Welcome to the Madison Area Democratic Socialists of America (MADSA), or Madison DSA for short. Madison DSA is a chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, centered on Madison, Wisconsin but also incorporating surrounding towns like Verona, Fitchburg, Middleton, Sun Prairie, and Stoughton. This guide is intended to give a primer to DSA and to the Madison chapter, how the organization works, what we do, and where you might fit in. This guide will also include links to common chapter resources and processes.

DSA 101

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a national organization of socialists in the United States. DSA was founded in 1983, and after the 2016 election DSA grew very quickly to become the largest US socialist organization since the 1950s. DSA is a democratic membership organization, run by members like you. DSA is a “big tent” socialist organization, meaning that there are a range of politics members hold in the organization: everything from social democracy to communism to anarchism. Commitment to an ideology is not a requirement of any member so long as they agree with DSA’s core democratic socialist principles.

DSA is organized bottom-up, starting with members and moving up from there. Members form Chapters (15 or more members), which are the foundation of DSA and where most people really interact with the organization. Chapters organize meetings to discuss politics, make decisions, and coordinate activist work. Bigger chapters might have Branches, which are recognized subgroups in a chapter that meet as DSA; often this is by geography (North/East/South/West; nearby towns) but can also be by area of work or identity (labor, language, etc). If a branch is established, it sends a representative to the Chapter leadership.

Every two years, DSA members have a National Convention where chapters and at-large members send delegates to decide on DSA’s direction, priorities, policies, establish national Working Groups, and to select the National Political Committee (NPC), DSA’s national leadership. The NPC oversees the entirety of DSA, manages the organization’s finances and staff, charters new chapters, issues statements and provides political direction.

For more information on the National Structure and resources, visit:
https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/structure/

https://www.dsausa.org/get-involved/

What is Democratic Socialism?

Democratic socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run to meet public

needs, not to make profits for an elite few. To achieve this goal, we believe that many structures

of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and

social democracy so that workers can have a say in how our lives are structured in the

workplace, our schools, and neighborhoods. Democratic socialists also have a strategy to break

the power of capitalists and the bosses who do their bidding: we see a united, militant working

class as the leading force for radical social change.

Madison Chapter Structure

The Madison Area chapter of Democratic Socialists of America has several hundred members. There’s a lot of activity so it can be hard to know where to start. First, we’ll outline how the chapter works, then walk you through how to get involved.

Meetings

Monthly Membership Meetings

MADSA holds a monthly general meeting open to any member and typically to the public as well. These are considered the “highest body” of the chapter with the most authority to make decisions. Any decision MADSA might make can be done at a membership meeting, but there are some things only the membership meeting can do: endorse campaigns, endorse candidates for public office, authorize use of major funds, and/or establish a chartered working group.

The chapter currently meets once a month (usually the second Tuesday evening of the month). General meetings usually take place at the Social Justice Center (1202 Williamson St, Madison, WI) with a hybrid accessibility option via Zoom. Meetings are announced on our website, in the chapter Slack, and in our newsletter. Meeting agendas are usually posted several days before the meeting.

Chapter Conventions

MADSA holds chapter conventions annually in March to make important political decisions and set internal direction for the organization for the coming year. These include electing new chapter officers, rechartering working groups, and other business that may include voting on chapter priorities, resolutions, bylaw amendments, etc.

Working group meetings

Our chapter has a number of working groups active at any given time dedicated to organizing around specific issues. Working group meetings can involve political education, planning upcoming actions, organizing, etc. Meeting schedules vary by working group; some meet biweekly and others meet monthly. When working groups meet in person, locations vary by group. Anyone is welcome to attend. Meetings are announced on our website, on the chapter Slack, and in our weekly newsletter.

Working Groups

Any group of members may meet for any purpose, but in order to represent the work being done as part of Madison-Area DSA, a working group must be chartered. Members wishing to do work in an area and represent the chapter must submit a document outlining what they wish to do, the reasons why, and what they would need to the membership meeting. If approved, a chartered working group can create events as MADSA without approval votes, create materials and generally represent DSA in their field.

