Green Party of Michigan - Recently Updated Pages

Events in Michigan

almyatt — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:49:01 CST

Dark Earth Hour

The Green Party of Michigan is asking all residents of the state to
observe a "Dark Earth Hour" from 9:00-10:00 p.m. on the third
Thursday of each month to raise awareness of the need to reduce
energy consumption. For that one hour every month, households and
businesses are encouraged to turn off all non-essential lights and
electrical appliances.

The last Dark Earth Hour for 2008 is Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008.

For 2009, Dark Earth Hour dates are:
January 15
February 19
March 19
April 16
May 21
June 18
July 16
August 20
September 17
October 15
November 19
December 17

___________________________

Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Huntington Woods Peace, Citizenship & Education Project presents:
A dialogue on American Foreign Policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Juan Cole, U. of M. Professor of History
An invited U. S. State Department representative

1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 12:45)
Royal Oak First United Methodist Church
320 W. Seventh St., between Lafayette and Washington
Parking available in church lot or structure on Lafayette (N. of church)
Admission: $5.00 (students free)

The Informed Comment blog at juancole.com is widely read. Cole is one of the foremost experts on America’s troubled relations with the Islamic world. He is a regular guest on PBS's Lehrer News Hour and many other TV shows.

For information call 248-546-6834, email info@hwpeace.org or visit the web site at www.hwpeace.org.

Sponsors: Citizens for Peace, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit, Michigan Peace Team (MPT), Michigan Alliance to Strengthen Social Security & Medicare, Michigan Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR), Peace Action of Michigan, Laura Perreault, U.S. Social Forum, Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)

___________________________

The US Social Forum II

• June 22-26, 2010 •
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Another World Is Possible! Another US is Necessary!
Detroit to Host 20,000 Activists

The USSF will take place June 22-26, 2010 at Cobo Hall and Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. Other workshops and community art and culture programs will take place across the city. The USSF will convene social movements from across the United States and globally. Organizers are reaching out to young people, people of color, unionists, laid off and unorganized workers, welfare recipients, veterans, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, freedom fighters, collectives, and many others.

For details and updates, see http://www.ussf2010.org/

SCC Proposals

almyatt — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:53:02 CST

Items previously found on this page were reported to the State Membership Meeting in September of 2009, and have been moved to the appropriate "archive" page.

Tracking of SCC proposals for the current quarter is now being accomplished on a Google spreadsheet. You can access this spreadsheet at:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AgQMCHIGiWsqdGpUbnlZQzNSdThZNDhUQ21GYnhpY2c&hl=en

SCC Archive 2009

almyatt — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:48:03 CST

Proposal (Passed)

Statement proposed by Chuck Loucks, supported by Richard Kusmar and Matt Abel, Jan 1, 2009.
Discussion period, Jan 2 through Jan 8; blocking objection by Art Myatt.
Polling ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MIGreensSCC/polls )
from 9:00 am Jan 9 to manual close ~9:00 am Jan 16.
Quorum 16
Results: Yes, 13 votes, 72.22%; No, 5 votes, 27.78%; Abstain, 0 votes, 0.00%

[begin statement]
The Detroit Green Party and the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) condemn the brutal attack perpetrated on the Palestinian people in Gaza by the terrorist government of Israel. This genocidal attack on Gaza has resulted in hundreds of deaths of innocent civilians, mostly women and children and the wounding and maiming of many more. It has exacerbated the already horrible living conditions that the Palestinians have been forced to endure following the sanctions/siege imposed on them by Israel since 2007.

We join the rest of the civilized world in condemning these latest attempts by Israel to ethnically cleanse Gaza and the West-bank of their rightful inhabitants.

We demand that the bombings stop immediately and that the siege that has strangled the people into starvation and destitution be lifted.

We condemn the complicity of the U.S government for supplying the Israeli with the weapons they use. We realize that none of this conflict would be as severe as it has become without American backing. Israel is the largest recipient of U.S foreign aid. We demand that our government (U.S.) stop using the state of Israel as a terrorist force against the people of the Middleast and use the money being given to them for basic necessities here at home, like health-care and education.

