December 13, 2015

GPUS Steering Committee Minutes

Sunday, December 13, 2015 – 8:00 p.m. ET

I. CALL SETUP & BACKGROUND
a) Facilitator: Kate Culver
b) Call reference # 149
c) Present: Audrey Clement (joined the call late), Jan Martell, Andrea Merida, Charles Ostdiek, Jeff Turner, Tamar Yager, Karen Young, Bahram Zandi. Sanda was still in Paris at climate talks. Observers: Starlene Rankin, Paul Pipkin
d) Agenda revisions – Charles asked proposal in support of RAP pledge to be tabled but Karen was temporarily off line, so deferred to that point of the agenda.

II. OLD BUSINESS

a) Report on Credcom email list migration and seating of current members – Jan. The Webmaster migrated the Credentials Committee email list to the new server, and made himself sole administrator. He then shared the password with the Secretary, who added the seven members of the committee already elected. When the current election is done, the newly elected members will be added. The full committee will elect co-chairs and can decide whether co-chairs should administer the listserv. When the work for this cycle is done and the committee becomes inactive, admin should remain only with the Webmaster until a new committee is formed.

b) Proposal: The Steering Committee instructs the Webmaster to gain control of the listserv for the Credentials Committee and to remove any other admins until new members have been seated and other admins and officers are elected, which will not happen until the committee election currently in the queue has been completed. Further, the Webmaster is instructed to immediately place the duly-elected members; specifically, Elizabeth Taveras and Asher Platts, onto the Credentials Committee listserv.
Background: It has now been more than 30 days since the last election to the Credentials Committee has been held, and Elizabeth Taveras and Asher Platts are currently preparing complaint letters for the SC’s resolution of the fact that thus far they have not been added to the listserv. Andrea. Satisfied that the work has been done, proposal withdrawn.

c) Steering Committee endorsements contact position – Karen. Postponed.

d) Apportionment Tabulation Committee report – Tamar. The committee reached an impasse in the work of doing a new apportionment, and so due to the extreme lateness of the calendar and need to provide numbers for PNC apportionment, agreed to defer apportionment until next year when it is due to be done again. Audrey pointed out that this decision did not need an NC vote, simply a report. Andrea made a proposal that the SC decide to defer reapportionment to the next cycle except for changes that have already occurred – approved by consensus. Charles offered to check on the fine points of rules.

e) Personnel – update on hiring Office Associate – Tamar. Of 6 interviewed, 3 were top picks, 2 of these found other jobs. PWG did not agree on 3rd candidate, so more interviews are scheduled. Brian has a new job starting in Jan., but will continue to do deposits until new person is hired. Tamar and volunteers will check voice mail, do donation data entry and other office tasks that can be done remotely.

III. STANDING BUSINESS

a) Treasurer’s Report – Jeff. Sent cash balance report. Paid Red Sun $3200+ and repaid Tamar $1100+ (with some still owed) for ANM. Bills are paid for the month leaving about $5K, enough for next payroll. Still owe Red Sun $7K+, money is coming in from Nov. mailing and after Brian provides totals we will owe the reserve funds.

b) Fundraising Report – Karen. Sent updated revenue report. Took in $15K+ in November, $138K so far this year not counting merch and ANM – at 74% of goal. Started phone banking NC delegates for sustainership with Audrey, Andrea and Nekita Gandy as volunteers. Three regular phone bankers are calling lapsed sustainers. Plan to make calls to past major donors between Christmas and New Years. Gave away 6 Jody Grage original scarves, decreased Nationbuilder fees by culling records. Sent a report on trends earlier, shows donor base shrinking over years – need to be doing real work to grow the party, not just concentrating on internal procedures. Andrea’s intersectionality message for Nov. mailing very successful, good returns.

VOTING QUEUE
In the queue:
a) 804 – CCC Election
b) 805 – Credcom Election
c) 806 – 2016 Annual Budget Revised
Received for the queue: None

IV. NEW BUSINESS

a) Proposal to support the Revolt against Plutocracy (RAP) pledge – Karen. Charles said this is clearly an endorsement, and should be withdrawn and written up in proposal format to go to the NC, as no expedited schedule needed. Also has contradictory message, as the pledge form asks Bernie supporters to write him in, so supporting this pledge and then asking pledgers to vote Green is a conflict. Andrea suggested tabling until/unless pledge language is changed to vote Green. Karen thought that anything we can do to reach out would have a net positive effect, others were doubtful. Karen agreed to table the proposal.

b) Green job board – Karen. Adopted by consensus. Starlene said this is also a CCC project and is ready to go. Karen will let NC know and liaise with CCC.

V. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None

TOTAL TIME: 113 minutes

Jan Martell
Secretary