Grey-Green Organizing Committee

Many activists from the earlier generations are retiring -- or at least getting old -- and may have skills, interests, and time (and maybe money) for a party-building effort. Perhaps a Gray-Green committee is worth considering.

Strategic Plan: Suggestion Box

What are your suggestions for revisions, improvements, and/or adoption of this draft plan?

Draft Strategic Plan: Strategic Plan Working Group Charter

Strategic Planning Proposal for the
Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party


Title:  Strategic Planning Proposal

Background:

It has been almost a decade since the Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts came into existence.  Our party has made substantial contributions to our Commonwealth and our world.  Due to the dedication of members who have run for public office, such as Jill Stein, we have been able to sustain some name recognition.  Additional statewide candidacies, such as Nat Fortune running for State Auditor, has resulted in the GRP obtaining ballot status on voter registration cards.  Party membership has continued to range in the area of 5,000 statewide.  The GRP has a relatively small amount of money in party funds and four active chapters in the state.  One clear goal is the registration of over 41,000 voters in 2012 if the GRP wants to maintain and guarantee ballot status at the end of 2012.  Other possible goals are the activation of X number of volunteers, raising X amount of money for party operations, or the creation of X amount of new chapters as a few examples.  At the present time, there are no specific goals within timelines as the party enters 2012.  An analysis of our situation and a plan going into 2012 would be of enormous benefit to our party.

Summary:

It is proposed that the State Committee agree to make a top priority of the GRP the creation of a Strategic Planning Working Group.  This group will be made up of no less than five people who will commit to giving five hours a week for about one month to this project.  The group will be asked to share their initial findings by 11/23/11.

Background on motives:

Non-profit organizations, political campaigns, and political parties need a plan.  Often, it is the failure of a plan that results in failure.  A strategic plan for the Green-Rainbow Party is a needed catalyst to propel the party as a major political force.  The advantage of this proposal is it allows us to have an open and honest dialogue about our weaknesses and strengths and prioritize how we can improve and achieve electoral victory and the fulfillment of our ten key values.

Summary of what the proposal does:
     1)  It pushes us to review our history, present situation, and future possibilities
     2)  It includes drafting specific goals within specific timelines
     3)  It forces us to think longer term and better prepare for the 2012 State House elections
     4)  It helps us identify tasks, roles, and clarify responsibilities
     5)  It identifies the pieces that will help us to improve fundraising and promotion our party

Actual Text of Proposal:

The State Committee has decided that our party could greatly benefit from a Strategic Plan.  On the day of the fall, 2011 State Committee Meeting on 10/22/11 in Amherst, the State Committee will call upon those interested to join this project.  StateCom requests that this Strategic Planning Working Group be made up of at least five members of StateCom and make this commitment with emphasis on this project being a high priority for our party.  The following requests are asked for those willing to join this working group:

     1)  Commit to giving at least five hours per week for one month
     2)  Complete a preliminary finding by 11/23/11
     3)  Review strategic planning materials and familiarize oneself with the subject (to be forwarded by sponsor)
     4)  Identify GRP problems, weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats.
     5)  Suggest improvements in how we organize and communicate and move forward
     6)  Propose specific goals by certain timelines in regard to volunteers activated, new voter registrations, fundraising, new chapters, recruitment of GRP candidates, communication campaigns/publicity, etc.
     7)  Draft Action Items that the State Committee could consider as important next steps
     8)  Provide a framework for continuing and improving this process to develop a long term Strategic Plan if the working group finds merit in this exercise.  If the working group finds there is not sufficient merit for continuing this process, an explanation will be forwarded addressing the reasons for that conclusion.  In either event, the project members commit to completing the process to this point by 11/23/11.
     9)  Members of the State Committee, in supporting this proposal, agree to read and consider the preliminary finding and make an individual effort to address the contents of such a report within two weeks of its release.

Budget Impact:  None

Implementation:

The implementation of this project will succeed based on the commitment of those participating to make a good faith effort in their capacity as leaders in the Green-Rainbow Party.  The author of this proposal, Andrew McLeod, does commit to making this a number one priority as an initiator and facilitator of discussion and deliberation. In this capacity, he is willing to send out a draft outline for review to anyone on StateCom before the Amherst meeting on 10/22/11.  After the creation of the working group, a draft document initiating discussion will be emailed to those who have joined the Strategic Planning Working Group by the end of that weekend.  It is further suggested that time-slots and certain days be reserved as soon as the working group is created for one or more conference calls to be held.  This working group will communicate via. email, personal phone calls, and conference calls to achieve consensus.

