CHARLOTTE AREA GREEN PARTY / JANUARY MEETING


Members Present: Michael Sharpe, Harry Phillips, Alan Burns, Ken Ivens, Gray Newman, Kathryn Kuppers, Ben Collins, Mark Ortiz

Guest: Steven Navarro, Len Clemmer, Andrea Learmonth, John Michalski

• Gregg noted that a California power plant is shifting 770 tons of nuclear material to Charleston Harbor and then to another South Carolina facility. He urged us to learn more of this planned movement and to appear at the NRC hearing scheduled for this shift and to voice our concerns.
  
  
• Guests introduced themselves and several CAGP members oriented guests to our recent actions and to the issues before us for the next year. Guest Len Clemmer, a Democratic precinct chair in south Charlotte, is concerned about a lack of community activism and Democrats’ failure to address this.
  
  
• Gray reported that the start of the Habitat for Humanity house project in which we are to participate has been pushed back until the $50K needed for the project is raised. At present, approximately $35K has been raised. Forty-six Habitat homes were built in Charlotte last year, tops in the country.
  
  
• The Feb. 5 “Charlotte Talks” show in which Gregg, Gray and Kathryn participated was discussed. A few folks noted the problem with call-in guest Barb Payne, a GPUS officer, staying on too long. Ken mentioned the need on future shows for us to stress more our orientation to the common good and our beliefs. Gregg and others noted that the show’s host, Mike Collins, was argumentative and perhaps uncomfortable with us not retreating from his charges. We should identify our areas of expertise and speak to them on future shows. Gregg would like to see CAGP as a source for some of WFAE’s news, too. John mentioned that we might also promote our value of working toward sustainable growth now that we’ve seen the results of the excessive speculative economic growth of the 1990s.
  
  
• In his treasurer’s report Mark explained that we need to file a form if both we and the NCGP want to be eligible for the “less-than-$3K exemption.” Mark will update the group as he moves through the regulations of this exemption. He also reported that NCGP needs to account for all contributions in its approximately $1400 treasury. This may mean individuals having to locate canceled checks or receipts. CAGP has $1197.39 in its treasury, with $32 being held in cash.
  
  
• Ben reported that we gained 23 ballot access petition signatures and took in $25 at the Evening Muse on Feb. 7. Evening Muse proprietors continue to be hospitable and supportive. Ken suggested that we contact some local media about our presence at the Evening Muse before the next gallery crawl in March. We might also look into making an announcement about the ballot access petition between musical acts at the Muse. With regard to his experience, Gray noted that he’s had trouble getting local media contacts to reply to his messages.
  
  
• Gray again mentioned that he’ll be travelling to the GPUS officers convention in Santa Monica later this month, and noted that 90 of 177 elected Greens have registered for the conference. Discussion topics at the conference will include 2004 Green presidential candidates and how to promote the GPUS agenda.
  
  
• Gregg mentioned that GPUS will put strong focus on ballot access during the next year. GPUS may send experienced petitioners to help the NCGP signature drive.
  
  
• Michael requests that someone send him a pdf file of the petition signature form. He reported that everything posted on the NCGP web site since May 22 has been lost. Michael will continue to look for ways to retrieve the lost information. It was suggested the NCGP may want to buy space on the same server used by the CAGP web site.
  
  
• Regarding the Anti-USA Patriot Act Resolution prepared by Mark and Gray, Mark gave copies to Charlotte City Council members and stressed to them that this is a constitutional and not a jurisdictional matter. He also summarized the Act and distributed a 12-page-document regarding its unconstitutionality. Mark received one positive email message from councilman Bill James. Gregg suggested that we contact Carrboro, and perhaps other communities who have voted to oppose the Act, and see how they gathered support for their resolution.
  
  
• Kathryn mentioned the Coalition for Peace and Justice anti-war vigils that continue to be held on Saturdays at 12:30 at the corner of Sharon Amity Rd. and Central Ave. Alan mentioned the anti-war rally in Raleigh on Sat., Feb. 15. Some of us will attend.
  
  
• Regarding our printing twenty CAGP t-shirts, Kathryn reported that the printer can fit our url on the back of the shirts. We will purchase twenty shirts. Gregg suggested that we contract with a union print shop. Gray suggested we give the business to a local printer. The discussion may be continued over our listserve. We will have the twenty shirts before our next session at the Evening Muse.
  
  
• The Living Simply ad was approved. We may want to revise the ad’s text and layout for Living Simply’s next bimonthly issue. This ad is possible because Alan has volunteered to deliver copies of Living Simply in exchange for ad space.
  
  
• Regarding CAGP officers for the new term beginning in April, Gray and Ben may be co-coordinators. Michael will remain as web master. Mark and Harry will remain as treasurer and co-clerk, respectively, and Gregg will remain as co-clerk with an emphasis on him working as local media contact.
  
  
• Gray suggested that we become an organizational member of the Mecklenburg County Black Political Caucus. This was agreed upon. Mark prepared a check from our treasury in the amount of $25.
  
  
• Alan will distribute 200 copies of The Green Pages and will arrange to have a stamp made so that we can print our party name, url, and the phone numbers of Alan and Gray on each copy.
  
  
• Gregg spoke briefly about fundraising ideas. The focus of GPUS fundraising needs to be on mailings and not merchandising. Alan mentioned that the Durham Greens are already doing some merchandising and suggested that Gregg contact Susan O’Neill, Durham Greens coordinator.
  
  
• Harry will look into preparing a draft of a CAGP business card.
  
  Respectfully Submitted,
  
  Harry Phillips
  Co-Clerk
  Feb. 9, 2003