Metro DC DSA’s local convention is coming up on Saturday, December 9th and Sunday, December 10th. At convention, the chapter will debate and possibly adopt changes to our chapter’s bylaws, consider working group applications for priority campaign status, and vote on chapter-wide resolutions.
In short, the decisions we make collectively through these processes will shape our chapter for years to come. Please see below for more information on the period to submit bylaw amendments, chapter-wide resolutions, and other important information for Local Convention.
Bylaw Amendments and Resolution Submission Period
As our DSA chapter is a democratic, member-led, and member-funded organization, we are only as strong as the level of member input and involvement in our collective work. The chapter’s annual local convention is the best way to ensure we hear every voice when deciding changes to our priorities or democratic structures.
Is there something about our chapter that you would like to change? Consider submitting an amendment to the chapter’s bylaws or a proposal for a chapter-wide resolution.
Steering Committee Nominations
The chapter’s Steering Committee’s current term ends next month, and the chapter’s Internal Elections Department (IED) is rolling out the election for a new Steering Committee. Our steering committee consists of 11 members total: 8 at-large members, a secretary, treasurer, and campaigns coordinator. All seats will be open in this election. The Steering Committee meets every other week and serves as the chapter’s administrative and political leadership for the chapter, taking votes and making decisions on behalf of the chapter in between general body meetings.
The IED is independent of other chapter formations and will oversee the election of the 2024 steering committee. Any chapter member in good standing who receives five nominations will be notified and will have until 11:59 p.m. E.T. on Wednesday, November 29th, 2023 to accept their nomination. Candidates who receive the required nominations will be emailed with a form to accept their nomination, and chapter members can see if emails have been sent on the nomination tracking form. There will be a candidate forum sometime between November 30th and December 7th, 2023. Stay tuned for more details.
Metro DC DSA Electoral Campaign Endorsement Process
We will be doing the first read for endorsement resolutions at convention this year. Candidates across the region who are running for office will have until December 2nd, 2023, to submit questionnaires to the chapter, and chapter members have until December 7th, 2023 at 11:59pm E.T. to submit endorsement resolutions, which require one sponsor and four cosponsors. The Political Engagement Committee will provide rolling updates to the chapter on Slack and via email as questionnaires are submitted. All resolutions submitted for campaigns that have answered the questionnaire will be read for the first time on December 9th, 2023, the first day of local convention. Candidate Q&As will take place the week of January 10th, 2024 to January 17th, 2024, based on candidate availability, and all chapter members are invited to attend and ask candidates questions themselves. The January GBM will be the final read of endorsement questionnaires, and voting to endorse will take place via OpaVote during the week following the GBM. The endorsement handbook is available here and you can see more information about the process here.
To submit an endorsement resolution, please submit it on RedDesk by Thursday, December 7th at 11:59 p.m. ET. Select “Open a New Ticket” and then “Agenda Item / Submit Resolution” and fill out all the necessary fields.
Metro DC DSA Local Convention
How can I participate as a delegate in the local convention?
According to our chapter’s bylaws, all members in good standing as of 30 days before the convention are eligible to participate as delegates at local conventions. Therefore, chapter members will need to have been DSA members in good standing on or before November 9th, 2023, to be voting delegate at the convention.
Our chapter will be using OpenSlides to facilitate discussion, debate, and live voting during convention. Each chapter member eligible to be a delegate will receive a unique login code-- please keep an eye out closer to convention for this email!
Information about delegate registration will be released shortly. Delegates are encouraged to register ahead of the convention, but there will be a same-day registration option available in the morning on both days of the convention.
When is the convention taking place, and what are the other important dates?
The local convention will take place on December 9th-10th. The convention schedule is still subject to change based on the number of agenda items received, but currently, the plan is for Saturday and Sunday to each be from 12PM-5PM. Debate on resolutions will occur on both days, but live voting will only occur on Sunday.
Please see below for a more detailed list of important dates and deadlines to be aware of for the local convention.
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Steering Committee nomination deadline. Sunday, November 26th at 11:59pm ET. Chapter members can nominate people they think should run for steering. Steering candidates will require nominations from at least 5 members in good standing in the chapter. Submit Steering Committee nominations using this form.
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Convention business deadline. Sunday, November 26th, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Deadline to submit resolutions, bylaw amendments, and all other business to be considered at Local Convention. Submit convention agenda items using this form.
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Steering Committee nomination acceptance deadline. Wednesday, November 29th. Those who receive at least 5 nominations for the Steering elections must accept nominations by this date to be included in the election.
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Steering Committee Candidate Forum. Between Thursday, November 30th and Thursday, December 7th, 2023. The Internal Elections Department will schedule and host a candidate forum for all Steering Committee Candidates to present themselves and answer questions from membership. Stay tuned for more info.
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Electoral campaign questionnaire deadline. Saturday, December 2nd. Candidates running for office and seeking the chapter’s endorsement must submit questionnaires to the Political Engagement Committee by this date.
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Priority Resolution submission deadline. Sunday, December 3rd. Working groups must submit Priority Resolutions to the Campaigns Council Chair Allison K by this date.
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Statement submission period for Priority Resolutions. Monday, December 4th to Monday, December 11th. Members can submit statements on RedDesk for or against Priority Resolutions, which will appear on the OpaVote ballot after convention. Members will receive an email with more information on December 3rd.
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Amendment submission deadline. Thursday, December 4th, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Deadline to submit amendments to any convention items of business. A form specifically for amendments will be released on Monday, November 27th, 2023.
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Electoral endorsement resolutions due. Thursday, December 7th. Resolutions for the chapter to endorse a candidate for office, with at least one sponsor and at least 4 co-sponsors, must be submitted on Red Desk by this date.
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Convention bulletin. Friday, December 8th. The convention bulletin is published and distributed to all chapter members. The bulletin includes the convention agenda and all scheduled business.
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Convention Day #1 Saturday, December 9th, 12PM-5PM. First day of local convention. Major agenda items will likely include a presentation of the Steering Committee report and officer reports, first read of any electoral candidate resolutions, as well as debate and discussion on applications for chapter priorities.
NOTE: There will not be live voting on Saturday, as the Steering Committee election and priority campaign votes will occur via emailed OpaVote ballots to all chapter members. -
Convention Day #2 Sunday, December 10th, 12PM-5PM. Second day of local convention. Major agenda items will likely include debate and voting on: annual budget, bylaw amendments, and other resolutions. NOTE: There will be live voting on Sunday for all agenda items.
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Post-convention Happy Hour! Sunday, December 10th, TBD. Join your fellow chapter members after convention to chat and decompress. Location to be decided!
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Convention OpaVote Ballot Open Tuesday, December 12 to Saturday, December 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Voting for Priority Campaigns and Steering Committee occurs.
Who can I contact with questions about the convention?
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help make the convention a success, please use the convention-specific Slack channel #2023-local-convention, or reach out to any Steering member on Slack. You can also send questions via email to steering-all@mdcdsa.org.