to our democracy.
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Wed Mar 16 16:55:04 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 16:55:04 -0500
Subject: {news} internal elections conference call Mon 3/21 7:30pm;
	contact Ed to participate
Message-ID: <01de01c52a74$de8813c0$8ea4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

     On Monday March 21 at 7:30pm the internal elections committee will have a conference call.  We intend for it to last approximately an hour.  Any Green who wishes to participate in this call should contact Ed DuBrule (edubrule at sbcglobal.net   860-523-4016) to obtain the phone number to be called, an access code, and the agenda for the call (when it is finalized).  Participants will be billed on their normal telephone bill at normal rates for a call to Iowa.
     During the call the participants will attempt to make decisions concerning the 2005 internal elections (which select the co-chairs and other officers of the Connecticut Green Party).   Questions such as whether a mailing should be done will be discussed.
     To join the internal elections committee listserve, go to www.ctgreens.org and on the homepage click on "listserves" (on the left of the homepage).  There has much discussion on that listserve, but few, if any, decisions have been made.  (After joining the listserve, you can read and write posts to the listserve;  you can also read previous posts.)  The internal elections committee has not met.  The membership of the internal elections committee is undefined (it's perhaps the membership of the internal elections listserve).
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Wed Mar 16 19:51:56 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 19:51:56 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Death Penalty Bill Update
Message-ID: <002501c52a8b$930bec20$9733f704@edgn2b574u14bi>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kasha Ho 
To: Kasha Ho 
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 6:18 PM
Subject: Death Penalty Bill Update


Dear Friends,

This email is from Bob Nave and Amy Harris of the Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty - following up the victory of the Death Penalty Abolition Bill passing the Judiciary Committee, we need your help to garner support for the bill in the House.  Please read on.

 

Kasha Ho

AFSC 

 

Please read, post and spread this e-mail as far as you can.

 

Earlier tonight, we learned in Connecticut that there is going to be a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives within the next one to two weeks.  House Bill 6012 was passed out of the Judiciary Committee last Wednesday, March 9 with a 24-15 vote.  This was historic in Connecticut as this was the first bill calling for abolition of the death penalty to make it out of committee.  We were assuming that we would have 1-2 months to prepare for the full house debate, but we learned just hours ago that the Speaker of the House, very PRO death penalty, wants to get this bill to the floor for debate within one to two weeks.  We are fairly confident that the bill will be debated and voted on next Wednesday, March 23.

 

Right now, we need 76 of the 151 votes to pass this bill (although the governor said that she is going to veto this bill if it makes it out of the house and senate).  Last time a vote was taken regarding the death penalty (a bill changing the law) we got 58 votes - people we considered to be abolitionists.  We NEED to surpass that number with this vote, if not get a majority of 76.  Right now, our lobbyists have not even done a head count as this was unexpected.  However, we think that we have at least 50 votes.  But as you see, we need to get things moving in a short time.

 

We are mounting a campaign to do two things.  We are going to be in contact with every legislator with a crash course in "Abolition 101" over the next week.  Whereas we have been doing this in many ways due to the circumstances here (we faced our first execution post-Furhman - 2 hours away from it on January 29) the topic has been discussed several times in very public ways, including a VERY successful Judiciary Committee public hearing.  We will also be mounting a phone-a-thon this weekend to call thousands of people to get them to contact their legislators immediately.

 

Therefore, I would like to ask, what can you do to help???  I would appreciate it if you could contact any and all people in Connecticut you know and ask them to contact their legislator.  I would appreciate it if you could post something applicable so people of Connecticut can learn about this.  We have two web sites - www.DontKillInMyNameCT.org and www.cnadp.org.  Please e-mail me back with suggestions of what you can offer us at this critical time.

 

Feel free to e-mail or call - 203.206.9854

 

Best,

 

Bob



Robert Nave, State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator
Connecticut-Amnesty International
Executive Director
Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty
32 Grand Street; Hartford, CT 06106, www.cnadp.org
robertnave at cnadp.org 203-206-9854
www.DontKillInMyNameCT.org

 

 

The CNADP has had people in the Legislative Office
Building every day since the start of the session. We
have stickers and hand-outs, we talk with legislators
and passers-by. We've had a lot of good feed-back. 

If you haven't participated, now is the time and we
need you there! 

We need to be down at the LOB to continue with our
visibility campaign. We also will have "Facts About
the Death Penalty" to hand out and the legislators
will be receiving daily information letters from us. 

If you can come down to the LOB any day 11:00 - 1:00
(or some other hours if you want!), please let me
know!

We will expect an all-out mobilization for the day of
the vote: it will be on the website and you will get
emails. 

I look forward to seeing you at the LOB!

Peace,

Amy Harris
Events Coordinator
CNADP



For information on CT' s death penalty:
www.cnadp.org or www.DontKillinMyNameCT.org

To subscribe to listserve:
cnadp-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe: cnadp-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Thu Mar 17 11:24:00 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:24:00 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: GREEN ADVISORY Greens to join Global Day of Protest
	against Iraq war, Mar. 19
Message-ID: <046f01c52b0d$babdd760$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


GREEN ADVISORY Greens to join Global Day of Protest against Iraq war, Mar. 
19
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
 http://www.gp.org

 For Immediate Release:
 Thursday, March 17, 2005

 Contacts:
 Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
 cell 202-487-0693, mclarty at greens.org
 Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576,
 nallen at acadia.net


 GREENS PLAN AND JOIN RALLIES AND ACTIONS ACROSS
THE U.S. IN THE MARCH 19 'GLOBAL DAY OF PROTEST'
AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR

 Military threats against Iran and Syria risk a
greater war between the U.S. and Middle East,
warn Greens.


 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party members across
 the country will participate in the 'Global Day
 of Protest' against the U.S. invasion and
 occupation of Iraq, planned for Saturday, March
 19, the second year anniversary of the invasion.

 "The Green Party of the United States took a
strong position against the invasion from the
very beginning," said Rebecca Rotzler, Deputy
Mayor of the Village of New Paltz, New York (see
event listing below).  "We opposed the vote by
Democrats and Republicans in Congress to
surrender the legislative branch's power to
declare war to the White House, warning of
massive violation of national and international
law."

"Two years after the invasion, with 100,000 Iraqi
civilians and 1,500 U.S. troops killed, evidence
of White House deception about WMDs and collusion
between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda, pleas from
the Iraqi people for the U.S. to get out, and
worldwide anger at the U.S.'s aggressive military
policies, the Green Party demands an immediate
end to the occupation," added Ms. Rotzler.

Greens also plan to speak out against the growing
danger of military action against Iran, including
recent revelations that Israel is planning a
bombing campaign with approval or acquiescence
from the Bush Administration.

"President Bush's threats against Iran and Syria
indicate a willingness to risk expanding his
so-called War on Terrorism and invasion of Iraq
into a greater war in the Middle East in order to
secure U.S. control over land, oil, and other
resources," said Justine McCabe, member of the
party's International Committee and of the
Connecticut Greens, who are co-sponsoring a march
and rally in Hartford on March 19
<http://www.ctunitedforpeace.org>.  "These
actions, along with approval for Israel's illegal
occupation of Palestinian lands, are part of the
Bush plan for a political makeover of the
region."

Many Greens intend to join a major demonstration
led by military families and veterans on March 19
in Fayetteville, North Carolina near Fort Bragg.
 In Washington, D.C., some Greens will answer the
'National Call for Nonviolent Resistance to the
Continuing War in Iraq' issued by the National
Campaign of Nonviolent Resistance
<http://www.iraqpledge.org>, joined by military
families, veterans, religious and peace groups,
and many others, with actions planned for March
17.

 Greens have planned rallies and other events in
rural areas as well as cities.  Some noteworthy
examples:

==> North Carolina, Friday, March 18: The Campus
Greens at North Carolina State University will
hold a press conference in Raleigh and then ride
their bicycles to Fayetteville for the anti-war
march the following day, in order to raise
awareness about the environmental impact of war
(including the effects of depleted uranium) and
the destructive and destabilizing effect of
fossil fuel dependence.  Military Families Speak
Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and many
other organizations will also march on Saturday.
Contact: Attila Nemecz, 919-559-7594
 http://www.ncgreenparty.org/
 http://www.ncpeacejustice.org

 ==> Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, March 19: Park
 Slope Greens and War Resisters League will hold a
 solemn processions with coffins ending with civil
 disobedience at a military recruiting station.
 Gather 10:45 am at two locations: Brooklyn Public
 Library (on Flatbush Avenue near Grand Army Plaza
 and Prospect Park) and Brooklyn Borough Hall.  At
 11:30 am, two solemn processions with coffins
 will begin: one along Flatbush Avenue from the
 library and the other through the Fulton Mall
 from Borough Hall.  At 12 noon leafleting and
 civil disobedience begin at the military
 recruiting offices at 41 Flatbush Avenue (near
 Lafayette Avenue).
 Contact: Dani, Park Slope Greens, 718-788-2260

 ==> New Paltz, New York, Saturday, March 19: The
 March 19th Coalition of New Paltz has organized
 an antiwar rally on March 19, cosponsored by the
 New Paltz Greens and the Dutchess Greens and
 featuring Jason West, Mayor of New Paltz (Green);
 former Green presidential candidate Dr. Joel
 Kovel; New Paltz Deputy Mayor Rebecca Rotzler,
 co-chair of the Green Party's Peace Action
 Committee.  This is shaping up to be the biggest
 anti-war commemoration in the state outside of
 New York City.  1:00 p.m. rally at Hasbrouck
 Park, followed by a parade through downtown New
 Paltz, ending at SUNY New Paltz (all events
 permitted)
 Contact: Steve Greenfield, 845-255-2516,
 bicyclesax at earthlink.net
 http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/03/01/protest0.htm

 ==> Seattle, Washington, March 19: Rally and
 March: War Cost, Who Pays? Bring the Troops home
 now!  Green Party of Washington State in
 coalition with over 20 other organizations at the
 Seattle Center.  60,000-70,000 people marched in
 the Seattle antiwar protest on February 15, 2003.
 http://www.wagreens.us/

 For more state and local Green events, click on
 the calendar at
 <http://plus.calendars.net/greenpartyus> or on
 state sites at <http://www.gp.org/states.html>.


 MORE INFORMATION

 The Green Party of the United States
 http://www.gp.org
 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
 Washington, DC 20009.
 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
 Fax 202-319-7193

 Green Party Peace Action Committee
 http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/

 United for Peace & Justice
 http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2688
 D.C. Anti-War Network http://www.dawndc.net/

 "Revealed: Israel plans strike on Iranian nuclear
 plant"
 The Sunday Times (U.K.), March 13, 2005
 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1522978,00.html

 2004 Cobb/LaMarche Campaign: News on the recount
 efforts http://www.votecobb.org


 ~ END ~
 





From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 17 11:47:35 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:47:35 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Connecticut Set to Become 2nd State to Pass Same-Sex
	Civil Union Bill
Message-ID: <001101c52b11$4f3a5af0$ee32f704@edgn2b574u14bi>

(Scott Harris has an excellent radio program on WPKN.)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Harris"...Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 2:32 AM
...
Subject: [ctgp] BTL Q&A 3-14-05: Connecticut Set to Become 2nd State to Pass 
Same-Sex Civil Union Bill


> > Between the Lines Q&A
> A weekly column featuring progressive viewpoints
> on national and international issues
> under-reported in mainstream media
> for release March 14, 2005
> http://www.btlonline.org
>
> Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
> http://www.squeakywheel.net
> ===================================
> Connecticut Set to Become
> 2nd State to Pass
> Same-Sex Civil Union Bill
> http://www.btlonline.org/btl031805.html
>
> Interview with Anne Stanback,
> president of the group Love Makes a Family,
> conducted by Scott Harris
>
> Listen in RealAudio:
> http://www.btlonline.org/stanback031805.ram
> (Needs RealOne player or RealPlayer)
>
> Connecticut's state legislature is now considering a bill that could
> make the state the second in the nation, following Vermont, to adopt
> civil union protections for same-sex couples. Backers of the legislation
> predicted final passage after the powerful Judiciary Committee endorsed
> the measure in a 25-to-13 vote and Republican Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell
> openly gave her support.
>
> Civil unions provide same sex couples with many of the same rights and
> responsibilities as traditional marriage, including a voice in medical
> care issues and legal standing to inherit money and property. But civil
> unions are not recognized across state borders or by the federal
> government. Whatever the final outcome of the legislation, Connecticut's
> courts will also be weighing in on the issue after deciding a lawsuit
> filed by seven gay and lesbian couples after they were denied a
> Connecticut marriage license in August.
>
> A coalition backing gay marriage in the state originally opposed the
> civil union bill, but changed course when supportive legislators
> promised that they would not abandon the fight for full marriage rights
> for gay couples. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Anne
> Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family, Connecticut's main coalition
> working for same-sex marriage equality. Stanback explains the shifting
> debate on the legislation and why she views gay marriage as a civil
> rights issue.
>
> Anne Stanback: The original bill that was raised in the Judiciary
> Committee and had a public hearing back on Feb. 7, I believe, was a bill
> entitled, "Marriage Equality." It was a pretty straightforward marriage
> bill that would allow same-sex couples to have access to all the rights
> and protections of civil marriage in the state.
>
> It had a wonderful public hearing. There actually wasn't  a single
> person on either side, I don't think, that said that they supported
> civil union, because all the people who were there  to speak in favor of
> the bill supported marriage and the supporters didn't support civil
> unions because they didn't think it was the same as marriage. The
> opponents said very clearly that they opposed civil union because they
> do view it as the same as marriage. So it was sort of an ironic
> situation.
>
> The vote that happened in the Judiciary Committee was on an amendment to
> strip out the marriage language and actually turn that marriage bill
> into a bill that allowed for civil unions, very similar to what passed
> in Vermont five years ago. And it did pass overwhelmingly ,  and I
> certainly recognize that that is a huge step forward in terms of the
> support that we have in the Judiciary Committee. But probably from our
> perspective, what was most heartening about that debate and that vote,
> was first of all, the very sound defeat of two DOMA amendments -- the
> so-called Defense of Marriage Act, that defines marriage as between a
> man and a woman. By over a 2-to-1 margin both, what they call a
> statutory DOMA and a constitutional amendment were defeated. And that
> was great news and I think showed that Connecticut is really very
> different from much of the rest of the country based on what we saw in
> the last election cycle.
>
> But as optimistic as anything we heard that day were the strong
> statements of support by many of the legislators, many who voted for the
> civil union bill and one who voted against it, all saying that this is
> not equal, this is not enough. They pledged to stand with us to continue
> the fight for full equality and for full civil marriage.
>
> So, after that vote, Love Makes a Family's board met again. We had
> opposed the civil union legislation, but we decided that we would not
> stand in the way of this legislation and withdrew our active opposition.
>
> Between The Lines: Anne Stanback, what are the essential features in
> this civil union bill approved by the Judiciary Committee in terms of a
> partner's ability to make decisions in medical issues or inheritance, or
> other issues that are primarily addressed in marriage?
>
> Anne Stanback: There are a whole range of things that the civil union
> bill would cover, things like the automatic right to make medical
> decisions for your partner or your spouse if they are incapacitated or
> to have hospital visitation. The right to a whole range of employment
> benefits everything from employee health insurance on one's partner's or
> spouse's health care plan, to the ability to use family and medical
> leave to take care of your partner or a family member.
>
> There's significant tax benefits, particularly tax benefits that deal
> with home ownership, inheritance rights, pension rights -- much of this
> can be covered under federal law, which civil unions don't cover -- but
> there are definitely significant advantages that civil unions will
> offer.
>
> Between The Lines: Anne Stanback, what's the significance nationally of
> what it looks like the Connecticut state legislature is about to do in
> voting in a civil union bill? Might it mean that Connecticut joins
> California as the only state where the legislature voted in a civil
> union bill?
>
> Anne Stanback: I think it does. And I think that we know that both the
> legislature and the judicial branch have their roles to play in civil
> rights movements. Many of the marriage fights that are going forward
> around the country, with the most prospects of success are doing so
> through the courts. It's very important that we have some wins in the
> legislature. I do know that California is moving forward with marriage
> legislation. I think the fact that Connecticut is doing this, while it's
> not everything we want and it's not the full equality and protections of
> marriage, it is an important message. I think that it is going to be a
> steppingstone to marriage.
>
> As Evan Wolfsen, who is one of the leaders of this movement often says,
> "wins trump losses" and yeah, there were losses in the election of 2004,
> but there are going to be significant wins in this next year. And I
> think that they are going to actually carry much more power than some of
> these constitutional amendments (banning gay marriage) that were simply
> reiterating laws that had been passed in state legislatures.
>
> I think the future looks optimistic. We can't let down our guard, but we
> have more and more fair-minded Americans who understand that this is
> simply a matter of fairness and of civil rights.
>
> Contact Love Makes a Family by calling (860) 525-7777 or visit their
> website at http://www.lmfct.org
>
> Scott Harris is executive producer of Between The Lines, which can be
> heard on more than 35 radio stations and in RealAudio and MP3 on our
> website at http://www.btlonline.org. This interview excerpt was featured
> on the award-winning, syndicated weekly radio newsmagazine, Between The
> Lines for the week ending March 18, 2005. This Between The Lines Q&A was
> compiled by Scott Harris and Anna Manzo.
>
> ========================
>
> TO DONATE
>
> It's your future ... help make a difference against the corporate
> media's blackout of news and viewpoints like those in the interview
> above by helping us distribute to a wider audience in 2005! Please send
> your donation to:
>
> Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc.
> P.O. Box 110176
> Trumbull, CT 06611
>
> *** Please note: If you would like your donation to be tax-deductible,
> please make your check out to our fiscal sponsor, The Center for Global
> Communications Foundation Inc. (or The Global Center) and send to the
> above address.***
>
> ====================================
>
> PRINT INFORMATION: For reprint permission, please email
> betweenthelines at s  net.net.ATTENTION! 




From kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu  Thu Mar 17 13:17:51 2005
From: kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu (Kelly McCarthy)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:17:51 -0500
Subject: {news} Office Committee Report and SCC meeting
Message-ID: <200503171817.j2HIHtq31243@easy-designs.net>

Greens,
 
This is the updated and final version of the Office Committee Report. Please
review it before the next SCC meeting, and reps should come prepared to vote
on the proposal by the OC in two weeks. We need to have quorum this time, so
please try to attend the SCC meeting! Also, please send us the names &
contact info of your chapter's elected SCC reps ASAP, so I can attempt to
contact them and ensure they have time to review the report as well. Thanks.
 
