[NV Greens] At-Large and other OFFICES, PLEASE READ!

Thu Jun 23 11:52:48 PDT 2005

Tracy and others,

An 'At-Large' member is a member who pledges to attend the Executive
Council/Officer Board meetings, help make decisions, and carry out
actions without taking on specific duties of the Executive
Council/Officer Board.  At the county level, the Press Secretary is
actually another elected position as is the IT person ... these are NOT
At-Large members.  Members At-Large, however, do not take on official
roles and instead act as all-around volunteers of the Executive Council
in the case of the Green Party of Nevada or the Officer Board in the
case of the Clark County Greens.  

All official decision-making meetings of the Clark County and Nevada
Green Party are open to any registered Green.  So, it's encouraged and
totally acceptable for enthusiastic and active registered Greens to
attend as many meetings as possible, Executive Council/Officer Board
meetings, committee meetings, and general membership meetings.  A
member-at-large is strongly encouraged/required to be at Executive
Council/Officer Board meetings, that's basically the only difference
between a member and a member-at-large.  

The point of the Executive Council of the Green Party of Nevada is
succinctly stated in the Green Party of Nevada bylaws in Article III,
Section 2(B)2.a. "The Executive Council 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."  The Executive Council's main point is to "conduct the
day-to-day business and operations of the Party."  At every Executive
Council meeting, however, input from registered Greens is always
necessary and strongly encouraged.  

At the county level, there is an Officer Board.  The First Amendment of
the Clark County Greens ByLaws states "The Clark County Green Party
Officer Board shall hold officer board meetings as necessary.  The
purpose of the officer board meetings shall be to facilitate the
operation of the Clark County Green Party.  These meetings shall be
open to any individuals who wish to attend.  No binding or non-binding
votes shall be taken at the officer board meetings."  So,
decision-making at the county level is left up to the general
membership meetings at this time.  If I remember correctly, the point
of the Officer Board was to meet more regularly than the general
meetings in order to set up the general meetings and prepare the
business of the Clark County Greens for discussion at general meetings
and carry out actions decided upon at general meetings.  If and when
the Clark County Greens grow, I think we'd want to adopt something
similar to the Green Party of Nevada ByLaws, as I think that might be
more efficient for larger groups.  Does this make sense?

By the way, Tracy, thanks for asking these questions as it gives me and
others an opportunity to fully understand the bylaws before going into
the state meeting.  If you have more questions, please continue to ask
them!

---------------------------------------------
DUTIES OF THE GREEN PARTY OF NEVADA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
---------------------------------------------
For more specific information regarding the actual duties of the Green
Party of Nevada Executive Council, see the Green Party of Nevada
bylaws, Article III, Section 2(B)4: The duties of the Executive Council
shall be:

a. to coordinate statewide actions, including the General Meetings
b. to carry out all responsibilities required by the Nevada Election
Code
c. to make public statements regarding the Party's position on issues
d. to respond to inquiries from the media and the public
e. to prepare for General Meetings and Conventions
f. to create standing and ad hoc Councils
g. to keep records and mintutes of meetings
h. to maintain a database of all Party member and known local Party
organizations
i. to create and direct a Green Party of Nevada Political Action Council
(PAC)
j. to prepare and present an annual budget to be approved by the General
Meeting each Spring
k. the Executive Committee shall be empowered to affiliate with the
Green Party of the United States

As far as I can tell, all of the offices work together in order to
accomplish these goals with the separation of titles being mostly for
legal/State of Nevada purposes.

-----------------------------------------------
DUTIES AND OFFICES OF THE CLARK COUNTY GREENS OFFICER BOARD
-----------------------------------------------
Chairperson:  The Chairperson shall call Clark County Green Party
meetings to order and will serve as moderator of such meetings.  The
Chairperson shall also serve as an at-large member of any committees
that may be created.  The Chairperson shall be responsible for general
coordination of activities needed to implement the goals adopted by the
final decision making body; this responsibility shall include the
facilitation of task completion.  The Chairperson shall be a co-signer
on all Clark County Green Party checking accounts and shall have
delegable authority over Clark County Green Party funds.  

Operations Officer:  The Operations Officer shall be responsible for
coordination of volunteer activities and efforts.  The Operations
officer shall also be responsible for implementation of projects that
are not the responsibility of the Events Coordinator.  The Operations
Officer shall perform the duties of the Chairperson at times when the
Chairperson is unable, or unavailable, to do so.  The Operations
Officer shall also preside over, and facilitate, Clark County Green
Party meetings in the absence, or the request, of the Chairperson.

