[statecom-discuss] Interest in "Local Ballots 2008"
Ron Francis
ronwf777 at yahoo.com
Wed Feb 14 15:18:33 EST 2007
Hey Lloyd,
Glad to hear you are interested Lloyd, and I will return your call because I am interested in what happened at the MRGRA strategic meeting.
I hope that as more people read the rationale behind the "Local Ballots 2008" plan that more and more people will give it a chance. I'm optimistic and am going to do more outreach to GRP members....
and I look forward to carrying out a systematic plan over two years to give our party a clear identity and passion grounded in root-cause analysis and in direct democracy local organizing vehicles like the Ballot Question.
Hopefully more people will respond to the "Local Ballots 2008" Plan and there will be enough people to go forward... Coupled with the Local Organizing Initiative that began Monday there might actually be enough interest.
Ron
liveinamerica at cctvcambridge.org wrote: Hi Ron,I tried to return your phone call but for some reason your service
was not available at the time,so I'm letting you know that I would very
much like to confab with you about these potentially empowering
developments!I look forward to being there on the 1st.Could you keep us up-
dated on a list of those who 'sign on' to carpool and the area they can
serve?Could you call me and (should you miss me)let know when and how I can
get back to you?Till then,Lloyd
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Francis [mailto:ronwf777 at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 03:32 PM
> To: 'Ron Francis', statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org, locals at green-rainbow.org,
> somervillegr at yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [statecom-discuss] "Local Ballots 2008" Meeting MARCH 1st, Thurs, & correspondence so far
>
> Hey GRP folks,
>
> Please note that I have use bcc for these communications so that people's private emails are protected.
>
> Thanks to the watchful eyes of Dan and Bill a date error was caught ! : there isn't a Feb 29th ! because of the leap year stuff....The correct date is Thursday March 1st.
>
> I hope everyone can come. Food will be provided and it should be a lot of fun. I look forward to a productive meeting that is based on a LONG-TERM and LOCAL organizing approach to building our social justice oriented party. Bring a friend to the meeting !
>
> Also, If anyone has the actual language of a ballot question that has been used, or the language of a ballot question that you would like to propose for the "Local Ballots 2008" plan then please send it to me.
>
> Correspondence so far:
>
> Of the 150 to 200 GRP members who got the email, about 8 people have responded with comments to teh draft Local Ballots 2008 Plan and 4 indicated an interest in coming to the meeting. A couple of others seemed to want to help in different ways. People responding were from different parts of the state.
>
> I have included some direct comments and summarized others since some of them were directed to particular audiences or got into more detailed back and forth conversations.. . and lord knows we’re not interested in starting a thread on this ! Here are some of the comments
>
> Person 1:
> Thank you for emailing me regarding this plan. Considering the funding that our party lacks, this is a good way to get the platform out to voters. It may even be an interesting way to recruit members. I would like to help. However, I am not one to embrace activism. I am probably not committed enough to the party platform to even be a leading or active presence in the local movement. Overall, I am not one to be counted on to attend meetings, facilitate discussions, etc.
>
> If there will be periodic email updates, I would love for you to keep me on the list. I may also be able to assist in writing/editing drafts of proposed initiatives. There are other 'nuts and bolts' functions that I am willing to assist with (budgets for example).
>
> Person 2:
> I am always impressed with your thoughtful and complete presentation of ideas. As an architect, my issues surround sustainable design and smart growth planning. I'm not sure how these sorts of issues would fit into a plan such as yours.
> Today, I toured a middle school in a north suburb, that is in need of renovation. The conditions of our schools are virtually criminal. The amount of energy being thrown out through the envelope of this building, for no purpose, basically 24/7 is absolutely astounding. It ought to be against the law. And don't even get me started on the issue of safety in our schools
controlled access, sprinklers, alarm systems, communication systems
Is there any way that any of this could fit into your plan.
>
> Person 3:
>
> Verbal communication. “I’d like to help out with this and will come to the meeting”
>
> Person 4:
>
> I'd like to come to this if it's Wed 2/28 (you had Wed 2/27).
