Approved Minutes of the GPCT March 16, 2016  SCC meeting.  Quorum met.

 Started at 6:36PM i.e. immediately after the close of the 3-16-16  GPCT 3rd Nominating Convention.  Location: Portland Waverly Center, 7 Waverly Avenue, Portland, CT  06480

 GPCT chapter attendees: Greater Fairfield: Rolf Maurer, GPCT co-chairperson and Cora Santaguida. Greater Hartford: Mary Lawrence, S. Michael DeRosa, GPCT co-chairperson, Christopher Reilly, GPCT treasurer, Barbara Barry, GPCT secretary.  New London: Timothy Hanser.  Waterford: Emily Garfinkel, Billy Collins, Baird Welch-Collins,  Lauren Shaw.  Facilitator: Barbara A. Barry, GPCT secretary. 

1.  Consensus without any blocking concerns to  approve and accept:  a) approve minutes the 2-3-16 2nd Nominating Convention and 2-3-16 SCC meeting and  b) accept EC minutes of the 3-1-16 meeting

2. GPCT chapter reports: a) Greater Fairfield: RM: will be doing presidential petitioning with David Michel and Jenny Li on Saturday; going to CT NOFA event where Mary Lawrence is speaking;  going to a NYC event  regarding a person who was charged with “financing 9/11 terrorism”. DM: organized cleanup of Stamford marshes. A CT bill to promote accurate labeling of baby food has gotten out of committee.  A Stamford Democrat and wants Democrats to cross-endorse DM. Greater Hartford: SMD:  Brian Gay has agreed to help GPCT members/candidates with their Facebook and social media sites. ML: is still interacting with the GPUS SC regarding proposal for a GPUS Animal Rights (standing) Committee. BAB: we are seeking candidates for chapter.  Greater Norwich: no member/no report.  City of New London: TH: BW-C to perform at 3-19-16 fundraiser for NL chapter.  Had a 3-3-16 meeting to form Green Moms and Dads Group to meet monthly to discuss GPCT and any issues of interest.  Initial meeting was 3-10-16. Plan to start in April 2016 a monthly happy hou.  Are registering Greens.  Seeking candidate for CT House District 39.  and  Waterford, CT: BW-C: Lauren Shaw for CT House District 38; to have a chapter tag sale fundraiser on Saturday: 5-21-16  at the Waterford beach.  Vendors to pay $25 to the chapter and vendors will keep profits from their sales.  and b) written approved minutes to the GPCT secretary.

3. Treasurer's report from Christopher Reilly: GPCT balance: $1114;  FEC balance: $390.

4. Secretary's report: Barbara Barry: GPUS CCC Candidate liaison report: 3-1-16 meeting: GPUS is trying to improve ease of use of: website, social media, considering blog.  Greens4Racial Justice.com  regarding: racial justice and police brutality=greatest risk to American people of color is the police who are meant to protect them. This is a profound failure of justice that cannot be tolerated. GP candidates demand that institutional racism be confronted at every level of government, that the racist “war on drugs” be ended, that non-violent offenders be paroled, that police forces be demilitarized, and that police officers be held accountable for their actions. BlackLivesMatter: Prison Reform: Justice should never be for sale, yet our prisons have already been sold, and are run as a growth industry and source of profit. This is intolerable. Our prison population should be sharply reduced through paroling of non-violent (esp. drug-related) offenders, and rehabilitation of other offenders wherever possible. Torture by solitary confinement must cease. All inmates should be provided an environment conducive to rehabilitation, with access to education, counseling, and recreational activities, and all former convicts should have the full rights of citizenship, including voting rights, restored to them upon completion of their sentence. Police Brutality.  Issue experts: BLM folks. 3-29-16 webinar regarding running for office; websites;  suggest “Spanish”  language version on website. Suggest candidates: not publish their home address (use PO Box) or personal email address to avoid spasms. Comment box: Tell us about racial injustice, police brutality, and/or prisoner exploitation that’s happening in your community.

5.  Proposal from Fairfield chapter: Rolf Maurer, David Michel, Jenny Li, Cora Santaguida, Fausto Molina.  CONTACT: Rolf Maurer, 54 Hope Street, Unit I, Stamford, CT 06906, 203-327-6464,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. PROPOSAL: Model Legislation for Enhanced Patient Vaccine Information Access. SUBJECT: Vaccine Information/CT Public Health.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To improve CT residents’ ability as individuals and parents to make informed decisions regarding vaccination of themselves and their families, by making it easier for them to learn about what information, resources and options under state and federal law are available to the public regarding the costs and benefits associated with different vaccines. PROPOSAL: Require pharmacists, doctors and other healthcare providers to provide to all patients and parents inquiring about vaccination the identical manufacturers' PIL (Patient Information Leaflet) statements received by healthcare professionals, themselves, along with contact information for the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and Health & Human Services' Vaccine Court.

