2023 Convention

2023 Convention Welcome and Information Center

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The purpose of the Maine Green Independent Party is to transform public policy
through the implementation of our 10 Key Values and be publicly visible as the

party that stands for the common good.

 

 

Welcome to the Maine Green Independent Party 2023 Annual Convention Welcome Center!

 

Our annual convention of the Maine Green Independent Party will be held Sunday May 7th as an online event using Zoom.

Time:
Sunday May 7 -- 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
 
This year's convention is held in loving memory of our late founding father John Rensenbrink, who spent his life dedicated to advancing our party and values.
 
rensenbrink
John Rensenbrink, 1928-2022 
 

 Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1412635269509742

 

Table of Contents

 

Registration

Entry Fee

Preparation

Convention Program

Convention Rules / Convention Officers / Guidelines on Zoom Chat 

Party Budget

Set Party Goals

State Committee/Officer Elections

Fundraiser

 

This will serve as the convention packet of materials registrants would normally receive at the registration table at an in-person convention.

 

REGISTRATION

This year's convention will be held on Sunday, May 7.  

Only enrolled Maine Green Independents and our invited speakers may register for the convention. 

WHEN REGISTERING FOR CONVENTION: Please use your LEGAL NAME and ADDRESS where you are REGISTERED TO VOTE, even if you go by another name or live at a different address! Failure to do so may result in delay or denial of your registration. 

PLEASE ALLOW FOR UP TO 48 HOURS FOR US TO MANUALLY CONFIRM YOUR REGISTRATION. When confirmed, ,you will receive an email with the meeting link.

 

Maine Green Independent Party 2023 Annual Convention: 

To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uGKj-nocRa2zzfvEqipJ-Q

 

Because our convention is only open to participation by enrolled Maine Green Independents, there may be a delay in processing registrations while we confirm each registrant's enrollment status. Last minute registrations may be denied if we are unable to confirm enrollment status with the voter lists available to us. We encourage members to register immediately, even if they are still uncertain whether they can attend.

 

ENTRY FEE

Please donate a convention registration fee if you can afford to, at 2023 Convention Registration Donation (mainegreens.org).

Checks may also be mailed to Maine Green Independent Party, PO Box 10345, Portland, ME 04104.

The recommended donation is $20, but any amounts are accepted. Nobody will be denied registration for inability to pay.

Our annual convention accounts for the largest portion of our budget and your genorosity to help fund the party is appreciated.

 

PREPARING FOR CONVENTION BUSINESS

The first thing you will want to do to prepare for the convention is to locate two emails that were sent to you at some point after you registered for the convention.

One email has your unique registration information for the Zoom conference, which was sent in a subject line titled "CONFIRMATION: You have been registered for the Maine Green Independent Party 2023 Annual Convention!"
The second email contains your unique registration information for Direct Vote Live, with a subject line titled "Direct Vote Live Login Info for 2023 MGIP Convention - DO NOT FORWARD"

Both emails will be sent again on the morning of May 7 at about 11 a.m. so that the information will be fresh in your inbox.

We recommend that you first login to Direct Vote Live and have your browser save the password, so that if you are logged out do to inactivity, it will be easy to log back in with a saved password.

Keep the DirectVote tab open and readily available in your browser. When necessary to vote in an election or on certain proposals, we will all be taking a few moments to go into DirectVote Live and cast our votes.

If you keep the tab available and open, so that you do not have to search for the link in your email again, the voting will be seemless and easy.

Once you have DirectVote Live set up in a browser tab, proceed to login to the Zoom conference using the unique registration information sent to you. When entering the convention, the name you entered on your registration form will be the name that is displayed during the convention.
Registrants will find themselves in a waiting room and will be allowed into the convention starting at 11:30 a.m.

.

The chat board, which can be found by clicking a button titled "chat" on the Zoom screen, is where members will be communicting, socializing and providing guidance to each other on the peculiarities of using Zoom. Feel free to introduce yourself or ask any questions you may have about today's convention.

