[statecom] preliminary minutes from August 6 Statecom meeting

[David Rolde]

This is a preliminary draft of the minutes for the Aug 6 Statecom  
meeting.  I still need to proofread and to get some more info from  
some people, but I thought I should send this out for now so people  
would know what happened at the meeting.  I'll probably send out a  
shorter email with a summary of the main decisions in a few minutes.  
- David

August 6 Statecom preliminary minutes

1. Meeting starts

1.1 Meeting begins at 10:15. It is noted that there was a tentative  
decision made before the notetaker arrived regarding dates of future  
State Committee meetings.

1.2 attendance: Gary Hicks, Dan Kontoff, Grace Ross, Richard Purcell,  
Owen Broadhurst, Bill Cunningham, annie butler, Lisa Richards, Lloyd  
Smith, Elie Yarden, Dan Melnechuk, David Rolde, Paul Mushrush,  
Martina Robinson, Jen Mazer, Ralph Walton, Maureen Doyle, John Walsh  
- 18 people (16 needed for quorum) + guest Luc Schuster was appointed  
later in the meeting to be an alternate rep. Luc left early. Everyone  
else stayed til the end of the meeting at 4 PM


1.3 By consensus we choose as facilitators for the first part of the  
meeting  Grace & Gary. Lisa is vibeswatcher. David is taking minutes.  
annie is stacker.

2 Reports

2.1 We receive the Treasurer's report.  It is noted that the report  
does not include the finances of the slate-of-candidates campaigns.

2.1.2   In response to a concern about the convention, David  
volunteers to put the Sep 16 State Convention on the front page of  
the GRP website

3. Agenda. We are following the standard agenda.

3.1 Grace decides we will deal with minutes of previous meetings  
after lunch

3.2 Grace as facilitator asks for proposals that are no longer  
pertinent or that can be decided by Adcom to be withdrawn.

3.2.1 Proposal C, the proposal to oppose the so-called "initiative to  
protect dogs", is withdrawn because this initiative is not going to  
be on the ballot this year.

3.2.2 Proposal L, the proposal to support Ron Francis, is withdrawn  
because Adcom has already made a decision about this and is working  
on implementing the decision.

3.2.3 Proposal M, the proposal to support Aimee Smith, is withdrawn  
because Adcom has already made a decision about this and is working  
on implementing the decision.

3.2.4 Dan Kontoff proposes that we talk about canvassing (hiring  
someone to do door-to-door canvassing/fundraising for commission).  
Grace says this is a hiring decision that belongs to Adcom

3.2.5 Proposal B, to amend State Committee's quorum rule, is  
withdrawn from consideration because no sponsor is present.

3.2.6 Proposal H, Reconsideration of the Fusion Proposal, is  
withdrawn from consideration because no sponsor is present and  
because there is another proposal about fusion that might generate  
the same discussion.

3.2.7 Proposal J, Discussion of the Transparency Policy, is withdrawn  
by the sponsor, annie butler, by agreement with the facilitators and  
State Com that annie may make a 5 minute statement to State Com on  
this topic.

3.2.8 Some of the sections of Proposal K, Support Divestment from  
"Israel", are no longer pertinent, have already been dealt with by  
Adcom or can be dealt with by Adcom.  The remaining parts of the  
proposal will be considered by Statecom today.

3.2.9 Lloyd proposes that we talk about having a GRP strategy retreat  
at World Fellowship in New Hampshire in September. Grace decides we  
will discuss this in the Urgent Matters portion of the meeting as the  
proposal is for something that might happen before the next meeting  
and needs to be decided at this meeting.

3.2.ten Dan Melnechuk has an urgent proposal regarding the  
convention. It will be dealt with in the Urgent Matters portion of  
the agenda.

3.2.eleven  David will report on the email proposals and decisions  
during the Old Business portion of the agenda.

3.2.twelve Someone suggests there should be a candidates report or  
campaign report at some point during the meeting.

