**Green Party of California Update**

Dear fellow Green Party of California members

This is to announce registration for the Greening California Strategic Retreat, February 23-25 (Friday-Sunday) in Glen Ellen, Sonoma County:

The retreat is open to all Green Party of California members, with a particular focus on

• members of GPCA statewide Standing Committees and Working Groups and others active on the state level
• members of GPCA County Councils and others active on the county level
• former (and future) GPCA candidates, campaign managers and campaign workers
• former and present Greens holding elected office

Saturday's daytime focus will be on GPCA electoral strategy for 2007-2008. Our state party's Campaigns & Candidates Working Group will be coordinating the sessions.

Saturday evening will feature former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, introduced by Aimee Allison, former Green candidate for Oakland City Council.

Brent McMillan, Green Party of the United States Political Director, will precede them with an overview of Green Party national planning for 2008.

On Sunday, the focus will be on various GPCA internal party issues that would benefit from free flowing discussions, before they are brought forward to decision-making at our state business meetings (General Assemblies.)

These sessions will be coordinated by GPCA members involved with each issue at hand, with the overall day coordinated by our state party's Strategy Committee.

Saturday will also feature a gathering of Campus Greens from across California. Sunday will feature Green officeholders (present and past) establishing a California Green Officeholders Network.

The location for the Strategic Retreat will be at Valley of the Moon Camp in Glen Ellen, Sonoma County http://www.uccr.org/vom.htm, with directions to the camp here http://www.uccr.org/driving_vom.htm

The reason for choosing such a venue, is so that party members can benefit from the informal contact, networking and building opportunities that staying in the same place together can provide.

In order to make this possible, inexpensive lodging on site ($18.50) will be available - and is encouraged - for both Friday and Saturday evenings. Space is limited to 90 people sleeping on site and 115 attending day-time sessions. Parking is limited, so car-pooling is strongly encouraged.

All Retreat Attendees must register in advance and pay a day fee of $19/person/day for Saturday and Sunday. There will be no charge for Friday, day or night. The Saturday evening program is open only to attendees of the daytime program.

Lodging is in dormitory style rooms of four to 16 people. Attendees must bring their own bring linens, pillows, sleeping bags.

Meals are $7 breakfast, $9.25 lunch and $10.50 dinner (includes tip and 7.75% Sonoma County sales tax.) Saturday evening will feature complimentary local wine.

Here is the registration form:
http://register.cagreens.org/register.cgi

Here is the weekend's schedule of events: http://www.cagreens.org/cc/strategy/retreat/

We look forward to seeing you in Sonoma.

Sincerely,

Warner Bloomberg, Campaigns & Candidates Working Group
Mike Feinstein, Strategy Committee

Dear Sonoma Greens,

A strategic retreat of the Campaigns and Candidates Working Group and the Strategy Committee of the Green Party of California is being held at the Valley of the Moon Camp in Glen Ellen (www.uccr.org/vom.htm) February 23, 24, 25.

Here is the registration form:

http://register.cagreens.org/register.cgi

Here is the schedule of events:

http://www.cagreens.org/cc/strategy/retreat/

If you can help with some of these needs, contact Mike Feinstein and Warner Bloomberg at strategyretreat@cagreens.org And Tom Bolema at prisonpedagogy@comcast.net

• On site child care
  
  
• lighting
  Anyone know of a lighting company that would lend us some china globes and spots and a generator?
  We are also looking for 8 to 10 basic torchiere lights for use in the main lodge.
  
  
• microphone/PA system
  It'd be nice to have a small (250 - 500 watt) PA system and some microphones and stands.
  
  
• video taping
  The more cameras, the better, to get the most good footage we can, including spontaneous interviews that might be good fodder for YouTube, etc.
  
  
• parking is limited to about 40 vehicles in the main lot, with a few extra spaces scattered with an expected 90 - 100 attendees. Can Sonoma Greens carpool? Can Sonoma Greens offer Greens from elsewhere the opportunity to park at their place and carpool together the rest of the way? Are there any Sonoma Greens who can volunteer to help direct parking on-site?
  