Draft Stategic Plan: sample websites

Australian Greens
http://greens.org.au/

Massachusetts Democratic Party
http://www.massdems.org/

Massachusetts Republican Party
http://www.massgop.com/

Green Party of Canada
http://greenparty.ca/

Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org/

Green Party of California---Party Structure
http://www.cagreens.org/structure/#_struct_orgchart

Green Party of California---The Party Projects Page
http://www.cagreens.org/issues/

Green Party of Connecticut---Listserv Rules, Etiquette, and Preamble (scroll to bottom)
http://www.greens.org/ctgreens/listservs.shtml

Draft Strategic Plan: Steps for Implementation (timeline)

This timeline is an illustration of the sequence of events needed to implement the draft strategic plan. It imagines full implementation of goals  by the end of 2012 (as requested by State Committee). The goals listed are the highest end goals that individuals provided for various categories such as registered voters or fundraising.The plan the timeline is based is still in draft form awaiting comment and adoption. The actual timeline can therefore be expected to differ from that below in timing and  content, but  illustrates the proposed sequence of events.

December

Preliminary Finding Report at State Convention-12/10/11
Data Management System in Place
    Volunteers in place to begin database input work
Discussion Continues on Best Practices in Internal Communication
     1) online 2) meetings  3)  conference calls  4) person to person
Discussion Continues on Best Self Evaluation Procedures Adopted
    1) Internal communications  2) decision making  3) performance reviews
Discussion Continues on Written Membership Manual for Volunteers and Leadership Positions
    --refer to by-laws
    --clarify roles and responsibilities
    --add suggested volunteer job categories that chapters can consider
        Examples:  Meeting facilitators, Listserv Moderators, Volunteer
        Coordinators, Data Management Volunteers, etc.
Web-Site is updated with as much current and accurate information as possible
Phone banking continues to members and database contact information updated
StateCom considers more specific guidelines for Candidate Endorsement (CDLC)

January

Strategic Planing Continues
State Committee Meeting 1/22/12
Best Practices in Internal Communication Adopted
    1) online 2) meetings  3)  conference calls  4) person to person
Self Evaluation Procedures Adopted
    1) Internal communications  2) decision making  3) performance reviews
Draft Membership Manual for Volunteers and Leadership Positions
StateCom considers more specific guidelines for Candidate Endorsement (CDLC)
Identify and reach out to potential candidates
50  New Activated Volunteers
Recruit and Train 3 Volunteer Coordinators (Communications Team, Fundraising Team, Volunteer Management Team)
5 New GRP members elected to StateCom
1 Training Workshops Held
GRP TV Show begins Production (one in the month of Januar--SCAT TV)
Enhanced web-site interaction for volunteers is implemented
Phone banking continues to members and database contact information updated
Recruit Volunteers for Volunteer Management Team (One Volunteer Coordinator-15+ Members)
Recruit Volunteers for Communications Team (One Volunteer Coordinator-15+ Members)
    Begin Web Site Review
Recruit Volunteers for Fundraising Team (One Volunteer Coordinator-15+ Members)
2 Candidate Recruitment Trips Implemented
2 New Chapters Created (Cambridge & Somerville)

February

100  New Activated Volunteers
Improved Web-Site Launched
Draft Written Volunteer Manual Completed
Draft Organizing Manual completed "How to start a Green-Rainbow Party Chapter"
2 Training Workshops Held
GRP TV Show begins weekly program
Volunteer Management Team establishes roles, protocols, and procedures

•     New Chapter Coordinator/s
•     351 Coordinator/s
•     Town Hall Forum Coordinator/s
•     Research Team Coordinator/s
•     Training Workshop Coordinator/s

2 Candidate Recruitment Trips Implemented
Identify and reach out to potential candidates
2/14/11--Nomination Papers for StateHouse Elections are Available
Communications Team Generates Strategic Plan
Fundraising Team begins strategic review and possibilities for raising money
    Individual donations
    Town & Ward Committees
    Other funding mechanisms?
4 New Chapters Created (Jamaica Plain?, SouthEast Revival?, City of Worcester?, One University?)
Recruit Volunteers for Research Team (One Volunteer Coordinator-15+ Members)

March

300 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $2,500 (125 x $20)
250 New Activated Volunteers
2 Candidate Recruitment Trips Implemented
Identify and reach out to potential candidates
3 Training Workshops Held
1 Town Hall Forums Conducted
GRP TV Show Distributed to 20 community access stations for air time (bi-monthly)
StateCom amends and approves Communication Team's Strategic Plan (short-term)
StateCom amends and approves policies on fundraising based on Fundraising Team Report and Strategic Review
Project 351 Initiated (one contact person in all 351 towns and cities)
6 New Chapters Created (Brookline?, Newton?, Roxbury?, Medford?, Springfield? Lowell?)