Secretary:  The Secretary shall remind the membership of the monthly
meeting at least seven days prior to the holding of such a meeting. 
The Secretary shall keep attendance records of Clark County Green Party
meetings and shall announce the holding of such meetings.  The Secretary
shall also be responsible for recording the minutes of Clark County
Green Party meetings.  The Secretary shall be responsible for
maintaining party paperwork and records in an organized fashion; this
duty shall include submission, to the Information Technology
Chairperson, of records that are to be posted on the party website.

Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall be responsible for receiving Clark
County Green Party funds, issuing receipts and maintaining accurate
records of party funds.  A statement of monthly receipts and
disbursements shall be presented at party meetings.  The Treasurer
shall also be a co-signer on Clark County Green Party checking
accounts.  The Treasurer shall also serve as liaison between the Clark
County Green Party and any external financial managers the party may
choose to employ.

Press Secretary:  The Press Secretary shall establish the party’s public
relations and communications strategy.  The Press Secretary shall
establish relationships with media personnel and will coordinate media
events.  The Press Secretary shall also prepare press releases, be in
charge of party newsletters or publications and will coordinate media
presence at events planned by the Events Coordinator. 

Events Coordinator:  The Events Coordinator shall be responsible for
developing and coordinating events on behalf of the Clark County Green
Party.

Fundraising Chairperson:  The Fundraising Chairperson shall coordinate
Clark County Green Party fundraising events and activities.  These
activities shall include, but not be limited to, direct-mail
fundraising and solicitations.  The Fundraising Chairperson shall also
establish a fundraising budget and agenda.  The Fundraising Chairperson
shall also serve as Chairperson of, and have delegable authority over,
all fundraising committees.  

Membership Director:  The Membership Director shall maintain member
information and member contact information by maintaining party
databases.  This information shall be relayed and made available to the
Secretary.  The Membership Director shall also coordinate voter
registration efforts, work to retain membership, work to build
membership and will establish relationships with like-minded civil
rights groups.

Information Technology Chairperson:  The Information Technology
Chairperson (IT Chairperson) shall maintain the Clark County Green
Party website.  The IT Chairperson shall also maintain part e-mail
lists for the Membership Director.  The IT Chairperson shall also
provide necessary technical support and shall coordinate activities
with appropriate technology vendors.

At Large Members:  Three members shall serve as At Large Members of the
officer board.  At Large Members shall be considered party officers but
shall not have official responsibilities.  

--------------------------------
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, STATE OR COUNTY?
--------------------------------
At this point, the state level is more important than the county. 
Without officers actively participating at the state level, the risk of
losing political party status and failing to file appropriate paperwork
when it needs to be filed is too great, making organizing at the county
level potentially futile.  Without political party status, the 3,300 or
so registered Greens in Nevada will no longer be registered to vote and
the county levels will simply be political clubs with no sway in the
elections department.  Our responsibility lies mostly at the state
level, at this point, so we can keep these people registered and begin
taking the steps to get them more active in the party.

I would strongly suggest AGAINST volunteering for BOTH a county and a
state level office.  If one is interested in participating as an
officer of the Green Party, we need that person working on the state
level.  Once the state level begins to work smoothly via the regular
meetings of the Executive Council, the county levels will begin to
grow.

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BUILDING THE PARTY TODAY!
--------------
If we elect people into the Executive Council of the Green Party of
Nevada who will seriously take on the tasks necessary to begin
contacting registered Greens throughout the state (i.e. phone banking
and bulk mailing) and who will take an active role in other aspects
regarding the further development of the Green Party of Nevada (finding
candidates, gaining ballot status), we can create a viable and strong
third party in Nevada.  Voters in Clark County and other counties in
Nevada already feel disempowered with the current major political
parties and their overly bureaucratic and elitist practices.  The Green
Party can be that "Breath of Fresh Air" the people of Nevada need in
order to begin that process of taking back their land, their water,
their cities, and their lives.  Without political party status,
however, we immediately lose contact with 3,300 or so people who are
already sympathetic to the positive changes we seek.

We need to start advertising for the state meeting TODAY!  When someone
registers as a Green, they don't simply sit back and watch what
happens.  No.  Implied in that registration is a person who cares about
the world and about making positive changes within that world even if it
means going against the status quo.  We need to encourage registered
Greens to take an active role in their party, even if it's only once a
year, by attending the Green Party of Nevada state meeting.  If anyone
can, please start sending the information about the state meeting to
all of the newspapers so they can include this information in their
calendar sections.  Plus, we need to start calling folks and not just
tell them about the meeting, but persuade them to get involved.  We
really do need their help.  I think we can talk about this in more
detail at the June 25 Clark County Greens meeting.

Jason