[NV Greens] IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING GREEN PARTY OF NEVADA

Mon Jun 20 14:33:50 PDT 2005

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GREEN PARTY OF NEVADA MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2005 FROM
12:00 P.M. TO 2:00 P.M. 

IN LAS VEGAS: Clark County Library on Flamingo just east of Maryland
Parkway

IN RENO: Location To Be Determined

This meeting will be a teleconference and Internet chat between two
locations, Las Vegas and Reno.  If you cannot make it to either
location but would still like to participate in the meeting via phone
or Internet, please send an information request to Jason at
jhalprin at clarkcountygreens.org or call (702)460-6265.
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I'll tell you what ... this upcoming state meeting is IMPORTANT!  The
Green Party of Nevada is dangerously on the edge of non-existence. 
We've already lost ballot status for 2006 and without this state
meeting, we're looking to lose political party status as well.  If the
Green Party of Nevada loses political party status, there will be NO
political party in Nevada that focuses on the ten key values of the
Green Party.  Actually, there will be NO political party in Nevada that
gets even close!  Below, you will find a PROPOSAL along with the
reasoning behind this proposal and some more information regarding the
relationship between the county and the state parties. This is a
proposal to be discussed on the Internet and over the phone and is not
meant for public distribution.  So, let's start discussing! - Jason

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PROPOSAL
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Due to the recent decrease in Green Party of Nevada participation, I
propose that at the statewide meeting on July 17, 2005, we start from
scratch, electing all new Executive Council members, members that will
pledge to be actively involved in the decision-making and electoral
process of the Green Party of Nevada.  In the meantime, I propose that
the county parties hold a meeting prior to July 17 in order to elect
the county officers and certify folks to participate in the state
meeting according to each of the county party's by-laws.  If there are
not enough members to consitute a county party (as the case may be in
Washoe), then individuals from that county will be recognized during
the state meeting on July 17, 2005.

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STATE LEVEL
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The Green Party of Nevada's general meetings along with the Executive
Council serve to take care of the electoral process of the party. 
Finding candidates, coordinating with the Secretary of State's office,
filing important paperwork for the party and reminding candidates of
important dates, disbursing funds, raising funds for the party,
bulk-mailings, maintaining Green Party of Nevada website and e-mail
lists, etc...

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COUNTY LEVEL
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The Green Party of _____ County's general meetings serve to handle the
business of the Green Party of _____ county ... it's affiliation with
other groups, endorsements of other groups, meetings, picnics, county
website ane e-mail lists, and other actions/events hosted by or
co-hosted by the Green Party of _____ county.  Any money raised by
county parties is used by county parties and may be donated to the
Green Party of Nevada as needed.

The main difference between the county and state level is that the
electoral politics and interaction with the state and county election
departments takes place on the state level where the cultural and
community politics takes place on the county level.  I think this
distinction suggests that it's necessary to keep the county parties AND
the state party intact.  

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EXAMPLES
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For example ... Charles wants to run for a county office.  He lives in
Clark County.  He goes to the Clark County meetings and makes his
desires known to the party.  Clark County then notifies the Green Party
of Nevada who then contacts Charles.  If the Green Party of Nevada has
ballot status, Charles is invited to the state meeting where if
approved by Clark County party, he will be added to the list of
candidates.  If he were running for a statewide or federal office, he
would have to be approved by participants at the state meeting. 
However, he is only interested in a county position and must only be
approved by the Clark County party.  If the Green Party of Nevada does
not have ballot access, then the Green Party of Nevada may offer
assistance to Charles' individual efforts to gain ballot status at the
county, state, and federal levels.  Also, the Clark County party and
the Green Party of Nevada (through decisions by the Executive Council)
may help Charles with his campaign per election law.