April

600 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $5,000 (250 x $20)
350 New Activated Volunteers
GRP completes guidelines and process for official party candidate endorsement
4 Candidate Recruitment Trips Implemented
4 Training Workshops Held
15 New GRP members elected to StateCom
2 Town Hall Forums Conducted
GRP TV Show Distributed to 20 community access stations for air time (weekly)
Video Contest Announced
1st GRP Sponsored Debate Held
50 GRP contact persons identified for Project 351
8 New Chapters Created (2 Essex County, 2 Bristol County, 1 Berkshire County, 1 Worcester County, 1 Cape Cod, 1 Middlesex)
35 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars
5/1/11  Deadline to Submit Nominations Papers for Certification for StateHouse Elections

May

1,300 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $10,000 (500 x $20)
450 New Activated Volunteers
6 Candidate Recruitment Trips Implemented
5 Training Workshops Held
4 Town Hall Forums Conducted
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (weekly)
2 GRP Sponsored Debates Held
100 GRP contact persons identified for Project 351
70 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars

June

2,400 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $20,000 (1,000 x $20)
550 New Activated Volunteers
6 Training Workshops Held
6 Town Hall Forums Conducted
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (weekly)
3 GRP Sponsored Debates Held
201 GRP contact person identified for Project 351 (Goal Achieved)
140 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars

July

4,800 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $40,000 (2,000 x $20)
150 New Activated Volunteers
1 Part time organizer hired
4 Training Workshops Held
20 New GRP members elected to StateCom
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (weekly)
280 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars

August

9,600 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $80,000+ (4,000 x $20++)
150 New Activated Volunteers
GRP office established (Boston)
1 Part time organizer hired
4 Training Workshops Held
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (weekly)
Video Contest Applications Reviewed
560 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars

September

19,200 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $160,000+ (8,000 x $20++)
450 New Activated Volunteers
GRP office established (Worcester?)
6 Part time organizers hired
8 Training Workshops Held
6 Town Hall Forums Conducted
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (weekly)
Finalist for Video Contest Released
4 GRP Sponsored Debates Held
1,120 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars

October

38,400 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $320,000+ (16,000 x $20+++)
400 New Activated Volunteers
GRP sponsored legislation passed in StateHouse
2 Part time organizers hired
10 Training Workshops Held
20 New GRP members elected to StateCom (80 Total)
8 Town Hall Forums Conducted
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (weekly)
Winner of Video Contest Announced and Circulated
4 GRP Sponsored Debates Held
2,240 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars

November

76,800 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising $640,000+ (32,000 x $20+++)
7 GRP State Senators Elected
28 GRP House of Representative Elected
400 New Activated Volunteers
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (weekly)
Final and Largest Viewed GRP Sponsored Debate Held
4,480 GRP Bumper Stickers on Cars

December

153,600 new registered voters
GRP Fundraising reached $1,000,00+  (?? x $20++)
200 New Activated Volunteers
GRP TV Show Distributed to 25 community access stations for air time (bi-monthly)
5,000 GRP Bumper Sticker on Cars

Draft Strategic Plan: Goals

Unless otherwise stated, the numbers listed represent the highest numbers from among those proposed by committee members.

Members & Registered Voters

• number required to permanently maintain major party ballot status: approximately 41,000
• highest goal proposed: 150,000 registered Green-Rainbow Party members

Fundraising

State contribution limits: http://www.ocpf.net/guides/fs_contrib_limits.pdf

• State Party Committee to Candidate: $3000 in cash, no limit on in-kind contributions
• State Committee to Ward/Town/City Committee: $5000 in cash
• State Committee To Political Action Committee: $500
• Ward/Town/City Party Committee to Candidate: $1000 in cash, no limit on in-kind contributions
• Political Action Committee to Candidate: $500
• Individual to State Committee (State Fund): $5000
• Individual to Ward/Town/City Committee: $5000
• Individual to PAC: $500
• Individual to Candidate: $500

highest goal proposed: $100,000 for Legislative Campaigns; $1 million overall

supports  two party offices established with 10-12 full-time paid office staff

Elect candidates to Local and State Offices

• GRP provides consultation and logistical support to candidates
• Specific guidelines and process for official party endorsement
• Targeted resources based on strategic placement of people and money prioritized on most winnable races
• Coordination with Communications to target demographic areas for media and publicity campaigns
• 4 - 10 candidate recruitment trips, each lasting two to four days.