Cheers, 
 
Kelly McCarthy
Treasurer - Hamden Green Party PAC
 
"Well-behaved women seldom make history" 
--Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
 
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From kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu  Thu Mar 17 14:01:27 2005
From: kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu (Kelly McCarthy)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 14:01:27 -0500
Subject: {news} FW: Office Committee Report and SCC meeting
Message-ID: <200503171901.j2HJ1U631169@easy-designs.net>

Greens,
 
This is the updated and final version of the Office Committee Report. Please
review it before the next SCC meeting, and reps should come prepared to vote
on the proposal by the OC in two weeks. We need to have quorum this time, so
please try to attend the SCC meeting! Also, please send us the names &
contact info of your chapter's elected SCC reps ASAP, so I can attempt to
contact them and ensure they have time to review the report as well. Thanks.
 
Cheers, 
 
Kelly McCarthy
Treasurer - Hamden Green Party PAC
 
"Well-behaved women seldom make history" 
--Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
 

 

CT Green Party SCC ? Office Committee Report ?Finalized 3/15/05

Prepared by Kelly McCarthy, Hamden Chapter

 

I. Original Proposal from Fairfield Chapter for an Office Committee
(10/2004; Appendix 5)  

PRESENTER (committee, chapter(s),or group of individuals): 

Fairfield County Greens

CONTACT (name, address, phone number, email):  

Eddie Friend, P.O. Box 1747 Darien, CT 06820, 203-854-5900,
Route12eddie at aol.com <blocked::mailto:Route12eddie at aol.com> 

SUBJECT (10 words or less):  

Creation of Office Committee

 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 

The office space rented in Hartford has become a contentious issue which has
disrupted the SCC. This committee would be charged with formulating a plan
that would consider the feasibility of continuing to support the office
space and the associated insurance issues

PROPOSAL: 

We propose that the Office Committee be formed to prepare a report to the
SCC concerning the future of the office space in Hartford.  The committee
would have two main considerations.  If the office is to remain open, how
would it be funded?  If the office were to be shut, how would the state
party maintain the liability insurance that is necessary for chapters to
hold events?  This committee would recognize the need for a timely report
and recommendation to be made to the SCC in order to resolve this issue.

 

II. January 25, 2005 SCC Meeting:

Office Committee is requested by SCC to convene before next meeting; Kelly
McCarthy volunteers to

work on Committee and convene before the Feb meeting.

 

III. Office Committee Meetings: 

February 19, 2005 (10.30 am @ New Haven Lib) & March 12, 2005 (10 am @
Hartford Office) 

Debating the merits of the office space in Hartford is not the purpose of
this Committee. Business is primarily conducted by individuals via email
and/or phone. Report and options/recommendations are approved by review at
meetings; consensus is not required and, therefore, several options will be
presented for a vote by Chapter Reps at the March 29, 2005, SCC meeting.  

Send additional information re: fundraising and/or insurance to the Office
Committee c/o Kelly McCarthy (kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu; phone
203-230-9726); Any additional information must be substantiated and
received by March 12, 2005, to be considered by the Committee at their final
meeting. Additional information deemed relevant will be provided to Chapter
Reps by March 14th via email or post. 

 

 

III.  Background Information

A.     CTGP use of office: 

Nov 2002 ? Feb 2005: 1 of 28 SCC meetings were in Hartford office

Mar 2003 ? Jan 2005: 13 of 18* Executive Committee meetings were in Hartford
office 

* this number does not include EC meetings that were held via conference
call or cancelled

Various Committees* (Internal Elections, Diversity, etc.) used office for
meetings as needed 

* at least 2+ confirmed since 2003

GP Strategy Meeting/Focus Group Jan 2005

Candidate Appreciation Day 2004

New Years Party 2001

Other events? (records not currently available)

 

B.     Greater Hartford Chapter use of office:

Regular Chapter meetings

Three 1st Dist. State Senate runs by Mike DeRosa

Two City Council runs by Elizabeth Horton-Sheff

Other local campaigns in Hartford 

Progressive movie nights: approx. every two weeks

Several fundraisers for Hartford Chapter?s support of office space

Other events

 

C.    Other State Chapters:

No other Chapters reported direct use of the office for their events. Some
Chapters stated that 

they were able to obtain riders for Chapter events connected to the State?s
general liability office  insurance policy. One Chapter stated that they
were unable to schedule use of the office when they attempted to do so.

 

D.    Other Greens:

Nader & Cobb have visited and spoken @ office in 2002-2004

The GPUS has met there sometime in last 4 yrs.

 

E.     Non-Greens:

Undercurrent Newspaper previously met @ office*

VOTER meets periodically (current)*

?Bring the Troops home Now? meets weekly for upcoming events (current)*

* No funds were received by the CTGP for their use of the office

 

F.     Comments on financial situation of offices from CTGP SCC Meeting
Minutes*:

* available online @  <http://www.ctgreens.org/> www.ctgreens.org

November 14th, 2000: The state committee approved of keeping the Hartford
office open. Rent and utilities will be split evenly between the Greater
Hartford Chapter and the State Party.

November 28th, 2000:  New Haven Office--The state central committee approved
keeping the New Haven office open with the understanding that the New Haven
chapter would be responsible for all expenses. It was further agreed upon
that other chapters could open offices as long  as they raise the money
themselves.

March 27, 2001: Our insurance policy is up for renewal; the rate for this
year is $1236 (last year's cost about $1500). This covers events and
offices; and candidates can get coverage for their campaigns for only $1.
Note: Our current policy costs less than it did previously but only covers
events occurring in the Hartford Office, unless we purchase an additional
rider for an event on an event-by-event basis. (Ex. This meeting is not
covered by our insurance, so if you hurt yourself, please don?t look to us.)

May 29, 2001: Treasurer?s report: 
the CTGP are currently down to $360, with
a $400 bill looming at the end of the month, for rent on the Hartford
office.  The biggest drain on funds is that office.  B. Proposed solutions:
2. Chapters should make every effort humanly possible (and morally
palatable) to promote sustaining memberships, either through credit cards or
checking accounts, so that the state will have a fixed minimum monthly
income.  We should have at least 30-40 of these in order to subsidize the
newsletter and at least part of the Hartford rent. 
  5. Hartford candidates
using the Hartford HQ?s for their campaigns should bear part of the rent
burden.  After the election, the decision to maintain a state HQ in Hartford
should be revisited.                Note: This is the first mention of a
?State HQ? in the available SCC minutes.

G.    Comments about future need of state office space:

It has been suggested that we may have Green candidates for CT state-wide
offices in 2006. 

This implies that we may have a need for a state office space somewhere
before election time in November 2006, and this issue should be addressed at
that time. However, until then, we must still address the current funding
and insurance issues of the state office space in Hartford.

 

H.    Various office facts:

?         You can schedule a meeting/event at the office by contacting Mike
DeRosa & putting your name on the calendar in the office.

?         To date, there is no log kept on use of the office space.

?         Various individuals (approx. 11) have keys to the office space.

?         There is no lease; the office is rented month-to-month.

?         The city of Hartford taxes the contents of the office (which have
been donated by members of the Green Party, primarily the Hartford Chapter);
the CTGP paid for these during 2004.

?         Bills are sent to: Electric bill: Chris Reilly / DeRosa A 2000;
418A New Britain Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 ; Phone bill: Chris Reilly / CT
Green Party; 1 King Arthurs Way Apt 4. Newington, CT 06111.

?         In the case of a fire, contents of office are either covered by
office policy or personal insurance of individuals loaning items.

 

 

Proposal issues addressed in IV. Funding: 

If we are to continue allocating funds for a state office space in Hartford,
to what extent do we do so? And how do we raise the funds necessary to
sustain it in the long-term?

 

IV.  Funding ?

A.     Total % of all State funds spent on office in 2004:

Total amount minus office insurance costs: $4,741.12; % funds received =
76%*

Total amount including office insurance: $5,577.35; % funds received = 90%*

* Totals reflect ? of office rent & total of utilities and taxes. Represents
a disproportionate distribution of funds. The SCC may need to address its
funding priorities in light of this. See attached chart.

 

B.     Amount necessary to keep office running*: 

* State?s estimated monthly portion paying only half of rent & utilities
according to SCC minutes; currently paying all of utilities. 

Estimated average monthly payment: $306.00

% of monthly spending: 70% *

 

C.    Present balance of State funds:

We received two large, one-time donations this month, totaling about $1,000.
Our current 

balance is $1,601.66. We have enough to pay for this month, if you don?t
take into consideration our debt and other one-time expenses that need to be
approved by the SCC. Our annual meeting/internal elections (as estimated)
would wipe out our balance. 

At some point (probably within 6 months), we will most likely receive a
one-time gift of 

approximately $12,000+. We do not have this money in our hands as of yet. It
is the opinion of our Treasurer, Bob Eaton, that these funds should not be
used for normal operating expenses that should be covered in the long-term
by a successful fundraising campaign. 

 

D.    Amount earned by State @ office events/for operations of Hartford
office*: 

* total funds raised in 2004

CTGP: -0-

Hartford Chapter: unknown

 

E.  Total State debt: 

(1) office related (including balance owed to Chris R.): $2,650 all office
debt owed to Chris

(2) other/not office related balances owed: $6,125.78 total debt owed to
Chapters ($4,481.76 assuming Hartford Chapter repays negative balance); $594
in non-office debt owed to Chris.

 

F.  Current balance of debt/credit for all 12 Chapters; % of total debt:

            See graph: all chapters have positive balances except for
Greater Hartford.

 

G.  Greater Hartford Fiscal Report:

Amount contributed by the HGP PAC for office expenses (2004): $2,550 (half
of rent for 11 months; will be paying for ? of office expenses retroactively
to Jan 05) 

Financial status of Hartford Green Party PAC: Balance approx. $5 (after
expenses)

Amount of funds raised by HGP PAC in 2004: $2,610 (for 11 months)

 

I.        CTGP Fundraising Plan*: 

* Fundraising plan should address current/fixed expenses as well as previous
debts. 

                        See attached CT Green Party Fundraising Plan,
provided by Tom Sevigny. 

 

 

J.      Feasibility of fundraising plan given current debt/income ratio:

If we continue funding the State office space at the current rate and pay
off our debts (total owed to Chris R. & only half of what is owed to our
Chapters) with the one-time gift ($12,000) we will be receiving in the
future, we will be out of money again in approximately one year.*

* If we paid the entire debt owed to all chapters, then we would be out of
funds in approximately 3 months.

 

-$3,244            Debt owed to Chris Reilly

-$3,062            Debt owed to Chapters (half of total)

-$   830            Yearly insurance cost

-$   680            Other fixed costs (800 #, CC processing, etc.)

-$3,672            Cost of ? office rent & utilities (12 months)

-$11,488

 

We have additional expenses that have not yet been approved by the SCC for
fundraising, insurance riders for future events, internal elections, etc.,
and those are not included in the account above. 

As we do not have a current budget for this fiscal year (4/04 to 3/05), nor
one for next year, it is difficult to say exactly how long these funds
should last. However, in 2004, our expenses totaled  $10, 713.19 and we
received only +$8,294.00 from our fundraising and in-kind donations, which
left us with a negative balance of -$2,419.19. 

So, if we assume we continue supporting the office at the current rate, have
the same fixed expenses and have about the same costs for additional
expenses, we will spend approximately $10,700 for our next fiscal year (4/05
to 3/06). If we add to this amount our debts (Chris Reilly and half of what
is owed to our Chapters?although they could request the entire amount), our
expenses for the year will total $17,006. That means we will likely use at
least $8,712 of the expected one-time gift of $12,000. At best, this will
leave us with about a three thousand dollars to prepare for our activities
in 2006; at worst, this will leave us with nothing. 

Taking into account our sluggish and largely unsuccessful fundraising plan,
it seems

obvious that we do not have enough funds to sustain our current fixed
expenses and spending rate in the long-term. 

 

                  

 

Proposal issues addressed in V. Insurance: 

If do not continue allocating funds for a state office space in Hartford,
how would we maintain the necessary liability insurance? And what would be
the estimated expense of doing so?

 

V.  Insurance ?

A.     Explanation of coverage*:

*Information confirmed with Rose Irish, our agent with Joseph Krar & Assoc.,
Inc.

 

Please note: Our current insurance carrier will no longer provide us riders
for individual events. The office policy then only covers events occurring
in the office, and we will have to purchase individual ?event policies? on
an event-by-event basis.

 

The total spending for insurance in 2004 was $940.23 (including the office
policy, riders &

fees). In 2004, our insurance only covered events in the Hartford Office and
two specific events that we obtained riders for (see below). 

The SCC needs to address the issue of continuing our current coverage type,
which does not provide CTGP general liability coverage for the vast majority
of meetings/events held by Chapters, or of upgrading to a more comprehensive
policy, which might provide complete coverage but would obviously cost more.


However, a more comprehensive policy may be unnecessary, as most meetings
are held in public buildings and homes, which are already covered by the
owners? policies. Exceptions that may require us to provide our own
insurance, would include holding events in an outdoor venue, requirements of
a larger event organizer, bringing alcohol into buildings, etc. (more
detailed insurance information included in attached report; pgs 9-12)

 

B.     Cost for office insurance (yearly/monthly):

General Liability Office Policy: $830 paid yearly as a lump sum by CTGP

Total cost for office expenses & policy to maintain insurance*: $4,502/year;
$375/month

* Based on estimated $306/month office expenses

 

C.    Total cost for additional event riders in 2004:

Total: $436.80 for two events; average cost of $218; $104 not reimbursed 

(Jilson Square=$332.80/reimbursed; DNC2RNC=$104)

 

D.    Cost estimate for various insurance situations:

(1) Umbrella General Liability Insurance: Unknown (Two underwriters are
still working, but this would provide more coverage than we have currently.
We are also looking into what the USGP and other state chapters do for
insurance.)

(2) Event-by-event Gen. Liab. Insurance Policies: $100+/event; cost varies
by event but general top-end estimate was $500 (confirmed w/ three
agencies); this type of coverage would require us to purchase an event
policy in advance of the event & generally takes more time than a rider to
secure (approximately 3 weeks prior to the event)

(3) Cost of event policy for SCC meeting (25 people) w/ current policy:
approx. $471/event

 

E.     Feasibility of insurance options:

Assuming the CTGP wants to continue our current level of coverage, i.e. with
the ability & main

purpose of covering events that we would normally purchase separate riders
for, than the estimated costs would be as follows?

 

1. Cost for 2 events per year without the general office policy (high
estimate):  $1,100 (avg. $200-2,000) 

2. Cost for 2 events per year with the general office policy (not including
office expenses): $1,772

3. Cost for 5 events per year with the general office policy (not including
office expenses): $3,185

4. Cost for 5 events per year without the general office policy (high
estimate): $2,750 (avg. $500-5,000)

5. Cost for 2 events per year with the general office policy (including
office expenses): $5,444

6. Cost for 5 events per year with the general office policy (including
office expenses): $6,857

See attached graph.

 

            As these estimates show, if we do not continue allocating funds
for a state office space in Hartford, than we still can afford comparable
and even less expensive coverage. Due to recent changes in our current
provider?s policies, the total cost of the insurance will be less if we
purchase single event policies (as in #1 & #4), regardless of the number
events we plan on providing insurance for each year,  rather than continuing
with the office insurance policy + event policies. 

 

 

 

 

V.  Voting Options ?

 

A. Keep CTGP funding of office as is; budget & need for office/use will be
re-evaluated every 6 months.  (CTGP paying only 50% of rent & utilities +
all taxes & insurance costs = approx. $5,500/year = approx. 90% of all CTGP
cash funds)

 

B. Decrease CTGP funding of office to 25%; budget & need for office/use will
be re-evaluated every 6 months.  (CTGP paying only 25% of rent, utilities,
taxes & office insurance policy = approx. $2,500/year = approx. 40% of all
CTGP cash funds; 25% is based on liberal estimate of use of office space by
CTGP & represents a more balanced distribution of funding)

 

C. Cease CTGP funding of office; budget & need for office/use will be
re-evaluated every 6 months.  (CTGP would not be responsible for any portion
of rent, utilities, taxes or office insurance costs = 0% of all CTGP cash
funds; we would purchase individual liability event policies for CTGP needs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>From Sect. I. CT Green Party ?Fundraising Plan?

 

[e-mail from Tom Sevigny to Bob Eaton 8/13/04;  very similar plan in minutes
of August 2004 SCC minutes]

 

1. Fundraising letters

a.  Four a year (March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, December 1st)

b. Three of these mailings will be to a select group of people (i.e.
individuals who have given money over the last year, individuals who voted
in the last internal election, etc.)

c. One mailing will be to the entire state mailing list.

 

2. Phone solicitations

a. Shall be conducted one month after mailings are sent.  Phone calls made
to those who did not respond.

 

3. Events

a. At least four a year with prominent speaker

 

4.  100 for 100 sustainer program.

a.  All fundraising appeals (letters, phone, events) shall emphasize the 100
for 100 program.  The goal of this program is to get 100 people to give $100
a year through their credit cards or automatic checking.  Sustainers can
give one lump sum or in monthly installments as low as $8.00 a month.

 

5.  Merchandising

a.  When financially able, the party shall promote a full line of
merchandise (pins, bumper stickers, t-shirts, hats, etc.)

 
 
 




 

 

                  

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 





 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT ON CTGP INSURANCE

 

The goal of this report is to clarify the current CTGP insurance coverage
held for the CTGP Hartford Chapter Office at 418 New Britain Ave., Hartford.
The policy names as the insured, ?The Green Party of CT,? effective
06/05/04.  

 

Coverage Provided by Current Policy 

 

Research on the current policy included my reviewing a copy of the policy,
having it reviewed by another agent (from Abbate Insurance) and speaking
several times at length with Rose Irish, a representative for our current
agent, Penny-Hanley & Howley Co., Inc. I also reviewed the monthly CTGP
treasurer?s reports. 

 

What the Policy Covers

 

Our policy is a ?Limited Commercial General Liability? policy, whose
coverage is limited to liability for activity in the Hartford office itself.
That is, its basic annual premium of  $830 covers liability for events that
actually happen in the Hartford office and ?on ways [passageways, sidewalks]
next to premises.? 

