{news} Approved minutes from the 9-25-07 SCC meeting of Green Party of CT, quorum met.

[B Barry]

Approved minutes from the 9-25-07 SCC meeting of Green Party of CT, quorum
met.

Middletown’s Russell Public Library, Reading Room 3, 123 Broad Street,
Middletown, CT 06457   

860-347-2528  Time:  6:30PM to 8:30PM.

Voting attendees by chapter: Central: Beth Adams; Fairfield: Richard Duffee
and Harold Burbank; Greater Hartford: Barbara Barry, Secretary of GP of CT
and S. Michael DeRosa, Co-chairperson of GP of CT; Manchester at 6:50PM: Tim
McKee; New Haven: Jerry Martin and Charlie Pillsbury; Northeast: Amy Vas
Nunes; Cliff Thornton

Co-chairperson of GP of CT.                Non-Green Party Observer: Sherron
Adrian from Hamden.

 

Facilitator: Cliff Thornton

 

A.      Preliminaries:

1.       Introductions of voting attendees; non-voting attendees: Harold
Burbank and Sherron Adrian; chapters noted; quorum was met; timekeeper;
Charlie Pillsbury; ground rules.

2.       Approval of tonight’s proposed agenda: no deletions.  Additions: JM
suggested but no consensus was reached regarding: a) approved minutes to be
so noted in another way on the listserv; b) need minutes to be put on-line
prior to SCC review and/or approval c) need a list of chapter contact
people;  SH: I want to present our predicament in Hamden: I found out in my
local newspaper  that Kelly McCarthy is no longer running as a Green Party
Candidate for Mayor of Hamden due to her mother’s illness..

3.       Minutes of 8-28-07 SCC meeting were deferred due to need for more
than the SCC allotted time to review.

4.    Review and acceptance of minutes from the 9-17-07 EC meeting.

5.       Treasurer’s report: presented by BAB due to absence of the
Treasurer: Christopher Reilly.

BAB: per Treasurer’s report at 9-17-07 EC Meeting: balance is $1243.

 

B.      Policies and Procedures Committee: JM: the following was approved by
consensus:

Officer Responsibilities: All officers must sign a statement at a time of
their election or prior to the first official or informal action, stating
that they will represent the Green Party, its values and platform to the
best of their ability. They will keep all Green Party disputes within the
party or appropriate third party e.g. Secretary of State, legal, insurance,
GPUS, ACLU, or per applicable law or regulations.  They will surrender all
Party documents, keys, equipment and access rights to their successors. They
will relinquish all rights to represent the party in all matters pertaining
to the Secretary of the State’s Office, the Federal Election Commission and
the U.S. Postal Service.   

Party Co-chairpersons: shall conduct meetings of the Executive Committee;
shall conduct or appoint a facilitator for the State Central Committee and
Executive Committee meetings; shall in person or through a designee approved
by the State Central Committee, represent the Party at meeting(s) or in
discussions with individuals and groups outside of the Party.

Treasurer: Upon election the treasurer will complete all forms required by
the State and Federal Governments, to operate the treasury and agree to
relinquish that right at the completion of his/her term. The Treasurer shall
receive  all dues, contributions and other income. Shall establish or take
possession of any existing bank accounts into which all receipts shall be
promptly deposited within 10 calendar days or as per regulations. Promptly
make payment for all duly authorized by the State Central Committee in a
timely manner as long as funds are available. The Treasurer with the
concurrence of at least one co-chairperson may make emergency expenditures
of up to $100.00 without prior State Central Committee approval, subject to
their subsequent review. Maintain financial records in accordance with sound
accounting practice and publish monthly statements of initial and final
assets, income and expenditures. A statement of the funds reserved for use
by the chapters should also be a part of this report. Control the
utilization of credit card and on-line services involved with contributions.
The Treasurer is an Ex-Officio member of the Finance committee. The
Treasurer must have access to the Party Post Office Box. No contributions
can be accepted from Political Action Committees or other political parties
by the Green Party of CT.

Secretary: The Secretary shall take minutes as required by State Central
Committee. Maintain a record of all correspondence and information
transmitted through any printed or printable medium to or from the Party,
including material between Chapters or Chapters and Party.  Forward outgoing
material to its addressee and incoming  or internal material to the
appropriate action party or group. Establish, maintain and periodically
publish a list of information and data that may be of value to members and
groups within the Party. Filing or storage of material shall be
responsibility of the originator or action recipient.  To re-review
Secretary responsibilities at next SCC meeting.

