Hello everyone, here's an update on Green Focus: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DECISIONS UPDATE For the January issue, we had a lot of submissions --some too long. Originally, Laura and I decided to just edit the submissions we had and try to fit as many as possible into the current issue's 4 pages. But then we received a number of submissions on the elections from Greg Jan, Mike Feinstein, Larry Shoup and Kevin McKeown. There was discussion of expanding the newspaper to 8 pages to be able to fit everything, but at such a late stage in the production process, that would mean that Russell who is doing the layout would have to work much harder through the holidays to make it happen by the plenary. So what we opted for is the following: - The January issue will remain 4 pages (since we already have a layout for this) but will focus mainly on the post-election articles and analysis. A number of articles will be postponed to the next issue. - The next issue, planned for end of March or beginning April, will include the postponed articles AND we are planning on expanding the newspaper to 8 pages. Some budget questions will need to be discussed and decided upon of course before that. Perhaps we could discuss this at the plenary. Note that our goal is to publish the newspapers about two weeks prior to the plenary so that the subscribers actually receive their newspapers before non-subscribers do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUBSCRIPTIONS AND LOGISTICS I am maintaining the subscription list. So far we have a total of 33 subscribers and $1055. I will hand the subscription list with all relevant info to the Clearinghouse at the plenary so that they could go ahead and send out the newspapers as well as the merchandise for the $35 donors. We still need to decide which item to send out; perhaps we could finalize that at the plenary too. I have created subscription coupons that locals could use when tabling. I am currently getting a quote on how much it would cost to make 800 of them as suggested by Robyn Oetinger. Will let you know as soon as I have a number. ** IMPORTANT: I do *not* have the list of GPCA contributors -- no one has told me yet for sure on who will be providing that to the Clearinghouse?! Was it in fact decided that all contributors of $35 and more will get an automatic subscription or not? ** IMPORTANT: What is the final decision on the locals purchasing the newspapers? Laura and I suggested that locals will purchase the newspapers at cost (probably 10 cents per copy). Is that decision approved? ** IMPORTANT: In the future, it would be nice to have more help from the state in general in advertising for the newspaper and asking for subscriptions. I have heard that the Finance group wants this paper to pay for itself. If so, then we would need help from the state to make that happen. Some suggestions: make the Green Focus more visible on the front page of the GPCA website. Currently, there is a subscription button but there is nothing explaining what Green Focus is and why people should sign up. I don't receive the state's online newsletter but it could be advertised there as well as at plenaries. Another suggestion is to encourage locals to put the subscription button on their websites and to advertise it when tabling. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTENT FOR THIS ISSUE The following is what was included in the January issue. Note that most articles have been edited to fit the space. Articles --------- 1. Statewide elections report by Mike Feinstein and Greg Jan 2. Local elections report by Mike Feinstein 3. Santa Monica elections; endorsements matter by Staff (Kevin McKeown is original author but does not want his name associated with the article) 4. Analysis of state results by Larry Shoup 5. "Unlikely Candidate", a personal profile by Paul Franklin 6. GPUS Statement on the impending war on Iraq 7. "Turning the Green Party Black" by Donna Warren with Jonathan Farley 8. "Multiparty political system needed now" by Kelly Ferguson 9. Report on Choice Voting amendment in UC Davis by Matthew Stewart 10. Analysis of the effects of the Patriot Act by Anne Weills 11. "Whither to Grow" by GROW working group (on the need to register voters) Columns & Regulars ----------------------- * Editorial by Karine Megerdoomian (on INS detentions/Patriot Act) * FAQ about the Green Party by Laura Wells * Book Review: Ahmed's "The War on Freedom" by Carole Brouillet * News Clips: - Reports on international Green party advances (Anne Goeke's report) - Green Archives by H. Chapot - Anti-development campaign in San Diego Bay by Lupita Jimenez * 10 key values in English and Spanish * Subscription Coupon * Staff list NOTE: No Letters to the Editor in this issue Photos and Cartoons ---------------------- * 3 Cartoons on Bush Administration oil policy, Patriot Act, Foreign/military policy by Kelly Ferguson, R. Freis and Khalil Bendib * 2-4 Photos. Photos from elections mainly and peace rally in SF. * Book cover for Book Review column ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POSTPONED ITEMS INCLUDE - On voting green by Barrington Daltrey - Glen Brown's submission on hierarchy and the Greens - Militarization of schools by Craig Peterson - Articles/LTE on whether Nader should run - Part 2 of "Viable Multiparty System" by Kelly Ferguson - "Inefficacy of guilt" by Dave Gunty - "Just say no to the old paradigm" by Randy Potter - "Slavery reparations and the Green Party" by Kenneth Landes I will be sending a message to each contributor to update them on the status of their submission later this weekend. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Update submitted by Karine Megerdoomian; December 28, 2002