 

 It will also help to keep the Convention Welcome Center and Information page open on a separate browser so you can follow along with the agenda and have all the relevant information for each agenda item readily available.

 

 

CONVENTION PROGRAM 

 

This is a tentative program schedule that is subject to change by the convention chair as necessary. 

Noon to 3:15 (may go to 4 if needed)

 
12:00 Blessing/Land Acknowledgment - Dawn Neptune Adams
12:05 Convention Rules / Zoom Guidelines / Using Direct Vote Live
12:20 Welcome/Introduction/State of the Party - Co-Chair Lyn Maravell
12:25 elect convention secretary
12:30 elect convention chair
12:40 elect party co-chair
12:55 elect party secretary
1:10   John Rensenbrink Memorial
1:25   elect state committee
1:55   Maine Green of the Year
2:05   elect GPUS and IC delegates
2:30   approve party budget -Treasurer Alan Brown
2:50   approve party goals

3:10   closing remarks - Co-Chair Fred McCann

 

  

CONVENTION RULES

 

1. CONVENTION OFFICERS

Convention proceedings begin by electing first a convention secretary, then a convention chairperson.

The convention secretary will record all official decisions of the convention.
The convention chairperson and two party co-chairs are convention facilitators.

The convention committee may establish other convention officer positions as it deems fit. These other officers may be appointed by the committee in advance of the convention or appointed by the facilitators at the convention.

A time keeper will keep facilitators informed of time apportionment limits. 

 

2. FACILITATION

Facilitators oversee a process aiming for consensus on all decisions of the convention. If consensus cannot be realized within reasonable time, facilitators may call for the decision to be made by majority vote.

All motions for a decision require a second, except for motions made by the facilitator 'without objection.'

A facilitator will not facilitate an election of officers when that person is a candidate for the office being elected.

Facilitators will recognize speakers as equitably as possible to allow all people who want to speak an opportunity to do so.

Facilitators may institute time limits for speaking when necessary.

 

3. ELECTIONS

Elections that are uncontested may be decided by consensus or majority vote indicated by vocal expression or show of hands.

Contested elections are determined by paper or online write-in ballot.

Elections for one position shall be determined by majority vote using ranked choice or runoff voting when necessary.

Elections with multiple candidates running for multiple seats shall be determined by ranked or runoff approval voting. Each vote for a candidate regardless of rank is an equal vote; candidates with the most total votes are elected to the number of positions open. When a tie exists for a remaining position, rank or runoff determines the winner.

A ballot-counting committee may be appointed by the convention committee or the facilitators. Any participant of the convention may observe the counting of ballots.

If a person is unable to cast their votes using an online voting program, their vote may be counted by submitting their vote to a member of the ballot counting committee, who will then inform the facilitator to add the vote(s) to the online vote total.

 

OTHER CONVENTION OFFICERS FOR 2023 CONVENTION
INFO WILL BE POSTED WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS
 
GUIDELINES FOR ZOOM CHAT ROOM
  1. Right to disable. Convention facilitators reserve the right to disable the chat room at any time should conversation in the forum become disruptive or distracting.
  2. Stay on topic. Members are asked to use the public chat room only to discuss agenda items that are currently in process. Members may interact with each other privately but use of the public chat room should be restricted to commentary directly related to the agenda subject at hand. Members are welcome to debate and discuss the issue at hand in the chat room as much as they wish instead of requesting the floor, or if they have exhausted their available time on the floor. Just stick to the topic please!
  3. Community Guidelines. Our community guidelines apply to the chat room--be respectful and kind! Offensive/insulting commentary not welcome!
  4. Warnings. Facilitators may notify members if they are participating in the chat room inconsistent with these guidelines. Please respect and heed warnings by facilitators. Continued refusal to abide by these guidelines may result in removal from the chat room and/or convention.
 
PARTY BUDGET
The budget will be displayed and presented to attendees during the convention.
 
