Green Party of the United States Steering Committee Meeting Agenda
Date: Sunday September 22, 2019
Time: 8:00 PM EDT
Anyone who wants to be an observer please send e-mail to secretary@gp.org before 8:00 PM EDT Saturday September 7, 2019.
I. Call Setup & Background [15 minutes]
a. Facilitator: Holly Hart
b. Roll Call
c. Agenda Revision Suggestions
II. Standing Business [45 minutes]
a. Secretary’s Report (David) [5 minutes]
b. Treasurer’s Report (Hillary) [5 minutes]
Treasurer’s reports are located at
c. Approval of Expenditures [0 minutes]
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tG9oeSIXq5U7adIGJD1Tac4yVMAq5SEMT3tA_fi68u0/edit?usp=sharing_eil&ts=5d5d857e
1. $56.80 Stamps for thank you cards to donors
Approved online
d. Liaison Reports [30 minutes]
* Committees that are known to have met or should have met.
Justin: ARC, BMRC, PCSC*, PCR-WG*
Kristin:BRPP, DRC*, Green Pages, ARevC*
Trahern: AC, Merch*
Margaret: ANMC*, GPAX, PlatCom
Gloria: CCC*, FundCom*, Media*
Tony: BAC*, Outreach*, Eco-Action
Anita: Diversity, FinCom*, IC
e. Forum Managers Report () [5 minutes]
(See below)
III. Voting Queue [15 minutes]
https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/index
a. In the Queue
b. Received for the Queue
1. Proposal: Nation Endorsement of HR326: The Victims of Agent
Orange Relief Act [findings] (Kristin)
(See below)
2. GPUS joining the São Paulo Forum [findings] (Trahern)
(See below)
IV. Old Business [0 minutes]
V. New Business [0 minutes]
Time: 1h 15m
VI. Executive Session [15 minutes]
a. Legal: Pending Appeal [15 minutes]
Total Time: 1h 30m
Reports
GPUS Forum Managers Report
2019 2nd Quarter
No. of complaints: 21
No. of people who filed complaints: 10 (including Forum Managers)
No. of persons complained about: 8; plus several general
No. of individual incidents: 15
Types of complaints:
Posts not pertinent to votes list: 2
Inappropriate, Inaccurate or Unclear Subjects lines: 0
Tone:
racist comments (1)
humiliating or demeaning; ad hominem attack, ridicule (7)
accusations (1)
gaslighting (2)
insulting tone (1)
unfounded hyperbole (1)
libel/slander (3)
Actions taken:
0 General message sent to “natlcomvotes” list on maintaining reasonable numbers of posts
1 General messages sent to “natlcomvotes” list to move non-business discussion elsewhere; subsequent violations would result in Advisories
3 General messages sent to “natlcomvotes” list regarding Tone
3 First Advisories
2 Non-punitive Reminders (two different individuals)
1 Second Warning including Moderation for 90 days
PROPOSALS RECEIVED FOR THE QUEUE
TITLE: Endorsement of H.R.326 The Agent Orange Relief Act of 2019
Sponsors: YC, Latinx Caucus, CA, SC
TYPE OF PROPOSAL, EXPECTED APPROVAL THRESHOLD: Yes/No majority approval
REQUESTED PROPOSAL DECISION-MAKING TIMELINE: Two Week Discussion one week vote
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
H.R. 326 is a comprehensive bill that seeks to ensure that needed services and care are available to victims of Agent Orange in both the United States of America and Vietnam. The Green Party of the United States platform has always fought for recompense for the victims of war crimes and human rights atrocities and the what the collection of chemicals colloquially referenced as Agent Orange, did to the environment and the generations in the south pacific countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Korea, as well as lesser known places were the chemical was stored such as Puerto Rico, can only be described as atrocious war crimes against humanity. While this legislation is currently limiting the scope of the foreign aid to Vietnam, with the right support and effort made it is possible to see the bill revised to include all countries America poison during these wartime periods. It is necessary for the Green Party of the United States to show the public more tangible examples of what our platform looks like in legislative practice and this bill is a near perfect example of that.
PROPOSAL:
Passage of this proposals affirms that Green Party of the United States endorses H.R.326: The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2019 and will publicly support the effort for its passage.
IMPLEMENTATION/TIMELINE/RESOURCES:
Upon adoption, a concerted effort should be made by Greens to get this resolution passed and encourage inclusion of it the talking points of Green candidates at the federal level. Additionally direct the National and and State Media committees make announcements and or press releases about this bill highlighting our support and or its connection to our platform. The bill will be tracked for changes by the California Green Party of California’s Campaigns and Candidates Working group of which the author is a member. If the text of the bill is modified in a way that goes against the spirit of this resolution or the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States, the Party reserves the right to pull its support.
