Green National Convention, Reading PA July 12-15

This years Annual National Convention is in nearby Reading, PA! I hope many of you can come for the weekend or for the whole convention. Check out http://www.gpanc.org/ for full details.

•Global Greens: Presentations from Juan Behrend, Co-Secretary General of the European Green Party; Janet Eaton from the Green Party of Canada talking about the NAFTA Super Corridor, and representatives from the Green Party of the Dominican Republic and the Green Party of New Zealand.

•Presidential Forum: Any candidate currently seeking the Green Party nomination for President in 2008 will have an early opportunity to address party delegates.

•Ralph Nader: His talk will be about the decision of the Pennsylvania State Courts to require candidates in 2004 and 2006 to pay between $80,000 and $90,000 in costs for having tried to get on the ballot and being challenged and then removed. The 2004 candidate who was victimized was Nader himself; the 2006 candidate was Carl Romanelli, Green Party nominee for U.S. Senator. Romanelli's appeal on the matter of costs is now pending in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

•Catherine Austin Fitts: President of Solari, Inc. a socially responsible investment firm, and former Federal Housing Director in the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

•Workshops: Numerous workshops on topics such as "media relations," "running for office," and "building an effective campaign organization" Special three-day workshop on "Dismantling Racism" - open to the general public.

•Musical Groups: Noted Hip-Hop artist and Green Party member Head-Roc and his DJ's Eurock and Noyeek will headline the Music Fest with a performance on Saturday night. The 3 day event will also include performances by the Juggling Suns, Green Onions, Hexbelt, Uncle Skip, and others.


Thursday night is shaping up to be an International night.
There will also be a silent auction, vendors and exhibitors, and a music festival!
Come to Reading for the national meeting and network with Greens from around the country and the world!

None of the above workshops conflict with delegate plenary sessions. Plenary sessions being at 1:00 PM Friday, July 13 and end at 1:00 PM Sunday July 15. Plenary sessions are not open to the public.


WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Workshops are held at the Abraham Lincoln – A Wyndham Historic Hotel, 5th and Washington Streets. They are open to delegates and the public. They do not conflict with delegate plenary/business sessions, which are held Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday morning.


Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, July 11, 12, and 13

Track: Special 18-hour workshop starts with Wed dinner at 5:00 PM
Title: Dismantling Racism
Presenters: Rita Harris and Bill Price
This is the only workshop requiring advance registration.
Registration for this workshop closed June 15.


Thursday, July 12, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Title: Candidate Preparation: How to Talk About Ending the Death Penalty
Presenter: Claudia Ellquist Track: Electoral

Title: Reparations for the Drug War
Presenter: Clifford W. Thornton, Jr. Track: Issue

Title: Media in Campaigns
Presenter: Scott McLarty Track: Electoral


Thursday, July 12, 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Title: Urban Election Basic: The Ward Leader
Presenter: Lewis Harris, Jr. Track: Electoral

Title: Greens in the News: Publish or Perish
Presenter: Deyva Arthur, David Doonan, Mike Feinstein, and Dave McCorquodale

Track: Electoral
Title: Greening the Dollar: How Monetary Reform Could Restore and Solidify Our Democracy
Presenter: Stephen Zarlenga Track: Issue


Thursday, July 12, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Title: Public Transportation
Presenter: Peter Javsicas and David Odell Track: Issue

Title: State Lobbying 101
Presenter: Robb Tufts and Ted Weber Track: Electoral

Title: Training the Volunteer Phone Banker for Fundraising
Presenter: Brent McMillan Track: Electoral


Thursday, July 12, 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM

Title: Energy and Environmental Justice
Presenter: Mike Ewall Track: Issue

Title: Local Candidate Recruitment
Presenter: Rome Celli Track: Electoral

Title: Running for Office: What You Need to Know
Presenter: Brent McMillan Track: Electoral


Thursday, July 12, 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Title: Autonomy vs Authority
Presenter: Joe Dubovy Track: Issue

Title: Green Party Vision for Next 25 Years
Presenter: John Rensenbrink Track: Electoral

Title: Sustainable Activism: Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout
Presenter: Alison Duncan Track: Issue


Friday, July 13, 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Title: Green Economy Primer for Candidates
Presenter: Greg Gerritt Track: Electoral

Title: Organic Gardening
Presenter: Richard Fuller Track: Issue

Title: Winning Office in New York State: Campaign Strategies
Presenter: Rebecca Rotzler and Michael Sellers Track: Electoral


Friday, July 13, 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Title: Ballot Access in Pennsylvania
Presenter: Russ Diamond, Ken Krawchuk, Tom McLaughlin, John Murphy, Markay Rogers, and Bob Small
Track: Issue

Title: Peace Action and Green Party Connection to the Anti-War Movement
Presenter: Zool Zulkowitz

Title: Sustainable Living: Survival of Civilization from the Soil Up
Presenter: Jerry Brunetti
Track: Issue