The Green Party of New Jersey
Updated March 13, 1999
GPNJ Convention Proposals

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Type of Proposal Summary Submitted by
Bylaws Revisions Expand Green Council authority to establish strategy for GPNJ; focus Executive Committee on operational issues Sarah Fraser, Mark Grieco, Anne Barron, Fred Disque, Jane Hunter
Bylaws Revisions Green Council Authority Anne Barron, Bill Colluci, Fred Disque, Sarah Fraser, Mark Grieco, Jane Hunter
Bylaws Revisions Remove Term Limits Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams
Bylaws Revisions Five Green Principles / Ten Green Values Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams
Resolution Professional Fundraiser Steve Welzer
Resolution Vegetarian Meals at GPNJ Events Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams
Resolution Provide incentives for recruiting new members Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams

 

Bylaws Revisions

Submitted by

Sarah Fraser, Mark Grieco, Anne Barron, Fred Disque, Jane Hunter

 

Format

This completely reproduces the current bylaws with proposed revisions. The new text is in bold. The old text is crossed out where it could be or labeled as such for comparison.

Summary of Proposed Revisions

This proposal primarily addresses refocusing the strategic functions of the GPNJ from the Executive Committee (EC) to the Green Council (GC), and creating a representative body out of the GC. The responsibilities of the secretary also are expanded and committee operational autonomy has been made explicit. Crossed out parts to do with the old verbiage for the Green Council too (executive council) have been removed.

The 

Green Party of New Jersey

 Bylaws

Outline

Section 1 -- Name and Purpose

Section 2 -- Definitions

Section 3 -- Members

3.1 -- Criteria

3.2 -- Rights

3.3 -- Responsibilities

Section 4 -- Committees

4.1 -- Standing Committees

4.2 -- Authority

4.3 -- Governance

4.4 -- Subcommittees and Special Committees

Section 5 -- Executive Committee

5.1 -- Composition

5.2 -- Chair

5.3 -- Vice Chair

5.4 -- Second Vice Chair

5.5 -- Secretary

5.6 -- Treasurer

5.7 -- Executive Committee Staff

5.8 -- Authority

5.9 -- Governance

Section 6-- New Jersey Green Council

6.1 -- Composition

6.2 -- County Coordinators

6.3 ? Representatives

6.4 -- Authority

6.5 -- Governance

Section 7 -- Conventions

7.1 -- Annual Conventions

7.2 -- Special Conventions

7.3 -- Voting procedures at Conventions

7.4 -- Planning and Implementation

Section 8 -- Candidates for Public Office

Section 9 -- Responsiveness

9.1 -- Open Meetings

9.2 -- Open Records

9.3 -- Petitions

Section 10 -- Local Affiliates

Section 11 -- Parliamentary Authority

Section 12 -- Amendments

Section 1 -- Organization Name and Purpose

This organization shall be known as the "Green Party of New Jersey."

The Green Party of New Jersey is a progressive political party dedicated to electoral goals and compatible educational, social, and cultural activism.

We stand for greater participation by individuals in the decision making that affects our lives and our communities.

We uphold a vision based on the four pillars of the global Green movement: ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, and nonviolence.

Section 2 -- Definitions

"Amendment" means a permanent change to these Bylaws, as described in Section 12.

"Annual Convention" means a statewide meeting of Members, as described in Section 7.1.

"Complaint" means a formal written objection, concern, or protest filed by a Member, described in Section 3.2.

"Committee" means any Standing Committee, Special Committee, or subcommittee thereof.

"Convention" means an Annual Convention or a Special Convention, as described in Section 7.

"County Coordinator" means a Member elected to represent, on the New Jersey Green Council, the interests of Members residing in a particular county or group of counties, as described in Section 6.2.

"Executive Committee" means the decision-making body described in Section 5.

"Local Affiliate" means a group of Members who meet regularly for participatory action and education, which is officially affiliated with the Party under the provisions of one or more duly adopted Rules, as described in Section 10.

"Member" means an individual who has joined the Party, as described in Section 3.

"Membership List" means the official list of Members and contact information, maintained by the Secretary.

