December 28, 2025

MINUTES – Steering Committee Meeting – 

Sunday, December 28, 2025

8:00 pm EDT

 

I  Setup and Background

Facilitator: Allan Hunter

 

Steering Committee Roll Call: 

 

  1.   Arshia Papari (co-chair) – present
  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

 

 

 Sandy Przybylak (NY); Gloria Matters (NY); Starlene Rankin (WA); Maureen Doyle (MA); Elizabeth Green (Lavender Caucus)

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, 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) 

 

A few items taken up on last call’s agenda were slated to be followed up online. Likely given the holidays and an influx of tasks, there was scant follow-up. Does the SC want to take these up now, or follow up (for real, this time!) online in the coming coming week?

 

Requests for Addition to Agenda:


 Charles: Review of agenda, and to review prospectively the agendas for January’s meetings, at least. There’ve been multiple proposals and proposal ideas that’ve been put off by our December moratorium of proposals. 

  A part of the agenda review for next month should include some report about how the comms transition is progressing/will progress. [NOTE: already planned]

  i’m hoping fincom can finalize the budget for offer to the sc by fincom’s january mtg.

  the sudanese rapid support defenses are committing terrorism in the darfur. i want that proposal on the sc’s first mtg in january. genocide and war crimes don’t wait. [NOTE: Has been noted in current agendas/minutes and on schedule for January]

we’re the green party in opposition to all that. let’s not let the budget and the comms transition distract us from the real-time blood being spilled.

  1. Treasurer Report (Mark) 

Update regarding bank account access, payments

       Mark reported he has access to Paypal, but nothing else. Tamar has been paying invoices with her credit card. Tamar and Charles recommend getting two cards, each with different numbers under the same account, so the treasurer and office each have one.  Tamar recommended calling Signal Bank and telling them we are canceling our accounts if they can’t provide access and support.

 

Charles reported that the Budget was due in November. FinCom needs SMART goals to be done alongside the budget. So far, only four committees have submitted goals: MerchCom, Platform, BAC. ANMCom – Holly will send ANMCom’s goals to FinCom. Aly Schmidt (MerchCom has offered to reach out to committees to remind them to submit their goals.  Charles has placed documents in the Google Folder – 2026 Budget Process will contain budget and SMART Goals. FinCom needs to have at least one more, possibly two, to finalize the budget.  Some more budget updates are still needed.  We have budget requests from ANMCom, MerchCom, FundCom, BAC. Charles has finished and collected job descriptions.

 

III. New/Current Business  – 

  1.   Online Decisions (Holly) – 
  1. Personnel Matter, 48/48, December 15-19, 2025, APPROVED

Motion by Craig, seconded by Cassandra

Yes: Craig, Mark, Wissam, Charles, Tamar, Cassandra, Holly

Abstain: Arshia

See Executive Session, ITEM VIII

 

  1. Green Congressional Campaign Committee – (Charles) 

 No new developments. GCCC nominations will open in January.  Tamar asked that a specific message be sent out so delegates get the message. Holly asked that we contact a federal source for precise information.

 

 

  1.     Request from ANMCom (Cassandra) 

ANMCom passed along the suggestion that, in addition to honoring noteworthy Greens who have passed away, we honor some living Greens who have made significant contributions.   

Mark suggested having NC vote on options, Tamar noted that the issue was for the SC to decide whether to support the idea and then  figure out who/what entity would decide.

Holly asked for an amendment: instead of choosing a couple or few, ask for a statement from people who’d like to honor or thank Greens and compile a list. Arshia agreed. Tamar recommended a couple months before ANM, just ask people for a statement.

AGREEDon on amended version, Consensus

 

  1. 4. The ANMC would like SC members to please contribute to building this list of possible speakers for the ANM. Cassandra asked for everyone to think of who they’d like to have speaking at the ANM and add names to the spreadsheet.

   Spreadsheet of Potential Speakers

 

  1. Standing Business/Old Business  – No updates

 

  1.   SMART Goals

 Wissam stated that the SC goals are the goals of the party committee; do we need more?

 

  1. Subscriptions to various technologies, accounts.  What do we need, concern with rising costs.

More follow-up with staff will occur.

 

Information passed on by Starlene Rankin regarding DoGooder: 

“I was looking at the agenda for tomorrow night, …They were talking about a DoGooder.  I just want to remind you guys that it does some really cool things because when you send out a petition for it, and people go in and sign it, and pick the legislatures, DoGooder automatically sends the petition to the legislators.  You don’t have to go to do all that work yourself.  or look up an address or something. They’ve got all the addresses of all the legislators and their database. they just automatically send it to them.  So, I just wanted to make sure you guys remembered that.”

