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Philadelphia, PA February 11-12, 2006 Saturday February 11th Attending (all or part of the National Committee meeting): Matthew Andrews, Jason Becker, Raul Cano, Susan Dorazio, Matt Erard, Emma Gonzalez, Mal Herbert, Alice Kelsey, Doris Lake, Sam Mesick, Andrea Pason, Greg Pason, Shaun Richman, Steve Sears, Kristy Treacy and Dwight Welch. Observing: Jeff Brindle, Diane Brand, Peter Diamondstone, John Murphy, Michael Treacy and Trevor Pason. Meeting called to order at 9:45 am by Susan Dorazio, who chaired. NC seated and agenda adopted NC members and guests discussed what they would like to see the Party accomplish over the next two years. Greg Pason gave a brief orientation for new and returning NC members. National Office Report Greg Pason gave the National Office report and answered questions. Highlights of the N.O. report: Membership is: 1584 with 1294 in good standing. The gender breakdown is 76% male and 24% female. Post-convention projects: 1) The Party’s policies have been updated, compiled and submitted to National Committee members. 2) The Party’s Principles were updated and are available on-line and in hard copy. 3) Jan/Feb issue was mailed from the National Office with a short fundraising/ dues letter. (Greg pointed out that Post Office rules have changed and he needed a volunteer to go to a Post Office class to learn the new rules- Jason Becker volunteered). 4) The website has been updated so that the format is consistent throughout. 5) Two issues of The Organizer were produced and mailed with dues notices, new membership packets and on-line. 6) The N.O. organized a NJ/NYC/Phila. Speaking tour for Sean White, an activist at the Common Ground collective in New Orleans. 7) Greg tabled for the Party at the National Conference on Organized Resistance in Washington DC Campaigns: Locals were responsive to the Not Your Soldier and International Human Rights Day campaigns. Upcoming work: 1) Preparing and mail out the IWD issue of The Socialist. 2) Coordinating March local anti-war actions and organizing the SP contingent for the April mass march/rally in NYC. 3) Setting up a few phone conferences with State and Local Committees to help promote Party campaigns and coordinate our work. Publication Mary Lotitz submitted an Editorial Board convener statement via e-mail, which was discussed. Election of an Editor for The Socialist Shaun Richman put his name forward as a candidate for Editor and Susan Dorazio submitted a proposal for Commissions to produce issues of The Socialist. The NC discussed the proposal by Susan Dorazio and the proposal was withdrawn. Shaun Richman answered questions from NC members about accountability, what he expected from the Editorial Board and the January/February issue he edited. Motion: To name Shaun Richman Editor of the Socialist. Motion passed with 1 No (Susan Dorazio)and 1 abstention (Shaun Richman). Editorial Board The current Editorial Board was reported as: Tina Phillips, Michael Baker, James Marra and Steve Rossignol and Mary Loritz (who has resigned from the Board.) The National Committee agreed that all existing EB members who wished to remain on the Board will be retained. Motion: To name Diane Brand to the Editorial Board as convener. Motion passed with one abstention (Shaun Richman). The NC discussed possible EB members and agreed that we needed to add more NC members to the Board. Motion: To name Mal Herbert and Kristy Treacy to the Editorial Board. Motion passed with one abstention (Shaun Richman). The NC discussed the size of the Editorial Board now that three males and four females were elected. Shaun Richman asked that Sam Mesick be seated for him for the rest of Saturday’s session. Motion: To set the size of the Editorial Board to eight. Motion passed 12 Yes S. Dorazio, A. Pason, M. Herbert, E. Gonzalez, A. Kelsey, K. Treacy, D. Lake, R. Cano, M. Andrews, G. Pason, S. Richman, and M. Erard. 4 No J. Becker, D. Welch, S. Mesick and Steve Sears. The NC discussed filling the open male EB position. The following nominations were made: Eric Chester, Rob Tucker and Robert Pohle and a vote taken. Eric Chester 9 votes (S. Dorazio, M. Herbert, E. Gonzalez, K. Treacy, D. Lake, R. Cano, M. Andrews, G. Pason, M. Erard) Rob Tucker 4 votes (A. Kelsey, J. Becker, S. Sears and D. Welch) Robert Pohle 1 vote (Sam Mesick) Eric Chester was elected to the Editorial Board. The meeting broke for lunch at 12:45 until 2:15 Meeting called to order by Raul Cano, who chaired. Motion: That the cover and all ads in The Socialist must be approved by a majority vote of the Editorial Board. Motion failed Yes (6) E. Gonzalez, K. Treacy, D. Lake, R. Cano, M. Andrews and G. Pason. No (8) S. Dorazio, M. Herbert, A. Kelsey, J. Becker, S. Sears, M. Erard, D. Welch, and S. Mesick. Abstentions (1) A. Pason. Other Publications Motion: Hammer & Tongs shall print a “Volunteer” section to inform members of all the ways in which they can participate in the work of the Party. Commissions will be encouraged to recruit in each issue. Committees which can accept new members, or to which the NC may wish to appoint more members, will be listed. Vacant or temporarily filled positions will be advertised. Each submission in this section must include some details to describe the kind of work and responsibility involved. Matt Andrews is named to produce the “Volunteer” section. Motion passed unanimously. Matt Andrew proposed that the National Office mail two to three issues of The Torch to SP members for YPSL. The NC agreed that this should be discussed during the budget section of the agenda. Motion: To table discussion on mailing the Torch. Motion passed. 1 no (M. Andrews) John Murphy Endorsement Discussion John Murphy, a Green Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, gave a brief presentation and answered questions from the NC, including whether he considered himself a socialist (he did not), which ballot line he would run under (he stated that he hoped to run on the Green Party line) and whether he supported the Socialist Party’s 2004/05 platform (he did). The NC thanked him for his time and agreed to vote on endorsement during the Sunday session. Platform The NC discussed ways to adopt the platform in the two hours allotted. Motion: To approve each section of the Platform as submitted by the Platform Committee unless proposals for changes are brought forward during the period the platform section is discussed. The platform is then to be voted on after sections are approved and returned to the Platform Committee to be edited for grammar and arrangement. Votes will not be held by roll call unless requested for this section. Motion passed unanimously. Motion: To revert to the original pre-amble. Failed to get a second. Foreign Policy Motion: To replace the term “Foreign Policy” with “International Policy” wherever it exists in the Platform. Motion passed by a clear majority. Motion: To add “and all other countries” to the end of plank #2. Motion failed by a clear majority. Motion: To revert to “50%” on military cuts instead of “75%”. Motion passed 8 yes, 5 no and 1 abs. Economic Policy Motion: To change plank 3 to read” We call for a living wage of at least $15 indexed to the cost of living. Motion failed clear majority. Motion: To add “and military base” after “plant closings”. Motion passed clear majority. Women Motion: To keep changes to plank #1 “on demand at any stage of pregnancy”. Motion failed w/ 2 No votes (Jason Becker and Andrea Pason) Racism Motion: To remove plank number 2. Motion failed with 1 yes Motion: To add the following as the last sentence of the introduction of the Racism section. “The Socialist Party rejects the social construct of race and we commit ourselves to the eradication of racism.” Motion passed unanimously. Youth Motion: To change the voting age 16 to 15 in plank # 9. Motion passed by a clear majority. Education Motion: To change “grades 4-12” to “K to 12” in plank #9. Motion passed by clear majority. Transportation Motion: Plank #1 is to read “We call for the creation of a fully funded high-speed national rail system with fares set low enough to be a viable alternative to the use of the automobile.” Motion passed by a clear majority. Motion: To create plank #7 which reads “We call for public ownership and worker control of the airline industry.” Motion passed by a clear majority. Legal Justice Motion: To keep the language from the 2003-05 Platform for plank #11. Motion failed by a clear majority. Motion: To eliminate plank #9. Motion passed 9 yes 4 no 2 abs. Motion: To create a new plank #9 that reads “We call for the ultimate replacement of the police with community residents trained in conflict resolution who live in and serve the community under community control”. Motion passed by a clear majority. Gay Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender Motion: To add “Q” after “GLBT”. Motion passed by clear majority. Labor Motion: To eliminate the new addition to the preamble. Motion failed by a clear majority. Animal Rights Motion: To remove all wording after ”cruelly treating animals” in plank #7. Motion passed by a clear majority. Motion: To adopt the national platform as amended. