[GPCA Updates] NEW STATE MEETING INFORMATION

[Jim Stauffer]

    ************   IMPORTANT  ************
    
      SUPPLEMENTAL STATE MEETINGINFORMATION
      
      

There are three topics in this message:


1. Online registration will close this Wednesday (6/21) at midnight. Please go
online and register now!! Counties are also reminded that they must submit their
list of delegates and alternates online by Wednesday.

           http://cagreens.org/plenary


2. A new proposal is being added to the plenary agenda: 

	--  Interpretation of Bylaws for New Counties


3. DVDs of March 19, 2006 candidate training program available.

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INTERPRETATION OF BYLAWS FOR NEW COUNTIES


"7-3.2 Bylaws Interpretation
In cases of bylaw ambiguity or procedural
disagreement, the General Assembly shall decide for
itself the meaning of its bylaws or the appropriate
procedure to be followed. Between General Assembly
meetings, the Coordinating Committee shall decide
these questions subject to review at the next General
Assembly meeting. The Bylaws Committee and its
coordinators are charged with assisting with the
interpretation of the Bylaws and the resolution of
procedural questions." (GPCA bylaws section 7-3.2)

The interpretation below was adopted by the GPCA CC on
June 12, 2006. The intent of the interpretation to
apply to the participation in the GPCA of all new
counties was made clear in both the proposal itself
and its presentation on the June 12 CC teleconference.
The allocation of delegates included in the plenary
proposals packet includes a new county {Kern} that has
not been certified or activated by the CC under this
proposal. All other counties listed were activated by
the CC on its April teleconference.

GPCA Bylaws can be found at
http://www.cagreens.org/bylaws/downloads/bylaws-2005-12.pdf

SUBJECT: Interpretation of Bylaws Regarding New
Counties

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has become increasingly
clear that there is dispute and ambiguity regarding
the GPCA bylaws dealing with new counties. In order to
provide a clear path for new counties to become full
participants in GPCA and to clarify the roles of the
GPCA's decision-making bodies, it is neccessary to
interpret the bylaws. Bylaws section 7-3.2 allows the
CC to interpret the bylaws.

The proposal clarifies the process for new counties by
distinguishing between three different standards for
counties in the GPCA bylaws: Recognition (by the
General Assembly, per 3-2.2), Certification (by the
CC, per 4-1.22), and Activation (by the CC, per
4-2.2). To avoid future disputes and ambiguity, the
intepretation also includes the procedures whereby
decisions regarding these standards are made.

PROPOSAL:

The CC makes the following bylaws interpretations and
establishes the following procedures with regard to
new county organizations:

Recognition

GPCA bylaws section 3-2.2 'County Organization and
Recognition' (note especially 'To be recognized by the
General Assembly and to seat General Assembly
delegates, a county organization must...) is
interpreted as follows:

A county organization must be recognized by the
General Assembly per section 3-2.2 to have delegates
seated by the GA. Recognition of new county
organizations is a "business" decision requiring a 2/3
affirmative vote, except as otherwise provided by GPCA
bylaws.

Certification

GPCA bylaws section 4-1.22 'New County Organizations'
(note especially 'Any certification decision by the
State Coordinating Committee may be appealed') is
interpreted as follows:

In newly organized counties and those counties where
no candidates qualified for the primary ballot, County
Council members must be certified by the Coordinating
Committee. A county council may not be certified until
all of the regional representatives representing the
region which includes the county in question have
recommended certification, regardless of any internal
subdivision of regional representative authority.
Certification of county councils is a "business"
decision requiring a 2/3 affirmative vote of the CC,
except as otherwise provided by GPCA bylaws.
Certification by the CC serves as a replacement for
the certification of county councils by the official
registrar/secretary of state process and has no other
meaning with regard to the representation of county
organizations in the GPCA.

Activation

GPCA bylaws section 4-2.2 'Delegate allocation
formula' (note especially 'the Coordinating Committee
shall determine, based on the relevant articles of
these bylaws, which county organizations are currently
active.') is intepreted as follows:

Activation of counties for the purpose of delegate
allocation is a "business" decision requiring a 2/3
affirmative vote of the CC, except as otherwise
provided by GPCA bylaws. The CC may activate counties
that have not been recognized by the GA provisionally,
pending recognition at the GA for which they have been
activated, but may not activate counties whose
councils have not been certified per the
'certification' portion of this bylaws interpretation.
If the GA chooses to recognize a county that has not
been activated under this section, it will receive one
delegate and there will be more than 100 delegate
seats per 4-2.2d.

More Information: GPCA Bylaws can be found at
http://www.cagreens.org/bylaws/downloads/bylaws-2005-12.pdf

Timeline: Immediate, applies to all new counties and
the next General Assembly.

Resources: Announcement to county contacts so that
counties may decide if they will seek review of this
interpetation at the next GA per 7-3.2.

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DVDS OF CANDIDATE TRAINING PROGRAM AVAILABLE

Part of the responsibilities of the CCWG is to train Green Party activists 
in methods of waging political campaigns.  A "campaign basics" program 
was held in Sonoma County on March 19, 2006.  DVDs and written  
materials distributed at the program are now available for use by 
County Green Parties for general program use and candidate training
and recruitment.
 
The program was designed for prospective GPCA candidates and campaign 
helpers who have no or little  previous campaign experience.  Topics include:
Deciding to be a candidate; Initial filing requirements; Media basics; and 
Campaign finance issues.
 
Program sessions are about an hour and can be shown 
in order or separately.  Program materials may be copied.  
However, because there are a limited number of copies
available, the program packet will need to be returned 
to the CCWG or delivered to an additional County GP 
after all programs have been viewed locally.
 
Program packets will be available at the upcoming plenary to be held
June 24-25th and by mail afterwards.  Packets will be distributed to the
designated CCWG contact person who will be responsible for 
monitoring and reporting how these materials are used locally and 
returning the program packet for use by other County GPs.
 
Questions about this announcement can be sent to 
Warner Bloomberg, CCWG Coordinator wsb3attyca at aol.com (408/295-9353)