CHARLOTTE AREA GREEN PARTY / DECEMBER MEETING


Members present: Kathryn Kuppers, Gray Newman, Mark Ortiz, Harry Phillips, Alan Burns, and Gregg Jocoy

Guests: Storm Williams and Vincent Bridges

• Treasurer Mark Ortiz reported that we have $670.28 in our treasury. $627.28 of this amount is in our checking account, and the remaining money is held in cash. Mark noted that the original figure of $660.20 was increased by $10 because our contribution to Maine’s Green gubernatorial candidate had not been cashed. Mark will print NCGP membership cards. Mark advised that with one lifetime membership fee of $250, we will approach $1000 in our checking account, and this means that we will avoid a monthly checking account service fee.
  
  
• Gray reported on Habitat House developments and our potential involvement in the construction of a new house, beginning in Feb. 2003. Construction will begin on Feb. 14 and will continue for six weekends for a total of fourteen working days. Gray will distribute a sign-up sheet. In addition to our participation, local Bahai, Jewish, Unitarian, and A.M.E. Zion members will volunteer. Habitat House cannot accept monetary contributions from a political party, but it was generally agreed that this will not affect our participation in the project.
  
  
• Alan reported on his meeting with attorney Ken Davies, potential Green candidate for Charlotte City Council in 2003. Ken needs 2,032 signatures from District One to be listed as an independent on the ballot. He would need to change his current Democrat affiliation to Independent if he wants our support. Gray noted that Ken has been involved in high profile “Green” cases. In response to the perception by some that Ken’s methods are underhanded, it was mentioned that some neighborhoods in the South Park area fired Ken as their attorney, yet Ken maintained that he would continue to represent these neighborhoods. It was suggested that those interested in this matter refer to Tara Servatius’s article on Ken in a Creative Loafing article.
  
  
• Regarding Alan’s proposal that we place an ad in Living Simply, Alan and Kathryn suggested that we include our goals of sustainability and environmental protection. The slogan, “Simplify—Be Green!,” may appear in the ad. Storm asked that ad ideas be sent to him and he’ll format the ad, as he owns an ad agency. He suggested that a new message be crafted every two months.
  
  
• Meeting attendees each drafted three-line narratives for our WFAE ad. Alan and Kathryn will make the final decision on the narrative we submit to the station. Some members will send checks to Mark to cover the $200 2-day fee.
  
  
• It was suggested that we prepare a year-end summary of 2002 CAGP events and actions and post this to our web site. Gregg suggested that each member might write a summary, Alan suggested that we each write a testimonial as to why we’re Green, and finally Gregg offered to write the summary for the group. It was also noted that we should keep in mind the need for a backup web master.
  
  
• Kathryn raised questions about the Clean Air Act and how it might be changed. Vince explained that the act is only a set of goals, and that there are no “teeth” in any of the guidelines.
  
  
• Regarding our meeting structure and its inability to draw new members, the general feeling was that we should “keep plugging” and that a formal business meeting is necessary for our group. We should reach out to the community as much as possible, and Storm urged us especially to reach out to kids as a way to educate them and their parents. We should continue searching for candidates. A mix of social and political events is needed in addition to the monthly business meeting.
  
  
• Ed and Eileen Hanson-Kelly presented CAGP with a check for $105, our share of proceeds from concession work at the Labor Day Parade.
  
  Respectfully Submitted,
  
  Harry Phillips, Co-Clerk
  December 24, 2002