GPUS SC Conference Call
Sunday, July 11, 2010
8:00 pm EDT
Co-chairs:
Julie Jacobson, Jason Nabewaniec, Craig Thorsen, Theresa El-Amin, David Strand, Farheen Hakeem, Mike Feinstein
Secretary: Holly Hart
Treasurer: Jody Grage; Jeff Turner
Staff: Brent McMillan, Brian Bittner
Guest: Justine McCabe, Co-chair, International Committee
Observers:
Hector Lopez (CT), Tony Gronowicz (NY). both on the IntenationalCommittee, joined the call
Facilitator: Farheen Hakeem
Jody reported that Claudia wanted to express her thanks for the time she had spent on the SC.
I. Executive session
Potential legal matter
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II. STAFF REPORTS
a. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Brent
Bent sent out a repot to the SC on Fiday. He reported that It was a quiet week.
Brent has been in contact with Joseph McCormick about
ADD: the upcoming Transpartisan event in Seattle in Feb. of 2011
DELETE: elections strategy session in Detroit
ADD: Planning to attend call on Thursday of this week for working group that was formed in Detroit for Getting the Coordinated Campaign Committee re-organized is a hoped-for outcome.
Elections database now has a new feature, offering a summary of yearly elections statistics. Brent is working with Matt Cleveland and Mike Feinstein.
We are currently at 257 candidates for 2010. 226 races have yet to be voted on. http://www.gp.org/elections/candidates/index.php?filter_year=2010
FUNDRAISING: Direct mail is doing well, especially for summer.
b. OFFICE MANAGER – Brian
Brian has been compiling some reflections by himself and others about this year’s ANM, to help plan future meetings. He anticipates some consistency among AnmCom among those involved, but in case the volunteer Co-chairs are not able to continue, he wants the office to have a repository about what went well, or not, with the meeting. He invited input from SC members.
Brian thanked Jody for doing some data entry work. Now is the time we need to start recruiting interns for the fall semester. He would like to see a robust intern program that teaches organizing as well as office skills.
Bank deposits were made last week for for $1200 and $1385. We need to plan for if and when direct mail starts to taper off. August is typically a “dry” month. Brian is working on an online campaign, asked for ideas on what would be a good campaign for raising funds on behalf of GPUS. SC members who’d like to do personal solicitations should let Brian know, and he will get them the information and materials they need.
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Update on GPUS – G/GPUSA logo and name litigation: When GPUS attempted to register a trademark for our name and logo, G/GPUS filed an objection. Their objection was upheld.
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III. TREASURER’S REPORT – Jody
Jody has sent reports for June and (mid) July. We have $2.1K in general account, after mid-term staff salaries. Accounts payable are $3.8 for staff travel and per diem, and $8.2 for Red Sun Press. $18k for total accounts payable for July. From ANM – unknown if these are the final figures – the income = $18.3; expenses = $20.4; for a loss of $2.1K. Registration numbers were much lower than anticipated, so this isn’t unexpected. Numbers will improve once we add in income from the silent auction and fundraiser. Direct mail piece is doing well.
Julie thanked Jody for her service over the last few years. General applause.
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IV. PROPOSAL for GPUS Participation in End the Occupation event and organizes’ meeting in Kansas City- Theresa
Justine McCabe, International Committee Co-chair, explained that when the US Campaign to End the Occupation was first formed, GPUS joined as a coalition partner, but lapsed because we have not paid dues recently.
Theresa suggested someone attend their upcoming meeting in Kansas City. The idea is to raise our political profile by having a table, which would be a nominal fee, $50 if we want to sell merchandise. Justine stated that it would be good if we were again a coalition partner. Knowing that GPUS doesn’t have fund for this, she offered to pay the fee. Justine will contact KC-area people (Dee Berry, Ruth Lee, Midge Potts), brief them, and see if they would be interested to staff a table and be at the organizers’ meeting.
Mike asked that it be clear that those at an organizers’ meeting understand they cannot make binding decisions involving the party, He asked who would be paying the tabling fee. Jody stated that when people donate their funds to pay for GPUS activities, these are listed as gifts in kind. She will check on the details and get back to Justine.
