GPUS SC Conference Call
Sunday, November 15, 2009
8:00 p.m. EDT
Co-chairs: Sanda Everett, Mike Feinstein, Jason Nabewaniec, Farheen
Hakeem
Secretary: Holly Hart
Treasurer: Jody Grage
Staff: Tamar Yager, Brent McMillan
David Strand is not able to be on the call until an hour after the start;
Craig Thorsen and Jill Bussiere are not able to be on the call.
Observer: Jeff Peress, NY
Facilitators: Mike facilitated for the executive session item.
Farheen facilitated the first three items.
Jason facilitated the rest of the call.
I. Executive Session 8:07 – 8:25 p.m.
Personnel
I. STAFF REPORTS a. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Brent We did get our elections media release out; 35% win rate at the municipal level. This fact was picked up on various news services. Brent is tracking 2010 elections; right now, have 55 declared candidates, all new. There are more, some not yet public. 55 in Illinois.
Spoke with representative of Bob Brown’s (Australian Green MP) office, and Anna Reynolds, international advisor to Bob Brown. Not sensing much Congressional focus on upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen talks. Swedish Green MP is being blocked by her own government from going to Copenhagen. Brent advises to start preparing for the next year’s talks in Mexico, getting a formal observer to that round next year.
We have not been able to make payroll. Fundraising is priority for this and hte coming week.
b. FUNDRAISING MANAGER – Tamar Sent a report, there are a couple updates. Breaking even on re-solicitation mailings right now, but we are only at about 50% fulfillment on pledges (we usually get about 75%). Working on mailing to about 550 donors, sent to people with no phone or email in states that have had good elections, including information about elections. $175 so far for Veteran’s Day fundraising appeal online. November 6th special online edition of Election GreenLine. DiA suspended our account, as payment was late; Tamar paid for a month with her credit card. Wednesday, will send out online alert on single-payer with emphasis on women’s reproductive rights; Thanksgiving appeal, thanks to Green members; Merchandise appeal (don’t shop on Black Friday, but order merchandise from GP the day after, for instance). Empower will suspend calling unless we pay about $7-8000, we are behind. If they stop at the end of the year, they will have completed our current list; anything new would be prospecting where we only hope to break even. Tamar believes she has resolved the issue of why some credit card donations through Paypal are no showing up in DiA.
II. TREASURER’S REPORT – Jody $3000 in general account; $2000 in reserve; $1075 in reserve for International Committee. IC has not given formal request to release funds. There is a button order on request which is about $5-600. We have not met this month’s payroll. Accounts payabler: Empower, close to $18,000. Paid Verizon bill and rent. Total accounts payable (minus the loan) is close to $60,000.
Brent recommended releasing Brian’s salary and paying Tamar back the $500 she had used to pay DiA; check at the end of the next week.
Proposal – Jody proposed releasing funds for Brian’s salary and money for the button order. We will check at the end of the week for funds for Tamar’s expense and rest of salaries. APPROVED, consensus
Jody – Farheen has expressed interest in fundraising. This coming week would be a great time to start. Farheen’s idea has to do with Valentine’s weekend.
III. VOTING QUEUE – Holly a. WI proposal – NC approval of IC delegation reps Mike will send clarification request to WI within 24 hours, has some suggested language. If WI can get this back to SC, SC will take up online approval to go to the voting queue the following Monday. 2 weeks discussion, 1 week vote; 2/3 threshold; Floor Manager – Farheen.
b. MI proposal on NC business recess Updated version just sent to SC today. Some had not seen this, yet, but those who have are fine with it going ahead to the queue next Monday. Jody abstained, because she did not have access to email and so was not able to have read the proposal. Others on the call approved. 2 weeks discussion, 1 week vote; 2/3 threshold, Floor Manager – Sanda.
c. CA proposal on SC agendas; question to extend discussion another week to consider amendment. AGREED.
IV. OTHER ITEMS a. Staff request for officers listserv Approved; will be an announcement email list; will also include state party treasurers. If, after a few months, it seems desirable to have a list specifically for treasurers, one can be set up then.
b. Staff proposal for computer memory issue, if not already approved online Dave Doonan would enter into a barter agreement whereby he would donate web services to Hugh Esco in return for Hugh being given access to the website to help troubleshoot issues with memory capacity. AGREED
c. Call Facilitators A couple months ago, Craig Thorsen said he would be working on getting call facilitators. So far, we have been relying on internal committee facilitators. AGREED that Holly will contact those on the list we have drawn up, and try to find facilitators of the next few calls
V. PORTFOLIOS Mike – Media Committee is working on a draft green papers approach; would include platform committee and SC.
VI. FINANCES/BUDGET Jody proposed that the SC announce to the NC that the SC is working on a budget; proposal, expense and income narratives and budget proposals are nearly finalized, budget will be to the NC in one or two weeks.
Case and Income statements will go up tonight. Mike will send Holly what is to go u[p; David Doonan will post documents to a web page and supply a link to be added to the proposal, asap. Parts of expense narrative will go up Tuesday afternoon. That leaves the controversial sections, will work on in the coming days.
4 weeks discussion, 1 week vote; 50%+1 threshold; Floor Manager – Jody.
NEXT CALL: Sunday, November 22, 2009; 8:00 p.m. EST Focus on Finances & Budget. Jody stated we have some hard decisions to consider; we need to come up with ways to cut costs or raise funds or both.
11/15/09
Holly Hart
Secretary, GPUS