Pikes Peak Green Party-Local Chapter Bylaws
Founding members:
Lauren Arnest, David Bartram, Brenda Kay Gillen Blanton,
Sean Cassidy, Paul Dougan, Steve Flynn, Shea Pickelner,
Christina Student, Noelle Vance, Paul Wilson
1. Name
1.1 The name of this local chapter of The Green Party of Colorado is the Pikes Peak Green Party (PPGP) of El Paso County.
2. Purpose and Values
2.1 The purpose of this organization is to work towards a Green society as represented by the Ten Key Values of the United States Green Party. These values are as follows:
Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Nonviolence
Community Based Economics
Decentralization
Respect for Diversity
Feminism
Personal and Global Responsibility
Future Focus
2.2 The Pikes Peak Green Party (PPGP) will work to manifest the Ten Key Values in political decisions made on issues affecting El Paso County, the Pikes Peak Region, the State of Colorado, the Nation, and the World.
2.3 PPGP will develop an annual platform regarding issues of local, regional, national and global concern as deemed appropriate by the membership.
3. Membership
3.1 Membership in PPGP is open to anyone regardless of race, gender, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, appearance, or physical ability.
3.1.1 To be a member of PPGP, a person must be registered in El Paso County as a member of the Green Party of Colorado, must agree to support the Ten Key Values, and must generally endorse the local party platform.
3.1.2 New members acquire the right to vote on local chapter issues once they have attended two PPGP meetings-either general or committee meetings. New members may vote with the third meeting they attend.
3.1.3 To continue active membership in PPGP, the member shall maintain voter registration in the Green Party and attend one general PPGP meeting or one committee meeting every four month period, i.e.: January- April, May-August, September-December.
3.1.4 A voting member who does not remain active by attending the required number of meetings will become an inactive member. Inactive members will have no vote in PPGP affairs.
3.1.5 To reactivate voting member status an inactive member must attend two PPGP meetings, either general or committee meetings, and may vote with the third meeting they attend.
3.2 If there is no local chapter in a county contiguous to El Paso County, an individual may maintain membership with the Pikes Peak Green Party by registering in their county of residence as a member of the Green Party, abiding by the Ten Key Values and these bylaws.
3.3 Dues are not a requirement to be a member of PPGP. The recommended donation for the local chapter will be $5 a year, and the recommended annual donation to be sent to the Green Party of Colorado will be $5 a year.
3.4 Members of PPGP may vote on state issues at general state meetings and may serve on the Green Party of Colorado On-Line Council or GPOCC.
3.5 The membership of an individual in PPGP and in the Green Party of Colorado can be revoked for failure to abide by the Ten Key Values or for disrupting the work of PPGP. This revocation of membership shall only be by a 75% vote of at least 50% of PPGP voting membership. An individual must be informed of the potential revocation of membership at least three weeks prior to the vote and have a chance to speak in his or her defense at the meeting when the vote is held.
4. Structure
4.1 General meetings of the PPGP will be held monthly. Special meetings will be scheduled by the PPGP co-chairs at a time and location agreed upon by members at the previous meeting, or by notification of all individual members at least one week before the proposed meeting.
4.2 A quorum of five (5) voting members must be present in order for a meeting to be held.
4.3 In all decisions concerning policy, finance, and objectives, PPGP will strive in the first instance for consensus. Failing consensus, decisions shall require a vote of at least 75% of the voting members present at a general or special meeting.
4.4 Facilitators at each meeting will rotate among members. In order to become a facilitator, a member shall attend a recognized training course on Consensus-building/Agreement seeking.
5. Candidates/Endorsements/Coalitions
5.1 PPGP members will be responsible for selecting candidates for local political office and will be responsible for forwarding those nominations for ratification to the state nominating convention. PPGP will choose delegates to the nominating convention by consensus or at least 60% of the voting members present at a meeting. The number of delegates chosen shall be as permitted by the Bylaws of the Colorado Green Party
5.2 Candidates nominated by PPGP for public elective office must meet the following criteria:
5.2.1 A candidate must embrace the Ten Key Values and shall use these values as a basis for their political decision making.
5.2.2 A candidate must be registered as a Green Party member and maintain active membership in PPGP.
5.2.3 If PPGP fails to authorize candidates for local political office, then the Green Party of Colorado may run candidates in that jurisdiction.
5.3 Endorsements or a sign-on of any kind, whether of candidates or issues requires consensus or a 75% vote to pass.
5.3.1 An endorsement or sign-on requiring the commitment of PPGP resources (money, people, time, etc.) must clearly state the requirements and where the resource will come from.
5.4 Coalitions may be formed with other organizations that have a similar mission to PPGP. Joining a coalition requires consensus or at least a 75% vote to pass.
5.4.1 The proposal to join in coalition with another group will state the purpose of the proposed coalition, what resources must be committed and the source of those resources. The proposal shall be made at one meeting with the vote at the next consecutive meeting.
5.4.2 PPGP must be represented in each joined coalition. The representative will report on the actions of the coalition at least quarterly and will solicit input from the membership at that time.
5.4.3 PPGP can withdraw from any coalition at any time by consensus or a 60% vote which includes the PPGP coalition representative.
6. Officers.
6.1 PPGP Co-chairs shall be elected to a one-year term, staggered, with elections every six months at the January and July meetings. Election shall be by a 75% majority of voting members present.
6.2 The Co-chairs will set the agenda for meetings, decide on issues needing expedient attention between meetings, handle administrative tasks, act as representatives to the press on local issues and serve on the GPOCC.
6.3 Co-chairs will be the spokespersons for PPGP unless the membership designates other members for this.
6.4 The membership of the PPGP may create any other office as needed. A vote of 75% majority of voting members present at a local meeting must approve any new office. A member may assume an office after achieving at least 75% of the votes among members present at a local meeting.
6.5 If a PPGP officers position is vacated in between official meetings, the other officers may make a temporary appointment, until the next meeting, following consultation with each chapter member by telephone or email.
6.6 If any officer is found to be in contempt of the goals of PPGP, or the Green Party of Colorado, recall proceedings shall be invoked. A 75% majority of a meeting with at least 50% of the PPGP voting members present is required to achieve the recall of an officer.
7. Amendments
7.1 These bylaws may be amended by a 75% vote by voting members present at a local meeting with 50% of the locals membership present. A copy of the proposed bylaw amendment shall be given to each voting member at least one month prior to this meeting. A written copy of the adopted bylaws-with any current amendments-will be maintained by the co-chairs.
7.2 Any amendment will become effective on the first of the month following ratification.
Adopted: 10 January 2001
Amended: August 20, 2002
Amended: October 1, 2002
Amended: