The not-so-good news is that HCGP will likely have to find a new short & snappy domain name for the HCGP website. They cannot reclaim the hcgp.org at the usual annual rate, as the Network Solutions chat transcript below shows.
A message arrived yesterday in one of my email boxes, informing me that I had been removed as primary contact for the domains currently owned by HCGP. That was what prompted me to contact Network Solutions in the first place. I'm quite OK with not being the primary contact, even if I didn't request the removal. A second chat session revealed that NS could not tell me who has taken over the role of primary contact.
Chat Transcript
11:17:27 AM [David Collins] Hello, we have a very complicated problem with domain service.
11:17:36 AM [Betania R] Thank you for chatting with us today! My name is Betania R, how can I assist you?
11:17:59 AM [David Collins] hello Betania! i'm not sure where to start with this...
11:19:16 AM [David Collins] current leadership of the harris county (tx) green party has let its domain service lapse. as the primary contact with network solutions, i did not receive notification that the domain needed to be renewed. i just got a message that i have been removed as the contact.
11:19:25 AM [Betania R] Give me as many details as possible.
11:20:21 AM [David Collins] the hcgp website is offline because they did not pay for domain renewal. i am willing to pay for it as long as the price is not exorbitant.
11:20:41 AM [Betania R] One moment please.
11:22:23 AM [David Collins] it's true that i'm currently not active with hcgp, so i understand why they would want me removed as contact.
11:24:00 AM [Betania R] Sorry for the silence, I am still looking into this.
11:24:06 AM [David Collins] no problem
11:24:17 AM [Betania R] Thanks
11:26:04 AM [Betania R] I do not have you listed as a contact for this domain.
11:26:49 AM [David Collins] right, i'm not any more, apparently. however, the organization needs to get its website back in service.
11:27:02 AM [Betania R] Domain hcgp.org is available for purchase for $988.00.
11:27:16 AM [David Collins] that's ridiculous.
11:27:41 AM [Betania R] That domain is a premium domain.
11:28:24 AM [David Collins] can hcgp not just renew the service at the rate they were paying?
11:28:48 AM [Betania R] No, the domain is not in the account anymore.
11:29:16 AM [David Collins] thank you. will i get a transcript of this chat?
11:29:50 AM [Betania R] Yes, I can send you one by email. What is your email address?
11:29:57 AM [David Collins] [gave my alternate email address that was on file with Network Solutions]