August 21, 2005, Meeting of the Triangle Area Green Party
Began at 4:45; Present: Elena, Ed, Hart, Jerry, Wayne, Susan (late); Guest: Stephanie from Code Pink
Minutes:
Following introductions, Stephanie explained two projects Code Pink is doing this fall for which she hoped the Trigreens would participate in:
1) Working with the USO at its RDU facility, talking to military service personnel going to and coming from Iraq.
2) Distributing information about public school students' right to opt out of the provision in the No Child Left Behind legislation that allows their names, addresses, etc., to be given military recruiters. ÊThere's considerable misunderstanding at some schools about how the process works, though Durham and Chapel Hills schools are making the two forms available to parents.
ÊWayne asked what the USO's attitude was toward progressives working with them. ÊNo clear answer emarges, and Stephanie said CP is still learning itself and that she'll tell us when they themselves find out.
Elena and Hart reported on the measures taken at the last EC meeting (July 30 in Asheville):
1. Joseph Waters (Greenville) is the new Secretary of the NCGP.
2. A bylaw change was drafted by Elena, Hart, and Rosalie to reorient the EC toward closer and more supportive relationship with local chapters.
Ê a. It will be called the "Coordinating Committee," and its voting members will consist of the elected officers (minus the asst. treasurer and asst. secretary) and two representatives from each regional chapter. ÊMeetings will be open to all.
Ê b. It is to meet twice each year outside the semi-annual statewide Gatherings and to take part in a monthly conference call.
Ê c. It was proposed to go into effect after the October 8 Gathering, but how this change will affect the terms of the newly elected officers still has to be established.
4. Two new paid interns will assist Hart with membership work and media; the Newsletter editor will also receive a stipend.
5. Ongoing funding for the NCGP is recommended to be raised by arranging regular, sustaining contributions from members.
6. The next Gathering will be held in Asheville on Oct. 8.
7. The NCGP has been incorporated, which limits its liability and its legal vulnerability.
8. ÊA committee permitting the NCGP legally to receive out-of-state contributions (as from the USGP) will be established.
9. By September, the NCGP will have a state office in Raleigh, on Chamberlain, near Wade and Oberlin.
As Co-Chair of the USGP's Peace Committee (name please?), Elena is deeply involved in organizing a unified Green "convergence" at the September 24 antiwar meeting in Washington D.C. ÊShe proposed organizing a Green Caravan from the Triangle and the state, and various alternative transportation plans were discussed. ÊWayne will look into renting a bio-diesel bus. ÊJerry will inquire about renting a university bus.
Announcements:
1) The HB 88 (reducing requirements for new parties to gain Êballot access) will be considered by the House Finance Committee at 8:30 am, Tuesday, Aug. 23, in LOB, Rm 544.
(Ed, Jerry, Wayne, Susan divided up the list of 34 Committee members to urge each of them to vote the bill out of committee.)
2) A Strategy meeting will be held on what to do after the vote on Wed., Aug. 24, 5:30, at the Institute for Southern Studies in Durham.
3) A Walmart is coming to Chatham Co., and local Greens and others are already active in opposing it. ÊSuggested that the NC State Campus Greens get involved in the campaign against the Walton juggernaut.
4) What's Up with the Green button designs that Jan sent around, all universally praised? ÊHart has ordered "Impeach WMD LIARS" buttons, which he's selling to raise money for the NCGP.