Healthcare providers should administer vaccines no less than seven to ten days after patient request, in order to provide ample time for the latter to research the provided information, less-concentrated vaccine scheduling and other options under CT law, in order to balance the costs and benefits of a given vaccine under consideration. Impulse or point-of-purchase inducements to get vaccinated, such as store coupons and the like, should be prohibited.

Given the recent disclosures of public/private sector whistleblowers to the media and via members of Congress (Dr. William Thompson at the CDC, Dr. Bernard Dalbergue at Merck and former Pfizer executive Dr. Peter Rost, among others), calling into question the inordinate influence of Big Pharma on public health policy, CT's two classes of vaccine exemptions should be upheld.

Sources:

BAB: research has shown that research is extremely limited regarding the quality and validity of current vaccines; vaccines approved essentially without studies(!); whistle blowers at CDC, Congress and others: documents and hardcopies were destroyed; US has highest rate of vaccines for children under 6 years of age in Western world: 38; 2nd highest is 28. Several lowest were 11.  The US government has paid out billions in damages since the creation of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (passed 1986 in response to courts being unable to handle the volume of class action lawsuits).  Motion from SMD to defer to future SCC to allow members to research this more. Seconded by CS.  Consensus: defer vote to future SCC meeting, so attendees may research this proposal.

6. Reports from our 3 representatives to the GPUS National Committee (NC):  SMD: to vote in days about forming a GPUS Animal Rights Committee.  Linda Thompson and Joshua Steele Kelly: were absent.  Green National Committee( GPUS SC and the NC representatives from each of the state GPs)  is the highest decision-making body of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS).

7.  April 30, 2016 GPCT Annual Meeting: a) candidates who have submitted their names by the close of this SCC meeting, for GPCT internal offices for the 3 for GPCT co-chairpersons: Barbara Barry, S. Michael DeRosa, Emily Garfinkel, Rolf Maurer and Baird Welch-Collins;  treasurer:  CR and a secretary: David Bedell and Ronna Stuller;  3 to be the GPCT Representatives to the GPUS National Committee: Mary Lawrence, S. Michael DeRosa and Joshua Steele Kelly. b) likely April 4th or 8th ballot mailing to GPCT members and  c) enhanced agenda:  workshops: BW-C: Youth Outreach strategies; LS: gun legislation and the 2nd Amendment;  SMD: How to Petition. d) CR: SOTS mailing list has about 2002 registered GP registered voters. No additions to the GPCT mailing list will be accepted after February 9, 2016 due to CT regulations and GPCT bylaws. Cost of mailing:  2sheets/4pages: ~$1300 vs. a postcard with directions to go to GPCT website for more information: $600 -700.  

8. Petitioning for the GPUS 2016 presidential candidate. a) RM: need places to petition: LS and EG to petition at Avery Point UCONN campus; SMD: go to the administration of every state campus to get petition sites.  b)  BAB has a current list of  petitioners.  c) need list of people who are willing to authenticate petitions.  d) Urge petition holders to make photocopies of petitions after they are authenticated.  Reason: to be able for GPCT to challenge if needed.  e) Need 7500 valid petition signatures. e) Wednesday, August 10, 2016 is deadline for submission of authenticated petitions to appropriate Town Clerks.  f) GPUS 2016 presidential candidates are:  Jill Stein; William "Bill"  Kreml; Darryl Cherney,  Kent Mesplay  and Sedinam Kinamo Christin Moyowasifza Curry.  

9.  Consensus: deleted GPCT Legislative proposals. Last day of legislature is May 4, 2016.

10. William “Bill” Kreml, a candidate for GPUS 2016 presidential nomination has agreed to do a telephonic conference call with GPCT members at 7PM on Wednesday, April 30, 2016. Contact Barbara Barry for dial-in information.

11. GPCT Outreach Committee reports from GPCT member liaisons: ML: contact with animal rights community; bill to ban ivory import to CT passed committee; trophy hunting bill going to full House regarding; Desmond’s Law (to allow pets in women’s shelters) progressing; bill to have court advocate for animals is progressing. 

