Steering Committee Meeting – MINUTES
Sunday, December 14, 2025
8:00 pm EDT
I Setup and Background – 10 min
Facilitator: Gloria Mattera
Steering Committee Roll Call:
1. Arshia Papari (co-chair) – present; had to leave after discusson of finances/bank
2. Cassandra Lems(co-chair) – present
3. Craig Cayetano (co-chair) – present
4. Charles Ostdiek(co-chair) – present
5. Justin Paglino (co-chair) – reported absence
6. Tamar Yager (co-chair) – present
7. Wissam Charafeddine (co-chair) – present
8. Holly Hart (secretary) – present
9. Bob Stuller (transition treasurer) -
10. Mark Elbourno (incoming treasurer) – present, joining during New Business; had to leave at 9:15 pm
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.
Starlene Rankin (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) – 5-10 min, if needed
Requests for Addition to Agenda:
II. Treasurer Report (Mark) 10-15 min.
Income report (Tamar)
?? Do we want the Budget added here? Add 10-15 min if so, Charles will present
Debit/credit card; PO Box; Accounts
Mark still doesn’t have access to the bank, still needing access. No new reports filed since 2022. Tamar noted that FinCom discussed picking up in 2024. They went through finances from 2022-2023 to get what information they could. The party needs better virtual access, or look for a new bank. Wissam proposed that the Finance Committee look into this issue and come up with a Standard Operating Procedure, so this doesn’t continue to happen.
Will discuss on the Finance Committee meeting tomorrow night.
III. New/Current Business
1. Online Decisions (Holly) – 3 min
Fundraising Committee Requests, 48/48
A. The request is to continue the Constant Contact subscription for another 3 months – Dec. 16 Mar 16 – at the same tier level which is $127.20 per month for a total of $381.60
Propose – Holly, Cassandra, 2nd; Yes: Tamar, Wissam, Craig, Charles
APPROVED
B. $200 for online candidate spotlight fundraising event with Jill Stein and Butch Ware. Cost to cover tech savvy Green and extra hours for Fundraiser
Propose – Holly, Cassandra, Tamar second; Wissam, Craig, Charles
APPROVED
Tamar requested funds to purchase Zoom Webinar feature for the online spotlight, ~$79.00 APRPVED, by CONSENSUS
2. Green Congressional Campaign Committee Issues – (Charles) 10
min
Membership now consists of their secretary, one other person and appointed treasurer, and fundraiser. Their fundraiser has asked for information on what is now occurring. Charles stated the SC would open nominations for new members, which will happen in January. The SC had decided to have no voting page proposals, due to staff work needed migrating communications platforms and the holiday season. He hopes they committee has been working on a Donors Bill of Rights. Their bylaws may be amended by the National Committee. The Fundraiser has been in touch with Charles and would like to put out an End of Year message.
Tamar: can there be some sort of short statement updating the NC?
Charles will create a statement explaining current status and plans.
Holly: recommends following up with a federal contact. Charles will follow up with them.
Wissam: important year coming up, supports ongoing progress.
Starlene Rankin, former co-chairs of the GCCC requested to speak. Most agreed, Tamar standing aside. Starlene recommends the SC talk to Nancy Gaige, treasurer. Most funds have been distributed to current Congressional candidates, Nancy will have specific amount.
3. Updates on the transition to Google Groups – 5 min (Tamar, Holly); thanks to Athena and David. Going relatively smoothly, secretary will go over with committee co-chairs how management of googlegroups works for those interested/in need.
4. Meeting with YES – (all)
Waiting to hear. Most of us can meet the evening of the 21st, and on the 28th. Tamar asked if the SC could just set a date and time. Arshia was in touch with them and was told they would be discussing it on their meeting this week. Cassandra noted they requested the meeting, and the SC should know what they what to talk about. Holly noted events during the day December 21st; Cassandra and Holly recommended waiting until after the holidays.
5. Review of applications and subscriptions – what do we need, what do we use? Step 1: Provide a list –
Tamar stated we have not been using DoGooder, and the renewal cost, rising to $1000/year is coming up. Zapier is another application to consider. We have not been using either of these for years. Gloria explained how DoGooder had worked. Craig stated that is an extension of NationBuilder, should be less costly; a yearly subscription has a scalable cost. Tamar noted that the concern is also that the cost is going up. Are we still using this? What is the cost, or cost options? The Finance Committee will work with the Staff, get recommendations.