3.3 The remaining proposals to be ranked are

A ~ Municipal Candidate Search (to be presented by Owen)
D ~ End the War on Drugs, Legalize Drugs, etc. (to be presented by  
David)
E ~ Proposal Vetting by Committee (to be presented by Dan Melnechuk)
F ~ Complete Proposals (to be presented by Dan Melnechuk)
G ~ Immigrants (to be presented by David)
I ~ No on Fusion (to be presented by David
K ~ Support Divestment from "Israel" (to be presented by David by  
agreement of original sponsors annie & Owen)
N ~ Third March to Abolish Poverty (to be presented by Grace)


4. We hear 30 second presentations on each proposal. Statecom members  
fill out ranking ballots. Dan Melnechuk and Elie Yarden start to  
count the ballots.

5.  annie speaks to us about transparency, i.e., our policy of having  
publically viewable email lists. She has concerns but does not make a  
proposal for a change.

6. Urgent Matters Part 1

6.1 Retreat.

6.1.1 presentation: Lloyd reports that GRP has an opportunity to have  
a retreat in the Green Mountains of New Hampshire at World  
Fellowship. The venue is interested in hosting a retreat for us. They  
would give us a 2-day retreat for the price of 1 day + scholarships  
for those who can't afford the approximately $50 per person cost.  
Lloyd suggests that the ideal time would be Sep 24.  It has to be  
before the venue closes for the season. annie believes that August is  
impossible because it is already booked for August.

6.1.2 discussion: John Walsh is opposed to a retreat before the  
election that is not focused on strategies for the election, and is  
opposed to going away before the election.

Gary is in favor of a retreat around 9/24 because we need to chill  
out and because the discussion is "damned important"

Bill thinks we need a retreat soon to talk about deeper issues than  
the election and hopes for a retreat in August.

Grace is concerned, as our candidate for governor, that if the party  
leadership is gone for 36 hours in late September, it would make her  
panic.

David thinks that a 1 day retreat or a couple half day retreats  
closer to home would be easier for people to commit to.

6.1.3 straw poll. We take a straw poll  13 ppl are in favor of a 1/2  
or 1 day retreat locally in August. 5 ppl are in favor of the weekend  
retreat in New Hampshire in September.

6.1.5 Decision. By consensus we decide to ask a team to put together  
a 1 day or 1/2 day retreat locally in August.  The team includes Bill  
& Melissa and one other volunteer whose name I didn't get.

7. Old Business

7.1 Statecom email proposals and voting

7.1.1 Introduction: David reports that following the last State  
Committee meeting (May in Springfield), which did not maintain quorum  
throughout the meeting, there were six email proposals that were  
discussed and voted on by State Committee via email.  We originally  
thought that all the proposals were adopted. But then Merelice  
pointed out to us that only the proposals which had no blocking  
concerns were adopted as the threashold for a proposal to be adopted  
by email vote, according to our rules, is 2/3 of all the statecom  
members not 2/3 of the members who cast a vote as I had thought.

Therefore:

7.1.2 The Local-Growth Diveristy-Building Organizing Model did not  
pass because two people had concerns that they did not stand aside  
on, and less than 2/3 of the total State Committee membership voted

7.1.3 The proposal to create a GRP Labor Task Force passed by  
consensus as amended. Nobody presented a concern on which they would  
not stand aside.  Whoever wants to form a GRP Labor Task Force should  
go ahead. Dan Melnechuk had agreed to create an email list for the  
GRP Labor Task Force and should do so.

Wording:
"The Green-Rainbow Party will establish a 'GRP Labor Task Force', as  
a  sub-committee of the External Relations Committee, to develop a   
strategy to strengthen our ties with working people and the labor  
movement in Massachusetts.

The task force must prepare a written report to the GRP 2006 Annual
Convention.

Points to be addressed include:

Trade unions and labor elements must be analyzed in detail to
understand areas of cooperation and conflict with the GRP.

Union politics and programs must not become instructions to the GRP.

The concerns of people not employed in the formal sector must not be
subordinated to the interests of unionized labor.