 

To illustrate the extent of our coverage, a typical claim, according to Ms.
Irish, would be if a (non-CTGP*) person came to an event at the Hartford
office, tripped and fell over a ragged carpet, hurting her/himself, and
breaking her/his eyeglasses.  That person could then sue CTGP for
compensatory personal injury and damage to his/her property.  Once this
injured person made a claim against the Hartford office, our insurer would
investigate the validity of the claim, etc., and, typically, automatically
pay for any medical expenses up to $5000 per person (without that person
having to sue), unless the injured person had health insurance. The policy
also provides legal defense in any lawsuit for compensatory bodily
injury/property damages.  

 

[*?Non-CTGP? person because, according to Ms. Irish, technically speaking,
it could be argued that, as members of CT Green Party--which holds the
policy--Greens are not covered by it; rather it refers to suits by
non-Greens who attend, for example, the movie nights at the Hartford office.
However, Ms. Irish did acknowledge the ambiguity of this and that clarity
could probably only be achieved by a Green Party member actually suing for
compensatory damages that occurred in the Hartford Office.)             

 

*Liquor Liability:

 

On occasions where liquor is served in the Hartford office, there is
coverage for liability for bodily injury or property damage (again occurring
in the Hartford office) ?by reason of: 1) Causing or contributing to the
intoxication of any person; 2) The furnishing of alcoholic beverages to a
person under the legal drinking age or under the influence of alcohol; or 3)
Any statue, ordinance or regulation relating to the sale, gift, distribution
or use of alcoholic beverages.?        

 

*Fire/water legal liability insurance (i.e., for fire or water damage caused
from the Hartford office to the property of another person, for example, in
another floor of the building.)

 

What the Policy Does NOT Cover:

 

*Damage or theft of any property in the office (e.g., computer). We need
separate property liability insurance for such coverage. (The owner
presumably carries insurance for damage to the building itself, e.g., if
someone outside broke one of the office windows).  

 

*?Punitive or exemplary damages? (The policy reads: ?If a suit seeking both
compensatory and punitive or exemplary damages has been brought against you
for liability claim covered by this policy, we will provide defense for such
action.  We will not have any obligation to pay for any costs, interest or
damages attributable to punitive or exemplary damages.?)

 

*?Personal and advertising injury? meaning injury resulting from false
arrest, detention or imprisonment; malicious prosecution; oral or written
publication of material that slanders or libels a person or organization or
disparages a person?s or an organization?s goods, products, services; oral
or written material publication of material that violates a person?s right
to privacy; the use of another?s advertising idea in our advertisements; or
infringing upon another?s copyright, trade dress or slogan in our
advertisements.  

 

Thus, there?s no liability insurance for the party?s political
positions/action.  For example, if a CTGP political candidate were accused
of libel during a campaign, the CTGP/the candidate are not covered; also no
coverage in the case of a party member suing the party for defamation around
an ethics complaint, etc.

 

*Bodily injury or property damage as a result of acts of terrorism or war
(?War includes civil war, insurrection, rebellion or revolution")

 

*Bodily injury to a person injured ?while taking part in athletics? at the
office.

 

*Bodily injury or property damage due to/caused by: fungus, dry-rot or
decay; any substance, vapor or gas produced or arising out of any fungus,
spore or mycotoxin in the office.

 

*Bodily injury caused by or aggravated by exposure, inhalation, consumption
or absorption of asbestos fibers or dust or silica dust (i.e., asbestosis,
silicosis, mesothelioma, emphysema, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary fibrosis,
pleuritis, endothelioma or any lung ailment) in the office.

 

*Bodily injury or property damage due to or arising out of the actual or
alleged presence of asbestos of silica dust in any form, including the costs
of investigation, monitoring or removal of any property or substance)

 

*Bodily injury or property damage for the actual, alleged or threatened
discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of  ?pollutants?
in the office at any time, including claims/suits, statutory/regulatory
requirements to test, monitor, or clean up effects of ?pollutants.?   

 

*Assault or battery:

Bodily injury or property damage arising out of assault or battery or out of
any act or omission in connection with the prevention or suppression of an
assault or battery 

 

(For example, if people assault and injure one another in the Hartford
office, there?s no liability coverage for care for the persons harmed or for
CTGP should the injured persons sue the party for damages resulting.
Apparently, this exclusion doesn?t apply to bodily injury resulting from the
use of ?reasonable force? to protect a person or property.)

 

*This policy does not provide liability coverage for any CTGP events
occurring away from the Hartford Office despite the fact that many of us
naively presented the Hartford Office liability insurance cover sheet when
required at various venues like libraries, fairs, etc. 

 

Until February 2004, the policy did allow CTGP to purchase ?riders? at
various costs for CTGP chapter events.  These riders were required in order
to extend the limited liability insurance described above for the Hartford
Office to those specific venues. 

 

Examples of recent ?riders? and their costs:

 

August 18, 2004:  $332.80 to cover liability for 80 people camping out in
Jillson Sq., Willimantic during the DNC to RNC march.  

 

August 18-19, 2004: $104 to cover liability for a Gardening Workshop by
Heather Shepherd in Eisenhower Park, Milford.

 

However, as of February 2005, no riders may be purchased on this policy to
extend the Hartford Office liability insurance to CTGP events. Instead,
?special event? insurance may be purchased from our current agent at the
cost of $471 for each event.

 

As a result of this change, liability insurance for the Hartford office is
separate from, and unrelated to, non-Hartford office activities.

 


Alternatives 


 

Several people to whom I spoke, including insurance agents, attested to the
difficulty to insure political parties per se, but especially so for a
rather unknown or notorious party like the Greens.  A common reason given is
that insurers don?t know what their getting into, what exactly their
liability might be.  In fact, one agent wrote that her ?market? of insurance
companies categorically would not insure any political rallies or marches. 

 

*Homeowner?s insurance: according to agents I spoke with, some homeowner?s
policies might be interpreted to extend liability coverage to the individual
activities of the homeowner away from his/her home.  (For example, if at a
CTGP chapter event, the individual property of a specific CTGP member
organizing the event somehow caused harm to an attendee at that event, and
the harmed person tried to sue for compensation, it?s possible that the
homeowner?s policy of the offending CTGP property owner might provide
coverage.  However, individual CTGP members would have to investigate the
liability limits of their own homeowner?s policies.)        

 

*I spoke with Bob McClung, the person that handles insurance for the
national party (USGP), on the chance that USGP insurance might extend to
state parties.  He told me that insurance laws don?t permit writing policies
in one state for any others and that USGP does not have office insurance but
has ?special event? policies, most obvious example being for the
presidential nominating conventions.  He suggested that course. 

 

*Other Agents:  after I pursued a couple of unsuccessful leads, my own
health insurance agent referred me to Abbate Insurance Agency in New Haven.
He has found Abbate to be helpful in finding low-cost insurance for an
organization he chairs and which has no office (Harvard Club of CT). 

 

In several communications with agent Mary Slater of Abbate describing CTGP
chapter activities (including submitting a written statement detailing
those), and research on her part, Ms. Slater informed me by phone and in a
faxed message:

 

?The only company I had that showed some interest finally got back to me and
stated that they would be very comfortable looking at activities on an
individual Special Event basis.  They indicated that once they wrote some
special event policies, they might reach a comfort level eventually to offer
an annual policy but they are not making any promises.  Thank you for your
patience and if you would like me to pursue any special event policies, I
would need at least a two week lead-time.?

 

Ms. Slater told me that each special event policy would cost something
approaching $500, about the same quote as that of our current agent,
Penny-Hanley & Howley Co. She told me that the company she had in mind
didn't know the cost exactly until they had a concrete event before them.
Again, she suggested CTGP approach them with a specific event we wanted
covered, have this company insure it and then from that experience, they
would be more inclined to write a more encompassing policy and
cost-effective policy for our CTGP events.    

  

 CONCLUSIONS


 This report aims to clarify the current insurance coverage for the office
of the Hartford chapter, CTGP.  This report does not substantiate or
identify CTGP?s past or potential uses of the Hartford chapter office.


 

Two main conclusions emerge:


1) From both fiscal and Green Party perspectives--including CTGP?s very
limited financial resources, its current debt, and the Green Key Value of
?Future Focus and Sustainability?(We must counterbalance the drive for
short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies,
and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit
the results of our actions)?there appears to be no justification for the
CTGP to continue subsidizing the commercial property liability insurance for
the Hartford Chapter office on New Britain Ave.


 Until this month (February, 2005), one benefit did accrue to the whole CTGP
from its subsidy of the Hartford office insurance policy:  the option?at an
annual cost of $830--to purchase riders to extend the limited liability
coverage of the Hartford office policy to other CTGP chapter activities.  As
recent experience shows, however, these were not insignificant amounts
(e.g., $$332.80).  Nonetheless, whether affordable or not, that benefit to
the party is no longer available with this policy.


 

Among the other disadvantages of CTGP?s support for this insurance policy:

 

*This policy provides neither the CTGP nor the Hartford Chapter any
liability protection from libel or other lawsuits related to the activities
or positions of CTGP candidates or members as some recent written position
statements have suggested (e.g., ?Reasons to Support the State Green Party
Office,? by Mike De Rosa, distributed at the 9/04 SCC meeting: ?The policy
we have was written by the only carrier willing to take on political
parties. The price of coverage doubled this year because insurance companies
see political organizations as recently being prime targets for law suits
that are popping all over the place with political parties and because of
the actions of their candidates and members. . . .?).  Again, this insurance
policy is only a limited commercial liability policy for activity in the
Hartford office as described above.  

 

*The rather alarming discovery that the CTGP has been operating under the
false, and potentially dangerous, assumption that the policy for the
Hartford chapter office, which lists ?The Green Party of CT? as the insured,
extends its admittedly limited liability coverage to CTGP activities away
from the Hartford Chapter office without paying for specific ?riders.?
Again, riders have, in fact, been necessary to insure coverage to those
other venues. Looking back, the CTGP could reasonably have been accused of
operating in bad faith at best, or under false pretenses at worst, in those
local chapter activities where evidence of liability insurance coverage was
required.

 

One recent example:  one of the requirements for the Western chapter?s
participation at the ?New Milford Fair Days? was proof of liability
insurance for our booth at the Fair, which we?ve done for the past 3 years.
Given the demonstrably hostile political environment the Western Chapter has
experienced in New Milford in response to our
anti-war/anti-occupation/ethics complaint activities (including identifiable
attempts to publicly discredit us for our positions), it is disquieting to
think of the bad publicity at best, or legal consequences at worst, had the
already hostile chairperson of the New Milford Fair Days/the New Milford
Chamber of Commerce discovered that we were deceiving him about our
insurance coverage (however unintentionally) and that we had, in fact, no
liability insurance as required for participation in the Fair.

 

2) Putting aside whether CTGP continues to subsidize the insurance/rent for
the Hartford Chapter office, this review underscores the very limited nature
of the liability coverage of the current policy even for the Hartford
Chapter office itself, particularly against damage/theft of office property
in the office, and raises the question of the policy?s cost-effectiveness.  

 

However, while this report shows no justification for the CTGP to continue
subsidizing the limited property liability insurance of the Hartford Chapter
office, this conclusion of course does not preclude the Hartford Chapter
from raising funds for the insurance for their office in order to continue
their good outreach activities from there.

 

Finally, should the CTGP?s State Central Committee (SCC) decide to stop
paying for this insurance and to cancel the current policy, the Green Party
of CT must mail or deliver advance written notice of cancellation.  If the
policy is cancelled by CTGP prior to its renewal date, a refund due will be
issued, though it may be less than pro rata.  

 

To conclude, other options for the state party for insuring individual CTGP
chapter activities, including those of the Hartford Chapter, include the
following:

 

*Continue with our present agent, Penny-Henley & Howley Co., Inc. in paying
for special event insurance at $471 per event.  

 

*Seek special event coverage at approximately $500 through Abbate Insurance
Co. to establish a record of CTGP activities as Abbate Insurance agent Mary
Slater suggested, with the possibility that our insurer will be willing to
provide a less costly, more comprehensive policy covering chapter activities
without riders.

 

*For the near future, individual CTGP chapters can seek special event
insurance for their activities as needed, including investigating the extent
of liability coverage by the homeowner?s policies of individual CTGP chapter
members. 

 

Prepared by Justine McCabe

Western Chapter, CTGP 

 

         

 

 

  _____  

From: Kelly McCarthy [mailto:kelly at easy-designs.net] 
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 1:47 PM
To: 'newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com'
Subject: FW: Office Committee Report and SCC meeting


 
  _____  

From: Kelly McCarthy [mailto:kelly.mccarthy at aya.yale.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 1:18 PM
To: hamdengreenparty at yahoogroups.com; 'ctgp-news at ml.greens.org';
'gpcwc at lists.riseup.net'
Cc: 'newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Office Committee Report and SCC meeting


Greens,
 
This is the updated and final version of the Office Committee Report. Please
review it before the next SCC meeting, and reps should come prepared to vote
on the proposal by the OC in two weeks. We need to have quorum this time, so
please try to attend the SCC meeting! Also, please send us the names &
contact info of your chapter's elected SCC reps ASAP, so I can attempt to
contact them and ensure they have time to review the report as well. Thanks.
 
Cheers, 
 
Kelly McCarthy
Treasurer - Hamden Green Party PAC
 
"Well-behaved women seldom make history" 
--Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
 
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From capeconn at comcast.net  Thu Mar 17 17:00:36 2005
From: capeconn at comcast.net (Tom Sevigny)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 17:00:36 -0500
Subject: {news} Office Committee Report and SCC meeting
References: <200503171817.j2HIHtq31243@easy-designs.net>
Message-ID: <016501c52b3c$bfc4e030$a3970218@sevigny8wcbjrd>

Kelly,

On behalf of the Northwest chapter, I would like to thank you and the members of the committee for putting together such an exhausitve and detailed report.

Tom

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kelly McCarthy 
  To: hamdengreenparty at yahoogroups.com ; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org ; gpcwc at lists.riseup.net 
  Cc: newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 1:17 PM
  Subject: {news} Office Committee Report and SCC meeting


  Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS
  http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/

  to unsubscribe click here
  mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Greens,

  This is the updated and final version of the Office Committee Report. Please review it before the next SCC meeting, and reps should come prepared to vote on the proposal by the OC in two weeks. We need to have quorum this time, so please try to attend the SCC meeting! Also, please send us the names & contact info of your chapter's elected SCC reps ASAP, so I can attempt to contact them and ensure they have time to review the report as well. Thanks.

  Cheers, 

  Kelly McCarthy
  Treasurer - Hamden Green Party PAC

  "Well-behaved women seldom make history" 
  --Laurel Thatcher Ulrich



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org
  _______________________________________________
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  CTGP-news at ml.greens.org
  http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news

  ATTENTION!
  The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above.  If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message.  The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members.

  NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief.

  CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown.  This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information.  This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly.  Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient.  Thank you for your compliance.

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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Thu Mar 17 23:32:19 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:32:19 EST
Subject: {news} Please respond ASAP!
Message-ID: <12b.59191306.2f6bb3d3@aol.com>

Miguel Angel Nieves
55 Brittany Farms Road #314
New Britain CT. 06053



Thursday, March 17, 2005


Dear Friend,

    I want you to be one of the first to know that on Friday, April 29th, I 
will formally announce my candidacy for New Britain city Mayor.

    I have thought long and hard about my decision to run for Mayor.  I know 
New Britain - I've lived here since 1990.
  
    But now is the time for real change in our City Hall leadership.  The 
City Hall is not doing the job, and we need new leadership to chart the course 
for our city.  

    I have too much love and respect for New Britain to sit idle while the 
Democrats and Republicans in our City Hall ruin our community.  They have 
returned to their old tax and spend ways with a vengeance. 

    As a businessman, I am more convinced than ever before that New Britain 
stands at the crossroads.  We the people must choose in what direction the 
future will take us.  Will we reform our welfare system, or will we continue the 
spiral down to permanent dependency?  Will we deal firmly and justly with 
crime, or will we live in fear for the rest of our lives?  Will we reform our 
education system, or will we destroy it?

    There is much to be done.  We need real reform in our city government and 
we need it from the top down.  With my business experience, I know how to 
fight for what is right.

    I will take the same drive and ambition that has enabled me to overcome 
obstacles in life I will bring it bear on this City Hall race.  I will use my 
business experience to focus the media spotlight on the key issues in this 
campaign.  

    I can and will win in November 8th 2005!  

    
    Please join me.  Together we can change the leadership in the City Hall.  
Working together we can nominate a candidate who is prepared to meet the 
challenge -- of not only winning -- but also performing the job of Representative 
with distinction.

    Please join me for my announcement to run for Mayor of New Britain.  It 
will be:

    Date:   April 29, 2005
    Time:   8:00pm
    Place:      Puerto Rican Society of New Britain
            152 High Street
            New Britain CT. 06050

I hope to see you on Friday.
                            
                        Very truly yours,



                        Miguel Angel Nieves   


Paid by Nieves for Mayor campaign, Antonio Fret-Campaign Manager, Jean De 
Smet-Web Site Campaign Manager, Annette Alicea-Campaign Treas.
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Fri Mar 18 07:56:09 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 07:56:09 -0500
Subject: {news} Green marshals still needed--Sat. anti-war demo/Hartford
Message-ID: <05b401c52bb9$dba51360$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

Greens-
We still need Green marshals for tomorrow's anti-war march/rally tomorrow for which CTGP is a co-sponsor.   
There will be a training session tomorrow, Saturday at 9am before the march.  

PLEASE CONTACT ME OR CHRIS GAVREAU OF CTUP about location (see below)

Let's show a Green presence! 
Justine 


.  


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Gauvreau at aol.com 
To: justinemccabe at earthlink.net 
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 1:22 PM
Subject: justine, we are really short for marshals for 3/19


Dear Justine,
Can the Green Party contribute some marshals for the demo on 3/19?  We have a long march route and are expecting a lot of people and are still slugging it out with the city over whether or not we can march on the street instead of the sidewalk.  All in all, we think we need about 30.  The team will meet for training and organization on Sat. the 19th at 9 am.  I will give the location to anyone that you designate.
In Solidarity,
chris 
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Fri Mar 18 07:58:45 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 07:58:45 -0500
Subject: {news}
	UPDATE: Still need marshals--location for training, Sat., 9am ,
	Hartford
Message-ID: <05bd01c52bba$3875e8d0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>

GREENS--PLEASE RESPOND to this call.  
Justine 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Gauvreau at aol.com 



Dear friends,
We are still working to assemble our full marshalling team of 30. We can't mess this up--not after winning the streets.  I just accidentally deleted some of my recent email, so if you responded yesterday, I may have missed it.  Please designate a few activists from your organization.  They need to be at La Paloma Sabonera on Capitol and Babcock at 9 am tomorrow for training.  This is serious. Please respond.  I will be able to answer questions this evening.
Chris 
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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Wed Mar  9 09:21:16 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 09:21:16 EST
Subject: {news} Please Remember
Message-ID: <104.5c894412.2f60605c@aol.com>


News Release From Co-Chairman

Miguel Angel Nieves
________________________________________________________________
New Britain City                                     Green Party
________________________________________________________________
55 Brittany Farms Road #314                                                   
Contact
New Britain, Connecticut 06053                                          (860) 
832-8141


Please Remember the rally!

