Policy for Elected Party Officials (Adopted by consensus of the Coordinating Council 4/1/02 and amended 9/6/03 and 3/7/04) I. Findings and Definitions The Coordinating Council finds that, the members of the Coordinating Council (CC) and of the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs (DoNGPAs) are elected by the State Convention to carry out the mission, policies and procedures of the Georgia Green Party (GGP), including representing our Party and our members in a fiscally responsible manner. The Coordinating Council finds further that the full involvement of its Members in the development and administration of key Party functions is vital to the fully engaged participation of Council Members in building the capacity of the Party to achieve our collective goals as expressed by our Values and Platform. II. Division of Labor among Elected Servants of the Georgia Green Party The Council shall at its first organizational meeting, give consideration to a division among the Council Members of labor within the Council and within the structure of the Party. Council Members are requested to commit a minimum of three hours each week to the fulfillment of their responsibilities to the State Party and such additional time as may be required by their assuming one or more of the following roles, as vacancies may from time to time exist in such roles: (1)Co-Chair of the Georgia Green Party and Co-Convener of the Coordinating Council, as such role is defined in the By-Laws and Policies of the Party and in the Georgia election Code; (2)Treasurer of the Georgia Green Party, as such role is defined in the By-Laws and Policies of the Party and in the Georgia election Code; (3)Secretary of the Georgia Green Party and Clerk of the Council, as such role is defined in the By-Laws and Policies of the Party and in the Georgia election Code; (4)Member of the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs, as such role is defined in the By-Laws and Policies of the Party; (5)Convention Convener and Co-Chair of Convention Planning Committee, as such role is defined in the Nominating Convention Rules of the Party; (6)Co-Chair of the Affiliation Committee, as such role is defined in the Affiliation Policy of the Party; (7)Press Secretary and Co-Chair of the Media Committee, as such role is defined in the Communications Policy of the Party; (8)Director of Information Technology, as such role is defined in the Communications Policy of the Party; (9)Web Clerk, as such role is defined in the Communications Policy of the Party; (10)Fundraising Coordinator, as such role is defined in the Fiscal and Fundraising Policy of the Party; (11)Database Coordinator, as such role is defined in the Fiscal and Fundraising Policy of the Party; (12)Membership Development Coordinator and Chair of the Membership Development Committee, as such role is defined in the Fiscal and Fundraising Policy of the Party; (13)Petition Drive Coordinator, as such role is defined in the Fiscal and Fundraising Policy of the Party; (14)Co-Chair of the Editorial Council, as such role is defined in the Fiscal and Fundraising Policy of the Party; (15)Editor of a Party Publication, as such role is defined in the Fiscal and Fundraising Policy of the Party; Except that a Member of Council who is a candidate endorsed or nominated by the Party, or who is under contract to serve as the Executive Director, a Development Director, a Field Organizer, or a Petition Circulator shall not be expected to assume one of these additional volunteer roles; excepting further that this provision in no way requires that any of the above positions be filled by a Member of Council, nor does it serve to amend or supersede a previous or future action by the Council or by another body or elected or appointed servant of the party otherwise authorized to fill such positions from exercising their powers under the Rules of the Party to fill vacancies in such party roles; neither is this Article intended to change or limit the terms for which such duly appointed party servants would otherwise serve in these roles. III. Ambassadorial Role of Elected servants of the Georgia Green Party All members of the Coordinating Council (CC) and of the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs (DoNGPAs), duly elected by an Annual Convention are considered to be equal ambassadors on behalf of the Georgia Green Party. To that end, all Council and Delegation Members are encouraged to assist with fund raising and membership development activities, with organizing local affiliations in their own and in other counties, with party building activities, with coalition building and with other activities that develop and promote the Georgia Green Party and its ten key values. The Quick Decision Council and Committee Chairs are encouraged to consider all Council members and National Delegates as possible candidates for ambassadorial duties. IV. The Conduct of Party Business, Notice, Waivers Any proposal to change any By-law, Policy, Rule or Procedure of the Party shall be published to the membership for at least 14 days prior to any action being taken on said proposed change, by the Coordinating Council (CC) or the Annual Convention. Each such proposal shall be published in the Internal Discussion Bulletin of the Party, as provided by the Party's Communications Policy. V. Conflicts of interest It is a conflict of interest for any member of the Coordinating Council to hold a Party funded salaried, hourly-paid or contract position with the Party. Should the Coordinating Council deem it necessary to fill any such position with a member of the Coordinating Council, resulting in such a dual role, the Coordinating Council Member holding such a dual role shall be prohibited from voting on any and all decisions regarding the compensation, terms of employment or other matter related to the paid position. VI. Party Money and the Reimbursement of Expenses A. Reimbursements to Elected Servants of the Party Any and all members of the Council or of the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs attending to official business shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable and actual expenses, including out-of-pocket travel expenses and out-of-state lodging not to exceed federally approved and published maximum per diem rates and IRS approved business mileage rate, upon 1) prior request to attend to such ambassadorial duties and / or official business, and 2) approval of such request by a simple majority of the Quick Decision Council. Elected, appointed and paid servants of the Party are urged to give preference to community housing, meals and other hospitality offered by Greens in communities through which they travel. B. Reimbursements to Contractors of the Party In addition, paid Servants of the Party are hired to carry out duties as assigned by the Council. To that end, no expenses shall be paid or reimbursed to paid Servants