We call on all of our elected leaders to stand up for Justice and Human Rights and roundly condemn the murderous aggression committed by Israel on the Palestinians.
[end statement]

Proposal (did not pass - quorum OK; voted down)

That GPMI forgive [to the GPUS] the amount [of state sharing funds from the Green Card program] due to us of $217.30.

Initiated by Lou Novak on Jan 8, 2000.
Supported by Richard Kusmar, Ken Mathenia, Harley Mikkelson and Linda Manning Myatt.
Discussion period Jan 9 - 15
Blocking concern, Aimee Smith
Voting Jan 16 - 22
Quorum 16
- Yes, 7 votes, 43.75%
- No, 7 votes, 43.75%
- Abstain, 2 votes, 12.50%

Proposal (passed by consensus)

GPMI to provide $100 to sponsor the Detroit Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom March to be held on Monday, January 19, 2009.

Initiated on Jan 12, 2009 by Lou Novak as a "fast track proposal"
Supported same day by Harley Mikkelson & Chuck Jordan
Blocked same day by Richard Kusmar, making fast track impossible.
Discussion period Jan 13 - Jan 19
Objection withdrawn near end of discussion.

Quorum for next proposal will be 16

Proposal [to be taken (if passed) to GPUS NC] - Failed Quorum

Idea presented by Linda Cree; several supporters
blocking objection from Art Myatt to original version and from Chuck Loucks to revised version
Polling Thurs Jan 29 through Wed Feb 4, 2009
Final revised version shown below:

Although the Green Party of Michigan supports having Green Pages go
to online publication as a money-saving move, GPMI also calls for
GPUS to prioritize at least one newsprint edition of Green Pages each
year in recognition of the following:

* the need for a "house organ,"

* the fact that a print publication will reach many that an online
publication will not,

* the need to honor our promise to donors that they will regularly
receive a printed version of Green Pages,

* and the strategic necessity of having a printed publication to use
as an outreach tool.

[end proposal]

voting was 9 Yes; 2 No; 3 Abstain; total 14 votes
Quorum was 16; failed quorum
22 people voted in one of the previous 4 polls.
Quorum for the next poll would have been 15. Because two members resigned their voting positions before the next poll, quorum became 13.3333...; i.e., 14.

Proposal - Passed by Consensus

Idea presented by Art Myatt Mon., Jan 26; several supporters
Discussion Tues, Jan 27 through Mon, Feb 2
Below statement as modified during discussion period:

The Green Party of Michigan is opposed to the bailout and stimulus plans hatched in Washington. Their method is to prop up failed businesses and banking institutions. Saving companies that are insolvent by giving them loans they will never be able to repay will not produce an economic recovery. When things were going well, these companies never thought of sharing their excess profits. We should now turn down their pleas to share their losses.

What the government should be doing is protecting the millions of people being hurt by the economic crisis. Universal health care - Medicare for All - will prevent unemployment from causing the loss of health insurance benefits. Social Security for All - adding to the current system a means-tested minimum income - will allow all of us to be sure of food and shelter during tough times. A moratorium on home foreclosures will give families time to adjust to new circumstances instead of putting them out on the street.

Commitment to maintaining a standard of living above poverty level for all Americans would support and stimulate the economy from the bottom up. It would not interfere with the "creative destruction" of capitalism, except for not allowing it to destroy lives along with worn out institutions. It would allow a sustainable economy to emerge from the ruins of the unsustainable.

Proposal (passed)

Idea presented Tues, Feb 3 by Richard Kusmar
Issue a statement opposing the Mexican GP efforts to reinstate the Death Penalty.
Supported by several members; blocking objection by Doug Campbell.
Discussion period Feb 5-11; voting Feb 12-18
Quorum for this poll is 14.
Statement modified during discussion to read, "The Green Party of Michigan opposes the death penalty and opposes the Green Party of Mexico’s support for the death penalty."