Ad hoc groups of members may not create events as DSA or represent themselves as spokespersons of the chapter without approval of either the membership meeting or the Executive Committee. At the end of any charter, working groups present their activity and ask the membership to approve them for another charter to remain accountable. https://madison-dsa.org/working-groups

Executive Committee

The chapter annually elects an Executive Committee (or “Exec”) of seven (7) members (two co-chairs, one administrator, one communications officer, a treasurer, one membership coordinator, and one at-large) who make decisions between membership meetings and serve as chapter leadership. The Executive Committee sets the agenda for membership meetings, issues statements on behalf of the chapter and may endorse individual events.

The Executive Committee cannot endorse a political candidate or a campaign; that decision must go to the membership. The Executive Committee handles the chapter membership roster and finances – current policy is that the Treasurer may approve up to $200 on discretionary items and the Exec up to $500, but any expenses above this amount outside the budget must be approved by the general membership. Lastly, the Exec ensures that the chapter’s campaigns and working groups remain accountable to the chapter and do not make decisions that represent the chapter outside of their purview.
Contact: dsamadison@gmail.com

Harassment Grievance Officers

MADSA has a code of conduct (Addendum A) for chapter members in addition to DSA’s national harassment policy. The MADSA membership selects two people to be our “harassment/grievance officers”, or “HGOs”. Any member with a complaint or concern about another member may speak confidentially to an HGO.

Chapter Resources

MADSA has some resources for our organizing work.

Chapter office: We have meeting space and storage at the Social Justice Center. Our office has a small meeting space.
Funds: Our chapter has a modest treasury. If there is funding you need, you can request it either by contacting the Exec or at a Membership meeting.

Chapter Communications

The Madison DSA chapter relies on a number of tools to communicate with our members and to sustain community within the chapter. This overview is intended to orient new members to the various ways we interact as a chapter, to serve as a resource for existing members wondering how best to connect with others, and to assist working group chairs and co-chairs in coordinating with comrades across the chapter.

Slack

What it is: Slack is a messaging application for groups. It allows large groups to have discussions across multiple channels, as well as messaging between all chapter members. You can find DSA Madison on Slack at https://dsa-madison.slack.com/.

How we use it: We use Slack as the primary tool for internal communications: for sharing meeting reminders and agendas; or sharing updates on chapter activities; for coordinating working group work; for sharing general announcements; and for discussing articles and current events.

Email

How to follow us: All members are automatically added to our mailing list (use this form to subscribe if you’re not). People can also join our mailing list by attending events, adding their name to a sign-in sheet, and checking off that they want to hear more from us.

Our newsletters are sent via ActionNetwork. If you’re not receiving them check your spam folder or search for the sender: info+madison-dsa-info@email.actionnetwork.org

How we use it: DSA Madison’s newsletter is our official channel of communication for chapter business. We send newsletters to publicize upcoming events, including chapter, membership, and working group meetings; and to issue public statements.

Email: Contact Us

What it is: dsamadison@gmail.com

How we use it: The chapter maintains a general email account as a catch-all method of contact when you’re unsure of who in the chapter to contact about an issue or how to contact them. The executive committee checks this account regularly and forwards messages to the appropriate recipients. You can also reach out using one of the channels in Slack.

Web

DSA Madison Website

What it is: https://madison-dsa.org

How we use it: Our website has a mix of useful resources for new members, existing members, and the general public. It includes information about DSA activities, including an event calendar of local and chapter events; our official statements on politically important events; and a list of our working groups, what they do, and how to contact them. The website also includes practical information for members, including our bylaws; our code of conduct and contact information for grievance officers/community accountability committee; and a collection of resources for members including forms for chapter business, access to frequently used communication channels, and a member manual.

Red Madison

What it is: https://redmadison.com/

How we use it: Red Madison is a member-run monthly online newsletter providing socialist analysis of state and local politics and current events. Anyone interested in contributing can contact redmadison@googlegroups.com or use the #red-madison channel in Slack.

Social

Facebook

How to follow us: https://www.facebook.com/dsamadison

How we use it: We post news from Red Madison, local events and meetings, official statements, occasional updates from various campaigns, and occasional national DSA events.

Twitter

How we use it: We share news and commentary, as well as local and national events and meetings.

Instagram

How we use it: We share news and commentary, as well as local and national events and meetings.

How to Get Involved – FAQ

What does Madison DSA do right now?

MADSA members are involved in lots of different causes around town, and any member is free to explore and organize towards the things they are passionate about. When enough of that work is happening in concert, or members want something to come under the DSA umbrella they propose a working group to the membership.

Working Groups:

Abolitionist – Abolition education and organizing against jails
Electoral – Interviews candidates who want DSA’s endorsement, presents recommendations for the MADSA membership, coordinates efforts to campaign, serves as experts for MADSA members looking to run for local office
Labor – Workplace organizing support, guide labor activists and put on events and educational forums.
Political Education – Plans and hosts political education events for the chapter and the public

Committees:

Communications – Manages the chapter social media accounts, publishes on Red Madison, lots of Canva graphic work
Membership – internal organizing, plans social events, new member onboarding

Campaign:

No Appetite for Apartheid – Canvassing grocery stores to seek out Israeli and other genocide-profiting companies and products, organizing those stores to declare themselves apartheid free

That’s cool, but I want to do something else.

Go ahead! The work DSA does always starts with members, so if you have something you’re interested in, think about what you want to do, start asking other members if they’re interested, and work together to make it happen. DSA National has had priorities in the past around Immigration and Medicare for All, for example, but our chapter does not always have people working on these issues. If that’s your passion, make it happen. The chapter exists as a resource and organization to cohere our shared work, so ask for help if you need. Chapter leaders are also there to provide guidance.

You can ask to make an announcement at a meeting or share an update on Slack. Remember: While a DSA member can always represent themselves as an individual DSA member, they cannot say that what they are doing is DSA’s opinion unless they get approval from Exec or general membership.

When is the next meeting?

Chapter-wide meetings are always listed on the events calendar and on Slack.

Working group meetings are always listed on the events calendar and on Slack.

Additional co-sponsored talks and meetings may be listed on our events calendar and our Instagram page.

How do I find meeting agendas beforehand, or notes afterwards?

Chapter-wide meeting agendas and notes are shared on Slack and emailed to members in good standing.

Working groups vary in how they share notes and other materials from meetings, though they tend to use Slack.

I chair a working group and need to announce a meeting

Zoom meetings: Working Group, Committee, or other group chairs should have access to the chapter password manager and will be able to schedule their meetings independently, so long as they do not conflict with other events. The chapter has two paid Zoom accounts, so make sure to check that you’re scheduling on the one that won’t be in use.

Other meetings: When a working group is meeting without Zoom - in person or on another online platform - contact the executive committee at dsamadison@gmail.com or on Slack to get the meeting on the events calendar. Once the meeting is on our events calendar, it will also be included in upcoming bi-weekly newsletters.

All meetings: Most meetings and events should be attached to an ActionNetwork event page. The chapter calendar automatically syncs with the ActionNetwork every hour or so. Chairs can also share meeting information on Slack.

There’s an event coming up I want DSA to endorse/put on. How does that happen?

If it needs to happen quickly, you can email the MADSA Executive Committee with the details of the event and make the ask. Please assume the Exec knows nothing about what you’re presenting. A form is available on our website; or you can email: dsamadison@gmail.com.

You can also bring it at a monthly membership meeting, present and ask for an endorsement there. Please be prepared and do your best to ask for time in advance to ensure you get on the agenda, submittable via form.

The chapter just endorsed an event I proposed. How do I get it on our calendar?

Contact the chapter at dsamadison@gmail.com to get the meeting on the events calendar on our website. Once the event is on our events calendar, it will also be included in upcoming bi-weekly newsletters.

How do I submit to Red Madison?

