Revised July 8, 2016
Shepherd: Ian Jackson
Sponsors: Danny Factor, John Andrews
Contact Info: [email protected]
Vetting: CDLC, Communication Committee, Membership Committee, Fundraising and Finance Committees, ActionCom, GRP Chapters, GRP Town Commitees, AdCom
Background:
This proposal was originally suggested by GRP member Mike Heichman (Boston) who wrote the first draft of the proposal. It has since been revised a number of times.
1. Thanks to Charlene DiCalogero (12th Worcester) and Danny Factor (14th Middlesex) for being the GRP's two state legislative candidates. We need a plan of how the GRP can support their campaigns.
2. The GPUS will be holding their Presidential Nominating Convention (PNC) from August 4-7. The GRP will be sending a delegation to the PNC to represent the outcome of the vote in our presidential primary which was held on March 1, 2016. As of this date, Jill Stein, from our own state of Massachusetts, has already won a majority of the delegates, nationally, and is expected to be our presidential nominee. Given the unpopularity of the presumptive nominees of the duopoly, the dangerousness of their policies, the growing number of people calling for an end to the two party system, and Jill Stein’s bold program for a Green New Deal for environment, economic and social justice, 2016 has the potential for being a breakout campaign for our party’s presidential ticket. How can we take advantage of this opportunity and support our candidates and party?
From minutes, 2012 Summer Meeting:
Heichman: we should have material to promote the various local & national candidates, and to take positions on ballot questions. Yarden curious about how proposal will be funded. Merelice notes that there is no fundraising committee, suggests language about “conscientious efforts” to raise money. Merelice thinks idea of a leaflet may be too limiting, but supports general idea. Rolde asks whether/how leaflet counts as candidate contribution – Nat clarifies that there is no limit of these types of in-kind donations [7/10/16 clarifying note from C. DiCalogero: from the State GRP or Ward, Town or City Committees] to candidates... Andrews notes that working committees are required to do quite a bit of this work. Yarden notes that it is very necessary to have materials to hand out.
Proposal and Implementation:
NEW WORDING:
The StateCom adopts, in collaboration with the campaigns, a multi-faceted strategy to promote the state legislative candidates.
Create a steering committee of at least 3-5 individuals to do election work for the State campaigns analogous to the role that the PCWG has for the presidential campaign. This committee shall be referred to as the State Campaign Working Group, SCWG. SCWG will coordinate with PCWG when ever that might be fruitful.
The intent is to have a set of leaders who can react quickly to the pace of a campaign and effectively make things happen.
Implementation
- Name at least three people for this steering committee, SCWG.
We aspire that:
- The Communications Committee prioritize publicizing our 2016 candidates on the GRP website, and on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and make it a goal to put out a monthly press release between August and the November election date in regard to our candidates.
- The Communications Committee prioritize the sending email blasts to our prospect and member lists 3-5 times per month about the 2016 election.
- The Membership Committee supply GRP chapters, Town Committees, and State Com members with updated contact information of GRP and unenrolled members in their region that they may contact via phone or email, to promote our 2016 candidates.
- The Membership Committee and Communications Committee work together in creating printed materials promoting our 2016 Candidates.
- The Membership Department distribute to our candidates a list of GRP members who have contacted the GRP and are interested in helping or joining our campaigns.
- The Fundraising and Finance department make it a goal to raise at least $5,000.00 between August and Election day, earmarked towards party expenses related to promoting our 2016 candidates. This funding could help pay for printed materials, social media boosts, disbursements to our candidates, and hiring or contracting individuals to do work consistent with the goals of this proposal.
- The Action Committee prioritize the promotion of attendance at events in which our candidates make appearances at between now and election day, e.g. visits to college campuses.
- AdCom have regular communication with the Stein campaign to facilitate working together.
StateCom recognizes that these actions will no doubt require our Membership, Communications, Action and Fundraising and Finance Committees to grow during the Summer and Fall. These committees should consider strategies to grow these committees in as diverse a way as possible.
Advantages of Proposal:
1. These actions will help grow our party, elect candidates and move us closer to furthering the cause of people, planet and peace.
2. A successful result could result in a) the GRP continuing to be recognized as a political party b) the GPUS being eligible for millions of dollars in federal funds (5% of the presidential vote) and c) move us closer to electing our first GRP member to the State House.
Funding:
The GRP should allocate an initial $500.00 towards the creation of printed materials and $500.00 for the payment of one Facebook boost. Funding of any other items in this proposal will be dependent on the ability of the Fundraising and Finance Committee to raise funds earmarked for the purposes of this proposal
Showing 16 reactions
“—Ask that the Membership Committee supply GRP chapters, Town Committees, and State Com members with updated contact information of GRP and unenrolled members in their region that they may contact via phone or email, to promote our 2016 candidates.”
Response: The Membership comm. doesn’t have many phone numbers or email addresses associated with the voter rolls, (unless the voter has supplied them within Nation Builder already), and purchasing these seems hit-or-miss – Most of the time buying email addresses is unsuccessful. MA state voter rolls don’t contain email addresses or phone numbers, only street and mailing addresses, so Membership comm. can’t do a good job with this.
