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Spring 2008 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION ORDER BUNDLES ----- Green Pages Board Business |
Mullen, McMillan take critical responsibilities
By Rebecca L. Weber, D.C. Statehood Green Party
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| Green Party Political Director Brent McMillan and Fundraising Director Kara Mullen take a break from their work at the party office in Washington, D.C. |
| Photo Credit: Rebecca L. Weber / D.C. Statehood Green Party |
In their new roles, both McMillan and Mullen have spent months analyzing what has and hasn't historically worked well for the Greens. McMillan said he's been asking what he calls "basic tribal questions" almost daily: "Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going? And who are we?"
Both are also in constant contact with Greens and "closet Greens" in the field. Mullen said she hears inspiring stories every day: "The unique difference between Greens and members of other political parties is that most all of our members are activists. We might be small, but we're informed and engaged--key ingredients to building a strong third party."
One of the fundraising challenges, however, is that many of these active Greens give so much of their time that they don't feel like they need to donate money. "People give their personal time and feel that's enough," Mullen said. "But without the financial support of core Greens, who is going to support us?"
Mullen has been experimenting with different types of outreach and fundraising efforts, including mailings and events. Usually an election year means good tidings for fundraising, yet the presidential election has severely hampered fundraising efforts, for obvious reasons, Mullen said.
"I have no stance on the election, I can only view it from a monetary standpoint," she said. "I think if we choose a Green candidate or no candidate in June, the fundraising situation will improve. If we choose a candidate outside the party, I fear we will see more resources drain from the party. Either way, I'll be glad when the election is over."
For his part, McMillan described his dream job as a humbling experience: "There's awareness, acceptance, and moving into action. I used to be an outspoken activist, and now I'm the authority. I can't pick and choose my battles; I have to put out fires."
McMillan has been rebuilding the elections database and offering support to nearly 300 Green candidates who are running for office.
Growing the Green Party is a passion he's had since his conversion to Green politics in the early 1990s, when he was driving to his Chicago job one morning at 2 a.m. and heard a radio news announcement that there had been 33 murders that weekend, some over petty matters such as shoes. The lifelong Republican had "a moment of clarity."
Although McMillan was poised to complete his master's degree and begin a new position managing an art gallery, instead he took stock of his political affiliation.
"I decided I wasn't really Republican any more," McMillan explained. "I checked out the Democrats and the Libertarians, but they weren't for me either. I had heard about the Greens in Germany, found out more about them, and said, 'yeah, that's what my values are.'"
McMillan got involved locally in the party in Delaware County, Indiana. When he moved to Washington State in 1995, he co-founded the Green Party of Seattle.
Mullen was living in the Bay Area last fall when, consumed by the nation's political crisis, she used her train commute time to read political books. It was while reading Ralph Nader's "Crashing the Party" that she realized how she might be able to do something meaningful for the Green Party.
"I was reading the part about fundraising, and it seemed like Greens needed somebody who didn't have a problem asking for money," she recalls. She took a look at www.gp.org that night to see if there were any open positions and, lo and behold, the site had an announcement that the national party was looking for a fundraising director.
"I knew the job belonged to me," Mullen said. "Be careful what you ask for, right?" she added with a laugh.
"I am really interested to hear about the impact that elected Greens are having in their communities," Mullen said. "These are great stories that inspire prospective donors and instill pride into current Greens. I want to hear from elected Greens. What legislation passed, or didn't pass, because of you? What projects occurred as a result of your handiwork? Tell me your stories."
Mullen can be reached at kara@gp.org or 866-41GREEN; McMillan can be reached at brent@gp.org.
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