I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the North Carolina Mountain Green Party (NCMGP), aka 'The Mountain Greens.'
II. Mission Statement and Affiliations
The NCMGP is a local committee of the North Carolina Green Party (NCGP) that, in turn, is an affiliate of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS). The goal of the NCMGP is to increase its membership and influence local and state issues.
III. The ten key values of the NCMGP are as follows:
Ecological Wisdom
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Nonviolence
Decentralization
Community-based Economics
Feminism (gender equality)
Respect for Diversity
Personal and Global Responsibility
Future Focus/Sustainability
IV. Ratification of Amendments to By-laws
A. Ratification
These by-laws shall be considered ratified if approved by a consensus vote of the Coordinating Committee or, if necessary, by a minimum of three out of 5 votes.
B. Amendments
These by-laws may be amended by a consensus vote of the NCMGP membership by a minimum of 2/3 majority of votes that are cast.
V. Meetings
A. Meetings
All meetings are open to all Members and Affiliates. Notice of each meeting, including its location and exact time, shall be given by e-mail to all of those on the ëpass-throughí e-mail list at least one week prior to each meeting.
B. Annual Meeting
There shall be one yearly meeting (normally in March) designated for electing the Coordinating Committee members.
VI. Coordinating Committee
A. Composition
There shall be a Coordinator, Co-Coordinator, Financial Coordinator, Information Coordinator, and Coordinator-at-Large. Those filling these positions will compose the Coordinating Committee and will function as servant-leaders to the NCMGP.
B. Election
All NCMGP Members will be asked to vote for those running to fill any of the five Coordinating Committee positions that become open. Voting will be held annually at the March meeting to fill vacant positions. The positions of Coordinator and Financial Coordinator expire at the March meeting of even-numbered years. The positions of Co-Coordinator, Coordinator-at-Large, and Information Coordinator expire at the March meeting of odd-numbered years.
C. Duties
1. Coordinator
The Administrative Coordinator shall administer the routine activities of the NCMGP, setting agendas, arranging meeting places and times, and presiding over monthly meetings. The Administrative Coordinator shall also act as the primary contact person for the North Carolina Green Party Coordinating Committee and other political parties and political movements as well as the public.
2. Co-Coordinator
The Co-Coordinator shall asist the Coordinator as required and represent the Coordinator when Necessary. The Co-Coordinator shall record attendance at meetings, take minutes of the meetings, and publish and report those minutes. In addition, the Co-Coordinator shall serve as the primary contact on membership activities and issues within North Carolina Green Party Coordinating Committee, including support activities such as assembling and mailing membership packets.
3. Information Coordinator
The Information Coordinator shall develop and maintain all media lists and contacts, and develop and maintain all forms of electronic and other mass media communication tools used by the local including the website and other forms of electronic and print communication. In addition, the Information Coordinator shall keep lists of active members and affiliates, and maintain and operate the ëpass-throughí e-mail list.
4. Financial Coordinator
The Financial Coordinator shall collect contributions and pay out expenditures as approved by the Coordinating Committee, and when necessary, file reports with government agencies. The Financial Coordinator must give an oral report of NCMGP finances at monthly meetings of the general membership and must distribute printed reports for the previous year at the annual meeting. The Financial Coordinator may make expenditures, on behalf of the local, of up to $50 with the concurrence of the Coordinator or Co-Coordinator. Expenditures more than $50 require the approval of the Coordinating Committee.
5. Coordinator-at-Large
The Coordinator-at-Large assists the other Coordinators. As with the other Coordinators, this is a voting position.
D. Removal of Coordinating Committee members
Coordinating Committee members may be removed by consensus or, where necessary, by a vote of the NCMGP membership by a minimum of 2/3 majority of votes that are cast, for violations of the values and political practices of the NCMGP or for repeated failure to participate at meetings of which they have been notified.
Intent to remove a committee member must be advertised in the notice of that committee meeting during which a vote for removal will be held. Upon removal of a committee member, a new election for that vacated post shall be held at the next regular meeting for which a two-week notice of the impending election can be given.
E. Meetings of the Coordinating Committee
The Coordinating Committee shall meet monthly. Other meetings shall be held as deemed necessary by consensus or, if necessary, by a vote of the NCMGP membership by a minimum of 2/3 majority of votes that are cast.