- Ask that the Membership Committee and Communications Committee work together in creating printed materials promoting our 2016 Candidates.
Response: MemberComm members have assembled and had printed some literature. We’re not great at this, but personally I’m glad to try to help.
—Ask that the Membership Department distribute to our candidates a list of GRP members who have contacted the GRP and are interested in helping or joining our campaigns. "
Response: The info on the volunteers (who’ve stepped forward by filling out the online form) can be provided – glad to do this.
Brian
To think that an attorney is just would sit quiet on any legal matter is a bit extreme.
After we decide exactly what we want done, then it is best discuss the nuts and bolts. Likely, if we do enough that a print shop will include design and proof as part of the cost anyway. It really depends on how many copies.
As now mentioned in the revised proposal above, State, Ward, Town and City Committees may make unlimited in-kind donations. The OCPF Campaign Finance Guide, Committee Treasurer, 2015, p. 14, says:
“A state party committee may contribute up to an aggregate of $3,000 per year to a candidate and that candidate’s committee. There is no limit on in-kind contributions from a state party committee.” Further up on the same page: “Examples of in-kind contributions include, but are not limited to, rental space, furniture, office equipment, printing, postage and advertisements.”
Personal services aka volunteering by people who don’t make their living doing the work involved in the volunteer activity (e.g., amateur photographers, web designers), are not counted as contributions.
1. Volunteers who are, as Brian says, “amateur” writers and designers, can give unlimited “personal services” to a campaign. Handing out literature at an event would also be considered personal services. :-)
2. (Really more a point of information, unless someone on Membership owns a printing or mailing business) Businesses are not allowed to donate $ or in-kind; so if Darlene Elias, for instance, owned a print shop, she could not print literature for my campaign as an in-kind donation. However, if she went to a print shop as an individual and paid for the cost of printing postcards, she could do so up to the legal limit of an individual’s cash contribution to a campaign in a calendar year, which is now $1,000 (assuming she’d made no other cash or in-kind donation to the campaign in the same year).
3. The State Committee/GRP can decide to expend GRP $ in any amount on printing candidate- and ballot-question-promoting literature, and postage to send out the literature. It could also decide to pay for a FB boost, which would count as an advertisement.
Ian as Treasurer presumably reports revenue and expenses to the state, so this would be reported in some fashion.
What’s important here is the distinction between individuals acting on their own on behalf of a campaign, and the GRP donating in-kind printing and postage through its budget by making a direct purchase.
In an activist organization, printing a small number of flyers is common.
In this case, someone that works as graphic designer could design a piece without it being a donation as long as they don’t get paid. Just like a former reporter or editor could write a press release without it becoming a donation.
My experience with larger print jobs, it becomes cheaper to have a professional do it than the ink and paper that it takes. If you use a professional quite often some level of graphic design is included in the price.
In the 12 Worcester (Charlene’s District) 15,778 ballots were cast in 2014..
If we decide printing and flyers will be effective, we should decide how many to make a difference. (Daphne Stevens raised a good point on the proposal about printing for ballot questions.)
Deciding how to report is just one of the nuts and bolts.
I guess you’ve read the law most closely of us, and that amateur literature design would not classify as an in-kind donation, but that hiring a printer to print that literature would, right?
Brian
…To be clear, I mean that if the GRP were to professionally print literature advocating a candidate, this would classify as a campaign contribution, while if the GRP were to, at an amateur level, design or distribute literature printed at the expense of a candidate, that would not classify as a campaign contribution, as I understand it.
Brian
John Andrews has confirmed that he is the second co-sponsor of this proposal. He actually co-sponsored the original version of this proposal authored by Mike Heichman and had asked that his co-sponsorship be transferred to this proposal prior to it being posted, and before the proposal deadline.
Continuingly being responsive to State Com members’ comments, I have revised part 2 under the heading ‘Advantages of Proposal’ to say:
2. A successful result could result in a) our presidential candidate getting far more votes than in 2012 and reinvigorating the GRP b) the GPUS being eligible for millions of dollars in federal funds (if our presidential candidate receives 5% of the presidential vote) and c) us moving closer to electing our first GRP member to the State House.
I am willing to shepherd this proposal, but I think it might be better if a non-candidate act as shepherd, if someone would like to volunteer. Otherwise, I will fulfill the role.
I also think the proposal needs to reference the Presidential Campaign Election Plan adopted by StateCom on July 19, 2016. Section 6 of this plan calls for the Presidential Campaign Working Group to lead an effort to bring GRP support into the presidential race (see text below). So I think that the general concept of Proposal 1 has already been approved by StateCom. Proposal 1 should focus on getting a little more specific about who will be responsible for making it happen.
ATTACHMENT:
From Green-Rainbow Party
2016 Presidential Election Plan
Approved by the Green-Rainbow Party State Committee
July 19, 2015
6. Campaign Activities between the Convention and the Election
Following the national nominating convention, the PCWG will work with other Party committees on efforts that both support the Party’s Presidential candidate and ensure that the Presidential campaign has a positive influence upon the GRP. Among the activities that should be considered are:
• Making the presidential candidates visible on the GRP communications channels and on social media
• Supporting any visits to Massachusetts by the President or Vice-President nominees
• Encouraging GRP members to volunteer to work in the presidential campaign with special focus on work that builds electoral skills or results in meeting other volunteers recruited by the campaign.