State House Goals for 2012 (highest of those proposed)

• 4  State Senate Seat races
• 16 House of Representative Seat races

New Chapters/Other Formations

•     50 GRP Chapters
•     1 GRP contact person in all 351 cities and towns of Massachusetts
•     The completion of an organizing manual titled "How to start a Green-Rainbow Party Chapter" in print/DVD and multilingual format
•     5 Institutions with over 1,000 members each with whom we form alliances (in writing)
•     15 Standard Chapters geographically and demographically distributed
•     15 College campus Chapters
•     6 High School Chapters in key cities

    A statewide Young/College GRP caucus/organization formed

•     A statewide GRP Labor Caucus
•     A GRP Women's Caucus
•     A Faith based Caucus?
•     Diversity Caucus for African Americans, Latinos, etc.

Shaping State Government Policy

GRP campaign leading to passage of significant legislation, especially that related to state budget

Communications

Media/Publicity/Name Recognition/Public Awareness

• Regular operation of some GRP TV or radio program
• Prepare new flyers for handing out at all recruiting meetings
• Decide on one public-action campaign, and carry it out in a way that will get some press. Should consist of more than press releases and internet  postings and should engage the general public
• Pass legislation or promote adoption of some kind of state Fairness Doctrine for mainstream tv and radio programming.
• 30 small local teach-ins on Green politics to people with the issues.
• 75% Name recognition among Massachusetts residents
• 75% Favorability rating of GRP among Massachusetts residents (this would require everyone who knows us to like us)
• Best state-party web-site featuring  multimedia and multilingual content;  maximizes online technological and sociological opportunities for party growth.
• 15 GRP Town Hall Forums held around the state
• 20 positive news stories about the GRP in major state papers: Boston Globe, Springfield Republican, Worcester Telegram, etc...
• 25 positive major news stories about the GRP in mainstream media tv and radio
• 5,000 GRP bumper stickers on vehicles
• Video Contest to be completed no later than Labor Day, 2012: Contestants will vie to make the best, funniest, engaging, or informative video abou the Massachusetts Green Rainbow Party and why voters should register GRP
• Weekly TV talk program distributed by DVD to 25 town and city cable access stations for regular broadcast including five largest cities in Massachusetts

Committed and competent Communications Team with clear roles and responsibilities

Produce a Communication/Publicity Strategic Plan that includes: innovation, creation, branding, target demographics, name recognition, earned media, and maximizing all potential outlets and venues for minimum financial cost.  Examples: cable access stations, college stations, community radio

Ongoing GRP Debate Series in the spirit of Lincoln/Douglas (10+)

• Person to person Q & A--Give and take among participants
• Fair moderation that mandates equal time
• Fair and balanced (no pun intended) debate atmosphere
• Strategic alliances with non-partisan groups holding debates: e.g. Common Cause, League of Women Voters, Lawyers Guild, etc.

Social Media:  Need to set goals for Twitter feeds, Twitter re-tweets, web-site hits, YouTube views, etc. 

Strong Organizational Structure

Adopt a Strategic Plan

Immediate attention to data management with system and volunteers in place to begin organizing  and adding to all databases

Written membership manual for volunteers and leadership positions (prioritize)

 25 Training Workshops conducted

• How to run for office
• How to be a campaign manager
• How to run better local meetings
• Best practices in online communications and organizing
• Volunteer Coordinators:  An important job and how to excel

Using the Law:  FOIA, Open Meeting Laws, Protests/Demonstrations, Civil Rights Training

The implementation of best practices that are written out about internal communication in regard to

• online communications        
• meetings 
• conference calls
• person to person (prioritize)

 Two party offices established with 10-12 full-time paid office staff

Enhanced web-site interaction for volunteers

Self evaluation procedures implemented wherever possible 

• Round Robins at the end of all meetings, asking for feedback on how the meeting went and what we could do better
• Vision sharing incorporated into StateCom meetings, annual convention, and within chapters (twice yearly?)