Co-chairpersons: Plan and schedule meetings, moderate and appoint suitable
moderators, recruit qualified committee members, and submit timely status
and progress reports to the State Central Committee as required by the State
Central Committee. Inform and advise the State Central Committee in a timely
manner, regarding subjects for which their Committee is responsible.

Committees of the State Central Committee: All committees serve at the
pleasure of the State Central Committee and can be created or dissolved at
any time. Committee members must be members of the Green Party of CT.
Committee members and their chairs are appointed or approved by the State
Central Committee.  These appointments must be reviewed annually.
Reappointment is at the digression of the State Central Committee. The
duties and responsibilities of all committees are set by the State Central
Committee. Function of the Committee Chair: To schedule all meetings of the
committee and to submit to the State Central Committee written timely
reports e.g. at the next SCC meeting, on the activities of the Committee.
The Chair will also be responsible for the preparation of all reports
authorized by the Committee, and whenever consensus can not be reached, to
make the objections of the members a part of that report.

Every Committee Function must be authorized by the State Central Committee
which had a quorum of chapters.

Finance Committee: To plan and oversee the raising of funds by  and for the
Party. To develop and submit to the State Central Committee for approval by
May 15th each year, an Annual Budget for the operation of the Party. That
budget should be based on reasonable expectations of revenue and expenses
reflecting the priorities of the State Central Committee. To periodically
report to the State Central Committee on compliance with the budget plan.
Membership in the Finance Committee: Green Party of CT Treasurer, is
ex-officio; other Green Party members are appointed or approved by the State
Central Committee for terms to expire at the scheduled State Central
Committee each May of the year; a new Committee Chair may be appointed or
approved by the State Central Committee for terms expire at the scheduled
State Central Committee meeting, each May of the year.

By-Law: To develop and submit on a periodic basis any suggested by-laws, to
the State Central Committee to accept or reject, in a timely fashion; must
sent back to the active chapters for feedback then present at the next

State Central Committee after chapter review, which may recommend
moderations. Membership: Green Party members are appointed by the State
Central Committee for terms to expire at the scheduled State Central
Committee meeting, each May of the year. Committee Chair is appointed or
approved by the State Central Committee for terms that expire at the
scheduled State Central Committee meeting, each May of the year.

Platform: Draft platform recommendations for the adoption of the State
Central Committee; Committee Membership: Members are appointed or approved
by the State Central Committee for terms that expire at the scheduled State
Central Committee meeting, each May of the year. Committee Chair: is
appointed or approved by the State Central Committee for at term which
expires at the scheduled State Central Committee meeting, each May of the
year.. 

Process and Procedure: create a policy and procedure book for the use of the
State Central Committee, Committees and Officers. These policies are for the
purpose of the efficient operation of the Green Party of CT in compliance
with the Party by-laws and applicable laws and regulations. Membership:
members are appointed or

approved by the State Central Committee for terms to expire at the scheduled
State Central Committee meeting each May of the year. Committee chair:
appointed or approved by the State Central Committee for a term which
expires at the scheduled State Central Committee, at each May of the year.

Data Management: maintain membership lists and other database at the request
of the State Central Committee. Membership: Green Party of CT Secretary is
ex-officio. Other members are appointed or approved by the State Central
Committee for terms to expire at the scheduled State Central Committee
meeting, each May of the year. Committee Chair: appointed or approved by the
State Central Committee for a term to expire at the scheduled State Central
Committee meeting, each May of the year.

