GPUS-SC Conference Call
27 March 2006
9:00 p.m. ET
Participants:
Holly Hart, Jody Haug, Brent McMillan, Jake Schneider, Budd Dickinson, Emily Citkowski, Marc Sanson, Steve Kramer, Rebecca Rotzler, Pat LaMarche
Rob Tufts, CCC co-chair
Gwen Wages cannot be on tonight’s call
Facilitators: Jody, 1st hour; Budd, 2cnd hour
Abbreviations used:
AC = Accreditation Committee
ANM, ANMC = Annual National Meeting Committee
BAWG = Ballot Access Working Group
BRPP = Bylaws, Rules, Policies and Procedures Committee
BC = Black Caucus
CC = Coordinating Committee
CCC = Coordinated Campaign Committee
CG SC = Campus Greens Steering Committee
ComCom = Communications Committee
DC = Diversity Committee
DIA = Democracy in Action internet service
DRC = Dispute Resolution Committee
FC = Fundraising Committee
FEC = Federal Election Commission
GP = Green Party
IC = International Committee
LC = Lavender Caucus
NPWG = Nominating Process Working Group
NWC = National Women’s Caucus
PEC = Presidential Exploratory Committee
PCSC = Presidential Campaign Support Committee
SC = Steering Committee
SPWG = Strategic Plan Working Group
[Brackets denote editor’s suggested corrections. Some punctuation corrections done with no content change. -ed.]
I. STAFF REPORTS
a. BRENT
FUNDRAISING: the most recent re-solicitation (from the office-holders) is doing very well, over 75 donations over the weekend, bringing in ca. 30 contribution a day, average about $40 apiece. Brent also brought in personal solicitations this week. Another $3000 brought in over the weekend has not yet been deposited.
Working on next prospect mailing, hopes to have it out on Friday; hoping for at least 1000 contacts (making it cost-effective to send to a printer). Hoping to get Robyn Sklar and Gloria Mattera donor lists.
Interest in test targets of lists not of GP membership – purchase names from The Nation and target regional market areas focusing on anti-war efforts; Nation has put out a statement on not supporting candidates who are not calling to bring the troops home now.
Pat -recommends Delaware list, Michael Berg will be the most prominent peace candidate in the country this year.
Also interested in test of Progressive Populist. Disappointed with Progressive Review list mailing focusing on eminent domain – it was ok, but nothing like responses from past from those lists.
From personal solicitation feedback and response, Brent notes that Officeholders get the best response; we need to do a better job of telling our story.
Phone campaign rate is 61% successful. Many things coming together at once – Green positions, two major parties being in disarray.
Discussion
Steve – have we looked into using fundraising organizations, yet?
Brent – had explored this as a fall-back.
Steve – use in addition to our own efforts?
Brent – this idea has merit.
POLITICAL DIRECTOR: There are now 216 candidates with a lot more coming; by way of comparison, in 2004 at the end of March, there were 189 candidates. Brent expects candidate recruitment will remain healthy for quite awhile, is optimistic for this year.
Ready to go out with political intern advertisement for CCC to work with Brent in nat’l office. Ad went “live” this evening. Jody was in DC last weekend, helped get office organized and ready for intern.
Ready to formally announce CCC blog this week.
Business
i. Request from CCC for $500 for campaign school, 4/20-23 in New Pfaltz, NY. Included in budget. Earlier campaign school for NJ fell through; agenda transferred to the one in NY. Scott McLarty will be coming to help out. Hope to bring in folks from throughout NE, will involve door-to-door, focus on recruiting more women candidates, Earth Day events.
Request is for $300 for travel costs for Brent and Scott McLarty; $200 for Greens in New Paltz to help out with their expenses.
PROPOSAL/Jake – to spend $500 for CCC/New Paltz campaign school.
AGREED
ii. **Executive session, 9:30-10:00 p.m.
Legal matter involving an affiliate state party.
Rob leaves the call.
b. OPERATIONS DIRECTOR – Emily
Thanks to our webmaster, they determined the origin of the logo, will work to get that person to sign contract so GPUS can copyright it.
GWU grad student is working with Emily on a blog project, posting GP info, highlights about what we are doing, candidates, on various progressive blogs with idea of directing people to the GP site. Last TS, sent out action alert to support censure resolution in US Senate. Got great response. Email Emily ay ideas for progressive blogs to post on. There were 50 new sign-ups to the website in a five day period, remarkable since before this, the average was 2 per day.
Sent out detailed report encompassing February activity; will send out another the end of this month. Will include more detailed information about email list, new donors; send any feedback to Emily.
II. TREASURER’S REPORT – Jake
Executive session, legal matter, 10:07-10:09 p.m.
New online fundraising bank account at Suntrust, credit processing services, in the works, effective the first of April.
IRS issue involving Courambis landlord, been resolved.
Business
AnmCom requesting funds for tour of Tuscon site; already approved, need another $632.
AGREED
III. VOTING QUEUE – Holly
RECEIVED FOR VOTING QUEUE
i) received, 3/16/06; CA/MI/WI: Electoral Challenge
2 weeks discussion, 1 week vote
Floor manager: Rotzler// 1/2
ii) received, 3/26/06; FLA: Proposal to Clarify Terminology and Mission of
DAC
2 weeks discussion, 1 week vote
Floor manager: Jake// 1/2
IV. Committee activity and accountability – Marc TABLED
Marc has been through 2 tornadoes, primary, state meeting and long road trip.
Will get the document out to SC list again after some updating.
V. Ongoing Business
a. Proposal on Voting Proposals
Question – what needs another vote; what is a correction. Budd and Holly will review and send comments to SC list.
b. BRPP proposal concerning SC co-chair elections; in progress and should be out by next call.
VI. New Business
Executive session, personnel 10:38 – 10:52 p.m.
NEXT CALL: Monday, April. 10, 9:00 p. m. ET
Holly Hart
Secretary, GPUS
3/27/06
Minimally edited and HTML formatted by Charlie Green