General Membership Meeting: Nov. 11, 2018

East Bay DSA General Membership Meeting, November 11, 2018, 1–3:30 p.m.

This is a general meeting of the East Bay DSA membership. Abigail G.-G. and Zach M. chaired the meeting. The recording secretary is present and documenting the minutes.

The meeting was called to order at 1:12 p.m.

Settle in and Welcome

Abigail G.-G. opened the meeting, reporting on the results of the recent California election and explaining the process for the meeting.

Resolution submissions for the December general meeting will be due Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

Committee Reports and Announcements

Abigail G.-G. called forward committee representatives to present oral reports to the membership.

Allie L. reported on behalf of the Social Housing Committee.
Kara M. reported on behalf of the Racial Solidarity Committee.
Nick F. reported on behalf of the Political Education Committee.
Ashley P. reported on behalf of the Labor Committee.
Frances R. reported on behalf of the Communications Committee.
Sean M. delivered a report as the Treasurer.
Joey K. reported on behalf of the Meetings Committee.
Mark G. reported on behalf of the Steering Committee.
Sandy B. reported on behalf of the Electoral Committee.
Hannah E. reported on behalf of the Membership Engagement Committee.
Matt S. reported on behalf of the Medicare for All Committee.

Strike Updates (AFSCME, Marriott Workers)

Following the Committee reports, a video was played showing the recent Marriott Worker's Strike victory.

Abigail G.-G. invited representatives to deliver a strike update.

Robbie N. gave a general report on strikes in the East Bay and the Labor Committee's work. Members should sign up for the Labor support rapid response email and phone list.

Aaron H. gave an update on the Marriott worker strikes that have been going on for the past month. For the Oakland Marriott strike, East Bay DSA mobilized members to support the picket lines, including providing lunch for the picketing workers. The strike lunch happened to fall on the same day that the workers won their contract battle! Their demands included a 23% pay increase, no increases to healthcare costs, and a contract that broadens their ability to strike.

Member Announcements

Abigail G.-G. opened a period for member announcements, which were submitted in advance.

Joanna made an announcement about the Socialist Feminist Caucus, who are producing a zine and looking for 800-word (max) submissions themed on socialist-feminist issues. Members may email socfemzine@gmail.com to contribute before Dec. 16.

Rex L. made an announcement about the caravan of asylum seekers coming from Honduras. DSA national is mobilizing support, and if you are interested in mobilizing around this issue on a local level, find Rex or Nestor.

Michael K. made an announcement for the Ecosocialist Caucus and the Socialist Night School class that will be hosted at the East Bay Community Space on Nov. 20. The next caucus meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 19 at Ancient Ways on Telegraph.

Kabir K. made an announcement regarding a cannabis caucus that he is forming to examine justice struggles relating to cannabis. Members who are interested should reach out to Kabir.

Elections Debrief

Abigail G.-G. introduced the elections debrief, which was led by Jack M., Jaime G., Sandy B., and Will S.

Jack M. gave a presentation, which included a video from the Jovanka Beckles campaign.

Following the introductory presentation, Jamie G. talked about vote counting results across the campaigns that East Bay DSA endorsed, including Prop 10; the Assembly District 15 race: the Richmond City Council race; the Richmond mayoral race; the Berkeley Rent Board race; and Measures Y, P, and O.

Jack M. then reviewed the political goals that we had, and the results related to those goals. These goals included:

Run a campaign that builds class consciousness across the East Bay
Build a coalition with other working class-organizations, fostering relationships that would last
Win
Grow East Bay DSA

Sandy B. talked about identifying enemies, the message of class war presented by the East Bay DSA campaigns, and the narrative about the Buffy Wicks campaign becoming about money in politics.

Jack M. talked about the coalitions that were built through the Jovanka campaign and the relationships that East Bay DSA were able to build with labor organizations and others.

Matt S. talked about the field operation of the campaign and the goal of building the capacity of East Bay DSA.

Following these reports, Will S. read a statement regarding the campaign for Prop 10, signed by a coalition of DSA chapters across California.

Questions about the electoral campaigns can be emailed to elections@eastbaydsa.org or housing@eastbaydsa.org.

Resolutions

Abigail G.-G. introduced the resolutions potion of the meeting.

The following resolution was motivated by Aaron H. and Nestor C.

Resolution to Hold Open Steering Committee Meetings

Submitted by Aaron H., Regina C., Allie L., Dominic D., and Nestor C.

WHEREAS due to decades of declining levels of working class organization, members of the working class, including the new socialists joining our growing organization, often have little experience with democratic modes of organization and may be accustomed to interacting within undemocratic spaces at work and in other social institutions;

WHEREAS it is an established democratic norm for democratic societies and organizations to hold meetings of their executive that are open to their membership;

WHEREAS being able to make informed decisions is the crux of democratic decision-making;

WHEREAS open meetings enable members to better demarcate political views in the Chapter and more fully examine, analyze, and critique political differences, all of which aids in developing political clarity;

WHEREAS open meetings encourage trust between leadership and members and help to instill member confidence in leadership;

WHEREAS open meetings allow members to see how their elected leaders act and engage with one another;

WHEREAS holding meetings of the executive that are open to membership to observe allow for the increased political accountability, member oversight, and flow of information that aids in the forming of a holistic political view of the chapter necessary to making informed decisions;

WHEREAS meetings of our executive were once open, but closed due to disruptions stemming from the ill-defined and unclear role of members at the meeting;

WHEREAS members of the Chapter are encouraged to attend office hours of the Steering Committee to discuss the Steering Committee meeting agenda items as well as other issues, matters, or topics regarding the Chapter;

WHEREAS executive session is a closed session of a meeting used by deliberative bodies to discuss matters that are of a very sensitive nature;

WHEREAS we acknowledge the importance of creating a culture of consent, and preventing harassment on many digital medium

WHEREAS Robert’s Rules of Order states that members of an organization that abides by it have a right to examine the reports of its boards and committees including the minutes of an executive session;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all Steering Committee meetings, starting in December, shall be open for members of the Chapter in good standing to attend as observers without the right of voice unless granted by the chair of the meeting or the majority vote of the Steering Committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the location and agenda of the Steering Committee meeting shall be noticed to members of the Chapter no later than one week in advance of the Steering Committee meeting by email, website, and in official online member spaces and other means as needed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any member of the Chapter who is observing the Steering Committee meeting and who engages in disruptive behavior in the course of the meeting, including but not limited to interrupting the handling of Steering Committee business, may be subject to discipline befitting the cause.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that minutes for the Steering Committee meetings shall be posted to the website and official online member spaces no later than one week after the Steering Committee meeting at which they were recorded.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that executive session in Steering Committee meetings shall only be called to discuss legal issues, personnel issues, contracts involving third parties, disciplinary action, and member conduct issues of a sensitive nature, and only by a vote of at least 60% of the Steering Committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members will not record or broadcast the meetings through text or audiovisual material without having been granted previous consent. Violations will be subject to disciplinary actions according to the code of conduct.

After motivation, a period of question and answers was opened for members to ask questions to the resolution submitters.

Following the Q&A, debate opened and members were invited to speak for and against. During debate, two motions to extend debate and the time of the meeting by 15 minutes PASSED, extending the meeting time by 30 min. Two successful amendments were also made during debate.

After debate and amendment the resolution PASSED by a majority vote of 65 to 51.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 3:33 p.m.