[statecom-discuss] Interest in "Local Ballots 2008"
danthbagelman at msn.com
danthbagelman at msn.com
Wed Feb 14 20:46:06 EST 2007
yes but if we do door to door we will need a training and I will gladly be
happy to do it!
>From: Ron Francis <ronwf777 at yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: Discussion List for StateCom members
><statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org>
>To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org, locals at green-rainbow.org
>Subject: Re: [statecom-discuss] Interest in "Local Ballots 2008"
>Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:18:33 -0800 (PST)
>
>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 ??
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > statecom-discuss mailing list
> > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
> >
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>statecom-discuss mailing list
>statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
_________________________________________________________________
FREE online classifieds from Windows Live Expo – buy and sell with people
you know
http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwex0010000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://expo.live.com?s_cid=Hotmail_tagline_12/06
More information about the statecom-discuss
mailing list