October 2010 Newsletter

Greetings I'm Jorden Leonard, Executive Director of the Portland Green Party.

We had our first chapter meeting at the SE Lucky Lab with 22 people in attendance, a fantastic turnout. Check our minutes here for details. In short we chatted about bylaws, and formed a committee to look them over. We had some guests speak, Mark Callahan Green candidate for District 13 came up from Eugene. He left the Democratic Party because they “were only concerned about supporting the candidate who they thought would be the winner”. They weren't the community we as Greens aspire to be. I hope all of you will join me in welcoming Mark to our party and tell our friends to the South to support him.

At my invitation we had Jon Bartholomew present to speak to us about the Yes For Portland campaign for Voter Owned Elections (VOE) we are a part of and to ask for our support. A sign up sheet was passed around asking for volunteers and I am proud to say I saw a number of those present filling in their names and committing to helping out directly.

As part of our chat about bylaws Michael Meo proposed some amendments to the current ones we have. The bylaw review committee has already begun hammering improvements out and will keep the chapter informed over the next few months on their progress.

Our next chapter meeting will again be the last Wednesday of the month (the 27th) at the SE Lucky Lab from 7-9 pm. Cost of the room is $100 each night. I've heard that $3 was donated last time which was appreciated, but let's ease the burden by half. I think I can commit to $5. I can skip a beer. Let's have nine more people do the same.

Our chapter has four candidates on the ballot Chris Henry, Chris Lugo, Michael Meo, and Chris Extine. They have all spent time and money on campaigns for us. Unlike other political parties, candidates for the Green Party aren't out for personal gain, but for the gain of the party and what we represent. Help them help us. This is the last month to make a difference before the election. If you are on the fence about helping out. Take the leap now. Contact us and be a part of history.

Speaking of history, assuming Voter Owned Elections is sustained our party will be well poised to take advantage of it and support local Green candidates who will in turn support us. We will show people that voting Green isn't a protest against a major party, but rather a valid alternative. And as we gain real political power let us show by example how this can be done in a sustainable grassroots way with consensus style meetings and more transparency then anyone else.

The environment has tipping points, and maybe we've passed some of those to our children's dismay. I think society has tipping points too, and I see us approaching some now. The Green Party needs to be ready, to be something people can turn to as the major parties they put in power fail them.

Let's all find a way to do our part for the community, for ourselves.

Solidarity.

Other Reminders/Requests:

Put on your calendar November 6th PGP state convention in Camp Myrtlewood in Coos Bay at 10am.

We are still looking for someone with the time and inclination to help out with developing our social networking outreach, ie with Facebook. Please contact me if you have any interest.

Media:

I'd like to recommend the Young Turks news show to everyone.  I've been watching/listening for a while and I think we can make some connections to the new media they represent that we could never make to the old.  I've reached out to them as campaign manager for Michael Meo to no success. Would anyone else like to give it a go?  Let me know.