[NV Greens] Aug. 14 Executive Council Meeting Minutes

[charleslaws at att.net]

Green to All,

Thanks for the minutes Jason. 
 
Congratulations, an agenda! and process! I'm impressed, you sure this was a Green meeting? :-)

Re: Washoe meeting places..  If open, and space not reserved, the downtown or northwest Washoe Co. libraries are good.  Commercial sites are expensive, the pizza joint on 4th has a back room, also the meeting room of PLAN are good sites..  we've used the lobby at the Nuggett which is good for 6-10 people, a little distracting but acceptable.  Reno folks ought to be able to set this up.  Paul J and Kathy Rusco might be able to do it..  [Hmmm?] [ Barb: please say hi to Paul E. for me.. that ought to shake him up.. if he hasn't read this..] [Tracy: when you get to Paul J. ask him for the Tulsa write up. -it's my standing joke.]  Another possibility is that -if- connections can be made and the Campus Greens are willing they can [have in the past] host a meeting at the J.T.Student Union.  I've also managed to arrange class rooms, a little more bureaucratic process tho.

Re: > IV. Discussion of meeting guidelines and rules
Very nice!
One further process suggestion, invite new participants to arrive a half hour earlier than the business / planning meeting.  With refreshments in hand, have someone available to one walk through the consensus process and agenda before the main meeting..  I haven't seen many Green meetings actually "initiate" or welcome newcomers into the action, and it inevitable becomes required and is a source of distraction. Or disruption. I sometime have thought it was an abuse of the new people to hit them with an unfamiliar situation and expect them to fit in. Another observation: Everyone comes with their agenda _and real need to be heard_ . That has to happen, ie they have to know they've been heard, before they can hear others..

Re: >V. Discussion of fundraising and outreach ideas statewide
I think this is very good..  while Barb, Charles, and Tracy are at it, and in contact with GPUS, what do you think about proposing to them that they start setting up a Green "credit" card.  Organizations -lots- now doing it receive ~1% of the sales by the holders.. How many of you use credit cards? Well? other than we don't really want to support consumerist corporations, we are all part of the capitalist economy and ought to use its tools to our advantage.

Re: > VI. Discussion of delegate replacement  
The GPUS working committees are not limited to delegates.  The state party delegates are the National Committee.  State parties can appoint others to the committees, in most cases. I was appointed to the platform committee, and am participating.  They're going through a transition, -finally getting to committee co-chair and secretary selections that were supposed to be done at the convention last year-- [known as green time] -- and are trying to get some brochures done etc. Would someone like to join me in this activity? Would you like to replace me? Re: Platform, I've seen that the link to the platform on nevadagreenparty has been removed..?? The link to the national should be viable.. http://www.gp.org/platform.shtml.

While on the website..  Please find someone else to be media contact.. there have been maybe two requests in the last year, but someone else should be available to respond more quickly.  

