This letter is to correct the minutes of the Nominating Convention, held on June 6th, 1998 in Wrightsville Georgia. Those minutes were filed with your office on Thursday, June 25th 1998. The corrected version of page one, taken together with the rest of the minutes previously filed represents a true and complete account of the business we conducted that day.
The July 28th phone conference of our Coordinating Council directed that these corrections be filed with your office.
If there is any further information required, please don't hesitate to call.
yours for a just and sustainable future,
Rev. Zack Lyde, Hugh Esco
Chair of the Georgia Green Party Clerk of the Georgia Green Party
encl: Corrected Minutes of the Georgia Green Party Nominating Convention, June 6, 1998
The Convention was convened at about 10:30 by Hugh Esco.
Sean Michael of Clarke County presented a credentials report asking that the Convention seat six delegates and four observers. The report was adopted by unanimous consent. The delegates included: Robert Randall and Zack Lyde of Glynn County, Hugh Esco of Dekalb County, Sean Michael and Coleman McCord of Clarke County and Chuck O'Neil of Cobb County. The observers included: Kevin Crabb of Newton County, Kerrie Dickson of Towns County, Anita Childers of Wayne County and Charles Sumblin of Johnson County.
Sean Michael asked unanimous consent to suspend the rules to allow the observers to participate as credentialled delegates. Without objection, we suspended the rules and seated the observers as delegates.
INSERT> Over the course of the day, these additional people arrived, credentialled as observors and were seated as delegates under the suspended rule: Albert Coleman and Benjamin Mincey of Johnson County, Hugh Lovel of Union County, Mark Reitz of Dekalb County, Mauer Freeman and Denise Freeman of Lincoln County. <INSERT
Hugh Esco put the question to the body on the selection of a facilitation team for the Convention. Robert Randall asked about our decision making process. Hugh Esco explained the process which had been adopted by the Georgia Green Party Organizing Committee at the Sylvania meeting in December 1995. Hugh Esco also presented the following amendment recommended by the Atlanta Greens providing for exceptions to the gender balance rule.
Amend the Convention Process, by striking Section VI, dealing with gender balance, in its entirety and inserting in its place a new section to read:
VI. Stacks, time limits, gender balanceAt the beginning of discussion on an issue, the facilitator shall, with the assistance of the time-keeper, state the time limits agreed to for an agenda item and suggest a time limit for each speaker. If no objection is raised or if a process motion to amend the proposed time limit is adopted, then each speaker shall be limited to the agreed to time limit. The co-facilitators shall work together to maintain a stack of those members wishing to speak. Members in the stack shall be called upon woman/ man, woman/ man, rotating back and forth so as to maintain gender balance in the discussion, except that the gender balance rule shall not prevent a speaker from rising in opposition to a proposal where they would be the only speaker to do so. Neither shall the gender balance rule prevent a speaker, properly recognized, from yielding their time on the floor to another participant or observor of their choice. When there are no other women wishing to speak, the facilitator shall close discussion.
The amendment was adopted without objection.
Hugh Esco asked for a motion to adopt the rules amended as the rules to govern the Convention. Chuck O'Neil moved that we set aside these rules unless in the opinion of the facilitator, such complex rules were needed. Without objection, that motion was adopted to set the rules for the Convention.
Hugh Esco again put the question to the body on the selection of a facilitation team for the Convention. Robert Randall asked for a show of hands among the delegates who had experience with a formal consensus process. Four delegates raised their hands. Hugh asked for volunteers for a Facilitator and Scribe. With the understanding that he would need to leave early, Robert Randall volunteered to facilitate the morning's work, Kerrie Dickson volunteered to facilitate the afternoon's work and Coleman McCord volunteered to serve as the clerk of the meeting. Without objection this facilitation team was accepted.
Robert Randall put the question to the body on the agenda for the Convention. Hugh Esco presented the draft agenda which had been circulated among the members of the 1996 Coordinating Council. He also presented his notes on other items deserving the attention of the Convention. Robert Randall asked the body about people's travel schedules and suggested that the critical business be handled prior to the 3:00 pm scheduled departure of the Coastal delegation. Without objection, we adopted the agenda as presented by Hugh Esco and amended by Robert Randall with the understanding that the Facilitator was trusted to handle the times and keep us on track and that the non-platform endorsement resolutions would be held till the end and handled if time allowed.
