April 13, 2025

AGENDA –  Steering Committee Meeting

Sunday, April 13, 2025

8:00 pm EDT

 

  1. Setup and Background – 10 min

Facilitator: Gloria Mattera

Steering Committee Roll Call:

  1. Craig Cayetano (co-chair) – present
  2. Cassandra Lems(co-chair) – present
  3. Darryl! Moch (co-chair) -
joined just after JIll STein’s presentation
  4. Alfred Molison (co-chair) – 

  5. Joseph Naham (co-chair) – 

  6. Charles Ostdiek(co-chair) – 
present
  7. Justin Paglino (co-chair) – reported absence
  8. Holly Hart (secretary) – present
  9. Bob Stuller (treasurer) -
present for the early part of the call, financial reports 
  10. Jason Call (incoming treasurer) – reported absence

 

 Observers: Samantha Hull (CO); Rick Lass (NMx); Starlene Rankin (WA); Tamar Yager (VA); Haryaksh Baba Knauer, Lavender caucus

 

Tamar Yager has asked to provide an income report.

 

Observers are asked to remain muted and refrain from using the chat function.  If someone wishes to speak to an agenda item, please send a request  to secretary@gp.org.

 

Establish Quorum (9 current members, quorum is 5)

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS – an FYI, please consider how much time will be needed for these items

 

Approve Agenda (changes require majority, new items require  ⅔ approval):

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report – (Bob) 

 

Signal

General $16,305.87

Merchant $8,894.45

Savings $88,748.95

PayPal $1,903.41 

 

A small bequest has been deposited.  There was a problem with Shopfiy when we had a negative number due to a refund, and they shut us down.  Athena will follow up, as this needs  use two-factor identification. A productive transition meeting with Jason Call, they need a few more.. They plan ongoing meetings and working out time for that.

 

Tamar created an income report, but there is an issue with the filter. She did some estimates based on reasonably accurate information. If we were to divide the income in the budget by 12, we should be bringing in  $14,333/month on average. That amount is not coming in.  

 

REPORT:

Income budgeted per month according to the budget (Operating only)

$14,333

 

January received – $11,526 – approximately $1,300 is merch and caucus/committee

$10,226 

 

February received – $10,501 – approximately $1,100 is merch and caucus/committee 

$9,401

 

March received – $10,944 – approximately $3,800 is merch, ANM and caucus/committee

$7144

 

Lost $2500 a month sustainer in February/March

 

III. New/Current  Business  

  1. AnmCom Request for Steering Committee members to facilitate and help plan two 

National Committee delegate review sessions prior to the ANM. SC members willing to 

help out with this should contact Holly, Cassandra or ANM. 

 

      2     Request to support and host a petition for the Stein Campaign. Demand “that the charges be dropped against Jill in St Louis, where she is being charged with assault on a police officer and criminal trespass, either or both of which could carry jail time. We have a good lawyer, one of the best, but public pressure to drop charges could be very helpful. I myself still may be charged with criminal trespass, they have to file it by 4/28.”

 

UPDATE: Jill Stein joined the call to give an account ot her legal situation. Currently, she is in a position to help leverage fundraising and support for the party.  She was charged after a demonstration at Washington University in St Louis. Jill was squished with a bicycle, but was accused of assault. This incident is framing campus protestors and activists,an attack on the First Amendment.  The initial  ideal was a “drop the charges” petition campaign. tT this point, however, the Campaign is holding off with this until they have a better sense of the case, and some guidelines. JIll is working with ;one of the best trial lawyers in the country.  He is  no longer able to work  pro bono. She would like to be able to fundraise through the party for this purpose. They have an FEC contact to advise on this.  Jill would like to begin fundraising for the party, for hires, communications and fundraising – dedicated fundraising to start as soon as possible. The Green party came out of the 2024 as the #1 option for People Powered Politics. Fundraising for the cost of the case, and a “drop the charges” petition are hoped for down the line. 

 

General agreement from the SC to move forward with these ideas and requests. Charles asked to get more details about the FEC ruling on fundraising for the legal case.  The Fundraising Committee would be involved and SC involved in messaging.

 

3 Brief Discussion Item (Cassandra):  is there anything the Green Party of the United States can do to stop the dismantling of the U.S. government by the president and his minions? She and her partner  are beginning to realize they need to decide against fleeing the country or staying and fighting the fascist regime. They are worried that nothing is being done to stop this coup.  They are concerned that growing deporations and targeting of immigrants will escalate into targeting of citizens. Are there practical ideas?

Charles: is someone who can’t leave. Best thing he feels is to work with this group. Response should happen at the state level, as funding and agencies are cut.