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm. Sunday February 12th Meeting called to order at 11:25 am by Matt Andrews, who chaired. The NC discussed ways to adjust the agenda so that items could be prioritized so that the most important items could be dealt with before quorum was lost. Finances Treasurer’s Report Jim Schaefer posted the Treasurer’s report on the NC list and Greg Pason printed a National Office operational budget for the NC meeting packet. Highlights: Treasury balance $92,986.35 National Office support in 2005: $5000 as a loan, which was rretuned at the end of the year. $2550.00 to support publication printing/mailings. Motion: The National Committee shall appoint a gender balanced Finance Committee and Finance Committee Chairperson. The Finance Committee shall be charged with: 1) Assisting the National Office with fundraising projects, including a Sustainers Club. 2) Propose a health care plan for the National Secretary to be approved by the National Action Committee. 3) Developing a long-term plan for financial growth to be presented at the next National Committee meeting. 4) Proposing a national operational budget for approval of the NC by mail ballot. Motion passed unanimously Motion: To name the Editor and National Secretary as ex-officio members of the Finance Committee and to name Jim Schaefer, Andrea Pason and Emma Gonzalez as voting members of the Committee with Emma Gonzalez serving as Chair. Motion passed with 2 abstentions. Motion: To authorize the Treasurer to invest funds in a 4 week T-bill if/when needed until further investment decisions are made by the National Committee. Motion passed unanimously. Dues Share Motion: All actively chartered state affiliates, or local affiliates in unchartered states, are to receive 10% of dues revenue collected from members in that affiliate starting with dues paid on April 1, 2006 as long as the following requirements are met: 1) An active State (or Local) Committee exists. 2) Card check is used at membership meetings (for voting purposes) 3) Quarterly reports are submitted to the National Office by April 15 (for Jan- March), July 15 (for April – June) , October 15 (for July –September) January 15 (for October – December) 4) More than 60% of members in good standing are paid up-to-date or that affiliate show a good effort to have 60% of members in good standing up-to-date on dues. 5) The affiliate agrees to support national (action and electoral) campaigns, work on one (action) campaign a year, agrees to promote any national Party sponsored or endorsed conferences and reports all national (action) campaigns to their membership, on the affiliate website and appropriate newsletters. 6) Agree not to affiliate “state-only”/ non-national membership status. This resolution replaces all previous resolutions on dues sharing and the National Committee is directed to discuss possible increases in dues sharing at the first NC meeting of 2007. Motion passed 8 yes 1 abstention (Shaun Richman) Next National Committee Meeting Motion: To hold the next National Committee meeting during the month of June in Milwaukee Wisconsin and to name Steve Sears as a liaison between the National Action Committee and the Milwaukee local for planning/ scheduling purposes. Motion passed unanimously. National Organizing Conference The NC discussed the proposals received (Detroit and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). Motion: To hold the National Organizing Conference in the Detroit area sometime between late-July and the month of August, and to direct the Organizing Conference Committee to make arrangements under the supervision of the National Action Committee. Motion passed unanimously. Motion: To name an Organizing Conference Committee of two (gender-balanced) representatives of YPSL, two (gender-balanced) representatives of the SP Michigan, and four representatives of the Party. Motion passed unanimously. Motion: To name Steve Sears as convener of the Organizing Conference Committee and to direct him to bring nominations for the remaining two female and one male committee members to the National Action Committee. The names must be sent to the NAC by February 27, 2006 and a decision by the NAC made by March 3, 2006. Motion passed unanimously. Union Hotel Motion: The Socialist Party will not sign a contract with a non-union hotel or motel. Motion passed 8 Yes (Emma Gonzalez, Alice Kelsey, Doris Lake, Raul Cano, Greg Pason, Shaun Richman, Steve Sears and Dwight Welch) 1 No (Susan Dorazio) and 2 Abstentions (Mal Herbert and Matt Erard). Commissions Motion: To grant a temporary charter to all currently temporarily chartered commissions. Motion passed unanimously. International Eric Chester submitted a written International