Our effort must occur outside of and independent of the ranks of
unionized labor. The results of our approach should be to strengthen
the state of unionized labor and repair the extraordinary damage that
is currently being inflicted on its ranks (These ranks must include
the vast numbers of those who suffer at the hands of their employers-
undefended, unprotected, and unrepresented).

In addition the following bylaws change will be implemented.

GRP bylaws section 10.4 will be added to read:

"The State Committee or existing working committees may create named
subcommittees or task forces. Subcommittees or task forces are
assigned to be a part of an existing working committee. Work on a
subcommittee or task force by a State Committee representative counts
towards the working committee requirement. Subcommittees and task
forces must meet all the same requirements that working committees
have."

In addition Dan Melnechuk agreed to set up an official email list for
the task force."

7.1.4 The 3-day Statecom Member Phonebanking passed by consensus as  
amended. Nobody presented a concern on which they would not stand  
aside. Adcom has discussed the implementation of this proposal and is  
asking the Fundraising Committee to work on this.

Wording:
"The Green-Rainbow Party, through its State Committee members and
other members of the party interested in participating, will conduct
a group phonebanking activity on three days (Probably Mon, Tues Wed)
during a week to be determined in two locations in different parts of
the state.

All statecom members will be strongly encouraged to attend at least
one of the three days of the fundraising to occur in the evening from
6:30 to 9:00."

7.1.5 The proposal to reactivate the CDLC, in the unammended version   
as presented to the Spring State Committee meeting, was passed by  
consensus.  Someone should go ahead and reconvene the CDLC.

wording:
"The State Committee calls on the Candidate Development and Legal
Commitee (CDLC) to reactivate itself to do the following:

1. Work with our endorsed slate of statewide and local candidates
2. Coordinate campaign trainings for the GRP and our endorsed candidates
3. Come up with a plan for our electoral work for 2007 and beyond,
and present this plan to our 2nd convention of 2006"

7.1.6 The proposal for GRP to take a position on 2006 Statewide  
Ballot Questions did not pass because  one person did not stand aside  
on a concern, and we did not have 2/3 of the total membership  
voting.  The concern was about the wording of the endorsement of the  
anti-war referendum on the ballot in some state rep districts. The  
whole proposal, including the main part about referring the ballot  
questions to the Platform Committee, has not passed. However the  
Platform Committee will probably still consider these ballot  
questions.  In the meantime Adcom has endorsed the anti-war  
referendum but has not yet agreed on language for a statement on the  
endorsement

7.1.7 The No on Fusion email proposal did not pass because three  
people presented concerns that they would not stand aside on. We did  
not have 2/3 of the total membership voting.  The proposal has been  
resubmitted for today's meeting.

7.1.8 David will make a complete report about the email voting to the  
State Committee email list. (possibly done by posting these minutes)

8. Ranking is done

8.1. regular round order of proposals (order determined by ranking)

D ~ End War on Drugs, Legalize Drugs, etc
G ~ Immigrants
N ~ March to Abolish Poverty
E ~ Proposal Vetting
A ~ Municipal Candidate Search
F ~ Complete Proposals
I ~ No On Fusion
K ~ Support Divestment from "Israel"

8.2 Expedited Round order of proposals (order determined by fewest #  
of people with concerns)

F ~ Complete Proposals
E ~ Proposal Vetting
G ~ Immigrants
D ~ End War on Drugs, etc
I ~ No on Fusion
N ~ March to Abolish Poverty

9. Expedited Round of Proposals

9.1 Proposal F: Complete Proposals  by Dan Melnechuk

David is concerned that the proposal discriminates against proposals  
from people with different educational levels or communication styles  
who have good ideas that we should consider.

Dan M says that along with proposal vetting this will not be a problem

This does not address David's concern

John offers an amendment that following the rule could be optional

This is not a friendly amendment to Dan M

Grace suggests putting names & contact info of the Procedure  
Committee members on top of the proposals board so proposers would no  
who to contact for help in submitting properly constructed proposals.

