MINUTES – Steering Committee Meeting
Sunday, January 25, 2026
8:00 pm EDT
I Setup and Background – 10 min
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. Mark Elbourno (incoming treasurer) – 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.
Observers: Starlene Rankin (WA); Margaret Elisabeth (WA); Gloria Mattera (NY, Media, Fundraising) ; Cassiday Moriarity (YES); Gus Steeves (MA); Maureen Doyle (MA)
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)
II. Treasurer Report (Mark)
Income report (Tamar)
ACCOUNTS
checking 1: $17,425.09
checking 2: $38,598.69
savings: $88,769.01
Mark stated he still did not have access to the bank. Cassandra stated that Mark has access to most financial information, not yet the checking account. She asked what sorts of work Mark has been doing for the past 6 months. Mark stated that he did not want to speak with Cassandra, because she called him “sexist.” Tamar noted that there have been FEC reports either from Mark or Bob Stuller. We have a request for further information from the FEC. Mark stated that he needs to go back to September to start updating reports. He is working with former treasurer Hillary Kane. Tamar reported on the income report that those numbers should be included in the budget.
1. Proposal to Approve cost for hosting news gp.org lists or addresses on Google (Tamar).
APPROVED, Consensus
2. Proposal for the Treasurer to turn in reports starting with January 2026. He should not have to be responsible for part Treasurer reports. Note: all info is available on the FEC reports and is correct.
Wissam asked if this should start at the time Mark became Treasurer. Tamar responded that this was a way to make it possible to start providing reports right away. Mark is concerned that any errors in his reports will put him at risk, and some National Committee members are waiting to find fault.
Tamr proposed the above-stated proposal; Craig seconded. Outcome was unclear.
III. New/Current Business
1. Online Decisions – None
2. Update on Subscriptions (Tamar)
Tamar sent a spreadsheet listing expenses, noting a few were unnecessary: Zapier, DoGooder, one of the two Adobe accounts (apparently set up years ago, but not noted).
Charles stated that ADP and Shopify are included on the correct lines in the budget. ADP is not listed with the software expense, but included in the Personnel section. Same with Merchandise.
3. Onboarding Digital Media Coordinator (Tamar) –
Tamar asked for a copy of the contract, and also a copy of the contract for the Fundraiser. She suggested that Craig and mdia co-chair Gloria Mattera act as his supervisors. Gloria Mattera stated that a job description could not just be copied as a contract. And that she and Craig could work to create the contract, to include tasks and hours, and send that to Mark.
4. Proposal that SC sponsor Proposal to Expand the Dispute Resolution Committee – see document from Wissam
Holly asked for a clean text copy for the Minutes and record. Cassandra stated that the DRC itself had not been consulted, and that they may have insights and advice to recommend She is not prepared to weigh in or support the proposal at this time. Craig stated that before we jump to another proposal, that we take an active effort to onboard more people into the DRC. Wissam stated that he agreed with Cassandra and Craig, we should work on building more critical mass to fill these committees.
Allan Hunter was allowed to speak as a member of the DRC. He stated that the DRC is not suffering from a lack of members; rather, there is no business before them. There is also a misunderstanding that the DRC exists to take a judicial role, but its function is to help with dispute resolution or mediation.
Cassandra asked to bring this before the DRC. Wissam sgatd that he seconded that motion.
Margaret Elisabeth was allowed to speak. They noted that some of the DRC functions people want are not provided for in the rules/procedures. They asked the SC for help to create that policy.
Cassandra will follow up with the DRC.
5. Request for SC approval of Basecamp Support Team MOU – see document from Wissam
Craig asked for a report on Basecamp onboarding progress, and wanted that information before any state partie are added. He had asked that a; National Committee members and Committees be added first. Wissam stated that: 1) some email addresses are not working; 2) some are not responding or are rejecting an invitation. “About 123 people, so we will never have 100%. That’s one thing people will have to [realize].” Some state parties were already on Basecamp and wanted to be added to the GPUS Basecamp. He stated “it’s not an issue.”
Cassiday Moriarity was allowed to speak. She listed the committees that have a space on the GPUS Basecamp as of January 21st. GreenPages was being hosted on the YES Caucus Basecamp. YES has created a connector space to their Basecamp, as a kind of connector spot. It takes not even 15 minutes to add a state party to Basecamp. She wants to create an outline and clear up misunderstandings of how Basecamp works. She stated that “no mater how many resources – we have four – people don’t seem to be using those resources to self-serve and resolve their problems. They want us to hold their hands and fix it for them.”
Craig stated that some issues and questions from members have to do with onboarding and use of Basecamp overall. Should they be onboarded into committees and caucuses, not the Community Hub?
Cassiday wrote in response to issues of duplication (of messages) that discussion were to take place on Basecamp, not Googlegroups. [NOTE: That would resolve some duplications. Members may need to adjust more settings to prevent all.]
Craig is in favor of using the Steering COmmittee email list (Googelgroup)/ H asked what percent of national Committee members are onboarded? Cassiday thought about 90%.
