GPUS SC Conference Call
Sunday, August 8, 2010
8:00 p.m. EDT
Co-chairs:
Craig Thorsen, Theresa El-Amin, Julia Jacobson, Mike Feinstein, Jason Nabewaniec, David Strand
Secretary: Holly Hart
Treasurer: Jeff Turner
Staff:
Brent McMillan, Brian Bittner
Farheen Hakeem was not able to be on the call.
Facilitator: Charlie Pillsbury
Guest: Nan Garrett (GA, Platcom member)
Agenda review
MIke asked to add a quick decision to send a letter of support to Young Global Greens. He sent information a couple hours ago to the SC list. SC
AGREED, by consensus (see letter, following these minutes).
I. EXECUTIVE SESSION
8:10 p.m. – 8:42 p.m.
Personnel matter
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II. STAFF REPORTS
Brent and Brian have sent staff reports to the SC email list.
a. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Brent
i. We are doing well with candidate recruitment, no at 306 candidates. Brent noted the situation in AZ: at the filing deadline, a candidate showed up they don’t know. The matter is still unresolved.
Regarding ballot access, we are doing well gaining ballot lines, picking up MA and PA, for 27 ballot lines. Of those that were lost after the last election cycle, we are gradually gaining them back.
b. OFFICE MANAGER – Brian
Brian pointed out that if we gain ballot status in NY and PA, GPUS will have ballot lines in the 8 most populous states in the country.
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III. TREASURER’S REPORT – Jeff
Jeff gave a re-cap of where GPUS is financially. He said that outgoing treasurer Jody Grage did a good job of getting us through the “Anybody But Bush” years. We are $52,000 in debt: mostly to ourselves (loans, restricted funds), Red Sun Press, and SC re-imbursements from the ANM.
Jeff proposed a fundraising campaign to raise $100,000. $50k to pay off debts is too small; over $100k is probably unreasonable, with a negative motivational factor. He asked for SC consensus to take the idea back to FundCom for a specific proposal for an action plan. We need to use some funds to prospect for new donors. He would like feedback from SC online.
Timing is an issue. We are in the midst of campaign season, budget, platform. Jeff would like to get this started sometime in September and completed by the end of the year.
Execution: Who is going to do this? FundCom has been discussing this.
Fiscal Policy: We have been working for two months in Fundcom, FinCom and MerchCom going through a draft that Jody, Sanda and Mike came up with. Last fall’s re-draft failed. They have gotten a lot of feedback. Jeff believes that after this week’s FinCom meeting there will be a draft to present to the SC by the next call. He would like personal feedback, at that time, further feedback from stakeholders.
Jeff stated, although the revised fiscal policy has not yet been adopted, he will start to honor the “respect for donor intent” included in that policy. There is a specific timeline for developing budget, and he plans to follow that timeline.
Theresa asked how much money the caucuses have at this time. She is raising funds for the Black Caucus and asked to follow up with Jeff how those funds will be processed.
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IV. REPORT on SOUTHERN STATES’ REGIONAL ORGANIZING MEETING – Theresa
Theresa invited delegates from states across the south to a meeting, building on this year’s national meeting. North Carolina has proposed a “Cross the Line” campaign, designed to invite Greens from border states to “cross the line” to help NC’s (onerous) ballot access effort.
They also discussed national organization and fundraising among members’ committees and caucuses. She is raising money for the Black caucus to do an “intervention” with the Congressional Black caucus in September.
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V. VOTING QUEUE – Holly
a. Review of current proposals and platform proposal status report.
b. IN THE WORKS: PROPOSAL from PLATCOM – regarding timeline and process for reconciliation of conflicting material that have achieved a passing threshold.