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IV. VOTING QUEUE, misc. secretary items – Holly
– notes and reports from the 2010 ANM have all gone to the webmaster
– SC members are are reminded that the webmaster has assigned tasks, and it is not a “given” that someone can simply ask him for extra work, especially when it should involve oversight by the web content team
– freeconferencecall.com is now archiving call recordings (more than one)
Several SC members expressed concerns about the appearance of the gp.;org homepage. Some are getting a large blank space at the top of the page. The webmaster has been working on some upgrades, so this might be the cause. Holly will speak to David Doonan this week to see what can be done.
Concerns were raised about platform proposals, and the need for time to review and compare with current language. Farheen suggested adding an extra week for discussion, because the “2004 language” was not always included in the first batch; one delegate is also unable to easily access the 2004 platform and had no other way to get the language. Jody suggested we delay the second batch. Theresa, Holly, Farheen, Jeff, Julie and David agreed. Farheen agreed to type up our rationale. Mike disagreed at first , stating that tghis will squeeze the process at the back end, but then agreed to the recommendation to extend everything back a week, but do the final week’s scheduled proposals that week – “this is breaking the rules unless we do it that way.” Craig stated that that will run into September and delegates’ likely work on campaigns. Farheen and Julie, both involved in campaigns, felt that this would not be a problem, and that it would be more important to be inclusive of delegates.
PROPOSAL, Jeff, Farheen: To extend for one more week discussion on the first batch of platform proposals; delay by one week the posting of the second batch; the final week’s voting will be compressed, with the final two batches voted on simultaneously.
CONSENSUS, with Craig and Theresa standing aside. Farheen will write up “findings” explaining our reason for extending the timeline.
Mike, Craig and Theresa offered to help post the second batch of platform proposals. It was agreed that Sand Everette may also assist. Holly will get in touch with them tomorrow.
Voting Queue Proposals:
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1) Re-submitted, 7/4/10, by International Committee (see proposal sent to this list; will be re-sent before the SC call): IC Missions Statement
2 weeks vote, 1 week discussion; 2/3 threshold; Farheen, floor manager
2) Proposal from Wisconsin and Maine (no. of SC members per state at any given time) was re-submitted within 48 hours of the last call (5/30/10), but SC has not followed up with an online vote per our agreement. Holly stated this needs to be dealt with. Mike said the SC had not heard back from Wi/ME, there was nothing to do on this end. Farheen recommended sending it to the voting queue, “it keeps coming back and it should finally be put before the NC.: Jason agreed, stating the earlier “findings” were not legitimate, anyway. Farheen asked to go to a vote. David noted that the SC did pass “findings,” so although the agrees this should go to the voting queue, should have something back from WI/ME.
Craig stated WI/ME had re-submitted the proposal with no changes.
Holly pointed out the SC had agreed on “findings” and a previous call, the sponsors had made changes to address the “findings” and re-submitted the proposal. Then on the last call, after the SC had failed to cary out the online vote agreed to on the previous call, some of the SC came up with other concerns. There is no sign that the SC got back to WI/ME, so the ball is in the SC’s court.
NO ACTION TAKEN.
3) From GP of Georgia: R&P, Amend, Findings Stay Vote, Not Discussion (see forwarded proposal). Submitted on Tuesday, 6/8.
2 weeks vote, 1 week discussion; 2/3 threshold; Farheen, floor manager
4) ETC report from 2010 SC election. (After two weeks’ time, if there has been no challenge, there is an automatic vote by the NC to certify the results.)
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TABLED to NEXT CALL
V. GPUS Mission Statement – Jason, Craig
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VI. PORTFOLIOS
a. PROPOSAL: SC decision of portfolio/liaison assignments – Mike
Mike posted an existing list of Co-chair portfolio assignments. Per a recent R&P change, Co-chairs are now considered “liaisons” to various committees.
Current Co-chair liaison assignments:
http://www.gp.org/committees/steering/liaisons.shtml
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NEXT CALL: Sunday, July 25, 2010; 8:00 p.m. EDT
7/11/10
Holly Hart
Secretary, GPUS