Dan accepts this from Grace as a friendly amendment

David wants an addition of an option that Statecom can still decide  
to consider an improperly constructed proposal if we want.

Dan declares David's amendment not friendly

Lisa says she supports the proposal

Lloyd says we need help to get people online who can't afford to get  
online by themselves

Time is up. David still has a concern and hasn't stood aside. This  
proposal is bumped to the Regular Round.

9.2 Proposal E: Proposal Vetting by Committee (by Dan Melnechuk)

David is concerned, because committees are not functioning but people  
are making proposals without vetting, that this proposal would make  
it even more difficult for us to make any decisions.

Dan M clarifies that the working committee does not need to approve a  
proposal but only to vett it in order for the proposal to be allowed  
to be considered by state committee

Grace suggests that there be a mechanism to point people to  
committees that will vett their proposals.

Dan M accepts Grace's suggestion as a friendly ammendment

Gary says that there must be advance notice of Statecom meetings and  
the process necessary to submit a proposal.

Grace suggests that the deadline to submit a proposal for vetting be  
one week be one week before the deadline to final deadline to submit  
a proposal for a state committee meeting, i.e., 3 weeks before the  
meeting.

Dan M accepts this as friendly.

David stands aside as Grace asks David to "try the experiment".

The proposal is adopted by consensus

I still need to get the final wording from Dan M. It will be in a  
future draft of these minutes.

9.3  Proposal G: Immigrants (by David)

Bill is concerned that it is not clear what "open borders" means

Richard has the same concern

John has complex general concerns

Martina is concerned that some immigrants are criminals and should  
not be allowed in.

someone asked if point 3, about calling for the Massachusetts  
government to not participate in enforcing immigration laws, is the  
same as point 4 calling for open borders

Grace explained that point 3 is not the same and is about not  
checking immigration status of people seeking healthcare and other  
services, etc.

Grace asked if anyone had concerns about any other part of the  
proposal besides point 4.

No one had concerns about the other parts of the proposal.

David suggested that we adopt the proposal without point 4 for now  
but that Statecom agree to readress point 4 later or ask for point 4  
to be rewritten to address concerns and be resubmitted.

This passes by consensus

Wording:

"1. The State Committee of the Green-Rainbow Party agrees with the  
wording of the 2006 Draft Campaign Platform plank on immigration:  
"The Green-Rainbow Party supports immediate full implementation of  
equal rights, including the vote, for all immigrants in Massachusetts  
regardless of citizenship or visa status." We ask the GRP Platform  
Committee to incorporate this into the GRP Platform.

2. The Green-Rainbow Party calls for amnesty for all current "illegal  
immigrants" in Massachusetts.

3. The Green-Rainbow Party calls for the state government of  
Massachusetts to order all state and local authorities in  
Massachusetts to not participate in the enforcement and policing of  
federal immigration laws, rules and policies.

4. The Green-Rainbow Party asks the Platform Committee to rewrite the  
following section to address concerns and resubmit a revision of  
point 4 for consideration by State Committee or the State Convention  
at a future date: "The Green-Rainbow Party recognizes that the U.S.  
government and U.S. based corporations are highly complicit in an  
imperialist system of global apartheid whereby wealth from so-called  
"third world" countries is transferred to the elite of the USA and  
other so-called "first world" countries. Persons in "third world"  
countries, through internationally imposed "free trade" policies, are  
denied economic opportunities and economic human rights available to  
persons in "first world" countries, and in many cases persons in  
"third world" countries are driven from their homes by violent  
warfare perpetrated by the U.S. government or by forces controlled by  
the U.S. government. Because of military and economic imperialism  
many "third world" persons seek to immigrate to the USA or to other  
countries. Therefore the Green-Rainbow Party calls for the borders of  
the USA to be opened so that anyone in the world who wishes to visit  
or immigrate to the USA will be allowed to freely do so."

5. The Green-Rainbow Party Platform Committee will be tasked with  
incorporating these points into the GRP Platform.

6. GRP candidates for public office, including the slate of  
candidates nominated at the GRP 2006 nominating convention, are  
strongly encouraged to include these immigration issues in their  
campaigning.

