Accepted minutes of GPCT  EC telephonic meeting of Monday, February 2, 2015 at 6:30PM.

Attendees: co-chairpersons: Linda Thompson, Norwich, Rolf Maurer, Stamford and S. Michael DeRosa, Wethersfield; treasurer: Christopher Reilly, West Hartford and secretary: Barbara Barry. No other known attendees.

  • Consensus: if it snows heavily or traveling is difficult or unsafe,  the 2-16-15 SCC will be cancelled and rescheduled for Monday, 2-23-15, same time/place.
  • GPCT 4-25-15 Annual Meeting: LT: attended the Green-Rainbow Party of MA annual meeting. She suggests: we invite other states to our meeting and allow them to extend greetings to attendees; have speakers e.g. Howie Hawkins, 2014 GPNY candidate for governor and only candidate in that state which was NOT cross-endorsed(LT will invite him), or national speakers; an expert about the Algonquin Pipeline expansion.  BAB: suggest we have speakers who will address GPCT 2015 legislative agenda items. We could have 2 or so speakers to address e.g. ballot access than attendees could attend workshops of their choosing. CR: CT Environmental Justice Committee could table at this meeting. LT and RM: will try to do fliers to publish this meeting.  SMD to do press releases.  
  • Next EC meeting: Thursday, 2-26-15 at 6:30PM. 
  • GPUS annual meeting date: unknown but site is St. Louis. 
  • GPCT Facebook: people are asking to join the GPCT on this site.  Per CT regulations and GPCT Bylaws: cannot do so on social media sites.
  • GPCT Legislative Committee: updates to be provided at SCC meeting. Need to gather more people/organizations to take our/their messages to legislators. SMD: have press conference on steps of CT Legislature with other organizations regarding our agenda items.  RM: is seeking to have each of our legislative issues addressed by tabling at the Stamford Public Library. LT: send our legislative agenda information to the GPUS as other states do. SMD: Libertarians are interested in our ballot access proposals.  BAB: seek Freedom of Information request about where the CT money has come from to give to each CT candidate who met state regulations since the 2005 Campaign Finance Law. 
  • Consensus: for GPCT request for FOI about this but also seek SCC input.  GPUS Outreach: LT:wants to discuss with 2-16-15  and 3-16-15 SCC attendees the following so LT can take to the GPUS Platform Committee the following: the 30 points from the charter of the National Black Independent Political Party (NBIPP) about diversity within a political party which is for aimed for Afro-Americans.   
  • March 28, 2015 GPCT fundraiser from noon to 5PM at Portland Waverly Center. Speakers: consider: Howie Hawkins and 2016 potential GPUS presidential candidate: Jill Stein.  Suggest: $20 donation; pot luck food and beverages; items for sale: T-shirts, posters, literature for tabling; music by Baird Welch-Collins.  Send e-invites on Facebook.
  • GPCT Budget Committee: current balance: $897. Needs: annual meeting mailing; 2015 CT SOTS voter list, legislative agenda, co-sponsoring events.  
  • Cut-off deadline for GPCT candidates for the 5 EC positions and the 3 GPCT representatives to the GPUS is to be the end of the March 16, 2015 SCC meeting.  
  • Consensus: GPCT is to be a co-sponsor of the annual “True Colors” LGBT conference on UCONN Storrs campus on Friday, March 20 to Saturday, March 21, 2015.

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February 16, 2015 (Monday) agenda for the 6:30PM  SCC meeting at the Portland Waverly Center (i.e. the former Portland Senior Center), 7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT 06480.  Time allocated for this agenda: two hours.

1.  (5-10 minutes):  Review and approval the minutes of the: a) January 12, 2015 SCC meeting  and  b)  accept the minutes of the: February 2, 2015  EC meeting.                                                                                                                          2.  (5 minutes): Treasurer's report from Christopher Reilly                                                                                             3.  (5 minutes): Secretary’s report from Barbara Barry                                                                                                   4.  (5 minutes): Reports from our three (3) representatives to the GPUS:  Tim McKee, S. Michael DeRosa and Baird Welch-Collins.                                                                                                                                                              5.  A)  EC proposal:  seek Freedom of Information request about where the CT money has come from to give to each CT candidate who met state regulations since the 2005 Campaign Finance Law.  and B) proposal from Linda Thompson, GPCT co-chairperson (Addendum I).   

