SPONSORS: Matthew Andrews, Fundraising and Finance Committee

VETTING COMMITTEES: Fundraising and Finance Committee; Membership Diversity and Volunteer Recruitment Committee

FLOOR MANAGER: Matthew Andrews

SHEPHERD: Matthew Andrews

SUMMARY: Update the 2018 Membership Dues policy to improve implementation and reach our financial goals.

BACKGROUND: The Membership Dues policy for 2018 and 2019 has not been implemented beyond our core membership, most of whom already donate to the GRP. Consequently, the dues policy has failed to raise significant new money and our budget for 2020 faces a $6,000 deficet. Each member who is able to pay ought to take some responsibility for the financial health of the party. In order to expand our dues program, it must be integrated into the work and culture of our party at every level.

TEXT OF PROPOSAL: As of June 2020 the dues scale shall be updated to $50/year Supporter, $35/year General, $20/year Student, $10/year Low Income. The waiver option for hardship or the legally restricted shall remain in effect. Chapters shall be responsible for making the current Annual Dues form available at all events where we are legally allowed to collect money, and asking people to pay dues as part of the enrollment of new members. Chapters should entrust their local Secretary and/or Treasurer with collecting this money, recording it, and passing it along to the GRP Treasurer. Efforts to collect dues and their results should be included in quarterly chapter reports to StateCom. The Treasurer shall include dues collection in his or her quarterly report to StateCom. The report shall include the total number of dues paying members over the past year, and other trends such as whether collection is going up or down. The Secretary and Treasurer should collaborate to ensure that dues are recorded in our membership database and that an automated renewal reminder email is sent after a year. The Fundraising and Finance Committee shall set a goal for the number of dues paying members and the amount of money to be raised by dues, along with a compelling explanation of why it is necessary, and a breakdown of where they expect the dues to be collected. This plan will be submitted to AdCom for final approval and relevant parts sent to chapters and working committees for implementation. The Membership Diversity and Volunteer Recruitment Committee will establish a protocol and message for soliciting dues at chapter meetings or other in person events. This plan will be submitted to AdCom for final approval and sent to chapters for implementation.

IMPLEMENTATION: As outlined in the text of the proposal, this policy will require participation from the Secretary, Treasurer, chapters, AdCom, Fundraising and Finance Committee, and the Membership Diversity and Volunteer Recruitment Committee.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The additional expenses will be minimal. This proposal is about including a dues collection message in the work that we already do. If we can get 100 people to pay $25 on average, that will raise $2,500.

Sponsor: John Blumenstiel

Vetting Committees: To Be: Membership/MDVC, Adcom

Floor Manager: John Blumenstiel

Shephard: John Blumenstiel

Summary: -The purpose of this line item is to provide funds to support local chapter participation in larger, major regional rallies/demonstrations/speak outs or teach-ins/concerts, etc.( to be determined by the local chapters involved). for informing the public about our party.

Background: Proposal text: Implementation: The following is a request from MDVR. It was inadvertently left out of the original MDEEVC request filed with StateCom. These funds are to be utilized at the local chapter's discretion and for the purpose of increasing statewide exposure to the MASS GRP. The notion would be to support 3 major events ( eastern Ma, central Ma and western Ma.) . In addition to the regional event(s) supported by these funds, it would be hoped that with sufficient advance planning and awareness throughout the state, that statewide members would plan to support the chosen events with their attendance and volunteer support for the local chapters.

-By state-level funding for local chapters, we act to reinforce the statewide nature of the party, hopefully to build increased communication among the chapters and statewide membership.

-By including these funds in a statewide, annual budget we enhance advanced planning for events and thus increase the potential of increased effectiveness. Financial Implications: $1,000 cost to be evenly distributed statewide. References and Attachments:

Sponsor/Shephard/Floor Manager: Brian Cady [email protected] 617-943-2853

Co-Sponsor: Elie Yarden

Vetting Committees: To be: Finance and Fundraising Comm. Adcom

Summary: Annual budgeting should be guided by, and fundraising informed by, an annual plan of action, which should pursue agreed-upon, stated goals. Goals -> Plan -> Budget & Fundraising. Below are sketched a schedule of steps to annually build goals, a plan and a budget, and to guide fundraising.

1. Background: Proposed Process: Overview:

A. The elected Co-chairs select potential goals, and propose a plan to get there – They have been elected by the annual convention. and represent it, which gives them authority.
B. Fall Statecomm agrees to, or modifies, those goals.
C. Working committees and Chapters review the plan, in light of the goals, and suggest plan changes.
D. Then Adcom collects and assembles a revised plan, and return these to chapters and working committees.
E. Working Committees and Chapters use goals and plan to make working committee and Chapter budget proposals.
F. Then FinFundComm assembles the various budget proposals into an annual budget,
G. Adcom sequences budget-line items by priority into a prioritized proposed budget.
H. Winter Statecom addresses this proposed budget and passes a budget.

2. Text of proposal & Implementation: Protocol for Annual Goals, Plan, Fundraising and Budget – Proposed Schedule:

Early-Sept: Co-chairs proposes next year’s goals, & plan; prepare goals for Fall Statecom.
Mid-Sept: Statecom selects & approves annual goals. **Goals Done**.
Early-Oct: Adcom asks Working committees, local chapters to review, & comment on annual plan.
Late-Oct: Adcom revises, plan, returns to working committees. **Plan Done**.
Early-Nov: Working Comittees respond to revised goals & plan with Committee budgets.
Mid-Nov: Adcom receives plan and committee budgets, conveys budgets to FinFundComm.
Early Dec: FinFundcomm assembles, from Committee budgets, the next year’s budget.
Late-Dec: Adcom receives and reviews plan and budget, & sequences budget items by priority.
Early-Jan: 1st Statecom meeting of the year addresses the year’s plan and the year’s budget. **Budget Done**.
Mid-Jan: FinFundComm begins Spring Fundraising, with mailing/dialing.
Early-Feb: Donors receive Spring Fundraising Appeal mailing.
March: Donations/Pledges received. **Fundraising Done**.

Financial Implications: Vary by year, goals, plan, budget & fundraising success.