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This is Proposal 001-17: Recognition of Longmont Green Party Please read the proposal and keep comments on the topic of the proposal only. This proposal is moderated, and the GPCO Code of Conduct will apply (located here: http://gpco.fullydefiant.com/forum/index.php?topic=28.0).Designate your vote by using the following terms: AGREE, BLOCK, or STAND ASIDE. Any blocks will require a vote of the council.Per Section 3.1 of the GPCO Bylaws, "A Green local must present its proposed bylaws for approval, and be approved by 60% of the voting Greens at a state party meeting, or by the state council."There are currently eleven (11) active voting chapters in the Green Party of Colorado. Adoption of this proposal requires an AGREE of at least 60% of all votes cast and also requires a minimum quorum of at least one response from seven (7) chapters.Active ChaptersJefferson CountyAdams CountyArapahoe CountyDenverDouglas CountyGreater BoulderPikes PeakPoudre ValleyMesaSan MiguelPlatte ValleyThe floor is now open for one week of Agreement Seeking, ending February 18, 2017 at 12 midnight.1. Basic Info:Date proposed: February 10, 2017Name of the sponsors: Andrea Merida Cuellar and Dave Bell, co-chairs, Green Party of Colorado2. Title: Recognition of Longmont Green Party 3. Text of the actual proposal:The Green Party of Colorado recognizes the membership of the Longmont Green Party, as an affiliate.4. Background: Members of the Longmont Green Party have been meeting, planning and campaigning for more than a year now. They have met regularly, have canvassed for our federal candidates, have tabled at Longmont events and have interacted with other locals to more deeply understand the Green Party of Colorado. Additionally, one of their members, Veronique Bellamy, ran for RTD Board as a Green, though the position is non-partisan.This chapter comports with all the requirements for affiliation, as set forth in the bylaws for the Green Party of Colorado, Section 3.1.Their local bylaws, adopted February 9, 2016, are included in the References section, below.5. Justification/Goals: The demographics of Longmont demonstrate a very young population, with more than 26 percent of its population aged 17 years old or less, as of 2016 data. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the needs of potential members will have to include proximity to home and flexibility in meeting days and times. 6. Pros and Cons: No cons identified.7. Alternatives to the proposal: Take no action.8. References: Bylaws, Green Party of Colorado: http://coloradogreenparty.org/about/bylaws/+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Bylaws of the Longmont Green Party1. Name1.1. The name of this local chapter of the Green Party of Colorado is The Longmont Green Party.2. Purpose and Values2.1. The purpose of this organization is to work towards a Green society as represented by the Four Pillars (which are peace, ecology, social justice and democracy) and the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States.The Ten Key Values are as follows:2.1.1. Grassroots Democracy2.1.2. Social Justice And Equal Opportunity2.1.3. Ecological Wisdom2.1.4. Non-Violence2.1.5. Decentralization2.1.6. Community-Based Economics2.1.7. Feminism And Gender Equity2.1.8. Respect For Diversity2.1.9. Personal And Global Responsibility2.1.10. Future Focus And Sustainability2.2. The Longmont Green Party’s expression of the 7th and 8th Key Values, as well as of the Third Pillar of the Green Party (Social Justice) causes it to declare that we are an anti-oppression party, actively dedicated to the work of challenging white supremacy, cissexism and heteropatriarchy. As such, expressions of sexism, racism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and other oppressive behaviors are not in keeping with the values of this party.2.2.1. Further, the Longmont Green Party explicitly rejects the false ideas that are used to derail social justice movements, such as reverse racism and misandry. While prejudice may exist against white people, against men, against cisgender people, against heterosexual people (or any other privileged group), this prejudice is not oppression because there are no institutional power structures designed to disenfranchise these privileged groups.2.3. In recognition of the issues that our existing corporate capitalist system present, the Longmont Green Party is dedicated to challenging the exploitation of labor, unsustainable means of consumption and production while encouraging and promoting businesses that are committed to social good (such as public benefit corporations) and/or that are owned by the employees/communities they serve (such as cooperatives).2.4. The Longmont Green Party’s expression of the 10 Key Values, as well as of the 4 Pillars of the Green Party, causes