TITLE: [[Provide a short, descriptive title for the proposal.]]

PROPOSAL TO UPDATE GRP BYLAWS 

SECTION 6 : CONVENTIONS

SPONSORS: [[List the sponsors of the proposal. Proposals must be sponsored by two StateCom members or a local chapter.]]

Maureen Doyle

Henry Rose

VETTING COMMITTEES: [[List the working committees that the sponsor feels are relevant to and will contact for the vetting of this proposal.]]

Procedures

StateCom

FLOOR MANAGER: [[List the name and contact information for one person who will manage the process for this proposal. This person will be the single point of contact for receiving comments on the proposal and providing decisions such as whether to accept a friendly amendment. They must be in attendance at the StateCom meeting when the proposal is under consideration. ]]  Aaron Dell

SHEPHERD: List one person who will serve as “shepherd” to monitor the implementation of the proposal after it is adopted.

Cheryl Rose

SUMMARY: [[Provide a short (< 40 word) summary of the purpose and implications of the proposal. ]]

• This is a rewording and organization of the current bylaws Section 6 to make it more consistent and clear and thus, easier to read and follow. 

• There is a new requirement for the Convention Planning Committee to submit, get approval for, and follow a budget and submit receipts for expenditures to the State Committee; and also to implement a method for proxy voting for delegates unable to attend in person; 

• Delegates to the convention must be nominated by either a chapter or a committee; and only Delegates can vote at the convention. Chapters and committees can nominate an unlimited number of delegates. This may have to be changed if we scale up and have many more members in many more towns.

• The GRP Convention Rules document, which appears to never have been finalized will be reviewed and updated to be consistent with these bylaws

 BACKGROUND: [[Provide the basic background on the proposal. What will it accomplish? Why is it written with these particular provisions? Is it critical that it be adopted? ]]

The current bylaws and Rules documents have some inconsistencies and some things are not clearly understandable. Since the Annual Convention is coming up, it would be extremely helpful to have this clarity and consistency of roles, rules and responsibilities in place. 

TEXT OF PROPOSAL: [[ Provide the exact text that will be implemented if StateCom adopts the proposal. If funds are being appropriated, specify that here. Note that text that appears elsewhere in the proposal will NOT be officially adopted when StateCom votes on the proposal. ]] Replace current bylaws section 6 with the following:

PROPOSAL TO UPDATE GRP BYLAWS 

SECTION 6 : CONVENTIONS

PROPOSAL TO UPDATE GRP BYLAWS 

SECTION 6 : CONVENTIONS

1. State Conventions 

6.1 Definition

The State Convention is the highest authority body of the Green-Rainbow Party and can override decisions of the State Committee by majority vote.  

6.2 Purpose

Conventions serve to ensure that the voices of the members are heard. A state convention may have these purposes: 

• set policy; 
• change the party platform or endorse positions; 
• nominate candidates; 

• elect directors and members of the Administrative Committee and delegates to the National Committee; 
• change the bylaws; and
• decide any other matter as specified in these bylaws.

6.3 Convening

6.3.1 A state convention can be convened in either of the   

   following ways: 

• by a 2/3 vote of the State Committee; 
• by majority votes of the members of ⅔ of the recognized Green-Rainbow chapters.

6.3.2 The Green-Rainbow Party shall hold at least one state convention every year. In a year with a federal election, the GRP shall hold its convention within the 30 days after the GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention. In all other years, the State Committee may set a date no later than the end of November.

6.3.3 The convention date must be publicized to all members at least 3 months before the convention date. Promotion shall include but is not limited to:

• All chapters
• All committees
• All caucuses
• GRP Newsletter
• GRP Website

6.4 Roles and Responsibilities

6.4.1 All members are entitled to participate in the convention.

6.4.2 Only Convention Delegates may vote at the convention. Chapters, Committees and Caucuses may elect an unlimited number of delegates to a convention.

6.4.3 The Co-Chairs and Secretary of the Party shall be the Facilitators and Secretary of the Convention until and unless they are unable to serve, in which case the Administrative Committee shall choose other officers.

6.4.4 The State Committee shall: 

1. appoint the members of the Convention Planning Committee (CPC);
2. review convention proposals and share with CPC all that adequately specify implementable actions and are consistent with GRP Bylaws 
3. have or can delegate to the Administrative Committee final approval of all matters, including financial, relating to the conduct of the State Convention; 
4. adopt Convention Rules provided such rules do not contradict these bylaws.

6.4.5 The CPC shall: 

1. develop the State Convention's agenda; 
2. follow the Convention Rules adopted by the State Committee; 
3. set the deadlines and processes for nominations and elections of officers, submission of delegate names, and submission of proposals 
4. propose and follow a convention budget;
5. submit receipts for expenditures to the State Committee;
6. implement a method for remote participation for delegates unable to attend in person;
7. secure the venue;
8. publicize the convention; 
9. disseminate the agenda and proposals; 
10. host the convention;
11. handle sign-in of attendees; and
12. credentialing of delegates.

