Major Item for July State Comm-Improve the Operations of the State GRP
Friday June 01, @12:05PM, by Mike Heichman, Suffolk county
Subject : State Comm Improvements
from the State Comm & Working Commitees dept.
Summary :
1. For most of 2007, the State GRP has been working with very little energy. Some of the reasons for this are structural in nature-how our State Comm. Meetings are run, the dormancy of most of our working committees, etc.
2. For the last few months our state party has been engaged in a process of reflection and planning for the future. While SPWG is the major motor for this focus, it would be productive for members of the State Comm. to reflect on our past practice and to make changes that will improve the operations of the State GRP.

I have introduced these ideas before and I want to thank some members of the State Comm. who have responded to my ideas and shared some of their own.

I am officially making these proposals now (June 1). I’m asking for further discussion and feedback. Later on, after I modify my proposals, I will ask for co-sponsors. I encourage others to make their own proposals to improve the operations of our State GRP.

Text :
A. Operations of the State Comm.

1. The State Committee meeting will prioritize its agenda more wisely by focusing most of its attention in the following areas:

i. making of policy between conventions
ii. improving communication and coordination
iii. evaluating the progress of the party

It will stop doing the work that should be done by other organs of the party. Examples:

i. It will stop making endorsements (Adcom or Another Comm.)
ii. It will stop working on the Platform (Platform Comm.)

2. Every State Comm. member must belong to at least one (but no more than 2) local chapter. (The only exceptions are the State officers of the GRP.) (Justification: State Comm. members are supposed to represent other members of the party.) Every State Comm. member must be a member of some other aspect of the State GRP (including Adcom, Working Committees, member of a Caucus, involved with the National Party). The only exceptions are members who have just joined the State Comm., who will be expected to quickly become involved in other parts of the party.

3. The quorum will be changed from 50% of the State Comm. to 40%.

4. The consensus process will be changed:

An attempt will be made to reach consensus. After a reasonable time, the facilitators of the meeting are authorized to shift to other ways of making decisions (straw votes, etc.) When votes are taken, a 2/3 vote or greater will be needed to make a decision.

5. The new vetting process will be changed in the following ways:

i. Initiators of proposals should be encouraged (not required) to vet their proposals to the appropriate committee(s). Committee should be encouraged but not required to vet these proposals.

ii. We should go back to the old system of expecting that members of State Comm. will …

a. read the proposals before the meeting.
b. offer their support by co-sponsoring if they are in agreement.
c. share their concerns with the sponsors with a mutual attempt to resolve concerns before the meeting.


B. New Committee Structure

(Justification: Most of the Committees are dormant or operating with minimal energy.)

(Note: I am stealing this idea from Bill Cunningham and making a couple of changes. If Bill still likes his idea, I consider him to be the primary sponsor.)

4 SuperCommittees will replace the current Working Committees.

1. Adcom

a. Membership: The elected officers and 3 members elected by the State Comm. A majority of the members of Adcom must be “diversity members”.
b. Responsibilities: The current responsibilities except that it will not be involved in platform development.

2. Membership Support SuperComm. (This will include the tasks of the current Membership, Communications and Tech Committees.)

3. Outreach SuperComm. (This will include the current tasks of the Platform, CDLC and External Relations. Additionally, it will be the place where we may decide to take on “movement”/issues work (Examples: Abolish Poverty, Anti-War, etc.)

4. Finance, Legal, Office and Records

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