August 9, 2026

 Steering Committee Meeting  MINUTES

Sunday, August 9, 2026

8:00 pm EDT

 

I  Setup and Background


Facilitator: Allan Hunter

Steering Committee Roll Call:

  1. Ann Link (co-chair) – present
  2. Arshia Papari (co-chair) – present
  3. Cassandra Lems (co-chair) – present
  4. Craig Cayetano (co-chair) – present
  5. Kalia Fitzgerald (co-chair) – present
  6. Tamar Yager (co-chair) – present – left call at 10:43 pm
  7. Wissam Charafeddine (co-chair) – present; left call at 9:48 pm
  8. Holly Hart (secretary) – present
  9. Cassiday Moriarity (incoming treasurer) – present; left call at 9:33 pm
  10. Charles Ostdiek(outgoing steering committee chair) – present

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.

Elizabeth Green, Lavender Caucus;; Gl;oria Mattera, NY (Media, Fundraising); Ally Schmidt, TX; Doug Marsh, MI; Starlene Ranklin, WA

Establish Quorum (9 current members, quorum is 5)

ANNOUNCEMENTS, if any – please consider how much time will be needed for these items

 ITEMS marked FYI are included for informational purposes, unless discussion is requested.

Approve Agenda (changes require majority, new items require  ⅔ approval) – 5 min, if needed.

  1. Request from Aly Schmidt, BRPP (taken up in Voting Queue)
  2. Update re: Darryl! Moch request. He has asked to go on next call agenda
  3. Craig:  request to address Forum Managers’ third advisory to a member, 5 min
  4. Cassiday: request to vote on adding a second staff supervisor, 20 min

 

 

 

  1. Treasurer Report
  2. Income report, treasury report (Charles)

Finances, 8/9/2026

Signal Financial Federal Credit Union

  operations $31,171.37

  merch+ $20,129.52

  ops reserves+ $79,019.76

  restricted $9,774.71

PayPal $501.29

Charles reported that the transition is in progress to transfer accounts and access to bank, cards and  accounts to Cassiday. The recent FEC filing was late, but will not pose a problem this time.

Cassiday reported that the Finance Committee is growing. She is planning a stakeholder meeting with committees and caucuses that have reserves, training on NationBuilder for those who may have access and don’t know how to use it; disbursements and requests for disbursements. September 1st is when the SMART goals period begins, and the start of the budget season.  Encouraged committees to reflect on goals.

Cassiday stated a goal to get a report out this month and start updating the treasurer webpage.

  1. Cost of doing business & earmarks (Tamar)

Tamar explained that donations for things included in the budget create an inaccurate cost of business. It’s better if donations are made directly to GPUS. Craig stated that some items could be used as fundraising appeals (software subscriptions, etc), and to make sure what comes in clearly funds those items.

 

III. New/Current Business 

  1. Media Committee  Request for use of restricted funds to extend digital media coordinator contract

          Craig asked Media Co-chair Gloria Mattera to speak.  Media sent a request and fiscal policy regarding re-allocating restricted funds to extend the contract period for the digital media coordinator. Gloria spoke earlier with Mike Feinstein and Charles about the possibility. Originally, the funds were to be used to respond to attack ads during the 2024 presidential campaign. Cassiday asked what would happen to the funds once spent. Tamar and Craig recommended using funds to keep the contractor on for some time, as can be afforded. His work on social media is greatly increasing views and responses. He has created templates and materials that committees can use and build out. Craig recommended part of SMART goals is to have more Fundraising and Media outreach. Ann noted that YouTube views are getting close to the point where they can be used to raise funds.

 

MOTION by Craig  to extend the digital media coordinator contract, utilizing above-mentoned funds.. WIll re-visit the contract and re-send to SC.

PASSED, by Consensus

  1. Request to address the issue of a member receiving a third advisory from the Forum Managers. Craig noted the discussion surrounding the issue, and asked what can be done. Someone can be moderated on Google groups, but not on Basecamp. Alan Hunter reported that the Forum Managers are considering the possibility of temporary removal of someone from Basecamp.Basecamp might possibly come up with a solution; otherwise, this will take a Rules change to work out.