IMPLEMENTATION: [[List the persons or committees that must act to implement the proposal. What do they have to do and what are their deadlines for action? This helps StateCom assess whether the party has the staff and volunteer resources to implement the proposal. It also alerts those persons who will be asked to act if the proposal is adopted. ]]

Procedures Committee, Secretaries - make sure Bylaws are appropriately updated

StateCom, AdCom, CPC - implement bylaw as written

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: [[ Describe the impacts on GRP budgeting that are expected from this proposal. Estimate total expenses or income expected from adoption of the proposal. If this proposal will be funded through an item that it already in the GRP budget, so note. Note that any appropriation required by this proposal must be included in the TEXT OF PROPOSAL section. ]] $0

REFERENCES AND ATTACHMENTS: [[ Provide references (with hyperlinks if possible) that assist StateCom in understanding and evaluating the proposal. Attach any additional explanatory information here as numbered attachment sections. ]]

Current bylaws

Current convention Rules

TITLE: [[Provide a short, descriptive title for the proposal.]]

Proposed Update GRP Bylaws -  Section 4 Replacement

SPONSORS: [[List the sponsors of the proposal. Proposals must be sponsored by two StateCom members or a local chapter.]]

Lois Gagnon, Gus Steeves 

Procedures Committee voted  6 in favor:1 against:1 abstained

VETTING COMMITTEES: [[List the working committees that the sponsor feels are relevant to and will contact for the vetting of this proposal.]]

Procedures

Membership

FLOOR MANAGER: [[List the name and contact information for one person who will manage the process for this proposal. This person will be the single point of contact for receiving comments on the proposal and providing decisions such as whether to accept a friendly amendment. They must be in attendance at the StateCom meeting when the proposal is under consideration. ]]

Gus Steeves

SHEPHERD: List one person who will serve as “shepherd” to monitor the implementation of the proposal after it is adopted.

Cheryl Rose

SUMMARY: [[Provide a short (< 40 word) summary of the purpose and implications of the proposal. ]]

The proposed Section 4 defines membership uniquely as ‘registered J - Green-Rainbow party’.

A separate section will be written for removal from appointed or elected positions.

BACKGROUND: [[Provide the basic background on the proposal. What will it accomplish? Why is it written with these particular provisions? Is it critical that it be adopted? ]]

The current Section 4 is titled Membership Rights, Responsibilities, Removal. It defines ‘membership’ too broadly rather than how membership in a political party is commonly defined. The current definition of ‘membership’ includes those 

• registered Rainbow Coalition (F designation) or GPUSA (G designation) in Massachusetts through November 30, 2003; 
•  and those who pay dues to the Green-Rainbow Party, or receive a fee waiver if they are active participants in the Green-Rainbow Party and are unable to pay due to economic constraints.

It is critical that we fix this section of the GRP bylaws. We could be threatened if we allow G, F registrants or those paying dues to participate as members in the business of the GRP, e.g. forming and leading chapters, committees, and voting on bylaws and policy. 

In addition, the current definition has a Removal section. It’s not possible for the GRP to control voters’ party registration. We need a separate section for removal from elected and appointed positions but not ‘membership’ per se.

The Green-Rainbow party needs to have thousands more registered-J voters in order to attain ‘political party’ status. Requiring voters to register J in order to have the privileges of ‘membership’ is one simple way to incentivize more voters to register J. And it will make it easier for those registered J to participate in party functions

Finally, the definition of membership in a political party is commonly understood as registering for that party

TEXT OF PROPOSAL: [[ Provide the exact text that will be implemented if StateCom adopts the proposal. If funds are being appropriated, specify that here. Note that text that appears elsewhere in the proposal will NOT be officially adopted when StateCom votes on the proposal. ]]

This proposal is to replace the current Section 4 of the GRP bylaws,  Membership Rights, Responsibilities, Removal with:

SECTON 4: Membership

4.1 Massachusetts residents who are registered as Green-Rainbow Party (J designation) voters are Green-Rainbow Party members; 

4.2. Members can participate in the decision-making process of the Green-Rainbow Party in the following manner: 

• Help form and participate in Green-Rainbow Party chapters; 
• Participate in GRP working committees and caucuses;
• Be elected or appointed as a representative to the GRP State Committee; 
• Be elected as a representative to the GRP Administrative Committee; 
• Participate in GRP and GPUS Conventions under the bylaws that govern them;
• Vote at or be elected as a delegate to the GPUS National Committee, other GPUS bodies and/or the Presidential Nominating Convention; 
• Run for office as a Green-Rainbow Party candidate.

and to write a separate bylaw section to address the process of removal of members from elected or appointed positions.