 

 

C. Reports:

1.       Impeachment of Bush/Cheney; RD presented a rationale: Basic
Rationale: only 20-21 Representatives of the House have signed House
Resolution 333. A number signed resolutions to impeach Bush in the previous
term, but those resolutions are inactive and the signers know they are, so I
believe we can safely say that no more than 21 Representatives are currently
demanding impeachment. Because both Bush and Cheney have clearly committed
high crimes and misdemeanors and perhaps treason, at the least 414
Representatives are violating their oaths of office in failing to demand
impeachment of Cheney---and all of them for failing to demand the
impeachment of Bush.   Because the minimal requirement for running for
Congress should be that a candidate keep his or her oath of office, or gives
good evidence of intending to, every congressional candidate who does not
demand impeachment should be accused of failing to meet that minimal
requirement and should have to face a candidate who meets it. The Green
Party can do a great service by providing  candidate who support impeachment
The SCC should advocate having impeachment candidates in all five CT
Congressional Districts. An impeachment candidacy should have two effects:
1) it should make all opponents know that they will lose votes if they do
not support impeachment and 2) it should educate the public so that they
begin to understand that the reason that Congress does not make progress on
other significant issues is that its unwillingness to impeach. It also
reveals a basic choice for empire over republic.

Required Labor and Resources:  To have these two effects, an impeachment
candidate has to be able to get onto the ballot and into the debates. The
basic requirements are: 1) validated signatures from 1% of the number of
voters in the 2006 election. This normally requires about 5000 raw
signatures.  2) the 5000 raw signatures will normally require about 500
hours of volunteer time. 3) the League of Women Voters will feel comfortable
if it can be proven that at least 50 volunteers have given time.  4) the
Federal Government considers one a candidate only if one has collected at
least $5000 in donations. 5) the League of Women Voters will want to see
that these donations have come from at least 50 people, but the greater the
number the better. It would be best to have a receipt system while
petitioning. We can ask for a dollar or more.

We must assume that our activities are known to the other parties. In any
district where the other parties do not believe we can meet these 5
requirements, we must assume that the other parties will not take our
candidacies seriously because they will believe that they will not need to
answer us in debates or will not have to confront us on a ballot. Because in
such districts, other parties will not take our candidacies seriously, we
will have no effect on the willingness of other candidates to support
impeachment or on their chances in the election if they do not.

Effect on other campaigns: The statewide petition needs only 7,500 validated
signatures; last year our initial goal was 15,000 raw signatures; 13,000
turned out to be more than enough. If the statewide petition is carried (in
the group) with the local congressional petition, we should have collected
the necessary signatures well before we have the congressional signatures.
Then we can carry local petitions with the congressional petitions.

Time Line: The earlier we act, the better. The earlier we nominate
candidates, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to compel
Democrats, and perhaps some Republicans, to support impeachment. It would be
best if we could nominate congressional candidates in October (2007). We
MUST have everything in place by January 2008 when the Secretary of State
makes petitions available. That is, we must have for each congressional
district: 1) 5 candidates, 2) 5 campaign committees, 3) 5 campaign managers,
4) 5 treasurers, 5) 5 bank accounts, 6) 5 websites, 7) designated: phone
number, email address and office.

Definition of Impeachment Candidacy:  The exact terms of nation-wide
impeachment candidacies for each Congressional District will have to vary
district to district depending on the positions and characters of opponents
and constituents. In some districts, it may be best to keep open the promise
that one will relent if an opponent co-sponsors impeachment resolutions. In
others, it may be best to sunn all out no matter what. Others may be at
different positions in between. We should be as clear as possible about our
position in each district and the reasons for it.  My own first priority is
impeachment. I will adopt the position that I believe will maximize the
chances of impeachment. Because Congressman Shays is the incumbent in the
4th Congressional District, I will need to define exactly what he will need
to do to be satisfied that he is acting in the interests of impeachment.
Harold Burbank has a different problem in the 5th Congressional District
because Congressman Christopher Murphy, can co-sponsor H. Res 333 if he
wants to, which makes his failing to do so more significant. Candidates in
the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts have other problems.
Congressman Larson, 1st District Representative, is the only CT Rep. in the
Out of Iraq Coalition.  Impeachment candidates might want to make an
opponent’s membership in that Coalition a pre-requisite to their bowing out,
or make pledging to vote against any more funds a prerequisite, or signing
onto bills to rescind the constitutional damage of Bush and Cheney have
done, or signing bills to reduce presidential war-making powers, or to
require obedience to international laws, etc.

Despite the range of ambiguity outlined in the four previous paragraphs,
nation-wide impeachment candidacies can be defined by four criteria. An
impeachment candidate must make the opposition aware that we: 

1) can get on the ballot; 

2) can get into the debates, 

3) will be raising the issue of impeachment at every opportunity, and

4) will only relent upon proof of co-sponsorship of 333 ( in all districts)
or adequate guarantees of demands for impeachment and other closely related
positions, if at all. 

