Due to COVID-19, both the County Pre-Convention and Convention have been deferred. Please check back. Dates below will change.
Kealakehe High School Cafeteria
PURPOSE: To prepare for the Hawai’i County Convention by reviewing/revising/recommending County Platform, ByLaws, Resolutions in preparation for the Hawai’i County Convention Sat., May 2, 2020 - Kealakehe High School Cafeteria - Kona.
2020 Hawai’i County Convention Committees:
Convention Planning: Bronsten Kossow (brons10kalei@gmail.com) & Teresa Nakama (teresanakama51@gmail.com)
Rules: Phil Barnes (greenhi3@yahoo.com) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.yespdx@gmail.com)
Platform: Colleen Kelly (colleenk1@comcast.net) & Michael Janovsky (mjninole@gmail.com)
Resolutions: Jeff McKnight(jmcknight0@gmail.com) & Chuck Flaherty (oneheart@aloha.net)
These Chairs have established committees, deadlines and procedures (how to submit proposals, etc.). See below for detailed guidance. Participating in the Hawai'i County convention process, which ultimately updates our party's Rules, Platform and Resolutions, is one of the best reasons to join the party -- it's how to have your voice and values heard!
2020 County Convention Resolutions - GUIDANCE NOTES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS:
By Greg Ward - Formatting is very strict:
1) Only font allowed is Times New Roman 12 point. 2) Resolution must fit in one page. 3) Margines are to be 1 inch on all sides. 4) include Author and email which later will be removed by State Resolutions Committee Co-chairs so there is no bias by the State Resolution Committee reviewing the work – only the State Resolutions Committee Co-chairs will know the author.
Grammatically, a resolution is a single sentence with only one period at the end; plus a title on the first line that is bolded. The number, i.e. HC GOV 2016-02 will be established by each County Co-chair team. The “Resolved” clauses are actually items for our state legislators to take action and typically the basis for writing state laws from.
The clauses should all be separate independent clauses ending in a semicolon and the connecting conjunction (“and”) or appropriate phrase (“be it”), separated from the following clause by a blank line.
A preamble, consisting of “Whereas” clauses, is non-binding and not necessary or required. When used, the preamble clauses should avoid controversial statements or unsupported assertions that may draw attention and perhaps support from the resolving clause(s).
Only the “Resolved,” and “Ordered”clause(s) contain the binding and operative substance of the resolution.
Unless stated in the resolution itself, a resolution does not sunset. It is effective indefinitely until rescinded or amended.
Samples of actual approved State resolutions can be found at https://hawaiidemocrats.org/about-2/resolutions/
1) The Title briefly describes the intent of the resolution. Do not use all caps for the title or the words,
Whereas, Resolved, or Ordered.
2) Use the Hawaiian ‘okina and kahakô in Hawaiian words & names as appropriate (e.g. Hawai‘i, O‘ahu
Kaua‘i). The ‘okina is not an apostrophe. It should resemble a miniature “6" in superscript.
It can be made by the left single quotation mark.
3) The first words after the word “Resolved,” should be “That the __________ County Democrats of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i” - not “by the ________ County Democratic Party ...” or ‘that some other entity’ not under the control of the convention take a action or a position.
4) Instead of “Resolved”, transmission directions to staff should use “Ordered”.
Do not stipulate that the copies be “certified”.
Process for Creating and Approving Resolutions:
1) Resolutions are often written by Caucuses and then distributed to Caucus members on each island to get more buy-in and impact across all islands.
2) But, no matter the origin, each resolution must be presented and authored by someone from a local County at the Pre-County Convention. Ideally the proposed resolution should be written in the one page format above prior to the Pre-convention and made available on a memory stick or email for one of the Resolution Co-chairs in advance of the meeting or certainly at the meeting. At the Pre-convention those in attendance will approve and often word smith or modify the proposed resolution; it may even be rejected. In some case a committee may be formed at the Pre-convention to refine the resolution and send it on to the County Resolution Co-chairs for final approval.
3) The County Co-chair will assign a number to each resolution, i.e. HC GOV 2016-02
4) At the County Convention each proposed Resolution will be presented to the body for a vote of approval on a one by one basis. The written resolution will be shown on a screen so the whole body can read it. Each resolution author is expected to give a short (about 2-3 minutes) oral presentation describing why the resolution is important and optionally why is is important to the author.
5) Approved County Resolutions are to then be checked for formatting consistency and sent to the State Resolutions Committee no later than the date established by the State Resolution Committee. The State Resolutions Committee is made of members from each County that have formally declared their interest to serve on the Committee; and that have been approved by the Chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party.
6) The State Resolutions Committee will then review each proposed resolution, consolidate similar resolutions, modify resolutions as long as the original intent has not been lost, and even may reject resolutions.
7) The State Resolution Committee will then assign a number to each resolution but takes out any reference to the author or the County where it originates from. It also typically puts together packets of resolutions to be approved at the State Convention.
8) Finally at the State Convention all Resolutions be approved or rejected. A Resolution can be approved within a packet/group or it may be called out for a discussion and voted on separately.
MODEL TEMPLATE:
Title (Bold, upper and lower case)
Whereas, (state facts about the issue); and
Whereas, (state facts about the issue, continue with “Whereas” facts until you believe you’ve provided enough factual information to justify the resolution, “; and”, until last Whereas…then); and
Whereas, (last statement of fact about the issue); now therefore, be it (this is how the last Whereas clause before “Resolved”ends)
Resolved, That the Democratic Party of Hawai’i (RESTATE YOUR TITLE); and be it further
Resolved, That the Democratic Party of Hawai’i (these additional “Resolved” clauses call for any additional desired specific actions by the Democratic Party directly related to the title and based upon the facts presented in the Whereas clauses); and be it further
Resolved, That the Democratic Party of Hawai’i (additional specific action by the Democratic Party); and be it further
Resolved, That the Democratic Party of Hawai’i (final additional specific action by the Democratic Party); and be it further
Ordered, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to (list all individuals and/or agencies you would like to receive a copy of the Resolution, for instance, ‘all members of Hawai’i’s Congressional Delegation, the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, the Lt. Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, all members of the Hawai‘i State Legislature who are members of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, all the Mayors and members of County Councils who are members of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i’), and the Resolutions Committee of the 2018 State Convention of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i to be accepted by the Committee as provided in Rule 5.2 of the Convention Standing Rules.
Contact information for Resolutions Committee
Author of Resolution:
Precinct:
E-mail:
Best phone contact #: