[Sosfbay-discuss] Green Party Meeting--October 7, 2009

[Caroline Yacoub]

                               Green Party meeting--October 7, 2009

Before the meeting proper took place, we had two speakers. Eugene Bradley was brought to us by Tian. He represents the Silicon Valley Transit Users. They can be contacted at vtaridersunion.org .

On Oct. 1, fares were raised to $2. Rate hikes and service cuts hurt the most vulnerable. Most people who ride transit feel helpless to do anything, but the SVTU got VTA to post notices in buses of when board meetings are, and that riders have a right to go and to be heard. SVTU wants us and the Peace Center to go to VTA board meetings and show support.

HR2746, the Federal Transit Operations bill, would restore funds that have been cut. Zoe Lofgren and Jerry McNerny already cosigned this bill and are working on Honda to cosign as well.

The people have no say about who is on VTA board. Michael Burns is the current chairman. Mayor Chuck Reed sits on the board and chose five city council members to be on the board also in a meeting that took place at 1:30 a.m. Dolly Sandoval, ex-mayor of Cupertino, is also on the board.

Gillig company in Hayward makes hybrid buses. VTA just ordered 100 of these to be delivered next year.

Smriti, the Peace Center coordinator, also spoke to us briefly. She gave us handouts about an event they are holding next week.It is a talk and book signing by Ann Wright, retired Army Colonel and diplomat, who, inDissent: Voices of Conscience, tells the story of government insiders who spoke out against the Iraq war. The event will be held at First Christian Church, 80 S. 5th St., San Jose, on Wednesday, October 14 at 7 pm.

Smriti also is recruiting for new members for the Peace Center. They currently have a matching grant, so a $5 donation will get them $10. She left us newsletters and donation and membership materials.


                                                           Meeting

Those present: Andrea, Valerie, Tom Donahue, Merriam, Cameron, Brian, Warner, Jim Doyle, Jim Stauffer, Spencer Grove, Caroline, Tian, Gerry, Dana, Fred

Facilitator: Andrea
Timekeeper:Tom Donahue
Vibes Watcher: Merriam
Notetaker: Caroline
Agenda preparer for the November meeting will be Brian

Andrea gave a quick summary of Eugene Bradley's talk. Brian said the VTA is very corrupt. Board meetings are on first Thursdays from 5:30-7:00. We don't know where.

Treasurer's Report--Jim Doyle
We have taken in $1778 and spent $1731. We need more money. Our account is at Guaranty bank. Warner thought we ought to go over last year's projection and see how it compared to actual expenses. This year we have spent more than usual. Cost of tabling for some events has increased. We contributed to travel expenses for the plenary and national meeting.

Tabling--Jim Doyle
 
Upcoming tabling events:
De Anza International Peace Fair---November 19th--Caroline coordinating
Junior State--Tom Donahue coordinating--please help him, he's new
San Jose Peace Fair, 1st Saturday in December--Cameron coordinating, Merriam and Caroline will help

We are postponing the yard sale, but we plan to put some items on Craig's List.  Anybody with experience  doing this please contact Andrea.

Plenary--Warner and Jim S.
 
Andrea has submitted our reps.' names--Jim S., Warner, Andrea, Dana--Valerie and Tian alternates

Voting Threshold Correction--we accepted, but Jim D. wanted clarification.

Proposed Constitutional Convention--our recommendation is 4 NO votes. We don't ususally endorse things before they are on the ballot. This proposal wants us to take a position during the signature gathering process. Jim S. and Warner say we, as Green Party, have not discussed constitutional convention.

Proposed Platform Planks--
California Elections/Government--our recommendation is tha it not be adopted at this time, go back for rewrite
Revision of Water Plank--4 YES votes
Revision of Criminal Justice Plank--4 YES votes

Define a 'Purpose' statement for Article 2 of the GPCA bylaws to serve as the internal definition for guiding the goals and activities of the party, its bylaws, and its affiliated locals--4 YES votes
 
Proposed Coordinating Committee Election Method--
We currently have 16 regional members on the state coordinating committee and 4 at large members. Jim S. says there are too few members on this committee. This proposal would temporarily change the number of regional reps and increase the number of at-large reps.
Dana wanted to know if we would lose regions. We would not. The large Central Valley region would be split in two. There would be a cap of no more than three at-large reps coming from one county, so no county could dominate the CC.Warner would like to see an equal number of regional reps and at-large reps. Andrea agrees. Gerry asked if CC still makes major decisions during a 2 hour teleconference every month. They do. Gerry said that when he was our rep., it was difficult to get everything done during that time. Dana, who served with him, said that the problem with the teleconferences was that certain people were setting the agenda, and whoever sets the agenda controls the meeting. It was not easy to get items on.
Warner said we could vote NO on everything or take no position and let the delegates make up their own minds at the plenary.
Jim S. said there is a contingent that wants to go all at-large. LA decided not to dend anyone to the plenary. If Alameda doesn't show up, we still have "quorum by regions". 
We decided to take no position and let the delegates make up their minds at the plenary.

Regional Meeting
Notes on the regional meeting were posted to sosfbay on September 29.

Report on Coalition for a Downtown Hospital--Jim Doyle
I'll have to send you a more thorough report on this later. Or Jim will.

Alternatives to the Death Penalty--Valerie
Valerie thanked us for passing a resolution of support for SCCCADP. The League of Women Voters is going to discuss joining the coalition. They are looking for more organizations. 

Fundraising
We will have another Food 4 Thought event in January, and, hopefully, sell some stuff on Craig's List.

We need to be doing things to draw attention to the Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December.
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