  1. Cassiday asked to discuss adding Wissam as a second staff supervisor. She stated that the SC had asked for certain work to be done by the staff supervisor and it hasn’t been done. She also recommended having someone with a technical background. Arshia agreed. Kalia seconded. Holly and Tamar note to clarify that another SC member had not provided work that was needed to move forward with the work the staff supervisor was to do, and is still being waited on. Cassandra pointed out that staff evaluations could not be done without job descriptions, and that Arshia was to have provided those. Concern was expressed that Wissam had supported the idea of having an all volunteer staff.

MOTION, by Cassiday: Add Wissam as second staff supervisor

Ann Link – No, do this  in a more comprehensive way

Arshia – Yes

Cassandra – No, for the same reason Ann gave

Craig – could we take a 48/48? Hear from both staff? No, for now

Kalia – Abstain; agree with Craig, consult with staff, 48/48

Tamar – Abstain

Wissam – Yes

Cassiday – Yes, go with online to spend more time-wasting with people saying No

Holly – No, same reasons as given above; would go with 48/48

MOTION FAILED Y-3, N-4, Abs-2

 

Motion by Craig: Approval of 48/48, to start Tuesday, further discussion

Ann Link – Yes

Arshia – No

Cassandra – Yes

Craig – Yes

Kalia – Yes

Tamar – Abstain

Wissam – Yes; stated that he’d agreed to an all volunteer staff due to budget constraints, would

      prefer to have professional staff

Cassiday – Yes

Holly – Yes

MOTION PASSED, Y-7, No -1, Abs – 1

 

Craig will reach out to staff on Monday. 48/489/ will start on Tuesday.

  1. Online Decision – Request foe $3663 – Pair work on malware resolution.

    This was an unprecedented circumstance invo;lving a global malware attack which caused Pair to shut down our system. The web manager followed instructions provided by Pair, which temporarily resolved the problem, but it resurfaced. At that point,  Tamar, Holly, Craig and Cassandra agreed that the SC needed to act quickly, despite the possible need to have to go back and replenish funds from general income or budget amendment; Caassiday disagreed, believes budget amendment is needed; Charles (remaining in transition for a month), believed a vote was in order. Others were concerned  about the need to act quickly, which the regular process could not accommodate. Tamar asked that the payment be made, and the malware problem was resolved.

  1. Standing Business/Old Business
  2. Report from ANM – Dee Taylor has expressed interest in reporting in detail and is preparing a full report. Tamar stated the ANMCom will havean internal debrief August 27th,and an external debrief with some who were involved; then a report, and  financial information.

  1. Reports  – 20-30 min  Committee Liaisons TBA

 NOTE to SC: Liaisons should start contacting committees per the calendar in the Liaison assignment spreadsheet (second tab).  Plan to start this now.  The following list of Co-chairs and committees can also be updated, as needed.   There is a Calendar in the Liaison assignment spreadsheet. Plan to start this now.

 

Sign up here! Liaisons August 2026

Ann suggested she take on Charles’ assignments, and stated she wanted to work on helping get the budget out on time. Arshia would like for someone  else to take on the Platform Committee.

  1. Guest Committee(s) : None

  1. Staff (Tamar)
- Tamar has not met with staff since the meeting. Both worked tirelessly over the weekend. Staff meeting the Thursday following the next.

  1. Secretary (Holly)- Elections Tabulation Committee for Special election ended up with only Rose Roby, but she completed a spreadsheet with voters, ballot keys and rankings. She has offered to observe the ETC for the recent SC elections, where Margaret Elizabeth is the single member of the committee. The voting page software worked better -but did not publish a list which included voters matched with their ballot keys and rankings, so the ETC will compile that information.

In response to feedback and requests from previous sessions and some attending the ANM, will plan to offer a renewed Delegates 101, and Part II to include information about the Platform and Committees; also, a Committees 101. Will be sending new batch of  Rules updates to the web manager; rules clean-up TBA (security)

Will send out REMINDER about procedure for Delegation and Committee updates. Secretary address is the pass-through, and the secretary has instructions on where to send things.

Correspondence – thanks to those who respond when a request to connect with other Greens, or a request for information or action that may be provided by a committee, receives a response. Reminder that people value hearing back, and at this time, the Green Party is being invited to be part of actions that grant more exposure and outreach opportunities.