• Encouraging donations to the national ticket.
• Clarifying and disseminating Green Party positions on national issues relevant to the Presidential campaign.
• Making sure that GRP members are aware of the GPUS platform adopted at the convention, and providing access to digital copies of the platform.
• Assisting with the formation of local campaign committees/chapters, including college campus chapters and “frontline community” chapters. By working with such chapters, GRP members will be in a position to recruit campaign volunteers for ongoing GRP efforts after the election.
In 2016, a great deal of campaigning will occur prior to the nominating convention. The 3.5 months after the convention will be intense, but will only be the culmination of work begun many months before. Hence the GRP should encourage its members to volunteer in the campaigns of their favorite candidates prior to the nominating convention. This early individual engagement will lay the groundwork for the work that follows the nominating convention.
Supporting 2016 Presidential and State Legislative Candidates
POSTED BY CHARLENE DICALOGERO 30PC ON JUNE 19, 2016 · FLAG
Shepherd: (please volunteer if you will Shepherd. A shepherd is in charge of monitoring implementation of the proposal, once passed, and reporting back to State Com, if necessary regarding implementation.)
Sponsors: Danny Factor, (please volunteer if you will be an additional co-sponsor. A co-sponsor supports and helps present the proposal at the July 17th meeting.)
Contact Info: (for shepherd)
Vetting: CDLC, Communication Committee,Membership Committee, Fundraising and Finance Committees, ActionCom, GRP Chapters, GRP Town Commitees, AdCom
Background:
This proposal was originally suggested by GRP member Mike Heichman (Boston) who wrote the first draft of the proposal. It has since been revised a number of times.
1. Thanks to Charlene DiCalogero (12th Worcester) and Danny Factor (14th Middlesex) for being the GRP’s two state legislative candidates. We need a plan of how the GRP can support their campaigns. .
2. The GPUS will be holding their Presidential Nominating Convention (PNC) from August 4-7. The GRP will be sending a delegation to the PNC to represent the outcome of the vote in our presidential primary which was held on March 1, 2016. As of this date, Jill Stein, from our own state of Massachusetts, has already won a majority of the delegates, nationally, and is expected to be our presidential nominee. Given the unpopularity of the presumptive nominees of the duopoly, the dangerousness of their policies, the growing number of people calling for an end to the two party system, and Jill Stein’s bold program for a Green New Deal for environment, economic and social justice, 2016 has the potential for being a breakout campaign for our party’s presidential ticket. How can we take advantage of this opportunity and support our candidates and party?
Proposal and Implementation:
At the July StateCom meeting, the StateCom will adopt a multi-faceted strategy to promote the presidential ticket and state legislative candidates. To that end. State Com:
- Asks that the Communications Committee to prioritize publicizing out 2016 candidates on the GRP website, and on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and make it a goal to put out a monthly press release between August and the November election date in regard to our candidates.
- Ask that the Communications Committee prioritize the sending email blasts to our prospect and member lists 3-5 times per month about the 2016 election.
—Ask that the Membership Committee supply GRP chapters, Town Committees, and State Com members with updated contact information of GRP and unenrolled members in their region that they may contact via phone or email, to promote our 2016 candidates.
- Ask that the Membership Committee and Communications Committee work together in creating printed materials promoting our 2016 Candidates.
—Ask that the Membership Department distribute to our candidates a list of GRP members who have contacted the GRP and are interested in helping or joining our campaigns.
—Ask that the Fundraising and Finance department make it a goal to raise at least $5,000.00 between August and Election day, earmarked towards party expenses related to promoting our 2016 candidates. This funding could help pay for printed materials, social media boosts, disbursements to our candidates, and hiring or contracting individuals to do work consistent with the goals of this proposal.
—Ask that the Action Committee prioritize the promotion of attendance at events in which our candidates make appearances at between now and election day, e.g. visits to college campuses.
—Ask that AdCom have regular communication with the Stein campaign to facilitate working together.
—Recognizes that these actions will no doubt require our Membership, Communications, Action and Fundraising and Finance Committees to grow during the Summer and Fall. These committees should consider strategies to grow these committees in as diverse a way as possible.
Advantages of Proposal:
1. These actions will help grow our party, elect candidates and move us closer to furthering the cause of people, planet and peace.
2. A successful result could result in a) the GRP continuing to be recognized as a political party (with 3% of the presidential vote), b) the GPUS being eligible for millions of dollars in federal funds (5% of the presidential vote) and c) move us closer to electing our first GRP member to the State House.
Funding:
The GRP should allocate an initial $500.00 towards the creation of printed materials and $500.00 for the payment of one Facebook boost. Funding of any other items in this proposal will be dependent on the ability of the Fundraising and Finance Committee to raise funds earmarked for the purposes of this proposal.
Mike Heichman, Former StateCom Member