CHARLOTTE AREA GREEN PARTY / SEPTEMBER 14 MEETING


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

Guests: Ben Collins, Andrea Learmonth, Sharon McCormack, and Kim Scholtz

• Mark Ortiz, Treasurer, reported that we have $534.78 in our treasury. $23 of this amount is being held in cash, and the remainder is in our checking account.
  
  
• Harry Phillips, Co-Clerk, read the minutes from the August monthly meeting.
  
  
• Alan reviewed what is still a temporary agenda for the Sept. 20-22 gathering in Raleigh. A primary focus will be on ways to raise enough signatures to ensure that the NCGP is on the 2004 state ballot. Melissa Siebert (sp), of the Institute for Southern Studies, will present on election reform. Lee Hicks will lead a discussion on Friday night regarding the direction of the NCGP. Alan asked Harry to give a 10-minute report on CAGP activities, one of a number of reports to be given by the various locals in attendance. A workshop will be held that addresses strategies for promoting instant runoff voting. A platform debate will occur late Sat. afternoon. A vote will be taken Sun. morning regarding a proposed change in by-laws. The remainder of Sun. morning will be given over to members’ comments on various national and world events.
  
  
• Alan reported that Paul DeLaney will be in Charlotte for three days in October to campaign for U.S. Senate.
  
  
• Gray reported on his campaign for a seat on the Mecklenburg County Soil and Water Conservation Board. Gray spoke about his goals to the local chapter of the Sierra Club on Sept. 12. He had previously been informed by a representative from SC that the Conservation Board was not important enough for the Club to allow time for Board candidates at a candidates’ forum. Gray noted that he had joined SC member Nancy Bryant’s Coalition for Clean Air, and he encouraged CAGP members to consider joining. Gray campaigned on the morning of Sept. 14 at the Hidden Valley Festival, worked a few precincts for Becky Tin on primary election day, Sept. 10, and campaigned at last weekend’s Greek Festival. Gray will be recognized at the League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Breakfast on Sept. 28. Gray has been collecting campaign yard signs and just ordered 250 signs from a company in Iowa. Gray will buy advertising time from WCRO, the student station at UNCC. He is now accepting donations to his campaign. The Charlotte Observer will make endorsements re: Soil and Water Conservation Board candidates. At our Oct. meeting, Gray will provide us with a list of precincts where we’ll be allowed to campaign for him on election day, as well as a list of Sept. and Oct. festivals where we can campaign for him. On the third Thursday in October the Mallard Creek Fire Dept. will host a candidates’ day and barbeque spread. The event is sponsored by the Presbyterian Church. Gray posted his campaign flyer at the Gay Pride Center. Gregg will arrange for Gray to speak at a UNITE meeting before the Central Labor Council.
  
  
• During a Labor Day Parade update, Kathryn suggested we rethink our commitment to maintain a drink booth next year, citing conflicts between our and Coca-Cola’s values. Gregg did not request reimbursement for flyers he and Mark passed out during the parade regarding the mox-fuel issue. Ed Hanson-Kelly, a leader with UNITE, asked if we’d like to offer a representative for the Labor Day Media Roundtable, and this was regarded very positively be members as a sign that local labor acknowledges our support of their concerns.
  
  
• This Thursday, from 7-10 at the Gov’t Center (corner Davidson and 4th), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a hearing about transporting MOX-fuel. Gregg advised us that the typical weight limit on NC interstates, along which the fuel will be transported, is 80K tons, and that MOX-fuel trucks will carry 80-90K tons per shipment. Tens of thousands of shipments are expected and the NC Dept. of Transportation expects accidents in the hundreds. For more information, we can visit: www.nirs.org or www.gane.org. Harry will contact Bruce Henderson, Observer environment reporter, about the Thursday meeting.
  
  
• Regarding the ongoing discussion about reparations, Richard suggested that we leave Alan’s position paper as is and that we all read the paper again and decide whether or not to adopt the paper officially. Alan will post the paper on the listserve.
  
  
• Kathryn suggested that it may be more practical to go after the 500 signatures needed per write-in candidate than to pursue either 99K sigs (2% of electorate) or 58K sigs (2% of voting electorate). Paul Delaney has agreed to be plaintiff in the case being brought by the Brennan Institute on the grounds that NC voting laws are not constitutional. Alan will update us on developments this week. This action could open the way for refiguring candidate and party eligibility.
  
  
• It was reported that the Pearl Jam folks will keep in touch about helping us when they perform in Charlotte next year. There remains the possibility of soliciting local bands to do fundraisers for us.
  
  
• Mark, Alan, and Harry’s decision to allow Mark to place the CAGP name on Mark’s video flyer was acknowledged as inappropriate because this decision should have been made according to our by-laws. Mark explained the very short time period he had to work with. Membership was understanding and sympathetic.
  
  
• Harry will inquire about the availability of a meeting room at the Plaza-Midwood branch library for the Oct. meeting.
  
  
• Harry mentioned difficulty in designing a way to raise money for Alan’s $24K proposal. He will broach the topic at the Raleigh gathering.
  
  
• Gray will query his church, located on 7th St., about us having an Oct. yard sale there.
  
  

Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Phillips 9/15/02