If you have an article you want to submit, send it to redmadison@googlegroups.com, or contact the Comms Committee on Slack.

I want to submit a proposal for the chapter to discuss

Submit a proposal form to the executive board (also found under the “Resources” section of our website). The executive board will either decide on your proposal itself or send it to the chapter for full consideration.

I want to get something included in our bi-weekly newsletter

All events on the events calendar on our website are automatically included in newsletters.

Anyone can submit an announcement form to add an announcement to our newsletter, per discretion of the Executive Committee (also found under the “Resources” section of our website).

I want to share news or start political discussion

Members can post articles and start political discussions in Slack. Ask another member if you’re unsure which channel to discuss in (#general, #random, or #articles are usually good catchall spaces). You can also request to agendize time for a political discussion at a chapter meeting.

Where can I get DSA merch?

MADSA has a few of our own chapter t-shirts that we have at meetings, plus a lot of stickers. You can get stickers for free at chapter meetings or events. There’s also the official DSA store.

I want to meet with members in a similar situation to me to talk about DSA stuff safely

Members have a right to caucus in DSA, to organize along identity lines (race, gender, sexuality, social class, ability, religion, etc.) and for political purposes. Our chapter supports this self-organization as an important part of creating a strong democratic socialist organization.

Political caucuses also exist to promote a perspective within DSA. Madison DSA has some members who are aligned with a caucus, though political caucuses do not currently play a large role in the life of MADSA.

I can’t be all that involved with meetings and things, but I still want to help however I can

Of course! A high level of activity is not a requirement to be in DSA. It helps if you know what kinds of things you want to help with: sending texts, greeting new members, quick graphic design requests. Please let us know at dsamadison@gmail.com

There are also national work committees: Members can contribute professional skills such as graphic design, social media organizing, editing, writing, etc. Current working groups are:

For all other volunteer opportunities for members not living near a chapter, please fill out this form to be added to the national at-large volunteer email list.

Is there anything I shouldn’t do?

DSA is pretty open, but there are some things you should not do.

Do not violate a person’s boundaries, sexually assault or harass anyone. We take this very seriously. You may not mean to do anything intentionally, but if someone says they aren’t interested or lets you know your behavior is unwanted then that should be the end of it. DO: ask for consent before touching anyone or their children.
Don’t deliberately misrepresent DSA’s positions. It is totally fine to state your disagreement with any position DSA has, but members should represent those positions fairly and accurately.
Don’t represent yourself as speaking for DSA without permission.
Don’t view DSA as a dating service – people meet and relationships form, but that is not the primary purpose of this organization. Please don’t show up with that intention.

Addendum A: Madison DSA Code of Conduct and Resolutions Procedure (2018)

As socialists, we are committed to build a better world through working in movements of working people and the oppressed. DSA Madison expects its members to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with this commitment. As we work toward destroying capitalism, we believe it is important intentionally to create inclusive spaces that reject racism, classism, bigotry, sexism, heteropatriarchy, ableism, and other oppressive power structures.

The scope of this code of conduct and resolution procedure is interactions between members of Madison Area DSA. Issues that arise from external conflict (i.e., non-members) should be dealt with by the organization democratically.

At all official DSA events, participants (members and non-members) are expected to abide by community guidelines for appropriate discussion and the code of conduct as a condition of participating in the meeting.

Code of Conduct

The following speech or actions are violations of the code of conduct:

Sexual assault or threat of sexual assault
Physical violence or threat of physical violence toward another member
Threatening speech or behavior toward another member
Harassment, whether behavioral, verbal, written, physical, or via electronic communication, that has the intent or effect, because of its severity and/or persistence, to be intimidating, hostile, or offensive.
Discrimination, harassment on the basis of a particular oppression. Harassment of an individual in connection with a stereotyped group characteristic, or because of that person's identification with a particular group, is not permitted.
Any other action, behavior or demeanor that makes a member feel uncomfortable or unsafe based on the speech or actions of another member.
Uncomradely behavior

Willful or deliberate misrepresentation i.e., attending Madison DSA functions with the intent to defraud, implicate, or pull members away from Madison DSA
Personal attacks

While the above list cannot describe every situation, the general rule is that members will not engage in unwanted behavior.

