Minutes of the Tuesday, July 30, 2013 SCC meeting at 7:10 PM at the Portland Senior Center. Quorum met.

GPCT attendees by chapter: Fairfield: David Bedell, Rolf Maurer and Hector Lopez; Greater Hartford: co-chairperson: S. Michael DeRosa, secretary: Barbara Barry; New London: Ronna Stuller. Other GPCT attendees: Allan Brison, from Hamden: GPCT co-chairperson; Timothy McKee of Bethany.  Facilitator: David Bedell. 

1. Deferred: review and: a) approve 6.25.13 SCC meeting minutes and b) accept the EC minutes of: 7.22.13 meeting.

2. Deferred due to the absence of the treasurer: Treasurer's report from Christopher Reilly.

3. Deferred due to absence of Linda Thompson: GPCT co-chairperson: Agenda items from Linda, co-chairperson: a) Update on Mailing List Information; b) discussion about of articles by G. Scott Deshefy in the Norwich Bulletin; c) status of the Norwich Chapter development and d) possible Retreat Report.  Of note: RS to contact LT regarding possible use of a Voluntown, CT site for the GPCT retreat. BAB received email from G. Scott Deshefy regarding his Norwich Bulletin Op-Ed article about the Affordable Healthcare Act.

4. Reports from our three (3) representatives to the GPUS: absent: Linda Thompson and Tim McKee. S. Michael DeRosa: see below.

5. Secretary’s report from Barbara Barry: BAB presented a barely legible handwritten three page letter from a GPCT member without a return address. Consensus: it was from Ben Holder from Canton, CT. DB, RS, RM and BAB to respond to him.  BAB sent emails to GPCT website about: SOA (School of the Americas) and ongoing events at the Fukushima, Japan nuclear power plant after it was hit by a tsunami almost two years ago. From TMcK to BAB: a) summary of July 16th email of the 1st draft of the GPUS Strategic Planning Working Group. Anticipated areas of operation: membership & diversity; candidates and campaigns, issue advocacy and policy, media and communications and internal structure;  and b) a Charleston, WV city councilwoman, Kasey Russell revealed on July 24, 2012 (i.e. last year), that she changed her registration from “Democrat” to “Mountain” (which is the political party name of the GP of WV).

6. Deferred due to no proposals/ resolutions from chapters or a group of five CTGP Members or from the EC. 

7. Note GPCT actions described above and below in response to the actions taken by the CT legislature, CT governor and the federal government.

8. a) Update regarding the GPUS Annual Meeting to be held July 25 through July 28, 2013 in Iowa City, Iowa. Elected GPCT delegates were Allan Brison, GPCT co-chairperson, Timothy McKee and David Bedell.  a) Tim McKee: the GPUS platform will be shared with the GP candidates and GP states; the CCC (Coordination Campaign (national) Committee to be revived; Jill Stein the GPUS presidential candidate did qualify for and did get federal campaign matching funds (late in August 2012 or so); Jill Stein’s campaign spent a lot of money on petition drives in states; the current GPUS is currently searching for a possible GPUS presidential candidate for 2016. To this effort, the GPUS is sending out letters to potential candidates requesting candidate information; TMcK supports having the GPUS sending regular emails to every Green Party state leaders. Strategic planning will ultimately be determined by the GPUS way before the 2014 GPUS Annual Meeting. Current information about the Federal Campaign Election’s audit of Jill Stein’s official 2012 campaign headquarters: no “red flags” were noted. The GPUS has developed a generic “Campaign in a Box” to be distributed to interested GP candidates. b) DB and AB: both attended a workshop by Drew Spencer regarding proportional representation e.g. IRV. He is more optimistic about having IRV used for city council elections than for state elections.  IRV helps to promote under represented racial and ethnic groups and minor political parties. They saw a movie about a Palestine town which is promoting non-violence. Ohio elected one GP candidate to their state Senate and also as a state representative. Parallel organizations to the GPUS are: super PACs, 501(c) 3 groups and Jill Stein’s Green Shadow Cabinet. Jill Stein thought that she was successful when she combined the effects of the environment and the economy.  GPUS currently only accepts superPAC money from individuals and not from corporations. However, the GPUS did discuss accepting superPAC money from organizations and/or corporations which meet the non-specific label of having “Green” policies.  Note: the GPUS does not accept PAC money but GP candidates may do so; participated about how to get GP information to high school students or to pre-high school students.

