STATUS:  Failed due to lack of quorum, voted ended March 20, 2017 at 11.59 pm.

1. Basic Info

Date proposed: March 12, 2017
Name of the sponsors: Greater Boulder Green Party

2. Title:

Amend GPCO Bylaws to Clarify Two Year Term of Office

3. Text of the actual Proposal:

To clarify officers term of office and remove obsolete material, the Bylaws of the Green Party of Colorado shall be amended as follows.

Replace Section 5.1 which currently reads, “In order to serve the growth of the GPCO and to communicate our message, platform and values to the public, the GPCO will elect two state co-chairs to two year terms. Every effort shall be made to reach gender and geographic diversity.” with the following text:

Quote
Officers shall be chosen at each annual state meeting held in odd number years to two year terms. The term of office begins immediately upon election and ends with the election of officers at the next odd year annual meeting. Every effort shall be made to reach gender and geographic diversity.

Delete Section 5.7 in its entirety. The section currently reads, “Co-chairs shall be chosen at each annual state meeting and other officers in odd number years to serve two year terms in office.” This section is obsolete because co-chairs now serve two year terms.

 

4. Background:

Greater Boulder Green Party seeks to clarify the length of service of the co-chairs.

5. Justification/Goals:

Historically, terms of GPCO officers have run from annual meeting to annual meeting. This amendment simply codifies past practice, going back at least to 2007. An explicit reference to the co-chair term in the minutes from the state meeting in 2007 can be found at https://coloradogreenparty.org/about/history/gpco-2007-state-meeting-minutes/.

The meeting was held June 23-24, 2007, in Carbondale, Colorado. On Saturday, June 23, after a decision to change the co-chair terms from two years (which they were at that time) to one year, the following is found in the meeting minutes.
Quote
11:15 a.m. Election of new state officers and national delegates and selection of webmaster and e-list manager Tom Kelly of the Arapahoe Greens and Dave Chandler of the Adams-Jefferson Greens volunteered to become co-chairs for the 07-08 term.
Agreement seeking resulted in a consensus for Kelly and Chandler as state co-chairs for approximately one year, beginning June 23 and until the next annual state meeting.
Dan Sage of the Arapahoe Greens volunteered to continue as state treasurer for the 07-09 term.
Agreement seeking resulted in a consensus for Sage as treasurer for approximately two years, beginning June 23 and until the annual state meeting of 2009.
Eric Fried of the Poudre Valley Greens volunteered to become state secretary for the 07-
09 term.
Agreement seeking resulted in a consensus for Fried as secretary for approximately two years, beginning June 23 and until the annual state meeting of 2009.

This is an explicit description of a one-year term being approximately one year from the date of the election to the date of the following year’s meeting. It is also an explicit description of a two-year term being approximately two years from the date of the election to the date of the meeting two years hence. Although the co-chair terms were reduced from two years to one year, the other offices continued with two-year terms, so both the one-year term and the two-year term are described in the minutes. The description of the term length is repeated for each office, so it does not seem to be a typo.

The 2008 meeting was held on May 3, so the nominal one-year term from the 2007 meeting (June 23) to the 2008 meeting (May 3) was approximately ten and a half months. The 2009 meeting was held in July by teleconference, no specific date available on the history page, so the nominal two-year term from the 2007 meeting (June 23) to the 2009 meeting (sometime in July) was several weeks longer than two years.

6. Pros and Cons:

Pros: There is no precedent for setting the annual meeting date based on the date the current officers were elected. Delaying the annual meeting, so as to put the desire of an officer to serve 24 months ahead of the needs of the party to organize for the 2018 election cycle, hurts the party’s prospects for the 2018 election.

Cons:

7. Alternatives to the proposal:

 

8. References: Moderator Note: This issue has already been corrected via Proposal 007-15: length of co-chair term (https://coloradogreenparty.org/forum/index.php?topic=251.0).

Status: Agree/Yes: 15 (68%)
Disagree/No: 7 (32%)
Total votes: 22
Proposal passed April 22, 2017

1. Basic Info

Date proposed: April 15, 2017

Name of the sponsor(s): Poudre Valley Green Party, Adams County Green Party, Mesa County Green Party, Longmont Green Party, Arapahoe County Green Party, Denver Green Party.