"New Jersey Green Council" means the decision-making and advisory body described in Section 6.

"Officer" means one of the following elected officials of the Party: the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Second Vice Chair, the Secretary, or the Treasurer.

"Party" means the Green Party of New Jersey.

"Petition" means the democratic tool enabling a Member to request consideration of a matter, as described in Section 9.3.

"Records" means all financial and non-financial documents required to be kept by the Treasurer or the Secretary.

"Representative" means a person delegated by a Local Affiliate to represent its Members and vote on their behalf at a New Jersey Green Council meeting or at a Convention or Special Convention.

"Rule" means a formal issuance on substantive or procedural matters that is consistent with and subordinate to these Bylaws.

"Special Committee" means a committee of limited duration established by the Executive Committee as described in Section 4.4.

"Special Convention" means a statewide meeting of Members, as described in Section 7.2.

"Standing Committee" means any of the permanent committees described in Section 4.1.

Section 3 -- Members

Section 3.1 -- Criteria

Membership in the Party is open to all persons who support the principles and purposes of the Party as set forth in Section 1 and who pay dues.

Section 3.2 -- Rights

Members in good standing may

(a) vote, in their Local Affiliate, for Representatives to the New Jersey Green Council, Annual Convention or a Special Convention;

(b) join one or more Standing Committees and vote therein, subject to duly-adopted Rules;

(c) object formally to any decision, action or policy of the Party or of a Member by filing a Complaint with the New Jersey Green Council Executive Committee; and

(d) initiate and circulate a Petition as provided in Section 9.3.

Section 3.3 -- Responsibilities

Members shall

(a) participate respectfully in all proceedings;

(b) fulfill obligations undertaken, unless excused; and

(c) abide by the letter and spirit of these Bylaws and any duly adopted Rules.

Section 4 -- Committees

Section 4.1 -- Standing Committees

Each Standing Committee is open to participation by any Member in good standing. The following Standing Committees are established:

(a) Membership Committee, which shall have the following general responsibilities: recruitment of Members; liaison to Local Affiliates; planning and implementation of Annual Conventions and Special Conventions; surveys and informal polls of Members' concerns and views; and issuance of Rules on ethics and disciplinary proceedings; ; working with the Communication Committee, develop and carry out strategies for maintaining ongoing discussion among New Jersey Green Council delegates between meetings.

(b) Policy Committee, which shall have the following general responsibilities: strategic direction; issue research; platform development; policy statements; review of candidates for public office; and coordination of support for candidates running for public office.

(c) Finance Committee, which shall have the following general responsibilities: fundraising; dues collection; budgeting; and internal audit.

(d) Communications Committee, which shall have the following general responsibilities: keeping Members informed about Party decisions, policies, and activities; production of Party publications; outreach to the media, other Green organizations and the general public; support the Secretary in gathering and distribution agendas for meetings; working with the Membership Committee, develop and carry out strategies for maintaining ongoing discussion among New Jersey Green Council delegates between meetings; analysis of internal communication and interaction towards more effective and democratic practices.

bulletSection 4.2 -- Authority

Each Committee may

(a) act on matters within its areas of responsibility, until such time as decisions are challenged by the Executive Committee, and amended, modified or reversed. with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee;

(b) act on matters involving its own procedures and housekeeping;

(c) issue Rules on substantive or procedural matters, until such time as decisions are challenged by the Executive Committee, and amended, modified or reversed, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee;

(d) recommend actions or alternatives to the Executive Committee; and

(e) implement decisions of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.3 -- Governance

(a) Voting on any main motion shall be determined by a simple majority of Committee members present. One-third (1/3) of the voting members of a Committee shall constitute a quorum.

(b) A Chair and a Vice Chair shall be elected by the members of each Standing Committee. A vacancy in either position shall be filled by vote of the committee members or, if the committee fails to act, by the appointment of the Executive Committee. Neither a Chair nor a Vice Chair may serve longer than four (4) consecutive years in either position on a particular Standing Committee.

(c) The Chair shall preside over meetings of a Standing Committee and shall represent that Standing Committee on the Executive Committee.