Next we heard opening welcoming remarks from Charles Sumblin, the host of the Convention. He filled us in on local issues and on the logistics of the meeting.
The question was put to the body on an election and nominating process for the Convention. Hugh Esco offered a proposal on preference voting rules. On Chuck O'Neil's motion, we postponed Hugh's presentation of proposed election rules until we determined whether the nominations would yield contested races.
Next the platform planks were presented without discussion. The following papers were offered:
Chuck O'Neil submits papers on Electric Re-regulation, on Health, on Taxes, on Transportation, Land use, Public Utilities, Air and Water Pollution. Hugh offered as a part of the agenda packet, numerous platform papers submitted by various authors, including: Hugh/NIRS on nuclear waste, Maher/Greene on death penalty and indigent defense, Dollar on Forestry, Lovel on Agriculture, Hodges on Healthcare/ Midwifery, NJ Greens on Auto Insurance, Wisconsin candidate Jeff Peterson's campaign platform, Nutrition education policy, and several short ideas from Coleman McCord: abolish lottery, consumer protection and telephone fraud, bottle bill, phase out animal research, tax incentive for residential solar conversion, water conservation, family farm preservation tax incentives televise Georgia Genral Assembly on GPTV, and the Platform of the Atlanta Greens adopted at the August 23, 1997 Annual Meeting.
Late arriving planks concerning: The death penalty, factory farms, closure of the SOA, the Tobin Tax, a Constitutional Amendment on corporate accountability were read by the Facilitator to the Convention. The question was asked what other issues should be addressed in the platform. Zack Lyde asked that for laws to clean up and provide health care for contaminated communities, to hold polluters accountable and to prevent enviromental racism. Several people mentioned their desire to address educational policy. Chuck O'Neal asked for a clean air and water plank. Someone suggested a crime plank. Hugh Lovel suggested a plank on animal factory farming.
Hugh Esco proposed the formation of a Style Committee to wordsmith the Platform document and provide a consistent style that integrates the various papers (by various authors) being considered. He further moved adoption of a process of considering only the substance and not the style of all platform documents. Process motion adopted without objection.
Chuck O'Neil made a process motion that we do committee break-out work on the platform during lunch and prepare reports for our consideration. Break out committees on crime, education, clean air/ water and ________ were provided for.
Chuck O'Neil proposed that planks on which there was disagreement be presented to a committee made of concerned delegates with instructions to report back a consensus document for consideration by the Council who in their discretion may forward a paper to the Style Committee for incorporation in the platform. The Style Committee is charged with reporting a proposed platform back to Council for adoption as the Platform of the Georgia Green Party. Without objection, this decision making process was adopted by the Convention to govern our work on the Platform. We next opened the floor for consideration of petitions to open districts for nomination. None were presented. We opened nomination for state-wide elections for public office. Robert Randall read through the list of Constitutional officers one by one. At the appropriate time in that roll call, the following nominations were offered: Hugh Esco was nominated for the position of Lieutenant Governor. Kerrie Dickson was nominated for Labor Commmisioner. Chuck O'Neil was nominated for Public Service Commission. Hugh Lovel was nominated for Agricultural Commissioner.
Next the floor was open for nominations for Convenor of the 1999 Annual Convention of the Georgia Green Party. Charles Sumblin was nominated.
Next we considered nominations for the Coordinating Council of the Green Party of Georgia. We asked for volunteers. Charles Sumblin, Hugh Lovel, Zack Lyde, Chuck O'Neil, Kerrie Dickson, Sean Micheal and Hugh Esco each volunteered and were included among the nominees.
Next we considered who to name as our delegate to the Congress of the Greens/ Green Party (usa). We asked for volunteers. Zack Lyde agreed to travel to St. Louis for the occassion.