Resolution Procedure

Structure

Following the 2017 Convention's Resolution 33, Madison DSA shall elect two Harassment and Grievance Officers (HGOs). Grievances shall be addressed by these two officers. If the HGOs decide that a grievance requires greater attention, they may convene and select an ad hoc committee of up to seven (7) total members, including the two HGOs. This ad hoc committee should strive for racial and gender balance.

Process

A grievance shall be any difference or disagreements with the principles, practices, and persons within Madison DSA, as espoused in our code of conduct, the local's bylaws, or in national DSA policy. Grievances submitted to the HGOs must contain detail about the date, time, and location of the perceived difference and or infraction and must state clearly the name of the parties involved. The person submitting the grievance shall be known as the concerned member. Since this resolution process is internal, non-members are not allowed to represent.

Concerns that are submitted shall be handled according to the following stages and timelines, and any violations on either side of the concerned or the committee shall cause the concern either to be advanced by the concerned or to be considered resolved and dismissed by HGOs.

Steps Of Grievance Procedure

If a member feels comfortable/able, they should "call in," which is when the offended party approaches the other party in good faith and lets them know the specific action that offended them. At this point, the party who made the error should cease the problematic behavior. If the call-in procedure does not resolve the issue to the offended party's satisfaction, if they believe that the call-in is not appropriate, they can file a grievance, in the process specified in the resolution procedure below.
The offended party will submit a grievance to the HGOs via email.
The HGOs will address the grievance at their discretion. Grievances should be dealt with by HGOs within 30 calendar days. In cases where more time is needed, the HGOs will inform the complainant. Complainants may take their grievance to the next step within 15 days if they are unwilling to accept the extension. In keeping with the values of restorative justice, mediation will be emphasized whenever appropriate. Potential courses of action include:

Mediation
Education
Recommendation of discipline
Recommendation of no action

If discipline is recommended, the recommendation shall be reviewed by the executive committee. Alternately, if the concerned party is not satisfied with the outcome, they can request a hearing with the relevant parties, the HGOs, and the Executive Committee. This step shall end with the decision to accept or reject the recommendation by the Executive Committee. Disciplinary actions may include:

Suspension
Expulsion

If the parties are not satisfied with the resolution, they can appeal to the NPC and follow the DSA National grievance procedure.

Addendum B: Robert’s Rules Cheat Sheet

Robert’s Rules is a relatively simple system for conducting fair and orderly meetings, including voting on important proposals and issues.

Robert’s Rules increases democratic functioning rather than limiting it, by giving everyone’s ideas and proposals a fair hearing with the general membership and ensuring that the general membership has a clear process for influencing the direction of our chapter. We provide a simple guide to Robert’s Rules. The following is a brief to help give you the tools you need to fully participate in chapter business at general meetings.

Addendum C: Community Agreements for Respectful Discussion

Meetings are more productive—and more fun—when the conversation includes everyone. Respectful discussion guidelines are also helpful for keeping things focused. We collectively agree to follow these guidelines for the mutual benefit of everyone in the conversation. Those listed here are a foundation but are not exhaustive! The group may find additional or more helpful ways to express its needs. These are not rules for politeness. Think of them as a signpost to guide DSA members as we struggle together to fight for our liberation!

