Proposal for Member-Leader Development
Whereas, the chapter has a “Member-Leader” role, which is not presently formally defined and is granted to members in an arbitrary way; and
Whereas, the chapter heavily relies on Member-Leaders in planning and executing campaigns and events as a de facto middle-layer of chapter leadership; and
Whereas, this middle layer of leadership is additionally important in the political and practical development of newer or less-involved members who wish to deepen their involvement; and
Whereas, democratic practice requires transparency about how positions of authority and bureaucratic significance are assigned; and
Whereas, the cultivation of democratic culture requires that leadership skills and specialized knowledge be actively disseminated and not hoarded; and
Resolved, the chapter will implement a standard curriculum of organizing skills, knowledge of DSA, and political education expected of Member-Leaders, with the aim of cultivating participatory democratic practice in Triangle DSA; and
Resolved, it is strongly suggested that this curriculum cover the following topics; and
- Socialism 101,
- Socialism 102,
- Marxism 101,
- Mobilizer training,
- Building Capacity and Developing Leaders*,
- Security practices,
- Robert’s Rules 101*,
- How to Hold Meetings*,
- Grievance process and policy,
- Comradely Disagreement*,
- OrgTools training*
- List Work Workshops*
- Treasurer training
* Trainings provided by national DSA
Resolved, to become a Member-Leader requires going through these trainings and curricula or demonstrating equivalent knowledge; and
Resolved, to become a Member-Leader additionally requires having been:
- A mobilized member of the chapter for six months, during which they have engaged in demonstrable organizing activity in the chapter, or
- Equivalent organizing experience within DSA or some other democratic member-led organization, or
- A waiver of this requirement from the Steering Committee
Resolved, Member-Leaders must disclose any political affiliations outside of DSA; and
Resolved, Member-Leaders are expected to maintain activity in at least one committee or Working Group in DSA, YDSA, or within a democratic member-led tenant or labor union, to maintain their status; and
Resolved, Member-Leaders are expected to represent DSA well by maintaining a high standard of personal conduct; and
Resolved, chapter members who meet the above requirements may apply for the Member-Leader role to the Steering Committee; and
Resolved, the Steering Committee may revoke a Member-Leader status if a Member-Leader is found to be consistently inactive in the chapter, to have behaved as a poor representative of DSA, or to lack the skills and knowledge required of Member-Leaders; and
Resolved, Member-Leaders who have had their status revoked may appeal for reinstatement to the Steering Committee at any time or by motion at a General Meeting of the chapter; and
Resolved, all elected or appointed leadership of the chapter and its committees (including Ad Hoc Committees, Standing Committees, Working Groups, Sections, and Associations) and mobilizers are required to be Member-Leaders or, with Steering Committee approval, commit to completing the Member-Leader program within some amount of time; and
Resolved, the Administrative Committee and Political Education Committee are tasked with developing, maintaining, altering, and administering the Member-Leader program, and are asked to prioritize this; and
Resolved, it is suggested that the Administrative Committee and Political Education Committee should also provide some means of demonstrating equivalent skills or knowledge; and
Resolved, the Member-Leader program should be administered in a way accessible to all mobilized members of the chapter; and
Resolved, once this curriculum has been developed, upon its first administration, existing Member-Leaders will be given a deadline to meet its requirements by vote of the Steering Committee.