2. Title: REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING AT GPCO STATE MEETINGS

3. Text of the actual Proposal: Change section 4.1.1 of the GPCO bylaws to read

4.1.1. In order for official decisions to be made at a state meeting, a quorum of at least 60% of local chapters must be represented, with a minimum number of voting participants (registered in the Green Party of Colorado not less than 90 days) equal to twice the number of local chapters represented. Exceptions apply to persons who have: become eligible to vote via new citizenship; or have been released from parole and have been re-granted their right to vote; or have recently reached voting age and have subsequently registered with the Green Party within the 90 day window.

For example, at a minimum, if there are 10 official Green Party chapters in Colorado, 6 chapters must be present at the state meeting, totaling 12 individuals.

After the 2017 state meeting, amend Section 4.1.1 to read

4.1.1. In order for official decisions to be made at a state meeting, a quorum of at least 60% of local chapters must be represented, with a minimum number of voting participants (registered in the Green Party of Colorado not less than 180 days) equal to twice the number of local chapters represented. Exceptions apply to persons who have: become eligible to vote via new citizenship; or have been released from parole and have been re-granted their right to vote; or have recently reached voting age and have subsequently registered with the Green Party within the 180 day window.

4. Background: Though never specified in the bylaws or Procedures and Guidelines, tradition has held that a person could register Green on site at the state meeting and be eligible to vote at the meeting that day. This proposal brings order to the situation and provides locals with windows of organizing opportunity to reach out to new registered Greens and conduct orientation as they are able.

Additionally, given the passage of Proposition 108, even with the opt-out clause that parties can choose state assemblies as opposed to primaries for nominations, a lack of clarity around that new law could possibly draw unaffiliated voters to our state nomination conventions. We must ensure the integrity of our Green Party processes, and a minimum of 90 day registration (at first) and later 180 days registration after the 2017 GPCO state meeting, gives local parties a window to reach out to new voters and to provide orientation. The end result would be that our nominations and state party processes would more likely continue to be carried out according to Green values.

5. Justification/Goals: To maintain the integrity of Green values in our party processes.

6. Pros and Cons: A con could be that locals feel pressure to provide orientation for new Greens, but the state party can collaborate with locals to put together periodic webinars, etc. to relieve that pressure.

7. Alternatives to the proposal: No action. This action needs to be decided democratically, as opposed to an ad-hoc rule on site at a state meeting.

8. References: Currently, Section 4.1.1 reads, “4.1.1. In order for official decisions to be made at a state meeting, a quorum of at least 60% of local chapters must be represented, with a minimum number of voting participants (registered in the Green Party of Colorado) equal to twice the number of local chapters represented.”

“What you need to know about Proposition 108,” The Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/2016/09/22/colorado-proposition-108-unaffiliated-voters-primaries/

Status:  13 Agrees
1 Disagree

Vote ended April 15, 2017

Status:
8 locals participating
Agree 13
Disagree/Block 0
Stand Aside 1
Vote ended May 19, 2017

This proposal carries, and the Secretary will inform the Illinois Green Party that the Green Party of Colorado agrees to co-sponsor this platform change proposal.

1. Basic Info

Date proposed: May 12, 2017
Name of the sponsors: Adams County Green Party

2. Title:

Co-Sponsor ILGP’s Proposal to Amend GPUS Platform Subsection II-A-1

3. Text of the actual Proposal:

Sex workers exist. They are human beings who live in our society. Their rights to health, safety, self-determination, and bodily autonomy should not be subject to debate or sacrifice to abstract principles. In support of this statement, the Green Party of Colorado agrees to Co-Sponsor the Illinois Green Party proposal to amend the GPUS Platform Subsection II-A-1.

4. Background:

The Green Party platform’s aggressive opposition to sex work and use of derogatory language towards sex workers has not gone unnoticed within feminist and activist communities. A casual Google search for “Green Party sex work” will find a long list of articles castigating the party for its outdated, offensive, and exclusionary language.

5. Justification/Goals:

It is the opinion of the authors of this document that the party’s current stance as presented in II.A.1.n-s is morally indefensible, ideologically incoherent, and politically damaging. The submitted revisions represent an effort to eliminate derogatory language, move the Green Party’s stated policy prescriptions away from carceral state solutions and more in line with the current thought of human rights groups such as Amnesty International, and ensure that Subsection II.A.1 of the party platform condemns violence against women without condemning or negating the existence of individual sex workers, voluntary or otherwise.

6. Pros and Cons:

Pros: This would allow us to start to break down the barriers we have built with communities around the world.

Cons: None

7. Alternatives to the proposal:

Take no action.

