Steering Committee Meeting – MINUTES
Sunday, February 8 2026
8:00 pm EDT
I Setup and Background – 10 min
Facilitator: Allan Hunter
Steering Committee Roll Call:
- Arshia Papari (co-chair) – present
- Cassandra Lems(co-chair) – present
- Craig Cayetano (co-chair) – reported absence
- Charles Ostdiek(co-chair) – present
- Justin Paglino (co-chair) – reported absence
- Tamar Yager (co-chair) – present
- Wissam Charafeddine (co-chair) – present
- Holly Hart (secretary) – present
- Mark Elbourno (treasurer) – present; joined one hour ito call
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) – 5 min, if needed.
- Treasurer Report (Mark) 10-15 min
- Income report (Tamar)
Charles reported the balances in two checking accounts
1) $17,622.46; 2) $25,864.13 = $43,486.59
Savings account: $88,771.27
Charles does not have access to Paypal, so someone who does will need to get that amount.
Tamar reported this comparison from the first month of the year 2025 and 2026
January 2025 income – $11,353.00
January 2026 income – $ 7,138.00
~$4,000.00 more income last year
Draft budget tier one goal for January 2026= $13,467
Thus, we are already down $6,329 for the year.
III. New/Current Business
- Earthflower Copyright Renewal (Cassandra)
Need to show current and legal use in GPUS messaging. In order to retain exclusive copyright, this must be used: with merchandise, media, news, webinars, media publications. Renewal is in September. Tamar reported that some state parties are using it. State parties/Caucuses may use it by submitting a request form. GPUS HAS to use it.
AGREED, Consensus, that Cassandra will ask GPUS committees involved with media and visible products and activities to make use of it. Files are available from the office manager.
Website Modernization Request (Wissam)
Wissam asked for a 48/48 online process. Holly will send the proposal out to the SC directly after the call.
- Proposal/Request (Charles) Asks for the SC to authorize a debit
card for the office manager. Authorization must come from the SC per fiscal policy.Oversight lies with FinCom and the staff supervisor/s
AGREED, Consensus – authorize debit card for office manager. Bob, Mark or Darryl! will need to authorize the card.
- Fundraising Committee Request for Constant Contact – 1 month subscription at $120. Fundraiser is using it to bring Stein/Ware donors into the party.
AGREED, Consensus
- 2026 Budget – SUGGEST Moving this to the end, past the reports and voting queue
SC/FinCom Chair report on the proposed 2026 budget; rationale; tiers
GPUS 2026 Budget draft 2.8.xlsx – Google Sheets
Charles had connectivity problems with his phone and was unable to report; Finance Committee member Cassiday Moriarity reviewed the budget.
Cassiday wrote in a 5% income increase. Tamar noted that income is down; times are different than 2023, we should adapt. She suggested one idea might be for a 6 mos. budget, and then re-evaluate. Arshia called for an executive session, and stated we are spending too much for staff. Wissam mentioned ideas of dues, growing, “internal reorganization.” Cassiday stated that there are no checks and balances, and that the SC spent money that was unauthorized that should have been a budget amendment. The question was raised whether this was accurate, as past year’s decisions on expenditures had been included in the budget.
Executive session was needed before further discussion and action could be taken.
Charles stated that if we have fundraising targets for this year, we may be able to have more funds for more of the committees that are not getting much or whose funds are zero’d out.
Cassiday had asked for a 5% increase for 2026. Tamar recommended a 1-2 % increase, extend some faith in new fundraising and media outreach. She added that we cannot rely on large donors.
Cassandra stated that those in leadership positions should be supporting the party financially. She stated she would be donating in the next few months and challenged others to do so; or donate at the level they are able .
PROPOSAL that the 2026 Budget go to the National Committee. Fundraising and other narratives can be fleshed out, references and background added in the coming week in time for the Budget to get to the voting queue. The proposal will be created in a static format (/pdf) and housed on gpus.org
Arshia objected, and stated that the budget is not funding things we should be funding; it needs more appropriate allocations. Charles replied that the budget can be amended.
Consensus was not achieved. The Proposal PASSED, 5-1-1
Arshia – no
Cassandra – yes
Charles – yes
Tamar – abstain
Wissam – yes
Holly – yes
Mark – yes
- Standing Business/Old Business (Tamar or Holly)
- FYI GP.ORG Workspace Proposal – ADOPTED, Consensus (included for the record, no further action required)
- V. TABLED until following meeting
Reports –
VII. Voting Queue – (Holly) ALL EXCEPT THE LATINX CAUCUS PROPOSAL WERE TABLED UNTIL the NEXT CALL,
- Received for the Voting Queue
- Proposal for Petition Drive to Urge Congress to Impeach SupCo Justice Brett Kavanaugh – Latinx Caucus
Charles asked about the cost of the online petition. Anita Riosa, Latinx Caucus member, clarified that it was anticipated to spend no more than what was raised specifically for the petition. The Proposal would designate that this be a project if the GPUS; Latinx Caucus and committee would carry out the organization. Designed to be used at events, with clipboard petitions- printing costs. The hope is that the project will generate more money than what it requires.
2 weeks discussion, 1 week vote, 50%+1 threshold; Wissam will be floor manager
- TABLED or Take up Online Proposal to Expand the Mandate of the National-Level Dispute Resolution Committee Online or Next Call
Discussion
Voting – None
Removed from the Voting Queue
#1277 – Proposal to Condemn the Ongoing Genocide in Sudan Urge US Designation of the Rapid Support Forces
Voting period: February 2 – February 8, 2026
Approval threshold:50%+1
Floor Manager: Charles Ostdiek
Several issues were raised leading to a request to amend the proposal. Lacking enough time prior to the voting period, the proposal could not be pulled from the voting queue. Charles Ostdiek wrote, on 2/5/2026: “As floor manager, I have properly delegated authority to manage this proposal. “Because the text remains inconsistent with party platform, and because adequate review of suggested amendments was lacking, which review would have remedied the text, I intend to cancel the proposal for resubmittal.”
Completed
None
VIII. Executive Session – 9:27 pm – 11:50 pm ET
Charles offered to facilitate.
During and after discussion, two proposals were made and voted on.
MOTION by Arshia; Seconded by Wiaam: To hold a personnel/performance review and also a position review before the 2026 Budget proposal is voted on by the SC/is approved for the voting queue. Blocking concerns from Tamar: The time frame is too short; this would require more than just one meting. This should be done in a professional manner, with specific indicators. Consensus was not achieved. The Motion FAILED in a backup vote – 3-4
Tamar – no
Arshia – yes
Wissam – yes
Charles – no, do performance review in tandem, need to pass a
budget
Holly – no, budget should go forward, it can be amended
Cassandra – no
Mark – yes
MOTION by Arshia, Seconded by Wissam: To complete performance and position reviews by the time the vote on the 2026 Budget concludes.Consensus was not achieved. The Motion PASSED in a backup vote – 4-3
Tamar – no
Arshia – yes
Wissam – yes
Charles – yes, before decisions can be made we need a review
Holly – no
Cassandra – no
Mark – yes
TOTAL TIME – 3 hrs, 25 min