MINUTES Steering Committee Meeting
Sunday, March 8, 2026
8:00 pm EDT
I Setup
and Background – 10 min
Facilitator:
Allan Hunter
Steering
Committee Roll Call:
- Arshia Papari (co-chair) – joined during New Business
- Cassandra Lems(co-chair) – present
- Craig Cayetano (co-chair) – present
- 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) –
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.
OBERVERS: Margaret Elisabeth (WA); Gloria Mattera (NY); 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 min, if needed.
- Request for SMART Goals from SC Co-chairs,
Secretary and Treasurer. Wissam had stated that the SC’s goals should be those
of the working committees. He has now submitted suggestions for SC review, with
a Proposal to Adopt a 2026 Steering Committee SMART Goals Work Plan . Holly has spelled out the items already
planned which can serve this purpose for the Secretary goals. Add to call
agenda or take up online? Add to New Business, 5 min
Mark: Request of Sign on to Freedom Flotilla 3 min
Coalition READ & ENDORSE HERE:
https://mailchi.mp/f99e2a34dcf4/us-boats-to-gaza-sailing-to-break-the-blockade-3003487
Add to New Business
- Craig asked to add an update on Brian McGinnis (former Marine who was arrested and his arm broken by a Senator in a protest). Add to New Business
- Craig asked for an ANM update. Add to New Business or Liaison Reports.
- Treasurer Report
Income report (Tamar)
January brought in $12,500; February, $7500. We are ahead; there was one large donation in February and another in March.
III. New/Current Business
1 Online Decisions, FYI’s – (Holly)
- 3/1/26 – Fundraising Committee Request for $40 more for Constant Contact, for a
subscription upgrade to allow Fundraiser to access unopened emails.
- Rapid Response – 24-28 hours.UNAC Call Opposing war with Cuba, Venezuela, Iran;
Second Call Opposing War with Iran
2/27-28/2026
APPROVED,
2/28 – Craig, Cassandra, Holly, Wissam, Charles
- GPUS Endorsement of A Pledge to Take Action on
Tax Day Pledge fromTaxpayers Against Genocide and US Palestinian Community Network
2/26/2026
Mark
introduced. Holly proposed, Cassandra seconded
GPUS has already endorsed Taxpayers Against Genocide, so could conceivably consider an immediate endorsement/sign on.
- Update on BrianMcGinnis. Former Marine who was arrested and his arm broken in a protest. Craig reported that yesterday, McGinnis was able to speak with his wife, had surgery on his arm and was able to go home. Mark Aguilar and other colleagues were also at the protests.
Craig encourages folks to get news out on social media channels. A
GoFundMe or his personal expenses is now clearly separate from his campaign
fund. Today, he was in his front yard with ah Palestinian flag and was arrested. He is on administrative leave from his job as a firefighter.
- ANM update. Cassandra and Tamar reported. A final workshop list is compiled. The committee will hold two support sessions for presenters. Anthony Aguilar is to be the Keynote Speaker. Registrations should be up on the website by March 5th or soon after. Craig recommended a film by Abby Martin – “The Empire Files” “Earth’s Greatest Enemy.”
- Sign on to Flotilla Coalition. GPUS has already endorsed some of the organizations involved. Tamar stated this should not need to wait, as it’s in line with our platform, already approved; Craig noted that GPUS had endorsed the previous flotilla.
AGREED, by Consensus; Holly will fill out the form.
- Standing Business/Old Business (Charles et al)
1.Finance Committee Items – Charles reported on getting access to the bank, Paypal in place; debit cards sent, but not yet received by Athena and Mark.
FinCom has started updating a ledger and getting an update to fill in for some years of not having a ledger
Charles is working on an expense report (reimbursement of Philena Farley for travel to Chicago ANM site; NLGC expenditure for ByteMe; groups.io for CCC – canceled the annual subscription, but now paid monthly; will hear more on what the CCC decides to do.
Need permissions for people to access accounts with restricted funds to pay for caucus expenditures.