of the Party unless authorized by the Executive Director, the Treasurer or a majority of the Quick Decision Council and provided for in the Party's annual budget as authorized or amended from time to time by Council, or when required by Party policy, as authorized by a Project Budget adopted by the Quick Decision Council, except for the expenses of the executive director which shall require the prior approval of the Treasurer or of a majority of the Quick Decision Council. This policy supersedes or further delineates any policies or the form of any contracts previously adopted, except that this provision shall not impair the enforcement of any existing contract. VII. Mediation of Conflicts and the Resolution of Grievances A. Expectations of Party Servants Council members, National Delegates and other elected or appointed servants of the Party are urged to set an example of integrity in how they represent the will of the Party as expressed through the democratic processes embodied in the by-laws and rules of the Party. Such Party servants are cautioned that assuming roles of responsibility within the Georgia Green Party subjects them to sanctions for the violation of Membership Standards as spelled out in the Party By-Laws, Article VII., Section B. B. Conflict Mediation Members of the Party in conflict with one another are urged to seek mediation to resolve differences which would affect their ability to work together for the good of the Party. State and Local Party servants are urged to facilitate the resolution of conflicts among Party members. C. Notice of Intention to Introduce a Resolution to Sanction In an action to sanction a Party servant or member for violation of the Membership Standards articulated in the By-Laws, Article VII., Section B., the proposal for such action shall be filed with the Clerk for publication in the Internal Discussion Bulletin one week earlier than would otherwise be necessary for other business to be conducted at the Coordinating Council meeting or Convention which will consider the resolution to sanction the Party member; and the proposal shall be served on the Party servant or member, the subject of the resolution to sanction them, by that earlier filing deadline, along with notice of their opportunity to respond and have their response published along side the charges levied against them. D. Opportunity for a Hearing In adopting a resolution to sanction a Party servant or member for violation of the Membership Standards of the Party, the Coordinating Council shall appoint a hearing panel and issue notice to the Party servant or member of their opportunity to request a hearing where they can show cause why they should not be sanctioned for the charges levied against them. Such servant or member shall have fourteen calendar days to request such a hearing by filing their request with the Clerk of the Party. The hearing panel shall be composed of three Party members elected by the Council consistent with the Party's election rules for filling multi-member bodies, but shall not include any Council member who may have brought the charges which are the subject of the hearing. The hearing panel shall schedule a hearing to take place within fourteen days of a request for a hearing. Both the defendant to the charges, or their designated advocate, and the sponsor of a resolution to sanction or the person designated by such sponsor to prosecute the charges shall have the right to call witnesses. Both parties may cross-examine such witnesses as may be called by the other party. It shall be the right of the defendant to such an action to provide for a stenographic record of the proceedings, to which both the defendant and the Party shall split the costs and have equitable access. The hearing panel may act on a simple majority of its members. The hearing panel shall report its findings and any minority reports back to the Coordinating Council along with its recomendations for action. The Coordinating Council is not bound by the recommendation of a hearing panel. The Coordinating Council may delegate to the hearing panel its power to warn or reprimand a servant or member found to have violated the Membership Standards of the Party, but any final action to suspend, recall or expell shall rest with the Coordinating Council. VIII. Delegation on National Green Party Affairs A. Structure and Decision Making 1. Size and Composition The Georgia Green Party shall provide for an annual election of a Delegation on National Green Party Affairs with each member to serve a two year staggered term to represent the views and concerns of its membership in national matters before the Green Party of the United States. The Delegation on National Green Party Affairs shall consist of six members, sufficient to name one Delegate and one Alternate to each seat to which the Georgia Green Party may be entitled on the National Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States. 2. Organization of the Delegation By agreement of and from among those elected to the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs, delegates and alternates shall be designated to serve on the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States. The Delegation is urged to name a chair and a clerk to facilitate its business and may name such other Delegation officers among its members as it may from time to time find necessary to the conduct of its work. The Delegation may adopt such rules, not in conflict with the By-Laws or with rules adopted by the Party's Annual Convention or the Coordinating Council, as it may deem appropriate to govern the conduct of Delegation business. 3. The Conduct of Business The Delegation on National Green Party Affairs may, with the participation of a quorum, conduct business conferring in person, by telephone, telephone conference or by electronic conference where decisions are confirmed by telephone or other voice contact. A decision shall be considered that of the Delegation if a good faith effort was made by the participating members of the Delegation to contact all the members of the Delegation. A quorum of the Delegation shall consist of a simple majority of its members. The Delegation shall publish minutes of its actions in the subsequent edition of the Internal Discussion Bulletin and as appropriate on the internal lists of the Party. 