Annual Convention: Day 1 - May 15, 2021

Day 1 of the East Bay DSA Local Convention, May 15, 2019, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Membership Welcome

Chairs welcomed the membership.
Featured Speakers
Year in Review
Live Musical Guests

Review Convention Agenda

Voting Tools Test
Robert's Rules 101

Adopt Convention Rules and Consent Agenda

East Bay DSA 2021 Convention Rules

Passed by the Steering Committee on 4/18/21

Resolutions: Per our normal General Meeting protocols, an agenda with all relevant resolutions will be circulated to membership at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.
Motivation and Q&A: Each resolution will be motivated by one of its drafters, and there will be a short time agendized for clarifying questions and answers.
Motions: Procedural motions will be taken through the Voting Interface at vote.eastbaydsa.org. Motions must be seconded by another member through the Voting Interface.
Debate: Stack for debate will be taken in the Voting Interface as well. Members should indicate if they intend to speak for or against the motion (e.g. “Stack in favor of the motion”). Speakers will be given 90 seconds to speak on the resolution or motion on the floor.
Amendments: Amendments must be submitted by the Friday, May 7th deadline at the latest to be considered for the agenda. The Convention Organizing Working Group will agendize as many amendments as feasible. In the event of too many amendments being submitted, the COWG will prioritize agendizing amendments based on political substantiveness and minimal redundancy. There will be no floor amendments (or amendments to amendments) allowed during the meeting.
Consent Agenda: The Convention will vote on a Consent Agenda to pass priorities proposals with strong support based on the Consent Agenda straw poll circulated to the Chapter Membership. The Consent Agenda will be passed by a simple majority. Members will not be allowed to pull items from the Consent Agenda from the floor.
Chat Box: During floor debate, the chat box may not be used for debate points, comments/questions, or other conversation.
Voting: Members must be present in the meeting to vote, and no proxy votes will be allowed. Votes will be conducted through the Voting Interface, which will only be accessible to dues-paid members.
Expulsion: If a member consistently does not follow the special protocols and/or code of conduct, harasses the Chairs or other members, or otherwise is disruptive during the meeting, they may be removed from the Zoom meeting, per the Chairs’ discretion. Members will receive at least 1 warning before being removed from the meeting.
Styles Committee: After the Convention, the Convention Organizing Working Group will serve as a Styles Committee to standardize language across the 2021 Chapter Platform and Priorities Resolution. The Steering Committee will vote to ratify the final language of the Platform and Priorities Resolution. https://www.eastbaydsa.org/meetings/statements/2021-05-15/

East Bay DSA 2021 Consent Agenda

The Chapter Platform is a political roadmap to guide our organizing and analysis. It is based off of the 2020 Chapter Priorities Resolution, which we opened for these amendments, and we will adopt this Priorities Resolution document along with the consent agenda.

All of the following amendments and additional plank received more than 80% “Yes” votes in the OpaVote vote sent on 5/2/21.

Bylaws Amendment Debate & Vote

Resolution for EBDSA Chapter Restructure Resolution (Includes Bylaws Amendments)

Submitted by Allie L., Renée P, Ben F., Eric V., Bjorn C

WHEREAS East Bay DSA is the largest chapter in DSA without any kind of local branch structure;

WHEREAS regular meeting attendance and overall participation in EBDSA has been in decline;

WHEREAS in other large chapters branches have proven singularly effective at

(1) engaging new members in local organizing;

(2) facilitating broader leadership structures that ensures most members are connected to chapter leaders; and

(3) increasing meeting attendance by providing a easy-to-access monthly meeting for members who live further from the geographic center;

Therefore BE IT RESOLVED:

(1)That six months from the enactment of this resolution, the following bylaws amendments shall go into effect:

(A )Article III: Officers

Section 1. Officers and Duties

. . .

7. There shall be seven at-large representatives elected by the chapter as a whole; one representative from each branch who shall also serve on that branch’s Organizing Committee (“Branch Representative”); and twenty additional representatives allocated to branches based on their enrolled membership who will comprise the remaining membership of the Steering Committee.