  1. Craig: Media, Merch, PCSC, Outreach

No meetings, due to ANM

Media – breaking down videos and posting on YouTube, using Bijan’s image as YouTube thumbnail; Views on content have exceeded anything previous; Consider panels and reels, YouTube shorts, etc.

  1. Cassandra: ANMCom, FundCom,
 Credentials , DRC

About $20,000 was  pledged during the ANM; There were 278 official registrants (more counting who came in on site); About $30,000 for registration, housing, etc. ANM at the least broke even, if not more.

GPUS is one  Beneficiary of The Estate of Ruth Weizenbaum, widow of Joseph Wiezenbaum, inventor of first Chatbot.

Cassandra asked to know from Finance how much the Jill Stein snail mail appeal has brought in; some recipients were online donors, some previously not in our NationBuilder.

  1. Wissam: IC, Green Pages, GPAX
, BRPP,  BMRC, –

  1. Arshia: CCC, Platform

Still a concern about use of the CCC X/Twitter account; they want guidance documents regarding “endorsements” and taking on the  role of the  former GCCC. They will request to change their mission statement to include support for all Green Party candidates, not only local/state candidates. There are other changes being considered, so it was asked that any proposals be sent to the SC for an online review, or presented for the next meeting,

  1. Tamar: Diversity, Staff Supervisor –

Diversity helped at least 25, closer to 30, with lodging, food and transportation for the ANM.

  1. Charles: FinCom, Animal Rights, GCCC

Confirmed Tamar’s reports of difficulty working with U of Ill.Oother payments were recently made.

BAC, EcoAction  Charles’ “orphan committees

VII. Voting Queue –  (Holly)

 Received for the Voting Queue

  1. BRPP – Clarification of Platform Process

See request from Aly Schmidt regarding a ranked choice vote between three options – BRPP, Platform, NOTA (status quo)

  1. Platform Committee – 2026-8-03 – Platform – Rules Amendment 12-3

Will SC agreed to include both proposals in a ranked choice vote, 3 weeks discussion, 1 week vote; ⅔ threshold; Holly will be floor manager

 

Discussion

None

 

 

Voting

Platform Committee: Approve Platform updates regarding references to laws, treaties, proposed legislation

     Voting period through 8/9/2026

      ⅔ threshold

      Floor manager: Charles

Completed

#1302 – Update Article IX – Platform Agnostic Title and Definitions

            Adopted, 7/20;/2026

 #1303 – GPUS affiliation with the Federation of Green Parties of the Americas and the Global Greens

           Adopted, 7/20//2026

#1304 – Election of 2026 Elections Tabulation Committee – ETC

 Concluded 7/19/2026; Elected: Margaret Elisabeth

#1305 – 2026 Election – GPUS Treasurer

            Concluded 7/25/2026

            Elected: Cassiday Moriarity

#1306 – 2026 Election – Steering Committee Co-chairs

            Concluded 7/25/2026

           Elected: Cassandra Lems, Ann Link, Kalia Fitzgerald

#1307 – Establish a Green Party Committee dedicated to Government Transparency and Accountability GTA

       Wisconsin Green Party

        Failed, 8/02/2026

#1308 – By-Laws – Article 3 Amendment

       Adopted,  8/02/2026

#1309 – By-Laws – Article 4 Amendment

       National Black Caucus

           Adopted,  8/02/2026

#1310 – By-Laws – Article 5 Amendment

           Adopted,  8/02/2026

#1311 – By-Laws – Article 6 Amendment

           Adopted,  8/02/2026

#1312 – By-Laws – Article 7 Amendment

           Adopted,  8/02/2026

#1313 – By-Laws – Article 8 Amendment

          Adopted,  8/02/2026

#1314 – By-Laws – Article 9 Amendment

           Adopted,  8/02/2026k

#1315 – By-Laws – Article 1 Amendment

         Adopted,  8/02/2026

#1316 – By-Laws – Article 2 Amendment

       Adopted,  8/02/2026

VIII. Executive Session – None

 Adjourned at 11 pm ET

TOTAL TIME – 3 hr