SUBJECT:  Definition of Voting privileges for members of a Working Group

SPONSORSHIP Green Issues Working Group

PRESENTER: to be determined by the Coordinating Committee

CONTACT: info@green247.org

BACKGROUND: Time spent organizing is a precious gift. Those who have a say in the Green Issues Working Group should be the Greens who actively participate in the work of the party. And, grassroots democracy and social justice require Respect for Diversity: To remain active and current, Green Issues Working Group needs active membership who feel that they can participate in the decisions being made.

PURPOSE:  To define voting privileges according to contributory acts of the membership.

PROPOSAL: Section 6-1.6 of the Bylaws provides a very broad definition of working group meembership and a very restrictive definition for voting privileges.  Under this definition, only a small minority of the members of a working group actually have voting privileges.  GIWG is asking that 6-1.6 be modified by adding the following wording.   "Meetings of the working group may be held in person or by teleconference and must be announced to the entire working group membership."

Note: This wording is similar to that which defined the meetings of the Coordinating Committee in Section 7-1.3: "Regular meetings of the CC shall be held at least once a month, in person or by teleconference. "

COMMITTEE DECISION:  Revision of membership item of Democracy Caucus proposal of early 2006.  During the 12/10/06 GIWG teleconference, it was discussed. It was posted to the listserv on or around 12/11/06, 1/14/07 and 4/10/07. This revision is accepted by the designated acting co-coordinator designated by S.KCM during a telephone conversation, and by Elisabeth who was elected co-coordinator on May 22, 2007, to make sure that there is a functioning working group in case no one has time to fulfull the coordinator responsibilities. The quorum is 3. We are patiently awaiting Ellen, Don, Consuelo or any other member, if there is one, to okay this version. Since Ellen is busy raising and educating potential future Green Party candidates, we ask for an extension of time of up until she has time to read it.

TIMELINE:  This is ongoing.

RESOURCES:   Allows for continued decision making by a working group between General Assemblies.