6.   (15-20 minutes):Report about the expansion of the Algonquin Pipeline from:  a) our GPCT liaison (Tim McKee) to our alliance with NJ, NY, RI, MA, PA, OH, WV, ME and the GPUS.The energy company plans to expand the pipeline to a ME seaport so fracked oil and gas may be exported.Here's a link to the Spectra Energy description of the project:  http://www.spectraenergy.com/Operations/New-Projects-and-Our-Process/New-Projects-in-US/Algonquin-Incremental-Market-AIM-Project/   and   b) report from Vic Lancia and other representatives from the group: Capitalism vs. the Environment regarding their efforts/goals about the Algonquin Pipeline.

7. (5 minutes):Report about any GPCT complaints to the CT SEEC (State Elections Enforcement)  regarding 11-4-14 election ballot access events.                         

8.  (5-15 minutes):  a) Report about the GPCT  approved 2015 legislative agenda from the GPCT Legislative Committee members:  Emily Garfinkel of Farmington,   Baird Welch-Collins, Waterford,   Josh Steele Kelly, Waterford,  Paul Gobell, New Britain,  Ed Heflin, Greenwich, Rolf Maurer, Stamford,  Barbara Barry, Wethersfield and S. Michael DeRosa, Wethersfield.   b) accept the minutes of the telephonic meeting Legislative Committee meeting of 6:30PM Tuesday, January 13, 2015;  c) any volunteers and/or liaisons with organizations with similar views who may wish to help promote the GPCT agenda  and  d) below are the following are the GPCT  2015 legislative agenda issues which have been proposed to multiple CT legislators for sponsorship and review.

  • CT public banking:  Ed Heflin  drafted a bill. Legislative Committee public hearing date: unknown.     Demilitarization of the police and increasing the professional criteria of standards for police actions and behaviors:  by Rolf Maurer and Barbara Barry.
    • Urban/suburban/rural farming:  Paul Gobell and Barbara Barry.
  • Universal healthcare: by Barbara Barry.  
  • Promotions of MUDs (municipal utility districts) to as many of the state’s 169 towns. Currently there are 6 MUDs and only Wallingford owns and maintains its own power lines…and it has not lost power when UI and CL&P lost power. By Barbara Barry and S. Michael DeRosa.
  • Common Core Curriculum reform:  by Baird Welch-Collins, Emily Garfinkel and Joshua Steele Kelly.
  • Renewable energy:  by Ed Heflin and S. Michael DeRosa. 
  • Ballot access:  S. Michael DeRosa.  
  • Decriminalization of cannabis and use of hemp economy: by Rolf Maurer, Baird Welch-Collins and Cindy Day.  
  • CT Legislative Committee to promote the conversion of military property/businesses to renewable energy sources:  by S. Michael DeRosa and Rolf Maurer.

9.  (15-20 minutes): Agenda for the April 25, 2015  GPCT 2015 Annual Meeting at Portland Waverly Center.  a) time: 11am to 5pm;  b) elect the five (5) EC offices and our three (3) representatives to the GPUS;   c) deadline for submission of candidates for these positions: at the close of the March 16, 2015 SCC meeting;  d) speakers;  e) length of time for workshops about our CT legislative  agenda items led by experts;  f) sending out notices of meeting will also include requests for funds. Possible uses for funds: to petition for our 2016 GPUS presidential candidate and to reaffirm that we are a political party which does not cross-endorse; g) candidate statements and biographies to be on GPCT website, not the notice to GPCT members;  h) selection of our representatives to the GPUS National Committees will be determined at the SCC following the April 25, 2015 GPCT Annual Meeting;  i) potluck food and beverages;  and j) items for fundraising.    

