{news} Proposal: Amendment of State Party Affiliation Agreement Requirements

[Michael Westerfield]

I suppose it is appropriate if we belong to and support the principals and
practices of the National Green Party that our state contribute to it
financially.  I do wonder about the wisdom of giving a reduced rate to
"gender balanced" delegations. Send a woman, save $100!, sounds just a bit
condescending.  Also maybe its time for us to review exactly what the
National Green Party is doing out there.  Perhaps a presentation at the
annual convention on the subject might be in order.

Michael W.



> Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS
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> mailto:ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.orgDiscussion has begun on the
> following proposal, and I would be interested in any comments you have
> about this proposal.
>
> Proposal ID: 267
> Proposal: Amendment of Affiliation Agreement Requirements
> Floor Manager: Sarah echo Steiner, ecostar at bellsouth.net
> Discussion Dates: 03/12/2007 - 03/25/2007
> Voting Dates: 03/26/2007 - 04/01/2007
>
> Background: The Green Party of the United States is funded from many
> sources,
> including private donations and regular giving, merchandising, meeting
> fees, etc.  Most of these sources are not constant from year to year.
> An additional dependable and sustainable stream of revenue, even at a
> relatively modest size, would be of great value.
>
> More importantly, since participation in financial support of the GPUS
> is not universal among our affiliated state Green Parties, nor is it
> currently tied to affiliation, there is a divorce of accountability
> from affiliation.  Financial support is key to ownership, and
> representation
> without taxation is contrary to the Key Values of personal and global
> responsibility and of future focus.  We want our state affiliates to
> feel, and exercise, ownership of the Green Party of the United States.
> The fact of universal financial participation is, therefor, more
> important than the actual revenue achieved.
>
> Many factors affect a state GP's ability to support the GPUS, at even a
> base level, and some states bring added value with their delegations in
> ways that support the Key Values of  feminism and respect for
> diversity.  Therefor a fair system of affiliate support must include
> variations
> reflecting these realities and values.  And Caucuses should be excused,
> because payment by their members would represent a doubled level of
> support, since Caucus members are all simultaneously members of state
> Green Parties.
>
> State GPs which found themselves burdened with extraordinary expenses
> incurred while meeting other affiliation criteria, like achieving
> ballot status, should have a fund from which to apply for assistance.
> Finally, support expectations should be proportional to the size of a
> state GP, and delegate size is a presumptively fair benchmark.
>
> Proposal: Currently the Bylaws provide:
> I. Criteria for State Party Membership in the Green Party of the United
> States.
> 1. Acceptance of the four pillars of the international Green Party
> movement [ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy,
> non-violence] or the Ten Key Values as guiding principles.
> 2. Organized and run in accordance with these values.
> 3. A statewide organization open to, and reflective of, a statewide
> membership.
> 4. Agrees to support national candidates selection by Green convention.
> 5. Makes good faith effort, where reasonable, to achieve ballot status.
> 6. Makes good faith effort to run state and local candidates.
> 7. Has applied to GREEN PARTY for accreditation, and has included
> written by-laws, platform, and other documentation with that application.
> 8. Has a history of networking with other environmental and social
> justice organizations.
> 9. Evidence of commitment to, and good faith efforts to achieve, gender
> balance in party leadership and representation.
> 10. Evidence of good faith efforts to empower individuals and groups
> from oppressed communities, through, for example, leadership
> responsibilities, identity caucuses and alliances with community-based
> organizations, and
> endorsements of issues and policies.
>
> This proposal would amend by adding an 11th criteria:
> Financial participation in support of the GPUS, as below:
>
> 11. All affiliated state Green Parties shall annually participate in
> the financial support of the Green Party of the United States, by
> contributing a set minimum amount per NC delegate.  Initial amounts are
> as listed below.  This requirement of financial participation will not
> pertain to affiliated Caucuses, and a state GP's NC alternates will not
> be counted toward the expected total share of support for that state
> GP. The initial base level of financial support will be $300, per
> affiliated state GP, per NC delegate, per year, or, alternatively, 1/3 of
> the
> state GP budget for that year, whichever is lower.  This share of support
> is
> due on or before the last day of the ANM, beginning in 2007.
>
> This base level of financial support will decrease to $200 per delegate
> if the state GP provides the NC with a gender balanced voting
> delegation, excepting a sole, or a final odd-numbered, delegate.   [This
> decreased
> level is available immediately.  To avoid ex post facto application,
> states GP delegations which currently lack gender balance may
> contribute at this lower rate until the state GP next elects delegates,
> but not
> more than two years from the enactment date.  Also, states may voluntarily
> ally with each other to report a total gender balanced delegation, ie,
> two males from one state GP and two females from another. ]
>
> State GPs will be entitled, immediately, to a reduction, to $100 per
> delegate, to the extent that the state GP sends delegates who improve
> the GP-US NC racial/ethnic balance.
>
> This is a base level of financial participation, and state GPs are
> encouraged to contribute more, in accord with their ability to give,
> and the needs of the GPUS.
>
> One half, or more, of the amounts received through this requirement, of
> financial participation by affiliated state GPs, shall be set aside to
> help state GPs who are burdened with extraordinary expenses incurred
> while meeting other affiliation criteria, like achieving ballot status,
> etc.
>
> The amount of this base level of financial support will be redetermined
> by the NC every fourth year, at the ANM in the year immediately
> following the convention which nominates the Green Party presidential
> team.
>
> Resources:
> Contact: Claudia Ellquist, AzGP,  at ellquist.co.atty at juno.com
>
> Will add to GP-US revenue stream, without expenditure.
>
> References: None
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