      

  1. V.    Reports  

 

NOTE of CORRECTION for LAST report. (Holly)

Fundraiser’s term was set to end in December. Correction has been made, no further action needed.  Note update from ANMCom, suggestion of citing noteworthy Greens along with memorials at ANM.

 

 Liaisons should start contacting committees per the “calendar” suggested by Justin and Holly

 A calendar has been added  to Liaison assignment spreadsheet. Plan to start this in January.

 

Liaisons August 2025  

 

  1.   Guest Committee(s) : Ballot Access Committee

Report from the Ballot Access Committee (also included in Appendix A) Mark asked if their budget request of $30.000 was enough. Tamar stated we needed to look at the budget in total, the party may not be able to afford that amount.  BAC should come up with a plan on how they would spend. The funds.

 

  1.     Staff (Justin, Tamar)
 – Discussion to help ensure roll-out of Googlegroups was completed before implementation of Basecamp. Tamar noted that Basecamp is being rolled out, premature. Staff is on holiday now, as they had worked overtime throughout December.  Craig asked for more support from Steering Committee in Basecamp to confirm that we were to do this in January,  and better support for the staff; there is a lot of confusion. It is expected there will be a transition period. Respect the staff recommendation. The Steering Committee agreed to use Googlegroups for official business until the SC agrees to move official work to Basecamp.  Back end (owners of the account) would be staff, “office admins” group as admins. Cassandra stated we already decided that Googlegroups are official communications until it is decided otherwise. Wissam stated that it was decided that Basecamp is the official communications platform of the party, and that Googlegroups is the official email list. No need for a new policy.  

 

  1. Secretary (Holly) 
  
  2. New Discovery! Of an old rule no one knows about and never followed; now slated for amendment, along with a couple web updates for new policy. Likely a very early rule – ? – that all NC observers must be approved by the SC, then voted on by the NC. Can find no evidence that this rule was ever followed.
  3. Progress and protocol – briefing on migration and related updates Delegation and committee updates process remains the same, gp.org forwarding addresses will continue to function; Forum Managers policy applies to new platforms, and FM’s will be given access needed to carry out needed tasks; assessing set-up, providing assistance and response to inquiries.
  4. Delegates 101, and Committees 101-overview; another request and a volunteer offered for part, will put out a call to set up one or more.

  d.Will be putting out a call for nominations for Coordinated Campaign Committee and GCCC elections in January, per agreement of the Steering Committee.  

 

I knew I left something out! I was in touch with the voting page software developer a couple weeks ago, and will be following up in January for some voting page upgrades: to fix reporting function on RCV voting page results; redirect automated notices; add record of members’ specific votes (in Contacts listing).  

 

  1.   Craig: Media, Merch, PCSC, Outreach _No updates since last SC meeting.

 

  1.   Cassandra: Sorry, accidentally deleted your committees – add any updates for ANMCom, FundCom, Credentials , DRC – No updates this week.
  2.   Wissam: IC, Green Pages, GPAX
, BRPP – only GPAX met.  International Committee was to meet to do elections for 2nd cochair.3 are working on their SMART Goals. Craig asked if GPAX was working on action regarding Venezuela.

 

  1.   Arshia: CCC, Platform – asked CCC to have their budget request by the start of January, asked for SMART Goals from both. 

Holly reported that the Platform co-chair has gone through a major review and recommended updates for format, punctuation, data/dates; a few other members have also gone over to prepare a single document version.

  

  1.   Tamar: Diversity, Staff Supervisor – See Above

 

  1.   Charles: FinCom, Animal Rights, GCCC,  BMRC, BAC, EcoACtion 
- NEED UPDATE, DIDN’T HEAR IT

 

  1.   Justin: Staff Supervisor
, ETC-

 

 

VII. Voting Queue –  (Holly) 

 

     Received for the Queue – (Holly) 

 

But NOT for the Queue – clarified that this was for the SC only, not voting queue – Creation of NationBuilder Rebuild & Utilization Taskforce 

Sponsor: Wissam Cherafaddine

This was intended for the SC to decide. 

Tamar reported the database needs to be cleaned up, but the proposal is premature. It is being used but apparently proposers are not aware of what is being done. A couple people have volunteered, and Tamar has a list,] which she will take to Athena.  Craig supported Tamar’s recommendation, citing back and forth; only move forward at the advice of the staff. Must be gatekeeping with things like this. Wissam stated he did not want staff to become an obstacle.  Learn how to do things in parallel.

 

Craig proposed Tabling until March. Cassandra suggested that people who want to be on the task force should volunteer to help clean up the  database. They can contact the office. There is no need for a task force to dictate how things are done. Tamar noted that NationBuilder has made changes for security reasons; however it is easy to access the office for exports, etc. Mark asked to highlight the security aspect. Wissam suggested the supporters offer to volunteer.

