[Sosfbay-discuss] Notes From Plenary Agenda Review Meeting Novenber 16th

[Fred Duperrault]

NOTICE to Members of the Green Party of Santa Clara County (GPSCC):

Next Tuesday Evening, November 5, 7:30 PM,  at the monthly meeting of 
the  GPSCC, _you will_ _have the opportunity_ to participate in the 
discussions and help to decide on what recommendations will be made to 
our GPSCC delgation who will represent us at the Green Party of 
California (GPCA) Quarter Annual General Assembly Plenary in Yolo, 
California, scheduled for December 16 - 17. 

A group of GPSCC members met on November 16 to review the Plenary items 
(below) and to make recommendations that Warner Bloomberg has 
summarized. The recommendations were made through the consensus process.

If you would like to have dinner before the meeting starts it is 
suggested that you arrive somewhat earlier at the BANJARA INDIA CUISINE 
Restaurant where the GPSCC will meet. The restaurant is located at 407 
Town and Country Village in Sunnyvale, one block north of Washington Ave.

Hoping to see you on Tuesday, December 6,

Fred Duperrault,  Mountain View
(650 )691-1215  or  Fredd at freeshell.org

P.S.  The GPSCC monthly meetings usually adjourn by 9:15 PM.



GPSCC PLENARY AGENDA REVIEW -- NOVEMBER 16, 2005
 
Participants:  Warner Bloomberg, Jim Doyle, Fred Duperrault, Valerie 
Face, Gerry Gras, Cameron Spitzer, Jim Stauffer
Note taker:  Warner
Following the Draft Agenda as previously forwarded from the GPCA CC 
email list decision items were discussed with the following recommendations:
 
*****************************
TITLE:  Yolo General Assembly Agenda
 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2005
 
Campaign Finance (Clean Money) - ERWG
Proposal: [That the GPCA approve the] Proposed Amendment to AB 583 / The 
California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act / Prepared by Trent Lange, 
Vice President of the California Clean Money Campaign in consultation 
with members of the Green and Peace & Freedom
Parties (would provide partial public funding to smaller parties in 
primary and general elections for partisan office, but less than the 
public financing provided to candidates in the "big parties" until 
candidate for a party in a statewide office or district receives 10% of 
vote; then larger public funding would be provided in the following 
election cycle if that party has a candidate for the same office).
 
Comments:  Proposal is unclear about what it is requesting.
Recommendation:  All support GPCA approval of the proposed amendments to 
this legislation.
 
Election Code - ERWG
PROPOSAL: The  ERWG requests that this proposal be approved as draft 
text to present to the California legislature for introduction as 
legislation and that the ERWG, through its Co-Coordinators and other 
members, are authorized to represent the GPCA in dealings with 
legislators and their staff.
 
Recommendation:  Consensus that the proposal should be approved -- i.e., 
the draft GPCA Elections Code text with the ERWG to have authority to 
deal with further changes.
 
Fair Wage Initiative - Green Issues
PROPOSAL That the GPCA support one of the three initiatives. All three 
would be
presented because all three have their merits.
Funding: The GPCA will raise funds for the initiative of its choice.
 
Comments:  Proposal unclear because it does not designate preferred 
version of a proposed initiative.  Also is unclear about how much 
funding from GPCA is expected.  Also is unclear about what happens if 
version GPCA prefers is different from that preferred by other coalition 
members.  Recommended order of preference 1, 2, 3 in order presented 
(lowest increase to start #1; highest increase to start #3)
 
GPUS delegation elections [delegate and alts on one ballot] --
GDI Participants:  Mary Beth Wurtheimer Cat Woods Jan Arnold
Currently GPCA CC Members  Mary Beth Wurtheimer Cat Woods David Silva
Currently International Protocol Committee Co-Co Fred Hosea
 
Concerns:  GDI an ideological faction and additional members not 
desirable on the GPUS Delegation.  GPCA CC members already have a large 
workload if they are doing their job properly; likewise GPUS Delegates 
are expected to be involved in GPUS Committees and communications -- 
issue whether anyone should hold both kinds of offices.  Concern that 
David Silva has issues working with other people.  Affirmation that Fred 
Hosea has been active regarding international issues.
Recommendation:  GPSCC will vote for Fred Hosea (1st ranking) and No 
Other Candidate (NOC) as second ranking.
 
Two-year Workplan - Bylaws
Proposal:  The following GPCA Bylaw language would be approved:
 
7-1.13 Strategic Plan
 
The CC shall establish a two-year strategic plan annually, using
input from a brainstorming plenary session and draft work plans from  
the standing committees and working groups. The proposed plan shall  be 
presented and affirmed at the subsequent General Assembly.
 
The two-year strategic plan shall be reviewed and refocused by the
CC and presented to the General Assembly annually. As part of the
strategic plan, the CC shall develop a two-year schedule, including
potential agenda items, for the General Assemblies and Gatherings,
with input from each standing committee and working group work plan.  
The two-year schedule shall be revised annually, with General
Assembly agenda and scheduling remaining flexible.
 
Recommendation:  Agreement that GPCA CC should create a two-year work 
plan.  However...
Comments:  Warner -- Bad idea to have General Assembly using plenary 
time in two sessions each year to create a two-year work plan.  Jim 
Stauffer:  Make the plenary language a procedure rather than a Bylaw.
 
Coordinator Funding - CCWG
 
PROPOSAL:  That the GPCA General Assembly affirms its prior budget 
authorization for the CCWG Campaign Coordinator position and authorizes 
advance funding for that position in the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year in the 
sum of $8,000 for monthly compensation, plus $1,200 for expenses 
reimbursements.  Further, the CCWG and Finance Committee Coordinators 
are authorized to negotiate a modification of the Campaign Coordinator 
job description to include fund raising and the GPCA Coordinating 
Committee is delegated authority to increase the compensation for the 
position consistent with increased activities and responsibilities 
submitted by the CCWG and Finance Committee Coordinators.
 