Enhanced by-laws to insure democracy, consensus, open participation, and transparency (collect and review other by-laws and report findings)

A full set of people elected to StateCom who serve with competency and commitment to the party and the ten key values

Creation of a Research Team that would process requests for information on multiple subjects, i.e. organizational structure, other state laws, and specific municipal budget items.

Activated volunteers

•     5 major organizing drives/issue campaigns    
•     3,500 local volunteers

strategic plan landscape memo

Purpose:  A Landscape Memo in political or organizational planning outlines the general landscape of which the entity exists and the external environment in which the institution operates.  This document attempts to provide an external environmental scan and how it relates to the Massachusetts Green Rainbow Party.  It includes an assessment of internal resources compared to the other two major political parties and how these resources pertain to the external environment.  It reviews facts and demographic data, the history of the organization, describes the present status, and suggests other factors not included in this report that may be important to incorporate.  A list of attached documents is at the bottom.

Facts & Demographic Data

There are approximately 7.6 million people living in Massachusetts.  About 4.5 million live within the Boston metropolitan area.  Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk Counties have approximately 1,800,432 residents.  Middlesex County has approximately 1,459,011 residents and Essex County has about 738,301 residents for a total of 3,997,744 inhabitants.  About 25% of the state's population is under the age of 18 and about 17% is over the age of 60.  The state's racial break-down is roughly 81% White, 7% Hispanic, 7% Black, and 5% Asian.  Greater Boston has about a quarter of million Jewish residents (6% of the population) which is far higher than the national and statewide average (2%). 44% report following the Catholic faith and 16% report no religious affiliation.  Other notable ethnic groups include the Haitian community in the Boston area, the Portuguese speaking community in New Bedford, and the Cambodian community in the Lowell area.  Boston proper has the fifth largest LGBT community in the country with 12.3% identifying themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.  About 60% of the adult population live in owner-occupied housing units.

Over four million residents are registered to vote in Massachusetts.  Of those registered voters, approximately 2 million are registered Un-enrolled, 1.5 million are registered Democrats, and a half a million are registered Republicans. Approximately 5000 are registered Green-Rainbow. 

History:

Origin of the Green Party Movement in the United States

The Green Party of the United States (GPUS) is descended of The Green Committees of Correspondence (GCoC), a de-centered network of green organizations formed by members of the North American Bioregional Congress in the early 1980s. During the 1980s, the GCoC evolved from a network to a formal organization under the name The Greens, and established a national clearinghouse, national council, and annual national congress. adopted the name The Greens/Green Party USA in 1991 with the merging of the electoral and non-electoral wings of the organization.

The political movement that began in 1984 evolved into a more centralized structure by 1990, opening a national clearinghouse, and forming governing bodies, bylaws, and a platform under the name The Green Committees of Correspondence (GCoC) and by 1990, simply, The Greens. The organization conducted non-electoral grassroots organizing efforts, educational activities, and electoral campaigns.

Before the formation of a national party, early Greens were committed to an emphasis on educational projects and non-partisan activism. The idea of an "anti-party party" was formed by Petra Kelly and other leaders of Die Grünen in Germany.   Their vision was a non-traditional organization in which electoralism would be the least important of the three components.

Green Party USA

The Green Party of the United States (GPUS) is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 2001. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties. The Association of State Green Parties (ASGP), a forerunner organization, first gained widespread public attention during Ralph Nader's presidential runs in 1996 and 2000. With the founding of the Green Party of the United States, the party established a national political presence. GPUS became the primary national Green organization in the U.S., eclipsing the earlier Greens/Green Party USA, which emphasized non-electoral movement building.

The Green Party in the United States has won elected office at the local level; most winners of public office in the United States who are considered Greens have won nonpartisan elections.  The highest-ranking Greens ever elected in the nation were: Audie Bock, elected to the California State Assembly in 1999,  John Eder, first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2002 and reelected in 2004, and  Richard Carroll, elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2008.  Audie Bock switched her registration to run as an independent in the 2000 election,  John Eder was defeated for reelection in 2006, and Richard Carrol switched parties to become a Democrat five months after his election.  In 2005, the Green Party had 305,000 registered members in states allowing party registration, and tens of thousands of members and contributors in the rest of the country.