8. References:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r_Dy4-fsg7LjbZXCdv769Y6lKeXyDiQvMTlJ5IGJ_A8

Status: 9 locals participating
18 agree
0 disagree/block
0 stand aside
Proposal closed May 19, 2017

1. Basic Info

Date proposed: May 12, 2017
Name of the sponsors: Denver Green Party

2. Title: Endorsement of Julie Bañuelos for Denver school board, at-large

3. Text of the actual Proposal: The Green Party of Colorado hereby ratifies the Denver Green Party’s endorsement of Julie Bañuelos for School Board Director (at-large) of School District No. 1, also known as the Denver Public Schools.

4. Background:

GPCO’s bylaws seem to have an inconsistency, in that it appears to contemplate the ratification of partisan candidates for office at a state nominating convention but is silent on non-partisan candidates for office. Therefore, in order to allow Julie Bañuelos to campaign in the GPCO booth at the People’s Fair during the first week of June, it’s necessary for GPCO to endorse and ratify Denver’s endorsement.

Some background about Julie: She is a recent former certified public school teacher and union leader, both as a site representative (equivalent to “shop steward”) and as a member for the Denver Classroom Teacher’s Association board of directors. She spent 15+ years in the classroom in predominantly low-income schools. She is also a certified Montessori teacher, and she holds a degree in Economics and Latin American Studies from Grinnell College in Iowa.

She is a Latina, a registered Green and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She would be Denver’s first registered Green to run for school board. Andrea Merida registered Green after winning her seat and therefore became Denver’s first registered Green in elected office. Should Julie win, she would be the first to run AS a Green.

Julie is firmly in favor of the collective bargaining rights of workers, staunchly against school privatization, and is calling for a moratorium on new charters. She is also calling for the removal of police officers from our schools and replacing them with fully-funded restorative justice programs.

NOTE: In full disclosure, Andrea Merida is Julie’s campaign manager. As custom for Andrea as state co-chair, she will not be voting on this proposal and abstained from voting when the matter came before the Denver voting members in April.

5. Justification/Goals: Julie is currently seeking the endorsement of the local teacher’s union (DCTA), and should she receive it, this may possibly be the very first teacher’s union endorsement of a Green anywhere in the United States. Therefore, giving her our nod and permission to campaign from our booth at the People’s Fair is a crucial outreach that would be instrumental to her campaign’s viability.

6. Pros and Cons:

Pros: A secondary by-product of this endorsement would put us in the position of beginning the dialog with union teachers about which party truly represents their interests.

Cons: None

7. Alternatives to the proposal:

Take no action.

8. References: Campaign website of Julie Bañuelos, www.banuelos4education.org

Status: 12 votes agree
0 disagree
0 stand aside
Proposal closed May 25, 2017

1. Basic Info

Date proposed: May 18, 2017
Name of the sponsors: Arapahoe County Green Party

2. Title: GPCO Authorizes Funds for Participation in Denver Pride Parade

3. Text of the actual Proposal:

Registered Greens on the Front Range have expressed interest in marching in the Denver Pride Parade on June 18th to represent the Green Party of Colorado. The cost to participate in the parade is expected to be $300.

4. Background:

The Green Party platform has supported LGBTQIA rights worldwide for decades, and our participation in the Parade will help bring that support into the public eye in Colorado.

5. Justification/Goals:

While this will carry a price tag, our visibility at this event will be extensive. We plan to march carrying a GPCO banner and signs and distribute literature if possible.

6. Pros and Cons:

Pros: Visibility for the state party and support for the Pride community

Cons: The cost for this will be at least partially offset by a fund raising campaign through social media as well as nationally through the Lavender Caucus. We are also asking that council representatives ask their chapters to financially support this.

7. Alternatives to the proposal:

Take no action

8. References: PrideFest Application: https://glbtcolorado.org/pridefest/coorslight-pridefest-parade/application/

9 locals voted
17 Agree
0 Stand Aside
0 Disagree
Proposal closed June 20, 2017

1. Basic Info:

Date proposed: June 12, 2017
Name of the sponsors: Andrea Merida Cuellar and Dave Bell, co-chairs, Green Party of Colorado

2. Title: Recognition of Ouray County Green Party

3. Text of the actual proposal:

The Green Party of Colorado recognizes the membership of the Ouray County Green Party, as an affiliate.