(d) In the absence of or at the request of the Chair of a Standing Committee, the Vice Chair shall substitute for the Chair, with the full authority and voting rights ordinarily exercised by the Chair. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Chair, the Vice Chair shall be the acting Chair until the vacancy is filled.

(e) Each Standing Committee must submit minutes of meetings reasonably well in advance of Executive Committee meetings to the Secretary

Section 4.4 -- Subcommittees and Special Committees

(a) Permanent or temporary subcommittees may be established by each Standing Committee, as deemed necessary.

(b) Special Committees of limited duration may be established by the Executive Committee to address specific issues or to undertake specific projects that fall outside the purview of the Standing Committees or that require special coordination of activities among Standing Committees.

Section 5 -- Executive Committee

Section 5.1 -- Composition

(a) The following persons shall constitute the Executive Committee: the Chair, Vice Chair, Second Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer (the "Officers" of the Party), and the Chair of each Standing Committee, or the Vice Chair, in accordance with Section 4.3(d).

(b) Officers are elected at the Annual Convention, and serve for terms of one (1) year, until the election of their successors.

(c) An Officer may serve on the Executive Committee for two (2) full terms in the same office, after which a period of two years must intervene before the person may again hold that office.

(d) After four consecutive full terms of service on the Executive Committee in any capacity, a person may not be re-elected or appointed to the Executive Committee until an interval of two years has elapsed.

(e) The New Jersey Green Council Executive Committee may fill a vacancy in the position of any Officer, by appointing a replacement to serve for the unexpired remainder of that Officer's term.

5.2 -- Chair

The Chair of the Party shall preside at meetings of the Party and of the Executive Committee; issue a call for a Special Convention or a special meeting of the Executive Committee; call for a or the New Jersey Green Council when deemed necessary; and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Party or the Executive Committee.

The Chair will have the special responsibility of reporting reasonably thoroughly all actions taken by the Executive Committee to the New Jersey Green Council; and in assuring that the sense and spirit of New Jersey Green Council resolutions guides the Executive Committee. Within these parameters, the Chair shall appeal to the Green Council for support in recruiting volunteers for Committees and Staff positions.

The Chair of the Party shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees.

Section 5.3 -- Vice Chair

The Vice Chair of the Party shall preside at meetings in the absence of or at the request of the Chair; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Party or the Executive Committee; and, in the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, perform all the duties of and act in the full capacity of the Chair for the duration of that vacancy. The Vice-Chair shall have the special responsibility to oversee the recruitment and development of Leadership in the Party.

Section 5.4 -- Second Vice Chair

The Second Vice Chair of the Party shall be responsible for promoting those issues primarily concerning women and people of color, and for recruiting  for positions of leadership in the Party from among those sectors; shall preside at meetings in the absence of  the Chair and Vice chair; shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Party or the Executive Committee; and shall, in the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice Chair, perform all the duties of and act in the full capacity of the Vice Chair for the duration of that vacancy.

Section 5.5 -- Secretary

The Secretary shall maintain all non-financial Records of the Party, including but not limited to

(a) these Bylaws and any Amendments hereto;

(b) legally binding documents;

(c) all meeting records, including the minutes of the Executive Committee, New Jersey Green Council, County Coordinator or Local Affiliate meetings submitted for purposes of representation on the New Jersey Green Council and the reports of other Committees;

(d) a copy of the Membership List as provided on a regular basis by the Membership Committee;

(e) lists of County Coordinators and Local Affiliate contacts;

(f) Petitions; and

(g) Complaints.

The Secretary shall also certify any Petition and give notice of Annual Conventions and Special Conventions.

Working with the Communication Committee and the Chair, the Secretary shall produce and distribute an agenda for meetings of the Executive Committee and New Jersey Green Council. This agenda and supporting documentation should be distributed within reasonable time before the meeting day. The Secretary will work with the Communication Committee in an ongoing basis to create a more efficient communication of business between meetings and in preparation for meetings.

Section 5.6 -- Treasurer

The Treasurer shall maintain the financial Records of the Party.