>
> (Please note that we are now talking about march 1st)
>
> Person 5:
> It is late at night and I don't have time to give you a lot of
> feedback at this moment. I have a lot of experience putting
> these Public Policy Questions (PPQs) on the ballot (including a successful
> one endorsed by the Plymouth County Greens in 2002) across eastern Mass. and
> have some effective techniques for doing so. Call me this weekend if you
> want at: 781-749-2852 Let me just make one immediate observation: these
> are more for communicating general concepts. Don't get caught up in a
> spiderweb of specifics in your wording. That is a concept but it also is a
> physical reality. Look how much space they give you for wording (If you
> don't have a previous year's form, I'll send you one). You simply just do
> not have the physical space to put that proposed wording on.
>
> Other comments included: This could be done on a town by town rather than Rep districts, this could fit into strategic discussions being held by other subsets of the party, it would be nice if the ballots questions could be binding, state Reps are easier to do because of 200 signature requirement, municipal ballots are tough because of the way voter registration is handled, some municipalities don’t have binding questions.
>
> At the end of this week I will gather more comments and send more stuff out.
>
>
> After the initial meeting a listserve can be formed to help facilitate the work.
>
> I hope to see you on March 1st as we take steps to build the GRP locally and from the bottom up, using direct democratic means !
>
> Ron Francis
>
> Ron Francis wrote:
> Dear GRP folks,
>
> So far two more people have indicted an interest in the "Local Ballot 2008" initiative (for a total of 3 people, and another 3 people have been noncommittal.
>
> I will be calling folks around Eastern MA to attend the first preliminary meeting.
>
> The first preliminary meeting will be Thursday, Feb 29th at my house in Somerville at 44 Benton Road (see directions below) at 7:00 to 9:00.
>
> All are welcome to come and please bring ideas for local ballot questions ! Please read below if interested in the Call for a Local Ballot 2008 Initiative designed to build the GRP one local area at a time.
>
> Ron Francis
> 617 230-2835
>
> Ron Francis wrote: (please circulate widely to folks interested in building the GRP from the Ground Up...)
>
> Dear Green-Rainbow Party folks,
>
> I am sending this email out to about 200 folks who are GRP members around Massachusetts. I have used blind cc (bcc) so that folks don't have their private emails exposed.
>
> The purpose of this email is to develop a grouping of GRP people who are interested in putting forth a coherent GRP message using the local ballot mechanism (for State Rep districts) in the year 2008, as a way of growing our party as local levels.
>
> Background:
>
> One of the models that the 2004, 2005 Membership Committee of our State Party explored (based on research of how GRP's were being built around the U.S.) was the idea of Party-led local ballot question or questions as a way of developing local chapters.
>
> As the elected male co-chair of our State party in 2005 and 2006, I participated in this research as part of the Membership Committee during those times. (I'm no longer on the current Membership Committee having shifted to another committee and also mainly focusing on local organizing in West Somerville where I live....)
>
> The idea of Party-led ballot questions was one of six Models that the 2004,5 Membership Committee investigated for building the GRP at local levels. (For the other 5 Models, please see the end of this email).
>
> It is high time that this Party-Led Ballot Question strategy be tried. It might just work !
>
> For simplicity I will refer to the plan as Local Ballots 2008.
>
> Here's the basic plan: "Local Ballots 2008"
>
> In order to help the public identify one or two key issues that the GRP really cares about, and
>
> in order to have us distinguish ourselves from the corporate controlled Democratic Party, and
>
> in order to push us gently to focus on local (State Rep) level organizing as the key to sustainable growth,
>
> We would aim to have local ballot questions on one key issue in as many of the 160 State Rep districts as possible. We would ask local GRPs and the state GRP to endorse the ballot question so that the party logo could be used and help establish the widespread geographic coherency of the campaign.
>
> We would choose language that helps the public distinguish the GRP from so-called "progressive" efforts by corporate controlled Democrats using a root-cause analysis to formulate the language of the ballot question
>
> The same question would appear on all 160 local ballots instructing our State Reps to vote a certain way on legislation. Note that it takes only 200 signatures to do such a ballot question in each State Rep district - so it is relatively easy to do if a team of 4 or 5 can be established in each district.
>
> This Spring and we would use a process to identify the one or two issues that we think that many people would be willing to work on, including non-GRP people.
>
> It is tempting to think that we could do this using many different issues simultaneously since we are a multi-issue entity but the problem would be that no coherent message would come through as that particular passion of the GRP.
>
> Of course in choosing one issue (outside chance of two issues .. but I think one is better right now), we might lose some people but on the other hand there might be many people out there who aren't involved with the GRP who would get involved because of the power and clear focus of the issue and campaign. So, if we had 20 or 30 people willing to push the idea we would grow, and possibly rapidly, as single issue efforts sometimes do when the general public is engaged.