Recommendation:  All approve.
 
GPUS Affiliation Agreement - CC
PROPOSAL:
 
The GPCA approves its affiliation agreement with the GPUS, with the 
recognition that the GPCA bylaws stipulate that “No decision of the GPUS 
is binding on the GPCA without its consent” (Paragraph 11-1.1).
 
If a GPUS decision or nomination impacting the GPCA is contested by the 
GPCA membership, the General Assembly shall convene to grant or withhold 
its consent. Among the issues delegates may wish to consider and assess, 
during this process, is whether the decision or nomination was arrived 
at by a fair, proportionate and accountable democratic process.
 
Comments:  If the affiliation agreement is not approved, then GPCA has 
no right to send delegates and participate in GPUS decisions.  GPCA 
consent should be considered as made by its GPUS Delegates.
Recommendation:  Approve GPUS Affiliation Agreement.  [Note:  Second 
Clause not expressly discussed, but comments infer it should be opposed.]
 
Consent Calendar Items: Remove Eco-Net reference and replace with the 
GPCA website in the GPCA Bylaws as follows --
 
5-6.2 f) In a timely manner, a copy of the draft minutes will shall
be sent to each region and posted on the GPCA website.
 
5-8.7 a) The committees shall post proposals in the pre-meeting
agenda package on the GPCA website.
 
Recommendation:  All agree.
 
Make Liaison to SoS an ex officio member of the ERWG instead of 
Clearinghouse -- Change GPCA Bylaws as follows --
 
7-6.2 Ex Officio Member
A Webmaster, appointed by the committee, is an ex officio member of
the Clearinghouse Committee.
 
8-3.2 Ex Officio Member
The Liaison to the Secretary of State is an ex officio member of the
Electoral Reform Working Group.
 
Recommendation:  All agree.
 
Update GPCA Bylaws describing International Protocol Committee mission, 
etc.
 
Recommendation:  All agree.
 
[Write-in Threshold - CCWG]
 
Proposal:  The following GPCA Bylaw language would be approved
 
In order to advance to the General Election as the Green Party nominee 
in an election for partisan office, a Green Party write-in candidate must be
 
a) a registered Green Party member in the District in which they seek to
run, at least 25 days before the commencement of the write-in
declaration period,
b) must receive the most votes in the primary, and
c) must received a number of write-in signatures equal to or greater
than the number of nomination signatures necessary to qualify for the
ballot in the first place (40-60, varies by district) or 1% of the
number of registered Greens in that legislative district, at the count
of the close of registration for that primary, which ever is greater.
 
Recommendation:  (b) and (c) ok; Concerns that (a) should require 
one-year registration in the Green Party before the write-in candidate 
deadline filing (which is later than the candidate filing deadline for 
someone whose name will appear on the primary ballot).
 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2005
 
Voting Threshold - Bylaws Committee
PROPOSAL FOR DISCUSSION:
Decisions of the Green Party of California shall be made at General 
Assemblies and governing committees of the Green Party of California 
using a consensus-seeking process as outlined in the Bylaws section 
5-8.1 (a-c), and section 5-8.9 (a - j). When consensus cannot be reached 
on a business or policy item, the presenters of the item shall have the 
right to call for a vote. The item will only be only adopted if it is 
approved by [a 2/3 majority] of the voting delegates.
 
The following changes would be made to the GPCA bylaws to accommodate 
this proposal:
 
Section 5-8.1 d shall be rewritten as “Voting will be on business and 
procedural questions will require the support of [a 2/3 majority] of the 
General Assembly members to pass.”
 
Section 5-8.9 k (4) shall be rewritten as “A [2/3 majority] vote is 
necessary to approve a business or policy item.”
 
Section 5-8.9 k (5 - 6) shall be removed
 
Section 5-8.9 k (7) shall be rewritten as “Abstentions are not counted 
in calculating the percentage vote.”
 
The Bylaws Standing Committee is instructed to make these and any other 
changes to the bylaws to make them consistent with this proposal.
 
Comments:  Everyone except Fred felt that the 80% voting threshold for 
policy issues should be kept (instead of reducing it to 2/3ds).  Jim 
Stauffer also noted that this proposal attempts to do away with 
abstention voting -- contrary to the following proposal.  Since there 
was not consensus, this item needs discussion at the December 6th GPSCC 
monthly meeting.
 
Abstention Anomaly - Bylaws Committee
PROPOSAL:
 
Existing language:  5-8.9 k) 7. Abstentions are not counted in 
calculating the percentage
vote, however if 20% or more of those voting abstain, the proposal fails.
 
Option A: remove altogether.
5-8.9 k) 7. Abstentions are not counted in calculating the percentage vote.
 

Option B: add minimum affirmative vote requirement
5-8.9 k) 7. Abstentions are not counted in calculating the percentage 
vote. The minimum number of affirmative votes required to pass a
proposal shall be the voting threshold times the decision-making quorum.
 
Comments:  Consensus to oppose option A (loss of the abstention option 
in voting0.  No consensus regarding Option B.  Some difficulty 
understanding Option B.  Further discussion needed at December 6th GPSCC 
monthly meeting.
 
Platform plank #1  Health Care Plank.  Minor rewrites.  General sense, 
ok; but people should submit their proposals for further editting.
 
Platform plank #2  Rewrite of Unions statements in the Social Justice & 
Liveable Communities Section of the GPCA Platform.
Comments by Jim Stauffer:  More concerns about specialized and unclear 
language in this proposal.  Written comments need to be forwarded to the 
Platform Committee. 
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