Steering Committee Minutes: June 20th, 2021

East Bay DSA

Steering Committee Meeting Agenda

June 20th, 2021

2:00-4:30 pm

Introductions/Opening Statements

Facilitated by Matt
Meeting is Called to Order

Approval of Agenda

Consent Agenda:

Transfer of Legal Responsibilities to New Steering Committee Members

PASSED 9 Yes; 0 nos, 0 abstentions

Committee Reports

Finance

$31,386 in the budget

144 monthly donors

Recording Secretary’s Report

SKIPPED

Discussion items

Facilitated by Matt & Will]

Upcoming hospital strike (Aaron/Molly)

Yari, M.V. and Arron, spoke
Working group in the operation to build solidarity
Spoke with staff
setting up meetings
Q&A
In the initial stages; what does recruitment chapter look like?
Doing info pickets.
Basics of the contract/timeline/major issues the workers care about?
MV: SF is pulling the best patients into the patients affecting the workers in the Oakland children’s hospital, fighting for job security, and keeping it in Oakland
Associated with Cal Single Payer, M4A?
Aaron/MV: potential for overlap.

Returning back in person (Allie)

Facilitated by Allie
Governor opened California - temp check on people’s comfort level. Wassup?
Go in person organizing for appropriate events; possible hybrid.
Digital vaccine card check
Saw a lot of new members that were looking to get plugged in, but could because of shutdown.
Thought the case rate was low; likely due to the safety protocols.
Perhaps SC could stay online; reduces commute times
A hybrid system was implemented; something to think about
Would SC allow for in person events by other committees?
We have no office and it is unknown what venues are currently allowing for events.

California DSA (Renée)

Update: Renee, CA state organizing committee, possible a post convention deal do to lawyer stuff

Questions:

Maddy: Examples? Renee: some tactical/grammatical changes by the lawyer.

Hasan: Seems like they are not urgent changes; take as recommendations and save for later? Renee: will pass it on the body and the working group builds and develops

Open discussion with incoming & outgoing SC

Balancing projects?
Not much time commitment as an at large; Allie: meet knew people with experience;
Making leadership project when SC makes task forces
As a leader, what you say you be seen as reflecting the chapter.
Its okay to disagree
Regret for not building a more informal relationship amongst SC members
Open to developing each other and to argumentation.
The potential burnout, tips to prevent it?
One burn out effect the chapter as a whole.
Current chairs had a lot to work with during the pandemic and protests.
Would like to see at-large step up more.
Professional staff could really help.
Recommend saying ‘no’ when necessary
Recommending sharing the responsibilities within sc, outside sc, and outside the organization
You should know what you can do and what you cannot

OPA bylaws (Luke and Luci)

Luke: Oakland Progressive Alliance -
Activist, union leaders, candidates; engaging in restorative process instead of confronting; currently focus on the budget, black reparations, police budget reform and keeping firhouses from closing, etc. They have a website now. Potential in a beneficial working relationship opportunities
Question:
Any concerns to think about?
Political disagreements, how we relate to non dsa allied candidates/politicians
Dues? How is the membership decided?
No formal relationship with they yet; shared politics tends to be qualifier

New Business [20 minutes]

Transfer of Legal Responsibilities to New Steering Committee Members

Submitted by Lindsey Moore

Whereas outgoing members of the Steering Committee are signatories to the chapter’s bank accounts

Whereas the names of outgoing members of the Steering Committee appear on various legal documents

Whereas incoming Steering Committees should assume those responsibilities and be the signatories on legal documents the state requires for officers of 501(c)(4)s

Whereas the Treasurer has historically administered the Chapter’s G-Suite and Password Manager

Therefore be it resolved that the Treasurer will coordinate the removal of existing signatories and the addition of new signatories to the chapter’s bank account and to the documents described below as soon as possible.

PASSED

Resolution to Form an EBDSA Branches Working Group

Submitted by: Isaac H, Zach W, Michael K, Katie F, Susan S, Benny Z, Daniel E, Erica W, Jen E, Matthew L

Amended By: Annika B

Whereas our EBDSA bylaws, Article X, currently state: "It is the intent of the Chapter to create categories of Branches that may enhance the democratic functioning of the Chapter;"

Whereas Article X was adopted in early 2018;

Whereas our chapter's membership has grown to thousands since those bylaws were written three years ago;

Whereas several of the largest DSA chapters in our country already have various kinds of branches;

Whereas there are currently multiple groups of members that have worked on visions for branches that are quite different;

Whereas members would benefit from an opportunity to discuss branch structures in a chapter-sponsored, low-stakes environment that is not centered around a specific proposal;

Whereas not everyone who wanted to speak on branches at the April GM was able to, therefore evidencing a real desire among chapter members to discuss how branches should be established and function;

Whereas branches can be formed in a wide variety of ways, and it is clear from the work that has been done so far that further discussion and membership participation is needed before a branch structure can be successfully implemented;

Whereas the whole chapter membership should be involved in a discussion on the nature of branches within EBDSA since it is a structural change that will affect all members.

Therefore be it resolved that various structures should be discussed in a series of at least two or three EBDSA chapter-wide forums on branches to conclude within no longer than a four month time frame.

Be it further resolved that the EBDSA Steering Committee form a Branches Working Group to shepherd the creation and holding of such forums.

Be it further resolved that after the series of forums on branch creation, the membership will have an opportunity to vote on (a) proposal(s) for the creation of EBDSA branches.

Be it further resolved that the Branches Working Group will bring a set of recommendations and goals for branches to the steering committee. The SC and Branches WG will work together to finalize a plan for the General Membership to vote on.

Be it finally resolved that the Steering Committee appoints Isaac Harris and Zach Weinstein as co-chairs.

Motivator Isaac: better to adapt to local campaigns, better to figure out the best type of branch system; have reached out to allies in Hayward and Richmond, each potential branch can aim for more local bases.

Questions:

Who is writing the proposals? How do we quantify the member survey?
With SC involvement; Town halls and online surveys.
Qualifiers to join the WG?
Leave it for the SC to decide; ideally would be open.

Amendment for Working Group proposal

Subtract: “Be it further resolved that after the series of forums on branch creation, the membership will have an opportunity to vote on (a) proposal(s) for the creation of EBDSA branches.”

Adding “Be it further resolved that the Branches Working Group will bring a set of recommendations and goals for branches to the steering committee. The SC and Branches WG will work together to finalize a plan for the General Membership to vote on.”

Questions:

What if the working group finds more then one solution?
Ideally, there would be one, other wise work to iron out the differences?

Called to question, seconded

Vote: 9 yes

Adopted amendment to resolution

Vote: 9 yays

Resolution discussion:

Seems unclear about the vision

Sees this more about how the east bay could better operate in other regions of the East Bay

Debate

Pro: Would like to talk about the branches; talk about the who and where, not the why

Pro: there had been an attempt by the SC that stalled pretty severely, then an ad hoc WG; followed by a recent proposal. Sees the need in discussing the political rationale in public.

Con: hasn't really been discussed, seems like a lack of interest; an alternate formulation could suffice.

Pro: see the difficulty in having something to offer in other regions outside Oakland

Vote on Branch working group proposal

PASSED: 7 yes; 2 No

5 min break

Discussion items continued [20 minutes - Allie]

Grievance discussion [Executive section]

Vote to enter into Exec session: 8 yes

Motion to extend meeting for 15 minutes; seconded

Passed

MEETING ADJORNED 4:45pm