Nan Garrett, member of Platform Committee tasked with working out a proposal, gave an overview of a proposal worked up by Platform Committee members. There is a proposal, but the Platcom doesn’t have time to go through their decision-making process to approve it in the timeframe needed. Nan asked if the SC would send this out as an expedited vote. Theresa stated that some on the Platform Committee have some objections on principle to this plan, and would prefer the SC not step into the Platform Committee’s working this out at this time. David and Craig advised that this be resolved further in the Platform Committee before coming back to the SC, possibly the Platform Committee can help bring resolutions to some conflicting or competing material. Nan will take the proposals back to the Platform Committee.
c. QUESTION of an individual voting twice. In learning that the Black Caucus alternate had voted on some of the platform proposals, Theresa (Black caucus delegate) then discovered he is also a delegate from illinois. This was not done out of ill intent: the person is new and did not realize he should not have voted for the Black Caucus unless directed to do so, or that there is an ethical concern about one person casting two votes for two different affiliates. This is an unprecedented situation, and until now, the voting page team was not even aware this could be done.
Theresa urges that state/caucuses make an effort to orient new members to the GNC. Mike stated that a proposal being worked on in BRPP dealt with this question.
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VI. PROPOSAL – GPUS Mission Statement, Strategic Plan, Next Steps – Jason
Jason sent a proposal for the SC to sponsor for adoption of a general statement developed at the 2010 national meeting. In response to Theresa’s request for additional material, Jason explained this was only the material that came out of the GNC meetings in Detroit. He feels the SC should not add further material; the GNC should “own” this.
David recommended this be held off until after the platform process is over, due to the current volume of voting queue items. Jeff agreed, and also said we need a “blue ribbon panel” to work on this to make sure there is consensus before this goes forward to the GNC.
Mike stated that there was a specific choice made by the meeting facilitators which resulted in a pretty random process.
Craig noted that there are a number of standing committees focused on various aspects of GNC work, and recommended a committee be formed or this be given to committees that would naturally focus on this type of item.
SC agreed to table this item until the platform work is finished. Jason will send out the statement to the “affairs” list to see what response or interest there may be. Jeff asked that Craig follow up with his recommendation. MIke asked that the minutes make clear that there was no SC agreement to follow the above plan in the name of the SC, but that individual SC members are free to put out their ideas.
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VII. DISCUSSION & PROPOSALS Regarding Personnel – Holly
a. With Brent’s announcement of his departure at the end of December, the SC needs to prepare to find a replacement. For this to happen, the SC needs to prepare a job announcement and a clear, accessible and open application process.
PROPOSAL:
To re-constitute 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, to be presented on the next SC call.
Mike, Jeff and Julie noted that they have been discussing staff
re-configuration, discussing more help for some SC members who are
overworked. Jeff stated that this would be developed through the budget
process. The question of re-constituting a personnel subcommittee was left
unresolved.
b. 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.” Jason had served in this capacity, but in the most recent contract, was replaced by the treasurer. Holly asked that this be reviewed. Jeff mentioned that he thought he and Julie “who have not bought into any faction” and Jason would make a good “triumvirate” but did not believe it is necessary to make any changes at this time. Staff/SC arrangement remains as is.
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VIII. FOLLOW-UP, if any – LEGAL QUESTIONS MEMO
Mike said he had sent the memo to Andy Finko on July 26th and has not heard back, yet.
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IX. LETTER to GLOBAL YOUNG GREENS
Mike received a request from Global Young Greens for a letter of support. He asked the SC this afternoon to approve a letter. SC Agreed, by consensus.
(LETTER follows, below)
8/8/10
Holly Hart
Secretary, GPUS
NEXT CALL: Sunday, August
22, 2010; 8:00 p.m. EDT
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August 8th, 2010
Dear Global Young Greens
The Green Party of the United States sends warm wishes of success to you at the Global Young Greens Congress in Berlin.
The energy and vision of young Greens around the world is critical for the Green movement to succeed. Your work in linking young Greens worldwide builds connections that will last a lifetime and help our movement grow on the international and global levels.
We hope that in future years, there will be a stronger connection between young Greens in the United States and the Global Young Greens*.
We look forward to an exciting report on your activities this week.
Sincerely,
The Steering Committee of the Green Party of the United States