GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY SUMMARY REPORT October 15, 2009 This report summarizes the decisions made at the October 10-11 General Assembly in Cotati. Full meeting minutes will be issued in a few weeks and posted on the "plenary" web site: http://cagreens.org/plenary/. **** PLENARY SESSIONS DECISIONS AND REPORTS **** + Approve Past General Assembly Minutes Dana Point minutes (May 09): Approved by consensus with one stand-aside concern. Venice, LA minutes (Aug 08): Approved by consensus with one stand-aside concern. + Voting Threshold Change Subject: Change the STV voting threshold in bylaws 7-1.8 to be a variable value when the number of candidates is less than the number of open seats. Approved by consensus with one stand-aside concern. + Constitutional Convention Subject: Authorize County Polling to take position on Constitutional Convention Ballot Measures for November 2010 ballot. Approved by consensus. Mike Feinstein later gave a report on ballot measures anticipated to create the convention, and on the two types of conventions being debated: Citizens assembly or political appointments. + GPUS Delegation Report Sanda Everett described the work of the Delegation. Barry Hermanson reported on his experience at the annual National Meeting in Durham North Carolina at Central North Carolina State Univ. (first state run black college). He emphasized a strategy session conducted with the entire group. Mike Feinstein introduced the idea of GPCA hosting the 2012 National Convention and asked that it be put on the agenda for next General Assembly. + Election of GPUS Delegates Elections were held for four candidates for delegate and four for alternate delegate seats. Three delegates and four alternates were elected. + Platform Planks Water plank - Approved by consensus Criminal Justice plank - Approved by consensus Electoral Reform plank - Withdrawn + Bylaws, Article 2: Purpose Subject: Define a 'purpose' statement for Article 2 of the GPCA bylaws to serve as the internal definition for guiding the goals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, it's bylaws and it's affiliated locals. Approved by consensus after several changes offered from participants. + CC Elections and Committee Restructuring Subject: Trial period to evaluate a new CC election method. An addendum was circulated to delegates with changes to the proposal and a summary of key items to be approved. The plan was approved by consensus after extended discussions. + Scheduling Next State Meeting A host for the next General Assembly was not decided. Four people offered to pursue the issue with their county. A timeframe of Feb/Mar 2010 is needed. **** WORKING GROUP AND STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS **** + Electoral Reform Working Group - Jane Rands Need volunteers for the Coordinating Committee. Electoral Reform Group will meet 10/18/09 at 7:30 PM. Goals: -- Focus on June ballot items: California Clean Money Campaign, Open Primary Initiative. -- Focusing on education: Single Transfer Voting. Want to be able to clearly explain how it works. + Campaign and Candidates Working Group - Warner Bloomberg (substituting for Kendra Gonzales, Ventura Co.) Looking for a second coordinator for the working group. Goals: -- Determine what Green candidates are running for offices, and recruit candidates for statewide 2010 elections. -- Discuss how to poll counties on state initiatives. Create a web page that tallies and displays votes as they are collected. -- Come up with recommendations for funding candidates. Pass on recommendations to the Campaign Funding Support Committee. + Bylaws, GROW, Clearinghouse - Michael Borenstein, El Dorado Co. Too many vacant seats on the Bylaws Committee. Need to recruit more members. Developing a new Strategy for GROW -- Focus on creating a better web presence. -- Create liaisons with County Councils. Mail a letter to each County Council requesting a liaison. Plan to provide help for people running for County Councils. -- Deploy a group to gather signatures for candidates so they can avoid registration fees. Have monthly phone conference meetings. Will have a committee meeting in February/March. + Finance Committee - Gloria Purcell (substituting) Discussed terms of committee members and fundraising issues. Two people would like to join the committee: Bill Meyers (Mendocino County) and Will Yeager (Venice County). Michael Borenstein will present these candidates at the November Finance Committee meeting. + Green Issues Working Group - Will Yeager, Hally DeCarion, Clark Casler Focus on: -- Website development - Bert Heuer, -- Water issues - Wes Rolley, Santa Clara Co. -- Organic gardening and biking - Will Yeager -- Generating interest among Spanish-speaking people. Provide written content in Spanish, and attend events in Spanish-speaking communities. New Co-co's affirmed at the General Assembly by consensus: Bert Heuer - Co-Coordinator; Halley DeCarion (Sonoma), Clark Castle (Orange), and Dorothy Kemeny (Los Angeles) - Alternate Coordinators /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ NOTE: Photos taken by Tim Morgan at the Saturday night bonfire can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackcloudbrew/sets/72157622574856044/