Local Groups

Local Groups

Types of Local Groups

 

There are different possible 'local groups' of the Maine Green Independent Party, some with statutory roles and others recognized by the state party.

 

Municipal and county committees represent the party in their jurisdictions. They have rights outlined in statute: receive notice of elections, nominate candidates in special elections, etc.

 

Municipal committees are entitled to nominate members to serve as election clerks and receive the entire voting list of the municipality for every two years free of charge.

 

Municipal committees are legally formed when municipal Greens caucus and form a committee. Ask us to help you convene your town/city caucus!

 

County committees are elected every two (even-numbered) years at a state convention from nominations made at muncipal caucuses or the floor of the convention. In between the biennial conventions, the state committee appoints founding members of county committees not elected at that convention. Let us know if you want to be on a county committee!

 

Two district committees also exist under statute, one for each of the two U.S. Congressional Districts. Their only statutory authority is to nominate candidates for the ballot in a special election for a vacant position (due to death, resignation or removal) for U.S. Congress.

 

The state committee, elected annually at our convention, represents the Maine Green Independent Party -- sheperding the authorities and requirements applicable to a state party in Maine. This is YOUR party!  Contact us to get involved!

 

The party recognizes local group organization beyond the borders of towns and counties: Local groups organized in neighborhoods, natural regions, colleges or by identity and association are encouraged!


While these groups may not have specified authority granted to them by statute, we recognize and accept them as part of the party's structure.

 

All local groups of the party -- statutory or not -- are given privileges within the state party. All local groups should strive to meet four times annually.

 

Benefits fpr Local Groups

 

1. Notice of state committee meeting minutes and agenda.

2. Ability to place items for consideration on the state committee agenda.

3. Access to the state party's compiled list of enrolled Green Independents within their jurisdiction (if applicable).

4. Municipal committees may appoint a representative to the county committee.

5. County committees may appoint a representative to the state committee.

 

How to Form

 

if you are interested in forming or joining any local group of the party, we would love to help you! Contact us NOW!

In the Bylaws

 

Article III. Local Groups

Members of the party meeting a minimum of four times annually shall be considered a local group of the party once the group designates one person to act as a state contact person for that group. The state contact person will communicate local concerns, questions, proposals, etc. of the group to the state committee, as well as relay information from the state committee to the group. The state contact person shall be a person who has an email address that he or she regularly uses.

Article III, Section A. County Committees

By statute, county committees shall be formed at conventions on even-numbered years from nominations made at municipal caucuses and the convention floor. The size of each county committee shall be determined by the convention unless a county committee has standing bylaws which have been submitted to the state committee, in which case the size of the county committee will be defined by its own bylaws so long as those bylaws provide for any municipal committee within the county to appoint at least one member to the county committee.

If at a convention, there are no nominees, or only one nominee to a county committee, then the state committee is authorized to appoint one or two members to that county committee at a later date, after which the members will constitute a duly formed county committee.
 
Once formed, the county committees may expand their size, fill vacancies and establish rules and bylaws as they see fit, providing that any municipal committee within the county may appoint at least one member to the county committee.

If it is deemed that a county committee's bylaws are constructed in such a way so that quorum may not be achieved or the county committee cannot meet or function, then any convention may intervene to reconstruct the county committee.

 If a statute governing party county committees changes, and these bylaws are in contradiction to the statute, then the state committee shall schedule a convention to amend these bylaws to comply with the statute.

Article III, Section C. Access and Notice

 Any municipal or county committee or otherwise qualifying local group may propose items to the state committee for consideration of action.

 The state committee shall provide notice, agenda and minutes of its meetings to any municipal or county committee or other qualifying local group that has designated a state contact person. The state committee will keep the committees and groups informed of its actions and pose questions to them.

 Article IV, Section A. County Seats

 By their own processes, county committees may choose one party member to be on the state committee, herein referred to as holding a “county seat” on the state committee. The county committee must provide to the state committee documentation verifying the election or appointment of a person to the county seat, either in minutes of a county committee meeting at which the state committee member was elected, or by written notice from an officer of the county committee that includes a citation of county committee minutes, bylaws or rules that authorize the state committee member to be appointed by other means.

 Article IV, Section A, Part 1. Active Membership

 State committee members holding a county seat on the state committee shall be considered active except as follows:

 If three months have elapsed since a county committee met and that county committee has not submitted minutes of a subsequent meeting to the state committee, then that county's seat on the state committee shall be inactive until minutes of any subsequent meeting are submitted.

 If a state committee member in a county seat is absent from a state committee meeting for three consecutive meetings, that county's seat shall be considered inactive until the member attends a meeting, or the county committee notifies the state party that another person occupies the seat and that person attends a meeting. The inactive status shall be applied at the commencement of the third consecutive meeting at which the member is not present for roll call. Inactive members will not be counted as part of the total from which quorum is determined.

2022 Caucuses

In 2022, from Jan. 1 to March 19, municipal caucuses will be convened around the state for the purpose of electing local leaders, supporting our candidates and organizing around issues important to the party.

