The Green Party of Virginia

Minutes of GPVA Business Meeting Via Teleconference on January 5, 2012

Present were:
Audrey Clement, Jim Hurysz, Tamar and Tom Yager (Arlington), Charlie Jordan (Blue Ridge), Chris Fink (Fredericksburg), Mike Shushan (Hampton Roads), and Andrew Ragland (At Large). A quorum consisting of at least half of the five locals participating in the two most recent business meetings -- Arlington, Fredericksburg, Loudoun and NoVA on 10/1/11 and Arlington, Blue Ridge, Fredericksburg, Loudoun and NoVA on 6/11/11 -- having been established, the meeting was called to order.

Tom was appointed facilitator, Audrey note taker, Chris timekeeper, and Andrew vibes watcher.

The previously published meeting agenda was amended and agreed to by consensus as follows:

1. Report on GPVA Central Committee and Green Party Presidential electors for Commonwealth of Virginia.
2. Conduct of GPVA presidential primary.
3. Appointment of coordinator of GPVA presidential candidate petition drive.
4. Dissemination of presidential candidate nominating petition forms.
5. House Party in Arlington for Jill Stein, on Saturday, January 20.
6. Legislation drafted by the Libertarian Party to reduce statewide and congressional election signature requirements.

1. Report on GPVA Central Committee and Green Party Presidential electors for Commonwealth of Virginia.

Audrey reported that electors for all 11 congressional districts (CDs) and two at large electors have volunteered to appear on the 2012 GPVA presidential nominating petition as follows:

• CD 1, Fink, Christopher
• CD 2, Dowe, Eddie
• CD 3, Burger, Scott
• CD 4, Miller, Richard
• CD 5, Cutlip, Jana
• CD 6, Metraux, Daniel
• CD 7, Delehanty, John
• CD 8, Mookerjee, Kirit
• CD 9, Anderson, Clifford
• CD 10, Taylor, Mary
• CD 11, Hughes, Paul
• At Large, Yager, Tamar
• At Large, Lowenstern, James

She also reported that on December 2, 2011 the GPVA Interim Committee approved the appointment of a Central Committee of the following members:

• Chair , Yager, Thomas
• Secretary, Clement, Audrey
• CD 1, Fink, Christopher
• CD 2, Dowe, Eddie
• CD 3, Burger, Scott
• CD 4, Miller, Richard
• CD 5, Cutlip, Jana
• CD 6, Metraux, Daniel
• CD 7, Delehanty, John
• CD 8, Mookerjee, Kirit
• CD 9, Anderson, Clifford
• CD 10, Taylor, Mary
• CD 11, Hughes, Paul

2. Conduct of GPVA presidential primary.

On a recommendation from Tom that the results of the GPVA presidential preference primary be tabulated by March 10, the date of the next GPVA business meeting, Audrey moved to create a presidential primary subcommittee chaired by Chris Fink to conduct the GPVA presidential preference primary for a two week period beginning Monday, February 20, 2012. The results of the primary will be presented at the March 10 meeting. Charlie raised a blocking concern that the the presidential preference primary will not reflect the true preferences of the voters, because such preferences cannot be captured by the split-vote methodology to be employed. Specifically while it is possible to rank order preferences, it is impossible to quantify preferences by estimating their cardinal utility values.

The motion carried on a vote of 7-1-0.

3. Appointment of coordinator of GPVA presidential candidate petition drive.

4. Dissemination of presidential candidate nominating petition forms.

Audrey moved to name Jill Stein as stand-in presidential candidate on the 2012 GPVA presidential nominating petition, subject to her approval, and that Jill name a candidate of her choosing to be the stand-in vice presidential candidate. The motion carried by consensus with 2 stand asides.

5. House Party in Arlington for Jill Stein, on Wednesday, January 18.

Tamar announced that John Reeder is planning a house party for Jill Stein at his home in Arlington on Wednesday, January 18, as Jill will be in the DC area the following weekend to address a Move to Amend rally.

6. Legislation drafted by the Libertarian Party to reduce statewide and congressional election signature requirements.

Audrey announced that Virginia Libertarian Party co-chair Bill Redpath had forwarded to her for comment the attached draft legislation to reduce the signature requirement for statewide and congressional candidates. Redpath indicated that he wants GPVA members to seek the sponsorship of their legislators in the General Assembly. Audrey moved that GPVA support the draft legislation and empower GPVA co-chairs to negotiate improvements to the bill requiring less than 72 hours notice to the GPVA Interim Committee. The motion carried by consensus.

Adjournment.

The meeting was adjourned with the date of the next business meeting having previously been set for Saturday, March 10 in Fredericksburg.

Audrey Clement, Note Taker