 REMEMBER to become part of our rally in favor of Social Security.  On March 
10th, people who believe that it's time to do something about the Social 
Security issue now are taking it to the streets in New Britain. Folks from all 
around the City will meet in front of the Social Security Administration on 100 
Arch Street at 12:00 noon where there will be a rally and speeches by community 
members and leaders.

Please bring your printed flyers supporting Social Security and Nieves For 
Mayor Campaign, send emails to friends and families, and write letters to the 
newspapers. The more people knocking on the doors, the more people coming to the 
rally. You can be proud of your contribution to the rally when you see people 
that you have invited.

Regards,


Miguel Angel Nieves
Mayoral Candidate
New Britain Green Party Co-Chairman


PS. If you want to be a member of the New Britain Green Party please apply at 
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen
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From Ehscouts at aol.com  Fri Mar 11 22:24:49 2005
From: Ehscouts at aol.com (Ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:24:49 EST
Subject: {news} Help Me Fight For Education!
Message-ID: <12c.596f40b6.2f63bb01@aol.com>

Become part of our rally in favor of New Britain ESL Program.  On March 14th, 
Folks from all around the City will meet in front of the New Britain ESL 
Program on 118 Main Street at 9:00 AM.

Please bring your printed flyers supporting ESL Program and Nieves For Mayor 
Campaign, send emails to friends and families, and write letters to the 
newspapers and your State Representatives. Go out and knock on some doors inviting 
the to this important rally. The more people knocking on the doors, the more 
people coming to the rally. We want to see Community Leaders, Program Directors, 
Police Officer, Political Leaders and even the Newspaper. You can be proud of 
your contribution to the rally when you see people that you have invited.

Regards,


Miguel Angel Nieves
Mayoral Candidate
www.nieves.politicalgateway.com


PS. If you want to be a member of the New Britain Green Party please apply at 
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/nbgreen
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Fri Mar 18 12:54:22 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 12:54:22 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: [al-awda-CT] after rally hear more about Palestine/Israel
Message-ID: <064901c52be3$84907f40$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Stan H 
To: awda awda ; ctpeace ctpeace 
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 9:44 PM
Subject: [al-awda-CT] after rally hear more about Palestine/Israel


Right after the rally

 

Join us for free coffee and refreshments

 

 

Life Under the Israeli Boot

 

 

Hear Patrick O'Connor

Just released from an Israeli Jail- 

member International Solidarity Movement

 

 and Mazin Qumsiyeh

Al-Awda [Palestine Right to Return Committee]

just back from the Israeli Occupied Territories

 

 

 

slides, video

 

Sat. March 19

 

Approximately 3:30

 

 

ArtSpace

 

555 Asylum St.  (near the train station)

 

Hartford

 

Free parking

860-548-9975

 

(directions:  going East on I-84 take exit 48

 and make a left onto Asylum)

 

Middle East Crisis Committee

www.TheStruggle.org 

 



Unless indicated otherwise, all statements posted represent the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition. visit http://al-awda.org/connecticut for details on this group

Contact your representatives and elected officials: use 
http://congress.cfl-online.org/

For other ways to help, see http://BoycottIsraeliGoods.org 


      Yahoo! Groups Sponsor 
            ADVERTISEMENT
           
     
     


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

  a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-awda-CT/
    
  b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  al-awda-CT-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
    
  c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 

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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Fri Mar 18 12:55:38 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 12:55:38 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw:  Speaker/Directions/Parking for Giant March 19 rally
Message-ID: <065201c52be3$b1bbc290$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Stan H 
To: New Haven Greens ; awda awda ; ctpeace ctpeace 
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 8:49 PM
Subject: [al-awda-CT] Speaker/Directions/Parking for Giant March 19 rally


Just updated the MECC website with all the information on speakers/ directions and parking.   www.TheStruggle.org

[we're also working out last details of Pat O'Connors talk Saturday at Artspace just after the rally]

Also just posted on the site an analysis of Lebanon from Lauri King-Irani.  See Lebanon Democracy Movement - Bush is Not the Father
http://thestruggle.org/index_files/page0001.htm

and an article from Tony Chakar, long time activist who lives in Beirut


Unless indicated otherwise, all statements posted represent the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition. visit http://al-awda.org/connecticut for details on this group

Contact your representatives and elected officials: use 
http://congress.cfl-online.org/

For other ways to help, see http://BoycottIsraeliGoods.org 


      Yahoo! Groups Sponsor 
            ADVERTISEMENT
           
     
     


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

  a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-awda-CT/
    
  b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  al-awda-CT-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
    
  c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 

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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Fri Mar 18 13:14:43 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 13:14:43 -0500
Subject: {news} minutes of March 7 2005 Executive Committee meeting
Message-ID: <00b601c52be7$36502930$40a4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

Minutes of 3/7/05 Executive Committee meeting

6:10 - 9:00 pm, Hartford office

 

Attending:  both current co-chairs (Mike DeRosa, Elizabeth Brancato), treasurer Bob Eaton, secretary Ed DuBrule.  Observer:  Miguel Angel Nieves (candidate for mayor of New Britain).

 

Update on money intended to be left to the Green Party in a will.  A woman from Southeast Connecticut named the Green Party as a recipient of money in her will.  (Apparently only the words "Green Party" appear in the will, without a specification as to a chapter, state party, or the national party.)  Bob updated us on the situation--despite earlier hopes, it appears that Connecticut elections laws prevent the CT Green Party from accepting the money.  Bob will give information on this in the treasurer's report to be presented at the March 29 SCC meeting.

     Mike said he will be contacting a lawyer he knows who may be able to give us information on this situation.

 

Money owed to mailing bureau.   For the fundraising mailing to 2,188 registered Greens done by the Executive Committee on 12/2/04, we have paid the postage ($447.98) and a payment of $452.50.   Our proposal, accepted by the October 2004 SCC meeting, was for an appropriation of $855-$955 dollars to pay for this mailing.  This was based on a quote obtained from American Mailing Services for 2,000 letters.

     We received a bill from the mailing bureau for $891.70.  With the addition of the postage, that is a total of $1,339.68.  Examination of the bill and discussions with the mailing bureau revealed that 2,500 letters (not 2,188) were printed;  2,500 outer envelopes were printed and 2,500 reply envelopes were printed.  Ed e-mailed a list of 2,500 names to the mailing burea, then a half-hour later e-mailed the correct list of 2,188 names.  The quote referred to a one page letter;  what we eventually asked for was a double-sided letter.  We asked for a revised bill  and were sent a bill for $701.60 ($190.10 less than the original bill).  With the addition of the postage, that is a total of $1,149.58.  The very first bill received did calculations in terms of 2,700 letters and envelopes printed (which we don't understand);  the revised bill did calculations in terms of 2,500 letters and envelopes printed.

     The mailing bureau also wants late fees.

     Bob computed a hypothetical bill based on 2,188 letters rather than 2,500 and got a hypothetical amount due of $1,093.11.

     At tonight's meeting we decided:  (1) Bob should send a check to the mailing bureau immediately for $54.52 (that is, $955, the amount appropriated by the SCC, minus the $900.48 already sent);  (2) We will write a proposal request an appropriation of $200 from the SCC to cover the remaining bill.  The $200 is computed as the revised bill received ($701.60) minus amount sent soon after tonight's meeting ($507.02) = $194.58;  this is approximately $200 when the late fees are added.  (The exact amount of the late fees was not available to us at tonight's meeting, but it was believed to be approximately $5.)

     The statement in the minutes of the January 2005 Executive Committee meeting that we "have paid the entire amount due to the mailing bureau" is erroneous.

 

Proposal(s) on Executive Committee powers.   In early March, Executive Committee members learned that Justine McCabe and Elizabeth Brancato wish to serve on the recently-begun Peace Action Committee of the national party.  The national party requires approval of up to three Connecticut representatives to that committee by some unspecified body of the Connecticut Green Party.  Executive Committee members exchanged e-mails on the issue of whether such approval must be done by the SCC or could be done by the Executive Committee.  Recent SCC meetings have lacked a quorum;  we wondered if referring the issue to the SCC might lead to a long and perhaps unnecessary delay in Justine and Elizabeth being able to work on the committee.  On February 26 we posted an invitation for other CTGP members who wished to join the committee to identify themselves;  David Eliscu said he wished to join the committee.  We told the national party that "The Executive Committee has approved Justine, David Eliscu, and me [Elizabeth] to be representatives to the Peace Action Committee from the Green Party of Connecticut.  Our approval is provisional, until our next full State  Central Committee meeting, March 29, 2005."

     The Executive Committee has also discussed, in the past month, the issue of Executive Committee endorsements of events and activities.  A proposal passed by the June 2004 SCC meeting allows the Executive Committee, by majority vote, to endorse and/or agree to co-sponsor events or activities in the name of the Connecticut Green Party when there is not time to submit the request to the SCC.  In the past month we have wondered whether a proposal should be written allowing the Executive Committee to endorse/co-sponsor activities in the name of the CTGP even when there is time to submit the request to the SCC.  Allowing the Executive Committee to do this would save time at SCC meetings.  At tonight's meeting we decided that Elizabeth will write a draft proposal on this subject;  the proposal would include the idea that endorsements made by the Executive Committee when there would be time to bring the issue to the SCC would require a unanimous vote of Executive Committee members.  Elizabeth will also include in this draft proposal (or in a second proposal) specific answers to the questions referred to above about approving CT Greens to national committees.

     

Proposal on "card-carrying Greens".   Mike proposed a fundraising idea--creating a card that CT Greens could carry showing their membership in the CTGP (approximate cost $25).  (Purchase of a card would not be a requirement for membership in the CTGP.)  The card could have privileges associated with it, for example reduced suggested donation to fundraising events such as "Hartford chapter movie nights".  The national party is offering a similar card as a fundraising tactic (those who contribute get the card, a button, a bumpersticker, and a subscription to the Green Pages).  Mike will put this idea out on the fundraising listserve and he will write a proposal for the March SCC meeting.

 

Money spent by Chris Reilly on office rent.   Tonight we again discussed this issue.  We wondered if the best time for further discussions of this issue at SCC meetings might be after the question of state funding of the Hartford office is resolved.  All members of the Executive Committee believe that Chris should be reimbursed for these rent expenditures;  we agreed tonight that at some appropriate time we will express this opinion to chapter representatives of the SCC.

 

Endorsement of March 19 Hartford march/rally against the war in Iraq.  We endorsed this march/rally.

 

Letters concerning Peruvian Green.  Justine McCabe of the International Committee of the national Green Party had requested that the Executive Committee send a letter (via e-mail) to the president of Peru and several other Peruvian officials concerning Flor de Maria Hurtado Valdez..  She is Secretary General of the Peruvian Green party and  had been the target of assassination attempt(s).  She was an observer at the 2004 USGP presidential nominating convention in Milwaukee, where she spoke to the Women's Caucus, the forum on international Green issues, and the international reception.  We agreed to send these letters (Appendix 1).

 

Executive Committee decision making.  We agreed that our Executive Committee functions by informal modified consensus.  We first try to reach consensus;  if we cannot reach consensus we vote.

 

SCC agenda;  New Britain chapter.  The agenda for the 3/29/05 SCC meeting was worked out.  It will include an opportunity for the SCC to approve the formation of the New Britain chapter.  Miguel Nieves, candidate for mayor of New Britain, will attend the 3/29/05 meeting;  he wishes to run as an official Green candidate.

------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 1   This letter (in English and Spanish) was sent to several Peruvian officials.

 

Presidente Alejandro Toledo
Presidente de la Rep?blica
Palacio de Gobierno - Lima
Rep?blica del Per?



Your Excellency:

We write to you with deepest respect, but also
great concern, to request your urgent assistance.
It has come to our attention that our dear friend
Flor de Mar?a Hurtado Valdez, Secretary General
of the Partido Verde Alternativa de Per?, and
Regidora de la Municipalidad de Iquitos, has been
the target of an assassination attempt.

We have also learned that she is in danger
because of her effective work on behalf of the
Indigenous people, and the natural environment,
of the Amazon forest in the region of Loreto.

We urge you to do whatever you can to protect
Flor's life. She is a very well known leader
among Green parties everywhere in the Americas,
indeed, in the world, and we feel very deeply any
danger which confronts her. She is our friend and
our compa?era, and we ask that your government
recognize her importance, both to the people of
Per?, and to your nation's international prestige.

We also urge you to work for repeal of the Forest
Law Number 27308 and the Forest Concessions in
the Amazon area of Per?, and call a halt to any
further timber auctions in that region. The
destruction of your living patrimony, the lungs
of the planet, can never be a sustainable route
to economic and social progress.

Respectfully,

Elizabeth Brancato

[her e-mail address here]

Mike DeRosa

[his e-mail address here]
Co-Chairs
Green Party of Conneticut
PO Box 231214, Hartford, CT 06123, USA  
http://www.ctgreens.org
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Fri Mar 18 13:25:12 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 13:25:12 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Connecticut March 19 Anti-War Demonstration
Message-ID: <00d601c52be7$def4ebc0$40a4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kasha Ho 
To: Kasha Ho 
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 9:55 AM
Subject: Connecticut March 19 Anti-War Demonstration


Friends,

 

I am pleased to announce that the city of Hartford has agreed to grant us street marching permits for our demonstration on March 19th - with no fees attached.  I am including the statement from the organizing committee of Connecticut United for Peace with more details below.  We will be marching on our original route - meeting at Capitol Ave and Broad St. through the neighborhood streets of Frog Hollow and down Park Street to Barnard Park.  Park Street is "legally closed" due to construction on a section that is outside of our march route, and for that reason we will be marching on the sidewalks of Park Street.  

 

As you may know, the St. Patrick's Day Parade has been rescheduled for this Saturday as well, and the city police have assured us that the Parade will not interfere with our demonstration.  It may; however, make parking tight.  We strongly recommend car pooling. Please consult www.ctunitedforpeace.org for directions and parking suggestions.  We are currently working on getting details from the city about street closures and possible parking options, so please keep checking www.ctunitedforpeace.org for updates.

 

Finally, it's supposed to be a beautiful day - so please join us and bring friends!

 

Kasha Ho'okili Ho

American Friends Service Committee

Hartford, Connecticut

phone: 860.523.1534

fax: 860.523.1705

 

March 19 - Bring the Troops Home Now - Demonstration

 

11:00 assemble at corner of Capitol and Broad St, Hartford 

Pre-March Rally with Speakers and Music

12:00 March to Barnard Park (South Green)

1:00 Rally at Barnard Park - corner of Main St, Wethersfield, and Maple Ave.

More info:  http://ctunitedforpeace.org/ 

 

 

Victory for Free Speech and the Antiwar Movement in Hartford!

 

Following two weeks of intense political and legal campaigning by antiwar and community activists, on Thursday, March 17, the City of Hartford officially conceded CT United For Peace and the American Friends Service Committee a permit to march on the residential streets of Frog Hollow and dropped any pretense of charging us police or other fees. To our knowledge, this is the first time in nearly a decade that a mass political mobilization will march in the streets of Hartford. It is an important free speech victory for all community groups in Greater Hartford that have for years been dissuaded from street protests for lack of corporate sponsorship or other means of paying exorbitant fees. 

 

The victory was not complete: the City permit requires us to step onto the sidewalk once we've reached Park Street.  Even so, winning this battle provides a vital starting point for future mobilizations and posed the first successful challenge to the City's anti-democratic policy on political street marches. 

 

In accordance with the November anti-war conference resolution passed by a plenary of 250 activists from around the state, the ad hoc organizing committee has successfully secured the permits necessary to ensure a safe and peaceful demonstration in Hartford on Saturday, March 19 -- the Global Day of Action Against the Occupation of Iraq. As planned, the pre-rally at Minuteman Park (corner of Capitol and Broad) will begin at 11AM, to be followed by the march through Frog Hollow at 12 Noon and the rally in South Green Park at 1PM. 

 

This victory is a testament to the resurgent strength of anti-war forces in Connecticut, and it sets the stage for what is expected to be the largest mass mobilization against the occupation of Iraq since the invasion two years ago. Moreover, we have set a legal and political precedent that lays the groundwork to accommodate ever larger street mobilizations in the future. None of this could have been accomplished without the collective political pressure that activists from around the state have applied to their elected officials and to the City of Hartford. Several key community organizations and constituencies in Hartford rallied to our defense and showed unyielding support for the cause of the anti-war movement and the First Amendment. We have given the Mayor not a moment's rest since the first sign of hesitancy on his part -- going so far as to corner him, as our union brothers and sisters did, at his own State of the City gala to assert the right to march in the streets of Hartford. 

 

In addition to all of the activists who called the City over the last two weeks to demand our right to free speech, thanks is owed to our negotiating team, which withstood the City's repeated attempts to delay, misdirect and obfuscate at every turn. They are Meg Scata, Kasha Ho, Peter Goselin, Freddie DeBoer, Luz Santana and Milly Guzman-Young. Lori Rifkin of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union also deserves special thanks for her legal counsel throughout this difficult process. 

 

We look forward to seeing all of you on the streets of Hartford tomorrow, March 19.

 

End the War in Iraq!

End the Occupation of Palestine!

Bring the Troops Home NOW!!!

 

Yours In Solidarity,

CT United For Peace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com  Sat Mar 19 23:17:46 2005
From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell)
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 04:17:46 +0000
Subject: {news} Feminism and Its Values conference April 16 in Cromwell
In-Reply-To: <E1D73j4-0007Cd-00@gandhi.greens.org>
Message-ID: <BAY14-F105D41B138B618E02899F3D64C0@phx.gbl>

Feminism and Its Values:
An Intergenerational Dialogue

Saturday, April 16, 2005, 1:00 p.m.

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Cromwell, CT
I-91, Exit 21

Sponsored by:
- Veteran Feminists of America

Co-Sponsors:
- CT Women's Education and Legal Fund
- Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
- American Association of University Women
- Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame
- Connecticut National Organization for Women (NOW)
- Women's Studies Centers and Programs from area colleges.