4. Background: Members of the Ouray County Green Party have been meeting, planning and campaigning for more over six months now. They have met regularly, have distributed flyers, have began building an email list of potential party members, and have started crafting a plan to work in unison with other rural communities along the Western Slope to bring them into the fold too.

This chapter comports with all the requirements for affiliation, as set forth in the bylaws for the Green Party of Colorado, Section 3.1.

Their local bylaws, adopted June 8, 2016, are included in the References section, below.

5. Justification/Goals: Ouray County has a small but dedicated group of Greens who are ready to be the face of the Green Party in between Mesa and San Miguel.

6. Pros and Cons: No cons identified.

7. Alternatives to the proposal: Take no action.

8. References: Bylaws, Green Party of Colorado: https://coloradogreenparty.org/about/bylaws/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bylaws of the Ouray County Green Party

I. Name

1.1 The name of this local chapter of the Green Party of Colorado is Ouray County Green Party.

II. Purpose and Values

2.1 The purpose of this organization is to work towards a Green society as represented by the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States. These values are as follows:

Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Community Based Economics and Economic Justice
Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
Nonviolence
Decentralization
Respect for Diversity
Feminism and Gender Equity
Personal and Global Responsibility
Future Focus and Sustainability

2.2 Ouray County Green Party’s interpretation of the 7th and 8th Key Values, as well as of the Third Pillar of the Green Party (Social Justice) causes it to declare that we are an anti-oppression party, actively dedicated to bringing about socialist values and dismantling the hierarchy of oppression. As such, expressions of sexism, racism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and all other oppressive behaviors are not in keeping with the values of this organization.

2.3 Ouray County Green Party may use various methods to affect social change, including but not restricted to: campaigning for electoral offices, petitioning for or supporting ballot initiatives, generating public input, community organizing, demonstrations, cross-coalition collaborations, and educational campaigns and outreach. In keeping with the 5th Key Value (Non-violence), Ouray County Green Party will pursue peaceful, nonviolent solutions to problems.

2.3.1 To properly implement the methods described in 2.3, officers should also adhere to these values described in sections 2.2. They should do everything within their capacity to help develop the consciousness of their membership, to create a welcoming, safe space in which to build collective power, with women, people of color, people with disabilities and the entire spectrum of the LGBTQIA+ community and the homeless.

2.3.2 The leadership of the Ouray County Green Party is also charged with working toward creating opportunities for solidarity with all working-class people in all communities so that mutual understanding and shared collective power can be built.

2.4 The Ouray County Green Party may develop a platform regarding issues of local, regional, national, or international concerns, as deemed appropriate by the membership. Ouray County Green Party may also adopt the platform of the state or national party.

2.5 The Ouray County Green Party shall only endorse and promote those candidates who exemplify the values of the Green Party for non-partisan or partisan state, local and federal offices or those candidates for President of the United States nominated at the Green Party of the United States’ presidential nominating convention.

III. Membership

3.1 To be a member of the Ouray County Green Party, one must reside within Ouray County and be registered as a Green Party voter. Members of the Ouray County Green Party must also agree:

to support the Ten Key Values and this party’s interpretation thereof;

must abide by the bylaws of the Ouray County Green Party and the Green Party of Colorado;
agree to support/promote the candidates nominated by this local, the Green Party of Colorado and the Green Party of the United States; and

should generally agree with the local party platform and the state and national party platforms.
Members of the Ouray County Green Party must comport themselves in a way that represents the organization positively. Members meeting these criteria are considered members in good standing.

3.2 Membership shall be open to anyone regardless of race, gender expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, appearance, or physical ability.

3.3 Voting members of the Ouray County Green Party are members that can vote on this organization’s officers, its representatives to Green Party of Colorado Council, nominations for Green Party candidates running for an office relevant to Ouray or Congressional District 3, official positions of the organization, and a platform or platform items of the Ouray County Green Party.

3.4 To be eligible to be a Voting Member of Ouray County Green Party one must have been a member in good standing according to section 3.1 for at least 30 successive days.

3.4.1 Registered Greens who are not residents of Ouray county may attain membership if there is no Green Party of Colorado-recognized local in the county of their residence. They will be bound by all the requirements for membership and comportment, as well as granted all rights afforded voting members that are residents of Ouray county. Such individuals may make their wishes known to an officer of Ouray County Green Party, and their membership will be presented to the local for consensus/vote at the next available meeting.

