GP-US encourages post-election fundraising parties
Commentary By Kara Mullen
Fundraising Director

Election Day 2004 brings an enormous opportunity to the Green Party. From beneath the exhausted soil of a nation that sows war to reap profit, the voice of peace and humanity shall spring and flourish. Americans are tired of the war, we are sick of being used as pawns in the political and corporate game and we just want to be free of strife. No better opportunity has presented itself to the Green Party. We should now take a leadership role as the voice of reason for our burdened nation.

By the time the last voting precinct closes on Nov. 2, the Greens should emerge with a celebratory tale: one of success, of survival, of strength. It is quite clear that our vision is one that will resonate with the majority of Americans.

Knowing that, the Green Party should seize the opportunity to let the nation know that we have solutions and that the sooner we gain our rightful place in government, the sooner Americans will see reform in their country.

While the two other parties are shaking off the settling dust of the election, Greens should host nationwide events, marches and celebrations proclaiming a national Green Day on Saturday, Nov. 6. These events could be multi-purpose in nature:

1. Celebrate all the Green election victories of Nov. 2 and express our gratitude to the many people that worked and volunteered on Green campaigns.

2. Re-register all the former Greens who bailed so that they could vote for a Democrat in the primaries, and register new Greens and former non-voters.

3. Provide information about the Green Party, spread our vision and plan for how we will take our country back.

4. Have "coming out" parties to celebrate local "celebs" who are now proud to say that they are Green and welcome them back into the fold.

5. Raise money for local parties, state parties and the national party to further the Green agenda and give us the kick-start we need to prepare for the 2005 election year.

6. Acknowledge and celebrate our 20th anniversary in the United States.

7. Have fun and celebrate that we survived the most challenging and divisive year in our history.

How to begin? Greens should take time to develop our overall party strategy for Nov. 2 and beyond -- perhaps a 4- or 5-year strategy. Then we should develop our key message that states our mission in a simple, yet powerful way.

And then we should start planning the biggest party in our history, grassroots style that is. We could stage house parties in every town where there are Greens. We could invite our friends, neighbors and all the people that we've fought with all year.

We could invite our fellow Greens that we've struggled with over campaign strategies, goals, bylaws, convention rules, caucus power, endorsing vs. nominating and whatever else we've thought up to distract ourselves from our ultimate mission.

Next, go to the gp.org homepage where it says "Green Events," click on Green House Parties and sign up to host or volunteer at a local event. If you don't have time to volunteer, then make a donation to help the events succeed.

And of course, make sure you save the date to attend your local Green house party on Nov. 6. Let's make it known: the Greens are growing, not going. We're Green and we're proud.

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