Polling results: Yes, 10 votes, 58.82%; No, 5 votes, 29.41%; Abstain, 2 votes, 11.76%

Proposal (passed by consensus)

Idea presented Sat, Feb 7 by John LaPietra
Renew GPMI's selection of Alan Kaufman as representative to the GPUS International Committee as apparently required by GPUS rules.
Supported by several people; one objection by Aimee Smith, withdrawn
Requested two-day consensus
Discussion period Feb 8 & 9

Proposal (passed by consensus)

Idea presented Friday, Feb. 20 by Richard Kusmar
In support of Joel Kovel: Fred Vitale, as Chair, should send a letter to Bard College expressing GPMI's outrage at their actions [dismissing Mr. Kovel from his teaching position] and demanding Mr. Kovel's immediate reinstatement.
Supported by Chuck Jordan, Chuck Loucks, Karen Shelley
Discussion period Feb 21-27; no objections

Proposal (passed by consensus)

I propose that we print up several thousand copies [ GPMI_Bailout_09.pdf, program for economy plus membership form, as edited by the Platform Committee, attachment to http://migreens.wetpaint.com/page/Outreach+-+Literature ] with a union bug and a disclaimer that they have been paid for from the political funds, and make them available for candidates, local tabling, and so on.

Idea presented by Art Myatt, April 6
supported by several SCC members
discussion period April 7-13

Proposal (passed by consensus)

That Lynn Meadows will buy as many banners as can be purchased with $300, saying "Green Party of Michigan, www.migreens.org".

Idea presented by Lynn Meadows, April 6
supported by several SCC members
discussion period April 8-14

Proposal (passed by poll)

Should GPMI become a supporting organization for the Clean Energy Now Coalition, to be listed as such on their web site ( http://cleanenergynowmi.org/ )?
Voting Apr 19-25, 2009

Idea presented by Richard Kusmar, April 8
supported by several SCC members
discussion period April 9-15; extended through April 18 for clarification as to what elements of the original proposal should be voted on; final form of proposal shown above.
blocking objections from Linda Cree, Doug Campbell
poll results: Yes, 8; no, 4; abstaining 4; total voting, 16; quorum was 13.

Proposal (passed by consensus)

GPMI to pay $100 to host a table at the Michigan Policy Summit, held 5-16-09 at Cobo Hall in Detroit. Deadline for payment 5-1-09.
( http://www.mipolicysummit.org/ )

Idea presented by Richard Kusmar, April 18
supported by several SCC members
discussion period April 19-25

Proposal (passed by poll)

In the course of discussion, the proposal has been modified to read:

GPMI will match the first $1000 {each} raised at least 30 days prior to the primary election by the Derek Grigsby and Clyde Shabazz Campaign Committees for their 2009 Detroit City Council Races.

Idea presented by Richard Kusmar, Sunday, April 26.
Supported by several SCC members; blocking objection from Tom Mair.
Discussion period April 27 - May 3.
Polling May 4 through May 10 (poll closes Monday morning, May 11); quorum for this poll is 14.
Results: No, 6 votes; Abstain, 0 votes; Yes, 13 votes

Proposal (passed by consensus)

GPMI approves admitting the Michigan Objectivist Party to the Michigan Third Parties Coalition.

Idea presented by Doug Campbell, Sunday, May 3.
Supported by several SCC members.
Discussion period May 4 - 11

Proposal (passed by consensus)

On June 16, 2009, Harley Mikkelson moved to approve the bylaws of the Allegan County Greens. The full text of the bylaws is in SCC messabe #28078. The proposal was supported by Linda Myatt, Richard Kusmar, matt Abel and others. The proposal passed by consensus. However, acceptance of the bylaws is not the same as the procedure outlined in GPMI bylaws for recognizing a local.

Proposal (suspended)

On June 24, 2009, Harley Mikkelson proposed changing GPMI bylaws "to remove the Petition requirement for recognizing Locals." This proposal did not get sufficient support to be formally considered by the SCC.

Proposal (suspended)

On July 5, Derek Grigsby proposed an emergency demonstration to bring attention to the continued jailing of Cynthia McKinney by Israel. The motion was supported by several others. Since she was released the next day, and soon landed in Washington, the need for this demonstration disappeared.