Hugh Esco asked the consent of the Convention to amend the agenda to permit the consideration of a by-laws amendment. Without objection, he offered the following by-laws amendment on behalf of the Atlanta Greens:
The Atlanta Greens adopted a resolution urging that the state by-laws be amended to provide:
The Georgia Green Party shall be affiliated withRegion 9 of the national Greensconfederationthe Association of State Green Parties and with the Greens/ Green party (usa), until the adjournment of the Green Nominating Convention in 2000. The Georgia Green Party shall be affiliated with the national Green Confederation. The Georgia Green Party shall provide for the annual election of a delegation to represent the views and concerns of its membership at the Annual Gathering and Congress of the Greens/ Green Party (usa) and with the Association of State Green Parties. The Georgia Green Party shall provide for the bi-annual staggered election of four delegates to represent the views and concerns of its membership in national matters. By agreement of and from among the four delegates elected, two delegates and two alternates shall be designated to each national Green Organization, including the Green National Committee of the Greens/ Green Party (usa), the Coordinating Committee of the Association of State Green Parties and any other national Green Party formation that may develop out of the Unity process.
without objection, this amendment was adopted.
In discussing the responsibilities of ASGP delegates, we realized that we lacked the information to nominate or solicit volunteers with. Rev. Zack Lyde moved that we delegate to the the Coordinating Council the responsibility for choosing delegates to the Association of State Green Parties. Without objection, the motion was adopted by the Convention.
Rev. Zack Lyde asked unanimous consent to suspend the rule requiring a secret ballot and that the nominees be seated by acclamation. Without objection, the rules were suspended. The facilitator asked unanimous consent that the slate as nominated be seated by acclamation. The Convention agreed. The election business was concluded.
We broke for lunch. Across lunch, the platform committees met to draft and recommend Platform positions to be reported back to the Convention.
Upon reconvening from lunch, we considered the platform papers. The Coastal Delegation departed. Kerrie Dickson assumed the role of facilitator for the afternoon's work. In the midst of the platform discussion, Denise Freeman, candidate for the Tenth Congressional District of Georgia, visited the Convention. Hugh Esco moved to table the discussion on the floor to hear from Ms. Freeman for five or ten minutes. Without objection, the floor was given to Ms. Freeman who spoke about why she was running, the issues people were concerned with and to make a request for our support.
"Whereas, the Georgia Green Party will hold a nominating convention on Saturday, June 6th, 1998 for, among others, the purpose of considering fielding candidates for public office; and
"Whereas, Green Party activists have been circulating a nominating petition to qualify the Party to nominate by Convention candidates for state-wide elective office; and
"Whereas, dependent upon the success of this petition drive in collecting 38,112 valid signatures from Georgia's registered voters by the July 14th deadline, the Georgia Green Party will have the option of nominating candidates to be listed on the ballot as Green Party candidates for the following offices: U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Insurance and Public Service Commissioner; and
"Whereas, this petition will not allow the Party to nominate candidates for office in other important races, including Congressional races; and
"Whereas, the restrictive ballot access laws of Georgia would require that the Party circulate an additional nominating petition and collect an average of 17,324 signatures from registered voters in each Congressional district which the Party wishes to nominate a candidate for; and
"Whereas, this standard for ballot access in the Congressional races would severely tax the limited resources of the Party and its ability to successfully place the Party's nominees in statewide races on the ballot; and
"Whereas, Denise Freeman is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's Tenth Congressional District; and
"Whereas, Ms. Freeman is the executive director of Citizens United for Rural Empowerment and in that capacity has traveled the state working to build parent and community involvement in public schools, support children's right to quality education and to raise awareness of and undermine the pernicious racist impact of academic tracking which robs Georgia's children of the equal protection of the law and equal access to the full opportunities available from a public education; and
"Whereas, Ms. Freeman approached the Georgia Green Party in 1996 to seek our nomination in her bid for Secretary of State, but because of our Party's undeveloped nature, was faced with the choice of running as a Democrat or Republican or not running at all; and
"Whereas, although Ms. Freeman qualified in the 1998 Congressional race as a candidate for the Democratic nomination and previously contested the Democratic Primary in 1996 for the nomination for Secretary of State, she has a history of community activism and political independence which demonstrates her alignment with the principles around which we are building the Georgia Green Party; and
"Whereas, many Greens from Central and Northwest Georgia are already involved in her campaign for Congress; and "Whereas, there are many strategic advantages to be gained by the Georgia Green Party's willingness to endorse non-Green candidates in races which we are not contesting.
"NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Georgia Green Party extends its endorsement to Denise Freeman in her candidacy for the Tenth Congressional District in Georgia.
"Be it further resolved that Greens of the Tenth District are encouraged to lend their active support, including time, money, volunteer energy and votes to the election of Denise Freeman in the July 21st Democratic Primary, including -- for those who choose to -- actually voting in the Primary, and again in the November 3rd General Election.
"Be it further resolved that those Greens who are circulating Green Party nominating petitions in the Tenth Congressional District are urged to use that work as an opportunity to promote the candidacy of Denise Freeman for Congress.
"Be it further resolved that the state-wide candidates who are nominated by this Convention are urged to campaign in the Tenth Congressional District in cooperation with the Campaign of Denise Freeman.
"Be it further resolved that Ms. Freeman is invited to cooperate with the candidates nominated by this Convention in urging her supporters to support the development of our independent political party in this election and in future elections.
"Be it further resolved that with the consent of Ms. Freeman, in the unlikely event that she should not prevail in the Primary, this Convention directs the Coordinating Council to provide for a write-in campaign in conformity with the state election laws."
With some discussion and no objection, the Convention adopted the resolution.
Ms. Freeman departed. We resumed our work on the Platform.
The following papers were agreed to and forwarded to the style committee: Electric Re-regulation, Taxes, Transportation and Land-use, Death Penalty and Indigent Defense, Forestry (with directions to explain how jobs are lost by raw log exports), the Health Care Platform by Susan Hodges, Public Utilities paper by Chuck O'Neil.
We next considered a number of by-laws amendments offered by Hugh Esco.
Hugh Esco moved the adoption of the following written proposal:
96-52 offered by Hugh Escoto provide for the correction of four typographical errors in the by-laws on file with the Secretary of State; to direct the clerk to file an amended version of the By-laws with the Elections Division.
To amend the by-laws Article IV., Decision Making, Section A.1., Annual Convention, the sixth through eighth sentences by striking the word "and" and inserting the word "any"; by striking the semicolon and inserting a period, and by striking the word "acconting" and inserting the word "accounting" so that these sentences reads:
"If, in the call for the Convention, notice is given of a Nominating Convention, then the Convention shall also have all the powers and responsibilities provided in O.C.G.A. 21-2-170 relative to nominating candidates for publicly elected office; and the power to open or close
andany race in Georgia to Green candidates;. The Coordinating Council shall provide at least four weeks' notice to all members, with the exception that two weeks notice shall be sufficient for the first Annual Convention. The Coordinating Council shall prepare a proposed agenda for each Annual Convention which shall include a report of the decisions and actions of the Coordinating Council and the Quick Decision Council, including anaccontingaccounting of funds received and disbursed from organizational accounts."To amend the by-laws Article VIII., Section A.5., Political Practices - Affirmative Action, the second sentences by deleting the word "the", so that this sentence reads:
"The Coordinating Council shall be responsible for making participation in the organizing process of the Georgia Green Party open to all interested Greens and people reflective of the social diversity of
theGeorgia."The Chair and the Clerk are directed to file, with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office, this amendment and an amended version of the by-laws of the Georgia Green Party, certifying that the amended version is the true, current governing document of the Party.
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Next Hugh Esco moved the adoption of the following written by-laws amendment:
96-53 offered by Hugh Escoto provide for the clarification of the by-laws amendment process; to direct the clerk to file an amended version of the By-laws with the Elections Division.
