Joining Triangle DSA

Welcome to the North Carolina Triangle Democratic Socialists of America Chapter (NCTDSA)! If you’re interested in joining our chapter, check out the 5-step guide below to learn about how chapter membership works. 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!

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1. Contribute | Member Dues

DSA’s status as a fully self-funded non-profit allows us to be politically independent from donor influence or capitalist institutions. Member contributions sustain our movement, enabling the organization operate and grow. Click here to pay dues and choose the amount you would like to contribute. If you cannot pay dues but would still like to be involved in the democratic processes in DSA, there is a dues waiver you can fill out here.

• Paying dues enables you to be able to vote in the chapter’s decisions, run for officer or delegate positions, utilize resources from national DSA, and serve on national DSA bodies! The average monthly dues payment is $15.

2. Learn | Political Education

Our Political Education Committee (PEC) regularly holds Socialism 101 and Socialism 102 sessions, where you can learn more about the political beliefs of DSA and socialist principles!

• Socialism 101 was designed by the chapter to be accessible and easy to understand, no matter how new to this you are. Having an understanding of socialist theory and history helps us become better organizers so that we can take on bigger fights and win.
• The Political Education Committee offers a variety of opportunities to gain knowledge and connect with other socialists in the process.

3. Join | Chapter Sub-bodies

Within our chapter are sub-bodies to provide dedicated spaces for different purposes: sections, associations, campaigns, and committees. Explore the sub-bodies in our chapter here, where we break down the work our chapter is currently invested in. You can find events for each of these sub-bodies available on the chapter calendar here.

• Sections: A group of members that associate due to a shared identity
• Associations: A group of members organized around a shared interest
• Campaigns: A series of efforts to bring about a desired result. In DSA, campaigns are groups that are working together to achieve a specific goal.
• Committees: A group within the Local Chapter that is tasked with carrying out an internal function for the chapter.

4. Attend | Chapter Events

Chapter events are published on our local DSA Chapter Google Calendar here. These are open all members and will put you in direct contact with those engaging in the resistance locally. See some types of chapter events below.

• New Member Orientation: We host live onboarding sessions (in person and virtually) to learn about new members, introduce them to the chapter, hear about what got them involved, and direct them to areas of interest within our current work. Be on the lookout for these on the DSA Google Calendar, where you can find more details!
• General Meetings: Every chapter member is encouraged to attend these general meetings, which include the entire chapter, to participate in the democratic chapter decisions by voting on internal chapter business. These meetings are generally hybrid, meaning they can be attended online or in person.
• Socials: These informal events are a great way to meet other comrades in your area of the Triangle.
• Subody Meetings: Chapter sub-bodies conduct internal business during these sessions. We encourage new members to attend these when they are ready to jump into chapter work and participate in the movement on the ground.

5. Read | Leftist Publications

Our chapter’s Editorial Board is responsible for writing and editing articles for the chapter’s blog, Left Angles. This blog is open for chapter membership to submit articles for review and publication. See the DSA national blog and local leftist news outlet links below for your regularly scheduled leftist programming.

• DSA Discussion Forums: DSA’s internal space for discussion, debate, and sharing among comrades across the nation. This internal resource is only available to members in good standing.
• Socialist Forum: Socialist Forum is an open and wide-ranging venue for thoughtful discussion and debate among DSA members, encompassing the big-tent nature of democratic socialist thought.
• Democratic Left: Democratic Left is the official magazine of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), run by the Democratic Left subcommittee of the National Editorial Board.
• Durham Dispatch: Durham Dispatch aggregates journalism from trade unions and progressive organizations in the Bull City and surrounding areas.