Section 5.7 -- Executive Committee Staff

The Executive Committee may appoint other Members to assist the Executive Committee. Such Members shall serve at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section 5.8 -- Authority

Within the limitations established by these Bylaws, and as defined and established by the New Jersey Green Council, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to decide all substantive and procedural matters that significantly involve the Party as a whole. The Executive Committee may not act on any matter not addressed by a New Jersey Green Council resolution, but may have authority delegated to it by the New Jersey Green Council if clearly defined in purpose, temporality and breadth. The Executive Committee may not act on any matter in which clear written authority has not been given by the New Jersey Green Council. Any Member may call for a vote of the Executive Committee on issues of Executive Committee Authority, which will be determined by a 2/3 majority vote. This shall include but not be limited to the authority to

(a) delegate decision-making authority or specific tasks to a Standing Committee or to a Special Committee;

(b) make recommendations to or issue guidance to a Standing Committee or to a Special Committee;

(c) request specific actions by a Standing Committee or a Special Committee;

(d) delineate the responsibilities of each Standing Committee and decide any jurisdictional issue that is not resolved by the affected Standing Committees;

(e) appoint Executive Committee Staff; and

(f) call for a special meeting of the New Jersey Green Council in cases of profound importance to the Party

(f) expel or discipline any Member for good cause, pursuant to Rules and subject to the review of the Membership Committee.

Section 5.9 -- Governance

(a) Voting on any main motion shall be determined by a simple majority of Executive Committee members present, unless otherwise provided for in these Bylaws.

(b) Four voting members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

(c) Rules may be issued on substantive or procedural matters.

Section 6 -- New Jersey Green Council

Section 6.1 -- Composition

Representatives, the Executive Committee members elected at the Annual Convention along with the County Coordinators shall constitute the New Jersey Green Council.

Section 6.2 -- County Coordinators

A County Coordinator shall be chosen in order or precedence by 1) being elected by the Members who reside in a particular county or group of contiguous counties, as authorized by the Members residing in those counties, 2) by appointment by the New Jersey Green Council in circumstances where Members or a meeting of Members of a county are not manifest. Each County Coordinator shall serve for a term of one year on the New Jersey Green Council and act as a liaison to the Membership Committee; act to coordinate and facilitate work among Local Affiliates within and among Counties working with the Executive Committee; lead efforts in recruiting and encouraging Members to establish Local Affiliates.

Section 6.3 -- Representatives

Representatives to the New Jersey Green Council may be chosen by Local Affiliates to the New Jersey Green Council based on a bi-annual average of attendance at Local Affiliate meetings. For the purposes of New Jersey Green Council meetings for the first 6 months after adoption of these by-laws, that average may be for less then 6 months. Representatives may continue to serve only if elected within 6 months of a New Jersey Green Council meeting, in other words, must be chosen by a vote at least two times per year by his or her Local Affiliate. Local Affiliates choosing to send Representatives to the New Jersey Green Council must submit a list of Members present at all regular meetings to the Secretary before the New Jersey Green Council meeting. The New Jersey Green Council will determine the proportion of Members to Representatives, excepting the first meeting, where the proportion will be set at 4 to 1.

Section 6.4 -- Authority

The New Jersey Green Council has the authority to act on matters of interest to Members state-wide.

This includes but is not limited to functions including

a) Development of identity through defining ?values, platforms and public statements;

b) Facilitating the ability of Members state-wide to act together in defining and acting on common goals, including establishment of state-wide priorities and strategic direction;

c) Develop efficiencies in creating and providing resources among Local Affiliates;

c) Initiate and coordinate views, strategies and actions on issues that transcend particular Local Affiliates (regional, state-wide, national and international);

d) Facilitate state-wide deliberation and interaction among Members;

f) Facilitate the growth of the Membership, and of Local Affiliates.

The New Jersey Green Council may direct Committees or the Executive Committee to act on decisions through clear and thoroughly defined directives or delegation of authority. The New Jersey Green Council may receive a report from the Executive Committee, choose to review any decision by the Executive committee with the ability to modify, amend or rescind any decision or action and may evaluate and direct that committee on all matters under the authority of the Executive Committee. The New Jersey Green Council may not delegate authority without strict temporal and situational language in provisioning documents.