9. The September 8th 2013 Jill Stein fundraiser/speech to the GP of CT. Discussed SMD checking the availability of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. We have already booked, Portland Senior Center for use from 3PM onward.

10. Status of the GPCT Bylaws Committee from members: Rolf Maurer, Cora Santaquida, Christopher Reilly, Linda Thompson, Barbara Barry, S. Michael DeRosa and Jeffry Larson. Unable to agree to a physical location site for our initial meeting.

11. Green Party of CT candidates for the November 5th, 2013 elections: a) Laurie Rogers of Columbia, CT was present to state why she wants to run as a GPCT candidate for Columbia Board of Selectman (a three person board).

She and the attendees discussed CT and GPCT petitioning requirements, which she agrees to honor. Attendees were aware of a need for a GPCT nominating convention to be in compliance with CT and GPCT requirements. b) Other GPCT candidates may be forthcoming. TMcK will provide LR with the GPUS “Campaign in a Box”.

12. Reports from CTGP members to the (GPUS) National Committees.

Accreditation (AC): reviews any 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 July 25-28, 2013 GPUS Annual Meeting: Tim McKee: see above.  John Went was absent.

Ballot Assess (BA): discussion of efforts, difficulties, strategies and successes of the state Green Parties gaining ballot access: S. Michael DeRosa: see above. Edward Schwing was absent.

Black Caucus:  

Bylaws, Rules, Polices Procedure (BRPP): for the GPUS officers & national committees: absent: Amy Vas Nunes.

Coordination Campaign (CCC): distribution of GPUS money to Green Party public office candidates.

Dispute Resolution (DRC): mediation of any disputes within the GPUS organization:

Diversity (DC): strategies and actions to urge/maximize diversity within the GPUS: absent: Linda Thompson. 

Eco Action (EA): develop strategies for the GPUS regarding ecological matters.

Finance (FinCom): review and determine how to spend the money of the GPUS organization

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 regarding world issues. Absent: Hector Lopez and Justine McCabe. S. Michael DeRosa: no activity. 

Latino Caucus: absent: Hector Lopez.

Merchandizing Committee (MERCH): determines and acquires items for the GPUS. Rolf Maurer: continues with MERCH and will update GPCT regarding GPUS annual meeting input. Absent: Hector Lopez. 

Media Committee (MC): writes GPUS press releases.

Outreach (OC): interacts with other groups with similar interests of the GPUS: absent: Linda Thompson. 

Peace (GPAX): discusses/develops strategies of how the GPUS may promote peace throughout the world: absent: Hector Lopez. S. Michael DeRosa: still trying to reactivate GPAX.

Platform (PC): promotes positions on issues for the GPUS which are consistent with Green Party Ten Key Values: absent: Justine McCabe and Amy Vas Nunes.

Presidential Campaign Support Committee (PCSC): develop strategies to support any GPUS presidential candidates. Timothy McKee: see above.

Women’s Caucus: absent: Martha Kelly.

 

13. Discussed political actions to be taken in the near future: health care, drones, N.S.A. activities, Trayvon Martin and b) discussed events GPCT may wish to participate in: New England Regional Bioneer’s (environmental) Conference in New Bedford, MA from October 25 through 27, 2013. RM provided his 7-13-13 press release titled: “A Map to Public Safety—or to Nowhere: Big Pharma’s Influence on Mental Health Policy post-Sand Hook”. It was six pages long with two pages of references.

14.  Chapter reports: RS of New London chapter provided verbal update of the June 2nd 2013 chapter meeting to the attendees and the written minutes were approved on July 7, 2013 and provided to the GPCT secretary. Summary: seeking candidates for the November 5th, 2013 elections.

15.  Selected the next August SCC meeting to be: the last Tuesday i.e. 8.27.13 at Portland Senior Center. 

16.  No other suggestions.

GREEN PARTY TEN KEY VALUES: 

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

Submitted by Barbara Barry, secretary of the Green Party of Connecticut

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