CONTACT:
Shannel Pittman
shannelpittman@gmail.com
REFERENCES:
Bill Text
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/326/text?q=%7B”search”%3A%5B”Berta”%5D%7D&r=1&s=1
TITLE: GPUS joining the São Paulo Forum
CO-SPONSORS: International Committee, New Jersey
EXPECTED APPROVAL THRESHOLD: Simple Majority
REQUESTED PROPOSAL DECISION-MAKING TIMELINE: 2 weeks discussion, 1 week voting
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
The São Paulo Forum is a conglomeration of left-wing parties from around the world, with a heavy focus on the Americas. It was founded in 1990 by Fidel Castro and Luiz Lula da Silva with the stated goal of arguing for alternatives to neoliberalism. Current members include the ruling leftist parties of Mexico, Venezuela, and Bolivia. With the Global Green movement focused primarily on ecology, and at times taking right-wing positions on other issues, it is necessary to join an alternative global movement that is more reflective of our four pillars.
PROPOSAL:
That we make the following amendments to the GPUS International Committee Rules, Policies, and Procedures, allowing us to join the São Paulo Forum in conjunction with our current global partners.
Amendment 1: Make the following changes to Section 1-2.1
Old language:
Network with Green Parties around the world.
New language:
Network with parties around the world that promote the Green principles of Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Nonviolence, Respect for Diversity, and Sustainability.
Amendment 2: Add the following text as Section 1-2.4 and adjust proceeding numbering accordingly:
Select GPUS Delegates to the São Paulo Forum from among the membership of the International Committee, for terms of two years. Selected delegates must be confirmed by a majority vote of the GPUS National Committee. The number of Delegates shall be three, unless otherwise prescribed by the São Paulo Forum. Investigation and removal of confirmed Delegates for misconduct or malfeasance shall be the responsibility of the National Committee, using the same due-process provisions and voting procedures in GPUS bylaws which govern the recall of Steering Committee members.
Amendment 3: Make the following changes to the title of Section 3-1:
Old language:
Delegates and Alternates to the Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Américas (FPVA), the Global Green Network (GGN), and Global Green Congresses.
New language:
Delegates and Alternates to the São Paulo Forum (SPF), Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Américas (FPVA), the Global Green Network (GGN), and Global Green Congresses.
Amendment 4: Make the following changes to Section 3-1.1(a):
Old language:
The Committee shall elect GPUS Delegates to the Federacion de Partidos Verdes de las Americas (FPVA), the Global Green Network (GGN), and the Global Green Congress from within the International Committee. Only Committee Members may be Delegates. An FPVA Delegate may also be a Delegate to the Global Green Coordination (GGC), if elected to that position by the Federation, but may not also be a Delegate to the Global Green Network (GGN). Any Member of the Committee may be nominated and serve as Delegate or Alternate to the Global Green Congress. No member of any committee of the Green Party of the United States, nor of any state Green party or caucus affiliated with GPUS, may claim to be a GPUS-authorized Representative or Observer, in any international meeting or body, absent selection according to either Section 3-1 or 3-2 of these Rules, Policies and Procedures.
New language:
The Committee shall elect GPUS Delegates to the São Paulo Forum, Federacion de Partidos Verdes de las Americas (FPVA), the Global Green Network (GGN), and the Global Green Congress from within the International Committee. Only Committee Members may be Delegates. An FPVA Delegate may also be a Delegate to the Global Green Coordination (GGC), if elected to that position by the Federation, but may not also be a Delegate to the Global Green Network (GGN). Any Member of the Committee may be nominated and serve as Delegate or Alternate to the São Paulo Forum and/or Global Green Congress. No member of any committee of the Green Party of the United States, nor of any state Green party or caucus affiliated with GPUS, may claim to be a GPUS-authorized Representative or Observer, in any international meeting or body, absent selection according to either Section 3-1 or 3-2 of these Rules, Policies and Procedures.
Amendment 5: Make the following changes to Section 3-1.2
Old language:
The number of Delegates to each body shall be the number as defined by the FPVA and the Global Greens respectively.
New language:
The number of Delegates to FPVA and the Global Greens shall be defined by those bodies. The number of Delegates to the São Paulo Forum shall be three, unless otherwise prescribed by the São Paulo Forum.
