{news} Bylaws proposal: definition of membership

[David Bedell]

We would like to add the following proposal to the agenda for the 5/27 SCC
meeting.

PROPOSAL

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

CONTACT (name, address, phone number, email):  David Bedell, 12 Ardsley Rd,
Stamford, CT 06906, 203-581-3193, dbedellgreen(at)hotmail.com

SUBJECT (10 words or less): Definition of party membership

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE (100 words or less; include relationship, reasons
and/or justification to the State Central Committee):
At its February 2008 meeting, the Fairfield chapter adopted a stricter
definition of membership than that in the state bylaws. New Haven has also
adopted a stricter definition. The purpose of this proposal is to make party
membership contingent on a simple written declaration, just like membership
in the major parties, instead of the current definition, which includes
vague criteria such as what constitutes a volunteer activity or what is a
"coalition partner." This proposal also addresses the contingency of losing
minor party status, which happened in some towns during 2004-2006. Further
comments can be read at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldCountyGreens/message/839

PROPOSAL:
(Distribute to chapters for discussion:) In the CT Green Party bylaws
(http://www.ctgreens.org/bylaws.shtml ), the section under "Individual
Membership" shall be revised to read:

If the Green Party has minor party status in a town, then:
A person enrolled on their town voter list as a Green Party member is a
member of the Green Party for all purposes.

If the Green Party does not have minor party status in a town, then a person
may become a member of the Green Party under the following conditions:
1. The person must be an unaffiliated voter and must not have been
registered with any other party affiliation during the past ninety (90)
days.
2. The person shall fill out and sign a CT Voter Registration Form declaring
enrollment in the Green Party and submit this to an officer of the local or
state Green Party.
3. Upon submission of such declaration, the person's membership in the Green
Party will be effective after ten business days.

A person not yet old enough to vote under state law may become a member of
the Green Party under the following conditions:
1. The person will turn 18 and be eligible to vote before the next General
Election Day.
2. The person has applied to vote by filling out and signing a Voter
Registration Form with declaration of enrollment in the Green Party and
submitted this to their town hall or to an officer of the local or state
Green Party.
3. If the form is submitted to a local or state Green Party officer,
membership in the Green Party will be effective after ten business days.

Party members shall receive announcements of State Party general meetings,
and shall be entitled to vote when attending State Party general meetings.
When an Active Member of a Chapter, the member shall be entitled to vote at
all general meetings of the Chapter. No member, however, shall be entitled
to vote in more than one Chapter. Chapters may institute their own
requirements for membership different from those for State Party membership.