 

TABLED until March (with the proposal as is). In the meantime, interested folks may volunteer through staff and office admins to help clean up the NationBuilder database.

 

  1.           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

None

Completed

A..  #1276 -Establish Basecamp for GPUS Committees and Staff, With Opt-In Option for Caucuses and State Parties Discussion through 12/08/2025

APPROVED

 

VIII. Executive Session 9:40 pm ET –

The SC Agreed to extend the Fundraiser’s term for four months, evaluate at 3 months, and create a method for evaluation.  Maximum of 25 hours per week at $25/hour, in keeping with our national platform and guidelines.

 

AGREED via 48/48. Confirmed on call.

 

TOTAL TIME – 2 hr 45 min

 

 

=======================

APPENDIX A – Report from the BAllot Access Committee – 2925-12-26


  Ballot Access Committee

                                       Quarterly Report

        December 27, 2025

    Frankly, the GPUS Ballot Access Committee accomplished nothing in 2025. We did not help a single state party achieve a ballot line. We did not help a single Green candidate achieve a ballot line either, though a couple of our members volunteered to help by staffing a phone bank, in Allegheny County, PA. 

    On the bright side the GP Hawaii did attain ballot access through their own efforts. We now stand at 19 state ballot lines going into the midterms.

    No, 2025 can be marked, if at all, with infighting and wheel spinning.

    The BAC started out strong- we passed a set of six goals to work on for the 2025-2026 election cycle with an eye towards the 2028 Presidential Election. They formed the basis of our monthly agendas [we meet the first Monday of each month at 8PM Eastern time.]

    Here they are- note; there is a ‘long form’ in our google drive with more specific info:

Goal 1: Attain ballot access and run party candidates in as many areas as possible in 2026

Goal 2: Gain or retain as many state ballot lines as possible for 2028 GP Pres ticket

Goal 3: Monitor, support or oppose state level Ballot access changes 

Goal 4: Have at least one BAC members from each affiliated state and caucus by Jan 2026

Goal 5: Become a resource on ballot access for candidates considering running for partisan offices [hopefully in conjunction with CCC- our role would focus on getting on the ballot]

Goal 6: Financing & Fundraising

        Unfortunately, noone on the committee wanted to do actual work in furtherance of these goals. Perhaps one exception to that statement is that a couple of members did outreach for new members, but those gains were offset by expiring terms of others.

    Our current membership stands at 39 members from 23 states and caucuses, with one observer and one advisor. Only 22 of those members are considered active- meaning they participated online or at a meeting in the last three months.

    The Ballot Access Committee has submitted a request to the Finance Committee for a budget of $30,000 for the 2026 calendar year. While the BAC has submitted this budget request and our list of goals, and our SC liaison has assured us our submission is sufficient, we have no idea when the budget will be complete and moneys will be available to assist state parties and candidates. We hope it is soon, so we can begin our own budget process. Please note that nine states could begin petitioning January 1, and two large states have deadlines early in the year.

    It would be remiss of me not to mention the disruption being caused by the actions of one of the other chairs and his allies.

    Regarding the budget process, Tony Ndege is ignoring the work of the other chairs and the committee as a whole. Our budget request and list of goals were submitted in a timely manner. Now, at the eleventh hour, Tony has rewritten the request and is apparently planning to submit his own version. This is a years long habit of his, and has driven many good people from the committee and the party.

    Similarly, Tony pulled this stunt with the bylaws revisions that were presented to the committee in September. After initially agreeing the proposal was ready to go to a vote, Tony came back two days later with serious concerns. The situation devolved to the point that Tony was threatening legal action against a fellow chair because the proposal was not formatted to his satisfaction.

    Needless to say, the proposal did not pass, in large part due to Tony’s summoning of zombie members, who had not had a thing to say all year, rising up to vote no. Now a special commission has been formed to study the rules of consensus. [A committee, I dare add as a personal comment, that will accomplish nothing, because it is being led by the same person who promised to lead the bylaws revisions and then disappeared for two months, not responding to any communications].

    And just as a reminder, the reason revising our bylaws is so critical, is that the last chair election was marred by confusion. The Election Tabulation Committee did not conduct the run-off properly, due in large part to the confusing wording in the bylaws, and an explicit part of the compromise agreement that allowed the committee to move forward with three chairs included rewriting our bylaws before the next chair election.

    Unfortunately, our SC liaison has had nothing to say about this. Nor has the Steering Committee as a whole seemed to take much interest in our committee over the past twelve months.

          It is clear from the national discussion list that dysfunctioning committees infiltrated by haters and disruptors is a systemic problem for this party. My only hope is the Steering Committee chooses to recognize it and act.

    Sincerely submitted,

    Rick Lass

    BAC chair (one of three)