[GPSCC-chat] Fwd: Re: [gpca-votes] Discuss: ID 12 - GPCA State Leg islative Demands 2012

[Valerie D. Face]

Hi folks,

On December 9 Spencer wrote, "...  I also suggest we restructure our monthly meetings so the first hour consists of a presentation and discussion with leaders of other groups focusing on finding common ground on this issue.  To accomplish this, I suggest we restrict the business of our current meetings to 1 hour.  Any topic that runs over time gets referred to a committee or to the County Council. ..."

I am not in favor of this.  Personally, I already find the late starting time of our meetings to be a bit of a deterrent.  I think that a business meeting should get to the business promptly and try to conduct it efficiently while those in attendance are still alert -- not make them wait until they are tired and anxious to go home.

Because our platform covers a lot of issues, I think we should allow for the possibility of diverse issues being raised and not commit, in advance, to restricting the entire first half of the meeting to just one issue (or even a set of similar issues).  I also don't think that we should hand over a large chunk of our own business meeting to other groups -- it's a Green Party meeting, after all.

I do think that we can find common ground with other groups, and/or work in a more focused fashion on specific issues, but I don't think it's fair to turn the business meeting into the vehicle for that.  The time restriction could easily prevent new business and issues from being brought to the group in a timely fashion.  I would prefer to see committees (or workgroups, such as those used by the Santa Clara County Move to Amend chapter) created to deal with focused issues, projects, types of coalition building, events, etc.  At the business meeting each committee or group could give a *brief* report on what it's doing and let folks know how to get involved and get more detailed information.  That way the business meeting would provide a good overview of everything we're actively working on while still allowing time for folks to bring up new business and feel that their ideas are being given a fair hearing (but they, like anyone presenting something at the meeting, should be respectful of everyone's time and be clear and concise with their proposals so we have time to get through as many items as possible). 

That's my 2 cents.

Was there much discussion of alternative meeting format ideas at the November meeting?

Best wishes,
Valerie


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      http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/133.html

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