GPUS SC Conference Call
Sunday, August 22, 2010
8:00 p.m. EDT
Co-chairs:
Theresa El-Amin, Jason Nabewaniec and Cora, Farheen Hakeem, Mike Feinstein, Craig Thorsen, Julie Jacobson, David Strand
Secretary: Holly Hart
Treasurer: Jeff Turner
Staff: Brent McMillan, Brian Bittner
Facilitator: George Martin
Agenda review
I. EXECUTIVE SESSION
(8:25 – 8:40 p.m.)
Personnel matter requested by Craig.
It was agreed by a 4-3-1 vote to allow staff to be present for this portion of the call. Theresa asked to have her objection recorded.
VOTE on whether to have staff on this session:
Mike – Yes
Theresa – No
Farheen – temporarily not available
Jason- No, unless the discussion stats to involve mattes where they should be included
Craig – Yes
David – Yes
Julie – Yes
Holly – No, same rationae as Jason
Jeff – Abstain
Craig stated that he had called 5 SC members and gotten approval to contact legal counsel Andy Finko with a question regarding liability. Holly asked that the votes/approval of those who were contacted and gave approval should be recorded, and noted that the process actually required all SC members to be notified of a request for a decision. (Of those who were contacted, it is not known if they were aware that not all SC members were being contacted.) David Strand wrote that he had been contacted and gave approval.
Andy Finko was to have been on the call for an update on another matter, but did not make the call.
The importance of treating both employees and employers with respect was tressed.
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II. STAFF REPORTS
a. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Brent
Report sent to SC. Added 3 more candidates, currently 321 candidates. AZ primary comes up on Tuesday; they are still trying to sort out who is Green and who is Republican operative.
b. OFFICE MANAGER – Brian
Report sent to SC. Most pressing concern is that the FEC monthly report, which is due the 20th of this month, was completed 8/18. He and Jeff have discussed how to work on more effective financial reporting to SC, FinCom and NC, so people get the information they want.
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III. TREASURER’S REPORT – Jeff
Jeff reported that he spent several hours going over finances. 6515K in the general account, $99.76 in web account, $30 in the reserve account. About $6600 in the bank. He has not paid DiAl; payment for Scott McLarty and David Doonan come up at month’s end, $5600. That leaves us with about $1000. The FEC fine is due, so Jeff is being very tight with funds.
FinCom has approved MerchCom’s request to getting 1000 bumper stickers and 1000 buttons. We make money on these. Jason stated that if money is budgeted for items, the request doesn’t need to go to SC, so MerchCom will place the order.
Craig asked if he could make a donation to go toward more of these items. Jeff noted that MerchCom had actually planned to spend next funds on polo shirts. Craig said he would defer his request until MerchCom had a chance to discuss this further.
Mike asked whether Jody Grage had contacted the FEC about lowering our fine. Jeff stated he had spoken to Jody about this, we will pay what we negotiated with the FEC and moveon.
Update on proposed Fundraising Campaign: Jeff stated this should start in October, then after the election. We should take care not to attach a lot of strings for restricted funds. Theresa stated that she is concerned about the capacity of this type of campaign during an election season, and given the low participation of FundCom discussions.
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IV. REPORT on ANTI-WAR COALITION CONFERENCE CALL (8/17) “One Nation Working Together”
Theresa was on their recent conference call. She sent more information in their flyer to the SC about related activities in North Carolina, and information about the planned mobilization on October 2nd. www.onenationworkingtogether.org
Theresa said Greens need to have a strong presence. She would like to propose the GNC approve GPUS’ participation. This is shaping up to be a large coalition with major activists and organizations. She recommends that we participate, and Greens mobilize and participate as Greens. Mike and Craig noted a concern that this had not been agendized and little information was provided before the call. David asked Theresa to put this in a proposal format for an expedited decision, for the SC to send a proposal to the GNC.
AGREED to make 3-day expedited decision for a proposal to go to the GNC. Theresa stated she is too busy to write this. Holly agreed to write up a proposal and send it to the SC.
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V. VOTING QUEUE – Holly
a. Review of current proposals and platform proposal status report. Holly noted concerns raised with “trade” proposal from GPCA. “Trade” proposals had been scheduled in an earlier batch, and this one had not been announced to the Platform Committee or the NC. The content was the same as a failed GPGCa proposal on Trade, but for the addition of one sentence.
