*BY-LAWS OF LA GREENS

Passed on 5-21-03
Amended 5-18-05

ARTCLE I Name

The name of the organization is the Los Angeles Greens, hereafter referred to as the L.A. Greens.


ARTICLE II Purpose

The L.A. Greens is a grassroots political organization that adheres to the Ten Key Values, which are recognized by Green Party of California: ecological wisdom; grassroots democracy; social justice; nonviolence; decentralization; community based economics; feminism; respect for diversity; global responsibility; and sustainability.  The L.A. Greens
also strengthen and expand the California Green Party, and the Green Party of the United States by electing Green Party candidates, passing initiatives that further the Ten Key Values, educating the public on Green Party issues, and other relevant activities.


ARTICLE III Membership

A person is a Member of the L.A. Greens if both of the following criteria are met:
1. Is currently a registered voter in the Green Party, or would if they were legally able.
2. Has attended four L.A. Greens' General Meetings in the past 12 months The L.A. Greens hold meetings, referred to here as "General Meetings," at least once monthly.

All L.A. Greens General Meetings will be open to the public.

Personal information given by Members or other individuals to the L.A. Greens is considered confidential and proprietary information. Information may be shared with individuals or groups only with the express written consent of the L.A. Greens Steering Committee (as defined in Article VI), and the information is to be used only for the time period and purpose agreed upon by the L.A. Greens Steering Committee.


ARTICLE IV Voting Procedure for General Meetings

Only Members can vote on L.A. Greens' proposals.  The L.A. Greens use the consensus model to make decisions whenever possible.  However, the L.A. Greens will make decisions with a 2/3 vote of all members present at the Meeting if consensus cannot be achieved.  Those who abstain are not included in this percentage.  A Quorum for any meeting consists of not
less than ten (10) members.  When possible, the L.A. Greens use Instant Runoff Voting.


ARTICLE V Officers

An Officer must be a Member of the L.A. Greens. A Member may only hold one office at a time. L.A. Greens strive for gender balance among their elected Officers.

The L.A. Greens elect the following Officers annually: two Co-Facilitators of our meetings; a Secretary; a Treasurer; an Events Coordinator; a Membership and Volunteer Coordinator; and a Media Person.

These Officers have the following responsibilities:

The Co-Facilitators set the agenda for and chair the General Meetings.

The Secretary takes the minutes of the General Meetings and prepares them for distribution to the General Membership.

The Treasurer, in accordance with California law, performs the following duties: maintains the L.A. Greens' bank account, pays the L.A. Greens' operating expenses, makes payments determined by the Membership or the Steering Committee, and maintains financial records that are available to the Membership upon request. The Treasurer reimburses each Officer for expenses he/she incurs to fulfill his/her duty. All reimbursements must be approved by the Steering Committee.

The Membership and Volunteer Coordinator keeps a current Membership roll, maintains an email list for communication with Members and volunteers, and coordinates volunteer outreach at various citywide events.

The Events Coordinator helps shepherd temporary/ad-hoc event committees through the event-planning process.

The Media Person promotes the L.A. Greens' public image. He/she maintains a press list, prepares press releases, and communicates with the media. 

The Co-Facilitators, Secretary, and Treasurer are elected at the January General Meeting. The Events Coordinator, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator, and Media Person are elected at the July General Meeting. If a particular office has a vacancy, the Steering Committee is free to appoint someone to hold the office until the Membership holds an election to fill the vacancy.

All Officers are required to attend General Meetings. If an Officer cannot make a General Meeting, that Officer must send an alternate in his/her place.

ARTICLE VI Committees

The L.A. Greens Steering Committee is comprised of all seven officers listed in Article V: the two Co-Facilitators, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Events Coordinator, the Membership and Volunteer Coordinator, and the Media Person.

The Steering Committee is responsible to the entire Membership of the L.A. Greens. It is charged with overseeing the operation of the L.A. Greens on behalf of the Membership. Only Steering Committee members may vote at Steering Committee meetings. A Quorum for a Steering Committee meeting consists of no less than five Steering Committee members. As in General Meetings, the consensus model is used whenever possible, but a simple majority will suffice in a vote. The Steering Committee is empowered to make emergency decisions on behalf of the L.A. Greens; however, such decisions must be reported at the next General Meeting. The Steering Committee is empowered to appropriate funds in an amount no greater than $200 per month, except in case of emergency financial decisions, in which case this cap is lifted.

The Steering Committee must meet at least once monthly. This meeting may take place via teleconference, if desired.

Ad-hoc event committees may be formed, on a temporary and as-needed basis, by the General Membership or the Steering Committee. Though those committees are free to select a coordinator, if desired, he/she shall not be considered a member of the Steering Committee.

Ad-hoc committees may be terminated by the Steering Committee or by the General Membership.

All Committees are required to report to the Membership at the General Meeting.

ARTICLE VII Endorsement Policy

The L.A. Greens endorse registered Green or decline-to-state candidates, initiatives, and certain events.  The definition of an endorsement by the LA Greens includes, but is not limited to:

Allowing a candidate, initiative or event to use our name on their literature; A recommendation that the candidate or initiative be voted for; AND/OR General promotion of the candidate, initiative or event with our resources.

Only the appropriate Standing Committee can recommend whether or not to endorse a candidate, initiative or event.  The Committee presents their recommendation to the Membership for a vote at the next General Meeting.


ARTICLE VIII Removal

The Steering Committee has the responsibility to insure that the actions and policies of the L.A. Greens, the Officers of the L.A. Greens, and the Committees of the L.A. Greens are in accordance with the Ten Key Values. An Officer may be removed from office either by a 2/3 vote of the Membership at a General Meeting, or by five or more Steering Committee votes at a Steering Committee meeting.

