The Green Party of Sonoma County is looking for citizens (registered green party members) to run for non-partisan offices in our county.

There are various institutions in our county which make public policy decisions that directly affect all of us. They are school boards, junior college board and city council positions in all 9 cities of our county. All of these local institutions should have green perspectives and values represented on them!

These are all non-partisan positions. They are usually easy campaigns; relatively inexpensive (except some city council positions); and, if won, require only a few hours of one's time weekly. But, our presence on these boards will exhibit to the people our Party's impulse for community responsibility.

These positions provide valuable experience in serving the community. They provide the education in how to run effective campaigns. And they invariably lead to our candidates (green party) public exposure (name recognition) thus facilitating our creditably contesting for higher (legislative) offices.

To qualify for this program, you must be 18 years of age and a registered green party member. We will offer assistance in the form of advice from experienced office seekers and current office holders. Some financial assistance could be available and help in local fund-raising will be extended in your efforts.

For more information please contact Bill Patterson of the Green Party of Sonoma County Candidates and Campaigns Committee. billpatterson@earthlink.net and/or telephone 838-3079

Please participate in our email poll of the eight state propositions for the November 8th election. The Green Party of California (GPCA) has asked all participating Green Party County Councils to respond to an opinion poll on the eight state propositions. Your County Council of the Green Party of Sonoma County needs your input by midnight September 4.

To participate, all registered Sonoma County Greens should send an email to the following address: poll@sonomagreenparty.org

The email should include your last name and street address (this is needed to verify your voter registration as a Sonoma County Green Party member). This information will not be saved or used for any other means than this poll.

Indicate in your email if you want the County Council of the Green Party of Sonoma County to:

  Support (S)
  Oppose (O)
  Or have no position (NP)

on an endorsement of each of the following 8 state propositions:

  73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 & 80.

[Supporting an endorsement means that you favor a yes vote on the proposition.]

We will tabulate the results of this poll and post them on our website: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org.

If you want additional information about these propositions please go to the following web page: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gpcapoll.shtml

The information on this page was provided by the GPCA Campaigns and Candidates Working Group (CCWG) and it explains the propositions and their position on those propositions.

Thank you for your input.

Tim Morgan
County Council Interim Secretary

The Green Party of California's next statewide event is a "Gathering," which is a non-business event with workshops, committee meetings and various presentations.

Registration for this Oakland event is now open and the agenda packet is available for downloading at http://cagreens.org/plenary.

Hosted by the Green Party of Alameda County and the Oakland Greens, the Gathering is titled, "Back to School - Not War." It will be a full schedule of workshops, presentations and committee meetings. There will also be time and space for caucuses, informal discussions, visitor information and vendors' tables.

Highlights of the event include:

+ A big Anti-War Rally at 6 PM on Saturday

+ A symposium on the GPCA 2006 Election Strategy on Sunday morning

+ A great Sunday lunchtime speaker, David Zirin, author of "What's My Name, Fool? Sports and Resistance in the United States".

PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE NOW!!!!

Sunday, September 25 11 AM - 6 PM
Walnut Park, Petaluma Blvd. South and "D" St., Petaluma

The event is FREE! Everyone Welcome!

FEATURING:
  The San Francisco Mime Troupe
  Giving their final performance of "Doing Good"
  http://www.sfmt.org

SPEAKERS:
  Daniel Ellsberg
  Anti-war activist, author of The Pentagon Papers
  http://www.ellsberg.net

  Matt Gonzalez
  Former President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
  http://www.mattgonzalez.com

  Aimee Allison
  Counter-recruitment activist
  http://www.sfbayview.com/041305/aimeeallison041305.shtml
  http://www.aimeeallison.org

  Lynn Hamilton
  Spokesperson for Progressive Democrats of America
  http://www.pdamerica.org

  David Cobb
  Green Party presidential candidate
  http://www.votecobb.org

  Stephanie Hiller
  News Editor for The North Bay Progressive
  http://www.northbayprogressive.org

  Dave Henson
  Director of the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center
  http://www.oaec.org

  Ben Boyce
  Living Wage Coalition of Sonoma County
  http://www.livingwagesonoma.org

LIVE MUSIC:
  Tchiya Amet & The Light House Band, reggae
  http://www.tchiya.com

  US-The Band, protest songs
  http://www.ustheband.com

ALSO:
   Speakers on Youth Issues
  http://www.freemindmedia.org
  http://www.booksnotbars.org
  Farm Workers http://www.ufw.org
  Clean Money Campaign http://www.caclean.org
  and more

PLUS:
- Innovative Change Workshops for Solutions
- Silent Art Auction
- Food and Drinks

About 100 Social Justice, Environmental, Labor, and Community Organizations will have informational tables/booths.
To reserve space, call 707-763-8134

Free secure valet bicycle parking
by http://www.bikesonoma.org

Schedule of speakers available at
http://www.progressivefestival.org

For more information, press photos, etc.,
contact The Petaluma Progressives, 707-763-8134.

