LGBTIQA+ Greens Guide to Autumn Conference
26th September - 2nd October 2022
The Timetable
Formal Conference kicks off on 26th September with Workshops (where the details of motions will be discussed in advance of the plenaries). There will be workshops each evening from 26-29th Sept.
Plenaries (debating and voting on the motions in the Final Agenda) will be held over the weekend of 30th September to 2nd October, with the opening plenary taking place on the evening of 30th September.
Check out the full timetable for the event.
You can find out more about conference on the members' site here too.
Conference Meeting:
LGBTIQA+ Greens - join us for a round-up of our work, Q&A and help us with planning our priorities!
Saturday 1st October, starting at 18.15-19.30. Councillors are invited to stay from 19:30-20:00 after.
You can join this meeting online via a zoom link too.
Conference Social:
Following our conference meeting, LGBTIQA+ Greens are going to be heading over to The Manhattan Club, Beech Avenue, Harrogate, HG2 8DS.
Saturday 1st October from 8pm - 11pm.
Hang around after our meeting, and we can head over together.
Conference Stall:
Come by our stall in the conference exhibition area and say hello.
Pick up a t-shirt, some badges, stickers and keyrings!
Our Position on Motions
Below we have described motions which we believe to be beneficial and also motions which we believe to be counter to Green values and have explained why.
You can find the full final agenda here on the members' site.
D Motions
Beneficial
D02 – Change to the Constitution for Disciplinary Committee
D04 – A toolkit for healing divisions in the Green Party
D08 – Ending new HIV Transmissions by 2030 part 1
D11 – Changing eligibility to vote in GPEW internal elections
D15 – Reopen Nominations to Avoid All Men and all White Internal Elections
Counter to Green Values
D05 – Stonewall and Disaffiliation from Diversity Champions scheme
D16 – Changes to GPEx
D17 – Abolish no-fault suspensions
E Motions
Beneficial
E01 – Updates to the philosophical basis
E02 – £15 Minimum Wage
E03 – Restitution and Repatriation of Cultural Objects
E04 – Stating opposition to anti-union and anti-strike laws
E05 – Amending crime and justice policies
E11 – Supporting workers taking strike action
E14 – Ending new HIV Transmissions by 2030 part 2
E16 – Access to Fertility Treatment
E16 – Access to Fertility Treatment
Counter to Green Values
E09 – Ensuring sex and gender are not conflated (if unamended)
Conference Jargon Buster
Conference can feel overwhelming, particularly for new members and first-timers. So here's a primer on some words or phrases you might hear thrown around, so you can stay in the know!
Acronyms
- ERO: Electoral Returning Officer
- GPEW: Green Party of England and Wales
- GPEx: Green Party Executive
- GPRC: Green Party Regional Council
- PDC: Policy Development Committee. Policy Development Committee is responsible for facilitating the Party’s policy-making process and are elected in an annual ballot of all members.
- SOC: Standing Orders Committee. SOC draws up the Agenda for Conference and advises on the rules of formal debate, they are elected annually at Conference. You will hear them referred to very often at Conference! SOC will be holding a virtual helpdesk between workshops and plenary times where you will be able to speak to them.
Motions
- Motion: A formal policy suggestion, discussed, and voted on at Conference.
- A Motions: Reports and Motions required by a previous Conference
- B Motions: Policy voting papers
- C Motions: Accredited policy motions
- D Motions: Organisational motions
- E Motions: Unaccredited policy motions
- F Motions: Draft voting papers
Plenary
You have two chairs at each session of plenary, one is usually a tech facilitator, and both will alternate. Standing Orders Committee are also present at plenary, as well as the Policy Development Coordinator who can offer guidance at some points.
You have two chairs at each session of plenary, one is usually a tech facilitator, and both will alternate. Standing Orders Committee are also present at plenary, as well as the Policy Development Coordinator who can offer guidance at some points.
Jargon
- Attunement: Each plenary session starts with a one-minute period of attunement during which all activity stops. This is a time for calm reflection and helps set the tone for a respectful debate.
- Plenary: Plenary sessions are the voting sessions where the formal business of Conference takes place. Items from the Agenda are discussed and voted on in these sessions. The first piece of formal business is always acceptance of the SOC report, as this determines the order of business.
- Quorate: Having the necessary number of people present for decisions to be allowed to be made.
- Voting: Any Party member may vote at Conference, so long as they have registered. Voting will be held on the main Conference platform, and a pop up window will appear when the chair announces the vote. The chair of the plenary session will guide you through how to vote and when as we progress through the debate.
- Workshops: Before a paper or motion is considered in a plenary session, there is a workshop for discussions in small groups. If you have questions about the proposal, or wish to take part in the plenary debate, it is helpful if you attend the workshop, though it is not essential.
