Friend --



We are calling an emergency assembly for Saturday, Nov. 20, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, to be followed by three weeks of online voting to resolve those questions. The meeting will be remote, and the online voting procedure will be posted on the MGP website <[link removed]>.



We realized recently that two bylaws clarifications are needed so that our internal voting for party officers can function accurately and transparently. These need to be decided ahead of our next annual assembly to allow the 2022 officer election to operate smoothly and in accordance with the Green Party’s 10 Key Values <[link removed]>, specifically Grassroots Democracy. 



Everyone is invited to attend the meeting, and our local chapters will provide updates and opportunities for action at the beginning of the meeting.



Please verify your Green Party registration now, whether or not you will attend and vote. Easy links for how to do so are at the end of this document, following the bylaws proposals.



The amendments will be presented at the assembly with an opportunity for comment and discussion and a presentation of the online voting procedures. We will also invite members to engage in further online discussion of the two amendments during the voting period.



Bylaws keep our organization running smoothly which is essential for all our other work. They also maintain the integrity of the organization in our own eyes and those of the public. We encourage you to consider the proposed changes carefully and discuss and debate before making your decision.



Next year is a big year for local and state races. We look forward to seeing you at the assembly and working together for peace, justice, and the future of life on Earth. If you’d like to get in touch with us about these amendments, help with party administration, or to campaign or run for office, please let us know at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.



Yours in truth and transparency,



Green Party of Maryland Coordinating Committee



Olivia Romano and Mary Rooker, co-chairs



Bylaws Proposals Information



The Bylaws Review and Rules Committee proposes two bylaws changes. Summaries are below and texts are on our website <[link removed]>.



PROPOSAL #1: Specify Voting and Tabulation Method



1) Amendment to Article 5.2 of the Maryland Green Party Interim Bylaws <[link removed]> defines and clarifies the method of voting, tabulation, and rules for internal party elections. The proposal specifies details of the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) especially for multi-seat races, such as our two co-chair positions and three national GPUS delegates and alternates.



Bylaws Committee Summary: The Bylaws committee came to consensus on these changes and believe that these clarifications added needed detail to the current procedures.



PROPOSAL # 2:  Number of Membership Coordinators



2) Amendment to Article 8.1, 8.5 and 9.3 to change the number of state-level membership coordinator positions from one to two, including the voting position on the Coordinating Council. The current bylaws say we have one coordinator, but our practice recently has been to have two. 



Bylaws Committee Summary: The bylaws committee agreed that this issue should be presented to the membership, however they disagreed about whether to support the proposed changes. Below are a brief pro and con framing the issue.  







Keep one membership coordinator (con) - Vote no on the amendment



- The original intent of the bylaws with a single membership coordinator supported by a committee is the most efficient method of organizing membership outreach activity.





- When two people are assigned the same task/role, one person often takes on the bulk of the work. Or, neither individual takes responsibility because each assumes the other is doing it. Two people are not inherently better than one.





- By adding another officer to the Coordinating Council, we become top heavy and dilute the grassroots voting power of our local representatives on the Coordinating Council. This sets a precedent that adds officers instead of building out committees to meet basic party tasks. One officer and active representation from locals is more in line with grassroots democracy.



Two membership coordinators (pro): -Vote yes on the amendment



- Starting in 2016, the MGP Annual Assembly elected two membership coordinators, and we have consistently advertised and voted on two positions since 2018.





- The job of the membership coordinator includes maintaining contact information for every Green in the state (over 6,000 people now and nearly 10,000 in 2018), recruiting and retaining new Greens, facilitating the Membership Committee, and facilitating the Outreach Subcommittee. These duties are extensive and are better performed by two people than one.





- If these positions are a statewide elected officer position, then every Green in the state has a chance to vote on who serves in this very important role, and every Green in the state has the opportunity to run for the role. This approach is more in line with grassroots democracy.



Green Party Registration Verification



- The MD State Board of Elections has refused to return 15-35% of all previously registered Greens to our party designation, after a lapse in our party certification in 2019/2020. So we have lost the ability to obtain addresses and communicate with hundreds of members.





- We request all Greens check their registration here <[link removed]>, and if listed as “Other”, go here <[link removed]>to change your registration back to Green. Or join us as a new Green! You just need a driver’s license or government ID. 







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Maryland Green Party - United States

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