THE GREEN FLASH
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE
GREEN PARTY OF ARKANSAS
February 9, 2011
Volume 1, Number 53
State Meeting A Success
New Members of the Executive Committee Elected
 
The quarterly state party meeting was held on Saturday, January 29, in Little Rock at the public library.  At the meeting election of new officers for the Executive Committee were held.  The results were as follows, Mark Jenkins was elected to the position of Coordinator, Josh Drake was elected to be Elections Co-Chair, Jim Lendall was elected to be Policy and Positions Co-Chair, Mary Willis was elected to the position of Treasurer, Rebekah Kennedy was elected to be Grassroots Organizer Co-Chair.  Barbara Ward will continue as Secretary, and Ken Adler will continue as Public Relations Co-Chair.
 
The meeting also discussed the need to raise funds to support a new ballot access drive.  A call for donations was made by Mark Jenkins, and attending Greens “passed the magic hat” around the room.  When the hat returned to Mark, the treasury of the Green Party of Arkansas was $1,000.00 richer.  While $1000.00 is an excellent start on our fundraising drive, it is only a start and more work will have to be done to achieve our goals for this coming year and the 2012 election cycle.  Future work in fundraising will concentrate on expanding the donor base for the GPA, and all Greens are asked to help increase the total number of contacts and donors for the GPA.
 
Mark Swaney, your editor, and last year’s Coordinator of the Executive Committee (Ex-Com), spoke to the meeting about the need for GPA to put additional effort into community outreach, grassroots organizing and public relations.  This year is the first year since the founding of the Ex-Com that Mark has not been a member of the Ex-Com.  Mark explained to the meeting that he is not leaving the GPA, but will instead concentrate on working to help the ExCom and the GPA in those areas that are not involved in the ballot access drive.  Mark will also continue to be the editor of the Green Flash and a delegate for Arkansas in the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States.
 
Tax Credit Available for Donations to the Green Party of Arkansas
Would you like to get $50.00 taken off of the tax you owe to the state of Arkansas?  You can if you donated to the Green Party of Arkansas last year.  The state of Arkansas allows up to $50.00 tax credit per person for donating to a legal political party, and you do not have to itemize deductions to be able to use the credit.  The credit is limited to $50.00, and you can only get credit for the actual amount you donated if you donated less than $50.00.  Married couples filing jointly are allowed up to $100.00 in tax credit.  Look on the back side of the Arkansas income tax return form for the line where this credit is used.
 
The GPA is Seeking Candidates for the 2012 Election
 
Now is the time to consider and make plans to be a Green Party candidate for office in the 2012 election.  The best candidates who have the best chance of success are those who begin early to make plans for their campaign. It is not too early at all to be talking to supporters, gathering ideas for your future campaign and even to be raising money.  Because Green candidates are almost never able to campaign full time due to being employees and/or family responsibilities, starting early is about the only way that these handicaps can be overcome or minimized.  Think about it!
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Donate to the Green Party of Arkansas!
YES! I will support the GPA with a donation of   $10 _____ $25_____ $50 ______ $100 ______ or write in your own amount $________.
 
YES! I will be a sustainer of the GPA with a regular monthly donation of   $10 _____ $25_____ 
$50 ______  $100 ______ or write in your own amount $________.

Mail cash, or check (made out to the Green Party of Arkansas) to (GPA Treasurer)
Mark Jenkins
3610 Lilac Terrace
Little Rock, AR 72202