Welcome to Edinburgh A very warm welcome to the relentless work of our eight time) Green MEP Magid Magid to In the midst of two global councillors, two MSPs, and many Edinburgh in February to inspire emergencies – the Covid-19 to this year’s members and activists. and engage the local community pandemic and and climate Conference There is strong support for in Green politics. change– and with two local the Greens across Edinburgh While responding to a global council by-elections and We would have loved you to have and West Lothian and we were pandemic was not on the agenda Holyrood 2021 ahead, the been here with us in Edinburgh proud of our performance in when we met at Conference urgency with which we meet at this weekend – exploring our the 2019 General Election, last year, pressing the Scottish Conference feels more pressing incredible city parks, enjoying our standing candidates in every local Government on its response to than ever. Whilst we wish you well-established cycle networks constituency, including Claire the crisis and on developing a were here in Edinburgh, we are and perhaps even spotting the Miller in Edinburgh East who sustainable green recovery has excited to join the first fully virtual odd otter in Holyrood Park or the returned the highest vote share become the priority for our local Scottish Green Party Conference. Water of Leith. for the Greens in Scotland. MSPs Alison Johnstone and Andy And, as is tradition, we’re looking Edinburgh was recently Our young Green Group were Wightman. Our councillors were forward to hosting you at recognised as one of the top also delighted to host the Somali- also quick to respond, publishing Saturday evening’s Social. five “green” cities in Europe by British activist, the former Lord a new report on a Green recovery National Geographic - testament Mayor of Sheffield and (at that for Edinburgh in May. Edinburgh Branch 2 3 HOW intended to allow conference DEBATES AND VOTING to debate issues that have Motions are debated and voted SPEAKING CONFERENCE arisen since this deadline, on as follows: Any member may speak during WORKS and should be sent to soc@ a debate. The facilitators of each notices.scottishgreens.org. • There is a short debate on the session will make clear how you The Party’s Constitution and uk seven days before the start motion itself. can request to speak and any Policy Reference Document of conference, signed by two • Each amendment is then time limits. Please when you (PRD) have been voted in, and members. debated and voted on in turn. speak always begin by saying amended, by a succession of You have the choice of voting your name and branch. Party conferences on the basis An Emergency Motion relating for, against or abstain. of one member, one vote. The to events that have arisen • The final stage is a vote on Please do not speak or request Standing Orders Committee since then can be submitted the full motion, as amended to speak unless called upon by (SOC) is responsible for ensuring to SOC any time up until noon (or not amended), and again the facilitator. Because of the conference rules are upheld, on the first day of conference the choice is between for, number of people attending not and for guaranteeing its smooth (also signed by two members). against or abstain. everyone who wishes to speak and democratic running. Emergency Motions will be will be able to. Priority will be rejected if they could have been At any point in the debate a given to people with knowledge If you have an issue relating submitted in time for the first member may ask (from the floor) and experience on a subject, and to conference procedures, agenda, or are not concise and to vote on referring a motion to people who have not already please raise it with a member focused. back to the relevant committee. spoken. You may ask a short of SOC. SOC reports directly That member would have question of the motion proposer to conference, and its annual to explain their reasons and – but this must be just that – report – given during the another member would have to a short question. The chair is AGM – must be approved by second that proposal. The chair there to ensure fair and smooth conference. may refuse that proposal or may running of the session – please put it to a vote, at their discretion. respect their authority. MOTIONS Motions have to be submitted Amendments will not be 11 weeks before conference, accepted from the floor if more amendments five weeks before. than ten members object, or if The intention is that branches the chair refuses to allow them. It can debate them and, if wished, is unusual for all other members agree proxy votes or branch to agree to hear a proposed amendments. amendment from the floor, as this has not proved to be an Emergency Motions are effective way of deciding party policy. 4 5 CHILD PROTECTION AT What do I need to do? FRINGES AND EXHIBITIONS Links to all sessions are CONFERENCE If a child tells you they are at Conference is not just the available on the Members Area: actual or potential risk: main sessions organised by SGP considers all persons under • Take them seriously; the SGP. It is also the fringe Pre-Conference sesions the age of 18 children for the • Don’t ask unnecessary meetings and virtual stalls (Mon-Thur): purposes of this policy. questions; organised by outside groups, https://members.greens. • Don’t promise to keep the where new ideas flourish and scot/conference/pre- As an organisation that has information confidential; where party members listen to members as young as 12, we conference-calendar • Make a note using the child’s the concerns of campaigning have a duty to inform and words and make sure you and representative groups. support all our members in Conference Weekend (Fri, note the date; Please take part in the sessions. upholding our child protection • Contact your branch Sat, Sun): They are as much a part policy. The following will help convenor, the Child Rights of conference as the main https://members.greens. you to know what to look for Volunteer or local social sessions. scot/conference/weekend- and what to do if you have any work department; calendar concerns during conference. • Don’t contact the child’s FIRST TIME AT CONFERENCE? parents/guardian; There are special sessions for What constitutes a risk? • Don’t attempt to investigate people new to Conference, • Witnessing an incident the situation; which will be held at 6.30pm involving a child that causes • If you are concerned about from Monday to Thursday, you concern; the immediate safety of a which will also familiarise you • A child tells you they are child, contact the police. with the online voting system being abused or neglected we have adopted this year. or are at risk of being abused If you suspect an adult or or neglected; child is posing a risk to child • Someone tells you that a protection. child is at risk of abuse or neglect, even if the child has Contact your branch convenor no connection to the SGP. or the Child Rights Volunteer; If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child, contact the police. 6 7 USING HOPIN GETTING AROUND THE IF YOU ARE HAVING HOPIN CONFERENCE SPACE Press the blue “Connect” button - OUR ONLINE PROBLEMS Hopin has five areas – the menu if you wish to swap contact PLATFORM Third-party extensions can affect bar appears on the left. details. the Hopin experience so we also Autumn Conference 2020 is highly recommend opening the Reception Looking for someone specific? being held entirely online for event in - When you first enter the event Please click on ‘people’ next to the first time, and all sessions you’ll land in the Reception the chat function and find the are taking place on the online • Incognito mode area, here you’ll find the person you wish to connect with. events platform Hopin. (command+Shift+N on schedule for the event as well as Chat may be disabled during macOS or Ctrl+Shift+N on announcements, updates and certain segments of Conference. If you plan on attending any part Windows) on Chrome any links. of conference, please take a • Private tab Expo moment to register an account (command+Shift+P for Stage We will be running a small with Hopin now: macOS or Ctrl+Shift+P for The stage is where you’ll watch number of virtual expo sessions https://hopin.to/sign_up Windows) on Firefox. the speeches, keynotes and here. panel sessions. Use the event WHAT YOU NEED If you’re experiencing problems, chat on the right-hand side to For the best possible experience, try a refresh or reload of the ask questions at appropriate not just for you, but for all other browser page, this will often points in proceedings. Conference attendees we solve the problem! recommend: Sessions A volunteer will be on hand at The Sessions element of Hopin • Use a desktop or laptop the Tech Helpdesk, however is where you will find fringes, computer. Mobiles and please only use after re-checking discussion groups, training tablets can access Hopin instructions as volunteer capacity sessions, breakouts and perhaps but users may not be able to is limited for this event. even the odd-session to catch access all features, speak to up in a more informal manner motions, or vote. The more people follow these e.g. The Coffee Stop.