8. The Officers of the Chapter shall constitute the Executive Committee, and shall have the responsibility for administering the business of the chapter between meetings of the Steering Committee.

9. Officers may form subcommittees of the Steering Committee to assist in their duties.

Section 2. Nomination Procedure

1. All officers of the Chapter shall be elected at the Chapter's annual Convention. Nominations for all officers must be submitted to the outgoing Steering Committee in advance of the Convention. Any member in good standing may nominate another member in good standing, but not themselves, for elected position in the Chapter.

2. All other Steering Committee members, including Branch Representatives, shall be elected via online vote in the 30 days after the annual convention.

Section 3. Ballot election, Term of Office, Removal from Office

. . . Officers and at-large steering committee members may be removed from office at the pleasure of the membership by a two-thirds chapter vote. Other Steering Committee and Branch Organizing members may be removed from office by a ⅔ vote of the branch they represent.

(B) Article IV: Steering Committee

Section 1. Composition and Meetings

The officers of the Chapter shall constitute the Executive Committee, which shall meet on at least a biweekly basis. The Steering Committee, which shall meet no less than six times each year. The Co-Chairs of the Chapter Executive Committee shall set the time and place of each Steering Committee meeting.

Section 2. Steering Committee's Duties and Powers

The ~~Steering~~ Executive Committee shall operate as the governing board of the Chapter and have general supervision of the affairs of the Chapter between Steering Committee meetings. The Steering Committee ~~and shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Chapter between regular meetings~~ shall make political decisions that affect the whole Chapter in between general meetings, set the time and place of the ~~regular~~ general meetings, make recommendations to the Chapter, and perform such other duties that are specified in these bylaws. The Steering Committee is tasked with implementing priorities adopted at the last annual convention.

. . .

Section 2. Committee Operation

. . . Committees shall make reports to ~~regular~~ general meetings of the chapter and of the Steering Committee. . . .

(D) Article VI: Meetings

Section 1. Chapter Annual Convention

One of the ~~regular~~ general meetings in the first six months of each calendar year shall be the Chapter's annual convention, at which the Chapter shall elect all officers of the Chapter and adopt a Priorities Resolution. . . . The Steering Committee may provide for the annual convention to be a delegated convention with representatives elected proportionally by branch.

Section 2. Regular General Meetings

The ~~regular~~ general meetings of the Chapter shall be held no ~~fewer~~ more than four times each year, all to be scheduled by the Steering Committee within forty-five days of taking office. . . .

Section 4. Electoral Endorsements

The Chapter may only make electoral endorsements at general ~~regular~~ meetings or by 60% vote of the Steering Committee. For any endorsement in an election whose district covers only part of EBDSA, at least ½ of the relevant branches must also vote for that endorsement by a 60% vote. . . . .

Section 5. Branch Meetings

Each Branch shall meet at least monthly. The Executive Committee, in consultation with the Steering Committee, shall be responsible for setting ⅔ of the agenda for each monthly Branch Meeting, with ⅓ to be set by the Branch Organizing Committee.

(E) Article X: Branches

It is the intent of the Chapter to create categories of Branches that may enhance the democratic functioning of the Chapter. Such Branches, when established, shall have representation on the Steering Committee. Implementing such a system will require that these Bylaws be amended.

Section 1. Branch Membership

Each EBDSA member shall be by default a member of a branch based on their zip code. A member who wishes to affiliate with a different branch based on convenience shall be allowed to do so via a process set by the Steering Committee.

Section 2. Branch Boundaries

The Steering Committee shall be responsible for initially setting branch boundaries. Any group of at least ten members who wishes to form a separate branch from the boundaries of a current branch may apply to the Steering Committee for recognition by a vote of 60%. A Branch may have its status revoked by a majority plus one vote of the Steering Committee following a hearing open to all members.