  
• internet
  There is no direct internet connection, but it is possible to connect through Verizon Wireless or Cingular, according to the Camp staff. We are looking for local Greens who have lap tops - or a good desk top - who could also connect through to the internet and give us that capability during the weekend
  
  
• computer projectors and projection screen
  
  
• fire pit
  on Saturday night, we will have wine tasting around the fire-pit the Camp provides the firewood, but we are looking for local Greens to look after the fire itself, feeding it when necessary, etc.
  
  
• home stays
  We are encouraging people to stay at the camp, so that we have that extra level of interaction, however, there will inevitably be some who want homestays. If local Greens who will be commuting themselves to the retreat would offer homestays, we can have ready-made carpools.
  
  
• flip charts/note takers
  we are looking for local Greens with the kind of A-frame easels that hold flip charts for note taking...on some of them, we will be posting the work plans from each state party working group and standing committee

Monday, March 12, at 7pm - Lecture:

“An Incomplete Truth: What Gore Left Out” -
a closer look at climate change: causes, solutions, and personal actions.

Multimedia presentation by Daniel Solnit,
Director of the Institute for Local Economic Democracy.

This talk begins where Al Gore’s compelling documentary left off, exploring the root causes of climate change in our growth-based, oil-driven global economy, the reasons for political paralysis at the national level, why energy-efficient light bulbs and other lifestyle changes are not enough, and how we can act locally to really solve the climate crisis and begin building a sustainable culture. Bring your friends.

New College - 99 Sixth St, Santa Rosa (near Railroad Square)
INFO: (707) 823-4480, www.iled.org
Free event - wheelchair accessible.

######

Institute for Local Economic Democracy is educating the people and organizations of Sonoma County on the current global crisis, and organizing to build a democratic and sustainable future - through strategic analysis, grassroots political action, shifts in public policy, economic relocalization, and developing alternative institutions. ILED is a project of Sonoma Co Peace &Justice Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Daniel Solnit, founder and director of ILED, has more than twenty years experience as a political organizer, speaker, and trainer, working in movements for peace, global justice, environmental sustainability, and election reform. Past positions include Campaign Coordinator for GE-Free Sonoma County, a local movement to ban genetically engineered (GE) crops; Executive Director of the Leadership Institute, and Lead Organizer for the Green Party of California.

NOTES:
- We sometimes include events that may not have 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

23  

(Fri) Cynthia McKinney at SSU
7 PM, Sonoma State University, Cooperage Building.
Former Member of Congress Cynthia McKinney will discuss Congress and political power in Washington. The evening will include a screening of American Blackout the new award winning documentary by Ian Inaba with Black Congress members telling all about elections, Black voters and American politics. Questions and Answers will follow film.
General Admission $10
Students $5,
no one turned away for lack of funds
Sponsored By Students for Media Democracy and Project Censored
Information 707-664-2500

23  

(Fri) GPSC Newsletter Submissions Due for March
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 editor@sonomagreenparty.org by 2/23. If you email a draft, please submit the completed article by Monday, 2/26.

12  

(Mon) "An Incomplete Truth: What Gore Left Out"
7 PM, New College, 99 Sixth Street, Santa Rosa (near Railroad Square).
See item #3 above

15  

(Thu) General Business Meeting
6:30-9 PM, State Building, 50 D Street, 4th floor, Santa Rosa (between 2nd Street & Sonoma Ave). Direction signs posted inside the building will lead you to the right room. This meeting is held every 3rd Thursday of the month.
All interested Greens are welcome to attend!
Info: info@sonomagreenparty.org

21  

(Wed) GPSC Newsletter Submissions Due for April
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 editor@sonomagreenparty.org by 3/21. If you email a draft, please submit the completed article by Monday, 3/26.

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

Campaigns and Candidates WG
Contact: blkcloud@sonic.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
Monthly newsletter submissions: editor@sonomagreenparty.org
Contact: pc@sonomagreenparty.org

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

PO Box 15073 Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Email: info@sonomagreenparty.org
Website: http://www.sonomagreenparty.org

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