Welcome! This is your chance to say “I’m proud to be a Green” while helping to grow the Green Party in New York State. Because the Green Party refuses all corporate contributions, dues-paying participants in our Supporting Members Program will play a vital part in making sure our State and County Green organizations have the resources needed to build the party. Plus, Supporting Members count toward your county’s representation on the State Committee. This is your party, so sign up today!
Who Can Be a Supporting Member?
NY State voters who are registered Greens are eligible, after affirming GPNY principles and setting a dues level using a budget-friendly sliding scale. You choose your own dues level on an honor system, based on what you can pay.
If you are age 13-17, or older but otherwise legally ineligible to register to vote in NY State, you may become a Supporting Member even though you are not registered Green. This way, NY State residents can still count toward representation in Green Party decisions even though our electoral system has disenfranchised them. Waivers for dues are available for economic hardship (contact Treasurer for info) for those legally ineligible to register to vote.
How Do I Sign Up?
Here are the options we’ve set up to make participation as easy as possible:
- Register for a recurring monthly or annual dues payment online.
- Download a PDF and mail in your registration with a check or money order.
Please check our FAQ section (below), or contact the Treasurer: treasurer( at )gpny.org
GPNYS Supporting Members Program – Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are you doing this? Being a Green isn’t about money.
In order to reliably budget what’s needed for strong Green campaigns and activism –web hosting, printed literature, design and tech support staff– we need Greens to step up and commit to paying dues. Time and again, dues have been the means through which labor and other movements of the 99% have pulled together the resources to make big things happen. Second, this is a chance for Greens to affirm their values beyond checking a box on their voter registration forms, while allowing those who are barred from registering to vote to be formally represented in this party. And finally, you set your own dues level according to what you can pay. If your economic situation prevents you from paying at all, then GPNY can grant a waiver (contact the Treasurer).
2. What happens with my dues? Who gets it?
Half of your dues go toward the operating budget of GPNY, which is overseen by the Treasurer and the Finance Committee. These funds will be used to pay necessary expenses like meeting venues, online and computer infrastructure, and flyers and publications to assist with Green outreach. The other half of your dues go back to your County Organization after each fiscal quarter. So when you pay dues in the Supporting Members Program, you’re supporting the Green movement at the State and local levels!
People who have the means to do so can donate more than the maximum set forth on the dues schedule. However, Supporting Member dues to be rebated quarterly back to a County Organization will continue to be capped at the maximum amount set forth in the dues schedule.
3. What authorizes you to set up this program?
The GPNY State Committee affirmed rules, which included a provision for a Supporting Members Program. The SC also voted to specify the enrollment system and sliding dues scale.
4. How are Supporting Members counted toward representation in GPNY?
County Organizations must have at least five Supporting Members in order to affiliate with GPNY. For representation on the State Committee, each affiliated County Organization shall be entitled to one voting member plus an additional voting member for every 200 Enrolled Members and one additional voting member for every ten Supporting Members.
For the purpose of determining the number of Supporting Members in a county at the time the Party Call is prepared to apportion the number of SC members to each county, all Supporting Members who have paid annual dues of $30 in full for the calendar year preceding February 1st shall be counted as Supporting Members in good standing.
5. How is this different than donating?
We appreciate donations, but this is about a greater commitment. We’re asking Greens to come together as a movement and build a party that can fight against the cronies, schemers, and polluters who are violating our neighborhoods, economies and environment. Some people donate without ever enrolling as Greens. Some enrolled Greens never donate. We’re asking you to commit to a regular dues payment so we can rely on funding from the 99% to make big things happen. Also, your Supporting Membership will count toward your county’s representation in the party. We hope you’ll consider donating to GPNY party and candidate fundraising drives, as well, but your dues are the bedrock of budget.
6. Aren’t you worried about people buying influence in the party?
That’s why we limit the program to enrolled Greens, with an exception for those legally ineligible to register to vote. By setting up a broad base of dues-paying Greens of the 99% we’ll never be dependent on big money donors.
7. How can I verify my Green Party Enrollment?
Check the NY State Board of Elections voter look-up form. It will list your party affiliation. If you don’t appear as a registered Green, and should, please contact the Treasurer. It also helps if you have your enrollment receipt from your Board of Elections. You can also call your county BOE office and see if they can send you something in writing.