Heron on the Rideau River at Carleton University - Photo by Brett Delmage

September 2009 Newsletter

Hello everyone! With all of the events and campaign preparations we have coming up I’m sending the mid-month newsletter a little early. Read on for news about the formation of Jen’s campaign team, the federal Ottawa Centre AGM and cleaning up our adopted park in October. (and more…)

PS: Thank you to those who signed up or renewed during the GPC Membership Drive. Your membership helps us financially every three months when the revenue sharing payment arrives from the National Office (about $20 per member per year).

Campaign Preparations
Jen is ramping up preparations to run a fall campaign and needs your support. Click through to her message about the next election:

It is a delight to have the opportunity to represent Ottawa Centre and the Green Party in the next federal election. In the coming months I will be busy telling Ottawa Centre voters that options for a Green Economy, Green Communities and Real Democracy exist. Many of you were very generous in supporting the 2008 campaign. It looks like we are heading into another fall election … Read More…

Calling All Volunteers: Campaign Strategy Pub Night
Jen and a group of campaign volunteers are meeting Wednesday to discuss the plans we’ve made for the next election, meet volunteers who are interested joining the team, and enjoy a beverage at the same time. The agenda is wide open and ideas in all areas are welcome (signs, door canvas, phone canvas, fundraising, communication, website, office admin, ‘Great Work Lives Here’ – you name it!). There is also a followup meeting planned for the 16th.

Date: Wednesday September 9th (and 16th)
Time: 7pm
Location: Clocktower Pub, Bank Street at the Queensway

Fair Vote Canada: Support Electoral Reform
After reading Julien’s message about how every supporter of the Green Party should have an interest in seeing electoral reform take place in Canada I became a member of Fair Vote Canada. If you believe we should elect our representatives using a system other than first past the post please consider joining. Fair Vote Canada is a non-partisan group that advocates for electoral reform. (Read more from Julien Lamarche…)

Carleton University Greens
With campus orientation underday the Carleton University Greens are looking to recruit new students. If you’re currently attending Carleton University and are interested in joining, or know someone else who might be interested, contact me and I’ll put you in touch with the CUGreens. Check out the Young Greens website while your thinking about it. We also have contacts with the UOttawa Greens – contact me either way!

Fall Cleanup
Our adopted park is due for a little cleanup again – so mark down October 3rd, 10am on your calendars. Central Park is located at Bank and Powell in the Glebe – meet at the stairs across from the LCBO.

The park cleanup will go ahead rain or shine, and we’ll do it even if there’s an election. The City of Ottawa provides the supplies through the Clean the Capital program – we just supply the labour! Is there a volunteer out there who could supply some refreshments for the rest of the crew? (I like hot chocolate, nudge wink!). Here are some pictures and video from the spring cleanup.

White and Yellow Pages: Opt-Out and Save Paper
The yearly distribution of the white and yellow pages is coming up but there is still time to opt-out (for 2 years) and avoid getting them delivered to your household. Just visit http://www.ypg.com/delivery/form.php and fill out the form. Save a tree – and forward this to your friends and family to save even more trees…

Annual General Meeting
The annual general meeting has been postponed given the potential of a fall election. Last year the AGM was done during the election because we had no other option – and it was a distraction from the campaign. This year the AGM can happen as late as December so we have some flexibility. Stay tuned…

Fantastic Time at Pride Parade
We pulled off a great entry in Pride Parade this year! A great group of candidates and volunteers joined Adriane Carr, Green Party Deputy Leader, to march in Pride parade. Read more and watch the video.

Links and Information

Go Greens!