This office formerly served as the Ness for Congress 2000 campaign headquarters. Following the election, many Greens wanted to keep it open, so we developed a plan to not only keep paying the rent but staff the office on a full-time basis (see "Who Runs the Green House" below). For now, we've worked out the problems – and the Green House is open!

If you're not able to stop by today or tomorrow, feel free to take an online tour of the facilities.

It costs about $1,000 per month to operate the Green House, including rent, electricity, phone, paper/pens, etc., food and drink, and these kinds of miscellaneous items. (Review our monthly budgets to see exactly where the money is going.)

Additionally, we spend several hundred dollars each month simply to promote the office: things like this newsletter, flyers, phone banking, etc. What good is having a public office if the public doesn't know about it!?

So, although we don't charge admission for our events, we do "pass the hat." We also encourage people to make contributions any time they stop by, especially if they are using materials or resources. We sell advertising in our newsletter, and videos of our presentations. And we also sell Green Party merchandise on consignment for the Green Party of Michigan and the Locals.

Our Sustainers
But the bulk of the money comes from our Green House "Sustainers," some six dozen people already who've pledged to make a small monthly contribution. These are the people who make the Green House possible! Our Sustainers are honored in our monthly newsletter and on this Web site.

You can become a Green House Sustainer, too. Standard monthly pledges are $5, $10, $25 and $50. We gratefully accept any size pledge (but for bookkeeping ease, please try to make it monthly, and in multiples of $5). There is no obligation or commitment – you can cancel or change the size of your pledge at any time for any reason. If you get behind, we can cancel old, unpaid pledges. You do not have to sign anything.

Who Runs the Green House?
The Green House is administered on an ad hoc basis by Tom and Sue Ness (founders of the Metro Detroit Green Party), as an adjunct function of our private publishing business, Jam Rag, a local music/politics magazine. We are exploring alternatives for a permanent financial/legal structure and identity.

The Green House is fully sanctioned by, and operates with the complete blessing and co-operation of the State Central Committee of the Green Party of Michigan. However, we operate independently, and in no way is the GPMI responsible for the Green House's financial and other obligations.

The Future
We have a six-month lease on our current location, which takes us through May 2001. At that point, we'd like to find a bigger location, with disabled-access, etc. But for now, let's have fun and use this space to it's fullest potential. And let's build this Green Party!

Please give us your comments and especially your ideas as to how we can make the Green House better. We hope to see lots of you over the next few months!

Tom & Sue Ness