Green Party of Minnesota Coordinating Committee Meeting Minutes

August 18th, 2018

Members present : Andy Hamerlinck, Carol Mellom, Brian Mueller, Emma Matthies, Jake Cassidy, Bryce Lange

Guests: Diane Peterson, Kenneth Conan, Amber Garlan, Becca Lange

Andy H. - facilitator

Brian M. – note taker

A special election was held to fill out the open at-large seats on the coordinating committee. Jake Cassidy, Bryce Lange, Emma Matthies, and Samantha Pree-Stinson were elected unanimously.

CC Meeting Minutes from July were approved

A proposal was made by Andy H. to pay $287 for the theme banner for the state fair booth from the Highland Check-off funds account. Proposal approved by consensus.

Treasurer's report – we are depleting our funds due to the state fair expenses. Andy H. inquired whether our basic recurring monthly expenses are covered by our current sustaining donations. It appears so, but Brian M. will make a full analysis and send it out on Slack. We continue to monitor the monthly sustainers spreadsheet and will contact anyone whose sustaining donation is interrupted.

The CC began organizing and committing to work on our five operational committees:

Finance/Fundraising – Brian M. (chair), Carol M., Andy H., (Samantha P-S.)

maintaining finances, planning and executing fundraising plan, should consider how we will operate after Julie Madden (treasurer) retires

Technology (was Membership Support) – Emma M. (chair), Jake C. (chair), Carol M., (Jim Ivey), (Addy Free), (Eric Gilbertson)

database management, website management, internal communications, pulling email lists, video production, document hosting and updating, project management software, technology and security policies

Outreach – Carol M. (chair), Brian M.

locals development, education, tabling at events, person-to-person follow-up, office tasks (ooma, email, mail, etc)

Communications – Adam S. (chair), (Samantha P-S.), Jake C.

traditional media, social media, spokesperson, develop party lit, mass mailings, email blasts, GPUS opportunities

Politics – Andy H. (chair), Bryce L. (chair), Jake C., Emma M., Carol M.

electoral strategy, candidate identification and recruitment, candidate support, lobbying, interparty strategy, GPUS delegate oversight

Executive Committee- to be selected via online decision-making process before September meeting

should include party chair and finance chair, 3-5 members, assemble agenda for meetings, orientation with Julie Madden (treasurer) and Jim Ivey to familiarize with Campaign Finance Board and Secretary of State requirements, should we appoint an advisory member to the executive committee to provide continuity? legal advisor – David Schultz (pro bono)

We need to update policies document

Each chair should develop a committee plan and estimated budget (budgeting process occurs at December planning meeting, budget proposals due in November)

Carol M. will develop an office clean-up plan and propose it on Slack

Technology Committee Report – Emma M. presented a proposal to migrate documents and provide official email addresses to Google G-Suite, Cost is $5 per account, projected cost would be $55 - $85 per month depending upon number of CC reps seated. Hat was passed to fund it for the first month. Proposal approved. Emma M. will provide more details and submit a policy proposal for technology at the September CC meeting.

Outreach – due to the resignation of the 6^th CD representative, we need to determine if the 6^th CD local should be shut down for now or re-launched. Carol M. and Brian M. will reach out to contacts in the 6^th CD.

Communications – Facebook page has 5,200 likes, Twitter has 3,030 followers

Politics – Andy H., Jake C,, and Paula Overby have met three times and have sketched out four main responsibilities of the politics committee (see above)

1^st CD – Bryce Lange survived the primary, has secured support of closely aligned opponent who was eliminated, did well in western Winona County will focus general election efforts on support in eastern Winona County, phonebank event in two weeks

4^th CD – the trip to the wastewater treatment plant will be rescheduled, the local si donating $300 to the Green Party of MN, Rhoda Gilman was honored by the St. Paul City Council.

5^th CD – Les Lester launched his write-in campaign for the 5^th CD seat being vacated by the DFL incumbent, Tori Johnston's memorial will be September 6^th, she donated her collection of Green Party memorabilia to the Green Party and it could be used to fundraise, Brian M, will reach out to Becki Smith to coordinate.

6^th CD – we need to decide if the 6^th CD local will be decertified or re-launched. Carol M. and Brian M. will contact Steve Laitenen and Kaleb (Josh Fisccher) to evaluate.

GPUS – 3 delegates currently (Andy Schuler, Dee Murphy, and Kaleb (Josh Fischer)

We are in need of booth staff for the state fair. Paula Overby will be at the booth every day of the fair. Our three most critical time slots to fill are August 23^rd from 5-9 pm, August 26^th from 5-9 pm, and September 3^rd from 5-9 pm. The orientation sessions went well. We will have a state fair debrief at the September CC meeting.