Afternoon Panels and Discussions (1:00-5:00 p.m.)
- Reproductive Rights and Politics
- Feminism and Work: Paid, Unpaid and Underpaid
- Roles and Images of Women: Sports, Popular Culture and the Arts

Awards Dinner, 6:30 pm

Afternoon Panels and Reception -$15. $5 for students or persons with special 
needs.
Awards Dinner $50/person
Detailed program at http://connecticut.vetfems.org





From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com  Mon Mar 21 02:05:09 2005
From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell)
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 07:05:09 +0000
Subject: {news} RE: Lawn-care Pesticides
In-Reply-To: <1e2.38196117.2f6f8dff@aol.com>
Message-ID: <BAY14-F23353B101A65E829C1A2B3D64D0@phx.gbl>

Environment and Human Health, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


A bill before the state legislature is facing  fierce opposition from the
chemical industry lobby. SB 916, which would allow  municipalities to 
restrict
the use of pesticides for the cosmetic care of lawn  and turf, is especially
worrisome for pesticide manufacturers. Connecticut towns  and cities are
currently prohibited from imposing more stringent pesticide  regulations 
than those
permitted by state law.


"Connecticut is one of 30 states in which the  pesticide industry has put
pre-emption clauses into state statutes, making it  illegal for towns to be 
more
protective of their citizens when it comes to  lawn-care pesticide 
exposures,"
explains Nancy Alderman, president of  Environment and Human Health, Inc. 
"In
a recent issue of Landscape Management  Magazine, Allen James, president of
the pesticide lawn-care trade industry,  warned, 'We are watching the entire
United States, but particularly the border  states of New York, Connecticut,
Maine, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington for  any activity relative to 
banning
pesticides, especially  for outdoor lawn  care and parks.' "


Canada has banned lawn-care pesticides in more than  70 towns and cities to
protect its citizens' health. Last year, Ontario's  College of Family
Physicians warned people to avoid exposures to pesticides  whenever and 
wherever
possible.


Of the 35 most  commonly used pesticides, many are toxic to the nervous
system, some are  carcinogenic, and some are known to cause reproductive 
problems.
Many pesticides  are endocrine disrupters and can either mimic hormones or
block hormone  receptors in the human body.


"Pesticides were first approved for agricultural  use, which meant weighing
potential health risks against the need to produce  food," says Alderman. 
"That
is very different from weighing the risks of  exposing people to these
chemicals simply to produce lawns without dandelions.  Yet it is these 
agricultural
pesticides, with all their inherent risks, that the  pesticide industry has
brought into people's homes in the form of lawn-care  pesticides."


The grassroots organization Toxics Action Center is  warning citizens about
the public health and environmental dangers of lawn  pesticides used by
TruGreen ChemLawn (ChemLawn). The Toxics Action Center kicked  off a 
campaign this
month to urge homeowners to "Refuse to Use ChemLawn," the  largest lawn-care
service in the nation.


According to the not-for-profit organization Toxics  Action Center, more 
than
half of ChemLawn's pesticide products include  ingredients that are possible
carcinogens, as defined by the United States  Environmental Protection 
Agency
(USEPA) and the World Health Organization's  International Agency for 
Research
on Cancer ((IARC). All of the company's  pesticide products include
ingredients that pose threats to the environment,  including threats to 
water supplies,
while more than one-third contain  ingredients that are banned or restricted
in other countries.


"These pesticides pose a significant threat to  children and pets," said 
Sean
Palfrey, M.D., president, Massachusetts Chapter of  the American Academy of
Pediatrics. "As a doctor, I believe we should minimize  our exposure to
dangerous pesticides and I urge residents and industries to look  for and 
use all
possible healthy alternatives."


"When customers contract with ChemLawn, they  believe they are signing up 
for
a green, plush lawn," said Jay Rasku,  Massachusetts State Director of 
Toxics
Action Center. "What many customers do  not know is that they are signing up
for a program that exposes their children,  pets and water supplies to an
arsenal of toxic pesticides."


Toxics Action Center's recently released report,  Be Truly Green: Refuse to
Use ChemLawn-Why Lawn Care Pesticides are Dangerous to  Your Children, Pets 
and
the Environment, documents the dangerous impacts of  ChemLawn's services. 
(To
download the report, visit  www.RefuseToUseChemLawn.org).


Pesticides can be very important tools. They can help reduce our risks of
Lyme disease and help us when there are hives of stinging insects. However, 
the
benefits of these products must always be weighed against their dangers.
Unnecessary exposures, including the purely cosmetic use of lawn-care
pesticides, should be eliminated if we are to protect human health.
###

--

Nancy Alderman, President
Environment and Human Health, Inc.
1191  Ridge Road
North Haven, CT 06473
(phone)    203-248-6582
(fax)         203-288-7571
http://www.ehhi.org





From timmckee at sbcglobal.net  Mon Mar 21 12:37:54 2005
From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee)
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 09:37:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: {news} Progresssive Film night returns! Funding to benifit GP
	office!
Message-ID: <20050321173755.8278.qmail@web81103.mail.yahoo.com>

Good News! March 21(- First Day of Spring!! )
 
After a long absence, the "Progressive Film Night and Discussion Series"  at the Green Party office in Hartford is returning!! With donation of a replacement TV for the office, we will soon start showing on a regular basis films, shorts, DVD and other programing of a "progressive" or "Green" nature on a every two weeks or so basis. 
 
This equipment has been donated for the ENTIRE state party to use, either at the office or at other locations across the state which may help local chapter build their followings. If any local would like to use it, please contact me, Tim McKee (860) 643-2282 or Mike DeRosa to arrange to use the equipment, free of charge. (PS_ Mike's email has been down-so call him if need be!)
 
HOW YOU CAN HELP- We have several films available, but what would you like to see or YOU have to show?? Please let us know!
 
For example- I have a DVD "'OIL ON ICE" which show the ANWAR Arctic oil drilling controversy- which has really blown in the news- would this be something people would like to see? Tying into rising GAS prices and the energy issues!! 
 
I also have a GM frankefood DVD to show- is that of interest?
Would people like a more popular main stream movie, such as a Moore's Far. 9-11?
 
Please let us know! 
 
I think this is a good start to raise money for the office on a ongoing basis, and increase membership and interest in the Green Party.  Several other plans are also in the works to raise money for the office, including Ralph Nader speaking at the office in April!! (Details to be announced soon!) I feel we are turning the tide on past money issues and starting a real positive cycle and with YOU help we can do it!
 
Tim McKee
860-643-2282
Cell 860-324-1684




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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Tue Mar 22 23:49:48 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 23:49:48 -0500
Subject: {news} agenda--March 29, 2005 SCC meeting--JUDD Hall,
	Wesleyan University
Message-ID: <011c01c52f63$e79d9860$25d7f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

Agenda--March 29, 2005 SCC meeting

 

Time:  7-9pm

Location:  Wesleyan University, Middletown CT, Judd Hall room 113.  

 

NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT THE HALL WHERE WE USUALLY MEET.

 

     We usually meet in Fisk Hall, which is at the corner of High and College Streets.  Go to www.wesleyan.edu for a campus map.  On the homepage click on "About Wesleyan", then click on "campus map".  If you stand in front of Fisk Hall (building 35 on the website's map), across the street is the President's House (building 62), at the corner of Wyllys Ave. and High St.  The Center for the Americas (building 18) is to the left of the President's House.  Behind the latter two buildings is a row of 6 buildings;  Judd Hall (building 45) is the leftmost building in the row.

     To get to Fisk Hall (our usual meeting place):  Take Rt. 9 to Exit 15 onto Rt. 66 West (Washington Street).  Proceed uphill on Rt. 66 (Washington Street) for about 1/2 mile to the 4th traffic light and turn left onto High St.  Fisk Hall is located at 262 High Street, 2 blocks down on the left at the 2nd traffic light (corner of High & College Streets).

      Parking:  From High Street turn left onto College Street and turn left again into the parking lot located in back of the Fisk Hall. No parking permit is needed.

 

Facilitator:   Charlie Pillsbury

 

Note to chapter reps:  to make SCC meetings as productive as possible, please make every effort to come prepared to vote on each issue in the agenda.  Members of the Executive Committee are willing to answer questions about agenda items, or the committees, chapters, or groups of 5-or-more Greens that proposed agenda items can be contacted.

 

A. PRELIMINARIES

1. (2 minutes) Introductions/identify chapter reps, recruit stacker and timekeeper

2. (1 minute)   Identify people present who are NOT voting reps (information needed by secretary)

3. (1 minute)   Adopt groundrules (last page of this agenda)

4. (2 minutes) Approval of tonight's proposed agenda/additions and deletions

 

NOTE:   rules for the SCC agenda adopted by the April 2003 SCC meeting state that "proposals, reports, and any old business will have priority over general discussion items and any new business".  The Executive Committee, in writing tonight's agenda, is proposing that the New Business of approving the New Britain Chapter be placed before the OLD BUSINESS AND PROPOSALS.

 

5. (2 minutes) Comments/approval of November, January 4,  January 25, and February SCC minutes 

6. (5 minutes)  Treasurer's report

7. (10 minutes) Guest slot--Miguel Angel Nieves, planning to run for mayor of New Britain as a Green

 

B. NEW BUSINESS ITEM

1. (5 minutes) Approval of New Britain chapter

 

C. OLD BUSINESS AND PROPOSALS

1. (20 minutes) Proposal from Office Committee (Appendix 1)

 

OPTION A. Keep CTGP funding of office as is (CTGP paying only 50% of rent & utilities + all taxes & insurance costs

 = approx. $5,500/year = approx. 90% of all CTGP cash funds);

 

Budget & need for office/use will be re-evaluated every 6 months.

 

 

OPTION B. Decrease CTGP funding of office to 25% (CTGP paying only 25% of rent, utilities, taxes & office insurance policy

 = approx. $2,500/year = approx.40% of all CTGP cash funds; 25% is based on liberal estimate of use of  office space by CTGP & represents a more balanced distribution of funding);



Budget & need for office/use will be re-evaluated every 6 months.




OPTION C. Cease CTGP funding of office (CTGP would not be responsible for any portion of rent, utilities, taxes or office insurance costs

 = 0% of all CTGP cash funds;

 

we would purchase individual liability event policies for CTGP
needs);

 

Budget & need for office/use will be re-evaluated every 6 months.




2. (10 minutes) Proposal on budget (New London chapter) (Appendix 2)

3. (10 minutes) Proposal on Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance (Appendix 3)

 

D. REPORTS  

1. Chapter reports (1 minute each)

2. (20 minutes) Internal Elections Committee

3. (5 minutes) Report from US Green Party representatives

4. (2 minutes) Legislative report (Mike)

5. (2 minutes) VOTER (Mike)

 

E.  ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS ITEMS

1. (5 minutes) Select replacement on Process Committee for Rachel Goodkind, who has moved from Connecticut

--must be female

2. (5 minutes) approval of Elizabeth Brancato, Justine McCabe, and David Eliscu to serve on national Green Party's Peace Action Committee

 

F.  ANNOUNCEMENTS

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 1  Office Committee report.

 

Due to its length, this report is not included in this News listserve post.  It was posted on the News listserve March 17.  For a copy of this document in Microsoft Word, you may contact Ed (secretary) at edubrule at sbcglobal.net or 860-523-4016.  Twenty-five copies of this report will be distributed at the SCC meeting.

 

See Options A, B, and C in the agenda above.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 2  Proposal on budget (New London chapter)

 

    Green Party Meeting Proposal Form

PRESENTER:  New London Greens (New London chapter)   

CONTACT:  Andy Derr, 16 Cliff Street, New London, CT 06320    860-437-8826     amderr at ctol.net

SUBJECT:  CT Green Party Budget and the Cramer estate

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:  We believe that one of the most significant problems we are experiencing with fund raising is that we do not and never had a budget.  This leads to the appearance of a lack of fiscal responsibility.   People are less willing to give to an organization that they don't trust to use the money wisely.  The passage of an annual budget should be of the highest priority for the CT Green Party.  The potential receipt of a large sum from the Cramer estate is an opportunity for us to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

 

PROPOSAL:  We propose that the CT Green Party not spend any money received from the Cramer estate until the State Central Committee has passed an annual budget.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 3   Proposal on Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance

 

     Green Party Meeting Proposal Form

 

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

 

PRESENTER:  Northwest Chapter of the Green Party of Connecticut

 

CONTACT:  Judy Herkimer: jherkimer at snet.net

 

SUBJECT :   Green Party of Connecticut Northwest Chapter account balance

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

According to the current Treasurer (Bob Eaton), the Northwest Chapter account balance is $2,075.88. This balance is a result of an agreed upon 70/30 split with the Green Party of Connecticut (70%) for all donations that originate from within the Northwest Chapter (30%) geographic boundaries. These funds are held by the Green Party of Connecticut under the oversight of the Treasurer and disbursed upon request by the chapters. The current available records indicate that the Northwest Chapter has not drawn any funds from their account since (at least) the first quarter of 2003.

 

PROPOSAL: 

In preparation for ongoing tabling opportunities throughout the state and beyond, for use during campaigns and for any beneficial use towards furthering the building of the party, our chapter proposes the design and purchase of comprehensive "tabling kits". These kits will be distributed (at no cost) to all chapters in the state and will be made available to those at-large members in areas not currently covered by a specific chapter. Input from anyone in the Green Party of Connecticut is welcome during the design and creation of the tabling kits.

 

Tabling kit items under consideration:
folding table with cover
chairs (2-3)
canopy and hardware
banner and display hardware
signage

donation can
printed paper material (e.g. brochures, literature, campaign materials)
items for sale (e.g. buttons, bumper stickers, clothing, videos, flying discs)
supplies (e.g. tablecloth, clipboards, office supplies, receipt book)

paper weights

CD of basic handouts
carrying case

The Northwest Chapter anticipates the total cost of the tabling kits to be between $1500-$2000. As a courtesy to the Treasurer, we submit this proposal as notification of our intention to present invoices in the near future for supplies and services associated with the tabling kits.

 

As a courtesy to the State Central Committee, we submit this proposal to inform the general membership of this exciting project and to encourage widespread participation.

--------------------------------------------------------

ground rules as last page
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From timmckee at sbcglobal.net  Wed Mar 23 15:00:12 2005
From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee)
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:00:12 -0800 (PST)
Subject: {news} Scott Ritter to speak at Manc. Com College April 6th
Message-ID: <20050323200012.85482.qmail@web81105.mail.yahoo.com>

This free event is on April 6th  at 7 pm  in the SBM auditoriam more into come.. or you can go to the Manchester Community Collge website under April events


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From timmckee at sbcglobal.net  Wed Mar 23 22:42:54 2005
From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee)
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 19:42:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: {news} Fwd: NEW PROGRAM FROM THE GREEN PARTY WILL EARN MONEY FOR
	YOUR STATE AND LOCAL AND RECRUIT CARD-CARRYING GREENS!
Message-ID: <20050324034254.34287.qmail@web81106.mail.yahoo.com>



office at gp.org wrote:From: <office at gp.org>
To: <office at gp.org>
Subject: NEW PROGRAM FROM THE GREEN PARTY WILL EARN MONEY FOR YOUR STATE AND LOCAL AND RECRUIT CARD-CARRYING GREENS!
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 13:52:49 -0500


st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
NEW PROGRAM FROM THE GREEN PARTY WILL EARN MONEY FOR YOUR STATE AND LOCAL AND RECRUIT CARD-CARRYING GREENS!

 

   Now you can be a card-carrying Green! Sign up for the Green Party Card for $36 a year?roughly equivalent to the $1 paid to join the Populist Party in 1886.

   Most members of the populists were dirt-poor farmers, with so little cash that they couldn't get credit from the banks and corporations who had a chokehold on them, just the way those same institutions are strangling us today. But those with a vision of social justice managed to find $1?$36 in today's money?to fund a multiracial, progressive, third party that fought back in ways that made them a legend to all working people.

   Sign up with the Green Party today and help us carry on that historic struggle for peace and justice!

 

Benefits:

 

   Beyond knowing that you are contributing to the Peace Party that spearheaded the Ohio recount, you'll get your very own Green Party Card, a year?s subscription to the GP-US newspaper "Green Pages," a Green Party button, and a Green Party bumper sticker. The packet will include a welcome letter and an outline of Green Party history and structure, as well as committee, caucus, network, and local contact information.

 

Logistics for States/Locals:

 

   The Green Party of the United States will, upon request, send your state or local up to 200 of the snazzy Green Party Card applications. (The application form is also available as a PDF file at www.gp.org/documents/greenpartycard.pdf so that you can download it and print your own.) We encourage you to use the application forms at meetings and events, in mailings and other promotions, and when talking to friends and family members. And we'll send you more when you need them!

 

   The Green Party national office will coordinate the Green Party Card program with a state Card Coordinator. Completed applications are mailed to Green Party of the United States, PO Box 57065, Washington DC 20037, and the Green Party Card packets will be sent out from there. Each state will receive half of the proceeds for each person who signs up from their state. States are encouraged to share the money with the member's local Green Party. New contact information will be sent to the Card Coordinator promptly for follow-up at the state and local level. (Renewal notices will be sent out by the Green Party national office a month or two before the card expires.)

 

   No matter how a person from your state signs up, you will receive the state/local share for that member.

 

Order Now: 

 

We've printed an initial run of 5,000 applications to begin this project. Request forms, or send questions or comments to the national office at office at gp.org, (toll free) 866-41GREEN, or 202-319-7191. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

In Green Solidarity, 

 

Jody Grage Haug

Steering Committee Co-Chair

 




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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 24 00:50:43 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:50:43 -0500
Subject: {news} proposal (mailing costs) Exec Committee will ask to be added
	to March SCC agenda
Message-ID: <00f601c53035$a98ae820$c2a4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

The Executive Committee, at the beginning of the SCC meeting, will ask that this proposal be added to the SCC agenda. 

 

 

     Green Party Meeting Proposal Form

PRESENTER:  Executive Committee             

CONTACT:  Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT  06790, embrancato at netzero.com

SUBJECT:  Fund Raising Mailing - Additional funds                          

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

The SCC, in November approved paying $855-$955 for a fund-raising mailing.  The mailing was done, but the bill has run over the cost estimate.  Although part of the overage seems to be due to printing more copies than the original quote called for, it seems that the overage is also due to our requesting printing on two sides of the insert.  That was not part of the original quote.

