[statecom-discuss] draft ideas for July State Comm. meeting

[Ron Francis]

just using the word "active" is too subjective:
 
 In SDP we use 4 hours of work in each of the last 3 months, not including decision-making meetings.  It seems to work well....it functions mainly to remind people of their work commitment to the organization, while not being overburdensome on those who have time constraints....
 
 For GRP I think 4 hours per month in any party related activity would be fine also.

"mikeheichman at verizon.net" <mikeheichman at verizon.net> wrote: DRAFT IDEAS FOR THE JULY STATE COMM. MEETING

May 18, 2007

Dear State Comm. Members:

The next meeting of the State Committee will be scheduled for sometime in
July. Yesterday Eli Beckerman sent out a 
message asking us to decide on a new date and to start thinking about
making proposals.

Below are ideas that I have already submitted to State Comm. At that time
there had been very little feedback. I am 
now sending it out to you again and asking for dialogue and feedback. I
believe that if we spend time discussing 
issues in advance we will be in much better shape to make better decisions
on the day of the meeting.

There are two basic areas that I am focusing on here. One is improving the
work of the State Committee and the 
second is related to the 2008 elections.

Mike Heichman
mikeheichman
617-265-8143


I. REFORMING THE STATE COMMITTEE 

I have been a member of the State Comm. for many years now. Sometimes we do
well and sometimes we don’t. We 
travel from different parts of the state and spend most of the day (three
times/year) doing the work of our party. 
Let’s discuss ways to improve its operation. 

A. The State Committee meeting will prioritize its agenda more wisely by
focusing most of its attention in the 
following areas:

a. making of policy between conventions
b. improving communication and coordination
      c. evaluating the progress of the party
 d. (What else should be added to this list?)

It will stop doing the work that should be done by other organs of the
party. Examples:

a. It will stop making endorsements (Adcom).
b. It will stop working on the Platform (Platform Comm.)
c. (What else should be added to this list?

B. Every delegate should be expected to be an active member of the Party.
At State Comm. meetings only those 
members who are “active” in another part of the party (state committees,
local chapters, relations with the national 
party, etc.) will be “seated”.  Exceptions are members who have just joined
the State Comm., who will be expected to 
become involved in other parts of the party.

C. The quorum will be changed from 50% of the State Comm. to 40%. “Pretend
quorums” will no longer be allowed 
(members present by phone).

D.  The consensus process will be changed:

An attempt will be made to reach consensus. After a reasonable time, the
facilitators of the meeting are authorized 
to shift to other ways of making decisions (straw votes, etc.) When votes
are taken, a 2/3 vote or greater will be 
needed to make a decision.

E. The new vetting process will be changed in the following ways:

1. Initiators of proposals should be encouraged (not required) to vet their
proposals to the appropriate committee(s). 
Committee should be encouraged but not required to vet these proposals.

2.  We should go back to the old system of expecting that members of State
Comm. will 


a. read the proposals before the meeting.
b. offer their support by co-sponsoring if they are in agreement.
c. share their concerns with the sponsors with a mutual attempt to resolve
concerns before the meeting.


II. CDLC

I believe that there is growing support among current party activists to
focus on more local issues and local 
organizing. At the same time, I believe that there are many members of our
party who are more interested in 
national and international issues and would be more likely to be involved
in a presidential, senatorial or 
congressional campaign. 

If we do decide to engage in a major campaign in 2008, a major objective
will be to strengthen existing chapters, 
rebuilding old ones and building new ones. 

A. The State Comm. encourages GRP members to join a subcomm. of CDLC to
coordinate the Presidential 2008 
Campaign. While it is true that we will not have to get any signatures to
have our candidates in the March 
Presidential Primary and to place the Green Party’s endorsed candidates for
President and Vice-President on the 
November ballot, we DO need a small committee to do the bureaucratically
necessary things to keep in contact with 
the National Green Party and announced candidates, to keep in touch with
the Secretary of State’s office, and to plan 
a modest statewide campaign. This will not happen by itself.

B. The State Comm. encourages GRP members to join a subcommittee of CDLC to
see if there are potential GRP 
candidates who are interested in running for either the U.S. Senate or
Congress in 2008.

Because a campaign for Senate and/or Congress would be a major undertaking
for the party, the State Comm. 
agrees that this will NOT be a priority of the party if candidates do not
surface before the end of 2007 (and 
preferably earlier).

Mike Heichman
mikeheichman at verizon.net
617-265-8143





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