 

RD: as a member of the GPUS GPAX Standing Committee, I have become the point
person nation-wide about impeachment. Our goal is to strive for an
impeachment candidate in every state.

 

CT: this needs to be approved by the SCC and sent to the chapters for their
own review to accept or approve.

Vote: 6 approved; 3 were opposed. Vote carried to be sent to Chapters. 

 

2.   Reports about and from the candidates: a) SA: I am from HART (Hamden
Alliance for Responsible Taxation). I am not a Green Party member. However,
our group endorsed Kelly McCarthy, Green Party member for Hamden Mayor. Our
concern is: can the Green Party do anything to replace her? SMD: per state
law, the Green Party can replace her.  However, we do not know of anyone who
would be willing to do so.  b) Harold Burbank, of       Canton, would be
interested in running in the 5th Congressional District as a Green Party
Candidate. He is an attorney and former Assistant Attorney General in Maine.

 

3.   GPUS  reports from CTGP representatives: CP: the GPUS wants to know if
the SCC of GP of CT wants to endorse three more voters to the GPUS Standing
Committees until the spring of 2008. and we need to a

      transparent  process for the delegates to the convention in the spring
of 2008.  TMc:  the GPUS is working on who is to be a delegate at the GPUS
Nominating Convention during the 2nd weekend in July 2008. Need to clarify
how a delegate will be obliged to vote.  Charlie and I are trying to find
out how each GPUS Standing Committee vets members as different committees
have different processes.

 

4.   Political issues the GP of CT has addressed with legislators during the
2008 Legislative Session: BAB: Fight the Hike is still meeting and planning
to take concerns to legislators. CT: we are talking about legalizing
marijuana and addressing proposals to have prisons in Meriden and Hamden.
SMD: we need a Green Party of CT Task Force to put together our specific
issues and concerns for 2008.

 

5.   Our websites: SMD: Eric DeVos to increase his work on the website in
10-07.

 

6.  CT Green Times: SMD: I only have 4 articles so it will not be coming out
until more are provided. 

 

7.   Fundraiser position: SMD: only received one response. That person
resided in Asia..

 

8.                   ACLU lawsuit: SMD: as a plaintiff, I am scheduled to
meet with the ACLU in about two weeks.

 

9.                   Chapter reports:

*                     Greater Hartford: SMD: David Ionno is running for
Hartford City Council. Steve Fournier is

Seriously considering running against Congressman Larson. Both are running
as Green Party candidates.

*                     Northeast: AVN: Jean deSmet is running for 1st
Selectperson of Willimantic. She is not running as a Green Party Candidate
but rather as an Independent with a Coalition of Democrats and Republicans.

*                     New Haven: CP: we have the following Green Party
Candidates: Ralph Ferrucci is running for New Haven Mayor and for Alderman
positions: Allan Brison in the 10th Ward and Daniel Sumrall in the 7th Ward.
Our next New Haven Chapter meeting is on 10-11-07, where we could
potentially replace Kelly McCarthy’s now vacant candidate position.

*                     Fairfield: RD:  David Bedell for Constable and Clausel
Berrouet, Jr. for Board of Education. 

HB: Tom Sevigny has advised me that there is no active Green Party in
Canton, where I live. I am a Human Rights lawyer, a former Assistant
Attorney General in Maine; am a graduate from the University of New
Hamsphire Law School.  I want to run as a Green Party Candidate for the 5th
Congressional District.

 

10.   Date, place and time for next SCC meeting 10-30-07 and date, place and
time of next EC meeting in 10-07.

 

11.     Any additions: a) AVN: chapters are not visible. BAB: I would be
willing to write to the prolonged absent chapters such as the Northwest
Chapter, West Chapter and Shoreline Chapter and the Womens Caucus.
Consensus: the Secretary is the write the Northwest, West and Shoreline
Chapters and the Women’s Causus and request that, per bylaws, they provide
the State Central Committee of Green Party of CT with their status since
their last presence at the SCC two years ago. Specifically the SCC is
seeking: any/all dates of meetings with dates and minutes of these meetings
and list of attendees.  b) SMD: 

 

Green Party Key Values: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots
democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom,
decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future
focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and
gender equality.


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