it to declare that global environmental destruction, which includes degradation to the climate, ecosystems, flora, fauna, land, water, and human cultures, constitutes an emergency that threatens our very survival. We understand that the practices of the federal, state and oftentimes, local, governments are largely responsible for environmental degradation. We declare to work to resist this destruction through governmental, and other non-violent direct means.2.5. A purpose of the Longmont Green Party is to run candidates for public office that align with these values.2.6. Another purpose of the Longmont Green Party is to educate the public on our vision of a Green society.3. Membership3.1. Membership in the Longmont Green Party is open to anyone regardless of race, gender expression or identity, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, appearance, or physical ability.3.2. To be a member of the Longmont Green Party, one must be a registered voter of the Green Party of Colorado for at least 30 successive days and reside in Longmont or a nearby city, community or unincorporated area (hereinafter referred to as “the Longmont area”).Members of the Longmont Green Party must also agree:3.2.1. to support the Ten Key Values;3.2.2. must abide by the bylaws of the Longmont Green Party and the Green Party of Colorado;3.2.3. agree to support, promote and/or endorse only Green Party candidates nominated by this local, the Green Party of Colorado or the Green Party of the United States; and3.2.4. should generally agree with the local party platform and the state and national party platforms.3.2.5. that awareness of the issues under consideration by the chapter is vital to coming to consensus and continuing the business the chapter.3.3. Voting Members of this chapter are members that have the ability to vote on this local’s officers, its representatives to Green Party of Colorado Council, nominations for Green Party candidates running for an office relevant to the Longmont area, official positions of the Longmont Green Party, and a platform or platform items of the Longmont Green Party.3.4. To be an eligible Voting Member of the Longmont Green Party, one must be a member according to section 3.2 and be either in attendance of three meetings in the last six months or engage regularly in official chapter communications in that time.3.5. In order to strengthen our party, we encourage members to pay annual dues. We suggest $25 in annual dues, but this can be modified or waived on a case by case basis.4. Officers and Delegates4.1. Officers shall include (a) Chairperson(s), Secretary and Treasurer. These officers will be chosen in odd number years at a designated meeting in February or, failing that, the soonest meeting where quorum could be established.4.2. In the event of a vacancy of an officer position, a chairperson may fulfill the duties of the vacant position or delegate another officer to do so until a new officer is elected.4.3. Our delegates (up to four) to the State Council will be elected by a quorum at a local meeting. These delegates shall be voting members.4.4. It is the goal of the Longmont Green Party to achieve gender diversity in the election of officers and delegates.4.5. Members voting for officers must meet the requirements stated in sections 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4.4.6. If a Longmont Green Party officer’s position is vacated in between official meetings, the other officers may make a temporary appointment to be affirmed by a vote of the voting members of the Longmont Green Party.5. Officer duties5.1. The Chairperson(s) will set the initial agenda for meetings seeking input from members prior to the meeting, take action on expedient matters, and act as representative(s) to the press on local issues or delegate such duties. The Chairperson(s) may form committees to handle specific tasks (such as a website committee.) and will be considered the spokesperson(s) for the Longmont Green Party.5.2. The Treasurer shall have charge of the books of the Longmont Green Party and account monthly for all moneys collected and disbursed, as well as file required financial reports at local, State and Federal level. Disbursement of funds should be approved at a regular meeting or, if time sensitive, by the officers’ unanimous consent.5.3. The Secretary is to maintain a list of the members, voting members, officers, and delegates to the Green Party of Colorado Council. In addition, the Secretary is responsible for taking and archiving meeting minutes. The Secretary will maintain a copy of the bylaws with any current amendments, forwarding the same to the Green Party of Colorado and any governmental unit requiring a copy, and maintain a list of those organizations requiring a copy. The Secretary will attempt to get minutes and/or bylaws to any member in good standing who requests them.6. Structure6.1. