LA Greens General Meeting - February 15, 2006 7pm
Meeting called to order at 7:20pm.
Facilitators: Derek Iversen and Erin Schmidt
Minutes: Linda Piera-Avila
Vibes watcher: Les Amer
Timekeeper: Michael Rochmes
As the sign in sheet was passed around, we all introduced ourselves. Those present, in addition to the individuals already noted above, were: Bob Smith, Genevieve Marcus, Dave Rasmussen, Christine "Bean" Pinto, Peter Thottam, Byron De Lear, Rebecca Tobias, Dave English, Nici Edwards and Jeff Goldberg. Quorum present.
"A Passion for Peace"
Dave Tait and friend Nadine Arlyn paid us a brief visit and announced an upcoming one woman play starring Nadine, "A Passion for Peace," about the life of Jeannette Rankin.
Nadine says that her play is taken directly from Rankin's quotes and is approved by the Montana Historical Society! Nadine's play is by invitation only, so we are lucky!
Sat., April 1, 2:30PM at UCLA in the Rehab Building, room A 6-60 (Level A) This is off Veteran, at Kinross, behind the fire station.
From Veteran, turn east on Kinross, turn right into lot 36 or left (north) behind the fire station, then right into lot 32. Parking is $8. Walk north to the Rehab Building.
For more info, call Nadine at (323) 654-2107. Thank you, Nadine!
Campaigns
Peter Thottam, running for the 53rd Assembly District (Westchester, Mar Vista, Venice areas), is working on getting signatures for filing. His website is www.peterthottam.com/53.
Byron DeLear, likewise, is pounding the pavement to get signatures to run for the 28th Congressional District (SF Valley). See delearforcongress.org for events and ways to help. All are welcome to join Byron for phone banking this Sunday. Byron is running on an anti war, stop global warming platform.
Israel Divestment/ GPUS Resolution 190 Issue Presenter: Les Amer
The National Committee of the Green Party passed Resolution 190 which calls for a divestment from and boycott of Israel. The impact of this resolution on Greens has been twofold: 1) there has been substantial disagreement about the motion itself and 2) the resolution shows a lack of communication with local Green groups from the national party leadership.
Les graciously offered to spearhead a committee to research the matter of divestment and invited Greens to join him in this effort.
The GPLAC has written its own response to Resolution 190, highlighting the need for improved communication among various levels of Green Party groups.
Les proposes that we LA Greens support the GPLAC response to GPUS Resolution 190.
Motion/proposal was approved by consensus. Appropriate Green bodies will be notified of our support for the GPLAC response: GPLAC, GPCA, GPUS and our national delegates. (And Linda thought all she had to do was the minutes!)
GPLAC response copied below.
To: GPCA delegation to the GPUS, GPUS Green National Commitee and GPUS International Committee
From: County Council, Green Party of Los Angeles County
Subject: Resolution 190
Dear Fellow Greens,
We want to acknowledge the work of Green Party activists on the national level who have been involved in issues around the Middle East, and which led to the recent passage of Resolution 190 by the Green National Committee (GNC).
We understand that the authors of the Resolution followed GPUS process, and that their work had support of many members of the GPUS International Committee, as well as receiving enough votes to pass on the GNC.
At the same time, we have received many negative responses to the Resolution from Greens here in Los Angeles County, and have even lost several party members as a result of it. Although some of us who are active in Green locals and on the County level support the resolution, there are many of us who do not.
While most of us share dissatisfaction with some of what the Israeli government does, there are many of us who do not agree with the specific strategic choice to advocate divestment. In addition, others of us feel that either the issue is far more complex than is captured in the Resolution and/or that this was simply not the time for such a statement to be made - both externally given the fluid situation in the Middle East and internally, given the delicate state of the GPUS and the divisive nature of this resolution.
What we want to remind all involved in passing GNC resolutions, is that the further away from the national platform that a resolution may be, the more necessary it is for extra work to be done to be sure that GNC work reaches into the party's grassroots.
Almost no active Green in Los Angeles County was even aware that such an issue was being debated. While we understand that information about the resolution was available on the internet, and that our own state party's delegates have a responsibility to communicate with the rest of us, that clearly did not work in this case, to involve enough of us whose opinions needed to be heard.
We ask that in the future, when policy choices come before the GNC that do not flow directly from the GPUS Platform - and in this case, divestment is a strategic choice that in no way necessarily flows from the platform - that far more due diligence be undertaken, to ensure that enough voices are heard. Only in this way can we better promote GNC decisions that truly reflect the party's membership, rather than divide it, especially in a party that values seeking consensus.
With respect for each other and hope for our common mission,
The County Council of the Green Party of Los Angeles County
Minimum Wage Petition Drive Presenter: Linda P-A
The GPCA is promoting a ballot drive to get an initiative placed which would increase the minimum wage to $7.25 in 2007 and $7.75 in 2008, with cost of living adjustments.