PROPOSAL:

 

We propose that the Connecticut Green Party approve an additional expenditure of up to $200.00 to settle this account in full.
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From amderr at ctol.net  Thu Mar 24 20:33:23 2005
From: amderr at ctol.net (Andy Derr)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 20:33:23 -0500
Subject: {news} (no subject)
Message-ID: <a05200f0abe691ab19ca8@[69.24.45.26]>

	The third election strategy session for the Green Party of CT 
will be on Saturday, April 2, at 12 noon in New London.  The meeting 
will be at the Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington Street, in 
the meeting room.  For more information, contact me by e-mail, or 
call me at 860-437-8826.
	Directions-
	From the West, take I-95 North to exit 83.  At the traffic 
light at the end of the ramp, go straight- you are now on Huntington 
Street.  The Library is on the left immediately after the third 
traffic light, at the corner of State and Huntington.  There is some 
parking behind the library; turn left just past the building.
	From the North, take I-395 South to exit 78 (left exit). 
This dumps you out onto Rt 32 south.  Follow Rt 32 past Conn College 
and I-95, and just past I-95 it turns into Eugene O'Neill Drive.  At 
the third light past I-95, turn right on State Street.  Go up State 
about 1/4 mile, and turn left onto Huntington.  The Library is right 
there on your left at the corner.
	From the East, take I-95 South across the Gold Star Bridge, 
and take the first exit over the bridge, exit 84.  The exit splits 
into three; keep all the way to the left, following the signs for 
Downtown New London.  The exit puts you onto Eugene O'Neill Drive. 
At the third light, turn right on State Street.  Go up State about 
1/4 mile, and turn left onto Huntington.  The Library is right there 
on your left at the corner.
	Public Transit- Amtrak and Greyhound both come to New London. 
I don't know if there are any trains or buses that arrive at 
convenient times.   Union Station, where they both arrive, is on 
Water Street and State Street.  Walk out of the building, turn left, 
and you come to State Street almost immediately.  Turn right on 
State, and walk up the street about 1/4 mile.  When you reach 
Huntington Street, the Library is on your left.
	State Street has several restaurants open on Saturday 
morning- also Bank Street, which crosses State Street between Eugene 
O'Neill and Union Station.



From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Fri Mar 25 12:20:38 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 12:20:38 -0500
Subject: {news} (1)Karin Norton USGP rep alternate candidate;
	(2)deadline April 8, 5pm for declaring candidacies
Message-ID: <001f01c5315f$b8641cb0$4ac2f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

     The following persons have declared that they are candidates in the upcoming internal elections:
(1) Co-chair:  Aaron Gustafson, Mike DeRosa, Kelly McCarthy
(2) Secretary:  Barbara Barry DeRosa
(3) Treasurer:  Bob Eaton
(4) US Green Party representative:  Tom Sevigny, Tim McKee
(5) US Green Party alternate:  Karin Norton

     In past year(s), the internal elections ballot has listed three positions for US Green Party representative, and the practice was that the first- and second-place vote-getters became the two representatives, and the third-place vote-getter became the alternate.  This year, the internal elections committee discussed the option of accepting candidacies from people who wished to run for the alternate position only (but were not interested in running for the position of US Green Party representative).  Karin liked this idea and is running for US Green Party alternate in this way.
*********************
     The internal elections committee has decided to announce a new (and final) deadline for people to declare their candidacies for the offices listed above.  That deadline is 5pm on Friday April 8.  Any Green who wishes to declare that he/she is a candidate may convey this information to Jean de Smet or  Ed DuBrule.  JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net;  edubrule at sbcglobal.net.  And/or this information may announced at the March 29 SCC meeting.
     Please spread the news of this deadline widely within the CTGP (chapter meetings, chapter listserves).
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Sat Mar 26 13:58:39 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 13:58:39 -0500
Subject: {news} Executive Committee proposal--event endorsement
Message-ID: <005d01c53237$83c84f20$028cf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

The Executive Committee will be asking, at the beginning of the meeting, that the following proposal be added to the agenda of the March SCC meeting.
------------------------------
    Green Party Meeting Proposal Form

PRESENTER:  Executive Committee             

CONTACT:  Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT  06790, embrancato at netzero.com

SUBJECT:  Event Endorsement by the Executive Committee                      

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

The Executive Committee has the authority to approve the endorsement of events when there is not time to bring the request for approval before the full SCC.  Most event endorsements are straightforward and not at all controversial.  SCC meetings often do not have quorum, and even when they have quorum, the agenda is full.  We believe that the time of the SCC would be better spent if routine endorsements were taken care of by the Executive Committee.

PROPOSAL:

We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve the endorsement of all events.  The EC will approve the endorsement if there is full consensus.  If there is not full consensus, and there is time to put the endorsement before the SCC, it will be added to the agenda for the next meeting and will be discussed and decided-upon by the full SCC.  If there is not time to put the endorsement before the full SCC, a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee will prevail.
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Sat Mar 26 13:58:52 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 13:58:52 -0500
Subject: {news} proposal from Executive Committee-national committee
	appointments
Message-ID: <005e01c53237$85437d70$028cf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

The Executive Committee will be asking, at the beginning of the meeting, that this proposal be added to the agenda of the March SCC meeting.

------------------------------

    Green Party Meeting Proposal Form

PRESENTER:  Executive Committee             

CONTACT:  Elizabeth M. Brancato, 19 Smith Street, Torrington, CT  06790, embrancato at netzero.com

SUBJECT:  Approval of Delegates to National Committees                                

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

There are many national committees which SCC members in good standing can join and contribute to.  We feel this benefits and strengthens our SCC, as well as the individual delegates.  We would like to encourage members joining and working on national committees.  We have, in the past, put these nominations before the full SCC.  This has sometimes resulted in delay and discouragement.  The SCC meetings often do not have quorum.  When there is quorum, the agendas are so full that often all business is not done, or is done in a rushed manner.

PROPOSAL:

 We propose that the Connecticut Green Party allow the Executive Committee to approve delegates to national committees.  Notice of the pending approval and solicitation of other candidates will take place before the approval.  Notice of the approval will be posted on the News list serve within 48 hours of the approval being granted.  Notice of the approval will be reported at the next SCC meeting as part of the report of the Executive Committee.
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Sat Mar 26 16:36:13 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 16:36:13 -0500
Subject: {news} minutes of 3/21/05 internal elections conference call
Message-ID: <059a01c5324c$055c1030$028cf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

Minutes of 3/21/05 internal elections conference call (7:30-8:50pm)

 

Participating:  Jean de Smet, Judy Herkimer, Ed DuBrule.

 

All members of the internal elections listserve were invited to join this conference call by a post to that listserve on March 16.  All Greens were invited to join this conference call by a post to the News listserve on March 16.  Participation in the conference call required paying for a toll call to Iowa;  cheaper alternatives should be investigated.

 

Karin Norton is a candidate for alternate to the US Green Party representative.  (She does not want to run for USGP rep, just for alternate).

 

Candidates so far are:

*co-chair:  Aaron Gustafson, Kelly McCarthy, Mike DeRosa

*treasurer:  Bob Eaton

*secretary:  Barbara Barry DeRosa

*US Green Party reps:  Tim McKee, Tom Sevigny

*US Green Party rep alternate:  Karin Norton

 

There are exactly as many candidates as there are positions;  there are no contested positions.

 

During this call we decided that we will announce a deadline of Friday April 8, 5pm for people to declare candidacies.  Ed will put the list of candidates (including Karin) and this deadline on the News listserve;  the deadline will be announced at the March SCC meeting and in the minutes of that meeting.  Unlike an earlier deadline we announced, this is an absolute deadline which will not be extended.

 

The bylaws paragraph concerning elections is appended to these minutes.  Although the bylaws do not require the election of officers other than co-chairs, tonight we decided that we will propose to the SCC that all officers be elected, as in past internal elections.  We believe that election of officers other than co-chairs is consistent with the bylaws.  The elections will be done (as in past years) at an annual meeting.

 

Judy pointed out that the bylaws contain the sentence "The Bylaws were amended in 2000 to add a third Co-Chair". 

 

During this call we decided that we will propose to the March SCC meeting that we NOT do any mailing associated with this year's internal elections.  This decision is based on the assumption that this will be an election in which there are uncontested seats.  We will ask for guidance from the March SCC meeting on the question of doing a mailing (or not) if additional person(s) declare candidacies.

 

Reasons for NOT doing a mailing if there are no contested positions include:

**the low amount of money in the CTGP's checking account.

**apparent disinterest among CTGP members in the idea of doing a mailing--weeks ago the secretary sent lists of registered Greens to each of the chapters with the request that chapters return to him address changes and additional members (per the bylaws definition of the term "CTGP member") in preparation for the internal elections;  only one of the chapters has responded (and that response was incomplete).

**inability of the secretary to find time to do further work on the lists (add missing zip codes, determine why dozens of names weren't included in the lists sent to the chapters).

 

The internal elections committee will mail a ballot to CTGP members (per the bylaws definition of "CTGP member")  who request that a ballot be mailed.  This mailing will also include candidate biographies and information about the time/place of the annual meeting.  One person will be designated to receive such requests and mail out the ballots.

 

The time/place of the annual meeting must be publicized.  Posts on the internal elections listserve have raised such ideas as putting notice(s) in newspapers, putting notices in town papers, and "phone banking".  Tonight we leaned against the idea of putting a notice in the Hartford Courant (probably too expensive, though we didn't have the figures at hand--the cost per column inch is in a post in the internal elections listserve archives).  We also felt that if the annual meeting were held in New Haven, New Haven area newspapers might print notice of the meeting for free (in the "local events" section) but that few if any newspapers elsewhere in the state would print such a notice for free.  We will, of course, announce the date of the annual meeting on the News listserve and ask that it be placed on chapters' listserves.  We will put it on the CTGP website.  In addition, we will strongly recommend that chapters make efforts to call chapter members to invite them to the annual meeting.  Such a phone call could also inform chapter members of the date of an upcoming rally, an upcoming chapter meeting, etc.  The idea of  making calls to those who have donated recently to the CTGP was also raised.

 

We will accept nominations from the floor during the annual meeting.  We will arrange a forum during the annual meeting during which the candidates (even if unopposed) can speak and answer questions.  (Technically, all candidates are opposed by "none of the above" on the ballot, and also by the write-in space on the ballot.)

 

We will write a proposal to be presented to the March SCC meeting.  We will ask, at the beginning of the meeting, that our proposal be added to the agenda.  Jean will be at the March SCC meeting and will present the proposal.  The proposal will include the ideas in these minutes and will include the following:

--the need to request a hall rental fee for the annual meeting ($75?)

--the need to request an appropriation for postage and printing costs associated with the printing of ballots for the annual meeting and the mailing of ballots to those who request one.  [Added by minutes-taker;  not discussed in conference call.]

 

We discussed possible dates for the annual meeting:

**Sunday April 17

**Saturday April 23

We note that Sunday April 24 is Passover.  We need to find out more about this--we believe that the Passover celebration begins Saturday evening.  The time of the annual meeting will be 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch.  Earth Day is April 22;  perhaps a tie-in with the annual meeting could be made.

 

Other than the balloting and candidate presentations, the events at the annual meeting are not the responsibility of the internal elections committee.  We believe that in the past the Executive Committee has taken responsibility for speaker(s) at the annual meeting.  In our report to the March SCC meeting we should ask that people step forward to help plan such speaker(s).  Ideas for speakers/events at the annual meeting that we have learned of have included:

*Bill C. Davis, the playwright who will be a green candidate in 2005, could be asked (has offered?) to write a mini-play ("green dialogue") for presentation at the annual meeting.

*presentation by those who have been participating in the 2005/2006 elections strategy sessions

*Tony Affigne of Rhode Iland Green Party

 

Speakers (at least those from out of state?) could be offered gas money and perhaps a small honorarium.  These expenses should be included in a budget request from the SCC.

 

Who will moderate the annual meeting?

 

Details of counting the ballots and running the election needed to be investigated.  Last year Chris Reilly brought a laptop to the annual meeting with a balloting program in it.  We believe that this balloting program is from www.fairvote.org/pr and is a program for electing people based on proportional representation.  We don't think this is the same as instant runoff voting.



The bylaws (see appendix below) call for electing the co-chairs at the state party convention "by an absolute majority vote of the members, as established if necessary by successive preferential voting."  We are equating the "state party convention" with the annual meeting.  We need to figure out what these bylaws provisions mean:

*would use of the laptop voting program be inconsistent with the bylaws?

*do the bylaws require (or permit) a ballot-counting procedure which is be simple enough that use of a laptop would not be required?

*how will votes for "none of the above", write-ins, and lack-of-votes-for-a-given-office on a ballot be handled?

*what exactly does the requirement for an "absolute majority vote of members" mean?

 

Who on the internal elections committee (or in the Connecticut Green Party) has the time/interest to look into these questions and/or to carry out the vote-counting at the annual meeting?  Judy said she might be interested (though she does not have a laptop for use at this meeting).  Should we have a "dry run" (practice session) which tests various possible voting outcomes?

---------------------------------------------------

Appendix.  Bylaws.



I've taken the bylaws paragraph on selecting officers and broken it up into parts (a),(b),(c),and (d).



Election/Appointment of Officials



     (a) In the initial organization of the Party under the Bylaws enacted by the State Central Committee, the Co-Chairpersons shall be elected by a majority vote of the State Central Committee, and shall hold office for one year or until the following State Party convention, whichever occurs first.

     

     (b) At and following that Convention, Party Co-Chairpersons shall be elected by an absolute majority vote of the members, as established if necessary by successive preferential voting.

          

     (c) Other offices shall be filled by volunteers approved by the State Central Committee, and/or by appointment of individuals proposed by responsible members and approved by the State Central Committee.

     

     (d) All offices shall be for a term of one year from the time of election or appointment.
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From ehscouts at aol.com  Sun Mar 27 14:57:22 2005
From: ehscouts at aol.com (ehscouts at aol.com)
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 14:57:22 -0500
Subject: {news} Hi, I sent you a greeting from AOL E-Cards
Message-ID: <200503271957.j2RJvMU16527@ecard-lc11b.iwebsys.aol.com>

To view your greeting, choose from the options below.

Click on the following link:
http://www.pickup.aol.egreetings.com/view.pd?i=53927050&m=1429&rr=y&source=aole999

OR

Copy and paste the above link into your web browser's "address" window.

Thank you for using AOL E-Cards!
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Mon Mar 28 23:09:52 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 23:09:52 -0500
Subject: {news} intern elections committee proposal for March SCC meeting
Message-ID: <000c01c53415$2b49edb0$858cf504@edgn2b574u14bi>

The internal elections committee will ask that this proposal be added to the agenda for tomorrow evening's SCC meeting.
----------------------------------
Green Party Meeting Proposal Form

[Saturday, March 26, 2005;  with revision from Judy received 3-28-05;  totals with postage added by Ed]

 

PRESENTER  Internal Elections Committee (IEC)

CONTACT:  Jean de Smet, 39 Davis Street, Willimantic, CT 06226  860-456-2188  demac at galaxyinternet.net 

SUBJECT :  2005 Annual Meeting/State Party Convention of the Green Party of Connecticut (GPC)



BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

The IEC is charged by the State Central Committee (SCC) to coordinate and implement all aspects of an annual election for elected positions within the GPC.


 PROPOSAL:

1.      Deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at 5:00pm.

 

2.      Proposed Convention dates are Sunday, April 17th or Saturday, April 23rd; 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch.

 

3.      Authorize David Bedell to rent for $75 the Greater New Haven Labor Council, 267 Chapel Street, New Haven, 203-777-2756. The New Haven Chapter previously offered (January 20, 2005) to donate the rental fee.

 

4.      Nominations from the floor the day of the Convention will be accepted (Co-Chairperson[3], Secretary, Treasurer, GP-US Representative[2], GP-US Representative Alternate).

 

5.      A ballot and candidate information will be mailed to any qualified member who requests one. Deadlines for mailed ballots will be established once the Convention date is set. Ballots will be numbered and mailed by this committee. Numbered ballots and printed candidate information will be available at the Convention. This committee requests that $200 (or less) be earmarked by the treasurer for printing and associated costs for ballots, candidate information sheets, envelopes and postage.

 

5A. In the event of an uncontested race, this Committee does not recommend a widespread mass postal mailing of ballots and candidate information for the following reasons:

 

(i) the low amount of money in the Party's checking account;

(ii) apparent disinterest among members in the idea of doing a mailing. Weeks ago the secretary sent lists of registered Greens to each of the chapters with the request that chapters return to him address changes and additional members (per the bylaws definition of member) in preparation for the internal elections; few of the chapters have responded

(iii) inability of the secretary to find time to do further work on the lists (e.g. add missing zip codes, determine why dozens of names were not included in the lists sent to the chapters).

 

However, if other candidates should come forward thus creating a contested election, this Committee requests the guidance of the SCC as to whether or not the Party wishes to consider a mass postal mailing. Estimated cost quotes of three printing/mailing options: (postage included):

 

Option #1: 2800 postcards/200 full ballot  $1,291
Option #2: 2000 postcard/1000 full ballots            $1,892
Option #3: 3000 full ballots                                    $3,260



6.      Although the bylaws state that the only elected position is Co-Chairperson[3] and all other positions are appointed, this committee recommends that the Party follow historical precedent by electing all positions. The bylaws read:  ".Co-Chairpersons shall be elected by an absolute majority vote of the members, as established if necessary by successive preferential voting." 

--Bylaws of the GPC, Adopted by the SCC-January, 1999; revised 2000, 2001: II. Party Structure and Functions, 2. Officers, f) Election/Appointment of Officials

 

7.      At the Convention, candidates will be allowed opportunity to present their positions and answer questions.

 

8.      Notice of the Convention will be disseminated via existing listservs, chapter representatives, email, media "events" listings and our website. Chapters are encouraged to reach out to their members via phone calls.

 

9.      In anticipation of the Executive Committee arranging for Convention speaker(s), we request an appropriation from the SCC for speaker(s)' gasoline expenses and small honorarium.
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Tue Mar 29 09:51:53 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 09:51:53 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Prospects for Peace in Israel/Palestine--talk in Guilford
Message-ID: <000c01c5346e$dbafddf0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Steven Kramer 
To: WeRefuse ; CTPeaceActivists ; Al-Awda 
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 11:31 PM
Subject: [al-awda-CT] Prospects for Peace in Israel/Palestine



Thursday March 31 7:30 PM
Nathanael Greene Community Center
32 Church Street
Guilford CT

Virginia Baron, past president of the International
Fellowship of Reconciliation will report on her recent
trip to Israel/Palestine. She will discuss some of the
regional news that is rarely reported in the US Media.

