Young Greens Canterbury

08/07/2014, the Dolphin Pub

People present: Natalie Sparkes, Ersi Kalentzi, James Faulkner, Ciaron Watts, Sam Webster, Dave Cocozza, Tom

German, Jasmine, Chris, and Suzanne Howes

1. Ersi opens the meeting. 14-18% students are stated as being aligned to Green Party. From 2010 to 2014

LibDems took a popularity fall from 50% to 6%. The Green Party therefore can be part of the political

landscape.

2. General Election in 2015 so the work begins now. Focus on students and Kent being the Garden of England.

Canterbury centric fundraising.

3. Ciaron gives his piece. Need for fundraising and mass coverage. Lack of voting is a problem not just for the

Greens but for the people as small percentage who vote governs for the majority. Re-brand the Greens as a

young people’s party. Address issues outside of conservation and environment. An anonymous donation will

come through for our first fundraiser if we can drum up good support/plan, etc. Point was made about social

media only reaching those who look, need to cast the net wider and be as inclusive as possible. Voting

record for local area needs to be properly analysed. Encourage free discourse and find what the problems

are by interacting with the public without intimidating and oppressing with political spiel. Dave C. suggesting

making enquiries with UKC about funding for the first fundraiser, in which case we need to find out about

any impartiality clauses. Need to get in touch Green representatives (Brighton) and other Young Greens

(Jasmine, Chris, Internationally, etc.) Need to make enquiries into public liability insurance. Need to create

fluid sales pitch to give to local businesses about involving them in the fundraiser. Need to publicise.

4. Serious international consideration as Green Party.

5. Aims are to win local elections (Blean, Westgate, St Dunstans) and become national opposition.

6. Natalie discusses the fundraiser. Need to be accessible as a party, street stalls. Need to be after summer.

Charge £300+ VAT for Whitefriars (Discussion with Council). Need to enquire with Whitefriars security. Might

need a music licence. £36 for businesses to hire a stall and Greens take a 10% cut of earnings? Or take only

after £500 earned? Needs to be financially viable and friendly, consider donations? Need to keep in contact

with all involved. Possibility of raffle, look at local businesses to donate prizes, keep money raised for Greens.

Require a firm list of people to approach with solid plan concerning fundraiser, local businesses, vendors,

buskers, Uni student businesses, (Lewis), etc. Look into promoting LGBT and Blood donors? Using YouTube

to advertise/film the fundraiser.

7. Make contact with the political societies on campus about promoting free discourse and vote registration.

Senate is polling station.

8. Agreements made. 20th/21st September is moving in week, promote voting registration. NO PARTY

PROMOTION. 25th 26th September is Fresher’s week, get in touch with Greens on campus, make enquiries

into leaflets and free pens for stall, spread manifesto, wear t-shirts and be presence. 5th October (is) Main

fundraiser.

9. Logo Competion needs to be promoted. Create relevant hashtags. Look into t-shirt printing.

10. Committee positions (Nothing definite):

a. Chairman: Jantje

b. Treasurer:

c. Events Organiser: Natalie

d. New Media Coordinator: Ersi/Sam

e. Green Party Liaison:

f. Public Relations: Ciaron

g. Secretary: Suzanne

11. AOB: Chris volunteered to help at the Fresher’s fayre. Need to look into green t-shirts. Activist day. Minutes

being publicly available.

12. Next meeting organised for 22nd July, Ersi closes the meeting.