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We have a price now from Sir Speedy, which is $203.50 for 500 folded on 60# paper, $266 for 750, and $121 for 250. Don't know if that includes tax. Way better pricing. Office Max was higher than Fed-X Kinkos.Would appreciate a quick response to this proposal since the elections are coming up soon. 🙂 Thanks,Michael HaugheyA-J Greens Chairperson
The intent of this flyer is to raise awareness of and increase attandance at the Adams-Jeffco meetings and it has informatin specific to A-J. At the same time we are promoting the Colorado Green Party and the National Green Party. Since we do not have a Treasurer (nor sufficient meeting attendees to have a volunteer for that position), we are required to run all finances through the state party (at least under the current Secretary of State). We don't know the state finances, so if the cost is too high, we could start with a lesser number of flyers.If other locals are interested in the same flyers (edited for their local) we would be happy to share the template.We have been getting KGNU radio spots announcing our meetings, but so far no attendees that I'm aware of have resulted from that effort. I'm sure the Greens in gerneral are getting more exposure from the radio spots, however we are looking for ways to reach our locals and attract new local members.Michael HaugheyAdams-Jeffco Chairperson
I think this is getting ahead of ourselves to our own detriment. The requirement for a treasurer for each county will sink many of the locals and that is not in our best interest. Some if not many of our locals do not at present have enough active participation to find a treasurer, and the consequences of not filing on time can be a problem. The next step should be to request a written interpretation of the SOS rules and request clear reference to the applicable sections of the State Constitution, particularly Amendment 16 on Campaign Finance. The SOS rules are misinterpreting the State Constitution. The big problem is that the SOS rules add “political parties” to the definition of “political committee” whereas that is not in the State Constitution definition and is in fact the only difference between the two definitions. It is as if someone did that specifically to make things more difficult if not impossible for smaller political parties. The intent and language of the constitution is to put requirements on political committees that raise funds for candidate or issue advocacy, not to require a treasurer for local party chapters.Once a local is big enough to have a treasurer, then I think it is a good idea as that then allows raising funds for candidate and issue support. Here is what I found from my research in March that I put in an e-mail then:I think it is clear that the SOS staff is mis-interpreting the State Constitution. Here is what I found, with my recommendation at the end: Under definitions in the SOS rules: 1.2 "Committee". Unless otherwise specified, the term "committee" as used in these rules includes candidate committees, political committees, small donor committees, issue committees, independent expenditure committees, political parties, Federal PACs, and political organizations.Under political parties in the SOS rules: Rule 6. Political Parties 2280313 6.1 The appropriate filing officer for a state or county political party is the Secretary of State. Therefore, state and county political parties are subject to the requirements of section 1-45-109(1)(c), C.R.S., and must file reports with the Secretary of State. [Article XXVIII Section 2(1); section 1-45-109(1)(c), C.R.S.] 2280314 6.1.1 This rule shall not apply to a political party in a home rule jurisdiction reporting in accordance with Rule 14.4. Under home rule in the SOS rules: 2280494 Rule 14. Local Offices and Home Rule 2280495 14.1 The requirements of Article XXVIII and of Article 45 of Title 1, C.R.S., do not apply to home rule counties or home rule municipalities that have adopted charters, ordinances, or resolutions that address any of the matters covered by Article XXVIII or Article 45 of Title 1. 2280496 14.2 The provisions of Article XXVIII, Section 3(4) relating to contributions of corporations and labor unions apply to elections to every state and local public office, except local public offices in home rule counties or home rule municipalities that have adopted charters, ordinances, or resolutions that address any of the matters covered by Article XXVIII or Title 1, Article 45. 2280497 14.3 The provisions of section 1-45-105.5, C.R.S., relating to a prohibition on lobbyist contributions to members of the General Assembly during legislative sessions, apply to members of the General Assembly who are candidates for any state or local office, including any office in home rule municipalities that have adopted charters, ordinances, or resolutions that address any of the matters covered by Article XXVIII or Article 45 of Title 1. 