Linda passed around the petition for folks to sign and handed out blank petitions for those willing and able to gather some sigs to help with the effort. Registered voters in the same county per each sheet. Linda will collect those papers at the next meeting. (If you fail to bring them, she knows where you live because she is the secretary and she has the sign in list, and if necessary, she will release the flying monkeys to get them from you.... oops! My alter ego is showing!) Nici-1, Derek-1, Bob-2, Erin-1, Dave-2, Peter-2 Thanks, folks! If any questions, email me at twosocks@ucla.edu
New Century Coalition Presenter: Erin Schmidt for Patrick Meighan (in absentia)
Patrick asked that the following announcement be read, which Erin dutifully and beautifully did!
She also passed around a petition for us to sign in support of the effort to revitalize the Century Blvd. Corridor.
LAANE and UNITE/HERE need the L.A. Greens's help. The fight for decent wages and affordable health care is currently being fought at L.A.X.-area mega-hotels, where the workers have recently stood up for the right to organize and bargain collectively. And L.A. Greens have been standing right beside the workers in that fight. For example, last Saturday the L.A. Greens mounted an awesome delegation to the Century Blvd. Westin. We told the hotel management, face to face, that the Green Party demands that the workers be treated fairly, and be allowed to organize without harassment. It was great. It was powerful. We Greens rocked.
So now what?
Here's what. The L.A. Greens are being called to support the workers' New Century Coalition. It's a unique campaign, calling on the city to re-invest in L.A.'s neglected, crime-ridden Century Boulevard corridor. The Green Party is urged to join clergy, progressive groups and community leaders in calling for a rehabilitated, re-invigorated L.A.X. corridor to benefit the area's workers, businesses and residents. We can start by signing this petition.
LAANE hopes to present 5,000 petition signatures to the L.A. City Council at their February 24th meeting. A LAANE press conference will precede that meeting, at 9:30am. The L.A. Greens are invited to attend both the press conference and the City Council meeting, to show support for this campaign.
Let's show the airport hotel employees--and all of L.A.'s workers--that the L.A. Greens continue to be reliable allies in the fight for labor rights and economic justice.
For more information, please contact Patrick Meighan at patsweetpat@verizon.net
Election of Officers
We have an opening for the PR/Media Coordinator.
Derek read a description of the duties.
Patrick Meighan had previously expressed interest at our Ex Comm meeting, so he was nominated and approved by consensus.
Congratulations, Patrick!
Affiliation with the GPLAC (announcement) Presenter: Michael Rochmes
Michael said he summarized the concerns expressed at last month's LA Greens meeting and has delivered them to the GPLAC.
Perhaps a County Council member would want to make a presentation to our LA Greens meeting next month in response.
Treasurer's Report Presented by Erin Schmidt for Denise Munro Robb (in absentia)
We have $3608.87 in the bank, $2,058 of which is designated for the Petra Kelly Scholarship fund.
That leaves $1558.87 unrestricted. $290 in deposits were made. Expenses: $40.94 for the phone bill, $64 and $72 for different issues of the Green Focus newspapers.
Is there are questions, email Denise denise@panix.com
New Member Speakout
Jeff Goldberg, welcome! He would like to see the Greens be outspoken about prt's, or public rapid transit systems. Kind of like peoplemovers, but for real, not just for Mickey Mouse! This construction would create jobs and bring $ in to communities, instead of seeing $ flow out. Jeff initially joined us at the Doo Dah Parade last Nov. See, the parade IS good outreach! Rebecca Tobias, welcome! Rebecca is helping Byron with his campaign. She co-authored his rebuttal to the state of the union address. Rebecca works for the UN with the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights. (Is that all??)
Announcements
Michael Rochmes passed out cards for us to sign in support of stopping the genocide in Darfur. Big rally in DC on 4-30.
Bean Pinto announced our event for 3-18, to be a fundraiser for Byron in conjunction with a CD release party for Maria Armoudian. Venue and other details pending.
Linda proposed getting a speaker from CA Clean Money to talk at our next meeting about campaign spending limits. All present agreed. Linda will contact Eric Tang from CA Clean $
Derek reminded everyone of his parodies of NPR. Go to www.corntato.com for more info
Erin updated us about the status of the Petra Kelly Scholarship. Info is up on our website, www.losangelesgreens.org An email will go out to high school counselors announcing it. It will also be posted on the fastweb web site. If others want to get involved and help contact career counselors, they are welcome to do that.
Genevieve told us about another group, Citizens for Global Solutions. It is affiliated with the UN. It connects the global with the local. Worthwhile group. www..globalsolutions.org
Byron announced an event happening Sat 2-18 with Peter Camejo, Todd Chreiten, Forrest Hill, Nativo Lopez and others. Byron will be tabling and asked other LA Greens to likewise come and help table to create a presence. (Byron asked for mic time, but was denied.)
Meeting adjourned somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00, followed by refreshments served by Bean. Scintillating conversation and networking opportunities were had by all! (No wine was spilled in the process of socializing, nor in the production of these minutes!)
Humbly submitted,
Linda Piera-Avila
LA Greens secretary