4. Duties and Discretion of Delegates to the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States Each Delegate designated by the Delegation to serve on the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States shall (1) attend each face-to-face or teleconference meeting of the Coordinating Committee of which they have been notified and participate in each such meeting and in the on-line deliberations of the Coordinating Committee; (2) cast a vote on all matters to which they are entitled and able to vote; (3) accountably represent such positions as may have been taken by the Party, its Conventions, its Coordinating Council or by the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs on matters before them; (4) obtain the endorsement of the Coordinating Council or the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs of such substantive policy proposals as they may from time to time advance in their capacity as a Delegate of the Party; (5) make written reports of their votes and activities on behalf of the Party to the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs, and to the Party, submitted in time for publication in each edition of the Internal Discussion Bulletin, except that they shall make a written report at least quarterly; (6) report regularly to appropriate internal lists and to the membership publications of the Party the actions, decisions and discussions of theCoordinating Committee; (7) frame internal discussion among the party's leadership and activist base on matters pending before theCoordinating Committee. 5. Succession of Alternates to Delegate Status (a) Vacancies among Delegates to the Coordinating Committee A vacancy shall exist for a Delegate seat whenever either the Delegate shall notify the Delegation of their inability to either temporarily or ongoingly perform their duties as enumerated in paragraph 4, above, or whenever the Delegation shall find that a Delegate designated to serve on the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States (1) has or is expected to fail to attend a meeting of the Coordinating Committee; (2) has failed to cast a vote on two or more matters before the Coordinating Committee; (3) has failed to accountably represent the position of the Party on matters before them; (4) has failed to make regular written reports of their votes and activities on behalf of the Party; or (5) has failed in their responsibility to frame internal discussion among the party's leadership and activist base on matters pending before theCoordinating Committee. (b) The filling of a vacancy Whenever a vacancy shall exist, the Chair and the Secretary of the Delegation shall determine whether the vacancy is temporary or permanent and shall notify the Alternate previously designated by the Delegation that they are to assume the responsibilities of a Delegate and to serve until replaced by action of the Delegation for the duration of the outstanding term of office, or in the event of a temporary disability, until such time as the temporary disability has been resolved and the designated Delegate shall again assume the role and perform the duties of a Delegate. B. Appointment of Party Members to National Bodies 1. Committees of the Green Party of the United States The Delegation on National Green Party Affairs may, by the agreement of a two- third majority of those members voting, name active members of the Georgia Green Party to serve as the Georgia Green Party's delegates to such Committees as may be chartered from time to time by the Green Party of the United States. 2. National Coalitons, Alliances and Networks joined by the Party In the event that the Annual Convention shall amend the By-Laws of the Georgia Green Party to authorize the Coordinating Council to delegate its power and duty to appoint delegates to Coalitions, Alliances and Networks to which the Council joins the Party, the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs may, by the agreement of a two-third majority of those members voting, name active members of the Georgia Green Party to serve as the Party's delegates to such Boards, by whatever name, to which the Party may be entitled to designate members, of such coalitons, alliances and networks, national in scope, to which the Coordinating Council may join the Party. 3. Notice of Appointments by the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs The Delegation shall publish minutes of such actions in the subsequent edition of the Internal Discussion Bulletin and on appropriate internal Party lists. 4. Duties and Discretion of Appointees to National Committees or Bodies Each Party member designated to serve on a Committee of the Green Party of the United States or as the Party's delegate to a board, by whatever name of a Coalition, Alliance or Network to which the Coordinating Council has joined the Party shall (1) attend and participate in all possible meetings of which they have been notified by such bodies to which they have been designated; (2) cast a vote on all matters to which they are entitled and able to vote; (3) accountably represent such positions as may have been taken by the Party, its Conventions, its Coordinating Council or by the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs on matters before them; (4) obtain the endorsement of the Coordinating Council or the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs of such substantive policy proposals as they may from time to time advance in their capacity as a delegate of the Party; (5) make written reports of their votes and activities on behalf of the Party to the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs, and to the Party, submitted in time for publication in each edition of the Internal Discussion Bulletin, except that they shall make a written report at least quarterly; (6) report regularly to appropriate internal lists and to the membership publications of the Party the actions, decisions and discussions of the body to which they have been appointed; (7) frame internal discussion among the party's leadership and activist base on matters pending before the bodies to which they have been appointed. 5. Terms of Appointments Each Delegate appointed by the authority delegated in this Section shall serve such term as may be designated by the charter of the body to which they are appointed, or in the absence of such a provision, for a term of one year, or for such other term, not to exceed four years, as may be designated by the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs. 6. Recall of Appointees Each such appointee shall be subject to immediate recall by a simple majority of either the Delegation on National Green Party Affairs, of the Coordinating Council or of the credentialled delegates at a subsequent Annual Convention, for violation of the values and political practices of the Georgia Green Party or for repeated failure to fulfill the obligations outlined in paragraph 4., of this Section, where the recall of such appointee was advertised in the notice of the meeting of the body taking such action and where two weeks notice that the body might consider such action is published to the appointee, subject to recall. If the recall motion is to be published in the Internal Discussion Bulletin or other organ of the Party, the appointee shall be served with a copy of the motion and supporting documents one week prior to the publication deadline and afforded an opportunity to have their response published along side the charges.