Rainbow Coalition Party

In 1983, Mel King (a five-term State Representative) ran for mayor of Boston, developing the Rainbow Coalition theme and becoming the first and only African-American to become one of Boston’s two mayoral finalists. Jesse Jackson, as a 1984 presidential candidate, made the Rainbow Coalition idea known nationally.  The Rainbow Coalition grew into a multi-issue multi-racial organization not only in Boston but also in other Mass. cities. In the 1990s, it became the Rainbow Coalition Party. Similarly, the Green Party was getting more organized both nationally and in Mass. When Ralph Nader ran as a Green candidate for president, the Rainbow Coalition Party endorsed him.

Though the Rainbow Coalition Party was largely known for its social justice platform, the environment was also an important component of their work. The Massachusetts Greens were always known as an environmental party, but they also emphasized social justice issues. The two parties began negotiations to join forces and worked together on some campaigns and issues.

Massachusetts Green Party

Founded in 1996 as the Massachusetts Green Party, the party attained official political party status in 2000 when the Greens ran Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke for president of the United States. Official political party status in Massachusetts affects how political groups can use finances, and official political parties are guaranteed ballot access. The Nader ticket received 6% of the vote in Massachusetts, where state law requires 3% during state and national elections for establishing and maintaining official party status. In 2002, the party entered the state gubernatorial race for the first time with Jill Stein as the candidate for governor, Anthony Lorenzen for lieutenant governor, and James O'Keefe for treasurer. Stein and Lorenzen received over 3% and O'Keefe received almost 8% resulting in maintaining state party status in Massachusetts for 2002. An alternate method to establish and maintain state party status in Massachusetts is to have over 1% of voters registered in their party, a threshold that Green-Rainbow has not met yet but is working towards.

Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party (2002-Present)

The Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party is a fusion of two parties in 2002 that represented similar interests.  In 2002, the Massachusetts Green Party and the Massachusetts Rainbow Coalition Party merged to become the Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party, an official Mass. affiliate of the Green Party of the U.S.  The Party values its dual traditions and joint identity.  The rainbow remains a universal symbol of hope, promise, and diversity.

Campaign 2004

In 2004, with David Cobb as its presidential candidate, the Green-Rainbow ticket was unable to meet the required 3% threshold, and subsequently lost recognition in Massachusetts of state party status. Losing state party status has the results that the expenditures on Massachusetts candidates are subject to the state laws regulating political action committees (or PACs). In addition, the party name is no longer printed on voter registration forms as an option to check off, and the party must collect signatures to place presidential candidates on the ballot; state and local candidates always need signatures to be placed on the ballot.

Campaign 2006

In March 2006, at its nominating convention, the party nominated five candidates for statewide office: Grace Ross for governor, Wendy Van Horne for lieutenant governor, Jill Stein for secretary of the Commonwealth, James O'Keefe for treasurer, and Nat Fortune for auditor.   In early April, Nat Fortune withdrew his candidacy.  The races for secretary of the Commonwealth and treasurer were two-way races between the Democrats and Green-Rainbows, with Green-Rainbows polling higher than ever before on a statewide level. In an April 3, 2006 poll by Suffolk University and WHDH, O'Keefe polled at 21% and Stein at 8%. The Ross / Van Horne team, likely to face three other opponents in the election, polled at 2%, before having officially announced.

When Van Horne withdrew from the race in early September, she was replaced by Martina Robinson, a 30-year-old disability and equal marriage rights activist.  Ross and Robinson only garnered 2% of the vote in the gubernatorial election. However Stein won 18% in the race for Secretary of State and James O'Keefe won 16% in the race for State Treasurer.  As a result the Green-rainbow Party once again had ballot access.

Campaign 2010

Jill Stein officially announced her entrance into the governor's race on the steps of the Massachusetts State House in Boston on February 8, 2010.  Stein announced on April 3, 2010, that her lieutenant governor running mate would be Richard P. Purcell, a surgery clerk and ergonomics assessor, of Holyoke.

Beyond Stein's run for governor, three additional candidates ran for office as Green-Rainbow candidates: two for the state legislature and one for state auditor.  In the state's 4th Berkshire District, Lee Scott Laugenour announced that he would challenge incumbent State Representative William "Smitty" Pignatell.  The state's 3rd Berkshire District race was between Green-Rainbow Party candidate Mark Miller and incumbent candidate Christopher N. Speranzo.  Both Laugenour and Miller of the Green-Rainbow Party candidates were in the position of being the only substantial challengers to incumbent office-holders.  Nat Fortune rounded out the ticket, running for Massachusetts Auditor. 

