During our vacation we had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.  While in D.C. we helped move a few things from the old Green Party National office ot he new one.  Here are a few photos:

Here is a variety of photos taken at the Green Party of the United States Annual National Meeting in Reading, PA July 12 - 15.
Jacqui Deveneau (Maine), Dee, Jane Meisenbach (Maine), Joni Leviness (Oklahoma)

Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney showed the film "American Blackout" and spoke to the Delegation at the  GPUS National Annual Meeting on Sunday, July 15.  "American Blackout" focuses on the 2000 elections and beyond when black voters were shut out of voting on Florida and in Ohio (2004) and subsequently what happened to McKinney's career as a result of her speaking out against this and raising questions about the administration's knowledge of the 911 tragedy.

McKinney may be seeking the GPUS 2008 Presidential nomination for president. To date she has not made a commitment.

2007 Green Party National Meeting

". . . the disgust of the American people with what they see before them. All they need is the blueprint and a road map. Why not have the Green Party provide the blueprint and the road map?"
-- Cynthia McKinney, Green Party National Meeting, July 15, 2007
Cynthia McKinney at Green Party National Convention, Reading PA July 15, talks about the documentary "American Blackout"
Cynthia McKinney Video

The feature for the Green Party National Annual Meeting on Saturday, July 14 was Ralph Nader, speaking to the issue of ballot access and and challenges to ballot access.


Prior to the event, this delegate from Georgia picketed outside to urge Nader to seek the Green Party *nomination* for President (2008) and not merely an endorsement by the Green Party:


Nader's presidential campaign was pulled from the ballot in PA in 2004 which resulted in a legal battle which is still continuing, including the state trying to collect money from the Nader campaign.   At the end of his speech, Nader auctioned two of his books which raised a few thousand dollars for the GPUS.  You can view videos at these sites:
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader Press Conference on Ballot Access
Ralph Nader - speaking on challenging the system and ballot access
Nader & Romanelli Press Conference on Pennsylvania Ballot Access
Below are some photos of the event:

Every night at the GPUS National Annual Meeting there was entertainment - artist after artist after artist, mostly local from PA.  It was great.  Tom and I found it difficult to stay up every night for all the music, but we did the first night and were glad we did.  Each night we heard a variety of styles of music and enjoyed it all.  It was hard to choose a favorite, but we really liked Tom Nielson, activist folksinger songwriter. who performs and political and activist events all over.
Tom Neilson:

One of the components of the Annual National Meeting is the offering of workshops for Delegates and state party members to learn about issues, committee work, and other items relevant to Green work.  Below are photos I took of the sessions I was able to attend.
Green Party Vision for the Next 25 Years - (link to You Tube video) - John Resenbrink, Maine Independent Green Party

A Forum was held at the Green Party of the United States Annual National Meeting on Friday, July 13, 2007 for people who have thus far declared their intentions to seek the Green Party of the United States 2008 Nomination for President of the United States.  There were several candidates who either do not yet belong the Green Party or just joined the Green Party over the course of the National Meeting.  However, over half of the candidates have been active Green Party members.

I will be posting later about two big names that gave presentations at this year's National Meeting who many in the GPUS are attempting to pursuade them and ultimately the GPUS to run on the 2008 Green ticket.

Here are photos I took and links to You Tube Videos that California Delegate Mike  Feinstein Produced.  You can watch the videos to get an idea of each person's platform.
Panel of Candidates and Barbara Rodgers-Hendricks (FLA), moderator:

The GPUS National Annual Meeting in Reading, PA ran from July 12 - 15 with workshops, meetings, presentations and plenary of delegates from each state.  The Plenary began Friday, July 13 and held 4 sessions through Sunday.  Each session had a packed agenda, including presentations from GPUS staff, from committees, from states and caucuses, and from delegates presenting issues and proposals for discussion and vote.  We also held Steering Committee Elections to elect four new GPUS Co-Chairs.  A big focus of this year's agenda items also centered around the 2008 presidential elections and ballot access.

We normally have tables for the delegates with official nameplates for each state during plenary sessions.  There were some logistical difficulties, however, and we ended up with only chairs resulting in not being able to use our nameplates - but we made do!

Each plenary session began with a roll call of states to make sure there was quorum.  Each session had at least two facilitators.  A group of folks with orange armbands served as peacekeepers.  Each presentor and each person who joined the stack for questions were timed to ensure the sessions flowed smoothly.  Overall, it did!

This year we welcomed two new state parties:  Montana and West Virginia.
Friday, July 13 - Ballroom of the Historic Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Hotel in downtown Reading, PA:Saturday, July 14 - Sovereign Performing Arts Center, Downtown Reading, PA:

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Sunday, July 15 - Ballroom of the Historic Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Hotel in downtown Reading, PA:

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Tom and I participated in the first Annual Green Party 5K Walk in Reading, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 14.  Through our donations (the fee to participate) we collectively raised, with other Greens, over $300 for the national party - and had fun while doing it!  Below are some photos, along with the plaque in the park where we walked.