Rapid Response Protocol

Title: Rapid Response Protocol

Proposal Shepherd: Daphne Stevens, Worcester

Co-Sponsors: Wes Nickerson, Elie Yarden, Danny Factor

Vetting Committees: Adcom

Revised: January 7, 2015

 

Background: In the fast-paced news cycle of contemporary politics, events and issues change rapidly. In order for the Green-Rainbow Party to improve its visibility and relevance, it needs to respond rapidly to current events. The Green-Rainbow Party many times misses out on opportunities to endorse and participate in events such as marches, rallies, conferences, and festivals, because of a slow decision-making process, that often involves going through one or more committees, that only meet once every two weeks or even less often. This proposal would empower the Co-Chairs of the Party, at their discretion, to take action if needed between meetings of Adcom or other committees, if an event is in keeping with GRP values and previous GRP participation or endorsement of similar events. This proposal would also require both co-chairs as well as the treasurer to all three agree before any money is spent which is not budgeted or approved by the rest of Adcom, in order to safeguard Party funds from unsound spending.

Proposal Text: Amend the GRP Bylaws by adding the following two sentences to Article 9.11 under Duties of the co-chairs shall be to: 

- Exercise discretion in expediting, endorsing, participating in, and promote important, urgent events, such as marches, rallies, conferences, and festivals, in the name of the Green-Rainbow Party, in keeping with GRP values, and previous GRP endorsed events. 

Delegate responsibilities as necessary for the sake of punctuality.

The full text of Article 9.11 as amended would read:

Duties of the co-chairs shall be to:

  • Act as official spokes people for the Green-Rainbow Party;
  • Set the agenda for administrative committee meetings;
  • Arrange for the facilitation of all state conventions, state committee and administrative committee meetings;
  • Notify other administrative committee members and directors of meetings;
  • Ensure that other administrative committee members and directors are performing their duties.
  • Exercise discretion in expediting, endorsing, participating in, and promote important, urgent events, in the name of the Green-Rainbow Party, such as marches, rallies, conferences, and festivals, in keeping with GRP values, and previous GRP endorsed events.
  • Delegate responsibilities as necessary for the sake of punctuality.

Amend Article 9.10 by replacing the words, "if two of the three agree" with the words, "if the co-chairs and treasurer agree" 

The full text of Article 9.10 as amended would read:

"All administrative committee members shall be able to oversee the work of all Green-Rainbow Party staff. The co-chairs and treasurer may authorize financial expenditure that are not in the budget and have not been approved by the rest of the administrative committee if the co-chairs and treasurer agree, provided such expenditures are ratified at next AdCom meeting."

Implementation: N/A

Budget Impact: No cost to modify the Bylaws themselves. There is an unknown potential cost of participation in more events. Any potential cost is covered by Article 9.10.

 

 


Showing 8 reactions

  • responded with submitted 2019-12-22 01:59:47 -0500
  • Brian Cady
    commented 2015-01-08 17:27:54 -0500
    I think Ian has a good point, that the FEC and OCPF regulations put disbursement responsibilities on the Treasurer alone, and it would be good to not put the treasurer in the difficult position of being ordered to write checks for expenditures that they see as invalid, and for which they will be held responsible. Let’s insist on a three-out-of-three threshold, so the treasurer won’t be conflicted. Alternately a two-person threshold of any co-chair and the treasurer could work.
  • Ian Jackson
    commented 2014-12-24 20:31:01 -0500
    The treasurer is legally held responsible for the the expenditure of funds in accordance with the FEC or OCPF regulations. Thus the co-chairs my not pay fees as needed nor may they delegate the task of the party treasurer.

    The threshold for reimbursement from the accounts is quite low.
  • Daniel Factor
    commented 2014-12-21 00:22:14 -0500
    I am happy to co-sponsor this proposal.
  • Ian Jackson
    commented 2014-12-19 21:35:09 -0500
    My understanding is that the bylaws say:
    “The co-chairs and treasurer may authorize financial expenditures that are not in the budget and have not been approved by the rest of the administrative committee if two of the three agree.”
  • Ian Jackson
    commented 2014-12-19 21:16:56 -0500
    The first one is a duty of the co-chairs already.

    I am concerned with 3. Legally the the Treasurer is responsible for insuring that the funds are spent in compliance with the law. The current procedure is that the co-chairs and Treasurer agree. The treasurer has the most up to date records of disbursement and donations.
  • Elie Yarden
    commented 2014-12-19 20:50:56 -0500
    I will be delighted to co-sponsor the proposal.
    Elie Yarden
    Middlesex
  • Wes Nickerson
    published this page in Winter 2015 Proposals 2014-12-19 17:43:13 -0500