Mark Miller received 45 percent of the vote, the best result for any Green running for state legislature in the United States in 2010.  Nat Fortune received 5 percent of the vote guaranteeing the Green-Rainbow Party official party status in Massachusetts for the subsequent two years. Jill Stein/Richard Purcell received 1% of the vote.

Campaign 2011

3rd Berkshire District incumbent Democrat Christopher Speranzo vacated his seat soon after his re-election. Mark Miller announced his intention to run again for state legislature in the 3rd Berkshire District. A special election was held on October 18th in Pittsfield.  This time Miller lost to Democrat Trica Farvey-Bouvier by about 200 votes out of 5,000 cast, coming in 2nd in a 4 way race that also featured an independent and a Republican  Tim Beaudoin ran for City Council at-large in Worcester and did not garner enough votes to run in the final election.  Rick Purcell also ran as a candidate for district City Councilor in Worcester and lost by a two to one ratio.  Due to the candidacies of people such as Jill Stein and Nat Fortune, the party sustained some name recognition throughout the state and official party status.  In the fall of 2011, the Green-Rainbow Party of Massachusetts (GRP) is the only third party with official party status recognized by state law.

Public Opinion 

There is very little polling information about what the voters of Massachusetts think about the Green Rainbow Party.  While some of them may have heard of GRP candidates, their impressions and opinions have not been researched.  A further inquiry may include how the GRP is viewed from potential target markets in terms of Values, Purpose, Platform, Language, Themes,  Ideological Paradigms, Branding, Name Recognition, impressions, and initial responses.

Major Party Opponents:

The current structure of the MRP and MDP consist of a state party apparatus with a large State Committee. They are also heavily invested in town and ward committees. 

Massachusetts Democratic Party

Registered Voters:  @1,500,000

Elected Officials
    StateHouse--36 Senate, 127 House of Representatives
    Federal--all House Seats, 1 Senate seat: John Kerry

State Committee: http://www.massdems.org/your-party/state-committee/

Town/Ward Committees: http://www.massdems.org/your-party/local/

website: Massachusetts Democratic Party (MDP)

The Massachusetts Democratic Party is offering Town/ward committess free access to their VoteBuilder database. VoteBuilder is a database that contains the vital information for all registered voters in Massachusetts. They also sell subscriptions to Massachusetts Democratic Party candidates. At the MDP Convention in the spring, 2011, committees reported back their findings from Democratic Party activists around the state.  The document generated was titled "Action Agenda" and it may be helpful in understanding what the MDP has made as priorities for strategy and tactics at the present time.

Massachusetts Republican Party

Registered Voters:  @500,000

Elected Officials
    StateHouse--4 Senate, 33 House of Representatives
    Federal--1 Senate Seat: Scott Brown

State Committee: http://massgop.com/about/state-committee/

Town/City Committees: http://massgop.com/about/rtcs/

website: Massachusetts Republican Party (MRP):

The Massachusetts Republican Party is offering hands-on Town and City Republican Committee Boot Camps. These are designed to provide training in how to help grow party membership, promote the party, host fundraisers, design brochures, communicate with the media, and find and support local candidates for office.

"Independents" (Unenrolled in a Party)

Un-enrolled Ballot Designation:
Registered Voters:  @2,000,000

The un-enrolled Massachusetts voter is a significant voting block for several reasons: 1)  the number of un-enrolled voters is 25% higher than registered Democrats  2) individuals in this group have made the choice not be registered as a Democrat or Republican and 3) no official party affiliation suggests less partisan loyalty and greater potential as new GRP members and voters.  However further demographic information will be required to understand what percentage of the un-enrolled hold ideological viewpoints closer to the GRP.  This may be helpful for the development of a GRP communications strategy that accounts for these factors in development of message and branding.

In addition, as is the case for candidates for the other two major parties, if GRP candidates run in 2012 for state or federal positions, only two groups of registered voters can provide signatures:  GRP voters and un-enrolled registered voters.  Given there are presently only a tiny amount of GRP registered voters, potential GRP candidates will need many signatures from un-enrolled voters in order to qualify for placement on the ballot.

Important Election Deadlines for 2012: State Election Calendar

• 2/14/12 is the day nomination papers for State House and Senate seats will be released from the Secretary of State's office . 
• 2/28/12 is the last day for potential GRP candidates to enroll in the party if they wish to take out nomination papers for those seats 
• 5/1/12 is the date signature papers must be submitted to the Register of Voters
• For candidates running in the House of Representatives, 150 signatures are required.
• For candidates running for the State Senate, 300 signatures are required.