 

Caucuses are the legal means in Maine by which municipal committees are formed and officers elected. County committee members may also be nominated at these municipal caucuses.

 

To increase party organization statewide, we encourage Greens to convene or attend caucuses in their towns or cities.

 

If there is not currently a party municipal committee existing in your town, any enrolled Green in the municipality may convene the caucus. Contact us if you would like to convene a caucus -- we will help you organize it!

 

Feel free to review the caucus documents provided.

 

Basic Caucus Checklist:

 

1. Set date and time; contact town clerk to reserve venue.

2. Put a flyer up in town before the caucus, provide copy to town clerk.

3. Download/Print caucus materials (agenda/data sheet) to bring to caucus.

4. Attend caucus. Record info on data sheet while proceeding through agenda.

5. Submit data sheet to state party and town clerk.

Sample Municipal Bylaws

In order to prevent the municipal committee from becoming inactive, it is best if the committee establishes a basic agreed upon set of bylaws under which to operate.
Here are sample bylaws the municipal committee may choose to pass, inserting the name of the municipality, and the first letter of the municipality for "X" in 'XGIC." Some municipalities may choose to have co-chairs or other additional officers. The following is just a sample template for caucuses to consider. If the caucus is unable to pass bylaws, the caucus may choose to table it until the next meeting.

 

Sample Municipal Committee Bylaws

 

[Name of Municipality] Green Independent Committee [XGIC] Bylaws

 

I. Purpose
The purpose of the [XGIC} is to grow the presence of the Maine Green Independent
Party in [Name of Municipality] by recruiting members and supporting enrolled Green Independent candidates.
II. Members
All enrolled Green Independents in [Name of Municipality] shall be considered members of the [XGIC].
III. Officers
The committee will elect a chairperson on even-numbered years at the municipal committee's biennial caucus, for a term of roughly two years and expiring at the end of the next biennial caucus. The committee may create and elect other officers as it sees fit, and fill vacancies created by resignation, death or change of municipality residence. Elections for all offices will be held at each biennial caucus.
IV. Meetings
The chairperson will generally organize and facilitate meetings. The committee will strive for consensus, but a majority vote may be called for by a majority of members in attendance. The [XGIC] chairperson may organize meetings to be held in a variety of formats,
including phone calls, e-mail, video chat and others, so long as the means of attending, voting and adjourning are explained.
V. Quorum
Quorum shall be at least one officer and any other member, with at least 24 hours notice of a meeting given to all committee members who attended the last meeting, or notice on a general forum previously approved by the committee as qualifying as notice (i.e. Facebook page, website, e-mail list, town calendar, etc.). Alternatively, any two committee members may constitute quorum, with public notice provided at least a week in advance in the same manner in which public notice is legally required for a caucus.
VI. Authority and Vision
The [XGIC] represents the Maine Green Independent Party on issues affecting [Name of Municipality], and will work to establish a municipal identity of the party, increase visibility and work with the party's county and state committees toward common goals.
VII. Failure to caucus.
In the event that the committee, or any resident Green Independent in [Name of Municipality] fails to convene a biennial municipal caucus by March 19 on even-numbered years, then all officer terms shall be considered expired and the municipal committee dissolved. Any resident may convene a caucus as prescribed by statute to again form the municipal committee.
VIII. Amendements
These bylaws may be amended by a majority of all members in attendance.
Bylaws established [Date of Passage]

Sample Caucus Notice

 

 

CAUCUS NOTICE


GREEN INDEPENDENT PARTY

 

Caucus for (YOUR TOWN)

 

to occur at (TIME a.m/p.m.)

 

on (WEEKDAY, MONTH DATE)

 

at the (LOCATION).

 

This caucus is being called by (NAME OF CONVENER).

 

ALL GREEN INDEPENDENTS WELCOME!

 

Unenrolled and new (YOUR TOWN) voters may register to vote or enroll as a Green Independent for a half hour before the meeting begins. A town registrar will be available to enroll members.

 

The Maine Green Independent Party is going local!

 

Greet Green neighbors, elect local party leaders and meet your candidates.

Caucus Data Sheet

Caucus Data Sheet (for use in conjunction with Caucus Agenda)

(Copy form and fill out at caucus)

 

Municipality:

 

Time, Date, Location:

 

Attendees (signup sheet—name, address, phone, email):

 

Caucus Secretary (just for caucus meeting):

 

Caucus Chair (just for caucus meeting):

 

Bylaws Passed? (YES/NO)

 

Municipal Party Committee Officers (chair, secretary or other officers):

 

Election Clerk Nominees (to work polls for pay, submit to town or city clerk by April 1):

 

Delegates to Party's State Convention:

 

Nominees for Party County Committee (to be elected at convention):

 

Votes for Presidential Nomination: 

 

Candidates for office (name of person and office sought):

 

Next Scheduled Committee Meeting:

 

CAUCUS ATTENDEE LIST

NAME – ADDRESS – PHONE – EMAIL


­___________________________________________________________________________________

 

Send copy of Caucus Data Sheet and Attendance Sheet to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Electronic text copy preferred.

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