Strategic Plan Working Group

Background

develop a strategic action plan for 2007-2009 that will enable us to focus our limited resources on projects and efforts that will increase our active membership and proactively position the party to be a recognizable and essential force in the Massachusetts movements for social and economic justice, sustainability, democracy, and peace.

The SPWG will be made up of representatives of the Abolish Poverty, Platform, Membership and Diversity, Fundraising, Communications, and Candidate Development & Legal Committees. Every active GRP local or caucus may also have one representative each. The GRP co-chairs will appoint up to six additional members who express interest and are judged by the co-chairs to be most valuable to helping the SPWG complete its work and in adding diversity to the group.

The political winds are changing, yet the Green-Rainbow Party has struggled to provide a strong, visible alternative to the people of Massachusetts. Now is the time to make YOUR voice heard about the purpose of the GRP, the direction it should take, and the priorities it should focus on over the next few years that will help build the Party into a vibrant force for making the 10 Key Values a reality. This is the first time the Party has set up a process for reconciling divergent views, identifying immediate priorities from longer term priorities, and providing coherent, consensus-based guidance for the work of the Party.

General Strategy Meetings

Saturday, August 11, 2007
1:00 - 3:30 PM
Hitchcock Center for the Environment
525 South Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01002
Download the invitation.

Sunday, May 6, 2007
1:45 - 5:15 PM
Worcester Public Library -- Saxe Room
3 Salem Square
Worcester, MA 01608
Download the teaser invitation
Download the full invitation.

Getting Involved

ATTEND COMMENT SESSIONS

The SPWG is seeking broad input in developing GRP strategy. An extended strategy session was held on May 6 in Worcester. Subsequent, shorter comment sessions will be held as part of SPWG meeting agendas. The date and location of such meetings will be posted on the GRP website. If you would prefer to receive a special meeting invitation by email or phone, send your name and email address or phone number to <elibeck _at_ gmail.com>.

SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS

Another way to participate is to submit written comments or suggestions to the SPWG. Although comments can be in any form, the SPWG expects to pose certain questions to solicit more focused input. Comments can be sent to <elibeck _at_ gmail.com>. If you wish to be notified when comments are requested to particular questions, send your name and email address to this address. If you wish to submit comments by regular mail, send them to Strategic Plan Working Group, c/o John Andrews, 22 Kendall Road, Lexington, MA 02421.

Current Members

Representatives of Locals, Caucuses, Working Committees

• Celia Rock -- Central Berkshire Greens
• David Rolde -- MRGRA
• David Spanagel -- Nashua River Green-Rainbow
• Steve Baer -- Worcester Green-Rainbow Club
• John Andrews -- Candidate Development & Legal Committee
• Merelice -- Finance & Fundraising Committee
• Eli Beckerman -- Media & Communications Committee
• Eva Kerr -- Rainbow Caucus

At-large seats

• Dave England
• Betty Zisk
• Jim Henderson
• Elie Yarden

Some Reference Materials

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this working group are to:

• Develop a set of criteria for assessing the issues and actions to recommend for GRP Strategic Plan.
• Convene a strategy session in March with broad GRP input and participation, including the involvement of active GRP chapters, caucuses, working committees, past and present GRP elected officials (city councilors, selectmen, school board, public health and conservation commissioners, town meeting members, a former state representative, etc.), past and prospective candidates, and active members of the party.
• Use the results of the strategic planning session to produce a preliminary list of key outreach issues and associated proposed action initiatives.
• Facilitate further input from working committees, locals, caucuses and others.
• Develop clear and concise Core Outreach Messages that reflect the overall themes emerging from the strategic planning, and a set of consistent outreach issues.
• Draft a Strategic Action Plan that will include an overarching core outreach message, a list of key outreach issues and a list of proposed action initiatives for 2007-2009.
• Submit the Plan to the State Committee for consideration and approval.
• Prepare to make the Strategic Action Plan a focus of the 2007 GRP State Convention to jump start its implementation.