Conclusion:

Achieving the purpose of the Green-Rainbow Party does not only depend on GRP elected officials.  While the election of GRP candidates is and should be a priority, this goal could be seen in the wider context of actually pushing economic, environmental, and social transformation.  The Green Party in Germany is a case in point.  Moreover, it may be a mistake to assume that current structures within the other two state parties should be copied by the GRP.  It may very well be true that one advantage the GRP has is the fact that it's relatively new to the political process compared to the other two parties.  The GRP may be in a position to adopt innovative approaches that maximize potential through new strategies and tactics.  These new approaches could leapfrog over the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the state Democratic and Republican parties further supporting new openings and opportunities for the GRP.

Disclaimer:

This document is incomplete,  is not in final form,  and has not yet been formally adopted by the party. Your comments are welcome.  It will require more details and research  to provide a better and more complete description of the current political landscape in Massachusetts as it relates to the GRP.  To cite but one example, this document does not yet address the Occupy movement.  The current public opinion and mood is very aware of the Occupy demonstrations, and this energy could be helpful in growing the GRP.  However, national polling suggests that while the public agrees with the issues of the Occupy movement, they may not agree with the methods or  direction. Further, the Occupy Movement has not  endorsed electoral politics as a strategy. How should the GRP proceed?

Draft Strategic Plan: Summary

The Massachusetts Green Rainbow Party (GRP) has been in existence for almost one decade.  Some of the accomplishments and successes cannot be measured because it is sometimes difficult to measure the impact of raising awareness and public education.  The GRP is the only third party in Massachusetts that has a consistent history of having ballot access and official party status.  Candidates have run for office in cities and towns and in state legislative and executive branch positions.  GRP candidates have only been elected to various positions on a local level.  The party has seen membership and the existence of chapters fluctuate in the past decade.  To date, there are four active chapters and about 5,000 registered GRP voters in Massachusetts.  This is a decline from years past.
 
Participants of the working group were asked to familiarize themselves with documents, internet links, and provide a list of measurable goals that they would like to see the GRP achieve by the end of 2012.  The highest number for a goal was chosen as the benchmark for incorporation in this preliminary findings.  From there, an analysis of the problems and priorities ensued.  Further understanding of the historical approaches within the Green movement and clarity of challenges within the GRP at the present, have provided a formula for transformation.
 
The past debates and discussions about how to grow the party have broken down into two basic approaches.  One approach is to run candidates for office and the second approach is to organize around issues and organizing campaigns.  In the last few years, the GRP has done both.  Candidates have run for office such as Jill Stein for Governor of Massachusetts and Nat Fortune for State Auditor.  The most recent organizing campaigns emerged from the Initiatives Summit in April, 2011 that fostered the Better Budget working group, and other projects such as redistricting and foreclosures.  But neither candidates nor organizing projects have yet produced the breakthrough that would propel the party forward.
 
Our specific Action Items recommended to the State Committee are at the conclusion.  We suggest adopting some strategic plan for 2012 that is measurable.  As a result of earlier consensus regarding data management, a new system has already been implemented and volunteers are being trained to use the system.  How we organize ourselves, clearer roles and commitments, constant improvement through open review and self evaluation, and growing teams of volunteers are suggested as priority next steps.

The 10/22/11 proposal suggested specific goals in 2012 in regard to volunteers activated, new voter registrations, fundraising, new chapters, recruitment and election of GRP candidates, and communication/media campaigns/publicity, etc.  Two additional categories were added for goals.   They were a)  strong organizational structure and b impacting State government policy. 

The work was done with the goals of the Green-Rainbow Party as a state wide political organization.  While the goals for creating new chapters was not clarified in terms of structure or development, it is suggested that this question be further explored.  Specifically, for those familiar with the structure of state political parties in Massachusetts, they have a statewide party organization and Local Committees.  The Democratic State Party has over 150 Local Committees.  The question of how necessary or effective or ineffective these sub-organizations are as a necessary component for the success of the GRP party is a worthy discussion.  Although any local chapter or group of GRP members are free to organize a Local Committee, we raise the question of what degree these committees are critical or important for the success of the GRP in the 21st Century?  To what extent would they drain limited resources to complete and follow legal guidelines?  To what extent would they actually assist toward the purpose of the GRP?