March, 2008
Volume 1, #20
| *GREEN PARTY DRAWS OVER 750 VOTES *CHARLIE SMITH *GREEN PARTY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY MEETING 3/12 *GPA NOMINATING CONVENTION – APRIL 12, 2008 *CONTRIBUTION TAX BREAK *Donate to the Green Party of Arkansas! GREEN PARTY DRAWS OVER 750 VOTES The first ever Green Party primary in Arkansas resulted in over 750 votes for the Green Party across the state. Although this is not a huge number of votes, it must be realized that the GPA was not able to spend much time or money to publicize the primary. Also, the candidates for the presidential nomination for the national Green Party were mostly unknown in Arkansas. A large percentage of Green votes went to “uncommitted” – which likely indicates that the voter had strong Green sentiments and wanted to vote in a Green Party primary despite not knowing who the candidates were, and therefore voted “uncommitted” – a valid vote. It appears that Cynthia McKinney received the most votes of the candidates, followed by Jared Ball (who has withdrawn from the race), Kent Mesplay and Kat Swift. The delegates from Arkansas to the Green national convention in Chicago in July of this year will be bound to vote for their respective candidates in the first round only, and if there is another round of voting, all delegates will be free to vote as they think best. Perhaps one of the best results of the primary for the Green Party of Arkansas will be gaining contact information for those who voted in the Green primary. In about a month, a list of Green voters in each county will be available to the GPA, and plans are being made to contact those dedicated Greens in each county who voted in the primary. The GPA will have a first time ever chance to build party support at the local level and contact like-minded Greens across the state. This is a potentially important opportunity to expand Green Party support all across the state. We need each and every Green who wants to help the party grow to call Anita Wessling or Mark Jenkins (check the Green Party web page for numbers) and volunteer to make calls and write letters to Greens in other parts of the state so that we can strengthen the party. This effort will go on for a good part of the year and is vital to helping the Green Party become permanent in Arkansas. CHARLIE SMITH 1953 - 2008 Charlie Smith, a founding member of the Green Party of Arkansas, died of liver cancer on February 18. His funeral was held in Clinton Arkansas on Wednesday, February 27 and was attended by many Greens from Van Buren County and from around the state. Charlie Smith will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind and gentle man who was always ready with a smile and a helping hand. A dedicated Green, he was a founding member of the party and had remained active, attending the meetings, and helping with the Van Buren County Local. He was one of our own, and we will miss his good humor, easy going personality and sunny disposition. People like Charlie don’t come along every day. | After the funeral there was a wake for Charlie that was attended by many of his friends. It was clear to everyone at the wake that Charlie had many friends from all over and that they loved him. In the only currency worth mentioning in life, the love and respect of friends and family, Charlie was a rich man. We will all remember him and will continue to work as he did for Peace, Freedom, Human Rights, and the Earth. WASHINGTON COUNTY GREENS MEETING There will be a meeting of the Green Party of Washington County on Wednesday, March 12, at the Fayetteville public library at 6:30 GPA NOMINATING CONVENTION – APRIL 12, 2008 The next meeting of the State Committee of GPA is set for April 12, 2008, and will be held in Little Rock at a location to be announced. The GPA nominating convention for federal races is also to be held at the same date and location as the next state committee meeting – April 12 in Little Rock. (ed. - please note change in location) CONTRIBUTION TAX BREAK This year, because of our status as a legal political party in Arkansas, you have the ability to get $50.00 off of your tax bill – or if you don’t owe any tax, to get a $50.00 check from the state - for donating to the GPA. That’s right – if you donated $50.00 or more to the GPA in 2007, you will get a tax break (this year) of $50.00. If you donate $50.00 or more to GPA in 2008, you get the tax break in 2009. Check out the tax form AR 1800 in the Arkansas state tax booklet. The GPA can always use the money to take care of the business of being a legal political party in Arkansas, and you can use the extra cash yourself. See below how to send donations to the Green Party of Arkansas. 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, money order or check (made out to the Green Party of Arkansas) to Mark Swaney (GPA Treasurer) 466 Madison 6092 Huntsville, AR 72740 |
Green Party of Arkansas
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