Profile of the St. Joe Valley Greens
Brief History

Our chapter was organized by a couple of experienced Green activists who moved to South Bend from Montana . They attracted like-minded people who joined with them and founded our chapter in 1992. In the years since, we have been active on a broad range of local issues.

St. Joe Valley Greens seek out other independent citizen action groups and work with them whenever possible. We publish a newletter, participate in a cable access TV show, and our volunteers make many public appearances to speak about Green issues.

Maybe just reading about our work is not very exciting. But check us out. You'll love the hands-on energy of grassroots action.
Our local organization has been active on many issues in the community
  • Since 1992 our local has been an active player in the development of solid waste policies in St. Joseph County.
  • We have also been active on issues of public transportation, bicycle commuting, and air pollution.
  • We have raised concerns about the portrayal of Native Americans in our schools as well as on other education issues.
  • The St. Joe Valley Greens have worked with other grassroots groups to demand local government accountability and reform.
  • We have run a candidate for a South Bend City Council seat, garnering 25% of the vote, and we plan to run more candidates in the future.
  • We initiate with local labor unions the local anti-NAFTA efforts.
  • We have joined with labor unions, local farmers and others in a coalition effort to stop a new polluting factory.
  • This same coalition is currently broadening its scope to change the way local economic development decisions are made.
  • Another current project is to oppose the shipments of radioactive waste through Indiana and to support the victims of Chernobyl on the tenth anniversary of the nuclear accident.
Future projects may include
  • Work for a local gay/lesbian civil rights ordinance.
  • Creation of a civilian review board to monitor police/civilian interactions.
  • Work on prison issues.
Local membership requirements The St. Joe Valley Greens meet in a general meeting on the second Monday of the month at which the public is welcome. Action committees meet at various times. Membership involves an active commitment to the Ten Key Values and 25 dollars (sliding scale) per year.
National Greens The Greens/Green Party USA is the national organization of the Green movement in the United States. Hundreds of local groups like the St. Joe Valley Greens are spread throughout the US. They are likewise active in a host of issues: Ohio Greens are fighting the siting of a nuclear waste dump, Milwaukee Greens working with other inner-city citizens on schools, New Mexico Greens joining with striking union nurses, and Orange County, NC Greens organizing to promote sustainable economic development with a local African-American commission. In 1994 over one million votes were cast for 80 Green candidates around the country resulting in twelve being elected to various local offices. This makes the Greens one of the most successful third parties in the US in this century and currently the fastest-growing third party.
International Greens The Greens in the US are part of the international Green movement. Green parties and organizations thrive in 73 countries on every continent. The most famous Green party - the German Die Grunen - is now the third largest party in the reunited Germany and governs several states in coalition governments. Greens work in such diverse countries as South Korea, Lebanon, Brazil, Mexico, Jordan, Mongolia, Australia, and in 21 African countries.
Local Greens Meetings
Regular Meetings
The St. Joe Valley Greens hold general meetings on the second Monday of every month. Our new meeting place is the Central United Methodist Church, 1920 S. Michigan St., South Bend. Our meeting time is 7:00 P.M. and is open to the general public.

Special Topic Every Third General Meeting
Every third general meeting, we suspend regular business and dedicate the meeting to a presentation and discussion on a topic of interest, usually with a guest speaker.

Working Committee Meetings
The engine of change for the Greens are its working committees where "the rubber hits the road." So the Greens encourage each member to join and participate in at least one working committee. Here's what's cooking now:
  • nuclear/radioactive waste issues
  • Citizens Allied for Responsible Economic development (CARE coalition)
  • InterGrowth - sustainable economic development coalition
  • solid waste/recycling issues
  • social safety net
  • electoral politics
  • community oriented government
  • the Green Notes newsletter
  • our cable access TV show, Green TV
  • our World Wide Web pages

Contact:

St. Joe Valley Greens
PO Box 11124, South Bend, IN 46634

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