The Pacific Green Party will hold its statewide quarterly convention this weekend at the University to determine the party’s plan of action for the next two years.
The convention begins Saturday at 9 a.m. and will be held at Agate Hall, located at 19th Avenue and Agate Street.
“The major focus of the event will be selecting a focus,” Pacific Green Party co-chairman Xander Patterson said.
Oregon Green Party member registration boomed in the past year during Ralph Nader’s campaign for president, according to statistics provided by the party. Membership in Lane County jumped from 91 in January 2000 to approximately 1,300, where it stands now. With many members disappointed that the party didn’t gain the necessary 5 percent of the votes in the 2000 election required to receive federal campaign money, the party plans to put more emphasis on non-electoral efforts, party officials said.
“Everyone will come away with something,” Lane County Green Party coordinator John Egan. “It’s a chance for the newly incorporated and freshly rejuvenated members to get together and discuss the issues.”
Issues on the agenda include ballot measure ideas, campaign reform, developing the social service aspect of the party and addressing electoral and non-electoral issues, Patterson said.
“Some of the convention will be very interesting,” he said. “Some of what we do, however, will be dry party business.”
In addition, there will be a variety of workshops on putting additional action into ongoing activism, although Egan did not provide specifics and reiterated that the convention’s focus will be on the party’s direction.
Campus Green Party member Erik Amos said that the convention will deal with general party business rather than trying to directly reach potential members.
“If they want to come out and check it out, sure,” Amos said. “It’s going to be open to the public.”
While open to the public, there will be requirements on who can vote for determining the direction of the party. Anyone who is a supporting member of the party can participate.
The party’s definition of a supporting member is any “dues paying” member, Patterson said. Members will participate in finalizing a party focus initiative and will vote to put that plan into action.
Lane County Pacific Green Party is hosting the event and has made arrangements for free child care on-site and low-cost accommodations in the Eugene area for those attending the event.
Everyone is welcome to attend the convention, and admission is free.