GREAT NEW VOLUNTEER PROJECT FOR COLORADO GREENS!!!

Summary	Perfect for families, budding naturalists and anyone concerned about the impacts of noxious weeds.
Description	Non-native plants, (read weeds!) are rapidly becoming a BIG problem in Colorado. They impact wildlife diversity, watershed health, agriculture and even your backyard. Join citizens on July 12 on projects across Colorado and help battle these invaders. VOC is participating in Pulling for Colorado’s showcase project at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood. This half-day event features weed removal, native planting, educational events, and a fantastic lunch!
Dates	7/12/2008 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM	Agency	Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Location	Denver Metro Area (MET)
Address	14620 Morrison Rd. Lakewood, CO 80228
Type	Volunteer Opportunity
Type of work	Weed/Invasive Species Management

Below is the link to register to help work on this project!!

Anyone that wants to come to the project, you just need to have them register, they can follow this link directly
http://www.voutdoors.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Events.Register&Event_ID=2169&Group_ID=32704

This is a great opportunity for the Green Party to partner with another local group that is concerned about the earth.  It is the weekend of the National Convention and some of us will be in Chicago, but sure hope many of you will sign up

If you have questions, please ask me

Claire

PS It includes lunch!!!!

 June 21-22 the Green Party of Colorado participated in Pridefest at Civic Center Park in Denver.  Tony D’llalo our candidate for State Representative in House District 34 marched with a High School GBLT group that he sponsors.  Bob Kinsey indefatigably campaigned for his US Senate race, and Adam Taylor, Claire Ryder and others manned a booth and registered 41 new Green voters.  Many of these new Green voters are first time voters.

Adam registers new voters as Green voters

Bob Kinsey tells it like it is.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

(Fort Collins) Hailing the passage of a new state law encouraging local governments to use Instant Runoff Voting, Colorado Green Party members have called on cities and counties around the state to implement ranked voting methods in upcoming elections.

On May 27, Governor Ritter signed into law HB08-1378, sponsored by Senator Ken Gordon (D-Arapahoe) and Representative John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins). Known as the “Voter Choice Act,” the new law permits cities and counties to use voting methods in which electors rank candidates for office in order of preference. The law requires the Secretary of State to create rules for conducting such local elections and to submit a report to the legislature that assesses the experience of local governments.

“If politics is the art of the next step, than Rep. John Kefalas’ election reform measure is a Picasso,” said Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County Commissioner and Green Party member. “Instant Runoff Voting will save taxpayer money, guarantee majority wins, and allow citizens to vote for multiple candidates of their choosing – in effect, prioritizing who they think will do the best job out of a wide field. That means more candidates, more choice, and more democracy. It’s darn exciting.”

“It is long past time to extend this form of voting to all elections held in Colorado,” according to Bob Kinsey, Green Party candidate for Colorado’s US Senate seat. “Money, name recognition and image will become less significant. Voters will feel more empowered and become more active.”

Dr. Ron Forthofer, former Green Party candidate for Governor and a member of the 2007 Voter Choice Task Force whose work led to HB08-1378, points out that Senators John McCain and Barack Obama have both supported Instant Runoff Voting, and says the momentum for voting reform is growing.

Ranked voting methods have been used in dozens of American cities over the years. In Colorado, Basalt and Aspen have already adopted ranked voting, while cities like Grand Junction and Boulder have used these methods in the past. Minneapolis (MN), Oakland (CA) and Burlington (VT) are among cities that recently switched to ranked voting like instant runoff voting. Ranked voting is also used for major elections in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Support for Instant Runoff Voting has long been a plank in the Green Party’s platform.

The nonpartisan 2007 Voter Choice Task Force, chaired by Rep. Kefalas and co-chaired by Rep. Jim Kerr (R-Jefferson County), included representatives of the Colorado Democratic, Republican, Libertarian and Green parties, independent voters, county clerks and the Secretary of State’s office.

Contact:
Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County Commissioner
commish3@sanmiguelcounty.org, 650-968-2095

Bob Kinsey, Candidate, U.S. Senate, www.kinseyforsenate.org, 303-949-4073

Ron Forthofer, member, 2007 Voter Choice Task Force, rforthofer@comcast.net, 303-786-8921

Eric Fried, Secretary, Green Party of Colorado, eric@pvgreens.org, 970-214-4548

More at: www.MetroDenverGreens.org

Van Bibber Park Clean-Up

Sponsored by Adams-Jefferson County Green Party

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Van Bibber Park

5575 Ward Road

West side of Ward Road, just south of 58th AvenueArvada

MAP

Saturday, May 31, 2008

11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

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Volunteers are needed to staff the Green Party booth at the People’s Fair on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8.

Please contact Claire Ryder to schedule a time to help out.

claireryder@cs.com

303-316-8415

Capitol Hill People’s Fair 

June 7 and 8, 2008

Civic Center Park

MAP

Saturday - 10am to 8pm Sunday - 10am to 7pm

Please stop by the Green Party booth and visit!

FREE Admission!

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Thursday, June 5, 2008

6:30 - 8:30 P.M.

Anne Campbell Room

(Enter at lower level Police Department door - off Ammons Street) 

Arvada City Hall

8101 Ralston Road

Arvada, Colorado 80002

MAP

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 Monday, June 16, 2008

6:30 - 8:30 P.M.

Mercury Cafe

2199 California Street

Denver, Colorado 80205

MAP

Hey everyone,

Everyone’s favorite lovable, wacky, bald-headed, tree-hugging, vegetarian, here. This video was forwarded to me by my friend Bryan. It’s a pretty amazing summary of how we became the way we are, and what we are actually doing to our planet. I think you should forward it to everyone you know… but I must warn you: If you don’t forward it to at least ten people in the next 5 seconds - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. Honest! A guy in New Jersey didn’t send it to anyone, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. If you do forward it to some friends, however, you may be responsible for bringing about a dialog which is long overdue in this country.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Peace,
Scott