Assume good faith in fellow comrades. Assume good faith in each other. Please try to speak from experience, speak for yourself, and actively listen to each other. When someone makes a point, repeat what you heard, summarize, and ask clarifying questions like “did you mean X” or “what makes you say that” to get more information. Encourage yourself and others to maintain a positive attitude, honor the work of others, avoid defensiveness, be open to legitimate critique and challenge oppressive behaviors in ways that help people grow. We want to “call each other in” rather than calling each other out — in other words, if you are challenging someone’s ideas or behavior, do it respectfully, and if you are being challenged, receive it respect- fully. Remember, mistakes will be made, nobody is perfect.
Why am I talking (WAIT): We have a limited amount of time for discussion and to accomplish the tasks before us. When in discussion, please ask yourself “Why am I talking (WAIT)?” Consider whether or not what you want to say has already been said, whether what you want to say is on topic or if there’s a better time and place to say it, and other methods for showing how you feel about the conversation (nodding your head, etc.)
Know whether you need to “Step up” or “Step back”: Help create a safe and inclusive space for everybody. Please respect others by recognizing how often, much, and loud you’re speaking and whether or not you’re dominating the conversation. Step back to leave space for others to voice their opinions and feelings. If the facilitator of the meeting asks you to wrap up, recognize that you should step back. This especially applies to participants who have privileged backgrounds. On the other hand, if you don’t often speak up, we encourage you to do so now!
Recognize and respect the feelings and cultural background of others: Many people have different levels of experience, knowledge, and feelings in social justice and radical activism and all participants should respect and embrace this diversity. Many people from different backgrounds have different definitions of what it means to be an “activist” or “radical.” While we all don’t have to agree on everything, we should respect our diversity of opinions. Recognize that everyone has a piece of the truth, everybody can learn, and everybody has the ability to teach and share something. Don’t use language that’s clearly oppressive or hurtful. Please, refrain from using acronyms or complicated language that could exclude others.
We have a “one mic” – do not interrupt or speak over others: Many of us will have different opinions on matters. However, speaking while others are talking or adding comments when they cannot respond appropriately does not build community. If you have a disagreement, wait for your turn to address it.
Respect the facilitator when they use Progressive Stack: Progressive Stack is a form of leading discussions that involves a facilitator keeping a list of names of people who wish to speak. The facilitator scans the group during the discussion, and if someone wishes to speak, they raise their hand to catch the facilitator’s eye. The facilitator nods and makes eye contact to indicate the person is now put on the list to speak, and then the person can put their hand down so it does not distract other discussion participants. However, the facilitator does not simply write a list of names in the order that people raise their hand. Rather, if someone who has not spoken raises their hand, they go to the top of the list. If someone who is of an oppressed group raises their hand, they go to the top of the list unless they have already contributed significantly to the discussion.
Have a sense of humor: Who said movement building can’t be fun? Every meeting is a great opportunity for people to get to know one another, building lasting friendships and relationships, to laugh, love, and build a movement.

Addendum D: How To Facilitate

Facilitating a meeting can seem like an intimidating task, but some basic guidelines can help you keep a meeting running smoothly on the rails.

Create a thorough agenda. Having an agenda on hand will allow attendees of the meeting to see the overall goals of discussion and allow you to have a framework to guide the meeting.
Have an introductory activity if there are new people at the meeting. It’s important to create a comfortable environment to encourage engagement.
Go through the agenda line by line. If there are action items, make sure to include “what, how, who, when and where.” Make a note of deadlines and volunteers.
Keep an eye on the mood and energy of the room. If people look disengaged, it may be because there is a small group dominating the discussion or it may be that the meeting is just dragging on. Make sure to include breaks. Group go-rounds and brainstorming sessions can encourage more involvement. If there are “difficult” people in the meeting, be sure to address their behaviors in a manner that is not accusatory. Set time limits for comments, go-rounds, and a reminder of the rules of respectful discussion before the meeting can all help mitigate disruptive behavior.
End the meeting in a timely way, don’t let it go over the time you asked people to give to the meeting. Summarize and synthesize the contributions to the meeting. Make sure all responsibilities moving forward are understood.

Progressive Stack

Progressive Stack is a method of ordering comments that privileges those who have not yet spoken, as well as people who may face exclusion due to their race, age, sexuality or gender. All too often, white men in our society are socialized to dominate conversations. This is a method that checks this tendency and puts other voices to the front of the line. In a large meeting, a “stack-keeper” will note everybody who would like to speak and ensure that the order of speakers does not facilitate a few voices at the expense of others. We also encourage people to “step up” or “step back,” depending on the dynamics of a meeting.