The New Jersey Green Council shall receive Complaints and Petitions and is charged with creating reasonably fair, effective juridical tools to help Members with Complaints of harassment by Members or with other Complaints about behavior or procedures in the Party in contradiction to the letter and the spirit of these by-laws. This juridical tool is to have reasonable autonomy from the Green Council itself.

Section 6.4 -- Governance

(a) Voting on any main motion shall be determined by a simple majority of New Jersey Green Council members present, unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

(b) The New Jersey Green Council is required to meet at least three (3) times per calendar year. One-third of the New Jersey Green Council members shall constitute a quorum.

Section 7 -- Conventions

Section 7.1 -- Annual Conventions

A statewide Annual Convention of Members shall be held for the election of Officers, and for deciding other significant matters, as determined by the New Jersey Green Council Executive Committee or by a Petition. Local Affiliates may submit to the Executive Committee proposals for consideration; such proposals must be received for review by the Executive Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the starting date of the Annual Convention.

Section 7.2 -- Special Conventions

A statewide Special Convention may be held at any time, upon at least thirty (30) days notice to Members, if the New Jersey Green Council Chair, the Executive Committee, or a Petition determines that the matter to be acted upon should not be postponed until the next Annual Convention.

Section 7.3 -- Voting procedures at Conventions

(a) Votes at Annual Conventions or Special Conventions will be cast by Representatives from Local Affiliates. For each Convention, the Executive Committee shall determine the Representatives-to-Members Ratio and inform all Local Affiliates of said ratio at least 30 days prior to the starting date of the Convention. On the basis of this information, the Local Affiliates shall choose their apportioned number of Representatives and notify the Membership Committee of the names of the Representatives (unless the Ratio is 1:1, in which case each Member in good standing is a Representative).

(b) Voting for Officers and other elected officials shall be by ballot, and no motion to the contrary shall be in order, except that in the event the number of candidates nominated for a given office does not exceed the number to be elected to that office, a ballot for that office may be dispensed with by unanimous consent.

(c) At an Annual Convention or Special Convention, one-fifth of the number of apportioned Representatives eligible to vote at that convention shall constitute a quorum.

Section 7.4 -- Planning and Implementation

The Membership Committee, working in cooperation with the Secretary and with the advice and consent of the New Jersey Green Council Executive Committee, shall be responsible for the planning and implementation of Annual Conventions and Special Conventions, including the development of Rules to establish an open process for the nomination of Officers which informs and involves the membership.

Section 8 -- Candidates for Public Office

The New Jersey Green Council may decide whether a prospective candidate will have the support of the Party.

Section 9 -- Responsiveness

Section 9.1 -- Open Meetings

Meetings of all bodies of the Party are open to the attendance of any Member, with the following exception: If a body determines that valid reasons exist that require it to conduct some of its business in closed session, it must adopt a resolution to that effect by a majority vote in open session, clearly stating those reasons. While in closed session, the only items which may be discussed or acted upon are those to which that resolution applies, and no motion to suspend this provision shall be in order. The minutes and other records of such closed sessions will be made available to the Executive Committee without delay, and will become available for inspection under the provisions of Section 9.2 as soon as the reasons for its secrecy no longer exist.

Section 9.2 -- Open Records

Records of the Party shall be made available to any Member for inspection or photocopying. The requesting Member shall pay the costs of reproduction and mailing.

Section 9.3 -- Petitions

(a) Any Member in good standing may initiate a Petition and circulate it among the general membership at the Member's own expense. A Petition may concern any matter and request any action not inconsistent with these Bylaws.

(b) If one-fourth of the Members sign a Petition, the Executive Committee shall deal with the matter at hand in a timely fashion and to the satisfaction of the petitioners or shall submit the matter to a vote at an Annual Convention or a Special Convention.

(c) The Secretary shall certify a Petition to the Executive Committee.