Craig asked whether the are verifying individuals who are asking to join the Community Hub. Wissam said they are verifying delegates]. There are 200+ members of the Community Hub.
Tamar noted a concern about receiving many duplicate emails.
6. 2026 Budget SC/FinCom Chair report on the proposed 2026 budget; rationale; tiers
Cassiday has requested a new, extended timeline. Charles said he wouild be good with that, as he is looking for some final numbers. He noted the budget in=s two months late, but there were reasons: all communications were held up in December due to communications platform transfers; another hold up was the need to collect SMART goals, with only a small number of committees completing them.
The budget documents will need an income narrative and a Fundraising plan. We have a case statement. Account balances need to be updated, which Charles can do.
Craig stated that Merchandise sales were lower, but thinks they can pick up.
Craig noted that the under-$100 donations have dropped off and
advised asking for more of the $50-100 and under $50 donations.
Holly suggested that the SC work online for a week along the lines of the request. IF the work was not completed, then continue for a second week. Charles was also ok with that. It might take two weeks, but he would like to have it done within a week, The suggestions did not gain approval.
There was discussion of adding a FinCom laptop to the budget. Charles does not have a desktop computer or laptop, but he stated he is not interested and finds his smart phone suitable for what he needs.
IV. Standing Business/Old Business (Craig, Wissam)
1. Update on Progress with NC being added to Basecamp
Taken up above.
V. Reports
Liaisons should 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. Plan to start this in January.
1. Guest Committee(s) : None
2. Staff (Tamar) – Tamar asked that if someone has a project they wabt staff to help with, please go through Tamar/Staff Supervisors.
3. Secretary (Holly) - CCC, GCCC Calls for Nominations to go out this coming week; held off while trying to confirm current CCC membership, as number and type of seats, and potential subsequent action needed from the SC would depend on that information. At this time, will put out the call, anyway, andpull and/or correct, if needed.
4. Craig: Media, Merch, PCSC, Outreach- Social Media engagement are up; the social media coordinator has been hired, they notified others; merchandise is considering packaging item to for appeals
5. Cassandra: ANMCom, FundCom, Credentials , DRC – ANM is meeting every week, expanding to 90 minutes; going thorough list of proposed speakers; DRC – Darryl! Moch is staying to help move things forward and get new co-chairs, may need more members and possibility of expanding their role (Items 6 and 7 of their bylaws are not filled in).
6. Wissam: IC, Green Pages, GPAX, BRPP – GPAX held an online event; GreenPages is moving to Basecamp; BRPP is working on Basecamp, getting themselves organized.
6. Arshia: CCC, Platform
Holly (Platform Committee member) reported that the Platform Committee has worked on an overall editing review and will have an update with more consistent format, updates for statistics, dates, etc..
8. Tamar: Diversity, Staff Supervisor – Arab-American/Muslim Caucus has submitted an application for accreditation.
8.Charles: FinCom, Animal Rights, GCCC, BMRC, BAC, EcoACtion\
BAC will be holding co-chair elections; a petition has been submitted calling for the removal of one of the co-chairs (5 people from 5 different states, per BAC committee rules); there appears to be a conflict of interest because one of the co-chairs is the subject of the petition and another is one of the signers. Charles was asked whether he and the SC would just stand aside and watch the committee disintegrate. Charles feels they should proceed with the co-chair election first. The quarterly report submitted by one of the co-chairs last month may not have been reviewed by the committee and included some denigrating remarks. 5 individuals were nominated for co-chair, all declined. Next month’s meeting will take up the co-chair election and petition. Charles reviewed all GCCC FEC report for the last three and a half years. They did not send any funds directly to candidates or campaigns. What is the work being done in support of these candidates – ads. Emails, etc? Multi-candidate elections law requires contributions to go directly to candidates; FEC found 6 errors on their latest Form, which the committee will correct. He hopes that new elections will bring in members that will resolve the concerns.
Starlene Rankin, former member of the GCCC, was allowed to speak, and provided one correction. She stated the GCCC gave donations to all the candidates they interviewed and endorsed; about 7 or 8 candidates, about $8000 in donations, using up most of their bank account. This was later in the year, so probably has not been on the FEC report, yet. Will check with Nancy Gaige about the other Form Charles mentioned. The direct contributions should be on the next Form. Charles noted that there were not pre – and post – election and end of year reports that are required to be made. Craig looked at FEC reports, noted where they had started out. He wants more information, and asked for an updated report from Nancy Gaige.
VII. Voting Queue – (Holly)
Received for the Voting Queue
None
Discussion
#1277 – Proposal to Condemn the Ongoing Genocide in Sudan – Urge US Designation of the Rapid Support Forces
Discussion through February 1, 2026
Voting period: February 2 – February 8, 2026
Approval threshold:50%+1
Floor Manager: Charles Ostdiek
Voting
None
Completed
None
VIII. Executive Session – entered 10:52 pm – 11:49 pm ET
Casandra facilitated. SC AGREED that requests, inquiries, communications for staff be directed through Tamar as staff supervisor.
TOTAL TIME – 3 hr 50 min