State Green Party Press Release

Racine Ready to Host Great Lakes Campaign School.

Wisconsin Green Party
December 3, 2003
For more information: Pete Karas 262-497-6151

Green Party candidates and their staffs from around the Midwest are ready to converge on Racine, Wisconsin this weekend for the Great Lakes Campaign School. The school, co-sponsored by the United States, Wisconsin, and Kenosha-Racine Green Parties, will be held at the historic DeKoven Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday and is expected to draw over 100 Greens to its sessions.

The event will provide resources for all attendees to develop political skills, whether they are experienced or new to campaigning. Participants will pay a small fee to help cover the costs of the conference and housing will be available for travelers for a small additional cost.

"There are many resources available to candidates who pursue politics as usual," said Pete Karas, a member of the Racine/Kenosha Green Party, and an organizer of the Campaign School. "Progressive candidates who don't accept corporate or PAC monies, and who run grass-roots campaigns, need particular resources at affordable prices."

Several prominent Green Party speakers from around the Midwest, will present at the campaign school. Greens who have worked in political campaigns and who have been elected to office will offer insights into how to run effective campaigns. Sessions will include everything from how to develop a campaign plan, to how to raise funds and attract volunteers, to how to develop a "Green" message, to how to work with the media.

Presenters include, Ben Manski, Co-chair of the United States Green Party, Michigan elected Greens JoAnne Beemon and Jim Moreno, Minneapolis Councilperson Natalie Lee Johnson, Madison Alders Brenda Konkel and Brian Benford, George Martin of the GPUS Black Caucus, Ken Pentel, former Minnesota Candidate for Governor, and Nick Berigan and Michael Jacob of Progressive Dane.

A media panel of Dustin Bock of the Racine Journal Times, John Nichols of The Nation, and Doug Cunningham of Wisconsin radio network will also provide their insight to the attendees of the school on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to the presentations, there are several social events planned for the weekend, highlighted by a Gypsy Swing Party Saturday night from 7 to 10pm at the DeKoven Center's Great Hall, featuring the band Caravan (from Madison). The public is encouraged to attend this event and suggested donations are $10 per person.

Giant Steps of Racine will provide Jazz entertainment for school attendees at a Welcome Reception on Friday Night and Celtic music will be presented by Bohrer Moraim for lunch on Saturday. The public is once again invited to a post-school party from 5 to 8pm at the Ivanhoe in Downtown Racine where The Mighty Lumberhorns will perform. A $5 donation is suggested for this event.

This is the second of five candidate schools to be co-sponsored by the Green Party of the United States, with the first being in Portland, Oregon in September. The Portland school attracted 108 people from five states.
"We chose the Kenosha/Racine Greens proposal to host the Great Lakes School due to their rapid growth in membership, their central location, and their success in working for and electing local candidates," said Juscha Robinson, Co-Chair of the United States Green Party's Coordinating Campaign Committee.
The Green Party is the fastest growing political party in the United States and currently has 225 elected officials serving in local and state offices in the United States, with 18 elected in Wisconsin and two in the Kenosha and Racine area.

For more information about the Great Lakes Campaign School, call the Green Party of Racine and Kenosha at 262-633-7133 or at info@greatlakesgreens.org.
A web site www.greatlakesgreens.org provides further details.