Bulletin 7.1: Attend the State Convention on August 8th!

TAttend the State Convention on August 8th!

THE SC GREEN PARTY BULLETIN
Volume 7 No. 1 – July 9, 2009
www.scgreenparty.org

FEATURES:

(1) ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION ON AUGUST 8th
(2) NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
(3) MAKE YOUR 2009 MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION

CONTINUING:

(A) LOCAL UPDATES
(B) VOLUNTEER FOR A STATE OR NATIONAL COMMITTEE
(C) RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS
(D) JOIN OUR DISCUSSION FORUM
(E) CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SCGP STEERING COMMITTEE
(F) GREEN PARTY OFFICE-HOLDERS
(G) ABOUT THE SC GREEN PARTY BULLETIN


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(1) ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION ON AUGUST 8th **********************************************************************

Please join us for the annual state convention of the South Carolina Green Party in Columbia on Saturday, August 8th. The meeting is tentatively set for 2523 Read Street--we'll confirm the location and time in the next few weeks. Everyone is encouraged to attend!

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(2) NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS **********************************************************************

Nominations are now open for election to the Steering Committee. Nominations must be received no later than July 25th (two weeks before the State Convention). The terms of three Steering Committee members are ending (Gregg Jocoy, David Whiteman, and Nammu Muhammad ), plus we have one vacancy for a 2008-2010 term.

Nominations may be emailed (just reply to this email if you're on our distribution list or send an email to davidpwhiteman@yahoo.com) or mailed (SCGP, P.O. Box 5341, Columbia, SC 29250).

In order to be eligible to be on the ballot, anyone nominated must certify by July 25th that they (a) are interested in being on the ballot, (b) are a member of the Party, and (c) do not occupy a leadership position in any other political party. All nominees should also submit a brief personal statement for inclusion in the SCGP Bulletin and the State Convention agenda packet.

After nominations are closed on July 25th, the Steering Committee will provide a final list of nominees.


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(3) MAKE YOUR 2009 MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION
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According the SCGP bylaws, in order to be considered a member of the Party for meetings and conventions, a citizen must have either (a) paid annual dues or (b) been an active member of a party organization in the state. To be sure you are a member for 2009, send in your $25 annual membership contribution. You can send your checks to SCGP, P.O. Box 5341, Columbia, SC, 29250.


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(A) LOCAL UPDATES
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One major priority this year is to build strong local Green Party organizations in every area of the state. If you see a local party for your area in the list below, please contact the person listed. If you don’t see a local in your area, please volunteer to help organize a local group (especially if you're in Charleston)! For assistance to get you started, reply to this email (if you're on our distribution list) or contact Bill Bobo, newwines@aol.com, 803-279-9604.

CHARLESTON GREEN PARTY (Charleston/Berkeley/Dorchester)
Next meeting: 7pm first Monday of each month at Earth Fare on Folly Rd Blvd.
For more information, contact:
Sue Edward, charlestongreens@gmail.com, 843-763-7304
Larry Carter Center 843-926-1750
www.charlestongreenparty.org

MIDLANDS GREEN PARTY (Richland/Lexington):
Next meeting TBA.
For more information, contact David Whiteman, davidpwhiteman@yahoo.com, 803-799-1205.

AIKEN COUNTY GREEN PARTY (Aiken/North Augusta):
Next meeting TBA. Held at 3514 Gamble Road (off of Gregg, between Richland Ave and Trolley Line Road, about 2-3 blocks south of Trolley Line Road).
For more information contact Bill Bobo, newwines@aol.com, 803-279-9604.

GREENVILLE COUNTY GREENS (Greenville):
Next meeting: TBA.
For more information, contact Gregg Jocoy, GreggJocoy29715@yahoo.com, 803-547-212.


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(B) VOLUNTEER FOR A STATE OR NATIONAL COMMITTEE
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Our state and national committees need your skills!

(a) State. Opportunities exist for volunteers on all state committees, including communication, fundraising, website, elections, and outreach and membership. If you're interested, please reply to this email and let us know about your interests and skills.

(b) National. The SCGP is eligible to have representatives serve on most of the national USGP committees. For a list of committees, check out www.gpus.org/committees.html. If you’re interested in becoming a member, please reply to this email.


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(C) RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS
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Encourage your friends to become members of the SCGP. The best way is just have them sign up through our website (www.scgreenparty.org). Or they can send their name, address, and phone number in reply to this email. We will add them to our mailing list and forward their names to our local organizers.