3.4.2 Officers are automatically considered voting members.

3.5 Voting Members are able to withdraw their status as voting members at any given time.

3.6 The membership of an individual in Ouray County Green Party may be revoked for failing to abide by the Ten Key Values as interpreted by this party, for disrupting the work of Ouray County Green Party, or for acting in a way that represents the organization in an unfavorable manner. A vote of the Voting Members at a local meeting is required to revoke membership. Any individual must be informed of the potential revocation of membership at least two weeks prior to the vote and have a chance to speak in their defense or prepare a written statement to be read at the meeting where the vote is held. The revoked membership of an individual in the organization can be appealed and reversed by the Voting Members by vote at a local meeting.

3.7 Persons who do not meet the membership requirements of the Ouray County Green Party as stated in 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 may attend and participate in meetings, but they shall not have the ability to vote, block proposals, serve as officers or candidates of Ouray County Green Party, or serve as State Council or national representatives.

IV. Structure

4.1 The Chair of the organization will call meetings by notification of members to an extent as reasonably possible, at least one week if possible before the proposed meeting.

4.2 Decisions will be by consensus if possible or if not then by a simple majority, except as noted elsewhere. All officers as well as active Voting Members shall have the right to vote.

4.3 Decisions concerning policy, objectives, or creation or deletion of an office requires a consensus or a vote of a quorum of at least 75% of the Voting Members, or a vote by Voting Members at a local meeting.

4.4 Decisions may be made by email, using an email service that records whether members have opened the email. For votes made by consensus, a “no response” will be interpreted as consensus after opening the email has been recorded.

V. Officers

5.1 Officers shall include one Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and two principal Organizers to operate within the municipalities of Ouray and Ridgway each. These five will be chosen in odd number years at a designated meeting in either March or April. Ouray County Green Party reserve the right to appoint new positions and instate those who serve said positions as officers.

5.1.1 Representatives to State and National Conventions will be chosen at a local meeting. In the event of a vacancy of an officer position, officers may fulfill the duties of the vacant position or delegate another officer to do so until a new officer is elected.

5.1.2 It is the goal of the Ouray County Green Party to achieve diversity in the appointment of officers; therefore, individuals of any group are encouraged to serve.

5.2 Members voting for officers must meet the requirements stated in sections 3.1, 3.3, and 3.4.

5.3 If a Ouray County Green Party officer’s position is vacated in between official meetings, the other officers may make a temporary appointment.

5.4 Officers shall be elected by the Voting Members of the Ouray County Green Party. Voting Members of that are in good standing shall be eligible to run for an office of the Ouray County Green Party. The candidate with the greatest number of votes shall be elected to the office. Ranked-choice voting may be used to conduct these elections.

5.5 If any officer or State Council representative of the Ouray County Green Party is found to be in contempt of the goals or bylaws of the local organization or the Green Party of Colorado, recall proceedings may be initiated by any three Voting Members. A quorum of 75% of the Voting Members, or two thirds vote of the Voting Members present at a local meeting where notice of the agenda for the meeting as an officer recall meeting has been announced for at least 14 days is required to achieve the recall of an officer.

5.6 Representatives of the Ouray County Green Party on the Green Party of Colorado State Council shall be chosen by a vote of the Voting Members by means of approval voting.

VI. Officer Duties

6.1 Organization Chair will set the initial agenda for meetings seeking input from members prior to the meeting, act on expedient matters, and act as representatives to the press on local issues or delegate such duties. Organization Chair may form committees to handle specific tasks (such as a website committee.) and will be considered the spokesperson for the Ouray County Green Party.

6.2 The Treasurer shall have charge of the books of the organization and account monthly for all moneys collected and disbursed, as well as file required financial reports at local, state, and federal level. Disbursement of funds should be approved at a regular meeting or, if time sensitive, by the officers’ unanimous consent.

6.3 The Secretary is to maintain a list of the members in good standing, Voting Members, officers, and representatives to the Green Party of Colorado Council. In addition, the Secretary is responsible for taking and archiving meeting minutes. The Secretary will maintain a copy of the bylaws with any current amendments, forwarding the same to the Green Party of Colorado and any governmental unit requiring a copy, and maintain a list of those organizations requiring a copy. The Secretary will attempt to get bylaws to any member in good standing who requests them.

6.4 Municipal organizers will be responsible for overseeing organizational activities in their respective municipality. The duties of these organizers include, but are not limited to: volunteer coordination, on-ground volunteer efforts, and overseeing election efforts of specific municipal offices.