Green Party information/education sessions have been tabled until September meeting.

Discussion of how we can migrate away from NationBuilder and save on expense, which currently costs $268 per month. Technology committee will propose technology policies at September meeting.

Green Party of Minnesota Coordinating Committee Meeting Minutes

July 14^th, 2018

Members present : Andy Hamerlinck, Carol Mellom, Adam Schneider, Brian Mueller (quorum requirement met)

Brian - notetaking

Adam - timekeeper

State Summer Meeting Minutes from June were approved

CC Meeting Minutes from May were approved

Treasurer's report – while we are facing financial hardship, we have enough to cover current expenses, and we do have access to checkoff funds for any party-building expenses. Brian will monitor the monthly sustainer spreadsheet and contact any member whose donation lapses.

Member Support - Emma Matthies expressed an interest in helping with membership support committee and joining the CC committee. We need to provide NationBuilder training sessions for CC members and others.

Communications – Andy and Adam have been keeping up with Twitter and Facebook. The Facebook page has 5,213 likes and 5,174 followers, and Twitter has 3,021 followers. In order to maximize quality engagement, we are focusing on MN-specific content. In order to handle Green Party MN day-to-day communication, Andy H will be checking emails. Brian/Carol/Adam/Andy will be contacted when there is a phone message, and Carol will check the mailbox at 4200 Cedar. Brian will contact Jim Ivey about setting up phone notifications.

Politics – Andy and Adam met with Paula Overby, Chris Dock (Libertarian candidate for Auditor), and William Denney (Independence Party candidate for Secretary of State) to discuss common issues. Andy proposed and received agreement on common issues that all three will promote and brand as Purple Movement to advance third party ideals. They would like to use this opportunity to unify on these specific issues and present real alternatives to what has not been working in politics. We will focus on promoting our own candidate but this will also promote grassroots, non-corporate-influenced democracy of all minor parties without cross-endorsing.

Megan Kuhl Stennes, running for Hennepin County Board, has lawn signs available. Bryce Lange, running for Winona County Board, has a booth at the Winona County Fair, and a League of Women Voter's candidate forum on July 25^th.

CD1 – Bryce Lange's campaign is going well, confident he will survive August 14^th primary. We had two new members join us from Lanesboro at our local meeting last Wednesday. Gauging interest in organizing as CD1 Greens to be able to connect Greens across our large geographic area and fill the CD1 vacancy on the CC.

CD4 – Nature walk with David Crawford and Diane Peterson last week. Planning a wastewater treatment plant tour and Zero Waste education opportunities.

CD5 – endorsement meeting today consindering Les Lester for US Representative

Other CDs – The Green Party of House District 17B submitted their bylaws and officers for approval as an official local. Their treasurer can get free training from the MN Campaign Finance Board . Approved by consensus.

GPUS – Barb Huning resigned as GPUS delegate. Current delegates – Andy Schuler, Dee Murphy, Kaleb (Joel Fischer). There are three unfilled slots. We need to explore improved coordination between delegates and CC.

CC Orientation – We will convene separate organizational meeting once CC is better filled out,

State Fair – Lots of activity. Committee met several times. Chelsea Palmer is coordinating recruiting (72 shifts available - 9am-1pm, 1pm-5pm, 5pm-9pm each day). Training dates for volunteers will be Wednesday, August 15, 6:30pm-7:30pm, and Saturday, August 18, 11am-noon, at 4200 Cedar Ave downstairs room. CC proposes one literature piece and one sign for each Green endorsed candidate be allowed at the booth. Approved by consensus.

Four open seats for at-large CC openings – Samantha Pree-Stinson, Emma Matthies, and Bryce Lange are currently interested. We will try to have elections concurrent with the August CC meeting (8/11) starting at 1:30 (tentatively) Brian will contact Bryce, Andy will reach out to Samantha, Adam will reach out to Emma. Carol will talk to Dave about availability of the downstairs room at 4200 Cedar. Brian will set up webpage and email on NB announcing special election. Will need blank paper for ballots at special election. Carol Mellom will serve as interim party chair until after the special election and will contact the SoS and Campaign Finance Board to notify them of the change.

Adjourned 3:20pm

Meeting Minutes here.

Meeting Minutes Here.

Meeting Minutes Here.

Meeting Minutes Here.

Meeting minutes here.

Meeting minutes here.

Meeting minutes here.

Meeting Minutes Here.