>
> In collecting the signatures we could highlight our full social and ecological justice platform of course, but the focus would be the ballot question issue.
>
> We would write the language so that everyone is clear on what education work needs to be done over the next 18 months so that we can make a decent showing at the polls. (By starting now it really gives us the time to develop the issues and educational materials so that the public will support us
>
> We can do it !
>
> If 45 percent of voters in Somerville can support the Right of Return as a fundamental human right for Palestinians using sustained education, then certainly we can educate people to support some other closer to home domestic issue at a high percentage. Think positive !
>
> Maybe it's living wage, or a root cause housing ballot question, or maybe some ballot question having to do with money in politics, or maybe some ballot question that has already been used. It's not the particular issue that is paramount here. The point is that the public will no longer be confused about where our passion lies.
>
> (Looking forward to 2010: This propsal is intended to develop a dozen or so local ballot questions in 2008 that lead to a measurable vehicle that local State Rep candidates or even better municipal candidates can run on in 2008 and 2010. It is also a setup for a 2010 statewide ballot question that firmly plants in the public's mind what the party stands for. If this plan works it sets up the party to win a substantial percentage of the vote in local races)
>
> So that's the basic plan. Here is the tentative timeline:
>
> Early Spring 2007:
> Put together the Local Ballot 2008 planning committee and develop ballot question language for 5 or 6 issues.
>
> Spring 2007:
> Use some process where we choose which issue we will work on, recognizing that not everyone will agree... that's ok. If the issue is compelling and outreach is done then we will grow.
>
> Develop educational materials and hold several forums to interest GRP members and the general public on the issue. Perhaps culminate in a few large well organized forums, that are organizing driven meetings, in September with big name speakers.
>
> Summer 2007:
> Start distributing the educational materials in public places, forums and wherever. Use usual outreach techniques with colorful flyers, automated phonecalling and email to bring people to organizing meetings.
>
> Immediate Steps:
>
> 1) In two weeks I will hold an informal gathering at my house so that people can discuss this idea. Probably Wednesday evening 7pm on the 27th of February. My house is at 44 Benton Road in Somerville. (Directions below)
>
>
> 2) In four weeks two meetings will be held, one in Eastern MA and one in Western Mass for people interested in this strategy. Both meetings will be held on Saturday March 10thrd and Sunday March 11th respectively. Times and places to be arranged but probably noontime snack meetings.
>
> 2) We will need two people to host the meetings. I am willing to host one meeting at my house on Somerville on either the 9th or 10th of March.
>
> 3) We will need someone to host a noontime snack meeting in Amherst / Northampton Area on the other date.
>
> 4) We will need some individuals who commit to writing ballot questions on a few issues.
>
>
> Here are some criteria that should be considered in developing the text.
>
> a) The ballot questions must be such as to challenge the ROOT causes of a particular social change issue and possibly associated with abolishing poverty but not necessarily.
>
> b) The ballot question must try to clearly distinguishable from any initiatives that would be supported by reform minded corporate Democrats - our competitors for social justice minded people.
>
> Just to get the ball rolling I will throw out one example that I am not particularly wedded to; I am putting it out so that people can see an example. I won't commit on any issue until I can evaluate each one on its merits.
>
>
> "Shall the State Represetative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a living wage law that covers state employees that work over 500 hours per year, the employees of state service contractors that hold contracts worth over $25,000 per year, and employees of large retailers with gross revenues over $1,000,000. The law would call for payment of $10.00 per hour if the employer provides health insurance of at least $2.50 an hour, or $12.50 per hour if not and all amounts are indexed annually."
>
> (Numbers to be adjusted....with more research)
>
> So that's it folks.
>
> I don't know if this will work but it should and I'm willing to put energy in to make it a reality. I will need help however.
>
> Please call if you are interested in spreading the word and helping out. I'm at 617 230-2835. I will send out another email in one weeks time to let people know who has responded and where we are at.
>
> Some specific tasks have been identified that people can help out with immediately.
>
> I believe that if there are 25 people willing to commit themselves to participating in this plan by late Spring then some form of this plan is worth initiating.
>
> I need to hear from people who AT LEAST want to discuss this plan and see if it makes sense for them. I am willing to assemble a database of interested persons.