 

SET PARTY GOALS

The state committee is forwarding the following goals proposal to the convention for approval:

 

The goals of the Maine Green Independent Party for 2023-2024 shall be to:

  1.  Rebuild and support municipal and county party infrastructure by increasing the number and activity of municipal and county committees.
  2.  Increase candidate recruitment efforts, with a target to increase the number of candidates for municipal or state office in every county.
  3.  Expand signature eligibility requirements for Maine Green Independent candidates, through legislative or legal actions.
  4.  Pursue utilizing ranked choice voting in all elections in Maine.

 

 

ELECTION OF STATE COMMITTEE AND PARTY OFFICERS

More information on the duties of the state committee and its officers may be found in Article IV, Sections B-D of the state party bylaws: https://mainegreens.org/organization/bylaws

 

This year, we are electing a co-chair, secretary and five at-large state committee members.

 

Article IV, Section C, Part 1. Co-Chairs

The co-chairs shall represent the party's values, platform and positions to the public and media, organize and facilitate state committee meetings, and oversee and direct the state committee's fulfillment of duties.

 

Article IV, Section C, Part 2. Secretary

The secretary shall be responsible for keeping party records and archives and advising the party on communication matters. The secretary shall record vote tallies of decisions made by the state committee and executive committee, or designate another to do so.

The secretary shall be responsible for maintaining records of party officers and reporting to the secretary of state when officer changes occur.

The secretary will keep records of the active or inactive statuses of state committee members as outlined in these bylaws, and compile and archive any minutes or bylaws of other party committees that have been submitted to the state committee in accordance with these bylaws. The secretary will work to make sure that all state party documents such as bylaws, the platform and other records are accurate and up-to-date.

The secretary may nominate individuals for state party offices or subcommittees relating to communication or record-keeping, including but not limited to positions related to website development, database management, media relations, correspondence, or maintenance of party records and archives.

 

Article IV, Section B. At-Large Seats

There are five at-large members of the state committee, elected at annual conventions for a term of one year. A year term is defined as the time between two consecutive annual conventions.

 

Article IV State Committee, Section D. Duties

The state committee will manage all state-level party operations and facilitate the establishment and growth of local groups to oversee party operations in their jurisdictions.

Duties of the state committee include:

Assuring the party meets its statutory obligations to hold caucuses and conventions, maintain a minimum level of party enrollment, and fulfill all other statutory requirements,

Filing state and federal reports,

Organizing conventions and working to achieve goals set at conventions,

Recruiting candidates for state and national offices and supporting local group recruitment of candidates in county, municipal and other jurisdictions,

Maintaining a visible statewide presence, acting as the official voice of the party and taking timely positions on important issues,

Communicating and engaging with local groups about state party meetings and activities,

Administering state party assets including the party's website and state voter list,

Managing state party finances and overseeing state party fundraising efforts, and

Establishing offices and subcommittees to help the state committee fulfill all duties, and oversee the fulfillment of duties by the executive officers.

 

 

 FUNDRAISER

 

Art by Niomi Larrivee, Maine Greens Series, #1 "Untouched" 16×20

1
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175714781720

 

 

Art by Niomi Larrivee, Maine Greens Series, #2 "The Love of Flowers" 12×12

2
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175714811108

 

 

Art by Niomi Larrivee, Maine Greens Series, #3 "Renewal" 9×12

3
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175714826439

 

 

Art by Niomi Larrivee, Maine Greens Series, #4 "The Tree" 8x10

4
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175714816363

 

 

Art by Niomi Larrivee, Maine Greens Series, #5 "In Bloom" 8×10

5

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175714818640

 

 

Art by Niomi Larrivee, Maine Greens Series, #6 "Veins of Gold" 8×10

6
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175714829719

 

 

Art by Niomi Larrivee, Maine Greens Series, #7 "Chaos" 8x10

7
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175714830676

 

 

Art by Lyn Maravell, Maine Greens Series, #8 "Dandelion" 7x5 drypoint watercolor

8
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175715851525

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