VII. Candidates

7.1 Any regular meeting may constitute itself as a vetting agent for the Ouray County Green Party, or the Voting Members may approve a vetting committee created by the Chair consisting of Ouray County Green Party members in good standing.

7.2 Voting Members will be responsible for nominating Green Party of Colorado candidates to run for local political office in partisan elections based on the principle of one person one vote. An officer shall forward those nominations for ratification to the state nominating convention.

7.3 Members voting for the nomination of a candidate must meet the requirements stated in sections 3.1, 3.3, and 3.4.

7.4 Candidates nominated by the Ouray County Green Party must meet the following criteria:
A candidate should endorse the Ten Key Values as interpreted by this party and shall use these values as a basis for their political decision-making.

A candidate must be a registered elector of the Green Party of Colorado at least 60 days prior to seeking nomination and should comply with any eligibility requirements of the Green Party of Colorado. The party registration requirement of the Ouray County Green Party will take precedence.

VIII. Amendments

8.1 These bylaws may be amended by two thirds vote of the Voting Members present at a local meeting where notice of the agenda for the meeting as a bylaw meeting has been announced for at least 14 days.

8.2 A copy of adopted bylaws will be maintained by the Secretary and Chair

8 locals participating, 13 total votes (less 1 abstention)
Yes/Agree: 12, or 92.3%
No/Disagree: 1, or 7.7%
Abstain/Stand Aside: 1
Proposal closed August 10, 2017

1.​ ​Basic​ ​Info:

Date​ ​proposed:​ ​July​ ​24,​ ​2017
Name​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sponsors:​ ​Andrea​ ​Merida​ ​Cuellar​ ​and​ ​Dave​ ​Bell,​ ​co-chairs,​ ​Green​ ​Party​ ​of Colorado and Sean Friend, Secretary, Green Party of Colorado

2.​ ​Title:​ ​Disciplinary​ ​Actions​ ​by​ ​State​ ​Council

3.​ ​Text​ ​of​ ​the​ ​actual​ ​proposal:​ ​​ ​Amend​ ​the​ ​bylaws,​ ​section​ ​3.3,​ ​to​ ​read:

3.3​ ​The​ ​right​ ​of​ ​participation​ ​of​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Green​ ​Party​ ​of​ ​Colorado​ ​can​ ​be revoked​ ​by​ ​a​ ​Green​ ​local​ ​using​ ​its​ ​own​ ​criteria​ ​​or​ ​by​ ​a​ ​75%​ ​vote​ ​of​ ​the​ ​members​ ​of the​ ​state​ ​council​ ​or​ ​state​ ​party​ ​meeting.​​ ​Revocation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rights​ ​of​ ​participation​ ​must be​ ​based​ ​on​ ​failure​ ​of​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​to​ ​adhere​ ​to​ ​the​ ​purpose​ ​and​ ​methods​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Green Party​ ​of​ ​Colorado.

3.3.1​ ​The​ ​Green​ ​Party​ ​of​ ​Colorado​ ​affirms​ the​ ​following​ ​rights​ ​of​ ​due​ ​process for ​individuals​ ​facing​ ​any​ ​disciplinary action​​:
●The​ ​individual​ ​must​ ​be​ ​informed​ ​of​ ​the​ ​potential​ ​revocation​ ​of​ ​their​ ​rights​ ​of participation​ ​at​ ​least​ ​three​ ​weeks​ ​(21​ ​days)​ ​prior​ ​to​ ​the​ ​vote
●The​ ​individual​ ​will​ ​have​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​in​ ​their​ ​defense​ ​at​ ​the​ ​meeting​ ​when the​ ​vote​ ​is​ ​held,​ ​either​ ​via​ ​a​ ​written​ ​statement​ ​or​ ​a​ ​telephone​ ​or​ ​web​ ​conference with​ ​a​ ​quorum​ ​of​ ​state​ ​council​ ​members.
●The​ ​individual​ ​may​ ​call​ ​witnesses​ ​to​ ​support​ ​their​ ​case,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​state​ ​council​ ​may ask​ ​questions​ ​of​ ​the​ ​witness.
●The​ ​individual​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​a​ ​written​ ​report​ ​with​ ​the​ ​decision​ ​with​ ​reasons​ ​for​ ​the decision​ ​and​ ​the​ ​length​ ​of​ ​time​ ​the​ ​disciplinary​ ​action​ ​will​ ​be​ ​in​ ​effect.
●Rights​ ​of​ ​participation​ ​will​ ​not​ ​be​ ​automatically​ ​reinstated,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​member​ ​whose rights​ ​of​ ​participation​ ​have​ ​been​ ​revoked​ ​must​ ​file​ ​a​ ​formal​ ​appeal​ ​with​ ​the Secretary.​ ​Rights​ ​of​ ​participation​ ​can​ ​be​ ​reinstated​ ​by​ ​an​ ​affirmative​ ​vote​ ​of​ ​75 percent​ ​of​ ​the​ ​state​ ​council​ ​or​ ​by​ ​75​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​the​ ​voting​ ​members​ ​present​ ​at​ ​a state​ ​meeting.

