Johnson County Green Party Business Meeting - Minutes

November 18th, 2006
3:30 p.m.
Iowa City Public Library/Room C

Ron Kinum presented two copies of the (no longer available) League of Women Voters nuclear waste booklet. This is a valuable tool for countering the claim that nuclear power is "clean energy" and to counter a growing push for nuclear power in Iowa.

1. Need to designate a Chair to include on our DR-1 form (Iowa Campaign Ethics and Disclosure). Holly Hart was asked, and agreed to be listed on the form.

2. Discussion of future activities, outreach and membership growth.
Suggestions included:
- need to expand member base by solicitations and publicity;
- Inviting speakers and/or showing films;
- Making sure we hold regularly scheduled meetings and have them listed in the newspapers' community calendars. Ron has agreed to send notices to the three local papers;
- Contacting members to see who might be interested in serving on an appointed board or running for local city/county office.

It was agreed to send a mailing to all members, inviting their input on items of interest. Further discussion and details will be worked out at the next meeting, with the goal of sending out a mailing early next year.

3. 2008 presidential race (yes, already). There is a more than insubstantial rumor that Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) has considered switching parties (i.e. "going Green") while in Congress, and may consider running for president on the 2008 Green ticket. If, and if so when, depends on the climate in Congress, her future plans, and how she feels the Democratic Party is working. She has had lengthy discussions with Greens in Georgia and the Green Party's national political coordinator,. She has also appeared in a press conference on voting rights with identified Green Nan Garrett, chair of the Georgia Green Party, and herself a declared candidate for president in 2008. More about a potential McKinney candidacy may be known in the near future.

There are two candidate officially declared: Kat Swift, TX; Nan Garrett, GA. Nan Garrett is now actively forming an exploratory committee, developing a website, and planning to raise funds. Members are interested in bringing her to Iowa sometime during the coming year; we will be in touch with other Iowa Green Party chapters and discuss further the possibility of arranging a tour through the state. Nan has said she always wanted to be president, and is running seriously, although she would enthusiastically support Cynthia McKinney, should the latter turn out to be the nominee. Nan sees her campaign as a way to gain experience for a future run, and to help boost state and local green candidates and organizations.

Our next meeting will be held December 16th at 4 p. m. at Pizza on Dubuque.

11/18/07
Holly Hart
Secretary, Johnson County Green Party