[gpga-news] PrsRls: Georgia Greens Invited to Participate in Platform Hearing

[Hugh Esco]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 12th, 2010

For further information, please contact:
Hugh Esco 678-921-8186 x21
Adam Shapiro 404-874-3005 
	Interim CoChairs, Committee on the Green Party Platform

Georgia Greens Invited to Participate in Platform Hearing 
Deadline for submissions set for midnight Friday, February 12th

The national Party's Platform Committee has announced a timeline for
the consideration of proposed changes to this document last revised by
the Milwaulkee Presidential Nominating Convention in 2004.  The Georgia
Committee on the Green Party Platform, facing a Monday, February 15th
filing deadline with the Platform Committee of the Green Party of the
United States, has set its own submission deadline for Friday at
midnight.  The Georgia Committee invites all Georgia Greens to
participate in a hearing on the subject to be conducted Saturday,
February 13th, with two sessions scheduled for 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.  

Reminding us that democracy can be messy at times, the dramatic defeat
of the proposed 2008 Platform at the Chicago Convention has led to
recently adopted reforms to the national Party's Platform process.
Previously the process subjected the document to an up or down vote
with no opportunity for amendment by the Convention. Now distinct
Platform amendments will be considered on a two year cycle, instead of
only during Presidential election years, as has been our past practice.
The National Committee (in off years) and the Presidential Nominating
Convention, when it meets, will consider distinct changes to the
Platform.

On Friday, February 5th, Georgia's Delegation on National Green Party
Affairs made interim appointments filling vacant Co-Chair positions on
the Georgia Party's Committee on the Green Party Platform. Serving as
interim Co-Chairs are Adam Shapiro, former state Party chairman and
radio show host from Fulton County, and Hugh Esco, a DeKalb County
resident and former Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor who also is
currently serving as Secretary for the Party.  The Committee was
instructed to accept proposed changes to the national Party's Platform,
conduct hearings on those proposed changes and to present those
amendments for the consideration of the State Committee in time to make
Monday's deadline.  

The Committee has announced a deadline for proposed changes to the
National Party's Platform, for consideration in the February deadline
set by the national Party's Platform Committee. The Committee also
invites participation by Greens throughout Georgia in a hearing
scheduled for late Saturday afternoon, February 13th, 2010. The
hearing will be conducted in two sessions starting at 5:00 pm and 8:00
pm, by phone conference bridge supported by a web conferencing
application and connection details will be provided to all Georgia
Greens who register.

Georgia Greens interested in registering are urged to link to:
	http://platform.georgiagreenparty.org/supporters.cgi?function=volunteer&process=1

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Important Dates for Georgia Greens
Friday, February 12th, 2010, 12:00 midnight

Deadline for submission of proposals for consideration of the
Coordinating Council of the Georgia Green Party for submission to the
Platform Committee of the Green Party of the United States.

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

5:00 pm till 6:00 pm
8:00 pm till 9:00 pm

Public Hearing conducted by phone conference, log in credentials
provided to all who register. (Registration form will be available late
this coming week). Those interested in participating are urged to
subscribe to the gpga-news@ list for updates.