6. Request from ANMCom (Cassandra): In lieu of honoring noteworthy Greens who have passed away, we honor some living Greens who have made significant contributions.
WILL TAKE UP ONLINE
7. The ANMC would like to submit these items to the SC (5 min)
ANMC 2026 SMART goals (links to Google Doc)
Spreadsheet of Potential Speakers – We would like the SC members to please contribute to building this list of possible speakers for the SC.
SC will look at the spreadsheet and make suggestions.
IV. Standing Business/Old Business
1. SMART Goals
2. Wissam stated that the SC goals are the goals of the party committee; do we need more?
2. UPDATES, REPORTS? Invitation – United National Antiwar Coalitioni s on December 13 in Chicago–[they] invite the Green Party to co-sponsor event and provide a speaker to one of the teach-in panels. SC approved by consensus. Any news to report? Did this event take place?
V. Reports
Should liaisons start contacting committees per the “calendar” suggested by Justin?
Co-chairs have reviewed and selected committees they want to serve as liaisons. The following list of Co-chairs and committees can also be updated, as needed Holly and Justin are following up; Holly set up a calendar or add to Liaison assignment spreadsheet.
Holly and Justin are following up; Holly set up a calendar and can add to Liaison assignment spreadsheet. May have been done by the time of the call. Plan to start this in January.
1. Guest Committee(s) : None
2.. Staff (Justin, Tamar) – Discussion to help ensure roll-out of Googlegroups has completed before implementation of Bascamp/
3. Secretary (Holly) - Migration progress report, related updates, if not done earlier in the call; Committees 101 (googlegroups, management) Delegates 101, another request and a volunteer offered for part, will put out a call to set up one or more. Will be putting out a call for nominations for Coordinated Campaign Committee and GCCC elections in January, per agreement of the Steering Committee.
4. Craig: Media, Merch, PCSC, Outreach – Outreach still not rebooted, but plan is to reboot shortly, channel set up in Basecamp. New Merchandise with new stickers, banners, t-shirt, tote bag. Increase in Instagram followers, responding mostly to Merchandise. Working on getting out news of Candidate Spotlight (Postponed from last week); still working on Digital Coordinator hire.
5. Cassandra: ANMCom, FundCom, Credentials , DRC – ANMCom sent in their SMART goals, planning for site visit to Chicago. Fundraising planning for online event; Fundraiser’s contract expires at the end of September; FundCom did include funds for continuing salary, may need to approve now; request for $25/hr, as basic minimum, as in our platform
6. Wissam: IC, Green Pages, GPAX , BRPP – GPAX working on speaker, SMARTY GOALS; other committees are working on SMART goals.
7. Arshia: CCC, Platform
8. Tamar: Diversity, Staff Supervisor – Nothing yet on Diversity list. Rose is not yet on payroll. Tamar may need to Zelle her pay tomorrow.
9. Charles: FinCom, Animal Rights, GCCC, BMRC, BAC - BMRC and Animal Rights are working on platform amendments. FincCom notes bank transition problems, hopefully resolved tomorrow night. BAC working on aConsensus procedure.
10. Justin: Staff Supervisor , ETC-
Liaison (still) needed for EcoAction. Charles asked for someone to serve as liaison. Craig stated that their meetings conflict with other meetings involving the SC. Charles said he can’t guarantee he would be very effective, but he’ll serve as EcoActio liaison.
VII. Voting Queue – (Holly)
Received for the Queue -
None
A. TABLED until JANUARY Proposal to Condemn the Ongoing Genocide in Sudan; Urge U.S. Designation of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a Terrorist Organization; Call for Targeted Sanctions on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Material Support
Discussion
Voting
A.. #1276 -Establish Basecamp for GPUS Committees and Staff, With Opt-In Option for Caucuses and State Parties Discussion through 12/08/2025
Voting period: 12/09/2025- 12/15/2025
Approval Threshold: ⅔
Floor Manager: Wissam Charafeddine
Completed
A. #1270 National Committee Voting History Info Update\
APPROVED
B. #1271 Approval of Richard Giovanoni as GPUS Forum Manager
APPROVED
C. #1272 Approval of Allan Hunter as GPUS Forum Manager
APPROVED
D. #1273 Approval of Sam Chance as GPUS Forum Manager
APPROVED
E. #1274 Approval of Shannel Pittman as GPUS Forum Manager
APPROVED
F. #1275 2025 Steering Committee Election Tabulation Committee Report
APPROVED
VIII.
TOTAL TIME – 1 hr. 35 min.