May 2009

Greens Come Together for the 2009 Annual National Meeting in Durham, North Carolina

The Green Party of the United States is pleased to announce that the 2009 Annual National Meeting will be held Thursday, July 23-Sunday July 26, 2009 on the campus of North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Plan to attend this year's largest national gathering of Greens to make new friends, network, and help grow the Green Party nationally and in your community.  Join with other greens across the country as we prepare for the 2010 election cycle with workshops on candidate recruitment, ballot access, fundraising, media outreach, and other skills you can take back to your local party.

Registration is open now!  Discounted earlybird registration is available for only a few more days...register now to save money and start making your travel plans early.  Registration and other information is available at the 2009 Annual National Meeting wepage.

Record Number of Greens Running in '09

Green Parties across the U.S. are running a record number of candidates in local and state elections.  Fewer elections are scheduled in odd-numbered years, but that hasn't stopped over 100 Greens from running for office in 2009 elections.  In 2005, 69 candidates had declared their run by the middle of May.  In 2007, that number was 74.  So far in 2009, 119 candidates have declared their runs.  That's 119 people (and their volunteers) asking for votes, asking for financial support, and letting their communities know that the Green Party is ready to step up and lead. 

It's not too late to declare your candidacy!  Call or visit your town's website to see if school board, city council, county board, or soil, water, air, or utility board elections are scheduled for this year.  Find out how to file a candidacy, get local Greens involved, and let your state and national Green Party know you are running!  It's also not to early to start planning a run for 2010.    

If you can't run this year, help out a candidate who is.  To find out if any candidates are running near you, check our comprehensive online elections database.  Remember to get out and vote Green in 2009!

Green Pages Now Available On-Line

Green Pages, the national newspaper of the Green Party of the United States, is available exclusively on-line in 2009.  By going paperless for this year we can maximize your donations to the Green Party of the United States, save trees, and offer dynamic content like embedded videos, constantly updated content, and user comments and polls.   

If you want to take copies with you for festivals, parades and other outreach events, you can download and print a PDF version.  But make sure to bookmark Green Pages online at http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/.

Green Party Says Goodbye to Emily Citkowski

The Green Party of the United States' Operations Director, Emily Citkowski, is leaving this month after nearly six years with the party.  She started working for GPUS in November of 2003 and coordinated day-to-day operations at the national office through two Presidential campaigns, five national meetings, and several location changes. 

After leaving a regional labor organization to direct operations for the Green Party, she is returning to work for a national labor advocacy group and then to law school shortly thereafter.

Emily remarked: "I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for the Green Party as a staffer. During my time on staff I was constantly amazed, inspired, energized and sustained by dedication and creativity of our volunteers, candidates, officeholders and grassroots activists. Our party will not just survive but thrive on this kind of people-power and I look forward to being part of it as a volunteer.  I'll miss working with my colleagues at the national office, but have no doubt they'll get along fine without me."

In addition to her duties as Operations Director, Emily played a key role on the Merchandise and Outreach Committees. She will continue with her GPUS committee work, as well as her efforts with the DC Statehood Green Party.

Congratulations and thanks for many years of service can be e-mailed to Emily at emily@gp.org.

Be Seen Wearing Green This Summer

Summer is coming and your local is probably planning to table and march in festivals and parades in your neighborhood.  Make sure to stock up on Green Party merchandise to hand out to potential new members.  One of the best ways to advertise the Green Party to everyone who passes your table is with a Green Party t-shirt, hat, or sweatshirt.  All are union-made in the USA so you can feel good about supporting workers and the Green Party.

Don't forget to have enough literature available so everyone in your community can read more about what the Green Party stands for.  Get your Ten Key Values cards, "Green Party - A Real Difference" cards, and tabling handbook at our online store.

We have several new items perfect for this summer.  We have Green Party logo jar openers for picnics, Ten Key Values magnets for holding report cards up on the fridge, and resealable, reusable, BPA-free water bottles for staying cool and hydrated.  Buy them separately or together for a discounted price!

Follow the Green Party Online

The Green Party of the United States is utilizing all popular social networks to build a community of online support and communication for its members.  Follow the Green Party on Twitter or MySpace.  We also have a page on Facebook.  Tell your friends that they can hook up with us online and make new Green friends!

Register Green. Vote Green. Give Green.

The Green Party does not accept corporate donations. We depend entirely on donations from people who are committed to building a powerful and progressive alternative to the two corporate parties.

We ask you to challenge corporate influence in politics by supporting the Green Party of the United States! Show your resistance to the status quo by enabling us to continue organizing and mobilizing for real change. Please help us get out our positive, progressive values to new communities, and to deepen our involvement where we're already anchored.

Support us today and please consider becoming a sustainer (look for the recurring donation option).

Green Party online shopping just got easier! Visit our improved online store.

Federal law requires political committees to use their best effort to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer for each individual whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. Contributions form the following individuals and entities are prohibited: corporations, labor organizations, national banks, government contractors, people under 18 years of age, and foreign nationals.

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The Green Party is not the alternative.  The Green Party is the imperative.
~ Rosa Clemente