3.3.2​ ​The​ ​state​ ​party​ ​shall​ ​not​ ​override​ ​any​ ​disciplinary​ ​action​ ​imposed​ ​by​ ​a​ ​Green​ ​local. Disciplinary​ ​actions​ ​imposed​ ​by​ ​a​ ​Green​ ​local​ ​will​ ​be​ ​binding​ ​for​ ​the​ ​state​ ​party​ ​and​ ​will extend​ ​to​ ​state​ ​party​ ​events,​ ​spaces​ ​and​ ​internet/social​ ​media​ ​portals.

4.​ ​Background:​ ​Recent​ ​dynamics​ ​within​ ​the​ ​GPCO​ ​are​ ​requiring​ ​a​ ​more​ ​flexible​ ​method​ ​of addressing​ ​situations​ ​that​ ​may​ ​require​ ​a​ ​disciplinary​ ​response, while at the same time upholding and providing the rights of due process, which the current bylaws do not provide for.

5.​ ​Justification/Goals:​ ​​ ​To​ ​restore​ ​order​ ​to​ ​the​ ​state​ ​council​ ​proceedings,​ ​to​ ​minimize​ ​the​ ​conflict but​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​ample​ ​due​ ​process​ ​to​ ​individuals​ ​facing​ ​disciplinary​ ​actions.

6.​ ​Pros​ ​and​ ​Cons:​ ​​ ​There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​downside​ ​to​ ​more​ ​due​ ​process​ ​rights.

7.​ ​​ ​Alternatives​ ​to​ ​the​ ​proposal:​ ​Take​ ​no​ ​action.

8.​ ​​ ​References:​ ​Bylaws,​ ​Green​ ​Party​ ​of​ ​Colorado:​ ​https://coloradogreenparty.org/about/bylaws/

Status:31 votes, minus one abstention not included in tally.
30 votes to count

Agree: 26
No/Disagree: 4
Abstain/Stand aside: 1
Proposal carries at 86.6%

SPECIAL NOTE: To comport with the three-week notice period specified in the bylaws, this proposal will be held in “Proposal Drafting” until July 26, 2017, and afterward will be moved to “Agreement Seeking” for a one-week vote, ending August 3, 2017 at 12 midnight.

1. Basic Info

Date proposed: July 12, 2017 (Agreement seeking will begin two weeks after posting in “Proposal Drafting” on the Official GPCO Forum)

Name of the sponsor(s): Denver Green Party, Adams County Green Party, Arapahoe Green Party

2. Title: REVOKE RIGHT OF HARRY HEMPY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GREEN PARTY OF COLORADO

3. Text of the actual Proposal: The state council of the Green Party of Colorado hereby suspends the rules regarding revocation of rights of participation at a state meeting (GPCO Bylaws, Section 3.3) and moves to enact this proposal within the state council. As of the date of consensus or successful vote of this proposal, the right of Harry Hempy to participate in the events, activities, internet- and social media-based portals and operations, online or otherwise, of the Green Party of Colorado are hereby revoked. Should any local choose to appoint Harry Hempy to the state council, his participation on any GPCO forum or voting portal will be blocked, and that local should appoint another delegate or forfeit one delegate vote on the state council. Harry Hempy is henceforth declared not in good standing with the Green Party of Colorado, and an active local chapter in good standing may submit a proposal for his reinstatement after a period of three years from the date of this proposal’s ratification.

4. Justification/Goals: The GPCO bylaws call out grounds for such a proposal in section 3.3 of the bylaws, “(r)evocation of the rights of participation must be based on failure of the individual to adhere to the purpose and methods of the Green Party of Colorado.”

