Always Be Organizing

A resolution to require all chapter campaigns and branches to incorporate organizing new DSA members and to develop inclusive, welcoming, and enjoyable cultures with respectful discussion that engages and develops members.

Co-Authors: Stylianos Karolidis (Queens), Ronit Kory (CBK), David Turner (CBK)

Co-Sponsors: Eric V (Queens), Jamilah E (Queens), Nina K (North Brooklyn), Ethan M (Queens), Annalisa W (Flatbush), Tim T (Central Brooklyn), Sebastian B (Queens), Susan K (Queens), Josh K (Queens), William K (Queens), Emily L (Central Brooklyn), Stephanie L (Queens), Bryan F (Queens), Ravi S (Queens), Leo H (North Brooklyn), Zack J (Lower Manhattan), Steven D (Central Brooklyn), Danny V (Lower Manhattan), Omega D (Flatbush), Bright L (Queens), Elizabeth G (Central Brooklyn), Paul D (South Brooklyn), Aaron F (Queens), Kaarthika T (Queens), Andrey C (Lower Manhattan), Jim S (Flatbush), Juno C (Flatbush), Mike S (Flatbush), Karen N (Central Brooklyn), Gustavo G (Central Brooklyn), Claire V (North Brooklyn), Neil B (North Brooklyn), Sidney C (Central Brooklyn), Jeremy C (North Brooklyn), Andrew E (Queens), Isabel A (North Brooklyn), Alexander M (Bronx/Upper Manhattan), Charles C (Central Brooklyn), Susan K (Queens), Sean P (Queens), Katelin P (Katelin Penner), Cea W (Central Brooklyn), Álvaro L (North Brooklyn), Maeve A (Lower Manhattan), Heather N (Queens), Romke H (North Brooklyn), Greg G (Lower Manhattan), Nathan A (Central Brooklyn), Émilia D (Queens), Patrick T (North Brooklyn), Evan N (Central Brooklyn), Sam G (South Brooklyn), Elissa C (North Brooklyn), Eric T (Queens), Lazar B (Lower Manhattan), Sam L (Central Brooklyn), Grace M (Flatbush), Osman C (Central Brooklyn), Max B (Lower Manhattan), Elizabeth G (Queens), Conor A (Lower Manhattan), Andrew V (Queens), Amrita ( (Flatbush), Josh F (Central Brooklyn), Shawna M (Queens), Asher R (South Brooklyn), Rael A (Bronx/Upper Manhattan), David D (Central Brooklyn), Logan G (Bronx/Upper Manhattan), Arielle S (Central Brooklyn), Seth P (South Brooklyn), Jake B (South Brooklyn), Molly M (Queens), Nadia T (South Brooklyn), Dylan H (Lower Manhattan), Emma S (Central Brooklyn), Emmet T (South Brooklyn), Sam F (Central Brooklyn), Sasha W (Queens), Matt M (Flatbush)

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Therefore be it resolved that…

Every priority campaign (including all electoral campaigns) will include an organizing plan that sets concrete member recruitment and development goals alongside specific tactics to achieve them. Priority campaign leaders will report back to the CLC (or equivalent body) once every 3 months on the organizing plan progress and update it accordingly. Such goals may include:

• Number of new members recruited to DSA
• Number of people actively contributing to a DSA initiative for the first time
• Number of members given their first leadership role (canvas lead, etc)
• Number of members being trained in a new skill

CLC meetings should include a brief report back on membership trends presented by the chapter Membership Coordinator once every 3 months.

At least one week in advance of every branch meeting, a summary of the last meeting will be sent to all branch members, and an agenda for the upcoming meeting will be sent out, alongside any rules for discussion (if the meeting will be using Robert’s Rules, what “Stack” is and how it works, any guidelines for discussion, etc.).

• Branch organizing committees (OCs) will solicit, in this email, proposed changes to the agenda up to one day in advance, and will use discretion in which changes may be made, discussed, or voted on at the beginning of the meeting.
• Sample email copy

• This sample email copy is ONLY a sample - Branch OCs may write this in whichever format they like and may use whichever rules for discussion they like. This resolution only requires that a summary of the last meeting, agenda for upcoming meeting, explanation of any rules, and opportunity to propose agenda changes, be included in the email.

Every branch and organizing body which organizes any major chapter meeting (any citywide event which receives priority promotion and expects more than 50 RSVPs in person) must collaborate with Red Sprouts to develop their own capacity to advertise and offer childcare if the facility allows. Branches should strive to use facilities that can accommodate childcare.

Every NYC-DSA member in elected leadership must attend or facilitate an organizing training at least once a year such as Organizing 101, an EWOC training, or similar training which covers some basics of organizing, engaging new members, and developing new leaders.

Every branch, priority campaign, working group, chapter committee, and any other official chapter body will include links to DSA 101, Organizing 101, and Socialism 101, Red Sprouts trainings and any additional trainings or orientations recommended by the Steering Committee in their regular newsletter emails.

If a branch, working group, priority campaign, or other official chapter body has a group chat or similar online space open to all members it will be carefully moderated by at least two designated OC members using, at minimum, the following guidelines, alongside the NYC-DSA Code of Conduct, which will be posted in the chat description:

Chat Guidelines:

• Chats supplement but don’t replace in depth face-to-face conversations
• DO develop each other as organizers, connect people, make announcements and reminders, solicit feedback and input, build relationships and morale, share resources, make asks
• DO disagree, it’s good to respectfully discuss with comrades who have a different point of view
• DO be welcoming, inclusive, enjoyable, even in disagreement/critique, assume good faith
• DON’T message too often or off topic. Avoid flooding notifications/creating noise
• DON’T get into heated back-&-forth. If someone posts something concerning, reach out
• DON'T conduct formal business over a group chat. That should be reserved for meetings with notice.
• DON’T message outside of posting hours if the OC designates such
• DON’T screenshot or otherwise share sensitive info outside the chat - be respectful of members’ privacy

The NYC-DSA Code of Conduct

OC members moderating are encouraged to enforce these guidelines to foster a positive space for all members. Moderation can include quickly DMing members if they argue back and forth with each other for an extended period, DMing a member quickly once they’ve posted something that potentially violates the guidelines and asking them to be mindful, or posting in the chat to remind people of the guidelines if any at all feel close to violated. Moderation may also include removing members from chats on a temporary or permanent basis. Temporary removals may be enacted by one moderator and may not exceed 1 week and may be overridden with a simple majority vote by the OC. Permanent removals or temporary removals exceeding 1 week may be enacted via a ⅔ majority OC vote on the basis of repeat guideline violations or extreme violation, and either applied or overridden by a majority SC vote.

Chapter leaders should foster a welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable culture across all activities, and orient towards new members, including making extra time and space for them at meetings, going out of the way to speak to new members, and encouraging new member participation in organizing work.