Initial Organizational Meeting - June 6, 2017

    Our first formal organizational meeting on June 6 was a success!  Fifteen Green Party members met in Beacon and agreed to seek recognition for our group, Hudson Valley Green Party (HVGP),  from the Green Party of New York State (GPNY).  GP members from three counties- Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster- attended, as well as a GP member from Connecticut.  We adopted bylaws and elected a slate of officers.  Michael O'Neil, administrator for GPNY, attended, helped with administrative issues, and spoke about GPNY's political directions for the coming year, most notably working for a single payer health system in NYS (which obtained some support in the NYS Legislature, by being passed by the NYS Assembly as the NY Health Act, prior to the NYS Legislature recessing for the summer).

    Volunteering as officeholders for two year terms are:  Barbara Kidney and Susy Nowak, Co-Chairs; Joe Calabro and Dave Heller, Co-Secretaries; Andrew Dalton, Treasurer.  All received unanimous support.

    Minutes will be submitted to GPNY's Executive Committee (EC) with a request for state party recognition of HVGP as an official local chapter of GPNY.  Receiving this status would enable HVGP to have official representation and voting rights within GPNY.  The next formal meeting of GPNY occurs in mid-September; we expect a decision from the state EC after that meeting.

    All registered Green Party members in Dutchess, Orange, or Ulster counties would be de facto members of HVGP.  Also welcome to join would be people in those counties who self-identify with Green Party values but who are denied voting rights due to immigration status (including Permanent Residents ("green card" holders)) or legal status.  Green Party members or aficionados from outside Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster are also welcome to attend our meetings and to otherwise be in touch with us.

    HVGP will hold its next formal meeting in late September or in October; check this site for further information later.  Meanwhile, we plan to picnic at the Highland side of Walkway Over the Hudson on Saturday, July 22 from 3:30 to 6:30, weather permitting, with rain date of Sunday, July 23, same time.  More on this on an upcoming posting.

 

          --Submitted by Barbara Kidney