10.  (15 minutes): GPCT Fundraising Committee reports:   a)  Saturday, March 28, 2015  GPCT  fundraiser at the Portland Waverly Center from noon to 5PM: with “leftist folk music” by Baird Welch-Collins.  Attendees are urged to bring potluck food and beverages; and items for sale.Urge GPCT  Facebook users to send out e-invites. Ask people and organizations with similar values to come to the fundraiser;  b) goal setting about future small GPCT regional fundraising events;         c) goal setting about future fundraiser with Harvey Wasserman, GPUS Shadow Cabinet, Secretary of Energy and anti-nuclear activist since at least Three Mile Island event…for one or two fundraising events;  d) goal setting about other possible fundraising events/ideas.                                         

11.  (5 minutes):  GPCT Budget Committee: Linda Thompson and Christopher Reilly.  a) Goal setting: need money to petition for the GPUS 2016 presidential candidate.  Advertise events in the print and digital media. GPCT volunteers are still welcome to participate.

12. ( 10 minutes): GPCT sponsored events:   a) “True Colors” LGBT annual conference on Friday and  Saturday, March 20-21, 2015 at the UCONN Storrs campus.  www.ourtruecolors.org or  http://www.ourtruecolors.org/Programs/Conference/brochure.   b) any other events?   

13.  (10 minutes):Report from Linda Thompson of the GPCT Outreach Committee:  goal setting i.e. selection of GPCT member liaisons with other CT organizations with similar values.  

14.  (10 minutes): Reports from our (3) GPCT representatives to each (GPUS) Committee.  Accreditation (AC): reviews state chapter which petitions to join the GPUS; reviews criteria for state delegates to GPUS annual meetings and conventions.                                                                                                                                    Annual National Meeting (ANMC):  working on the 2014 GPUS Annual Meeting: Tim McKee.                             Ballot Access (BA): discussion of efforts/difficulties/strategies/successes of the state Green Parties gaining ballot access: S. Michael DeRosa and Don Alexander.                                                                                                  Black  Caucus.                                                                                                                                                          Bylaws, Rules, Polices Procedure (BRPP): for the GPUS officers and national committees: Joshua Steele Kelly.                                                                                                                                                                    Coordination Campaign (CCC): distribution of GPUS money to GP public office candidates.                         Dispute Resolution (DRC):  mediation of any disputes within the GPUS organization.                                      Diversity (DC):  strategies/actions to urge/maximize diversity within the GPUS. Don Alexander.                            Eco Action (EA): develop strategies for the GPUS regarding ecological matters.  Jeff Russell.                                   lFinance (FinCom): determine how to spend the GPUS money.                                                                     Fundraising (FC): raises money for the GPUS operations.                                                                                        Green Party of the US internet news: acquire and write articles for the GPUS  website.                             International Committee (IC): develops/promotes GPUS positions re: world  issues. Amy Vas Nunes, S. Michael DeRosa and Justine McCabe.                                                                                                                                      Latino Caucus:  Hector Lopez.                                                                                                              Merchandizing Committee (MERCH): determines/acquires items for the GPUS.  Rolf Maurer.                                      Media Committee (MC): writes GPUS press releases.                                                                                                                            Outreach (OC): interacts with other groups who may have similar interests of the GPUS.  Don Alexander and Linda  Thompson.                                                                                                                                                                Peace (GPAX): discusses/develops strategies of how the GPUS may promote peace throughout  the world. Don Alexander, Joshua Steele Kelly and S. Michael DeRosa.                                                                                          Platform (PC): promotes positions on issues for the GPUS which are consistent with Green Party Ten Key Values. Amy Vas Nunes, Don Alexander and S. Michael DeRosa.                                                                                      Presidential Campaign Support Committee (PCSC):  develop strategies to support any GPUS presidential candidates. Tim McKee.                                                                                                                     Women’s Caucus.     

15. (15 minutes): a) GPCT chapter developmentb) GPCT chapter reports:  GreaterFairfield; Greater Hartford; Greater New Haven;  Greater Norwich;  New London and Waterford, CT.  and c) written approved minutes to the CTGP secretary

16.  The next SCC meeting  is Monday, March 16, 2015 at 6:30PM at Portland Waverly Center.    

17.  Other suggestions.     

GREEN PARTY TEN KEY VALUES: non-violence, respect for diversity, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics and economic justice, future focus and sustainability, personal and global responsibility, feminism and gender equality. 

Submitted by Barbara Barry, GPCT secretary for the GPCT EC: Linda Thompson, S. Michael DeRosa, Rolf Maurer and Christopher Reilly.

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