>
> Please respond to this email if you are interested. I need your name, physical address (for physical mailings), email and phone.
>
> I'm willing to coordinate initially by assembling the data base and hosting the first preparatory meeting on Tuesday Feb 26th at my house.
>
> Yours in struggle,
>
> Ron Francis 617 230-2835
>
> Directions to Benton Road:
> By Bus or Walking:
> Benton Road is off of Highland Ave in Somerville. To get to the house you need to go to either Porter or Davis.
>
> Davis:
> If you go to Davis you can stand in front of the Somerville theatre and wait for either the 88 or the 90 bus down Highland Ave to Benton Road (about 15 blocks in the bus). You can also walk 15 blocks down HIghland Ave. if youlike). When you get off the bus, take a right and go one block. The house is on the right on a corner. It is white with a porch and swing.
>
> Porter:
> If you go to Porter, then cross the parking lot to Elm street and walk up Hancock Street until Summer St. Take a right and walk about 8 blocks up hill. Take a left on Benton (just after the church) and go down 3 small blocks. The house is on the left. It is number 44 , a white house with a porch and swing. If you do get lost, call at 617 230-2835 or 617 666-4343.
>
> By Car:
> Need to get to Highland Avenue in Somerville. Benton Road is off of Highland Avenue about halfway between Davis Square and City Hall. Dunkin Donuts on Highland Ave is close to Benton Road. The House is one block South at the intersection of Bento Road and Gibbens St. Number 44—a white house with green trimming and swing on a porch. If you get lost call 617 230-2835 or 617 666-4343
>
> Six Models to Develop GRP local entities from 2004, 2005 membership committee work.
> A) Candidate based approaches
>
> 1) Candidate campaign turns into an issue based campaign
>
> e.g. a candidate runs for office for State legislature focusing on two or three issues. After either winning or losing the race, the local campaign organization turns its attention to working on a local issue.
>
> 2) Candidate campaign turns into another candidate campaign
>
> e.g. a candidate runs for State representative with the intention of building an organization which will be available for the next run of the same office two years later
>
> Any of these below can turn into a candidate campaign with the right circumstances
.
>
> B) Issue based approaches
>
> 3) State level or Local level issue-based campaign run by other organizations but supported by Green-Rainbow Party
>
> e,g, An organization is running a Statewide initiative campaign or a local campaign based on the issue of “bear baiting”. The Green-Rainbow Party endorses the campaign, makes some resources available to the lead organization and develops connections with these organizations that in turn leads to people eventually becoming active with the Party
>
> 4) Issue based campaign initiated by the party
>
> e.g. The Party becomes affiliated with a local campaign or statewide campaign that truly bears the Parties name
>
> 5) “Concerned Citizen Group”
>
> e.g. Local group of people that is always on the lookout for issues that come up before local city councils and challenges the council to take progressive views on a variety of issues
>
> C) Common Project ideas
>
> 6) Common Project Community Building approach
>
> e.g. Local groups of people are involved in some non-issue, non-electoral activity that may have a social component. This could be a Potluck discussion group about Green Party values, or the production of a newspaper. In all cases, attention is paid to building a “community” of the involved people
>
>
>
> Organizing Practices
>
>
> A) Recruitment
>
> 1) Use accessible politics (start where people are at on the issue and bring them forward, or if a candidate try to connect to an issue that constituents are aware of and can connect to)
> 2) Have an activity for people to do soon after they have first encountered the Party so that they can immediately begin to participate.
> 3) Tabling in Public places is a good way to get new people involved but follow-up is critical.
> 4) Ask people what they like to do and have a range of activities for people to get involved in
>
> B) Retention
>
> 1) Set achievable goals and objectives for the organization.
> 2) Break up tasks into manageable parts so that people can do them in short time period. Be realistic about the time commitments that people are able to do.
> 3) Plan meetings well in advance so that people can attend.
> 4) Remind people about the need to complete objectives and how these objectives fit into the overall mission of the organization; reinforcing the commitment that they are making
> 5) Have social settings that allow people to get to know each other personally. Food can help at meetings (limit time of eating though)
> 6) Have a “new members” meeting now and then
> 7) Have meetings that involved some active component
> 8) Facilitate communication between people.
>
> C) Growth & Sustainability
>
> 1) Include people in leadership tasks. Teach people how to use database or how to run the table, or how to speak about the issues comfortably.
>
> D) Other ??
>
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