Amend the by-laws Article III., Section B., Amendment of By-Laws, so that this section reads:
"B. Amendment
These By-Laws may be amended at an Annual Convention, if notice of intent to consider the adoption of the proposed amendment was published in the notice of the meeting, and if the proposed amendment was
reviewed at the previouspreviously reviewed by the Coordinating Council. The Convention may suspend the requirement to review and publish notice by unanimous consent."The Chair and the Clerk are directed to file, with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office, this amendment and an amended version of the by-laws of the Georgia Green Party, certifying that the amended version is the true, current governing document of the Party.
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Next Hugh Esco moved the adoption of the following written by-laws amendment:
96-54 offered by Hugh Escoto provide for the power of the Council to amend the rules of the Annual Convention, to affiliate with coalitions, alliances and networks; and to direct the clerk to file an amended version of the By-laws with the Elections Division.
Amend the by-laws Article IV., Section A.2., Coordinating Council Responsibilities and Discretion, the second and the third sentences, so that these sentences read:
"The Coordinating Council shall provide for notice, adopt and amend the Rules and Regulations of its Nominating and Annual Conventions, implement decisions and policies of the membership and perform other tasks necessary for the functioning of the Georgia Green Party. The Coordinating Council may adopt procedures to implement policies established by an Annual Convention, endorse events or actions or join coalitions, alliances or networks on behalf of the membership, and initiate or respond to communications on behalf of the mebership."
Amend the by-laws Article VI., Affiliations, by adding a new Section C., Coalitons, Alliances and Newtorks, to read:
"C. Coalitons, Alliances and Newtorks
The Coordinating Council may join coalitons, alliances or newtorks whose goals and strategies are in the spirit of Green Values, Political Practices, existing policies, programs and platform statements adopted by the Annual Convention."
The Chair and the Clerk are directed to file, with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office, this amendment and an amended version of the by-laws of the Georgia Green Party, certifying that the amended version is the true, current governing document of the Party.
Chuck O'Neil raised a concern for the accounatbility of a Coalition to the Party. Hugh Esco recommended that he and Mr. O'Neil retire from the floor to craft an amendment to report back to the floor. When they returned, they recommended the adoption of the following:
Add a sentence to the end of Article VI. Section C. to read:
"The Coordinating Council shall appoint a delegate to each coalition -- with which they associate the Party -- who may on their own authority remove the Party from a coalition when that coalition takes a position outside the values, practices, policies, programs and platform already adopted by the Party."
without objection, the O'Neil/ Esco amendment was adopted. The by-laws amendment as amended was then adopted without objection.
Next Hugh Esco moved the adoption of the following written by-laws amendment:
96-55 offered by Hugh Escoto provide for the power of the Council and the Convention to limit a Committee's membership; to direct the clerk to file an amended version of the By-laws with the Elections Division.
Amend the by-laws Article V. on Structure, Section B. Committees, by striking the second sentence and inserting in its place a new sentence to read:
"A committee shall consist of one or more members, appointed at its creation, plus other members who
wisheswish to participate; unless the membership has been set by specific policy of the Convention or Council."The Chair and the Clerk are directed to file, with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office, this amendment and an amended version of the by-laws of the Georgia Green Party, certifying that the amended version is the true, current governing document of the Party.
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Next Hugh Esco moved the adoption of the following written by-laws amendment:
96-51 offered by Hughto provide for the power of Council to conduct business by phone conference; to direct the clerk to file an amended version of the By-laws with the Elections Division.