Section 3. Branch Organizing Committees

Each branch will have an organizing committee of up to five members, of which one member will be the Branch Representative to the Steering Committee, elected by the branch for a one-year term; two will be appointed by the Steering Committee, for six-month terms; and up to three will be elected by the branch for a one-year term. The Branches shall be governed by these bylaws.

(2) That no more than thirty days after the enactment of this resolution, the Steering Committee shall appoint a working group to prepare for the change to the bylaws. The responsibilities of that working group shall include but are not limited to:

(A) Setting initial branch boundaries

(B) Scheduling and administering elections for new Steering Committee members and branch representatives

(D) Developing branch member lists and ensuring branch organizing committees have access to email branch members

(E) Considering amending the current Committee structure to account for potential local committees and subcommittees and developing recommendations for integrating Committee and Branch work

(F) Developing a structure for Branches to regularly be provided funds from the chapter treasury for Branch expenses

All actions of the working group shall be subject to supervision and approval by the Steering Committee.

Amendment 1 to the Bylaws Amendment

Submitted by: Renée P

(A )Article III: Officers

Section 1. Officers and Duties

. . .

7. There shall be twenty-five ~~seven~~ at-large representatives who will comprise the remaining membership of the Steering Committee.

8. The Officers of the Chapter shall constitute the Executive Committee, and shall have the responsibility for administering the business of the chapter between meetings of the Steering Committee.

9. Officers may form subcommittees of the Steering Committee to assist in their duties.

Section 2. Nomination Procedure

All Steering Committee members ~~officers of the Chapter~~ shall be elected at the Chapter's annual Convention. . . .

Section 3. Ballot election, Term of Office, Removal from Office

. . . Officers and at-large steering committee members may be removed from office at the pleasure of the membership by a two-thirds vote.

(B) Article IV: Steering Committee

Section 1. Composition and Meetings

The officers of the Chapter shall constitute the Executive Committee, which shall meet on at least a biweekly basis. The Steering Committee, ~~which~~ shall meet no less than six times each year. The ~~Co-Chairs of the Chapter~~ Executive Committee shall set the time and place of each Steering Committee meeting.

Section 2. Steering Committee's Duties and Powers

The ~~Steering~~ Executive Committee shall operate as the governing board of the Chapter, set the time and place of the general meetings, and have general supervision of the affairs of the Chapter between Steering Committee meetings. The Steering Committee ~~and shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Chapter between regular meetings~~ shall make political decisions that affect the whole Chapter in between general meetings, ~~set the time and place of the regular meetings~~, make recommendations to the Chapter, and perform such other duties that are specified in these bylaws. The Steering Committee is tasked with implementing priorities adopted at the last annual convention.

. . .

Section 2. Committee Operation

. . . Committees shall make reports to ~~regular~~ general meetings of the chapter and of the Steering Committee. . . .

(D) Article VI: Meetings

Section 1. Chapter Annual Convention

Section 2. ~~Regular~~ General Meetings

The ~~regular~~ general meetings of the Chapter shall be held no fewer than four times each year, all to be scheduled by the Steering Committee within forty-five days of taking office. . .

(E) Article X: Branches

The Steering Committee is empowered to experiment with regional meetings as a substitute for general meetings, to appoint regional organizers or organizing councils, to appoint nonvoting regional representatives to the Steering Committee, and to otherwise take steps to pilot branches.

(2) That no more than thirty days after the enactment of this resolution, the Steering Committee shall appoint a working group to experiment with, pilot, and/or develop proposed bylaws changes to provide for branches. The responsibilities of that working group shall include but are not limited to:

(A) Investigating potential branch boundaries

(B) Holding meetings and social events in various parts of the chapter to try to identify local leaders and determine the viability of particular branch formations

(D) Drafting a report on whether and how branches should be implemented in the East Bay, to be delivered to the chapter no later than the next Annual Convention

(E) Drafting potential bylaws amendments to accompany that report to implement any proposed branch structure the working group ultimately recommends.

All actions of the working group shall be subject to supervision and approval by the Steering Committee.

2:30 - 2:35 pm

Break

2:35 - 3:05 pm

Amendments Debate and Vote