In This Issue  

 Young Democratic Socialists Update: July 17, 2008

YDS Summer Retreat
 
 
 
 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
YDS Summer Conference (August 8 to 10)
Converge on the Catskills for fun, politics and everything in between
  
The Socialist Summer Retreat is critical to the success of YDS. Many important topics will be discussed, including debating and adopting our annual Activist Agenda, which declares our national priorities for the year, surveying the upcoming presidential elections and our role in national electoral politics, considering the pros and cons of an organizational name change and electing a new coordinating committee. This event will also be a great opportunity to enjoy the mountain air, get to know your fellow democratic socialists through pick up sports, board games, movies, etc., and form the social bonds that are the mortar of our movement.    
 
 
SAVE MONEY NOW
You can save up to $50 on the registration fee if you pre-register before Monday, JULY 21st, which is less than a week away.  The fee covers housing and meals at the Valley Brook Inn in Wurtsboro, New York, in addition to extensive conference materials. 
 
 
Important links related to the conference below:
 
Registration
 
Schedule
 
Directions
 
Facebook Event
 
Conference Flier
 
Meet Erik Rosenberg, the new YDS organizer
YDS Welcomes New Staffer
 
Erik's past political activism has centered on peace.  As a high school student at the Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel, he co-organized a conflict resolution committee that brought together Palestinians, Israelis, Israeli-Arabs and Americans to discuss the conflict in the region.  After graduating, he returned to the United States to attend Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut where he earned his bachelor's degree in Government, graduating in 2008. 
 
Throughout college Erik continued to work as a peace activist.  In the spring of 2005, he co-founded Students for Ending the War in Iraq (SEWI) which he helped develop into one of the most prominent activist organizations on campus. He also connected SEWI with larger networks such as Connecticut Opposes the War (COW) and the Campus Anti-War Network (CAN).  Erik has interned with Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents For Peace), United For Peace and Justice (UFPJ), and served on the steering committee of United For Peace and Justice (YDS is a member group of UFPJ). 
 
Outside of the political realm Erik enjoys playing the guitar and the piano, gardening, squash and yoga.  He looks forward to returning to New York, the city of his birth, to begin his work as Youth Organizer. 
 
Erik looks forward to hearing your ideas, comments and concerns, so please do not hesitate to contact him at erik@dsausa.org or 212-727-8610.  Erik would like to thank all of YDS and DSA for giving him this opportunity and looks forward to meeting you, hopefully at the Summer Conference.
Our President, the Organizer?
How Will Obama's Organizing Experience Affect the Country and Mold Him as a Leader?
 
As organizing is a large part of YDS's work it is important to track the role organizing and organizers play in mainstream politics.  In his article, "Will Obama Inspire a New Generation of Organizers?" Democratic Socialists of America (YDS's parent group) member Peter Dreier argues that Obama?s experience as grassroots organizer positively affected his campaign, his leadership style, and public interest in organizing as a profession.  Dreier also briefly outlines the history of community organizing in the United States. 
 
 
 

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