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Report: 2009 NCGP
Spring Gathering
At
this gathering, as required in our by-laws, officers
were elected to fill the positions of co-chairs, vice-chair, treasurer
and assistant treasurer. Other critical party positions, Media
Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Membership Coordinator, Fundraising
Officer, and delegates to the National Committee of GPUS wre
filled at this gathering.
Contact
information for the NCGP officers can be found here. We welcome new officers
George Friday of Gastonia (co-chair), Marcia Everett of Harnett County
(fundraising), Nick Triplett of Charlotte (vice chair and website
coordinator), Ron Harayda of Buncombe County (media coordinator), and
as a delegate to the National Committee, Theresa El-Amin of Durham. Jan
Martell of Durham, who has filled the role of co-chair and also a
delegate to the NC for the last two years, will be taking the title of
Newletter Editor and Membership Coordinator.
The
Spring Gathering, appropriately enough, was also a discussion of
renewal and regrowth for the NCGP. Since its inception in 2000, the
Green Party has stuggled against a number of forces to gain access to
the ballot in North Carolina. Restrictive ballot access laws (the third
worst in the nation) and institutionalized political hostitlity to
third-parties and independents has made this difficult. As a result, we
are discussing some changes in our approach to ballot access. Ideas up
for discussion include supporting progressive independents in
non-partisan municipal and county races, placing a greater emphasis on
getting and retaining members, and pointing out to the public the
progressive, common-sense "Green" solutions to many of society's
pressing social and environmental problems.
Holding
our gathering in Pittsboro and the surrounding area was appropriate.
The region hosts a number of businessses and organizations that are at
the forefront of the "green" movement. There is a strong core of people
striving, independently of government and in the face of much
resistance, to incorporate agricultural,building, energy, and
transporation practicees that will create a sustainable society.
The
Ninth Key Value of the Green Party, Future Focus and Sustainability, is
aligned with the goals of the "green" movement, and pre-dates it.
Nowadays, the word "green" is adopted by, and people that are serious
about changing our habits and our insatiable consumerism, and also
about achieving social justice and making sure that the "green"
economic benefits are shared by all. But "green" is also used by
corporations and other financial con-artists that use the word to hide
their environmentally destructive and short-term profit oriented
decisions and practices.
People
can be assured that "Green", when used by the Green Party or its
members, means all of what the word"green", used sincerely,
encompasses, and more. The Green Party advocates for
substantive changes in how public policy is formed and implemented, not
for the benefit of the few, as it is today, but the benefit ofthe
many. People can and should act independently of their
governments to put social and economic structures in place that can
bring about the changes our world needs. But without ethical and
committed public elected officials, free of the web of money and power
that too often determines public policy, the people and also the
environment will always be at a disadvantage.
Please
join us. We need you talent, your energy, and your
committment to create a true progressive political party in North
Carolina. If joining is not an option for you, please help us in our
efforts by making a donation to our
work. No donation is too small.
Wayne
Turner
Co-chair
North
Carolina Green Party
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