Amendment 6: Make the following changes to Section 3-1.3
Old language:
Unless otherwise prescribed by the FPVA, and the Global Green Congress respectively, the Committee shall also elect a number of Alternates equal to the number of Delegates. Alternates shall serve in the order they were ranked in their election.
New language:
Unless otherwise prescribed by the São Paulo Forum, FPVA, and the Global Green Congress respectively, the Committee shall also elect a number of Alternates equal to the number of Delegates. Alternates shall serve in the order they were ranked in their election.
Amendment 7: Add the following text as Section 3-1.4(b) and adjust proceeding numbering accordingly:
Terms of São Paulo Forum Delegates and Alternates shall be FOR two-year terms, unless otherwise specified by the São Paulo Forum.
Amendment 8: Make the following changes to Section 3-1.6(a)
Old language:
The nomination period for FPVA DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES and GGN Delegates shall be announced by the co-chairs every two years and shall be for two weeks beginning at 12:01 am East Coast time on the LAST Monday of January and end at midnight Sunday evening Pacific Coast time two weeks later. The nomination period for Global Green Congress Delegates AND ALTERNATES shall be for two weeks beginning at 12:01 am East Coast time on the first Monday closest to a least 120 days prior to the commencement of the Global Green Congress and end at midnight Sunday evening two weeks later. Members may nominate themselves. Nominations do not need to be seconded.
New language:
The nomination period for FPVA DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES and GGN Delegates shall take place in alternating years with the nomination period for São Paulo Forum Delegates and Alternates. The nomination period shall be announced by the co-chairs every year and shall be for two weeks beginning at 12:01 am East Coast time on the LAST Monday of January and end at midnight Sunday evening Pacific Coast time two weeks later. The nomination period for Global Green Congress Delegates AND ALTERNATES shall be for two weeks beginning at 12:01 am East Coast time on the first Monday closest to a least 120 days prior to the commencement of the Global Green Congress and end at midnight Sunday evening two weeks later. Members may nominate themselves. Nominations do not need to be seconded.
Amendment 9: Make the following changes to Section 3-1.7(a)
Old language:
Elections shall be conducted on the Committee listserve or, should one be available, on the Committee voting page. Delegates and Alternates to the FPVA, AND the Global Green Congress SHALL BE ELECTED AT THE SAME TIME BY Choice Voting (STV), in EACH case with “None of the Above” and “No Other Candidate” as options.
New language:
Elections shall be conducted on the Committee listserve or, should one be available, on the Committee voting page. Delegates and Alternates to the São Paulo Forum, FPVA, AND the Global Green Congress SHALL BE ELECTED AT THE SAME TIME BY Choice Voting (STV), in EACH case with “None of the Above” and “No Other Candidate” as options.
Amendment 10: Make the following changes to Section 3-1.8(a)
Old language:
Perform all duties and responsibilities as defined by FPVA, and the Global Greens, respectively
New language:
Perform all duties and responsibilities as defined by the São Paulo Forum, FPVA, and the Global Greens, respectively
Amendment 11: Make the following changes to Section 3-1.8(f)
Old language:
Provide a written report to the Committee and the National Committee explaining votes by the Delegate or Alternate at FPVA meetings, and Global Green Congress.
New language:
Provide a written report to the Committee and the National Committee explaining votes by the Delegate or Alternate at the São Paulo Forum, FPVA meetings, and Global Green Congress.
RESOURCES:
Cost: $250 per year. The IC will also be changing its payments to the
Global Greens from $350 per year to $50 per year to make up the difference.
CONTACT:
Ahmed Eltouny, Touny.GPNJ@gmail.com
Implementation:
The IC will hold its first election in January 2020 and send delegates to the 2020 meeting.
REFERENCES:
São Paulo Forum webpage:
http://forodesaopaulo.org/
São Paulo Forum History (English):
http://forodesaopaulo.org/brief-history-of-the-sao-paulo-forum/
2018 São Paulo Forum IC co-chair report 1:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreenPartyUS/permalink/10155798887520748/
2018 São Paulo Forum IC co-chair report 2:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreenPartyUS/permalink/10155803246060748/
Items for Future Agendas
*. Strategic Plan SC/Staff Retreat (; discussion) [5 minutes]
*. Protecting Our Members (Anita)
*. ANM Final Report
*. Fukushima Update: Letter and Webinar (Hillary; report) [5 minutes]
NC Proposal 940: Fukushima-Daiichi: Seven Years Later Proposal and Open Letters
https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=940