IMPLEMENTATION: [[List the persons or committees that must act to implement the proposal. What do they have to do and what are their deadlines for action? This helps StateCom assess whether the party has the staff and volunteer resources to implement the proposal. It also alerts those persons who will be asked to act if the proposal is adopted. ]]

Procedures, GRP Secretary

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: [[ Describe the impacts on GRP budgeting that are expected from this proposal. Estimate total expenses or income expected from adoption of the proposal. If this proposal will be funded through an item that it already in the GRP budget, so note. Note that any appropriation required by this proposal must be included in the TEXT OF PROPOSAL section. ]]

$0

REFERENCES AND ATTACHMENTS: [[ Provide references (with hyperlinks if possible) that assist StateCom in understanding and evaluating the proposal. Attach any additional explanatory information here as numbered attachment sections. ]]

GRP Bylaws

Secretary of the Commonwealth - Directory of Political Parties

Merriam Webster definition of enroll (being a member of )

SPONSORS: PENELOPE HERIDEEN, CHERYL ROSE

VETTING COMMITTEES: MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS

FLOOR MANAGER: CHERYL ROSE [email protected] 413-35-7729

SHEPHERD: BRIAN MULHEARN

SUMMARY: PURPOSE: TO UPDATE LOGO TO BETTER COMMUNICATE GRP VALUES.

IMPLICATIONS: ATTRACT MORE MEMBERS, INCREASE MERCH SALES

BACKGROUND: THE CURRENT LOGO WITH THE MULTI-COLORED RAINBOW HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE PRIDE MOVEMENT, PRESENTING GRP AS HAVING A NARROW SCOPE. THE SUNFLOWER BETTER TIES US TO THE GPUS AND REFLECTS A BROADER AGENDA. ‘GREEN-RAINBOW’ IS CONFUSING WITH RESPECT TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GPUS AND HIGHLIGHTS ‘RAINBOW’ MORE THAN IS FITTING. ‘MASSGREENS’ WITH SUBTEXT OF ‘GREEN-RAINBOW’ BETTER REFLECTS THE BROADER AGENDA.

TEXT OF PROPOSAL: THE MA GRP WILL ADOPT A NEW LOGO, LEAF WITH SUNFLOWER, MASSGREENS WITH GREEN-RAINBOW SUBTEXT* TO REPLACE THE EXISTING LEAF WITH RAINBOW LOGO, TO BETTER COMMUNICATE OUR BROADER AGENDA. *

IMPLEMENTATION: COMMUNICATIONS, MEMBERSHIP

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: EXPENSE:$0

REFERENCES AND ATTACHMENTS: Sunflower

SPONSORS: [[List the sponsors of the proposal. Proposals must be sponsored by two StateCom members or a local chapter.]] Maureen Doyle and ______________.

VETTING COMMITTEES: [[List the working committees that the sponsor feels are relevant to and will contact for the vetting of this proposal.]] Administrative Committee (AdCom) for vetting and Statecom (State of MA Committee) for final approval.

FLOOR MANAGER: [[List the name and contact information for one person who will manage the process for this proposal. This person will be the single point of contact for receiving comments on the proposal and providing decisions such as whether to accept a friendly amendment. They must be in attendance at the StateCom meeting when the proposal is under consideration. ]]

SHEPHERD: List one person who will serve as “shepherd” to monitor the implementation of the proposal after it is adopted.
Maureen Doyle [email protected], 508-764-8042

SUMMARY: [[Provide a short (< 40 word) summary of the purpose and implications of the proposal. ]] Instead of running one all encompassing secretary, the proposal is to have two, called co-secretaries. We have co-chairs for our party and for each committee. This allows for more democracy and decentralization because the two individuals can cover different meetings and lighten the load of this volunteer position without affecting their outside lives too much.

BACKGROUND: The secretary position, a volunteer position, is quite complex. It is not just taking minutes from statecom and administrative committee but entails also :
"9.19. Duties of the secretary shall be to:

Ensure that minutes are recorded at all Green-Rainbow Party meetings;
Distribute minutes to members in a timely manner;
Keep the Green-rainbow Party Bylaws up-to-date;
Receive materials and submit them to AdCom for certifying GRP chapters (see 7.3). "(https://www.green-rainbow.org/grp_position_description)
as well as updating the roster of statecom and staying abreast of the state parties activities to seek intervention from co-chairs or national GPUS.

Additional duties are listed in the Secretary's Handbook:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ixnp6qRRRheThMXlfCQSxlByf7_4tUPS/edit (as outlined in Table 2-1). When we are a formally recognized party in mA (also referred to "as having ballot status") there are numerous duties that need to be performed to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. In addition, there are many email inquiries from prospective members and possibly press that need to be attended to quickly.
 implement the proposal. It also alerts those persons who will be asked to act if the proposal is adopted. ]] This will need to be included in the Green- Rainbow Party bylaws after being vetted by Ad Com and passed by State Com.