Sponsored by the Guilford Peace Alliance
For more information call Anita 203-453-6360 or email Luz22 at yahoo.com

Steve Kramer






Unless indicated otherwise, all statements posted represent the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition. visit http://al-awda.org/connecticut for details on this group

Contact your representatives and elected officials: use 
http://congress.cfl-online.org/

For other ways to help, see http://BoycottIsraeliGoods.org 


      Yahoo! Groups Sponsor 
            ADVERTISEMENT
           
     
     


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

  a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-awda-CT/
    
  b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  al-awda-CT-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
    
  c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 

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From jherkimer at snet.net  Tue Mar 29 10:58:12 2005
From: jherkimer at snet.net (Judith Herkimer)
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 10:58:12 -0500
Subject: {news} Internal Elections Committee proposal
Message-ID: <022701c53478$28a132e0$3ad83ccc@k8h9a3>

This proposal will be presented at tonight's SCC meeting in Middletown. Some
formatting has been lost.
See you tonight.

Judy Herkimer
--for the IEC
******************************************

Green Party Meeting Proposal Form
Saturday, March 26, 2005

PRESENTER  Internal Elections Committee (IEC)

CONTACT:  Jean de Smet, 39 Davis Street, Willimantic, CT 06226  860-456-2188
demac at galaxyinternet.net

SUBJECT :  2005 Annual Meeting/State Party Convention of the Green Party of
Connecticut (GPC)

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

The IEC is charged by the State Central Committee (SCC) to coordinate and
implement all aspects of an annual election for elected positions within the
GPC.

PROPOSAL:

1.        Deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at
5:00pm.

2.        Proposed Convention dates are Sunday, April 17th or Saturday,
April 23rd; 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch.

3.        Authorize David Bedell to rent for $75 the Greater New Haven Labor
Council, 267 Chapel Street, New Haven, 203-777-2756. The New Haven Chapter
previously offered (January 20, 2005) to donate the rental fee.

4.        Nominations from the floor the day of the Convention will be
accepted (Co-Chairperson[3], Secretary, Treasurer, GP-US Representative[2],
GP-US Representative Alternate).

5.        A ballot and candidate information will be mailed to any qualified
member who requests one. Deadlines for mailed ballots will be established
once the Convention date is set. Ballots will be numbered and mailed by this
committee. Numbered ballots and printed candidate information will be
available at the Convention. This committee requests that $200 (or less) be
earmarked by the treasurer for printing and associated costs for ballots,
candidate information sheets, envelopes and postage.

5A. In the event of an uncontested race, this Committee does not recommend a
widespread mass postal mailing of ballots and candidate information for the
following reasons:

(i) the low amount of money in the Party's checking account;

(ii) apparent disinterest among members in the idea of doing a mailing.
Weeks ago the secretary sent lists of registered Greens to each of the
chapters with the request that chapters return to him address changes and
additional members (per the bylaws definition of member) in preparation for
the internal elections; few of the chapters have responded

(iii) inability of the secretary to find time to do further work on the
lists (e.g. add missing zip codes, determine why dozens of names were not
included in the lists sent to the chapters).

However, if other candidates should come forward thus creating a contested
election, this Committee requests the guidance of the SCC as to whether or
not the Party wishes to consider a mass postal mailing. Estimated cost
quotes of three printing/mailing options (postage included):

Option #1: 2800 postcards/200 full ballot               $1,291
Option #2: 2000 postcard/1000 full ballots             $1,892
Option #3: 3000 full ballots                                       $3,260

6.        Although the bylaws state that the only elected position is
Co-Chairperson[3] and all other positions are appointed, this committee
recommends that the Party follow historical precedent by electing all
positions. The bylaws read:  ".Co-Chairpersons shall be elected by an
absolute majority vote of the members, as established if necessary by
successive preferential voting."

--Bylaws of the GPC, Adopted by the SCC-January, 1999; revised 2000, 2001:
II. Party Structure and Functions, 2. Officers, f) Election/Appointment of
Officials

7.        At the Convention, candidates will be allowed opportunity to
present their positions and answer questions.

8.        Notice of the Convention will be disseminated via existing
listservs, chapter representatives, email, media "events" listings and our
website. Chapters are encouraged to reach out to their members via phone
calls.

9.        In anticipation of the Executive Committee arranging for
Convention speaker(s), we request appropriation from the SCC for speaker(s)'
gasoline expenses and small honorarium.





From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 31 01:13:13 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 01:13:13 -0500
Subject: {news} Connecticut Clean Energy Summit
Message-ID: <002f01c535c0$50f93730$e1a4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

I found this in my inbox.  I don't know who Mary Vigil is.
--Ed

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mary Vigil 
To: De Rosa, Mike 
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 5:20 PM
Subject: A Plug for Clean Energy


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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 31 02:05:45 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 02:05:45 -0500
Subject: {news} (1)annual meeting Sun 4/17;
	(2)member lists needed by internal elections committee
Message-ID: <003201c535c0$6be85b70$e1a4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

     At the March SCC meeting, it was decided to have the Connecticut Green Party Annual Meeting on Sunday April 17.  It will take place in a location to be announced (quite possibly in New Haven) from 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch.  The officers of the CT Green Party--co-chairs, secretary, treasurer, US Green Party reps, and US Green Party rep alternate--are elected at the annual meeting.  In addition we will probably have speaker(s) to be announced.  SAVE THE DATE!
------------------------------------------------
     I sent the chapters lists of registered Greens and asked them to check for changed addresses and also to add names of persons who are members of the CT Green Party (per the bylaws definition) but who are not registered Greens.  To date I have not received back corrected/added-to lists from most chapters.  At the March SCC meeting we decided that we will not be mailing ballots to all the CTGP members this year (largely because we don't have the funds to do this).  However the internal elections committee still needs these corrected lists.  We need the lists because we will be mailing ballots to people who contact us and ask for a ballot--to do this we will need to check that those people are CTGP members (per the bylaws definition).  We will also want to have the lists available at the annual meeting to be sure that people receiving ballots are entitled to receive them.
     If questions please contact me at  edubrule at sbcglobal.net or 860-523-4016.
--Ed DuBrule
secretary and member of internal elections committee
     
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 31 02:06:04 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 02:06:04 -0500
Subject: {news} details on internal elections (decisions made by March SCC
	meeting)
Message-ID: <003301c535c0$6ecb7e30$e1a4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

I have completed the portion of the minutes of the March 29 SCC meeting which deals with the upcoming internal elections.  This portion is pasted below.  The proposal presented to (and approved by) this SCC meeting is also pasted below.
--Ed
--------------------------
6.  PROPOSAL FROM INTERNAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE.  Jean presented the proposal (Appendix 6).

 

SCC DECISION:  the proposal was accepted by consensus, with the date of the annual meeting to be Sunday April 17.  The proposal has 10 sections (1-5, 5A, and  6-9).  Highlights of the proposal, with decisions made at tonight's meeting, are as follows.

 

Section 1.  The deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at 5:00 pm.

Section 2.  The annual meeting, by consensus, will be April 17 from 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch.  (The alternative proposed date of April 23 was rejected because Passover celebrations begin that evening, and also because the Hamden chapter has scheduled a cleanup day that date.)

Section 3.  Hall rental ($75)--the SCC approved this expenditure by consensus.  (The possibility of the donation of this money by the New Haven chapter--noted in the proposal--was not mentioned at tonight's meeting.)

Section 4.  Nominations from the floor of the annual meeting will be accepted.

Section 5.  Ballots and candidate information will be mailed to any Connecticut Green Party member who requests one.  The SCC approved tonight up to $200 for printing/postage associated with the annual meeting.  The Hamden chapter offered use of a copying machine.

Section 5A.  To date there are no contested races.  Tonight the SCC decided that even if additional persons declare candidacies, no mailing of internal elections/annual meeting information will be done this year (with the exception of the mailings to those requesting ballots).  

Section 6.  All positions will be filled by elections (rather than by direct appointment by the SCC).

Section 7.  There will be a candidate forum at the annual meeting.

Section 8.  Publicizing the annual meeting.

Section 9.  Tonight the SCC approved the expenditure of up to $100 to reimburse possible annual meeting speaker(s) for transportation expenses and to be able to offer small honorari(a)

--------------------------------------------

Appendix 6

Green Party Meeting Proposal Form

[Saturday, March 26, 2005;  with revision from Judy received 3-28-05;  totals with postage added by Ed]

 

PRESENTER  Internal Elections Committee (IEC)

CONTACT:  Jean de Smet, 39 Davis Street, Willimantic, CT 06226  860-456-2188  demac at galaxyinternet.net 

SUBJECT :  2005 Annual Meeting/State Party Convention of the Green Party of Connecticut (GPC)



BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

The IEC is charged by the State Central Committee (SCC) to coordinate and implement all aspects of an annual election for elected positions within the GPC.


 PROPOSAL:

1.      Deadline for announcing candidacies is Friday, April 8, 2005 at 5:00pm.

 

2.      Proposed Convention dates are Sunday, April 17th or Saturday, April 23rd; 10am-2pm with a potluck lunch.

 

3.      Authorize David Bedell to rent for $75 the Greater New Haven Labor Council [SEE NOTE IMMEDIATELY BELOW], 267 Chapel Street, New Haven, 203-777-2756. The New Haven Chapter previously offered (January 20, 2005) to donate the rental fee.

 

[NOTE:  TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE ROOM RENTAL AT THE GREATER NEW HAVEN LABOR COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED OR FINALIZED.  --Ed DuBrule]



4.      Nominations from the floor the day of the Convention will be accepted (Co-Chairperson[3], Secretary, Treasurer, GP-US Representative[2], GP-US Representative Alternate).

 

5.      A ballot and candidate information will be mailed to any qualified member who requests one. Deadlines for mailed ballots will be established once the Convention date is set. Ballots will be numbered and mailed by this committee. Numbered ballots and printed candidate information will be available at the Convention. This committee requests that $200 (or less) be earmarked by the treasurer for printing and associated costs for ballots, candidate information sheets, envelopes and postage.

 

5A. In the event of an uncontested race, this Committee does not recommend a widespread mass postal mailing of ballots and candidate information for the following reasons:

 

(i) the low amount of money in the Party's checking account;

(ii) apparent disinterest among members in the idea of doing a mailing. Weeks ago the secretary sent lists of registered Greens to each of the chapters with the request that chapters return to him address changes and additional members (per the bylaws definition of member) in preparation for the internal elections; few of the chapters have responded

(iii) inability of the secretary to find time to do further work on the lists (e.g. add missing zip codes, determine why dozens of names were not included in the lists sent to the chapters).

 

However, if other candidates should come forward thus creating a contested election, this Committee requests the guidance of the SCC as to whether or not the Party wishes to consider a mass postal mailing. Estimated cost quotes of three printing/mailing options: (postage included):

 

Option #1: 2800 postcards/200 full ballot             $1,291
Option #2: 2000 postcard/1000 full ballots            $1,892
Option #3: 3000 full ballots                                    $3,260



6.      Although the bylaws state that the only elected position is Co-Chairperson[3] and all other positions are appointed, this committee recommends that the Party follow historical precedent by electing all positions. The bylaws read:  ".Co-Chairpersons shall be elected by an absolute majority vote of the members, as established if necessary by successive preferential voting." 

--Bylaws of the GPC, Adopted by the SCC-January, 1999; revised 2000, 2001: II. Party Structure and Functions, 2. Officers, f) Election/Appointment of Officials

 

7.      At the Convention, candidates will be allowed opportunity to present their positions and answer questions.

 

8.      Notice of the Convention will be disseminated via existing listservs, chapter representatives, email, media "events" listings and our website. Chapters are encouraged to reach out to their members via phone calls.

 

9.      In anticipation of the Executive Committee arranging for Convention speaker(s), we request an appropriation from the SCC for speaker(s)' gasoline expenses and small honorarium.
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From justinemccabe at earthlink.net  Thu Mar 31 08:05:21 2005
From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 08:05:21 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: Dr. Hanan Ashrawi at Yale next Monday, 4/4
Message-ID: <030a01c535f2$4bc0c710$0402a8c0@JUSTINE>





 Hanan Ashrawi came to the world's attention during the first intifada in 
the late '80's after her appearance on "Nightline" and has been an eloquent 
spokesperson for Palestinian human rights and peace since.

 Monday, April 4, 7:00pm
 Yale Law School
 127 Wall Street
 New Haven

 Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations Lecture Series on the Contemporary
 Middle East
 presents
 Hanan Ashrawi
 Director
 MIFTAH - The Palestinian Initiative for the
 Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy

 "Palestine, Peace, and Democracy: The Road Ahead"
>
> Sponsored by The Arab Students' Association of Yale College, CT Peace 
> Coalition/New Haven, the Middle East Crisis Committee, the Edward J. and 
> Dorothy Clarke Kempf Memorial Fund at Yale, the Yale Center for 
> International and Area Studies, and the Department of Near Eastern 
> Languages and Civilizations. For more information, contact
> hala.nassar at yale.edu.
> 





From timmckee at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 31 09:10:22 2005
From: timmckee at sbcglobal.net (Tim McKee)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 06:10:22 -0800 (PST)
Subject: {news} (New London Day) "Green Party Already Gearing Up For '06"
Message-ID: <20050331141022.20884.qmail@web81102.mail.yahoo.com>

Featured in Region
Green Party Already Gearing Up For '06
Candidates To Run Against Simmons, Lieberman, Rell 
It's really not about the Democratic Party. It's about trying to grow our party. 
Tim McKee,a member of The Green Party's national committeeBy TED MANN
Day Staff Writer
Published on 3/30/2005 
Hartford ? The Green Party of Connecticut is planning to take aim at big political game in the next two years, party members said ? including Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Republican Rep. Rob Simmons, two incumbents they feel have not been sufficiently challenged in recent years. 
The party will also try to run candidates for statewide office, including governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of the state, said Tim McKee, a member of the party's national committee from Connecticut. 
Plans remain sketchy ? no candidates to oppose Simmons or Lieberman have yet come forward, McKee said ? but the party will meet at noon Saturday at the New London Public Library to discuss strategy for future elections. 
Movement among the Greens comes as Democrats are trying to mobilize early to defeat Simmons, a third-term incumbent in a once-Democratic seat, and to challenge Lieberman over what some see as an undue willingness to go along with Republicans. 
Fairfield University Professor John Orman, a former candidate for Congress in the 1980s, announced earlier this month that he is considering challenging Lieberman in a primary. 
And Joseph Courtney, an attorney from Vernon who lost to Simmons in 2002, is already running again ? raising money and seeking support from Democratic town committees nearly 20 months before Election Day. 
But recent candidates have left much to be desired, said McKee, who called Courtney and 2004 challenger Jim Sullivan ?weak? candidates in a press release. 
?It was just really hard for us to get behind any one of these candidates,? McKee said Tuesday. 
?I think there was quite a bit of anticipation that these candidates would have much closer races, that the races would be almost razor-thin,? he said, referring to the 2002 and 2004 contests. ?These were targeted races, that really, numerically, weren't that close.? 
The Green Party hopes to build its own party, he said, by presenting an alternative to both the Democrats and Simmons, driving home differences with the major parties on issues like land development in eastern Connecticut, and the future of the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, which McKee suggested could be redeveloped. 
The prospect of a Green Party candidacy does not appear to have caused great concern among Democratic leaders, and McKee said the party could expect maybe 7 to 10 percent support at best, assuming it actually fields a candidate. 
State Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo suggested that Green Party members who really want to see Simmons unseated would have better luck getting behind Courtney, who said he planned to focus on his own campaign. 
But beating Simmons ? and Lieberman ? is not necessarily the goal, said McKee, who noted that a 2nd District run could help the party in areas where it is not yet strong, like Norwich and surrounding towns. 
?It's really not about the Democratic Party,? he said. ?It's about trying to grow our party.? 
t.mann at theday.com 
  
? The Day Publishing Co., 2005



http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=A0533D80-BD54-43EA-97DF-2E8EDD0A4E59 


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From JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net  Thu Mar 31 10:09:52 2005
From: JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net (Jean de Smet)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:09:52 -0500
Subject: {news} (New London Day) "Green Party Already Gearing Up For '06"
References: <20050331141022.20884.qmail@web81102.mail.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <002e01c53603$b2ccdfa0$a5b9f504@jeansmet>

Well done, Tim!  This article also appeared in Weds. Willimantic Chronicle.  So that's a good sign that they are seeking and reporting Green news.

Jean
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tim McKee 
  To: GPCT News ; tollandcountygreens at yahoogroups.com ; NECT Greens 
  Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 9:10 AM
  Subject: {news} (New London Day) "Green Party Already Gearing Up For '06"


  Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS
  http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/

  to unsubscribe click here
  mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


       
              Featured in Region 

        Green Party Already Gearing Up For '06
        Candidates To Run Against Simmons, Lieberman, Rell 
                   
              
                          It's really not about the Democratic Party. It's about trying to grow our party. 
                          Tim McKee,a member of The Green Party's national committee 
                   
             
        By TED MANN
        Day Staff Writer
        Published on 3/30/2005 

        Hartford - The Green Party of Connecticut is planning to take aim at big political game in the next two years, party members said - including Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Republican Rep. Rob Simmons, two incumbents they feel have not been sufficiently challenged in recent years. 

        The party will also try to run candidates for statewide office, including governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of the state, said Tim McKee, a member of the party's national committee from Connecticut. 

        Plans remain sketchy - no candidates to oppose Simmons or Lieberman have yet come forward, McKee said - but the party will meet at noon Saturday at the New London Public Library to discuss strategy for future elections. 

        Movement among the Greens comes as Democrats are trying to mobilize early to defeat Simmons, a third-term incumbent in a once-Democratic seat, and to challenge Lieberman over what some see as an undue willingness to go along with Republicans. 

        Fairfield University Professor John Orman, a former candidate for Congress in the 1980s, announced earlier this month that he is considering challenging Lieberman in a primary. 

        And Joseph Courtney, an attorney from Vernon who lost to Simmons in 2002, is already running again - raising money and seeking support from Democratic town committees nearly 20 months before Election Day. 

        But recent candidates have left much to be desired, said McKee, who called Courtney and 2004 challenger Jim Sullivan "weak" candidates in a press release. 

        "It was just really hard for us to get behind any one of these candidates," McKee said Tuesday. 

