Co-Chair
As described in Item II of the TCDSA bylaws, the two chapter co-chair seats are elected in alternating years and may not both be occupied by cisgender men. The seat remaining occupied through September 2020 is held by a cis man, so candidates for this co-chair election must not be cis men.
What does a co-chair do?
- Point person between the chapter and National staff (field organizers, support staff, etc)
- Chairs the Steering Committee
- Selecting date and location
- Creating agenda
- Leading and facilitating the meeting
- Reviewing minutes and decisions of the past meeting
- Calls extra meetings if needed more than once a month
- Chairs the General Membership meetings
- Conducts RONR when needed
- Helps to craft the agenda, usually with input from across the chapter
- Is up front moving the agenda along
- Greets and socializes with new members, introduces themselves
- One of only 2 people empowered to speak on behalf of the chapter to the media, per bylaws
- Helps with social media
- Fields Contact Form Submissions from the website
- Usually these are asking how to join or checking membership status
- Keeps in contact with core organizers of chapters through one-on-ones, phone calls, etc
- Administrator of Slack
- Pulls membership lists from National
- Understands the constitution and bylaws well; understands national office well; has contacts in other chapters
- Contact for statewide organizing efforts
- Able to connect organizers to r&f members [e.g. I’m interested in housing justice, who can I talk to?]
- Has access to the office- helps with printing & swag as needed
- Attends events to see what is happening in the chapter
What type of person should consider running?
- Someone who can practice democratic leadership- has their own visions and is unafraid to voice them and also be challenged on them
- Comfortable with conflict and able to create a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere
- Comfortable with saying ‘I don’t know’
- Someone who can be charismatic and active when they don’t have the energy or capacity
- Not a perfectionist. Comfortable with uncertainty
- Organized
- Is an organizer- can bring people into DSA
- Has an answer to the following questions:
- What is Twin Cities DSA?
- How do I get involved?
- What is the chapter working on?
- Multitasker
- Good at Twitter and Facebook
Time investment?
- Anywhere from 5 to 15 hours a week, depending on your own capacity and what is needed by the steering committee and your other co-chair.
Political Education Committee – 2 seats available
What does the political education committee do?
You will be one of three bottomliners for the political education committee. The political education committee is open to everyone, but the team of three is tasked with holding pol ed planning meetings and coordinating with the steering committee. Examples of pol ed organizing includes but is not limited to:
- Introductory courses like “Socialism 101”
- Skills building courses like “Organizing Conversations” or “Meeting Facilitation”
- Book groups
- Discussions with branches and working groups to appraise their educational needs and offer direct assistance and guidance
- Helping promote educational events being hosted by specific Branches and Working Groups
Political Action Coordinator
The Political Action Coordinator shall plan and follow-through on all chosen programs of political advocacy for TCDSA. The Political Action Coordinator shall be, along with the Co-chairs, a liaison with any external groups that TCDSA shall choose to affiliate with, assist, or collaborate with.
The Political Action Coordinator will be the chair of the Outreach Committee, and will schedule meetings of that committee as required.
Operations Coordinator
The Operations Coordinator shall maintain membership lists and contact lists, send notice of membership meetings and other communications on behalf of the chapter. At membership meetings, the Operations Coordinator shall register attendees, calculate and determine if there is a quorum, and provide ways for non-members to join. If a division or paper ballot is needed, the Operations Coordinator will assist the recording secretary by determining eligibility of all who vote.
The Operations Coordinator will be the chair of the Operations Committee, and will schedule meetings of that committee as required.