12. BAB: at 2-3-16 SCC meeting, the consensus of attendees was to authorize as GPCT representatives to GPUS : Mary Lawrence  to the Annual National Meeting Committee and Brian Gay to the Lavender Caucus. However, we did not vote for the duration of their terms.  Typically terms are for one year from GPCT annual meeting (in April or May) or SCC after it  to the next GPCT annual meeting or SCC meeting after it.  BAB placed in motion:  Authorize ML and BG to be our representatives until the  spring of 2017 (not 2016) GPCT Annual Meeting OR until the 2017 SCC meeting after 2017 GPCT annual meeting.  Cora Santaguida seconded the motion. Consensus without blocking concerns: authorize ML and BG to be the GPCT representatives to the ANMC (for ML) and to the Lavender Caucus (for BG) until spring of 2017 elections for GPCT representatives to GPUS standing committees.

13. Reports from our representatives from GPUS Standing Committees:  

Annual National Meeting Committee (ANMC):  8-4-16 annual meeting: ML: awaiting GPUS contact

Ballot Access (BA): assist  state GPs to gain ballot access: SMD: working on presidential petitioning.  Jeff Russell was absent.  

Bylaws, Rules, Polices Procedure (BRPP): for GPUS officers and national committees: Amy Vas Nunes and Joshua Steele Kelly: were absent.

Diversity (DC):  actions to maximize diversity within the GPUS: Emily Garfinkel: has not heard from them.

International Committee (IC): promotes GPUS positions re: world issues: SMD: IC is not active. Joshua Steele Kelly and Justine McCabe were absent.  

Lavender Caucus: Brian Gay: awaiting contact from the caucus.  

Merchandizing Committee (MERCH): determines/acquires GPUS items: Rolf Maurer: did Bernie Sanders T-shirt.

Outreach (OC): interacts with other groups who may have similar interests of the GPUS: Emily Garfinkel: there have been conference calls but no direction has been established. Linda Thompson was absent.

Peace (GPAX): discusses/develops strategies of how the GPUS may promote peace throughout the world: Baird Welch-Collins: Not active.  

Platform (PC): promotes positions of the GPUS which are consistent with GP 10 Key Values:  Joshua Steele Kelly, Amy Vas Nunes & Justine McCabe: were absent.  

Presidential Campaign Support Committee (PCSC): Timothy McKee was absent.

Young Greens of the US: engage youth in Green issues and  give members a voice within the GPUS. Membership is open to US youths age 14-35 who identify as Green, support the GPUS 10 Key Values and generally agree with the GPUS platform and missions. One of 3 co-chairperson: Joshua Steele Kelly: absent.

There are no current GPCT representations on the following committees: Accreditation (AC): reviews state chapter which petitions to join the GPUS; reviews criteria for state delegates to GPUS annual meetings and conventions. Black Caucus. Coordinated Campaign Committee: (CCC): is a standing committee of the GPUS that cooperates with state and local chapters in the support of federal, state, and local Green Party electoral campaigns through a variety of different programs and support functions. Credentials Committee (CredCom): The general charge of the Credentials Committee is to facilitate the credentialing of delegates to the Presidential Nominating Convention of the Green Party  of the United States. Dispute Resolution (DRC): mediation of any disputes within the GPUS. Eco Action (EA):  develop strategies for the GPUS regarding ecological matters. Finance (Fincom):  determine how to spend the GPUS money.  Fundraising (FC): raises money for the GPUS.  Membership consists of all voting delegates from state GPs and caucuses.  GPUS internet news: acquire and write articles for the GPUS website.  Latino Caucus.  Media  Committee (MC): writes GPUS press releases.  National Women's Caucus.  Voting Page.  Delegate Apportionment (DAC). Green House Campaign Committee (GHCC):  support/webinars for Green candidates for U.S. Congressional House of Representatives. Green Senatorial Campaign Committee (GSCC): support/webinars for U.S. Senate candidate. GPUS Steering Committee (SC): Co-chairs:  Audrey Clement, VA;  Sanda Everette, CA; Andrea Merida, CO;  Bahram Zandi, MD;  Charles Ostdiek, NE;  Tamar Yager, VA.  One co-chairperson position is vacant. Secretary: Jan Martell, NC. Treasurer: Jeff Turner, HI.

13. Events of possible interest to the GPCT: 4th Annual CT Marijuana March in Hartford, Friday, May 6, 2016 from 12PM to Sunday, May 8, 2016 at 3PM. Hosted by HempCT.

14.  The April 30, 2016 newly elected internal officers will determine the date/time/place of the next SCC meeting and if it will be preceded by a 4th GPCT  Nominating Convention.

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