Proposal (passed by consensus)

On July 27, John LaPietra proposed authorizing three members of Allegan County Greens to be election challengers for Benton Harbor. This was supported by Richard Kusmar, Harley Mikkelson, Lynn Meadows and others. The proposal passed by consensus. Left unsettled are questions about how this process should be handled in the future. "Election challenger" is not mentioned in GPMI bylaws.

Proposal (passed by consensus)

On July 31, Richard Kusmar proposed GPMI oppose Michigan H. B 5128 and 5127, already opposed by the Humane Society, on the grounds that the bills would change for the worse standards by which farm animals must be treated, and would otherwise be harmful to human health and the environment. Supported by Linda Cree and John LaPietra. Passed by consensus (without a lot of further discussion). Belatedly, I support this position.

2010 National Meeting Discussion (ongoing)

It was announced on this list around the middle of June that the United States Social Forum will be held in Detroit, June 20-26, 2010. Since that time, there has been a lot of discussion about whether the GPUS annual national meeting should be held in Michigan in conjunction with the USSF - before, after or overlapping. No particular idea has gotten close to consensus, or even close to majority support. No particular idea has been formulated so that we might vote on it.

Proposal (did not pass)

Proposed by Linda Cree: GPMI to sponsor an amendment to the GPUS bylaws to allow individuals certified by their state parties as delegates to the NC by the date of the election to be elected to the National Steering Committee. Proposal amended on July 31 to allow election to the National Steering Committee from "nominees who are either full or alternate delegates to the National Committee."

Initially, there was not sufficient support for this proposal to be formally considered by the SCC. Re-proposed on August 12. Supported by Richard Kusmar and Art Myatt; objection from Linda Myatt. Polling August 23 - 30.

CHOICES AND RESULTS
- Yes, 7 votes, 53.85%
- No, 3 votes, 23.08%
- Abstain, 3 votes, 23.08%
- Total, 13 votes
- Quorum requirement, 15

Proposal (did not pass)

Proposed by Art Myatt on August 14: Change GPMI Bylaws Article II, Section 1, sub-section D to read, "The Green Party of Michigan shall hold a minimum of two general membership meetings per year which may also coincide with conventions. Additional statewide meetings are allowed but not required." Also change related passages that now refer to "quarterly" meetings - see SCC message #28256 for details.

Supported by Chuck Jordan, Richard Kusmar, Richard Wunsch and others. Blocking objections from Tom Mair, Doug Campbell. Polling August 23 - 30.

CHOICES AND RESULTS
- Yes, 4 votes, 33.33%
- No, 6 votes, 50.00%
- Abstain, 2 votes, 16.67%
- Total, 12 votes
- Quorum requirement, 15

Proposal (passed by consensus)

Proposed by Richard Kusmar on August 21: GPMI to endorse the October 17 peace actions called by the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations. Furthermore that GPMI co-sponsor a resolution for endorsement by the Green National Committee. See SCC message #28277 for details.

Supported by Linda Cree, John LaPietra and others.

Proposal (passed by consensus)

Proposed by Linda Myatt on August 22: GPMI to forgive $280.50 (nationally-driven state sharing for 2008) to the GPUS. See SCC message #28287 for details.

Proposal (resolved at SMM)

Proposed by Linda Cree on August 26: GPMI to sponsor an amendment to the GPUS bylaws declaring 4 break periods of 2 weeks each for NC business; breaks to be timed to coincide with solstices and equinoxes. See SCC message #28306 for details.

Various amendments and blocking concerns resulted in this question being discussed and resolved at the SMM in Petoskey, Sept. 2009. GPMI will sponsor an amendment for the National Committee
to take quarterly breaks, each beginning on the date of the solstice or equinox falling in that quarter and continuing for two weeks.

Proposal (resolved at SMM)

Proposed by Tom Mair on Sept 1:
Change GPMI Bylaws Article II, Section 1, sub-section D concerning state membership meetings. Details of original proposal in SCC yahoo group message #28329.