7. The GRP will communicate to the GPUS Platform Committee our  
position on immigration and ask them to include these positions into  
the GPUS Platform."

9.4 Proposal D: End the War on Drugs, Legalize Drugs, etc (by David)

Elie Yarden wants to remove the word "so-called" from "so-called  
'criminal justice system' " in point 1

Dan Melnechuk wants to remove both "so-called" and the quotes around  
the phrase "criminal justice system"

Dan's amendment is not friendly to David.

Elie wants to remove the words "is racist and" from point #1 because  
those words are redundant.

David accepts this amendment from Elie as friendly

Elie wants to remove the change the phrase "should be considered to  
be" to the word "is" in point # 3

This amendment from Elie is also friendly to David

Martina is concerned about endorsing the legalization of hard drugs  
such as heroin because these drugs are harmful to people

Grace explains that part of the harm from drugs is because of their  
illegal status and that legalizing drugs would reduce harm because  
then drugs can be regulated and there will be quality control of  
drugs and help for drug addicts, etc.

Martina stands aside on her concern

Lloyd suggests that the phrase in point #1 be "unjust criminal  
justice system"

David accepts Lloyds suggestion as a friendly amendment, and Dan M  
says that this change addresses his concern.

Lisa is very concerned about making drugs available to people as  
drugs including alcohol are harmful. Lisa says we should be talking  
about economic human rights - providing housing, healthcare, drug  
abuse treatment, etc. for people - instead of trying to make drugs  
more available for people.

David points out that the proposal calls for drug abuse treatment to  
be freely available to anyone who wants it including to minors.

Elie says that he sees the point of the proposal as being to address  
the problem that the US incarcerates millions of people and a higher  
percentage of the population than other countries.

Lisa stands aside on her concern.

At this point there are no outstanding concerns. The proposal passes  
by consensus.

Wording:
" 1. The Green-Rainbow Party reaffirms our recognition of the fact  
that the war on drugs and the unjust criminal justice system  
disproportionately targets people of color, low-income communities,  
and victims of drug addiction.

2. The Green-Rainbow Party calls for the war on drugs to be ended  
immediately. All natural drugs should be legalized so that the drug  
industry can be taxed and regulated for the public good just like any  
other industry.

3. Drug abuse and drug addiction is a health issue. Voluntary non- 
coercive treatment for drug abuse and drug addiction should be made  
freely available to everyone including minors.

4. The Green-Rainbow Party calls for the elimination or reform of  
Massachusetts's CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) program  
and laws related to its use so that persons who have been caught up  
by the unjust criminal justice system will not be denied access to  
employment, housing, loans, insurance, admission to college and other  
rights and privileges.

5. The Green-Rainbow Party reaffirms our commitment to the  
establishment of civilian police review boards that should have real  
power to review and regulate police conduct. See section 2.5 of the  
Massachusetts Greens Platform.

6. The Green-Rainbow Party endorses the Statewide Harm Reduction  
Coalition's (SHaRC) moratorium on jail and prison construction. The  
nine demands of this moratorium call are "i. the division of Capital  
Assets Management be ordered to stop the approved $27 million  
construction bond for the Chicopee Jail that the Massachusetts  
taxpayers would have to pay back with interest; ii. no further  
dollars be spent on jail or prison expansion/construction nor  
additional beds; iii. sentencing practices be re-evaluated; iv.  
mandatory minimum sentences be repealed; v. voting rights be restored  
to ex-offenders; vi. amnesty be given to all non-violent 'Drug War'  
prisoners; vii. the State agree to document, expose, and eliminate  
all inhumane, degrading treatment and torture in Massachusetts  
prisons and jails;  viii. these dollars, and more, be approved in the  
state budget for programs such as job training, drug treatment  
centers, healthcare for women and their children, more affordable  
housing for low-income families, and quality public education. These  
are just a few ways we will save dollars and improve the quality of  
life for all;  and ix. legalize needle exchange programs" The GRP  
Administrative Committee will communicate to SHaRC our endorsement of  
the moratorium and these demands. The GRP Administrative Committee  
will consider going further and having GRP join as a member of SHaRC;  
Adcom will make the decision about joining.

