[Iowa-dx] Re: Revitalizing Iowa Greens

[Hart, Holly J]

Well, I don't entirely agree we have to get someone elected before we pay a=
ttention to our potential membership base (definitely not!), but what I sai=
d was what I've observed in this state since the start - the more we engage=
 in campaigns, the more interest and activity we generate.  I don't think w=
e've neglected our membership base; most of them left for Kucinich, and sta=
yed for Obama.  How to convince people to re-register Green is the current =
challenge, and we have been trying to do something about it!  We have in th=
e past presented letters or comments at city council meetings, and there's =
no reason not to start doing this again.  Film series or showings seem to h=
ave generated the most interst from among the general public, so maybe that=
's something to keep following.  We've done other types of presentations, a=
s well -

I am skeptical that we are going to have the same rate of growth or interes=
t in teh immediate future that we did in 2001-2.  I do think we'll attract =
members, and the next step will see if we have folks who will act as a loca=
l contact or organizer in their area.  That has been the deciding factor in=
w here we've been able to have an active group.  That takes time, though, t=
o find people with time, interest to do this....

________________________________________
From: iowa-dx-admin@lists.gp-us.org [iowa-dx-admin@lists.gp-us.org] On Beha=
lf Of GreenParty Ron [greenpartyron@activist.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:58 PM
To: iowa-dx@gp-us.org
Subject: [Iowa-dx] Re: Revitalizing Iowa Greens

From: Ronald Kinum   IowaGreenRon@mail.org<mailto:IowaGreenRon@mail.org>
To: GreenPartyIssues@yahoogroups.com
CC:
Subject: [GreenPartyIssues] Re: Revitalizing Iowa Greens
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:53:57 -0000


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Thank you Holly.

So, what are we doing -- have we been doing -- to get back some or
all of those 2600 members from 2001 to 2002???? I have not seen any
action by Iowa Green Party!!!

I do not want us to use the milestone of 2600 members in 2001 to 2002
as our success story. The real issue is that we no longer have those
members in our Party! We need to not only do something about that,
but to attract other people to join our local Green groups and Iowa
Green Party. I just do not see that!

My suggestion centered on making the effort to make our Party become
viable by involving our members in membership activities, which I do
not think is the case now, and to make real political activities
become our history. I do not see that now.

Where we are not in elective offices, make public appearances as our
Iowa Green / local group Party in city council meetings, county
commission meetings, state legislature sessions, to make public
testimonies and endorsements or critiques/criticisms! That is one
way. Another is in letter-writing and news releases to address
issues and elected representatives that both do and do not relate to
our Green Party Platform and key values. This is great publicity
that we do not have to ask the news media to report on, usually that
is, if it is bonafide actual newsworthy information!

Regardless of when I arrived in Johnson County Green Party over a
year ago, and in Iowa Green Party somewhat later, I have been
involved with Green Party in Saint Louis Missouri and in Las Vegas
Nevada from 2002 to 2006. I moved here to Iowa City in spring of
2006. I do not regard Iowa Green Party as being any different from
Clark County Green Party (in Las Vegas), we still all adhere to the
same party platform and to the same Green Party ideals. Local issues
may be different, but supposedly, we are all still Green Party US !!
Therefore, I think it is time for us to STOP neglecting our potential
membership base, STOP neglecting promoting our Party, and STOP
putting road blocks of personal agendas and introverted disagreement
into constructive motivation. We MUST begin being positive and
nurturing. Like my discussion with Holly, I disagree very strongly
that we need to focus on getting someone elected before we build up
our membership, I think very rationally that we need to focus on
building up our organization so we have something to show as a power
to advocate that our candidates should be elected! That rationale
should be obvious!

Ron Kinum a.k.a. Libris Fidelis


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