Working Group Charter Template

If you want to create a formal working group that can represent MADSA in a field, you need to create a charter and get it voted on at a membership meeting. A charter should explain what the group’s purpose is, what it should be doing, how it will work, and what the group needs (particularly if money is involved). No group gets an indefinite charter, that way the chapter can hear from the group about what its done and evaluate.

Article I: Name

The name of this group shall be [NAME HERE], hereafter [ABBREVIATION].

Article II: Scope

The purpose of the [WORKING GROUP] shall be to fulfill the following objectives:

[MAIN OBJECTIVE]
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVE]
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVE] (etc)
The [WORKING GROUP] shall report to MADSA and its Executive Committee.

Article III: Membership and Voting

[WORKING GROUP] meetings shall be open to [EVERYONE all DSA members in good standing / SPECIFIC PEOPLE - DEFINE]; [WORKING GROUP] may not prevent a DSA member from attending [WORKING GROUP] meetings. Any membership-related issues are to be brought to the MADSA Executive Committee. As a body of MADSA, [WORKING GROUP] is subject to the Harassment-Grievance process.
[WHO VOTES? EXPLAIN PROCESS FOR DETERMINING WHO CAN MAKE DECISIONS] Ex: “Only DSA members who have attended at least two (2) [WORKING GROUP] meetings in the past six months are to be considered voting members of [WORKING GROUP]. “
[CAN NON-MEMBER PARTICIPATE?] EX: “Non-DSA members are invited to participate in meetings but are not voting members of [WORKING GROUP].”
[DECISION-MAKING PROCESS] [WORKING GROUP] will make decisions in a democratic manner, voting on what actions they take. Any working group member may call for a vote on any decision. A simple majority will suffice for any decision.
[HOW OFTEN SHOULD IT MEET?]

Article IV: Leadership

[WHAT’S THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE?] Ex: “[WORKING GROUP] shall elect a Steering Committee (SC) from its membership consisting of four (4) at members. The SC shall select a chair from amongst themselves. The chair shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the group, including ensuring regular meetings of the steering committee and of the working group, and communicating with the MADSA Executive Committee.”
[TERM-LIMITS?] Chairs are limited to two (2) consecutive one-year terms, but may run for as many terms total as they like
[HOW OFTEN SHOULD THE CHAIR BE ELECTED?] Elections shall be held annually, ideally after the adoption or extension of a charter.
[WHAT IF LEADERSHIP VACATES?] Ex: “Vacancies on the SC shall be filled by the steering committee or a process they determine.”
Recall of steering committee members shall be conducted through the Executive Committee of MADSA

Article V: Finances

[BUDGET: IF COMPLICATED “A budget for [WORKING GROUP] shall be submitted at the time of charter and upon successive rechartering.”; IF SIMPLE INCLUDE REQUEST IN CHARTER]
[WORKING GROUP] finances are to be handled through MADSA’s Treasurer and should not be independently managed. Any funds raised by [WORKING GROUP] shall be submitted to MADSA’s Treasurer; funds submitted are not for MADSA general purposes and are to be added to [WORKING GROUP]’s ledger. MADSA’s Treasurer must disperse allocated funds as directed by [WORKING GROUP].
[HOW TO DECIDE ON EXPENSES? Ex: “[WORKING GROUP]’s SC may spend up to $100 at a time on working group activities as they deem fit. Larger expenditures must be voted on by [WORKING GROUP] membership.”]

Article VII: Terms of Charter

To last for [X MONTHS] after the adoption of this charter, [or until the next MADSA Convention Meeting, whichever is shorter.]
[WORKING GROUP] will be governed by the bylaws of DSA Madison, which describe in detail the operation and leadership selection of Working Groups.
For the duration of this charter, [WORKING GROUP] shall be empowered to represent itself as MADSA for issues relating to [SCOPE OF CHARTER] and may create events and promotional materials to achieve its ends. Written statements shall be brought to the MADSA Executive Committee for approval.

Last updated: 10/29/2025