ARTICLE IX Amending the Bylaws

Any Member of the LA Greens may propose a bylaw amendment.  Amendment proposals must first be presented to the Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee may then present the proposal at the next General Meeting so that a thorough discussion is possible.  A bylaw amendment is adopted
according to Article IV, except that if consensus is not reached, a 3/4 majority is required to adopt it.

ARTICLE X L.A. Greens Code of Conduct and Conflict Resolution

We, the members and friends of the LA Greens are a caring community where mutual respect prevails. We believe in the democratic process in human relations. When some participants in these meetings/events do not follow the rules or behave in a disruptive and/or unacceptable fashion, some policy is needed.

Disruptive and/or unacceptable behavior shall be defined as any behavior which is deemed to a) disrupt the general meetings to the point where it has a negative effect on members and/or recruiting of new members; b) violent behavior; c) domination of meetings without respect for the parameters set by facilitators in terms of adherence to time limits; d) non-Green and negative behavior without adherence to the parameters set by the vibeswatcher; e) consistent sabotaging of the good will and positive atmosphere that the LA Greens strive for in adherence with the 10 Key Values.

ARTICLE X.1 Green Mediators

The L.A. Greens shall elect a board of three Green Mediators to help address complaints of unacceptable behavior. A Green Mediator must be a member of the Green Party of California, but need not be an active L.A. Green. An active L.A. Greens Steering Committee member may not serve as a Green Mediator.

Given a vacancy on the three-member Green Mediation board, any L.A. Green may nominate any eligible Green Party of California member to serve as a Green Mediator. If the nominee agrees to serve, he/she shall be submitted to the General Membership for an approval vote. No fewer than 30 days in advance, the L.A. Greens Steering Committee shall make a good faith effort to notify (via email) the L.A. Greens General Membership of said approval vote. Each Green Mediator must be approved via consensus (or, failing that, a 2/3rds majority of those in attendance).

Once approved, a Green Mediator serves a one-year term, or until he/she resigns the office, leaves the Green Party of California, joins the L.A. Greens Steering Committee, or is removed via the consensus of the L.A. Greens General Membership (or, failing that, a 2/3rds majority of those in attendance). Green Mediators may serve indefinite consecutive terms, if so elected, annually, by the L.A. Greens General Membership.

No fewer than 30 days in advance, the L.A. Greens Steering Committee shall make a good faith effort to notify (via email) the L.A. Greens General Membership of any vote to remove a Green Mediator.

Article X.2 Mediation Procedure

A. If a member of the LA Greens is perceived to be disruptive (hereafter he/she shall be referred to as "the disruptant,") any member of the LA Greens may formally lodge a complaint with the Steering Committee. Complaints must be submitted in writing, preferably as a signed physical letter, although email will suffice if necessary. The letter must document the time, date and nature of the behavior perceived as "disruptive." All such written complaints will be held by the LA Greens Secretary for a period of one year. A member of the Steering Committee will speak to the disruptant (in person or by phone), clearly define what behavior is considered unacceptable, and ask him/her to correct his/her behavior in the future.

B. If the Steering Committee receives a second written complaint regarding the behavior of the disruptant, the Steering Committee will contact him/her in writing, preferably via regular mail, but email will suffice if his/her address is unavailable or unknown. The letter must detail the nature of the complaints and issue an official warning that a third complaint will result in his/her referral to a Green Mediator, with the possibility of a suspension from LA Greens meetings and L.A. Greens' events.

C. If the Steering Committee receives a third written complaint regarding the behavior of the disruptant, the Steering Committee will refer the disruptant to mediation. The Steering Committee will notify the disruptant of this referral in writing, preferably via regular mail, but email will suffice if his/her address is unavailable or unknown. A list of the current Green Mediators must also be included in the letter. The disruptant must reply within 30 days of the referral letter's postmark, and must state his/her top two preferences of Green Mediators to conduct the mediation. The Steering Committee shall then select its preferred mediator from the two submitted and schedule the mediation.

D. The Steering Committee shall arrange for Green Mediation to commence no later than fourteen days from the date of the disruptant's response. Should the disruptant fail to respond to the notice of mediation, he/she shall be automatically and indefinitely suspended from LA Greens meetings and L.A. Greens private events. He/she shall also be indefinitely suspended from serving as a representative of the L.A. Greens at public events.

E. Upon completion of the mediation process (as constructed and conducted by the designated Green Mediator), the Green Mediator shall have the authority to determine the proper course of action regarding the disruptant, up to and potentially including an indefinite suspension of the disruptant's L.A. Greens membership, and his/her right to attend committee meetings, general meeting or L.A. Greens events, or from serving as a representative of the L.A. Greens at public events.

F. If, in time, an indefinitely-suspended disruptant reconsiders and wishes to reenter the group, he/she may meet with a Green Mediator to request reentry, subject to Steering Committee approval (a simple majority vote of the Steering Committee is sufficient for reinstatement).

Note: In some situations, immediate action is warranted and should be taken. It is appropriate to call the police to remove a person exhibiting violent behavior. Note, too, that the five steps may be accelerated if the behavior is threatening.

 

Article X.3 Disruptive Guests

The above mediation process is not available to guests of the L.A. Greens (note: a "guest" shall be defined as any attendee or participant at an L.A. Greens meeting or event who is not an official member of the L.A. Greens). Should a complaint (oral or written) be lodged about the behavior of a guest, the guest may be suspended (either temporarily or permanently) if so decided by consensus of the L.A. Greens General Membership in attendance (or, failing that, a 2/3rds vote). Suspension may also be effected by either L.A. Greens Co-Facilitator, unless any L.A. Green member opposes that suspension, in which case it reverts to a vote of the General Membership.