- Budget Proposal Review (Charles et al) –
Charles reported there were around 40 comments about the budget proposal on Basecamp. There was a listening session; only 2 non-SC members attended. We have a fundraising/income problem. The chief “victims” have been the CCC and BC. We had to fund committees that generate funds and widen our reach. One suggestion was to not go forward with the digital media coordinator hire. Charles feels that would not be appropriate, the amount is not much, and it’s a temporary position. Craig stated this is not something that can be cut; it will benefit the party. He recommended extending the discussion period for a week. Tamar noted that if there are changes, they need to be presented by Tuesday, if there is a 48/48 process involved.
AGREED, by Consensus, to extend discussion by another week. Charles will update the proposal in the voting page.
- Reports
[NOTE to SC: Liaisons should start contacting
committees per the “calendar” suggested by Justin. – The calendar is
included as a second sheet in the Liaisons spreadsheet, linked below
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 now.]
[Charles requested
some new liaison assignments and consideration of committees. Please update the
Liaisons spreadsheet, as needed. Wissam offered to take BMRC]
- Guest Committee(s) : None
- Staff (Tamar) – Staff are working on work plans, goals and objective
so there can be some evaluation; they will follow up on Thursday.
- Secretary (Holly) – Renewed Delegates 101; Committees 101. Will send sign-up for
SC for Basecamp tutorials; updates for voting page URL; voting page work is progressing.
- Craig: Media, Merch, PCSC, Outreach – Media will be meeting
this week.
PCSC is not meeting, yet.
Outreach has committed to getting some work done, will have elections for co-chairs, request to host an ANM workshop; will re-visit their mission statement; there is interest in creating larger form materials for people to use in Actions, community organizing; onboarding Zoom chat for 30-25 min. each week.
Media – North Carolina put out a statement on Brian McGinnis; web manager
puts out to gp.org and social media, Craig posted on Instagram and LinkTree: it went
viral, gained over 1700 followed in 4 days. 2.27 million views almost evenly
between Instagram and Facebook; this helps boost other GP and supporters’ posts.
Material that is in platform will be collaborated by national social media
Charles stated that we need to be using the Earthflower logo; Merchandise Committee can be using that logo, as well – Media, social media, merchandise items – so we can renew the trademark/copyright this coming Fall.
Charles asked if we can get links to donations and merchandise pages on social media near the top section. Craig replied Merchandise is already working on using the Earthflower. Media Committee has discussed what links to keep or what becomes repetitive; sometimes, it makes more sense to have the LinkTree.
- Cassandra: ANMCom, FundCom, Credentials , DRC
FundCom – Rose Roby reported that the Constant Contact list brought in $3,145 as of last Wednesday. That is a profit of $2,285. Now working on direct mail; Cassandra will stuff envelopes and do the mailing.
- Wissam: IC, Green Pages, GPAX , BRPP –
Sent GreenPages report, details being worked on. No report from IC or GPAX. BRPP has not met.
- Arshia: CCC, Platform
CCC elections are continuing (will conclude tonight)
Craig noted statements on Basecamp indicating that a CCC member was not very aware of the mission and work of that committee. Concern that the committee’s X/Twitter account was putting out messages promoting non-Greens. Asked Arshia to have a conversation about this with the CCC, make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Holly reported on the Platform: the committee is finishing a single page document with proofreading corrections; review for needed updates on data, statistics, etc.
- Tamar: Diversity, Staff
Diversity Committee is going to set up a subcommittee to determine who can receive funding assistance to attend the ANM. Anyone can get a registration waiver; this help would be for things like travel funds, rooms, meals.
- Charles: FinCom, Animal Rights, GCCC, BMRC, BAC, EcoAction -
Charles stated most of these committees don’t really need help. BMRC is like a research committee. He hasn’t had time for BMRC, BAC, ARC and asked for someone else to be liaison. Wissam offered to take BMRC.
Finance Committee – every year, members of FinCom and the SC are asked to fill out a form stating they have no financial conflicts of interest; or, disclose what financial connections they have.