Craig:  State by state issue.  New Jersey issue is the Democratic Party bringing forth bad policies targeting protesters and speaking out on certain issues.

Holly: Align with other like-minded, similar-minded organizations.

 

  1. Continued dIscussion of Fiscal Policy and SC financial conflict of interest policy (Charles). Charles reported that the SC is to review annually whether any member has a financial conflict of interest. He will send requests to SC members, or SC members can declare they have no financial conflicts of interest. Charles, Casandra and Holly have already made this statement. Craig and Darryl!dDeclared on the call that they have no financial conflict of interest and don’t anticipate any. 

 

  1. Standing Business/Old Business
  2.   ANY UPDATES from National Single Payer Health – ? 

Justin has signed their endorsement page.  They are providing various digital materials.   Announcement of upcoming webinar and information to the NC lists about the Day of Action in May.

 

  1.   Operation Simplify: Message on Operation Simplify, an organization working to end gerrymandering; inquiry about meeting early in the new year.
   Justin Paglino has contacted them several times, but has not heard back from them.  He will try one more time. Darryl! Was also in contact with them and not heard back.

 

  1. Reports 20 min

Co-chairs, please review liaison spreadsheet and edit, as needed

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1c2gpFv7aivHl29B5Dx-6hixVsA5QUY9I1c6wpz0f2Ko/edit?gid=1854246226#gid=1854246226  

 

  1. Guest Committee(s) (Ballot Access has sent a quarterly report to the SC) 

 

  1. Staff (Justin)
 

 

  1. Secretary (Holly) -
Migration.  Some folks will be presenting information about various online platforms on a webinar April 30th.  More details TBA.  Possibility of quarterly committee meetings/meet-ups (or liaison-called related committee calls); one-on-ones; Housekeeping.

 

  1. Craig: Media, Merch, PCSC, GCCC, Outreach
 – Esmee Silverman is new Outreach co-chair; they are working on procedures and current plan. Craig reported on social media stats; trying to get a team together to work with Streamyard, need to explore further; working on a 2025 draft task plan.

 

  1. Cassandra: ANMCom, ETC, FundCom,
Credentials  – no reports, mostly sitting in on ANMCom. Gloria sent a Fundraising report just before the meeting.: SC hired Georgia Davenport to be temporary Fundraiser for a two month period.  She has been working with FundCom, sending out messages, fundraising and working with eBlasts. Working with smaller lists to build NatioBuo\idler health, open rate is improving.  “420” is coming up – get a $4.20 discount on merchandise, so this is the time to order.

 

  1. Joseph: IC, CCC, GPAX, Green Pages

  2. Alfred: AC
 

 

  1. Darryl!: DRC, BRPP, Platcom
 – DRC has a new member and a couple cases tn the hopper

 

  1. Charles: BMRC, FinCom, Animal Rights
 – working on updating FinCom list, all SC members may be included. Now liaison with BMRC; GPAX proposal passed NC vote.

 

  1. Justin: BAC, EcoAction ; Staff Supervisor


 

  1. Voting Queue – (Holly) 5 min
  2. Received for the Queue 
– see above GPAX Statement

None

 

  1. In the Queue — 


Discussion

           

  1. # 1253 – GPUS 2025 Budget

Discussion through 4/20/2025

Voting period: 4/21 – 4/27;2025

Threshold: 50%+1

Floor Manager: Charles Ostdiek

 

Voting  – None

 

 

Completed

  1. # 1252 – GPUS Endorsement of National Single Payer

 May 31st National Day of Action

ADOPTED, 4/07/2025

 

  1. # 1251 Green Party US Peace Action Committee, GPAX, Declares a Local,   

            International and Global Environmental and Peace Emergency!

           ADOPTED, 4/10/2025

 

VII. Old Business – None

 

VIII. Executive Session 
-  Called 9:20 pm EDT – Ended 10:40 PM EDT

 

  1. Staff Union Contract  – Justin, Charles

Darryl! Re-sent the document with his, Joseph’s and Justin’ comments.

AGREED to review and weigh in by April 27th. Darryl!, Craig and Joseph will facilitate this work, along with Justin.

 

  1. An anonymous donor has donated funds with some earmarked for staff pay.  SC agreed to increase COLA (cost of living adjustment) 3%, plus a $500 bonus each.  The rest will go  into operating reserves, which are still down about $7000 from last year.  AGREED, Consensus

 

  1. SC AGREED to go forward with the earlier-approved plan to hire a digital media creator: WIll ask Fundraising or Media to come up with a clear role and job description.   $25/hr, 20 hrs/ month. Paid for from operating reserves, hopefully to be replenished by fundraising.  New funds in reserves could be used for this hire. 

TOTAL TIME – 2 hours, 45 minutes