CHARLOTTE AREA GREEN PARTY / OCTOBER MEETING


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

Guests: Beverly Rice and Ben Collins

• Co-Clerk Harry Phillips read the minutes of the September meeting. During this item, members reported that Paul Delaney’s potential law suit against the state of North Carolina regarding candidate eligibility is dead, and that Ed Hanson-Kelly, labor activist, resigned from the Labor Day Committee, but, presumably, will remain active with UNITE and the Labor Council.
  
  
• Treasurer Mark Ortiz reported that there is $537.78 in our treasury, with $504.78 in our checking account and $33 in the cash box. Brief discussion followed as to whether we should change our account at CCB from checking to savings to avoid monthly charges for the checking account, as noted by Kathryn. Mark likes the idea of being able to write a check when needed. It was generally decided to stay with the checking account.
  
  
• Alan reported on the Raleigh gathering of Sept. 20-22. The primary focus was on ballot access for 2003-4 elections and how to organize this effort. A six-person committee was formed. Attila, an NCSU student, will focus solely on this issue through December. Another focus concerned the need to push for IRV as a way to impact Democrats’ power in the state. Melissa Siebert, from the Institute for Southern Studies, reported on problems with county election boards. Mark mentioned the Poll Watchers program, available to interested NC citizens, where monitors can be assigned to precincts to monitor election-day problems. The Sunday morning discussion produced no resolutions. The April convention in Wilmington is on. Gray and Harry will take a turn in the NCGP booth at the state fair on Sat., Oct. 19, from 1-5. Former NCGP Treasurer Doug Stuber was suspended and Mark noted problems with NCGP checking account access.
  
  
• Kathryn and Gregg spoke at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearing, regarding our anti-mox fuel position, at the Gov’t Center in September. The turnout for the hearing was small. Gregg suggested that public education is needed to inform folks on this issue, and he mentioned the possibility of scheduling 3-4 public hearings held locally where folks from BREDL and NIRS-SE could lead discussions. Gregg apprised the group of a strategy meeting on this issue scheduled for Oct. 13, 2002 in Asheville.
  
  
• Alan reported that it is probable that four CAGP members will appear on “Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins” sometime after the November elections. There is a need for these four folks, and other CAGP members, to meet a week-or-so before we appear to discuss strategy. Alan noted that 12-13% of North Carolina’s population resides in the five counties including and surrounding Mecklenburg. Gray will contact Badili Jones about appearing on the show as a phone contact.
  
  
• Harry reported on the Institute of Political Leadership sponsored by UNC-Wilmington, an organization devoted to training potential candidates for political office. This information came to us via Anne Fischer of Burke County. This training requires ten weekends. Gregg mentioned that his colleague in South Carolina, Mike Avey, can conduct a six-hour workshop for political progressives and that the CAGP may want to consider this. We should investigate how Greens in other states organize a campaign.
  
  
• Regarding ongoing efforts to find a site for a yard sale, Gregg offered his home in Fort Mill. Members should email Gregg a list of items they can donate to the sale. Gregg will get back with us on a date for the sale, and as of now the yard sale is on hold.
  
  
• Gray reported on his campaign for a seat on the Soil and Water Conservation Board and noted that he’s scheduled to meet soon with UNCC Greens. He’s been handing out palm cards at the Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa, putting up yard signs throughout the county, and has 60 signs to put up before election day. Gray presented a list of Meck. Co. precincts and referred us to precincts with the greatest voter turnout. Members were assigned precincts to be worked on election day. We can put signs out at precincts 24 hours before the polls open (7 am on Monday).
  
  Gray attended: the Catawba River Conference, where drought issues were discussed; the League of Women Voters (LWV) Candidates Breakfast, where he was the only candidate for his office present; and the Sierra Club Candidates Forum, where he was not invited to be on the panel but was encouraged to introduce himself, which he did. The LWV is sponsoring another event, a quarterly environment forum entitled: “The Long, Hot, Dry Summer: Environmental Change Evidence?" The event is scheduled for Nov. 2 at 10:30am at the Hal Marshall Center, 700 N. Tryon St. Breakfast is free to those who RSVP between Oct. 15-26 (704-572-5805) or lwvcm@hotmail.com. The Mallard Creek BBQ, a candidates’ event, is scheduled for Oct. 24. CAGP members are encouraged to hand out palm cards for Gray at this event. On Oct. 27 there is a Hospice gathering at Carmel Commons at 2pm, where we can give out palm cards. Another good place for giving out cards is the Green Market on 7th St. on Saturdays.
  
  
• Alan will try to get U. S. Senate candidate Paul Delaney to Charlotte for the last weekend in Oct. As no CAGP members were interested in working on Paul’s campaign, Alan asked permission to work with Paul. There were no objections. Ben Collins may help Alan with this.
  
  
• Richard reported that the Coalition for Peace and Justice anti-war march took place in the South Park area and folks marched to Sue Myrick’s office with signs. Some marchers read statements. Approximately fifty marchers were present. Fox News covered the event.
  
  
• The group voted to have Alan’s position paper on reparations appear on our web site. Kathryn will contact Michael about this.
  
  
• The group voted to send $100 to help defray costs of the NCGP booth at the state fair. Mark wrote Harry a check for this amount. Harry and Gray will deliver the check on Sat., Oct. 19.
  
  Respectfully Submitted
  Harry Phillips, Co-Clerk
  Oct. 15, 2002