Third Party Club?

[EducateMe]

I attended my first ever Third Party meeting last night, and had a great time, but don't quite understand what's going on here. Who exactly runs this thing? Who hires McKay, who pays for the food, the restruant? No real explanation. Who decides who speaks, and on what issues? Just who's running this whole thing? Do people vote on who speaks? I'd love to have some details, can someone help me out here?

PS - Mark Green was horrible.

[mark grreen]

im usually horrible and frank must be backing me to get someone a job.

Frank MacKay, Pohanka (WFP) and Ian Wilder (Green Party Chairman) seem to run the show. probably the best way to suggest a speaker would be through one of them.

[Third Party Attendee]

this club is largely the invention of Frank Mackay, state and county chair of the Independence Party with the assistance of Chuck Pohanka, county chair and Donna Lent, secretary and Brookhaven chair of the Working Families Party. But, Gary is the chairman of the club. It has been meeting for several years but I am not sure exactly when it was formed. It has also moved locations several times. The name pretty much sums up the mission of the club. It is to promote and protect the third party movement and acknowledge its importance in state and county politics. Any serious candidate cannot expect to run a winning campaign without minor party support or "extra" lines (besides the two major party lines). Any member of any minor party or anyone interested in formal politics in general is encouraged to attend. The way it works is that the restaurant (presently the Ocean Avenue Steakhouse in Ronkonkoma) puts out a free buffet but makes his money from drinks purchased at the bar. It is on the first Monday (generally a slow day for all restaurants) of every month except when announced otherwise. For instance, January's meeting will be on the second Monday (9th) due to New Year's Day being the day before the first Monday. Speakers are generally selected by Mackay, Lent or Pohanka. Ian and Kimberly Wilder of the Green Party are frequent attenders, as are members of the civil liberitarians, conservatives, independence, and two majors. I haven't seen any marijuana reform members since I have been going and the liberal party has been kaput since they lost ballot status. For those of you interested, a minor party has to secure 50,000 votes in a gubernatorial race to retain or secure ballot status (meaning they are a real party). Meetings are regularly attended by major political figures; particularly in Suffolk County. Attendance by prospective candidates really picks up prior to endorsements by the minor parties. We are already into the state races now, so as time draws nearer, more and more potential candidates will start showing their faces. All are encouraged to attend and spend money at the bar.