Veg caucus gpus appl
To: Dick and Jane, Co-chairs Accreditation Committee, Green Party of the United States 7059 Blair Road NW, Suite 104 Washington, DC 20012
January 1, 2013
Dear Dick and Jane,
We are pleased to submit our application for accreditation as the Vegetarian Caucus of the Green Party of the United States (or the Vegetarian Caucus (VC) or Green Party Vegetarian Caucus (GPVC) for short.)
Attached below, we have included all documents regarding caucus accreditation required by GPUS Rules and Procedures, as well as additional supporting documentation that may be of interest. We begin with our essay "Why a Green Party Vegetarian Caucus."
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Signed Co-coordinators Vegetarian Caucus
Why a Green Party Vegetarian Caucus
In some organizations caucuses are geographic, in others they are ideological and in others, by interest or identify group. Within the Green Party of the United States (GPUS), the role of caucuses has traditionally been to give voice to a "historically disenfranchised or underrepresented and significant sector of the population."
How does one know whether they are in such a sector or group? Its helpful to ask these questions:
- Are your group's interests and concerns often forgotten or neglected, or treated as an imposition, burden or afterthought by the majority?
- Does your group often have to work extra hard to ensure that its interests and concerns are included by the majority in decision-making that directly affects your group?
- Does your group sometimes find its interests and concerns devalued, such that what it holds at the core of its being is treated merely as a 'lifestyle choice'?
- Do you find that some who diminish the value of what your group holds sacred, aren't even aware they are doing so?
- Is there much work to be done before the majority truly understands, respects and addresses your group's interests and concerns?
- Does the fact that some may question whether your group fits the definition of "historically disenfranchised or underrepresented" demonstrate why there is a need for your caucus?
For vegetarian Greens, the answer is generally 'yes' to all of the above -- and that is 'yes' before any voice for animals is contemplated.
If we also ask, "are there positive Green policy approaches and practices to address your group's interests and concerns?", the answer again for vegetarian Greens is 'yes.'
For all these reasons and for the reason's stated in Caucus's Mission Statement (attached below), the Vegetarian Caucus would provide a needed perspective, within the Green Party and in the world at-large.
For those who may have questions about this role, it's important to remember that the Ten Key Values were originally phrased as questions, not directives. That was so we all can evaluate how these values apply in our lives. Like other caucuses within the GPUS, a Vegetarian Caucus would strengthen the process of applying Green values in our own lives, by providing a better understanding of how they apply in the lives of others.
Attachments: Table of Contents
1) A letter of application addressed to the Co-chairs of the Accreditation Committee, indicating the date and setting of the application decision made by the Vegetarian Caucus
2) A list of at least 100 Vegetarian Caucus members, in at least 15 GPUS affiliated states, containing name, address, phone number (if available), email address (if available) and state party membership of each member.
3) Vegetarian Caucus bylaws
4) Vegetarian Caucus platform
5) Vegetarian Caucus appointees to the Diversity Committee.
Although not required by GPUS Rules and Procedures, we also provide
6) Why a Vegetarian Caucus?
7) Vegetarian Caucus National Committee delegate and alternate
8) Vegetarian Caucus co-spokespersons
9) Vegetarian Caucus web page www.veggreens.org, Twitter Page twitter.com/veggreens and Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/488346394521294
