[Northampton-GP] Draft Bylaws for Northampton GRP

[Jim Bosman]

Please review and comment. We need to adopt bylaws
ASAP in order to be officially recognized as an
affiliated local of the Green-Rainbow Party.
Apparently they have raised the bar somewhat from the
Paradise City Greens days. This document is a modified
combination of the Medford and Greater Greenfield
locals bylaws. These bylaws will be proposed at the
Monday 9/8 meeting. 

Regards,

Jim Bosman
413-665-5134


By-Laws of the Northampton Green-Rainbow Party


Name and Definition 
The Northampton Green-Rainbow Party is an affiliated
local of the Green-Rainbow Party whose purpose is to
promote the Green-Rainbow Party in the City of
Northampton. 

Ten Key Values 
The Northampton Green-Rainbow Party will act in
accordance with the Ten Key Values as written in the 
Green-Rainbow Party's by-laws. 

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

Membership 
Members of the Northampton Green-Rainbow Party must: 
· be a resident of  Northampton or a nearby town which
has no local,  and
· be registered to vote as a member of the
Green-Rainbow Party or unenrolled.
People not satisfying the above criteria may be
elected to membership by consensus provided they are
not registered to vote as a member of another
political party. 
Membership may be revoked with a 2/3 vote at two
consecutive meetings. 

Meetings and Decision Making 

The Northampton Green-Rainbow Party will strive to
meet monthly. 
Decision making should be attempted through consensus.
(See Addendum A - Consensus-Seeking Process [note: I
am still working on this and will send out soon]  
A rotating facilitation team will be used for all
meetings. The facilitation team will secure meeting
space, publicize meetings, draft agendas, record
minutes, and will employ techniques for assuring equal
opportunity for all voices to be heard. The
facilitation team shall consist of two or more members
serving 4-month rotations or as necessary. 
Minutes must be recorded at all meetings and will be
made available to all members no later than two weeks
after the date of the meeting. At the beginning of
each meeting, the minutes from the previous meeting
will be amended as necessary and approved. 
Participants in Northampton Green-Rainbow Party
meetings are expected to treat each other with
civility and consideration. (See Addendum B - Civility
Guidelines)[note: I will bring it to the meeting but
most of you are familiar with it] Persons who violate
this standard may be asked to remain silent or leave
the meeting with a 2/3 vote. 
All meetings will be open to the public but only
members may participate in the decision making
process. 

Elected Offices 
The Northampton Green-Rainbow Party will elect a male
and a female contact person, a secretary and a lists
administrator. The elections will take place at the
December meeting, the length of the term will be one
year, and the term will begin at the conclusion of the
meeting at which the elections are held. In the event
of a vacancy, elections will be held at the next
meeting. Any member may nominate themselves or be
nominated for these offices. Any officer may be
recalled with a 2/3 vote at two consecutive meetings. 

Officer duties:
Secretary: maintain an archive of minutes of all
Northampton Green-Rainbow Party meetings
Contact persons: serve as publicized contacts for the
Northampton Green-Rainbow Party
Lists administrator: maintain lists of members,
contact lists, and email vehicles

Amending the By-Laws 
These by-laws may be amended by consensus at two
consecutive meetings. 

Last Updated  September 2, 2003 



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