November 23, 2025

Steering Committee Meeting – MINUTES

Sunday, November 23, 2025

8:00 pm EDT

I Setup and Background

Facilitator: Darryl! Moch

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) – reported absence

8. Holly Hart (secretary) – present

9. Bob Stuller (transition treasurer) –

10. Mark Elbourno (treasurer) – present

Observers: Starlene Rankin (WA); Maureen Doyle (MA)

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)

Request for Addition to Agenda:

II. Treasurer Report (Mark) Income report (Tamar)

Income report was given by Tamar last meeting. What we have in the bank is not what we actually have to spend.

Charles reported that the Finance Committee met last Monday, went over early draft budget. Will need to hear more from working committees to incorporate SMART goals. Standing request from all but two committees expected to submit a budget request. More information being sought for some items in operations section. Arshia has reached out to the CCC and was expecting a request today, but hasn’t heard yet; will follow up.

BANK Account Balances

Basic business: $15,665.09

Business checking: $47,224.60

Membership savings: $88,764.56

Darryl! is finalizing transitioning the bank account and ordering a card for Mark. Holly sent a new letter and addendum to clarify who should be on the account and who should be removed.

III. New/Current Business

1. Online Decisions

Merchandise Committee Request for Funding to Purchase Hats

TOTAL REQUEST:

$ 1902

APPROVED by Consensus

2025-11-07 Establish Basecamp for GPUS Committees and Staff, With 48/48 vote to start Monday, 11/10, for the updated version of the proposal: Proposal 1271: Establish Basecamp for GPUS Committees and Staff, With Opt-In Option for Caucuses, and State Parties

YES: Wissam, Charles, Mark, Craig, Arshia

NO: Cassandra, Tamar, Holly (timing is not good, is rushed, need more time for a trial or testing period)

2. Green Congressional Campaign Committee Issues (Charles). Justin Beth, secretary has sent a message to Charles informing the SC that it’s up to the SC whether to keep the committee active. Two members are now resigned, leaving only the secretary and the appointed (non-member) treasurer left. Update from GCCC Secretary, Justin Beth

3. Updates on the transition to Google Groups –

min (Tamar, Holly, et al) Holly reported the transition was going mostly smoothly, people are signing up for national-votes and national -affairs and getting on the Googlegroups, Craig asked if there was an option for those who refuse to use Google. Two committees use groups.io so that is already available for a new group that could be set up, if hr is needed.

4. Meeting with YES – Tamar noted this is part of the Staff report, as staff is asking about YES’s separate bank account, but using GPUS NationBuilder. Recommended a 5th Sunday of a month.; if that doesn’t work, 1st or 3rd Sunday. Would December 7th work? Tamar, Arshia, Craig, Cassandra, Holly and Mark are able to meet that night.

Craig noted that most caucuses have an external website, some appear out of date, Recommended contacting their officers to find out if they are in use, updates. Cassandra noted that the caucus has stated the SC won’t meet with them; Craig noted that the SC did just have a member of the caucus on a call recently/ Holly will send a message with suggested time and ask for items they want to address.

5. SMART Goals – (all)

Adopted by proposal by the NC. Charles reported that Finance Committee has not received any input yet. Even those committees not requesting funds would have goals that may play into the budget outlays. Cassandra noted that the proposal as silent on what committees are supposed to do with the goals – submitted to Finance or Secretary?

Arshia noted the SC should consider other committees’ goals in developing our own; help NC develop goals, as well.

IV. Standing Business/Old Business

3. 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 to co-sponsor the event. Craig reported that two members of the Latinx Caucus are on it, working on having a representative involved. Conference call provided an update, sent to SC. They have a program developed, but maybe working on fine-tuning. Next planning meeting is – several of us are getting their emails, ill make sure SC is updated. Anyone interested can call in and make suggestions.

Mark asked for an Illinois contact, has had no response when trying to reach them. Will follow lo up with Tamar after the call.

2. Report on Lifeline for Palestine – (Mark)

Big event on Tuesday, 11/11, in Washington, will include Jill Stein, Matthew Hoh and other Green veterans. In-person/virtual event. Craig stated that there is an organizing event for Black Friday in NJ with Chris Smalls (leading the Amazon labor movement, on one of the flotillas).

Mark is working on another event coming up, collecting names of organizations for a webinar to bring them all under Lifeline for Palestine to show cross-sector solidarity. He wants to discuss a full week strike.

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.

May have been done by the time of the call.

Liaisons August 2025

1. Guest Committee(s): None

2.. Staff (Justin, Tamar)  – Last meeting disussed transition to Googlegroups. Asking to stop using Mailman as of December 1st, so staff has time to finish archives and move. Other item was questions about YES position.

3. Secretary (Holly) - Delegates 101: another request and volunteers for part of one. Was requested and will put out a call to set up one or more. NC list audits – working to finish quickly. Will be putting out a call for nominations for Coordinated Campaign Committee elections, but asked about holding off until beginning of the year, when communications platforom migrations would be completed. . Craig, Cassandra proposed no proposals except the current Basecamp proposal go out until after the first ot he year, and the CCC nomination and elections be held off until then. AGREED, Consensus..

4. Craig: Media, Merch, PCSC, Outreach  – good response on social media; new merch coming

5. Cassandra: ANMCom, FundCom, Credentials , DRC – no updates at this time

6. Wissam: IC, Green Pages, GPAX , BRPP – reports were submitted in advance of the meeting.

BRPP: Committee and CoChairs confirmed.

GPAX: Running smoothly. No updates.

IC: First meeting held with FPVA. Path to renew membership is on the way

and reintegrate with Global Greens.

GREEN PAGES: No reply to my email. What is the procedure when that

happens? Committee is in breach of its bylaws by not meeting for more than

3 months.

7. Arshia: CCC, Platform – met with CCC, discussed SMART goals and budget review and asked them to have proposals read for this meetint

8. Tamar: Diversity, Staff Supervisor – no more to report

9. Charles: FinCom, Animal Rights, GCCC, BMRC, BAC - BAC held a vote to revise committee rules, which failed in committee; now working to establish an agreed-upon model for consensus decision making.

10. Justin: Staff Supervisor , ETC –

Liaison (still) needed for EcoAction

VII. Voting Queue – (Holly)

Received for the Queue  -

None

A. 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

Craig noted he’d motioned to table this proposal until the coming year. Timeley subject. Holly noted that a statement could be put out from the Media Committee.

Discussion

A. #1270 National Committee Voting History Info Update

Discussion through 11/18/2025

Voting period: 11/19/2025 – 12/02/2025

Threshold: 50+1

Floor Manager: Wissam Charafeddine

B. #1271 Approval of Richard Giovanoni as GPUS Forum Manager

Discussion through 11/20/2025