Commission report and it was distributed to the NC and read. Motion: To overturn the International Commission’s guidelines as passed by the June 2005 National Committee. Motion to table passed 6 yes 3 no. Electoral Broad-Left Cooperation Motion: Resolution on Candidate Policy Enforcement 1. Candidacies of Socialist Party members running on the ballot lines of other parties must be approved by the National Committee as mandated by Article VI Section 3 of the Socialist Party USA Constitution. Socialist Party member candidates who are running on the ballot line of another party not approved by the National Committee and whose individual candidacies have not been approved by the National Committee will be contacted by the National Office about constitutional requirement of getting National Committee approval. Candidates who do request National Committee approval within two weeks of being contacted by the National Office, either individually or through a proxy, will be directed by the National Committee to withdraw from their candidacies. 2. The candidacies of Socialist Party members running for office on the ballot line of an approved party automatically come under the jurisdiction of the National Committee if the candidates do not comply with National Convention Broad Left Third Parties resolution which requires Socialist Party member candidates to run openly as Socialists and on socialist programs. Socialist Party candidates running on the ballot line of an approved party will be contacted by the National Office if they fail to meet these two requirements stipulated by the National Convention Broad Left Third Parties Resolution. Candidates who fail to come into compliance with these requirements within two weeks after being contacted by the National Office will be directed by the National Committee to withdraw from their candidacies. 3. Socialist Party member candidates who ignore National Committee directives to withdraw from their candidacies are subject to a six month suspension from Socialist Party membership Amendment: To remove sections #2 and #3 and top add “by confirmed delivery mail” at the end of section #1. Amendment passed 5 Yes (Steve Sears, Greg Pason, Dwight Welch, Alice Kelsey and Mal Herbert) 4 No (Mat Erard, Matthew Andrews, Raul Cano and Doris Lake) and 2 abstentions (Shaun Richman and Emma Gonzalez). Motion (as amended): Candidacies of Socialist Party members running on the ballot lines of other parties must be approved by the National Committee as mandated by Article VI Section 3 of the Socialist Party USA Constitution. Socialist Party member candidates who are running on the ballot line of another party not approved by the National Committee and whose individual candidacies have not been approved by the National Committee will be contacted by the National Office about constitutional requirement of getting National Committee approval. Candidates who do request National Committee approval within two weeks of being contacted by the National Office, either individually or through a proxy, will be directed by the National Committee to withdraw from their candidacies by confirmed delivery mail. Motion passed 9 Yes 2 No (Emma Gonzalez and Shaun Richman). Socialist Party Campaign Clearinghouse Be it resolved: 1 Socialist National Committee. The National Committee of the Socialist Party USA is also the Socialist National Committee (SNC). 2 Socialist Campaign Clearinghouse. The SNC shall establish a Socialist Campaign Clearinghouse (SCC) to facilitate the electoral work of the Party. The SCC shall consist of a Coordinator appointed by the SNC, and one representative from each electoral campaign of an SPUSA member running as an SPUSA candidate. The SCC, subject to SNC approval, is responsible for: • Establishing a budget • Setting policy for funding contributions to electoral campaigns • Evaluating and approving funding requests 3 Coordinator. The Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining the operations of the SCC and submitting reports before each SNC meeting. The Coordinator shall be accountable to the SCC within the bounds set by the SNC. The Coordinator must maintain email and phone contact with representatives to the SCC and set up conference calls at the SCC’s request. The Coordinator may not also be a candidate in an electoral campaign. The Coordinator, with the assistance of the SCC, shall: • Fundraise for the SNC • Maintain financial records and fulfill all legal requirements • Produce educational and promotional resources • Provide legal and political advice The NC discussed FEC rules as they related to this resolution and existing the existing Campaign Clearinghouse guidelines. Motion to table passed with 1 No (Matthew Andrews) Motion: To name Jeff Brindle as Campaign Clearinghouse Coordinator based on existing guidelines. Motion passed 9 yes 1 no (Matthew Andrews) 1 abstention (Matt Erard). Green Party Motion: To approve the Green Party of Michigan under the National Convention Broad-Left Third Parties Resolution Whereas the Green Party of Michigan is: 1) a broad left third party which includes socialists in its leadership and membership. 