VII. Decision-making
A. All NCMGP members may vote on NCMGP business, with the exception of financial and legal matters. Financial and legal business will be voted on and accepted by a 3/5 majority vote by Coordinating Committee members only.
B. No member of the Coordinating Committee may abstain from a vote.
C. Decisions shall be made during meetings by a consensus of present Members. A minimum of ten minutes of discussion shall be allowed to attempt to reach consensus. After that time a motion and a second of that motion shall be required to end the discussion and call for a vote. Where consensus is not possible, approval by a minimum of 2/3 majority present members shall suffice.
D. If, during the time between meetings, a decision concerning the NCMGP needs to be made, a vote may be taken by e-mail. Only a Coordinating Committee member may make a motion, second a motion, or make a proposal for vote. Discussion shall be no less than three days after a motion has been seconded. Opportunity to cast electronic votes shall be no less than three days.
Participation is defined as a vote of "yea", or a vote of "nay." A minimum of 3 out of five Coordinating Committee members' votes are necessary for the issue to carry. If the issue is to be voted on by the general membership, then an announcement will be made to the membership calling for a vote, and a minimum of 2/3 majority of votes that are cast will be required for decision. It will be the responsibility of the Information Coordinator to record the votes and to report the vote to the Coordinating Committee.
E. In January 2006, these by-laws will be amended so that all Members will have a right to vote on NCMGP business. The process for Member voting will be developed and implemented before that time.
VIII. SUPPORTING CANDIDATES AND INITIATIVES
The procedure followed in supporting candidates or initiatives is as follows:
Gather information about the candidate or initiative
Discuss the information at a Coordinating Committee scheduled meeting.
If the members present decide to support the candidate or initiative, the next step would be for representatives of the Coordinating Committee to speak with the candidate or group or individual sponsoring the initiative.
If the candidate or sponsor is interested in North Carolina Mountain Green Party support and NCMGP remains interested after the discussion, identify with the candidate or sponsor specific actions to be taken by the NCMGP and recommend these actions to the full Coordinating (or membership following January 1, 2006)
IX. Membership
A. Qualifications and standards
1. Member
a. Commitment to the Ten Key Values
Members shall be in basic agreement with the Ten Key Values and shall also be in basic agreement with the political positions and practices of the NCMGP, North Carolina Green Party, and the Green Party US.
b. Dues
Members shall pay $20 in dues annually to the NCMGP. To fulfillthe state party requirements, the NCMGP will forward dues anually to the state for the two NCMGP voting members of the state Coordinating Committee and the one alternate. If any additional member of the NCMGP is an elected member of the state Coordinating Committee, or voting delegate, then the NCMGP will forward his or her dues to the state party also.
2. Affiliates
Affiliates are individuals who are interested in the organizationís activities and who have indicated an interested in being on the NCMGPís ëpass-throughí e-mail list. Affiliates do not pay dues.
3. Resignation
Members may resign at any time from NCMGP and are asked to give written notice of resignation to the Administrative Coordinator.
B. Enforcement of standards and qualifications
1. Automatic Suspension
Automatic suspension from membership shall occur for failure to pay dues. It shall be the Coordinating Committeeís responsibility to clear such members from the active membership list. Unless suspended for violation of the ten key principles, members shall be returned to active membership upon paying dues.
2. Expulsion by vote of Coordinating Committee.
Members may be expelled from the NCMGP for actively working against any one (or more) of the ten key values of the Green Party US. Any active member may recommend this expulsion at a monthly meeting. Expulsion requires a consensus of the NCMGP membership persent by a vote of a minimum of 2/3 majority of votes that are cast.
If at all possible, the member under consideration for expulsion will be given the opportunity to take part in non-binding mediation facilitated by another Green Party member (not of the Mountain Greens local). If the mediation does not produce an acceptable resolution, the member under consideration for expulsion will be given an opportunity at the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting to spend 10 minutes addressing the charge of failing to meet standards of behavior. The Information Coordinator shall record the vote.
X. Dissolution of the NCMGP
If the active membership of the NCMGP falls below five members or should the Coordinating Committee fail to maintain three or more members for a six-month period, the NCMGP shall be dissolved, any treasury funds remaining after paying outstanding debts shall be paid to the North Carolina Green Party.