Another example ... the Green Party of Nevada is approached by a civil
rights group asking for endorsement.  A proposal is made at the next
Executive Council meeting where input from all Green Party members will
be considered.  The Executive Council has the authority to make the
final decision.  If registered Greens or county parties disapprove of
the decision made by the Exectutive Council, these discussions must
take place at either a special general meeting or at the annual general
meeting where new members of the Executive Council may be elected.

One more example ... the Green Party of Washoe is holding their annual
picnic and needs to raise money for food.  They create a plan at a
Green Party of Washoe general meeting and carry out that plan to
collect the money and purchase what is necessary for the picnic.  No
involvement from the Green Party of Nevada or the Green Party of Clark
County is needed.

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SUMMARY OF EXAMPLES
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In all of these examples, the Green Party of Nevada is made up of
members from the county parties as well as registered Greens who are
not members of any county party.  The Executive Council is made up of
"two Co-chairs (one of each gender if possible), a Secretary,
Treasurer, and four at-large members selected at the first general
meeting following each spring equinox."  The county parties are made up
of registered Greens and others interested in building the Green Party
within their respective counties.  This separation of money and
decision-making is essential for at least three of the ten key values:
grassroots democracy, decentralization, and community-based economics. 

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IMPORTANCE OF BEING ACTIVE
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Also, it's important to note that according to the Green Party of Nevada
By-Laws in section 2.a., the Executive Council of the Green Party of
Nevada "shall be the administrative body of the Party, and shall have
responsibility to manage and conduct the day-to-day business and
operations of the Party between General Meetings."  This means that
contrary to what's been done in the past and in order for the Green
Party of Nevada to grow, the members of the Exectuive Council must be
actively involved and effective members of the Green Party of Nevada. 

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PURPOSE OF STATE MEETING ON JULY 17, 2005
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According to the Green Party of Nevada By-Laws:

"3. Authorities and responsibilities: The Meeting shall elect the
members of the Executive Council, amend the bylaws, nominate statewide
and federal candidates, and take whatever actions it chooses within the
limits of Nevada and Federal Law."

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PARTICIPATION AT STATE MEETING
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According to the Green Party of Nevada By-Laws:

"1.a. Member eligibility: The Green Party of Nevada is made up of:
         i.) individuals who have registered to vote and indicate Green
Party affiliation as per NRS 293.518, and 
         ii.) individuals who wish to participate regardless of their
political affiliation or registration status who have declared their
desire for affiliation and confirmed their commitment to the ten key
values of the Green Party in writing."

"1.b. The participants in General Meetings will consist of Green Party
Members certified by their County Party, or the Executive Council if
they reside where no County Party has become established."

So, if one wants to be a speaking and voting part of the upcoming state
meeting, one will first have to be certified by their County Party or
by the Executive Council (which doesn't seem to be active any longer). 
Certification involves verifying one's voter registration status and/or
confirming the written notification of "desire for affiliation and
confirmed commitment to the ten key values of the Green Party."

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PROPOSAL
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Given this information, I propose that at the statewide meeting on July
17, 2005, we start from scratch, electing all new Executive Council
members, members that will pledge to be actively involved in the
decision-making and electoral process of the Green Party of Nevada.  In
the meantime, I propose that the county parties hold a meeting prior to
July 17 in order to elect the county officers and certify folks to
participate in the state meeting according to each of the county
party's by-laws.  If there are not enough members to consitute a county
party (as the case may be in Washoe), then individuals from that county
will be recognized during the state meeting on July 17, 2005.

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GREEN PARTY OF NEVADA MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2005 FROM
12:00 P.M. TO 2:00 P.M. 

IN LAS VEGAS: Clark County Library on Flamingo just east of Maryland
Parkway

IN RENO: Location To Be Determined

This meeting will be a teleconference and Internet chat between two
locations, Las Vegas and Reno.  If you cannot make it to either
location but would still like to participate in the meeting via phone
or Internet, please send an information request to Jason at
jhalprin at clarkcountygreens.org or call (702)460-6265.
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