7. GRP calls for the restoration of voting rights to currently  
incarcerated prisoners in Massachusetts.

8. GRP opposes the practice of slave labor in jails and prisons in  
Massachusetts. Prisoners who work should be paid at least minimum wage.

9. This proposal will be sent to the GRP Platform Committee who will  
be tasked with incorporating the new provisions of this proposal into  
the GRP Platform.

10. The GRP State Committee strongly urges our 2006 candidates for  
public office, including the slate of candidates nominated at our  
nominating convention, to bring up these justice issues during the  
campaign. We especially instruct our candidates to make ending the  
war on drugs and legalizing drugs a focus of the campaign.

11.  The GRP will communicate to the GPUS Platform Committee our  
position on the issues in this proposal and ask them to include these  
positions into the GPUS Platform."

9.5 Proposal I: No on Fusion (by David)

Elie is concerned about diversion of energy to the anti-fusion  
organization. He wants to remove mention of the organization from the  
proposal or just say that we should not stand in the way of GRP of an  
organization.

David explains that GRP members have already been trying to form an  
organization and that the proposal doesn't call for us to expend a  
lot of energy on the organization and that actually our internal  
arguments about fusion have been taking more energy than we would  
expend after we take a position opposing fusion.

Luc is concerned that since the fusion ballot question will probably  
not pass anyway, that we shouldn't risk alienating people by working  
to actively oppose it.

Grace is concerned that concerns should be noted, e.g., concerns  
about alienating people who support fusion.

Grace wants to remove paragraph 2 (about forming the organization)

David explains that paragraph 2 is about trying to form the legally  
recognized organization to write the rebuttal language for the  
ballot. It is a legal point not a point about requiring the party to  
do a lot of work. Bill further explains that even if the organization  
can't write the rebuttal on the ballot that the organization can  
still be the official source of op-eds opposing fusion for newspapers  
and other media.

Grace and other have not stood aside on their concerns about  
paragraph two. Time is up. The proposal is bumped to the Regular Round

9.6 Proposal N: Third March to Abolish Poverty (by Grace)

Martina is concerned about where the 100 marchers will sleep and who  
will feed them

Grace answers the question. Martina's concern is addressed.

Bill is concerned that the march is being advocated to be a party  
event and not a campaign event because it requires party resources.  
Bill wants to know what party resources will be provided to the March.

Grace explains that the party can accept large donations. The March  
will be bringing in resources rather than drawing on existing party  
resources.

Bill stands aside on his concern.

annie wants to know how the March addresses growth of GRP local  
groups? and will GRP local groups be required to participate in the  
March

Grace says that given the short time-fram for planning, the March  
will probably go to fewer communities than in previous years, and  
will do intense outreach in communities. GRP locals can't be required  
to participate in the March but probably would want to.

Grace saying that GRP locals are not required to participate  
addresses annie's concern.

Dan Melnechuk wants to tie the proposal to seeking large donors and  
including voter registration because voter registration can be funded  
from our Federal Account.

I'm not sure if Grace accepted these from Dan as friendly. I think so.

David is concerned that the proposal isn't written out and that we  
are passing a proposal that we haven't seen. David stands aside on  
this concern.

The proposal is adopted by consensus.

We don't have any wording for the proposal beyond "GRP will in some  
way co-initiate or sponsor a third March to Abolish Poverty in  
September 2006".  Grace needs to provide wording of the proposal.

10. Elections Part 1

Luc Schuster is nominated by David, Lisa, Lloyd, Elie and Grace to be  
an alternate Statecom rep from Middlesex County. There are no  
concerns. Luc is accepted and seated.  But Luc has to leave at this  
point. So we still have 18 members present.

