Proposed changes to the Massachusetts Green Party By-laws

Bylaws Section 9

Expand the purpose (but not the number) of the existing regional representatives on the Administrative Committee with general diversity representatives where regional diversity is one of the criteria

9 Administrative Committee

Summary

Sections 9.2, 9.4, 9.16, and 9.17 are changed.

Except for section 9.16 (which is completely deleted), the modified, subtracted, or added words are shown in bold typeface.

Purpose

The purpose of this proposed change is to expand the mandate of the regional representatives, who currently insure geographical diversity on the Administrative Committee, into general diversity representatives, where diversity includes geographic, gender, racial, and other types of diversity considerations.

It also adds the concept that the skills that people possess and the diversity of the committee should both be considerations when electing the administrative committee. For example, it may seem obvious to people that a person’s mathematical abilities and organizational skills be considered when picking a treasurer. It also may seem obvious to people that a diversity of background and experience of the committee will lead it to decisions that are more likely to reflect a consensus of varied opinions. However, it cannot hurt to remind people of this when they are in the process of deciding from a list of candidates. People will still be totally free to pick whomever they prefer for each position. However, this reminder may get them to think less about “who do I like personally” and more about “who has the skills needed to do the job” and “how the skills and background of one member will complement those of another”.

Details

Original section 9.2:

9.2 The administrative committee shall consist of a female co-chair, male co-chair, treasurer, secretary, membership director, fundraising director, communications director and five regional representatives. These positions (except for the regional representatives) shall be elected once a year at a state convention and will serve until the next yearly convention.

Proposed section 9.2:

9.2 The administrative committee shall consist of a female co-chair, male co-chair, treasurer, secretary, membership director, fundraising director, communications director and five diversity representatives. These positions (except for the diversity representatives) shall be elected once a year at a state convention and will serve until the next yearly convention.

Original section 9.4:

9.4 There shall be distinct sections of the same ballot for each co-chair position, treasurer, secretary, membership director, fundraising director and communications director. A member may only be elected to one position but may run for up to three positions. In the event a candidate wins more than one position, she shall choose the position she desires and the votes for the other positions will be recounted to determine the candidate selected.

Proposed section 9.4:

9.4 There shall be distinct sections of the same ballot for each co-chair position, treasurer, secretary, membership director, fundraising director and communications director. A member may only be elected to one position but may run for up to three positions. In the event a candidate wins more than one position, she shall choose the position she desires and the votes for the other positions will be recounted to determine the candidate selected. The job skills of each candidate and the diversity of the overall committee should be considerations when voting to elect the members of the committee.

Original section 9.16:

9.16 Each of the five regional representatives shall reside in and represent one region of the state as defined below.

· Western Massachusetts is defined as Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties;

· Central Massachusetts is defined as Worcester county and West Middlesex sub-county;

· North Shore Massachusetts is defined as Essex county and East Middlesex sub-county;

· Metro Boston Massachusetts is defined as Suffolk and Norfolk counties;

· South Shore/Cape Massachusetts is defined as Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.

Regional representatives shall be elected from among the state committee members from that region. They shall be elected by a caucus of the state committee members from that region at the first state committee meeting following the election of state committee members. They shall serve until the state committee meeting following the next election of state committee members.

Proposed section 9.16:

9.16 For the purposes of geographic diversity considerations on the administrative committee, the following five regions are defined:

· Western Massachusetts is defined as Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties;

· Central Massachusetts is defined as Worcester county and West Middlesex sub-county;

· North Shore Massachusetts is defined as Essex county and East Middlesex sub-county;

· Metro Boston Massachusetts is defined as Suffolk and Norfolk counties;

· South Shore/Cape Massachusetts is defined as Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.

Original section 9.17:

9.17 Duties of the regional representatives shall be to:

· Build the party membership and regional organization in the region that they represent;

· Participate in the communications working committee;

· In a timely manner, notify the organizers of all Massachusetts Green Party publications of the successes and events of the Green locals in the region that they represent;

· Work on the state newsletter, email communications and web site;

· Ensure that locals in their region are kept up to date of administrative committee decisions and progress;

· Keep the state committee members in their region are kept up to date on the decisions and progress of the administrative committee;

· Keep the administrative committee up to date on all issues raised by the locals in the region that they cover, and on all issues raised by the state committee for consideration by the administrative committee.

Proposed section 9.17:

9.17 The five diversity representatives shall be elected by a 2/3 vote of the state committee at the first state committee meeting following the state convention. Any member of the party may be nominated by at least five other members of the party.

The state committee should consider the job skills of each candidate and the diversity of the overall committee when voting to elect the members of the administrative committee. The diversity considerations should include geographic, racial, gender, and other types of diversity of representation, background, and experience.

Duties of the diversity representatives shall be to:

· Work to increase the diversity of the general party membership and to promote, encourage, and recruit diversity in the leadership of the party;

· Build the party membership, locals development, and regional organization in the region in which they reside;

· Participate in the membership and diversity working committee and in the communication, media, and technical working committee;

· In a timely manner, notify the organizers of all Massachusetts Green Party publications of the successes and events of the Green locals in the region in which they reside;

· Work on the state newsletter, email communications and web site;

· Ensure that locals in their region are kept up to date of administrative committee decisions and progress;

· Keep the state committee members in their region are kept up to date on the decisions and progress of the administrative committee;

· Keep the administrative committee up to date on all issues raised by the locals in the region in which they reside, and on all issues raised by the state committee for consideration by the administrative committee.