Harry Hempy returned to the Green Party on October 2, 2016, after resigning from his position as Greater Boulder Green Party’s co-chair, in order to caucus for Bernie Sanders and to primary Jared Polis in the Democratic Party. His return has been marked with debate after debate, often on trivial matters, causing unnecessary strife on the state council forums. He has been reminded of the council forum’s code of conduct regarding profanity and combative tone on several occasions. Some council members point to the strife in the council forums as the reason why they no longer engage with enthusiasm.

Harry Hempy has misrepresented information or his own role on various occasions, demonstrating a failure to “adhere to the methods of the Green Party of Colorado,” as follows:

On June 14, 2017, Harry Hempy submitted a grievance in collaboration with Judy Harrington to the GPUS Steering Committee, which listed the names of Arn Menconi and Scott Olson as co-signers. An email Harry sent to Arn Menconi and Scott Olson on June 15, 2017, asking them to support the grievance, shows that their names were listed without their approval because they received the email on the day AFTER Hempy and Harrington submitted the grievance. Scott Olson has been a registered Democrat since July 2015. The grievance asks GPUS to de-affiliate the GPCO.

In an attempt to circumvent the democratic election of delegates already scheduled for the August state meeting, on June 18, 2017, Harry Hempy emailed Green Party of the Pikes Peak Region Treasurer Bob Kinsey and Chair Karyna Lemus to recommend that they submit a proposal to Council nominating a temporary alternate delegate to the GPUS Annual Meeting since National Convention delegate Bob Kinsey is unable to attend due to an injury. There is no need to nominate another delegate because of the following:
Delegates are not required to be physically present at the National Convention and can vote online if needed
Colorado already has an appointed alternate delegate, Andrea Merida, so there is no need to appoint anyone else until the upcoming State Convention when new GPUS delegates will be elected. Link to Colorado Green Party forum discussion where Andrea was originally elected delegate: https://coloradogreenparty.org/forum/index.php?topic=217.0

Harry Hempy has already stated that his purpose for trying to send other Colorado Greens is to ensure that Andrea Merida doesn’t “attempt to avoid personal accountability to actions,” a clear attempt to cause disruption at the national meeting (see attached email).

On February 9, 2017, Harry Hempy submitted a proposal for holding the state meeting in Grand Junction, misrepresenting that Andy Hamilton (Mesa co-chair) suggested holding the meeting there.

Also on February 9, 2017, Harry Hempy submitted a proposal that included Bob Kinsey (Pikes Peak) as a co-sponsor, though Bob asserted he had not co-sponsored the proposal.

On June 11, 2017, Harry Hempy misrepresented his role in the GPCO by attempting to speak on behalf of the Denver Green Party and the Adams County Green Party regarding the membership status of persons living within their party boundaries, and subvert the role of the co-chairs to speak on behalf of GPCO, to the Annual Meeting Committee of the GPUS (see “escape accountability” document).

Section 2.3 of the bylaws, under “Purpose,” states, “The Green Party of Colorado (GPCO) is the affiliate of the Green Party of the United States for the State of Colorado.” Harry Hempy has listed himself as a co-author of the grievance against GPCO’s accreditation with GPUS and is acting as one of the organizers of this initiative. This action is a direct threat to the very existence of the GPCO and is therefore grossly counter to the purpose of the GPCO.

It should be noted that Hempy has ignored the democratic remedies delineated in the bylaws, which allow for submission of proposals to the state council to overturn decisions made by the co-chairs via a 60% affirmative vote. The stated purpose of the grievance was to ask GPUS to overrule the GPCO bylaws and remove the democratically elected leadership of the GPCO. The bylaws are clear that the state council may remove an officer via a proposal that is submitted to the council, and an affirmative vote of 75% must be reached. As the leader of the grievance proponents, Hempy has never pursued that avenue and instead attempted to retaliate for their own lack of effectiveness in changing the tenor of the state party by pursuing de-accreditation of the GPCO with the GPUS.

5. Pros and Cons: It is to the benefit of every state council member to collaborate in an environment with robust discussion and courteous disagreement; however, the proposal sponsors recognize that this outcome may cause the Greater Boulder Green Party to change its leadership, if not its council delegates. Recruiting new Green participation for such ends must also be regarded as a pro, however, and the sponsors stand at the ready to assist.

6. Alternatives to the proposal:

7. References: Section 3.3 of the GPCO bylaws, attached screen shots, http://restoregreenvalues.org/, https://www.facebook.com/boulderdsa/posts/1033106493431316, https://web.archive.org/web/20161005115845/http://harryhempy.com/