Monthly Updates

[Ray Myers]

This month we had our first Local Meeting and had some great discussion and brainstorming about what we need to do to make the Green Party a force in this county.

Next month's meeting will be at a different time and location. We will effectively have the whole place to ourselves this time which will be nice.

Brevard Greens Monthly Planning Meeting and Social
6PM to 8PM August 13th (2nd Thursday)
@ The Gallery in Downtown Melbourne
701 East New Haven Ave. (Just east of the Henegar Center, upstairs above Vapor)


Here is just some of what we discussed at this month's meeting, If you were there and think I missed something important, please chime in and start a discussion.

The steps for forming an official Local Party.

• Get at least 5 active Greens, not an issue.
• Pick officers, 2 co-chairs, secretary and treasurer
  If anyone is interested in being an officer let me know
  
• Create bylaws
  There are plenty of other local's bylaws we can take from.
• Submit our stuff to the State Party.
  Once were official we can set up bank accounts and all that fun stuff.
  

Ways to get Greens involved locally.

• Greens should join local progressive groups and get involved. Progressives seeing Greens regularly active will be more likely to consider the party when they get tired of the Democrat's inability to change anything.
• Tabling at events.
  I've met more interested people at events like the Really Really Free Market then at political functions. I would like to have a table at the Space Coast Progressive Fest in the Fall.
  
• Greens can get involved in local government by joining city boards.
  I am on the Palm Bay Utilities Advisory Board. I noticed there are 3 positions open on the Zoning Board, anyone who applies will likely get in, heres a chance for someone to get involved I think.
  
• We would like to have at least one of us watching each of the local councils. That is each City council, the school board and the county commissioners.
  Right now I'm covering Palm Bay and Arlene said she can look into Melbourne.

Moving Forward

• I would like us to run a candidate in 2010 for something small like a city council seat. Everyone I talk to says that campaigns bring the volunteers out in real numbers.
• This was discussed at the meeting only briefly. There is a Progressive running for Congress in District 24 that includes North Brevard. I will be meeting with him and representatives from the State Party on Saturday August 15th in Downtown Melbourne. If anyone is interested in coming along, let me know. It's not my meeting but I don't think it will be a problem.

Ray Myers
Brevard Greens