11. Lunch break

12. Expedited Round continued.

12. 1 No on Fusion (continues)

David and Bill agree to remove paragraph 2 from the fusion proposal  
so that consensus will be reached now.

The proposal passes by consensus

Final wording:

" The Green-Rainbow Party opposes the 2006 State ballot question to  
establish fusion voting, whereby candidates for public office may  
appear on the ballot under the endorsement of more than one political  
party.

The Green-Rainbow Party will communicate our position on election  
reform in writing to the
endorsers of the fusion ballot initiative, to explain that fusion
voting would not be in the interests of the people of Massachusetts
and would not further the struggle for the implementation of our  
values. "


13 Reports part 2

13.1 Candidates/Campaign Report

13.1.1 Candidate report from Grace: " We can win."

14 Urgent Matters Part 2

14.1 Dan Melnechuk has a two-part proposal regarding the Sep 16 State  
Convention:

that we (one) waive the three months notice of the convention
and (two) use the proposals submission procedure that we used for the  
past two years.

This proposal is adopted by consensus

15. Approval of minutes from previous meetings.

David has the minutes from the April and May meetings but does not  
have copies for everyone.
David proposes that we approve these minutes by email. David agrees  
to run this process.

There are no concerns. This proposal is adopted by consensus.

16 Next Meeting.

Before there was quorum the people present at the meeting decided  
that the next State Committee meeting will be on November 11.

David raised a concern that we might need to meet in October before  
the election.

Gary pointed out that we have a convention in September and that we  
can always call an emergency meeting if we need to.

David stood aside

There were also other future meeting dates decided, but I don't have  
them. Someone please send them to me.

The proposal for future meeting dates is adopted by consensus. Next  
Statecom meeting is Nov 11.

17. Regular Round of Proposals

17.1 Proposal A: Municipal Candidate Search (by Owen)

Martina is concerned about whether GRP can afford to pay people

Bill is concerned that the proposal encourages candidates who are  
isolated in communities without other active GRP members

Lisa is concerned about the practice of having the co-chairs  
supervise employees.

Lisa is also concerned that a low-income person would lose benefits  
if hired for a wage instead of being a volunteer with a stipend for  
expenses.

Owen suggests language that addresses this last concern of Lisa's

Gary is concerned that the proposal is incomplete because it doesn't  
include details about organizing the followup meetings with potential  
candidates who are identified.

David still has concerns as printed in the proposals packet:
" I would like to see the question expanded to ask members if they  
are interested in running for any political office, state level (e.g.  
state reps, state senate) or national level (e.g. US Congress, US  
Senate), as well as municipal. I'd like to see where the interest  
lies about running for office. I know I hear from a lot of GRP  
members who are interested in national and international issues who  
are disappointed that we have no candidates for US Senate or US  
Congress this year. I think that ignoring this level is detrimental  
for the growth of the party. Anyway it would be nice to find out who  
is thinking of running for what.

I also think the script should have something about support from the  
party for running for office. A lot of people want to run for office  
but don't feel they have enough support to do so. In some cases  
encouragement and offers of support would help. And it is hard to  
answer the question without knowing what the party is offering.  
Obviously this is a very complex point.
Reply"

Dan (I'm not sure which Dan) wants to drop the word "staff" from the  
proposal so it would say "paid person" instead of "paid staff person".

Elie wants a short time period set for the phone calling like it  
should all be done in one week, and he wants complete record keeping.

Dan Kontoff says we need to focus on asking people to organize GRP  
local groups and to get involved in their communities, not just run  
for office.

Grace is concerned about timing of when this project should happen in  
terms of when the elections and campaigns will happen.

We run out of time. And the State Committee votes against allotting  
more time.

The following people still have concerns: David (should ask about  
state and federal offices as well as municipal, should tell potential  
candidates what the party has to offer), Lisa (supervision of the  
employee), Grace (timing), Dan Kontoff (should build locally), Gary  
(incomplete proposal), Martina (no money to pay employee)

The proposal is NOT adopted. The proposal is tabled to CDLC by Owen.

