Minutes of Charlotte Area Green Party Monthly Meeting, February 14, 2004

Present: Albert Aulette, Judy Aulette, Alan Burns, Gregg Jocoy, Kathryn Kuppers, Mark Ortiz, Harry Phillips, Casey Watson

A prospective member, newly moved to Charlotte from Houston Texas, Casey Watson, introduced herself and asked a few questions about the CAGP and its ongoing concerns.

It was mentioned that George W. Bush will be visiting Charlotte on February 20 and that there might be a rally held somewhere to protest the weakening of the clean air laws.

Treasurer Mark Ortiz reported that there had been no financial activity since his last month’s report. We currently have $1,069.90 in the checking. Alan gave Mark the check from Edith Aliberti for $2,500 to deposit which will raise the balance to $3,569.90 . Mark has changed the account to a free commercial checking account which requires no minimum balance to avoid fees.

It was agreed that the CAGP website should have links to all of the websites of persons seeking the GPUS presidential nomination.

Harry reported that the anti-Nafta rally in Greensboro that he and Gray Newman attended on January 11 was about 130 persons strong, with several inspiring speakers.

There were four people at the last Green Party Meetup at the East Blvd. Caribou Coffee, all CAGP members. Talley’s Green Grocery, also on East Blvd., has been nominated for the next Meetup on the first Tuesday of March. Go to Meetup.com to vote on the March meeting place to insure that the Meetup will take place.

Alan, Kathryn, Gregg, Mark Friedland (of Talley’s) and 3 shoppers from Talley’s

attended the natural foods forum at Talley’s Green Grocery on February 9. Mark

Friedland provided delicious snacks for everyone. It was decided that Jeff Ray should be

contacted to see if he wants to lead a discussion on election reform, focusing on voting

systems and disenfranchisement of minorities at the March 8^th forum. Mark Ortiz offered

to participate in leading the discussion also. Judy suggested that in the near future we hold

a forum on the use of MOX fuel and the relaxing of disposal rule for nuclear waste. The

March topic needs to be decided upon by February 22.

Mark Ortiz suggested showing the video “Unprecedented” 9 (or is it “Un-presidented”?)

at one of the Talley’s forums, but it was agreed that it would be better shown at the end of

a Meetup instead.

Mark, Judy, and Albert showed the first half of the video “What I Have Learned about

U.S. foreign Policy” on February 6 at the Evening Muse on North Davidson Street. The

weather was horrible and only a couple of people watched a part of the show. Mark will

show the second half of the video on March 5 at the Evening Muse.

Mark, Harry, And Alan attended the lunch meeting at Talley’s with Ralph Nader. Nader

bemoaned North Carolina’s strict ballot access laws and expressed disappointment in the

turnout for his visit. The stated intent of his visit was to seek feedback on his proposed run

for president as an Independent. There were about 9 people there including his 2 traveling

companions. Gregg Jocoy reported that Nader’s visit to Columbia, S.C. later that evening

drew about 80 people.

Mark requested that the CAGP donate $100 to BIKES, a bicycling advocacy group. After BIKES’s next meeting, we will learn if they plan to publicly acknowledge our support in their newsletter. Then the CAGP will make a final decision whether to give them the $100.

Kathryn expressed reservations about the CAGP becoming financially involved in the Sugar Creek Greenway Project after discovering that Home Depot plans for its employees at its future store across from Midtown Square to take over the stretch of the creek that the CAGP has adopted.

Judy Aulette announced that she has signed-up the CAGP to participate in the UNC-Charlotte’s Earth Day celebration on April 22 in the middle of the day.

Kathryn requested money to order some new T-shirts with our THINK GREEN logo and website on them. $250 was approved by consensus for purchasing these shirts.

The next meeting of the CAGP will be held March 13, 2004 at 2214 Chatham Avenue, Charlotte from 1-3:30 PM.