        "I think there was quite a bit of anticipation that these candidates would have much closer races, that the races would be almost razor-thin," he said, referring to the 2002 and 2004 contests. "These were targeted races, that really, numerically, weren't that close." 

        The Green Party hopes to build its own party, he said, by presenting an alternative to both the Democrats and Simmons, driving home differences with the major parties on issues like land development in eastern Connecticut, and the future of the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, which McKee suggested could be redeveloped. 

        The prospect of a Green Party candidacy does not appear to have caused great concern among Democratic leaders, and McKee said the party could expect maybe 7 to 10 percent support at best, assuming it actually fields a candidate. 

        State Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo suggested that Green Party members who really want to see Simmons unseated would have better luck getting behind Courtney, who said he planned to focus on his own campaign. 

        But beating Simmons - and Lieberman - is not necessarily the goal, said McKee, who noted that a 2nd District run could help the party in areas where it is not yet strong, like Norwich and surrounding towns. 

        "It's really not about the Democratic Party," he said. "It's about trying to grow our party." 

        t.mann at theday.com 
          

        ? The Day Publishing Co., 2005

       

  http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=A0533D80-BD54-43EA-97DF-2E8EDD0A4E59 





------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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  _______________________________________________
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From JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net  Thu Mar 31 10:19:11 2005
From: JeandeSmet at galaxyinternet.net (Jean de Smet)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 10:19:11 -0500
Subject: {news} Recount/Exit Polls update
Message-ID: <004701c53604$fff14c20$a5b9f504@jeansmet>

>March 31^st , 2005
>
>http://electionarchive.org/ucvAnalysis/US/Exit_Polls_2004_Edison-Mitofsky.pdf
>
>Scientific Analysis Suggests Presidential Vote Counts
>
>May Have Been Altered
>
>/Group of University Professors Urges Investigation of 2004 Election/
>
>Officially, President Bush won November's election by 2.5%, yet exit polls 
>showed Kerry winning by 3%[1] . According to a report to be 
>released today by a group of university statisticians, the odds of a 
>discrepancy this large between the national exit poll and election results 
>happening by accident are close to 1 in a million.
>
>In other words, by random chance alone, it could not have happened. But it 
>did.
>
>Two alternatives remain. Either something was wrong with the exit polling, 
>or something was wrong with the vote count.
>
>Exit polls have been used to verify the integrity of elections in the 
>Ukraine, in Latin America, in Germany, and elsewhere. Yet in November 
>2004, the U.S. exit poll discrepancy was much more than normal exit poll 
>error (and similar to that of the invalid Ukraine election.[2] 
>
>In a recent survey of US members of the world's oldest and largest 
>computer society, The Association for Computing Machinery, 95% opposed 
>software driven un-auditable voting machines[3] , of the type that 
>now count at least 30% of U.S. votes. Today's electronic vote-counting 
>machines are not required to include basic safeguards that would prevent 
>and detect machine or human caused errors, be they innocent or 
>deliberate.[4] 
>
>The consortium that conducted the presidential exit polls, 
>Edison/Mitofsky, issued a report in January suggesting that the 
>discrepancy between election results and exit polls occurred because Bush 
>voters were more reticent than Kerry voters in response to pollsters.
>
>The authors of this newly released scientific study "Analysis of the 2004 
>Presidential Election Poll Discrepancies" consider this "reluctant Bush 
>responder" hypothesis to be highly implausible, based on extensive 
>analysis of Edison/Mitofsky's exit poll data. They conclude, /"The 
>required pattern of exit poll participation by Kerry and Bush voters to 
>satisfy the exit poll data defies empirical experience and common sense 
>under any assumed scenario."/
>
>A state-by-state analysis of the discrepancy between exit polls and 
>official election results shows highly improbable skewing of the election 
>results, overwhelmingly biased towards the President.
>
>The report concludes, "/We believe that the absence of any 
>statistically-plausible explanation for the discrepancy between 
>Edison/Mitofsky's exit poll data and the official presidential vote tally 
>is an unanswered question of vital national importance that needs thorough 
>investigation./"
>
>Ph.D. statisticians in America who have seen this group's preliminary exit 
>poll study have not refuted it. This new study is a much more 
>comprehensive an analysis of the exit poll discrepancies.
>
>The report is available on-line:
>
>http://electionarchive.org/ucvAnalysis/US/Exit_Polls_2004_Edison-Mitofsky.pdf
>
>An executive summary of the report by is available at:
>
>http://electionarchive.org/ucvAnalysis/US/Exit_Polls_summary.pdf
>
>*Contributors and Supporters of the Report include:*
>
>*Josh Mitteldorf*, PhD - Temple University Statistics Department
>
>*Steven F. Freeman*, PhD - Center for Organizational Dynamics, University 
>of Pennsylvania
>
>*Brian Joiner*, PhD - Prof. of Statistics (ret) University of Wisconsin
>
>*Frank Stenger*, PhD - Professor, School of Computing, University of Utah
>
>*Richard G. Sheehan*, PhD -Professor, Department of Finance, University of 
>Notre Dame
>
>*Paul F. Velleman*, PhD - Associate Prof., Department of Statistical 
>Sciences, Cornell University
>
>*Victoria Lovegren*, PhD - Department of Mathematics, Case Western Reserve 
>University
>
>*Campbell** B. Read*, PhD - Prof. Emeritus, Department of Statistical 
>Science, Southern Methodist University
>
>*Jonathan Simon*, J.D., National Ballot Integrity Project
>
>*Ron Baiman, *PhD* *? Institute of Government and Public Affairs, 
>University of Illinois at Chicago
>
>*About US Count Votes*
>
>US Count Votes is a Utah non-profit corporation. It is seeking financial 
>support to complete its "National Election Data Archive" project. The goal 
>of the project is to apply statistical and analytic methods to investigate 
>the integrity of the 2004 elections and to provide for timely verification 
>of the integrity of future elections..
>
>For further information: contact Bruce O'Dell, Vice President, US Count Votes
>
>Email: bruce at uscountvotes.org <mailto:bruce at uscountvotes.org>
>
>612-309-1330
>
>or visit www.electionarchive.org
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>[1] <#_ftnref1> "Evaluation of Edison/Mitofsky Election System 2004" 
>prepared by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for the 
>National Election Pool (NEP) Jan. 19, 2005
>
>[2] <#_ftnref2> In the November 21 runoff, Ukraine's official vote count 
>had Prime Minister Yanukovych the winner by 2.7%. Two exit polls showed 
>him losing by 8% and 2%, respectively. Thus, the discrepancy was between 
>10.7% and 4.7%. In the US, the discrepancy was between 6.5% and 5.5%. See 
>http://www.templetonthorp.com/ru/news808 and 
>http://www.indybay.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=2669&category_id=44.
>
>[3] <#_ftnref3> www.acm.org/usacm/weblog/index.php?p=73
>
>[4] <#_ftnref4> http://uscountvotes.net/voting_machines/Best_Practices_US.pdf
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To unsubscribe, e-mail: uscv_voting_activists-unsubscribe at uscountvotes.org
>For additional commands, e-mail: uscv_voting_activists-help at uscountvotes.org
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 31 14:50:49 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 14:50:49 -0500
Subject: {news} Fw: AFSC-CT calendar 3-31-05
Message-ID: <004a01c5362d$a1919cb0$a1fbf504@edgn2b574u14bi>


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Kasha Ho 
To: Kasha Ho 
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 10:37 AM
Subject: AFSC-CT calendar 3-31-05


Friends, 
As we welcome in the beginning of springtime.

Please find below peace and justice events in the Connecticut area for the upcoming weeks.  

Following this calendar please read Bob Nave's report on the CT House vote yesterday on the Death Penalty Abolition Bill (60 votes for Abolition, 89 Against).

 

Kasha Ho'okili Ho

American Friends Service Committee

Hartford, Connecticut

phone: 860.523.1534

fax: 860.523.1705

 
Friday, April 1st 
ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE! 
DELEGATES FROM NEW ENGLAND REPORT BACK
7 PM
Charter Oak Cultural Center 
21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford

Marela Zacarias, Muralist; Al Marder, Greater New Haven Peace Council; Arnie Alpert, New Hampshire Director, AFSC; And others..
Following the Q&A session with the speakers will be a conversation about the next steps for the Social Forum Movement in Connecticut. We want your viewpoint! Join us Friday, and join the Movement toward diversity and pluralism in "Another World"! Refreshments will be served
For further info call: Sarah Hambrick 860 644 5559

Friday April 1 
"Uncertain Soil: the Story of UN Peacekeeping"

7:30pm

Pax Educare

56 Arbor St, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT

 

Pax Educare monthly film festival continues with a showing of "Uncertain Soil: the Story of UN Peacekeeping" at 56 Arbor in Hartford, second floor, 7:30.  The film was a project, in part, of the Academic Council on the United Nations". Donations for the viewing are welcome-suggested donation of $4-5.  This documentary explores the role of the DPKO in hot spots around the world. For more info: paxeducare at comcast.net

Monday, April 4
"Palestine, Peace, and Democracy:  The Road Ahead"

Dr. Hanan Ashrawi , Director, MIFTAH

7:00pm

Sterling Law Auditorium, Yale University

 

Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations Lecture Series on the Contemporary Middle East presents Dr. Hanan Ashrawi , Director, MIFTAH - The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy, "Palestine, Peace, and Democracy:  The Road Ahead" Sponsored by The Edward J. and Dorothy Clarke Kempf Memorial Fund at Yale, the Yale Center for International and Area Studies, and the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. For more information, contact hala.nassar at yale.edu. (Donations appreciated, checks to YCIAS). http://www.yale.edu/ycias/cmes/events.htm

 
Monday, April 4
NEW LONDON TO RESIST MOCK TERROR ATTACK

A mock terror attack, planned by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
will begin on April 4th, the anniversary of the assassination of Martin
Luther King, Jr. and go throughout the week.

This $16 million TOPOFF3 (for Top Officials) exercise will "depict a
complex terrorist campaign" in 5 venues: New London, New Jersey, London,
Canada, and "Interagency". One of the goals of the drill is said to be to
"test the psychological and economic impact of a terrorist
attack on the region." We refuse to be used in this way, as instruments of
the Department of Homeland Security's fear-mongering strategies.

The Southeastern Connecticut Peace and Justice Network invites you to join
us in a variety of activities during the week of the mock terror attack.
Attached, and on the website, is a full list of activities.

* We particularly encourage you to join us in New London on Monday.
Monday morning, we'll be reading King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech, which he
gave at Riverside Church on April 4, 1967. At 1pm on Monday, around the
time the "terrorists" attack, we'll go out into the community as Peace
Responders to create a presence of peace and nonviolence in the midst of
the mock attack.

* For those in Connecticut and Westerly, R.I. who cannot travel to be
with us in resistance here, we encourage you to vigil at your local
hospital on Monday afternoon and evening. All hospitals in Connecticut
will be "treating" mock victims during the afternoon and evening on
Monday. Contact War Resisters League if you can organize a vigil. Vigils
will be listed on the website as they are organized.

* Our resistance will take many forms throughout the day and week of the
attack. We will be creating a Fear Free Zone to be maintained throughout
the duration of the attack, Monday-Wednesday, April 4-6th, 8am-6pm, at
Union Plaza, State St, New London. Please check the website for a schedule.


* From noon to 1pm, Monday through Friday, a Sanctuary space is open at
First Congregational Church.


Please see the full list of activities, the Nonviolence Guidelines, and
other materials such as our Questions & Answers about the Mock Terror
Attack.


For more information, please visit www.riveredgerecord.org 

Contact War Resisters League, 860-889-5337, wrlne at peoplepc.com; St Francis House, 860-437-8890. stfrancishouse at mindspring.com. 

 

Tuesday, April 5
Sister Helen Prejean
4:30 pm
Saint Thomas More Chapel, Yale University

Sister Helen Prejean and CT's Antoinette Bosco will
hold a talk followed by a reception and book signing
of Sr Helen's recent "The Death of Innocents: An
Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions" and books
by Ms. Bosco.

For more info, including directions: 
http://www.yale.edu/stm/programs/prejean2005.html



Wednesday, April 6
Iraq: How We Got There and Where We Are Going - Scott Ritter
7:00pm

SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium, AST.

Manchester Community Technical College
Manchester, CT

Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector to Iraq. Ritter is author of the books Endgame and Frontier Justice: Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Bushwhacking of America, and director of the documentary, In Shifting Sands: The Truth of UNSCOM and the Disarming of Iraq. Info: 860-512-2603.

 
Wednesday, April 6
Statewide Mayors for Peace Meeting

6:30pm

Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main St, Middletown, CT

 

Come and discuss the campaign to abolish nuclear weapons through local educational campaigns and contacting local mayors/first selectpeople and mobilizing for the May 1st demonstration in New York City in advance of the review for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.  For more info: Joe Wasserman (860) 561-1897

Thursday, April 7
>From Soldier to Peace Activist

7:30 P.M.  

Trinity College Chapel, 300 Summit Street, Hartford

 

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship Connecticut Chapter and Trinity College will cosponsor a public talk and book signing by Claude AnShin Thomas, a Zen monk and the author of At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace.  Thomas will talk about his personal spiritual journey from assault helicopter crew chief in Vietnam to international peace activist and Zen monk.

 

Friday and Saturday, April 8,9
New England-wide AFSC Conference

"Hope and Hard Work: Another America is Possible"

Building 34, Vassar Street
MIT - Cambridge, Mass.

 

We have hope that another America is possible.  Together we can do the hard work to bring it into being.

Space is limited and registration will be on a first come first served basis. If you will need childcare, please contact us at (617) 661-6130 by April 1, 2005. Facilities are wheelchair accessible. Directions will be sent upon receipt of registration.

TUESDAY, APRIL 12
The Deepening Shadow of Nuclear Danger - Jonathan Schell

7:00 pm.

West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium

50 South Main Street, 3rd floor

 

Jonathan Schell, Journalist, Peace Fellow at The Nation Institute and author of The Fate of the Earth and The Unconquerable World.  Introduction by State Senator Jonathan Harris.

For more information contact Mims Butterworth 521-9506 or MimsBWorth at aolcom

 

Saturday, April 16
Christopher Weeramantry, Former Vice President of the World Court

2:00pm                     

Yale Law School, New Haven, CT



New England AFSC Speaking Tour for Christopher Weeramantry, Former Vice President of the World Court.  In the weeks leading up to the fundamentally important Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference, AFSC's Peace & Economic Security Program is hosting a speaking tour for Judge Christopher Weeramantry, former Vice President of the World Court. Justice Weeramantry is best known for his clear opinion in the Court's 1196 decision on the illegality of the use and threatened use of nuclear weapons.  For More Information Contact: Henry Lowendorf grnhpeacecouncil at sbcglobal.net



Sunday, April 17
Regional Report-Back from United for Peace and Justice Assembly in St. Louis

A Panel Discussion on Strategy & Perspectives for the Antiwar Movement 

2 p.m.

Church of the Holy Trinty, 381 Main St., Middletown, CT

 

Panelists:

Meg Scata, CT United for Peace; Kasha Ho, American Friends Service Committee; Wayne Coste, Coalition for Peace and Justice; Ashley Smith, Burlington Bring the Troops Home Now Committee.  Sponsored by CT United for Peace.  For more info: Meg Scata megscata at yahoo.com

Wednesday, April 20
An Evening with Amy Goodman.

7:00 pm.

Conard High School Auditorium, 110 Berkshire Road, West Hartford

 

Journalist, host of radio news program Democracy Now, and author of With Exception to the Rulers.

For more information all Kathy Hucks 561-8401 or kath4cats at hotmail.com

 


Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty
Hello Fellow Abolitionists,

 

Well, we have some good news.  We got 60 votes for abolition - which is amazing.  We were only 15 away from passing this bill, which is INCREDIBLE since we did this IN SPITE OF Michael Ross.  You should have heard the debate.  Those who spoke in favor of the death penalty made it almost exclusively about Michael Ross, completely missing our message, but those who spoke for abolition really used our literature and experiences.  Both Walter Everett and Toni Bosco were mentioned by name and two people quoted from the letters Toni has written to the legislators!!!!  All sorts of statistics were used by our allies - statistics that we have helped to provide.  I'm thrilled with this.  Then, on the way out of the chamber after the vote, I was talking to one of our new and hardest workers and she told me that her Representative voted against us, but he was REALLY struggling - which means that he can be turned - so we are now down to 14 people we need to target.  So, as you can see, whereas we lost the vote and there are some - especially in the press and our adversaries - who say that we lost big, I don't see it that way - I see it that we now have 2 years to sway 15 people to our side in the House - we have our work cut out for us, but it is very doable!!!  This is the most favorable vote to abolish the death penalty that has been seen and this bill also survived TWO committee votes - a true first in state history.  We are finally having the debate and this is fantastic!  (The vote was 60 in favor of HB 6012 and 89 against - the vast majority of republicans voted against while several democrats also voted against this bill.)

 

In the next day or two, we are going to post the members of the House and how they voted and it would be nice to call your Rep. and let him/her know that you thank them for voting for our bill OR thanking them for considering our position and ask to talk with them about their vote.  Explain to them that we will not drop this and this is only the beginning.

 

Well, that's all for now - many thanks to all who worked so hard on this impressive vote.  I say it was a VICTORY!!!

 

Best,

 

Bob



Robert Nave, State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator
Connecticut-Amnesty International
Executive Director
Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty
32 Grand Street; Hartford, CT 06106, www.cnadp.org
robertnave at cnadp.org 203-206-9854
www.DontKillInMyNameCT.org

 

 

 

 
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From edubrule at sbcglobal.net  Thu Mar 31 19:13:15 2005
From: edubrule at sbcglobal.net (edubrule)
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 19:13:15 -0500
Subject: {news} CTGP can mail at Nonprofit Standard Rates
Message-ID: <001801c5364f$ce295a20$bba4f504@edgn2b574u14bi>

Weeks ago I submitted an application to the post office to be able to mail at Nonprofit Standard Rates.  Today I learned that our application has been approved;  the CT Green Party now can mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates.  For now mailings can only be done at the Weston St., Hartford, post office (there is a sentence in the letter which speaks of "requests for additional mailing points").  I believe that any level of the Connecticut Green Party (chapters, candidates, state level, committees) can make use of these rates.  I need to contact the Weston St. post office to "ensure all applicable fees are paid" and "to discuss entry of your mail under this authorization".
     Contact me if you would like to take advantage of these mailing rates.
Ed DuBrule
edubrule at sbcglobal.net
860-523-4016
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