‘Mike said this was approved before the April 15th deadline, per our rules. He reported that the “trade” proposal was that earlier in the platform session, there was another proposal by DC Statehood Greens, which they amended to take on what GPCA had; then, CA agreed to sponsor DC’s proposal. Earlier, CA sent its own trade proposal. This one is similar, but not identical. Mike said Marnie had forgotten to include the proposal, and called him to ask him to post it in the voting queue.
b. (STILL) IN THE WORKS: PROPOSAL from PLATCOM – regarding timeline and process for reconciliation of conflicting material that have achieved a passing threshold. [At the time of the call, it was believed that the Platform Committee vote had not reached quorum. At this time, it appears quorum was reached, so this proposal should be on its way to the SC. – 8/23/10, hh]
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VI. PORTFOLIOS
Mike – Green Pages is slowing down to a grind because of lack of participation (lots of static, could not hear). Media Committee is voting to make its appointments to Green Papers subcommittee. PCSC – thought initial outreach for 2012 would be to existing and previous high profile Green candidates and officeholders. Probably added will be a letter to former Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates.
Holly – brief update on GPAX. She had forwarded a GPAX member the information about the October 2 March on Washington. Ann Wilcox responded and explained that although GPAX has been dormant for some time, but memebrs got together in Detroit with interest in reviving this. They have established new contacts and will be updating their web page shortly.
Craig – DAC is in the process of creating a survey to send to states regarding size of NC and other possible questions, to go out sometime after November 2.
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VII. DISCUSSION, INFORMATION, PROPOSALS Regarding Personnel – Jeff, Holly
1 = Information regarding staff health insurance policies, and how that is affected by staffing. – Jeff
Jeff sent out a memo earlier today about medical insurance,m with several questions the SC needs to decide. We need to get whatever we may want for the coming year into this contract by October 1. We must cover 75% of our eligible employees; our contract now is only for full-time (30 hours-per-week) employees. There must be at least two employees under coverage; temporary single covered employees are ok, but not a long term situation.
QUESTION: Should we amend our contracts so we can cover part-time employees, if we choose? YES, SC Agreed by consensus. Craig asked to include his comment that we should not make a hasty decision, because we don’t know what the cost may be, thinks this vote is premature.
QUESTION: Should we change out definitions of full- and part-time to reflect insurance rules?
This will be taken up in a subsequent meeting.
2 = A. PROPOSAL regarding staff supervision. – Holly
Regarding staff supervision: while the SC is technically the employer and supervisor of staff, each staff members works in various capacities with SC members for various type of tasks, and an SC member serves as staff supervisor or “liaison.” Having such a structure can better ensure clear communication and working out of issues regarding personnel, work assignments, conflicts, etc. It was agreed to appoint an SC member (originally co-chair) to serve as staff supervisor. SC agreed to appoint Jason, if he was willing, but Jason had fallen off the call. It was agreed that Jeff serve in this capacity.
Proposal: That the SC clarify a staff supervisor (possibly more than one) to serve through the end of December, possibly longer.
APPROVED, 6 Yes, 1 No, 2 not voting
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Craig – objected to the use of the word “proposal” rather than “decision.” Should wait until the next call to be decided.
Julie – sort of two things going. Greater need now is not so much supervision over existing staff, but to have a committee of people to look at job descriptions and work with current staff and others who may want to be on to decide what kind of staffing we need, and then.
Jeff – agree with Julie, sequence – why don’t we have a casual discussion about staffing structure, then take up proposal to create an ad hoc committee.
Mike – agree with Craig, Jeff and Julie. Will vote for something submitted in writing and clearly identified as a proposal. Brainstorm staff structure for later calls.
Holly – this should be in place now, regardless of whatever staffing or re-configuration takes place later. This had been in place since the GPUS was formed. This does not involve micro-managing staff (refer to original proposal ffor purpose).
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VOTE
Holly – Yes
Mike – not voting
Craig – No
Theresa – Yes
Jason – not available
Jeff – Yes
Julie – Yes
Farheen – Yes
David – Yes
APPROVED, 6 Yes, 1 No, 1 not voting
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B. PROPOSAL – AGREED, to appoint Jeff as staff supervisor.
It was suggested that Jason be staff supervisor, but he had apparently fallen off the call. Jeff agreed to fill that position. Mike asked to be recored as “refusing to participate in this illegitimate decision-making process.” CONSENSUS, with Mike declining, for Jeff to serve as staff supervisor.
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3 = Discussion of staff, structure. – SC
Jeff stated we need to figure out getting a fundraiser now, before Brent leaves. Perhaps we should have another meeting. David stated that the FinCom, on its recent call, was unanimous in agreement that a DC office is critical, and wanted to get a sense of the GNC on the matter. Julie and Holly also recommended having another call on this subject next week. SC agreed to have a special conference call to focus on this subject next Saturday, August 28th,
6:00 p.m., EDT.
TABLED – 4 = PROPOSAL to re-constitute a SC personnel sub-committee, for the purpose of consulting with staff on potential job description revisions; and to develop a plan for disseminating a job announcement, and open and fair application process. – Holly
NEXT CALL: SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2010, 6:00 p.m. EDT