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(D) JOIN OUR DISCUSSION FORUM!
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In addition to the SCGP Bulletin, which is distributed 2-3 times a month, the SCGP maintains a discussion/action forum for its members. If you are interested in receiving more frequent emails about issues and events related to green politics, please join the our Discussion Forum by sending an email to:

SC-GreenParty_Forum-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


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(E) CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SCGP STEERING COMMITTEE
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Gregg Jocoy (2007-2009), greggjocoy@riseup.net
(h) 803-547-2112,
4 Polaski Court, 
Simpsonville, SC 29681

Leslie Minerd (2008-2010), hipwazee@gmail.com
(h) 803-799-9297, (w) 803-376-1500
2716 Blossom St, Columbia, SC 29205

Nammu Muhammad (2007-2009), blackvista2008@aol.com
(h) 803-414-4426
1517 Manning Ave, Columbia, SC 29204

Eugene Platt (2008-2010),
(h) 843-795-9442
734 Gilmore Court, James Island, SC 29412

Scott West (2008-2010)
3 Oakland Avenue, Inman, SC 29349-1542

David Whiteman (2007-2009), davidpwhiteman@yahoo.com
(w) 803-777-4548, (h) 803-799-1205
200 Harden St, Columbia, SC 29205

[vacant] (2008-2010)

SCGP delegates to Green National Committee:
David Whiteman (delegate)

SCGP members on national committees:
Coordinated Campaign Committee: [vacant]
International Committee: Jermaine Simmons
Media Committee: [vacant]


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(F) GREEN PARTY OFFICE-HOLDERS
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Eugene Platt (elected)
James Island Public Service District Commission

Preston Holston (appointed)
Conservation Commission
Richland County

Lee Jane Kaufman (appointed)
Tree and Beautification Commission
City of Columbia


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(G) ABOUT THE SC GREEN PARTY BULLETIN
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The SC Green Party Bulletin, distributed no more than 2-3 times each month, is designed to keep members and friends of the SC Green Party informed about important state activities and events.

If you would like to stop receiving the Bulletin and be deleted from the SC Green Party database, simply respond to this email and ask to be removed.

Charleston Sanitation Workers Organize for Union

Since April of this year sanitation workers in Charleston have been circulating a petition in favor of union recognition. An excellent article by Kerry Taylor of the Institute for Southern Studies has just been posted here. While the resistance of SC governments to unionization can't be underestimated, the Charleston sanitation workers have the justification and the motivation to exercise their legal rights. Kerry says in part:

Workers have complained of abusive supervisors, an ambiguous system of promotions that pits workers against one another, and treacherous working conditions.

One driver was blamed for an incident in which a falling tree branch pinned her in the cab and seriously injured her neck and shoulders. She was rushed back to work, as was a collector whose eyes were burned by chemicals that shot from a paint can as it was being compacted.

Until recently the sanitation workers had hoped to resolve these grievances through discussions with their supervisors. The discussions have provided a few token concessions such as new rain jackets, but little actual relief.

The workers have now concluded that establishing an employees' organization with democratic rights to negotiate with the city is the only way to win some measure of equality and fairness.

"If you're a public servant you deserve dignity, respect, and acknowledgment that you're doing a service for the community," said Richard Polite, a 12-year sanitation department veteran, who adds that the workers' demands are not primarily economic but center on basic human rights.

- "Charleston Sanitation Workers Fight for Union Recognition",
By Kerry Taylor, Labor Notes
Posted July 7, 2009 9:56 AM

The sanitation workers are organizing with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 1199B. Charleston Peace is another local organization involved in getting the union off the ground and increasing public awareness of the struggle.

Charleston residents are urged to sign an online petition here: http://www.petitiononline.com/loc1199b/petition.html.

Charleston Peace hosts more information on the sanitation workers here:

• Charleston's Dirty Little Secret, from the Charleston sanitation workers organizing brochure.
• Sanitation Workers Campaign Building Momentum, information on the street level petition drive conducted in May.
  

Charleston Greens adopts a road in Maryville

Charleston's Green Party is now volunteering for regular litter pickups in Charleston's Maryville neighborhood.

The Charleston Green Party is proud to have adopted 5th Avenue and adjoining streets in Maryville/Ashleyville as part of the Adopt a Highway project. Unlike most Adopt a Highway routes, these streets are residential. This means we will have the opportunity to chat with residents who may be in their yards or on their porches as we work on their street. I think this will make our work even more rewarding.

The first pickup went off on May 30th. The next scheduled pickup is in September. The Charleston Greens will be letting us know the exact date via their website and facebook page.