VII. Voting
Queue – (Holly)
Received for the Voting Queue
Mandate of the National-Level Dispute Resolution Committee
Cassandra stated that she is opposed to the SC sponsoring this proposal, that it should be sponsored by the DRC. Holly, Tamar agreed that this should go to the DRC. The proposal substantially changes their mission. Craig noted that the committee is small, and it would be a problem to try to expand the membership. Allan Hunter (DRC member) stated there are not many people, but they are not deluged with requests. Most requests are from people who don’t understand their mission and want the DRC to act as “hall monitors,” not mediators.
Wissam stated he would forward the proposal to the DRC.
Green Party Congressional Campaign Committee—ID: C00886788
Green Party Congressional Campaign Campaign Committee—ID: C0042866
Holly expressed an interest in tracking down a more complete background, because some is clearly missing.
Finding: Some of the background mis-states actions by the Steering Committee, and includes mention of the GPUS fiscal policy and rules applying to the GCCC, which may be in error. Asked that the proposal’s background be amended (a sentence or phrase) to be accurate: the SC took action immediately upon learning of a complaint, It is not known whether GPUS fiscal policy can be enforced on the separate FEC PAC. The proposal itself would not change, and would proceed to the voting queue on the regular schedule. Tradition has been to ignore backgrounds, but there is a concern about errors in the backgrounds, which are part of a public record.
Craig stated he didn’t see a point in the proposal. If people are unhappy with the committee, they can join it and change the way it operates. By taking away a committee we are taking away that means of support for federal level candidates. This will take away an opportunity for candidates to raise money
Charles stated he had an email exchange with two of the YES caucus members, Cassiday Moriarity and Henry Pratt. The proposal is not inconsistent with the rules, although it may be inappropriate for the caucus to try to disband a committee trying to get work done.
Tamar expressed general agreement, and also noted a concern that personal names are included in the background. Instead of closing the Committee, better to keep it and file regular reports, as has been done for some time. Holly agreed, stating that it’s not necessarily so easy to set up a new committee.
Craig stated that some of this is hearsay, not factual.
Holly proposed asking them to correct/clean up two points, take out names and commentary; and proceed to the voting queue as scheduled.
Craig, Tamar: FINDING: The proposal folds newly elected GCCC members into the CCC. There is no basis for that. Resolution would be to remove that part of the proposal. How can they mandate a different mission to an elected committee?
Tamar asked to encourage them to change the background.
Blended proposal AGREED, by Consensus. Communicate to YES the FInding of the need to address the committee mandate; and the agreement regarding the nature of the need for factual background. Charles will follow up with the caucus.
Discussion
# 1278 – Petition Drive
urging Congress to Impeach Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Discussion extended
through 3/8//2026
Voting
period: 3/9 to 3/15/2026
Threshold:
50%+1
Floor
Manager: Wissam Charafeddine
# 1284 – 2026 GPUS Budget
Discussion through
3/08/2026
Voting
period: 3/9 to 3/15/2026
50%
+ 1
Floor
Manager: Charles Ostdiek
Voting
# 1279 – Election to Fill
Vacancies on the Green Congressional Campaign Committee
Voting
period: 3/2 to 3/8/2026
Ranked
Choice Vote
Floor
Manager: Holly Hart
# 1282 – 2025 Coordinated
Campaign Committee Election – Men and NonBinary Persons
Voting
period: 3/2 to 3/8/2026
Ranked
Choice Vote
Floor
Manager: Holly Hart
# 1283 – 2025 Coordinated
Campaign Committee Election – Women
Voting
period: 3/2 to 3/8/2026
Ranked
Choice Vote
Floor
Manager: Holly Hart
Completed
None
VIII. Executive Session, requested by Arshia regarding staff evaluations. Tamar had reported they are working on work plans and goals. The SC did not agree there was a need to go into executive session.
Meeting ended 10:16 pm ET
TOTAL TIME
– 2 hr 15 min
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