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Getting Involved

Starting Off

So you just joined DSA! Welcome to the Triangle’s local chapter of the largest socialist organization in America. Our chapter has a lot to offer, from groups based on shared interests to campaigns demanding change in our local communities. But what’s the best way to get involved? See the steps outlined below to jump in:

  1. Sign up for member dues (or a dues waiver). This step ensures you are formally recognized as a member.
  2. Attend a New Member Orientation (find the next session on our chapter’s Google Calendar).
  3. Attend a few sessions from our chapter’s Political Education Committee for Socialism 101 & 102 (see the next session on our chapter’s Google Calendar). This ensures you have a good foundational understanding of DSA’s politics.
  4. Get mobilized (for the long term) by joining a chapter working body below

If at any point you’d like individual support navigating the chapter, please email ncpdsa@gmail.com, and we will connect you with a local comrade! See our Joining Triangle DSA page for a high-level overview of how chapter membership works.

Staying Involved

While our chapter is made up of our members, those members come together to create working bodies where we gather around a shared purpose or goal. You can find the events for each of these groups on our Google Calendar, available here. If you don’t find a group you’re looking for, you can start one! Each chapter’s working bodies reflect the identity of its local membership. Mobilization starts with you, but stays when you stay connected with your fellow comrades!

Roles Within the Chapter

There are established roles that members can occupy to support the operations of the chapter. Check out some quick descriptions of some of these roles below! Full descriptions of these roles are available in the TDSA Chapter Bylaws. Some roles are elected through a nomination & voting process, while some are appointed. If you would like to learn more about what the groups listed below do, check out the working bodies within our chapter here.

Steering Committee (SC) Election Schedule: Annually

  • Chapter co-chairs (2): Coordinators of day-to-day administrative operations of the chapter, serving as the public spokespersons in charge of, and answer to the chapter at large.
  • Chapter Secretary: Responsible for communication with national, administrative and formal documentation of the chapter, and carrying out the co-chair role in the case of vacancy.
  • Chapter treasurer: Manages financial records, chapter reimbursements, annual budget and member dues.
  • Membership Coordinator: Maintains membership lists, leads the new member onboarding program, and facilitates leadership development training for the chapter.

Harassment & Grievance Officers (HGOs)
Appointment Schedule: Annually

  • Harassment & Grievance Officers: The team in charge of providing guidance to the chapter at large and Steering Committee to uphold the chapter’s Grievance Policy. HGOs can mediate political and interpersonal conflict within the chapter, as well as provide counsel on member remediation.
  • Appointment process: Incoming HGOs are appointed by Steering Committee, based on recommendations made by the outgoing group of HGOs.

Member Leaders
Appointed: Upon completion of training

  • Member Leaders: A trained subgroup of chapter membership who help lead the chapter, expand democratic input on decision making, and execute more involved organizing tasks.
  • More details here

Campaigns
Elections Schedule: Determined per campaign, disclosed in campaign charter. Bi-annual is standard.

  • Campaign Co-Chairs: Responsible for leading campaign meetings, managing administrative tasks, and engaging with external parties to further the goals of the campaign.
  • Campaign Secretaries: Responsible for campaign documentation, supporting the delegation and completion of tasks, as well as carrying out the co-chair role in the case of vacancy.

Committees Elections Schedule: Determined per committee, disclosed in campaign charter. Bi-annual is standard.

  • Committee Co-Chairs: Responsible for leading committee meetings and managing administrative tasks.
  • Committee Secretaries: Responsible for committee documentation and supporting the delegation and completion of tasks.

Sections & Associations Appointment Schedule: Ad Hoc

  • Contact: Responsible for communication with the Steering Committee on the activities, plans, and business of sections and associations.