Section 10 -- Local Affiliates

The New Jersey Green Council may establish Rules providing for the affiliation of the Party with other organizations ("Local Affiliates"), smaller in scope than the whole Party, and providing for the equitable and proportional involvement of these Local Affiliates in the decision-making processes of the Party. Any Rule so established shall contain provisions to ensure that Local Affiliates continue to operate in a manner consistent with these Bylaws and with other duly adopted Rules.

For the first New Jersey Green Council meeting after adoption of these by-laws, and until amended or rescinded, the a ?Local Affiliate is defined as a group of Members who Regularly meet, at least every 3 months, with an minimum of 4 members per meeting, that discuss and act on Party business, goals; formally ask the Secretary for recognition as a ?Local Affiliate and provide documentation including Meeting Minutes in support of that application. In addition, each local Affiliate must appoint one person who is available to report to the secretary information about Local Affiliate activities, and who is willing to transmit information about Party Business to the ?Local Affiliate

Section 11 -- Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall govern the Party in all cases that there is an objection by ? of the Members to the formal or informal rules of order at any meeting of the Party, to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws or with any special Rules of order duly adopted by the Party.

Section 12 -- Amendments

An Amendment to these Bylaws may be adopted upon a two-thirds vote at an Annual Convention or a Special Convention, provided that written notice has been made to all Members not later than thirty (30) days in advance, indicating the language to be amended, and describing the nature and intent of the proposed change.

Adopted on the 22nd day of March, 1997, by the Membership of the Green Party of New Jersey in Convention, at New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Amended on the 18th day of April, 1998, by the Membership of the Green Party of New Jersey in Convention, at New Brunswick, New Jersey, as indicated: Language struck is indicated in this fashion, and language inserted is indicated in this fashion.  Due to the insertion of a new section following Section 5.3, the former Sections 5.4 through 5.8, inclusive, have been renumbered 5.5 through 5.9, respectively.

Comments to: Gary Novosielski <Chair@gpnj.org

Copyright 1997, 1998, Green Party of New Jersey; All Rights Reserved

Bylaws Revisions

GREEN COUNCIL AUTHORITY

Submitted by

Anne Barron, Bill Colluci, Fred Disque, Sarah Fraser, Mark Grieco, Jane Hunter

The following language is to replace the language on Authority of the New Jersey Green Council, section 6.4.

Within the limitations established by these Bylaws, and only on issues of interest to Members state-wide, the New Jersey Green Council shall have the authority to:

a) direct the Executive Committee to perform any action, or follow any guidelines in exercising the authority of the Executive Committee;

b) receive full reports on Executive Committee activities;

c) review, rescind, modify and amend any Executive Committee decisions and actions;

d) establish with the advise of the Executive Committee, values, policies and strategic direction relating to the identity and the goals of the Party as a whole;

e) make rules for representation of Local Affiliates on the New Jersey Green Council;

f) make rules defining Local Affiliates and

g) recognize any group of Members that meet on a regular basis as a Local Affiliate pursuant the Rules duly established by the New Jersey Green Council.

Bylaws Revision

REMOVE TERM LIMITS

Submitted By

Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams

· Purpose: to introduce into our party elections proportional representation (a popular principle among Greens) and to eliminate term limits (a disliked or controversial principle among Greens)

· "At the Annual convention, there shall be one secret ballot which will elect Chair, 1st Vice-Chair and 2nd Vice-Chair. The candidate who receive the most votes will become Chair, the candidate with the second highest total will become 1st Vice-Chair and the candidate with the lowest vote will become 2nd Vice-Chair. If there are more than three candidates for these three posts, a series of secret ballots shall be taken to eliminate the candidate(s) with the lowest support among the membership. (Or alternatively, a quick procedure could be used: for example, if there are five candidates, they could be asked to stand with their supporters in different parts of the room -- then the smallest group would be asked to move to their "second choices" among the remaining four groups. At that point, the candidates of the three largest groups would be the ones put to the test of the secret ballot.)"

· "All references in our bylaws establishing term limits shall be null and void."

· Comment. If members of GPNJ like the work that Gary and Jim have done, why shouldn't they have the opportunity re-elect them to their current positions (if they're willing to serve again)? And by electing three officers in one election, we are guaranteed to get at least one fresh viewpoint on the Executive Committee.

