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| Nov. 27, 2006 General Membership Meeting Minutes
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| Written by Christina Valente |
General Membership Meeting
Green Party of Philadelphia
Monday, November 27, 2006
Minutes
Christina Valente, GPOP Recording Secretary, took the minutes.
Introductions were made. Eleven GPOP members were present, as were three prospective members.
I. 2007 GPOP Development Plan
Members discussed the GPOP development plan which Alex Gillett drafted and which the city committee has been developing and revising. The purpose of the plan is to outline definite goals and targets for bringing in new activist members, doing more effective fundraising, and increasing GPOP's electoral power. We discussed developing donor lists and contact information as well as fundraising events.
Problems with voter registration in Philadelphia have interfered with our signature campaigns and our ability to get on the ballot. The City Commissioners oversee voter registration in Philadelphia, so the office of City Commissioner is an important one for us.
Several prospective GPOP members expressed an interest in seeking the Green Party's nomination for city commissioner, city council, and mayor in the upcoming elections.
II. City Committee Vacancy Nominations
[Deleted, as nominations have been withdrawn until January General Membership meeting.]
III. Treasurer's Report
Recent donations have kept allowed us to budget $450-$500 for Green Gala advertising and other expenses while maintaining our balance.
IV. Green Gala 2006
Green Gala 2006 features The Codes, a Philly-based band, speaker Howie Hawkins (Green Party candidate for US Senate from New York), a silent auction, and a good party. Christina Valente outlined Gala efforts thus far and urged everyone to:
1. solicit or donate auction items;
2. bring food (appetizers, casseroles, and desserts) and drink (alcoholic and soft drinks);
3. sign up to help out with the Gala set-up and clean-up;
4. distribute flyers in public places;
5. invite friends, relatives, and co-workers
Money raised will help us to grow GPOP and support Green candidates in 2007. Please contact Christina to volunteer or donate auction items. Please also let her know if you will be bringing food and drink so that we can plan accordingly.
Auction items (or descriptions thereof) must be received by December 1 to be included in the gala program and to give the Gala committee time to organize the silent auction.
V. January Meeting
We will nominate candidates for all city committee seats (chair, recording secretary, treasurer, organizational (membership) secretary, and three at-large seats) for 2007 at the January meeting. Voting for city committee will take place in February.
VI. State Meeting Report
Hillary Aisenstein reported on the GPPA meeting on November 19, 2006 in Carlisle, which was well-attended. Nominations were made for GPPA steering committee. Hillary Aisenstein and Dave Baker were nominated for GPPA Chair. Elections for steering committee will be held at the next GPPA meeting on January 14, 2007.
The state party is focusing on the Jennaro Pullano's run for mayor of Reading, the race for city commissioner and city council in Philadelphia, the mayor's race and the city council race in Pittsburgh.
The state will also focus on building local parties throughout Pennsylvania. Hillary and Alex will work on revitalizing local parties and bringing Green solutions events in other parts of the states.
Another major initiative will be ballot access.
VII. Membership Working Group
The MWG met in November. MWG is organizing various wards around the city. Leaders of several wards and divisions have mailed notices (at their own expense) to Greens within their divisions announcing the Green Gala. The next MWG meeting is scheduled for January 11 at 7:30pm; contact Isabelle for directions and information.
Anyone interested in joining the MWG is welcome to attend.
VIII. Transit Working Group
The TWG has produced a comprehensive analysis of transport in Philadelphia (biking, walking, driving, SEPTA, getting into and out of Philadelphia).
SEPTA has a $37 million budget shortfall and is likely to propose serious fare hikes and service cut-backs. The other option would be to run the system as usual, which would lead to SEPTA running out of money two weeks before the end of the fiscal year. This is a critical issue for the Green Party. Next meeting of the TWG is Nov 30 at 5:30 pm at the offices of EConsult at 36th and Market Streets. Contact Hillary for more information.
IX. Upcoming Meetings and Events
See the GPOP calendar at www.gpop.org for details about the following events:
Wed, Nov 29, 10:30am: The Phila Transit Coalition will be meeting at AFL-CIO offices at 22nd and Market.
Wed, Nov 29, 6:45 pm: The Sierra Club will host a speaker discussing the Transportation Funding Committee report at the Free Library. Anyone who attended the Peak Oil conference, please come a few minutes early to reconnect.
Thurs, Nov 30, 5:30 pm: Transit Working Group will meet at EConsult at 36th and Market Streets.
Sun, Dec 10, 6 pm: Green Gala 2006. Buy tickets on-line at www.gpop.org for $20; $25 at the door. Please bring food and drink to share and consider making a donation for the silent auction.
Jan. 18, 6-9 pm, location TBA. Media Tank is hosting a forum on media ownership at which one or two FCC commissioners will be present. Members of the public can speak to the issue of media consolidation. The FCC is reviewing rules on ownership with an eye to relaxing the geographic rules and will consider these public comments.
Jan. 11, 7:30 pm: Membership Working Group will meet (see above).
Jan. 22, 6:30 pm: Next general membership meeting of GPOP will be held at the Ethical Society.
The GPOP city committee meets every Monday at 7 pm except for the fourth Monday of the month and public holidays. All GPOP members (registered Greens) are welcome to attend and participate (only city committee members can vote). The meeting is held at Nodding Head Pub, 1516 Sansom St, 2nd floor.
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