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson(s) by notification of members to an extent as reasonably possible, at least one week if possible before the proposed meeting.6.2. To establish sufficient quorum, 75% of the voting members must be present.6.3. Decisions will be by consensus if possible or if not then by a simple majority, except as noted elsewhere.6.4. The agenda of each meeting shall be determined at least one week prior to the meeting. Agenda items shall be e-mailed to the Secretary or Chairperson(s) in advance so they can be incorporated into the agenda.6.5. Proposals to the Colorado Green Party Council shall be voted on at regular meetings.7. Candidates7.1. Candidates nominated by the Longmont Green Party must meet the following criteria:7.1.1. A candidate should endorse the Ten Key Values as interpreted by this party and shall use these values as a basis for their political decision-making.7.1.2. A candidate must comply with any eligibility requirements of the Green Party of Colorado.7.2. Any regular meeting may constitute itself as a vetting agent for the Longmont Green Party, or the voting members may approve a vetting committee created by the the Chairperson(s) consisting of Longmont Green Party voting members.7.3. Voting members will be responsible for nominating Green Party of Colorado candidates to run for local political office in partisan elections. An officer of the Longmont Green Party shall forward those nominations for ratification to the state nominating convention.7.4. Voting members will be responsible for endorsing candidates who are running in elections for local nonpartisan office.7.5. The Longmont Green Party will coordinate with the Greater Boulder Greens and Platte Valley Greens in even-numbered years to make county-level nominations such as County Commissioners, District Attorney for the 20th Judicial District, etc.8. Amendments8.1. These bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote of the voting members present at a local meeting where notice of the agenda for the meeting as a bylaw meeting has been announced for at least 14 days.
Agree.Kevin AlumbaughGreater Boulder Green Party The Boulder Greens look forward to working closely with the Longmont chapter. Longmont is it's own entity and having a local chapter there will be a great asset to promote the Green Party in Boulder County.Congratulations!
Ok, we have reached quorum, and voting continues until midnight Saturday.Keep the votes coming, folks!
We need new chapters and it is great that one is forming in Longmont.However, there are serious concerns with the bylaws that I believe need to be addressed. Paragraph 2.2 comes across as divisive and negative. It sets a racist tone against whites. The Green Party is about positive messages and unity. A much better approach is to be a positive and welcoming force, such as a statement in favor of equal opportunity, economic system reform, and unity. Using the latest controversial buzzwords seems, in addition, to inflame and divide. Paragraph 2.2.1 takes one opinion on a hot and contested topic in the Green Party and locks it into the bylaws. The result is to exclude anyone who disagrees. Another opinion is that this is also, and even more so, divisive, negative, and racist. The concept that only whites can be racist is a narrow view that is not commonly accepted. It insults, belittles, and excludes those whites who are not advantaged, who are struggling, and who do not hold positions of power. It is the opposite of developing unity. Attempts to redefine racism with the result of immunizing whole groups from being able to be labeled racist seem disingenuous. Racism is basically racial prejudice or discrimination. Racism is defined (Meriam Webster) as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”. Prejudice (Meriam Webster) is: 1: : injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights; especially : detriment to one's legal rights or claims. 2: a (1) : preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge; b : an instance of such judgment or opinion; c : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.Racism and racial prejudice are neither forward nor reverse. They are feelings and/or actions that any person can have or take.The bylaws are intended to set a framework of how the party will operate and be governed. Often they will include a statement of compliance with a parent group’s (the National Green Party) values (such as the 10 Key Values). Locking in one opinion of a controversial topic within the Green Party does not belong in the bylaws. Should a chapter wish to make a statement on a topic, a better avenue is to issue a resolution stating the opinion and post it on their own webpage or in the forum.
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