After discussion and some objections, withdrawn by proposer in favor of discussion at September 26 SMM.

The SMM (Sept. 2009) decided to revise the bylaws to require at least three membership meetings per year, with one of these being approximately north of US-10 (exact "border" between the I-94 corridor and "up north" to be determined by a committee). Additionally, one annual face-to-face meeting of the SCC is recommended.

Presumably, the bylaws committee will work out exact language to implement this change. which language will be submitted to the SCC or to the next SMM.

New SCC Member

New SCC member Peter Solenberger replaces Chuck Loucks as local representative from Huron Valley Greens, effective September 2, 2009

SMM "Raw" Minutes

jalp — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:53:59 CDT

I created this page when someone asked for the March 2009 minutes -- which I'd thought had been posted already. Art has now told me he tried doing that once for all the minutes, but he ran into a 50-file limit on all attachments for our Wiki. So I am deleting the attachments from this page and posting his link (also on the Home page).

Minutes from GPMI State Membership Meetings can be found at:

http://detagreens.tripod.com/index.htm

--- jalp

GPMI Press Release - Michigan Budget '09

almyatt — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:01:50 CDT

Green Party opposes budget cuts to schools and college students; suggest budget by fining polluters, releasing all non-violent prisoners.

LANSING (October 20, 2009) - Green Party leaders said today that budget proposed by Governor Granholm and the Michigan Legislature is wrong-headed.

The people of Michigan are facing a once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis. The governor has the power to declare a state of emergency, suspend "business as usual" methods, and respond to the needs of the unemployed and the poor. The people of Michigan need funding for food, shelter, heat and water as winter descends.

Instead of "draconian cuts" by the Governor and legislature to social services, they should support universal, single-payer health care legislation, which would realize 30 percent savings over the current privatized structure, and lower the state budget deficit,"said Candace Caveney-Collins, candidate for Congress 10th district.

"Voters do support increased taxes on liquor and cigarettes to fund education and health care spending. Why won't the governor and the Legislature be honest and move in that direction?" asked Lynn Meadows, candidate for Secretary of State.

Greens also encouraged the Governor to do more than release some non-violent offenders, suggesting that state prisons release all non-victim offenders and drug offenders, another source of savings. "Budgetary spending based on locking people in prison for victimless crimes is misguided policy, out of control, and not sustainable at the current levels of incarceration. A much smaller, revamped prison system will rein in spending to help meet the budget," said Derek Grigsby, candidate for state representative, 7th district, Detroit.

Finally, the state should tax those who pollute the environment.

"Currently the state legislature favors corporate interests over the people's interests. We need to reduce overall consumption of fossil fuels to lower our levels of greenhouse gas. We need to transition from our current 'growth' economy to a 'steady state' economy, where the true cost of fossil fuel is made visible by taxing fossil fuel emissions," said Art Myatt, GPMI Vice-Chair and solar power engineer.

News Releases

jalp — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:37:16 CDT

Let's see if I can set this up as a general page for working on news releases. (If it doesn't work, somebody should fix it, please.)

I'll start by posting what I have formatted from Fred's work on a statement about the state crisis budget. (Yes, I have that right way around. . . :] . . .) -- jalp

SCC Membership

almyatt — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:56:37 CDT

POSITION

NAME

Chair

Fred Vitale

Vice-Chair/SCC Whip

Art Myatt

Vice-Chair/Committee Manager

Aimee Smith

Treasurer

Lou Novak

Recordkeeper

Margaret Guttshall

Locals Liaison

Harley Mikkelson

Membership Secretary

Chuck Loucks

Clearinghouse Coordinator

Richard Kusmar

Meeting Manager

Lynn Meadows

Elections Coordinator

John La Pietra

Rep to GPUS National Committee

Priscilla Dziubek

Rep to GPUS National Committee

Derek Grigsby

Rep to GPUS National Committee

Linda Manning Myatt

Rep to GPUS National Committee

Lou Novak

Rep to GPUS National Committee

Linda Cree

Rep to GPUS National Committee

Matt Abel