2280498 14.4 A political party, as defined in Article XXVIII, Section 2(13) at the level of a home rule county or home rule municipality that has adopted a charter, ordinance, or resolution that addresses any of the matters covered by Article XXVIII or Article 45 of Title 1, may establish a separate account that is used solely for contributions made to the party, and expenditures made by the party, for the purpose of supporting the party’s county or municipal candidates for offices within the county or municipality. Contributions to and expenditures from such account shall not be included for purposes of any limitations or reporting contained in Article XXVIII or Article 45 of Title 1, C.R.S. Then I looked at the CRS and it looks like the SOS added “political parties” to their rule which is NOT in the CRS referenced section: 1-45-109. Filing - where to file - timeliness. (1) For the purpose of meeting the filing and reporting requirements of this article:(a) The following shall file with the secretary of state:(I) Candidates for statewide office, the general assembly, district attorney, district court judge, or any office representing more than one county; the candidate committees for such candidates; political committees in support of or in opposition to such candidates; issue committees in support of or in opposition to an issue on the ballot in more than one county; small donor committees making contributions to such candidates; and persons expending one thousand dollars or more per calendar year on electioneering communications.(II) Candidates in special district elections; the candidate committees of such candidates; political committees in support of or in opposition to such candidates; issue committees supporting or opposing a special district ballot issue; and small donor committees making contributions to such candidates.(b) Candidates in municipal elections, their candidate committees, any political committee in support of or in opposition to such candidate, an issue committee supporting or opposing a municipal ballot issue, and small donor committees making contributions to such candidates shall file with the municipal clerk.(c) All other candidates, candidate committees, issue committees, political committees, and small donor committees shall file with the secretary of state. Under definitions (CRS – Title 1-45), I found: (14) "Political committee" shall have the same meaning as set forth in section 2 (12) of article XXVIII of the state constitution. Here is a link to the campaign finance law (Colorado Consitution XXVIII): http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Document_C&childpagename=CGA-LegislativeCouncil%2FDocument_C%2FCLCAddLink&cid=1251595254682&pagename=CLCWrapper (which does not work on my computer) I found this link on the Internet that seems to work better: http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/CampaignFinance/files/amend_27.pdf The constitution is very clear that a Political Committee is NOT a political party: (12) (a) "Political committee" means any person, other than a natural person, or any group of two or more persons, including natural persons that have accepted or made contributions or expenditures in excess of $200 to support or oppose the nomination or election of one or more candidates.(b) "Political committee" does not include political parties, issue committees, or candidate committees as otherwise defined in this section. I think it is very clear that the SOS is mis-interpreting the Colorado Constitution. I did not try to figure out which, if any, counties are home rule as the State Constitution reference made that unnecessary. It might be worth looking into if anyone knows where to start. Conclusion/recommendation – I believe we should not make changes based solely on the staff person’s verbal interpretation. It is clear to me that the purpose of the campaign finance law is to regulate the expenditures of money in support or opposition to candidates and/or issues. We raise no money, therefore it should not apply to us unless or until at some point in the future we start collecting money for that purpose. We should start by asking for a written interpretation. Normally that would trigger them reading the referenced laws so that what they commit to writing is defensible, and they might discover on their own that it is not.Michael D. HaugheyAJ Greens
Do we have the ability to post documents? At the State meeting we ran out oftime for discussion of platform proposals and agreed to move a discussion to the forum. Since it was an open meeting, perhaps the documents should be on a general site (does that exist?) and then voting moved to the council page.
It seems tome that it is difficult enough to build the Green Party without members jumping in and out for “tactical reasons”. I've never been a fan of messing with other paries' primaries. I'd rather everyone have the right to select their own representative candidate. “Do unto others …”. The other parties have far more members and can cause a lot more havoc in our party than our members can in theirs.
I got the same e-mail and have the same question, in addition to wondering what is the source of their funding (if any).I also wonder if the Greens could organize a similar project for Greens.Michael HaugheyA-J Greens
I'm curious to see if this post sends me a notification. I just set all the topics I could find to notify per the instructions that R.Jones sent on Jan 19, 2012 (very helpful – thanks). I think the problem with participation is we don't know when there is a discussion and most of us do not have the time to check in every day and browse all the topics. The notify options should solve this, although I think it will take a little time to adjust.
Seems like an issue far beyond juste Colorado. Nationally and maybe internationally there seems to be an effort to provide only the education and indoctrination required by the large international corporations, and even to privatize that to have yet another place to drain wealth from all but the wealthy to the already wealthy. So in addition to funding there are issues of curriculum, who controls it, and who teaches and under what constraints.Michael H
I'm OK with somewhere West or Southwest. Grand Junction seems central and easy to get to, plus reasonable hotel rates.
