Greater Boston Chapter By-Laws
A Regional Chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party
Adopted--June 12, 2012

Amended—February 18, 2019

Article 1: Name

The name of the organization is Greater Boston Green-Rainbow Chapter (GBC). The GBC is a local chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party (GRP), which is the Massachusetts affiliate of the Green Party of the U.S.

Article II: Purpose

Encourage the development of Green-Rainbow Local Chapters and Town, Ward, and City Committees in the Greater Boston area,
Serve as a networking structure so members can better communicate, share ideas and experiences, and provide mutual support and fellowship.
Nominate Green-Rainbow candidates for elected office (and occasionally endorse independent candidates), and support these candidates with contributions of money and labor.
Work to take the money and racism out of politics.
Work on issues that will contribute to peace and a stronger, healthier, greener, and more equitable communities.
Encourage and support members to become involved in the GRP and GPUS.

Article III. Members

Membership in the Greater Boston chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party is open to all residents of Greater Boston, regardless of age, who are not registered voters in another political party or designation, except Rainbow Coalition Party (F) or Green Party USA (G).

Members should be in agreement with the “Ten Key Values” of the GRP:

Ecological Wisdom
Social Justice
Grassroots Democracy
Nonviolence
Decentralization
Community-based Economics
Feminism
Respect for Diversity
Personal and Global Responsibility
Future Focus / Sustainability

Article IV. Meetings, Decision Making & Conduct

A. There will be at least one scheduled meeting per month unless the chapter votes in advance to suspend the meeting.

B. At least 7 members of the chapter present will be necessary to have a quorum.

C.

i. Proposals, amendments, and motions from the floor must be seconded to be considered. Once
a proposal, amendment, or motion has the floor, discussion is limited to that item.
ii. Proposals shall be considered through the process of modified consensus. This means a
sincere attempt will be made to make decisions based on consensus—to listen and attempt to
incorporate differences of opinion into a decision that every member of the chapter can support.
iii. If consensus cannot be reached, proposals must earn at least a 2 to 1 majority over negative
votes to pass.
iiii. Amendments and motions from the floor only require a majority vote.
v. A motion from the floor may be tabled until it can be put in writing and placed on the agenda
as a proposal if it is considered controversial or confusing by at least 1/3 of members present. A
proposal may be tabled for further discussion if at least 1/3 of member present feel they do
not have enough information to cast a vote. The proposal can be taken up at another time.
vi. To facilitate the discussion of multiple choices, the facilitator may choose to counterpose two
or more motions or amendments. Any member present may request a straight up or down vote be
conducted to confirm the most popular choice.

D. Facilitators at all meetings shall implement a process to assure equal opportunity for all voices to be heard.

E. Making decisions between meetings

1. Any member of the chapter, who has attended at least 1 meeting in the last 6 months, can initiate an endorsement by e-mail.

2. The initiator will describe the event, why s/he believes it is important for the GBC to endorse the event, and explain the nature of the support that is being requested.

Within a 72-hour period after the proposal has been sent, at least 6 additional members (who have attended at least one meeting in the last 6 months) must agree with the proposal. If 3 members (who have attended at least one meeting in the last 6 months) object, the proposal will be vetoed.

F. Participants in meetings of the GBC are expected to treat each other with civility and consideration. Persons who violate this standard may be asked to remain silent and/or leave the meeting by a 75% vote of the other attending members.

G. GBC use of its e-mail list(s) is regulated by a policy adopted by the chapter on 11/10/11. (See addendum A.)

H. All Green-Rainbow Party meetings are open and may only be closed to non-members on a vote of at least 75% of members present.

I. As long as a GRP local chapter adheres to the Ten Key Values and does not undermine the stated purpose of the Green-Rainbow Party, the Green-Rainbow Party cannot interfere with their internal affairs or decision making process. (Taken from the GRP By-Laws.)

Article V: Officers, Responsibilities & Committees

A. Strong efforts will be made to encourage diversity in the selection of officers.

B. Officers will include:

Female and Male Co-Chairs
Treasurer, Secretary, or combination thereof
Any other officers the chapter chooses to select

C. The duties and responsibilities of each officer will be determined before the election.

D. Efforts will be made to rotate tasks (facilitators of the meetings, recorders, timekeepers, etc.).

E. Length of term, not to exceed one year, will be determined for each office before the election. Officers may be elected for two consecutive terms.

F. Officers can be recalled at any meeting, following giving the officer an opportunity to respond in executive session to concerns or charges. A vote of at least 2/3rds is necessary to remove an officer.

G. The chapter can establish and dissolve committees at will. Committees must give a report of their work on a regular basis. Reports can be either sent by e-mail or delivered at a regular or special meeting.

Article VI: Ratification and Amendments of the By-Laws

A. A serious attempt will be made to notify members of the GRP who live in the Greater Boston area and invite them to a founding chapter meeting.

B. At the founding meeting, the by-laws will be ratified and officers will be nominated and elected.

C. As required by the GRP By-laws, the ratified chapter by-laws will be sent to the Secretary of the GRP.

D. These by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present at a scheduled regular or special meeting, provided the amendment — proposed by two or more “active members” (see definition in Article IV) — has been communicated via the GBC business e-mail list at least eight days before the meeting.