Cosponsored by the Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County; The North Bay Progressive; and KPFA 94.1 FM http://www.kpfa.org.

The Green Party of Sonoma County will be represented at the festival, and we are looking for volunteers to help table. Please contact us at greentalk@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037 if you can join us.

The GE-Free Sonoma initiative will go to the voters on November 8, 2005. Our task is to reach every voter before then with the truth about GMOs. GE-Free Sonoma needs your help - hosting house parties & film showings, tabling at events, gathering endorsements, getting campaign speakers in front of groups and organizations, and more. To volunteer, go to the following website: http://www.gefreesonoma.org/get_involved.htm

Also, please bring friends and family to see one of many free showings of "The Future of Food," a highly-acclaimed 90-minute documentary on the dangers of genetic engineering. Upcoming local showings include:

• 09/06 7:00 PM, Sonoma County Environmental Center, 494 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa
• 09/07 7:00 PM, Two Acre Woods, 652-700 Robinson Rd, Sebastopol
• 09/15 7:00 PM, Healdsburg Senior Center, 133 Matheson St, Healdsburg
• 09/22 7:30 PM, New College, 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa
• 09/28 7:00 PM, Cotati fire station meeting room
• 09/30 6:30 PM, Flying Goat Coffee, 324 Center St, Healdsburg
• 10/10 6:00 PM, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 6800 Old Redwood Hwy., Windsor

Please check http://www.gefreesonoma.org/ for the full schedule.

The Green Party of Sonoma County Endorses and Supports GE-Free Sonoma.

NOTES:
- Some of the events listed below may have not been officially endorsed by the GPSC, but may be of interest to local Greens.
- To check for new events and schedule changes, visit our home page at http://www.sonomagreenparty.org

4  

(Sun) Midnight Deadline for GP Opinion Poll
(See newsletter item #2)

13  

(Tue) Bylaws Working Group Meeting
7-9 PM
Contact: bylaws@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037

14  

(Wed) Deadline for GPSC Newsletter Submissions for October
If you have a Green-related article or event that you want included in the next GPSC e-newsletter, email your draft or completed submission to pc@sonomagreenparty.org by 9/14. If you email a draft, please submit the completed article by Monday, 9/19.

15  

(Thu) General Business Meeting
7-9 PM, Environmental Center, 404A Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa
The general meeting is held every 3rd Thursday of the month. All interested Greens are welcome to attend!
Info: info@sonomagreenparty.org

17-18  

(Sat-Sun) Statewide Gathering of California Greens
(See newsletter item #3)

25  

(Sun) 8th Annual Progressive Festival
(See newsletter item #4)

30  

(Sun) "The Soul of Democracy: Integrating Spiritual Vision with Active Citizenship"
9:30 AM - 6 PM
Praxis Peace Institute and Spirit Rock Meditation Center are co-hosting this day-long workshop.
Cost: $100 includes lunch for the first 200 people who register.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center, 5000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Woodacre

Speakers include: Jack Kornfield, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Sylvia Boorstein, Tom Hayden, Matt Gonzalez, and Pam Torliatt. Mayors Larry Barnett (Sonoma) and Larry Robinson (Sebastopol) will talk about the blend of spiritual practice and civic practice.
Moderators: Georgia Kelly and James Baraz
Also part of the experience: Break-out discussion groups and connections to groups making a difference.

Details at http://www.praxispeace.org
Registration, please go to http://www.spiritrock.org
or Call 415-488-0164, ext. 234.

Bill of Rights Defense WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_bordc.shtml
Contact: bordc@sonomagreenparty.org

Bylaws WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_bylaws.shtml
Contact: bylaws@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037

Campaigns and Candidates WG
Contact: billpatterson@earthlink.net

Green Talk and Outreach WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_greentalk.shtml
Contact: greentalk@sonomagreenparty.org or 542-3037

IT (Information Technologies)WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_it.shtml
Contact: it@sonomagreenparty.org

PC (Public Communications) WG
Info: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org/pages/gi_pc.shtml
Contact: pc@sonomagreenparty.org

Campus Greens - Sonoma State University Chapter
Contact: jaredl@sbcglobal.net
Listserve: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/sonomacampusgreens

(Interested in starting a SRJC chapter? Email jswingaling@hotmail.com)

(707) 524-8818
Email: info@sonomagreenparty.org
Website: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org
PO Box 15073, Santa Rosa, CA 95402