2) Whereas the Green Party of Michigan has allowed Socialist Party members to run as candidates on its ballot line openly as Socialists and on socialist programs numerous times in the past. 3) Whereas leaders of the Green Party of Michigan have recently committed to continuing to allow Socialist Party members to use its ballot line while running under their own dual-party label and program. 4) The National Committee approves the Green Party of Michigan under the National Convention Broad Left Parties Resolution. Amendment: To eliminate all references in the resolution to Michigan so as to read “Green Party”. Amendment fails 5 Yes (Emma Gonzalez, Alice Kelsey, Shaun Richmam, Steve Sears and Dwight Welch). 6 No (Mal Herbert, Doris Lake, Raul Cano, Matthew Andrews, Greg Pason and Matt Erard) Motion (without amendment) failed 5 Yes (Mal Herbert, Doris Lake, Steve Sears, Matt Erard and Dwight Welch) 6 No (Emma Gonzalez, Alice Kelsey, Raul Cano, Matthew Andrews, Greg Pason, Shaun Richman) John Murphy Endorsement Motion: To authorize the SP Pennsylvania to endorse the John Murphy for U.S. House of Representatives. Motion failed 4 Yes (Emma Gonzalez, Alice Kelsey, Steve Sears and Dwight Welch) 6 No (Mal Herbert, Loris Lake, Raul Cano, Matthew Andrews, Greg Pason, Matt Erard) 1 Abstention (Shaun Richman). Upcoming Events March Anti-War Actions Matthew Andrews submitted a resolution on organizing local action on the third anniversary of the war on Iraq. Motion: The Socialist Party National Committee (NC) encourages all affiliates to work in coalition with YPSL and other campus or community based peace organizations, to organize events at local Congressional offices in protest of the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq on Monday, March 20th. The NC encourages all affiliates to demand "Troops Out Now" and "Cut the Military Budget by 50%." Furthermore, affiliates should highlight the bipartisan consensus among Democrats and Republicans in support of the current war and decades of imperialism perpetrated against the people of Iraq. The NC encourages affiliates to present Socialist Party candidates for Congress and other offices as an alternative. The NC directs the National Office to send out a call to action based on this resolution, support responsive locals and organizers, and collect information on events to publicize. A nationwide press release will be sent a week prior to March 20th. Timely updates will also be made on sp-usa.org and over e-mail lists. Motion passed unanimously Administrative Matthew Andrews spoke on a complaint from Bill Shakalis about content of www.thesocialistparty.org, the website of the Socialist Party of Oregon. Motion: It is the sense of the National Committee that Michael Marino has posted, on thesocialistparty.org, material that unfairly maligns members of the Party, including Bill Shakalis and we call on Cde. Marino to remove all inappropriate material. Until that time, the Party will not link to or refer individuals to thesocialistparty.org website in any manner. Motion passed 7 yes (Matthew Andrews, Raul Cano, Greg Pason, Steve Sears, Shaun Richman, Emma Gonzalez and Mal Herbert) 3 No (Doris Lake, Alice Kelsey and Dwight Welch). Shaun Richman requested a one-time copy of the names, addresses, phone number and e-mail addresses of members in good standing so he can contact members for articles in The Socialist. Motion: To authorize the National Secretary to send Shaun Richman, as Editor of The Socialist, a copy of the names addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of members in good standing. Motion passed 6 Yes 1 no 3 Abstentions. The NC discussed a resolution submitted by Ruth Greenberg-Edelstein for the NC packet on the voting process at the convention. The NC discussed the pros and cons of various methods used at conventions. Motion: To create a sub-committee to collect materials on various voting systems for presentation at the National Organizing Conference. Members of the sub committee will be Greg Pason, Jeff Meeting was adjourned at 3:40 with the singing of the Internationale. Minutes taken and transcribed by Greg Pason back to minutes |