|
|
| 2006-10-23 General Mtg Mintues
|
 |
 |
|
| Written by Webmaster |
Green Party of Philadelphia
General Membership Meeting
October 23, 2006
Minutes
I. Treasurer's Report (Alex Gillett)
Alex handed out sheets showing comparisons between projections and
what has actually happened as well as a comparison between last year
and this year. We took in $3600 this year, but we are behind on
fundraising. Since we didn't take in as much as projected, we did not
spend as much as projected.
We planned to deficit spend to help the campaigns so we will be
slightly ahead of our income. We will be spending $300 for Gala room
rental and about $150 in advertising; also $250 in rent for LAVA space
next month.
Please look over the budget accounting and projections. Alex will
answer questions and comments at the next general membership meeting.
This year, we had no Singapore dinners. Next year, we are planning to have 4 fundraisers and to revive the Singapore dinners.
Question raised about PayPal expenses. Our PayPal expense is 3% of total receipts through PayPal.
Compared to last year, we raised $1000 more this year.
II. Campaign Reports/Needs
Mike Rosenberg: Trying to get a lot of poll watchers as well as
poll workers handing out literature outside. Mike was at the Black
Radical Congress candidate forum; only one Democrat showed up, but the
three Greens (Mike, Traci, and Dave). Attendance was good. Been doing
a lot of door-knocking. Goal is to win the 60th ward; campaigning has
also been going on the 46th. The 60th ward is 90% Democrat and
African-American; people are excited that a candidate is coming to the
neighborhood. A block captain said that the Greens were the first
party that has knocked on doors in her memory. From Mike's campaign's
assessment of voter reactions, the 60th ward is leaning 48% to Mike,
37% to Roebuck, and 15% undecided.
Mike needs people for door knocking and literature drops over the
next two weekends. Mike will do literature drops for identified
super-voters. Mike also needs poll watchers and poll workers. You
need a certificate to be a poll watcher; Mike's campaign will get you a
poll watcher certificate.
Mike needs donations to pay additional poll watchers and to provide
food to volunteer and paid poll watchers; he is seeking $300 - $1000 in
donations to do that.
Traci Confer: Traci was at a candidate's forum for the Black
Radical Congress and a candidate forum at Special People in the
Northeast, a service organization for people with disabilities. Also
she will appear on Comcast Newsmakers. Traci will be canvassing on Oct
28 and 29 and the three days prior to the election. Volunteers from
the NE wanted.
III. Poll Worker Training (Committee of Seventy)
Elizabeth Brown from the Committee of Seventy (C of S) came to give
poll watcher training. She is the election coordinator. C of S has
traditionally been an election watchdog, but it is now branching out
into voter education, policy advocacy, election law drafting. Core
mission is to make sure that voters are not disenfranchised.
One way to do that is to let them know what their rights are as
voters. C of S has assistance guides in multiple languages and for
disability assistance and limited literacy.
C of S is volunteer driven, non-partisan, and non-profit. On
election day, volunteers are sent out to one or two wards with
information on who and how to contact if problems arise, such as voter
registration, voter intimidation, and other complaints.
The City was recently sued by the US Dep't of Justice for voting
rights violations, including failure to properly translate materials
into Spanish, intimidation in polling places. C of S surveys formed
part of the record on which DOJ based its lawsuit. While Board of
Elections may be doing its job, it is often not executed at polling
places by judges of elections or poll workers.
If voters are registered, they must be allowed to vote. The Board
of Elections has not received a budget increase since 1989 and they are
stretched to the limit. Logging of voter registration and other
functions are being done by workers who are very overworked. New
mandates have not been matched by new resources. C of S is putting
pressure on City Council and the Commonwealth to increase funding for
elections boards.
C of S is seeking volunteers -- you can sign up on-line or call C of S.
If one is a first time voter within a particular division, you must
show identification to the judge of elections; acceptable
identification is listed on the C of S website.
There are four officials in each polling place: judge of elections,
majority inspector, minority inspector, machine operator. In addition,
federal observers are allowed in the polling place.
Poll watchers are governed by two statutes: (1) each candidate can
have one poll watcher at each polling place in which the candidate is
running at any given point in time; (2) in addition, each political
party is entitled to one poll watcher at each polling place at any
given point in time. Given how busy the election workers are, get
requests for poll watcher certificates in as soon as possible. Poll
watcher certificates follow the individual, not the division. The
limitation on one per candidate and one per party
Marge Tartaglione is the head of the election commission -- you can
call her office to find out about special rules for minor political
parties.
Poll watchers must be registered voters in the county in which they
are working. Poll watchers can file challenges if they believe someone
is not registered to vote; there is a $10.00 fee payable to the
election judge per challenge.
Any voter is allowed an assister of his or her choice, except that
the assister cannot be a judge of elections, employer, or union
representative. But the judge of elections can assist the voter if the
voter needs language translation at the voter's request. Otherwise,
the judge of elections is not allowed in the voting booth. The voter
needing assistance must fill out a Declaration of Assistance if the
voter's need for assistance has not already been noted in the book.
Only voters who have filled out a Declaration of Assistance are
entitled to assistance. Only an assister can go in the booth with the
voter.
If the judge of elections needs to demonstrate use of the machine,
the judge should be using the wall poster, not the machine itself.
If a poll watcher observes improper behavior, it should be reported
to the judge of elections, or if the judge of elections is involved, to
C of S. In some cases, C of S may tell you to notify the DA's office.
Candidates are not allowed in the polling place except when they
are voting. There can be no electioneering within 10 feet of the
entrance to the polling place.
Provisional ballot process: if all machines break, you can vote by
provisional ballot. If one is registered but are not on the poll book,
a person is entitled to vote by provisional ballot. The provisional
ballot is supposed to eliminate the need for the election court.
Viewing the count: poll watchers shall be permitted to be in the polling place while votes are being counted.
More information is available on the Committee of Seventy website.
IV. Green Gala 2006
Will be held on Dec 10, from 6-9:30 pm at the Ethical Society on
Rittenhouse Square. Christina passed out sample letters to be used to
invite people and the solicit silent auction items. She also passed
out a list of suggested items. Both documents are attached to the
minutes. Hillary passed out the flyer to be used to advertise the
Gala; an update version will be available shortly.
The band, The Codes, will play and Howie Hawkins will speak. We
will also have a silent auction, food, and drink. Attendees must be 21
or accompanied by a parent. Contact Christina for more info.
Volunteers signed up but are still needed to get items for the
silent auction and to work the event. Contact Christina to sign up.
VI. November 19 State Meeting (15 minutes)
The state party meeting is November 19, at which nominations for
state party leaders will be made. We need nominations for party
leaders and any other ideas to raise at the state meeting. Dave Baker
is interested in being state chair. Hillary is considering running for
the state steering committee or for chair. Blyden Potts will be
running as secretary. The GPPA chair must be different gender from the
secretary.
VIII. Announcements
November 2: Candidates' Forum in the Northwest; Dave Baker
November 10 (Veterans' Day): Meeting of Coalition for Single-Payer
Healthcare in Harrisburg; Isabelle Buonocore is planning to attend.
FCC is revising rules on media ownership; hearings and public
comment will be held shortly. Media Tank, a media advocacy group, is
distributing post cards on this matter. A comment period will end in
60 days. Contact Mike R. for more info.
Respectfully submitted,
Christina Valente
Recording Secretary
Green Party of Philadelphia
______________________________________________________________
Green Gala 2006 Committee
Green Party of Philadelphia |
|
|