Bylaws Revision

FIVE GREEN PRINCIPLES

Submitted By

Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams

Purpose: to expand our Green values by taking the best from Europe and North America--and thereby to draw closer to other state Green parties.

These words in the current bylaws-

"We uphold a vision based on the four pillars of the global Green movement: ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence.

shall be replaced by-

"We uphold a vision based on ten values clustered into Five Green Principles: Ecology & Sustainability, Respect for Diversity, Personal/Social/Global Responsibility, Grassroots Democracy and Community, Non-Violence/Non-Domination."

Purpose: to expand our Green values by taking the best from Europe and North America--and thereby to draw closer to other state Green parties.

These words in the current bylaws-

"We uphold a vision based on the four pillars of the global Green movement: ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence.

shall be replaced by-

"We uphold a vision based on ten values clustered into Five Green Principles: Ecology & Sustainability, Respect for Diversity, Personal/Social/Global Responsibility, Grassroots Democracy and Community, Non-Violence/Non-Domination."

Resolution

FUND-RAISER

Submitted by

Steve Welzer, Mercer County Greens

"The Green Party of New Jersey should establish a relationship with an individual to do Fund-raising for GPNJ on a straight-commission basis. This would involve no expenses and no risk for GPNJ. Other organizations similar to ours have done this with excellent results. The individual should, of course, be sympathetic to our goals and perspectives."

Resolution

VEGETARIAN EVENTS

Submitted By

Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams

Purpose: This is a proposal to "lead by example" and to practice what we preach -- ecological wisdom and non-violence--by eating lower on the food chain.

"The practice of our party (its committees, locals, campaigns) shall be to organize only vegetarian meals, when we are the principal or exclusive sponsor of an event. However, this policy may be suspended for a specific event by vote of the Executive Committee (for example: we organize a regional Green gathering at a college, but must accept as part of the package a cafeteria line which offers both vegetarian and flesh foods). If adopted, this policy shall appear in print in the January (or February) and July (or August) GreenGrams (as a reminder)."

Comment. This vegetarian policy is a good compromise, a good step in the direction of the most ecological and humane diet: all-plant or Vegan.

(Please note: the proposals to be voted on are the paragraphs in quotation marks.)

Resolution

RECRUITING INCENTIVES

Submitted By

Roger Sedmont, Marian Little, Rich Raimonde and Paul Williams

Purpose: to define "local affiliate" and "county organizer," and give them both more incentive to recruit new members.

"A local affiliate is recognized when an enabling document, signed by four or more (paid-up) members who live in one county or in contiguous counties, is shown to the presiding Chair of the Green Council. The bearer of the document is recognized as the voting representative for that meeting, provided that he or she is one of the signers. This enabling statement is valid for four months from the date of the earliest signature (signers must both sign and date the document). Locals with more than 7 members may send two voting representatives, locals with more than 11 may send three, etc. But no representative may vote more than once per issue; that is, there is no 'proxy voting.' For every representative there must be four signatures which can ball be on one document or on several documents.

"The Executive committee may appoint a County Organizer (or County Outreach person) if there is no functioning local in the county, or if the EC feels that the local is no-performing in terms of recruitment. The Executive Committee may terminate an appointment to this position at any time, and all the organizer appointments automatically terminate at the time of a statewide convention. These county organizers may or may not be given the vote in the GC (as a blanket) policy which applies to all of them) as the Executive Committee sees fit, but either option does not affect the right of a local in that area to send voting representatives to the Green Council.

"Incentives.
bulletThe local affiliate or county organizer who recruits the most members in one year (from midnight of the 1999 Convention until 11:59 AM of the first day of next year's Convention) shall be awarded $300--to spend at their discretion (to go out-of-state to a Green Gathering or meeting, for a celebration and reward for their efforts, etc.);
bulletThe local affiliate or county organizer who recruits the next highest number of new members shall be awarded $200.
bulletThe local or county organizer who recruits the third highest number shall be awarded $100.
bulletAll three winners (organizers or locals) shall also receive letters of appreciation, signed by the Chair of the Green Party of New Jersey, and suitable for framing."

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