17.2 Proposal F: Complete Proposals (by Dan Melnechuk)

David still has the concern about accessibility of proposal  
submission process

The contacts for help were already added as a friendly ammendment

annie suggests adding that we all have a responsibility to help  
people submit proposals

Grace suggests that given that the vetting proposal has already been  
adopted, we should adopt the complete proposals proposal as  
recommended guidelines only that the vetters will help people conform  
to.

Dan accepts Grace's change as friendly.

There are no concerns at this point. The proposal is adopted. I need  
final wording from Dan M

17.3 Proposal K: Support Divestment from "Israel"

David: we are considering only 3 points from the proposal

  one: "The GRP State Committee asks our slate-of-candidates to make  
Palestine a campaign issue, e.g., by putting a line on their flyers  
saying 'Divest from Israel, not from Sudan' "

two: "The GRP will ask the GPUS to take a position recognizing the  
recent history of US imperialist intervention in Sudan and opposing  
divestment from Sudan and opposing expanded foreign military  
intervention in Sudan, i.e., something similar to the GRP position."

three: "GRP requires all candidates endorsed by GRP to agree with our  
statement on Palestine (just like we require them to support equal  
marriage, they should also be opposed to Israeli apartheid in  
Palestine.)"

Elie want to change #3 to require candidates to "support" our  
statement rather than agree with it.

David accepts this from Elie as friendly

Gary says that Zionists are behind the anti-Sudan activism

There are no concerns about points two and three so those are adopted

Grace is concerned about putting Palestine on every general flyer

Bill suggests a special piece of literature rather than putting Sudan  
in every piece of literature.

someone points out that point one asks rather than requires  
candidates to make Palestine a campaign issue.

Grace stands aside on her concern

Lisa is concerned that anti-zionist activists will be too visible at  
campaign events if we adopt point one

David replies that anti-zionist activism is already ok at campaign  
events since the party has anti-zionist positions.

Lisa stands aside

Elie asks that point one be modified to ask candidates to include  
Lebanon as well as Palestine in their campaign issues.

David accepts Elie's addition as a friendly amendment since the  
proposal also includes requiring the candidates to support our  
Palestine statement.

At this point there are no outstanding concerns so Point One is  
adopted as well

Wording:

" The GRP State Committee asks our slate-of-candidates to make  
Palestine and Lebanon campaign issues, e.g., by putting a line on  
their flyers saying 'Divest from Israel, not from Sudan'

The GRP will ask the GPUS to take a position recognizing the recent  
history of US imperialist intervention in Sudan and opposing  
divestment from Sudan and opposing expanded foreign military  
intervention in Sudan, i.e., something similar to the GRP position.

GRP requires all candidates endorsed by GRP to support our statement  
on Palestine (just like we require them to support equal marriage,  
they should also be opposed to Israeli apartheid in Palestine.)"

18. Elections Part 2

Lloyd is nominated  by David, Dan (didn't get which Dan), Lisa, Gary  
and Paul for a Diversity seat on Adcom

Martina is nominated by Lloyd, Gary, Paul, Grace and annie for a  
Diversity seat on Adcom

annie is nominated by David, Elie, Bill, Owen and Dan Kontoff for co- 
chair of the GRP

Dan Kontoff is nominated by Owen, Bill, annie, Grace and Gary for  
Fundraising Director

We fill out ballots

All four candidates are elected to Adcom

The voting details are:

for Fundraising Director: 17 votes for Dan K, one vote for NOTO (None  
Of The Others)
for co-chair: 13 votes for annie, 5 votes for NOTO
for Diversity Rep to Adcom: 18 votes for Lloyd, zero votes for NOTO
for Diversity Rep to Adcom: 17 votes for Martina, one vote for NOTO

19. Reports Part 3

19.1 Candidate Campaign Report from Owen

Owen needs help to make campaign phone calls and to hold signs on  
election day.

Someone suggests that Owen should have people hold signs on primary  
day as well

20 adjournment at 4 PM