amend the By-Laws by striking Article IV, Section A.2 dealing with the meetings and decision-making rules of the Coordinating Council and inserting in it's place a new paragraph to read:
IV. Decision Making
A. Meetings
"2. Coordinating Council Responsibilities and Discretion
The Coordinating Council shall plan each Annual Convention providing for a Nominating Convention in accordance with the Georgia Code when deemed appropriate in their judgement or in the judgement of the previous Annual Convention. The Council may meet in person or by telephone conference. The Council may adopt rules providing for the conduct of business by mail referendum for when a Council meeting, properly publicized, fails to achieve a quorum. The Coordinating Council shall provide for notice, adopt and amend the Rules and Regulations of its Nominating Convention, implement decisions and policies of the membership and perform other tasks necessary for the functioning of the Georgia Green Party. The Coordinating Council may adopt procedures to implement policies established by an Annual Convention, endorse events or actions on behalf of the membership, and initiate or respond to communications on behalf of the mebership. The Coordinating Council shall convene two meetings of the Coordinating Council with one meeting immediately following adjournment of the Annual Convention. The Coordinating Council may convene such other meetings of the Council as are required to serve the mandate and needs of the Georgia Green Party. At each meeting of the Council held upon adjournment of the Convention, the Council shall name a treasurer, clerk and two co-convenors. At subsequent meetings of the Council, the Council may choose to replace those servants of the Georgia Green Party who have resigned or failed to attend two or more Council meetings in a year. The Coordinating Council shall publish to every member of the Council and to every affiliated local of the Georgia Green Party notice of these meetings at least two weeks prior to each meeting. A quorum for such meetings shall consist of at least a simple majority of the Coordinating Council. The Coordinating Council may delegate its responsibilities and authority to committees of one or more members accountable to the Council and to the membership."
The Chair and the Clerk are directed to file, with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office, this amendment and an amended version of the by-laws of the Georgia Green Party, certifying that the amended version is the true, current governing document of the Party.
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Next Hugh Esco moved the adoption of the following written by-laws amendment:
96-56 offered by Hugh Escoto provide for a new power of Coordinating Council to enforce membership standards; to direct the clerk to file an amended version of the By-laws with the Elections Division.
Amend the by-laws Article VII., Section B. Membership Standards and Sanctions, by striking the first sentence and inserting in its place a new sentence to read:
"The Annual Convention or the Coordinating Council of the Georgia Green Party may adopt procedures for enforcing membership standards."
The Chair and the Clerk are directed to file, with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office, this amendment and an amended version of the by-laws of the Georgia Green Party, certifying that the amended version is the true, current governing document of the Party.
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
The question was put about what to do with the unresolved platform papers. It was suggested that we simply adopt the agreed to papers as our platform. A substitute motion was made to identify concerns with the papers which had been flagged. Based on that the papers on Agriculture (with the exception of item #5 dealing with NAFTA / GATT), the Atlanta Greens paper (after two amendments offered by Mark Reitz, one amendment offered by Hugh Esco and concerns for the style of the Reparations plank) and the Public Utilities paper (by Chuck O'Neil) were all considered, approved and sent to the Style Committee.
We discussed the proposed language on the layoff of workers, and reparations to Native Americans and African-Americans. The concerns expressed were forwarded to the Style Committee for further consideration.
The break out platform committees reported: the report on crime was approved and forwarded to the Style Committee. The report on clean air/ water was also approved and sent to Style Committee. Kerrie Dickson had not had an opportunity to complete her write-up of the education committee agreements, giving her responsibilities for facilitating the meeting. We reaffirmed our desire to address the subject in our platform.
Flagged planks were assigned to delegate committees of volunteers. The following papers were assigned to committees for further development with instructions to report back a consensus report for consideration by the Coordinating Council.
Hugh Esco moved the adoption of the following language concerning the funding/dues of local Green Party organizations, to amend the existing policy on local affiliation.
IV. Annual Assessments for LocalsA. Authority and amendment process
As provided by the by-laws of the Georgia Green Party, Article VII. Membershp, A.3(b), The Annual Convention shall set an annual assessment for affiliated local chapters, providing for a sliding scale to accomodate locals of small or poor memberships.
B. Assessments -- Reserved
A Proposal for consideration by Party Convention of Local Delegates:
Each local to be considered in good standing shall have its dues paid up to date by the convening of the Annual Convention and the credentialling of their delegation. The Annual Assessment for an affiliated local shall be $xxx.xx, except that a local which claims a small or poor membership shall be assessed $xxx.xx.End of Proposal for Convention
Concerns were expressed that the Convention lacked suitable information to make a determination on this subject. The Convention delegated to the Coordinating Council the responsibility for setting an interim assessment to be reviewed by the next Convention.
A resolution to urge the Closure of the School of Americas was presented and approved without objection. It was forwarded to the Style Committee.
Kerrie Dickson as our Facilitator moved to adjourn . Motion was approved.
The Convention stood adjourned.