Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 09:18:05 -0600
To: asgp-coo@greens.org
From: Dean Myerson <greenstuff@deanmyerson.org>
Subject: ASGP-COO Convention reservations

Hi Folks,

We now have about 5 weeks before the first deposit is needed for the
convention and we are only about one quarter of the way there. We need
about 40 reservations, or an equivalent in donations to make this.

I understand that some of you are not in a position to help with this, but
some who have made commitments have not yet reserved. And some of our
strongest state parties have not sent in a single registration yet. When I
was negotiating this contract, I contacted some of you about the terms to
see if you thought they were feasible for us, and I need you to step up to
those commitments now.

There won't be another deposit required after the early January one until
April, so I won't be coming back like this regularly. By April,
reservations will no longer be "early" and we will be in the thick of the
campaign. So it is now when we need our committed Greens to step up and
help out.

I haven't included anything definite in the actual form about name speakers
because they aren't finalized, but Michael Moore has said he would love to
speak at the convention if the schedule can be worked out. We have an
excellent list of notable Green speakers so far including Carol Miller, Pat
LaMarche, Sara Amir, Elizabeth Horton Sheff and others.

The period right before the due date is Christmas and New Year's. That
isn't a good time to be calling for last minute funds. Please send in your
reservation or donation now so that we don't have to cancel this contract.

Thanks,
Dean Myerson, 
outgoing Secretary, ASGP
(Dean has resigned the Secretary's position to focus on hosting the Denver Convention for the Colorado Green Party, which nominated him as their candidate for University Regent in 1998). 
----------
 

Dear Green Party Supporter,

As you know, the Association of State Green Parties has chosen Denver,
Colorado, as the site of its National Nominating Convention next year on
the weekend of June 24. We have signed a contract with the Renaissance
Hotel and expect to have an excellent event. We will be inviting prominent
Greens from Green Parties around the world. There currently are two
declared candidates for the nomination: Stephen Gaskin of TN and Joel
Kovel, a Green from NY. And Ralph Nader is seriously considering seeking
the nomination again. Nader has given the Green Party of California
permission to put his name on their primary ballot and has described to
Greens his strategy for a serious, aggressive campaign. Nader has committed
to making a public decision by January 2000.

Early summer is an excellent time to visit the Rocky Mountains and we hope
you can attend this historic event for U.S. Greens, whether as a delegate
or an observer.

But an event of this scope doesn't happen without support. We will need to
make an additional deposit on the space in early January and we are
counting on the Green grassroots to help out. We are asking for early
registrations to cover deposits and early expenses:

- state parties can pay for a block of reservations to cover their delegates

- individuals can pay for space, whether for themselves or someone else

And because registration fees will only cover room and food for attendees,
we also need a few people who are able to generously contribute extra so
that early planning expenses can be covered, above and beyond the cost of
the deposit. Because we are committed to a convention which will pay for
itself and not leave the ASGP with a debt, we cannot promise to refund any
fees for cancellations, but reservations can be transfered to anyone you
wish.

The convention itself will be from Friday evening through Sunday afernoon.
There will be an ASGP meeting during the day on Friday and some committees
will be meeting on Thursday. Although it is traditional to offer discounts
on early registration, doing so would require that we charge more for late
registrants, and they may be the ones who have the greatest difficulty
paying. So we plan to offer a consistent price.

The convention only option covers two nights (Fri and Sat), while the ASGP
meeting option adds Thursday night. Again, all meals are covered and will
be vegetarian with option for vegan. Note that with triple occupancy,
someone will need to sleep on a temporary bed or cot - this will depend on
how many others want the same option.

convention only (2 nights) single occ.:  $245
convention only (2 nights)  double occ:  $165
convention only (2 nights)  triple occ:   $135
w/ASGP Friday meeting (3 nights) single occ:  $375
w/ASGP Friday meeting (3 nights) double occ: $250
w/ASGP Friday meeting (3 nights) triple occ: $210

Please make checks payable to "ASGP" and send to the ASGP box, along with a
note indicating exactly what you are paying for (how many people and which
option). We are not yet able to accept credit cards.

ASGP
PMB 329
637B S. Broadway
Boulder, CO 80303

If you have any questions, you can email us at asgp-convention@greens.org.
If your Green group is interested in sending delegates to the convention
but is not affiliated with the ASGP, please contact our Credentials
Committee Chair, Greg Gerritt, at <gerritt@edgenet.net>, to indicate your
interest in participating, or to get a rough idea how many delegates you
will qualify for. The Credentials Committee will be contacting Greens
regarding the details later.

If you want to come early or stay after, you can get a cheap rate at the
hotel, but on a space available basis, since our contract isn't holding
rooms for those days. Please contact me about this. And of course we can
make recommendations for Denver and Boulder attractions and tours or trips
into the mountains for any kind of activity. Rocky Mountain National Park
is 1+ hour drive, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks in Utah are 6 hours
drive. Grand Tetons are 9 hours, Yellowstone 11 hours, and the Grand Canyon
much more. And the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs is just over an
hour!

Please help us plan ahead by sending your check by November 15 and by
distributing this message to your own Green lists. I look forward to seeing
you all next June!

Dean Myerson,
Convention Coordinator
asgp-convention@greens.org
303-543-0672