Thanks.
Charles Laws, Washoe & Switzerland


-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: nvgreen-request at dasbistro.com
...
> From: Jason Halprin <jhalprin at clarkcountygreens.org>
> Subject: [NV Greens] Aug. 14 Executive Council Meeting Minutes
...
> Executive Council Meeting
>    ---Minutes---
> August 14, 2005
> 
> ***************************************
> Next Executive Council Meeting will be:
> 
> Saturday, September 17, 2005
> Starts at Noon
> At Barb's place
> 
> Discussion and preparation for October 15 
> General Meeting will be top priority at 
> next Executive Council meeting.  Greens 
> in Washoe county are encouraged to participate.
> ***************************************
> 
> Meeting Started at 12:05
> 
> In attendance were Barb, Kimberley, Tracy, Charles, Jason, and Maria
> with five out of the seven Executive Council members making a quorum.
> 
> I. Greetings/Introductions
> II. Approve Agenda, make additions, deletions, etc. - 10 mins.
> III. Announcements/Updates - 10 mins
> IV. Discussion of meeting guidelines and rules - 10 mins
> V. Discussion of fundraising and outreach ideas statewide - 20 mins
> VI. Discussion of delegate replacement - 10 mins.
> VII. Date of next GM and discussion of what we need for this meeting -
> 10 mins.
> VIII. Discussion of Jason's proposal of dates for next year's meetings -
> 10 mins
> IX. Discussion of meeting places - 5 mins
> X. Picnic - 10 mins.
> XI. Open forum - 3 mins. per person - 30 mins
> XII. Summarizing and Debriefing - 5 mins.
> 
> 100 minutes for Agenda items - 30 minutes left for open discussion
> 
> 
> I. Greetings/Introductions
> We discussed the purpose of Executive Council:
> Purpose of Executive Council meetings is to take care of the
> administrative details of the Green Party of Nevada.  The focus at
> executive meetings needs to be on sticking to the agenda and moving
> forward by making decisions.  We would like participants at the
> Executive Council meeting to be respectful of the duties of the
> Executive Council.
> 
> We explained the consensus process:
> Five basic steps.  
> 
> 1) Agenda Item is proposed and presented by individual with concern.
> 2) Round of clarifying questions regarding the proposal.
> 3) Once proposal is clarified, there is a round of concerns regarding
> the proposal. Friendly amendments can be made
> 4) Test for consensus,
> 5) People can state their Standing Aside or Blocking concerns and the
> individual with the concern may withdraw the proposal if needed
> 
> 
> II. Approve Agenda, make additions, deletions, etc. 
> 
> 
> III. Announcements/Updates
> 
> Banking Situation: Barb has contacted Nevada State Bank because they are
> the only bank that doesn't charge a fee.  Any balance we would have had
> would be reduced through fees if the bank account is at another bank. 
> Boulder Dam credit union might be a reasonable choice.
> 
> PROPOSAL --> Charles will look into the Boulder Dam credit union and
> coordinate with Barb about opening the account and they are empowered
> to decide whether or not the credit union would be a suitable place to
> invest our money. -- Reached Consensus, no blocks, no stand asides
> 
> IV. Discussion of meeting guidelines and rules
> 
> PROPOSAL --> To hand out Meeting Guidelines at every meeting, explain
> the purpose of Executive Council Meetings, explain consensus process,
> and verbally go through the meeting guidelines at the start of
> meetings.  -- Reached Consensus, no blocks, no stand asides
> 
> 
> V. Discussion of fundraising and outreach ideas statewide
> 
> PROPOSAL --> Barb, Charles, and Tracy will find out details of
> card-carrying member program, create a draft of an e-mail to encourage
> folks through e-mail lists to go to the gpus.org website and sign up as
> a card-carrying member so the Green Party of Nevada can get half of the
> $35 membership fee, and bring draft with program information back to
> the next Executive Council meeting.  -- Reached Consensus, no blocks,
> no stand asides
> 
> Proposals discussed but not consensed to: 
> 
> Need to table more, encourage indivduals within each county to table,
> need pamphlets, fliers, leaflets
> 
> Form a standing Outreach Committee that will work with registered Greens
> in various counties to conduct outreach.
> 
> Kimberley mentioned some great craft ideas and that these would be
> inexpensive.  She also mentioned that we could have a craft fair where
> all of us could participate and make the crafts to offer for donations
> at the Picnic.
> 
> (Break)
> 
> VI. Discussion of delegate replacement  
> 
> Tabled for discussion about budget:
> 
> (We were not clear as to how to allocate donations into this fund versus
> other expenses we might have.)
>  
> PROPOSAL --> The Executive Council will create a fund to be used to send
> two delegates to the national convention each year.  
> 
> Tabled for discussion and for the general meeting: 
> 
> (We realized that this decision would have to be made at a general
> meeting by all registered Greens, not just by the Executive Council)
> 
> PROPOSAL --> Elect two delegates (one from Executive Council and one can
> be any registered Green) from the Green Party of Nevada to the national
> convention at the first general meeting after the spring equinox.  This
> state meeting will vote on the various issues being discussed at the
> national convention and the delegates will be responsible for
> communicating these views to the national convention.  Delegates will
> be responsible for representing registered Greens in Nevada at the
> National Convention.
> 
> VII. Date of next GM and discussion of what we need for this meeting -
> 10 mins. 
> 
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING IS ON 
> SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2005 FROM 
> NOON to 4:00 PM
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> 
> Still need a location that can accomodate:
> 
> 50 people in each county
> Reservation from noon to 5:00 p.m.
> With a speakerphone
> 
> --Room in Clark County--
> Charles - Community College
> Barb - Clark County Library
> Maria - Churches and Community Centers
> Jason - professional spaces
> 
> --Room in Washoe County--
> Barb will contact Paul E.
> Tracy will contact Paul J.
> Tracy will contact casinos in Reno
> 
> Proposal to have another Executive Council meeting on the Saturday,
> September 17, 12 p.m. at Barb's place.  -- Reached Consensus, no
> blocks, no stand asides
> 
> VIII. Discussion of Jason's proposal of dates for next year's meetings 
> IX. Discussion of meeting places - discussed above in VII.
> 
> X. Picnic
> 
> Pins, t-shirts, bumper stickers
> Kimberley will create a big sign
> Charles will bring voter registration forms
> Jason will bottom-line the information table
> Charles will give his press list to Barb.
> Tracy will get green balloons, tablecloths, thumbtacks, tape
> Everyone will go to Sunset park to make sure Picnic area 'C' sign is
> visible.
> 
> XII. Summarizing and Debriefing 
> 
> need to have less items on the agenda
> this meeting was much better organized
> felt official with formal consensus
> it's an improvement from last meeting
> it was a good meeting
> the rules are good and necessary
> there was too much on the agenda
> too formal and was a waste of time going through formal consensus with
> so few people present
> need to cut down on agenda items
> need more time per agenda item
> much better, moving forward
> 
> 
> Meeting ended at 2:55 p.m.
> Minutes recorded by Jason Halprin
> 
> 
> ***************************************
> Next Executive Council Meeting will be:
> 
> Saturday, September 17, 2005
> Starts at Noon
> At Barb's place
> 
> Discussion and preparation for October 15 
> General Meeting will be top priority at 
> next Executive Council meeting.  Greens 
> in Washoe county are encouraged to participate.
> ***************************************
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TO REPLY TO THE LIST, click mailto:nvgreen at dasbistro.com.  
> TO REPLY TO SENDER ONLY, click your reply button in your email program.
> 
> This is a message posted to the Nevada Green Party mailing list (digest mode)
> Nvgreen at dasbistro.com
> http://www.dasbistro.com/mailman/listinfo/nvgreen
> 
> Other Nevada Greens lists:
> Clark County Green Party
> http://www.dasbistro.com/mailman/listinfo/clarkgreen/
> 
> Lane Startin for Congress
> http://www.dasbistro.com/mailman/listinfo/lanestartin/
> 
> End of Nvgreen Digest, Vol 26, Issue 7
> **************************************