In This Issue  

 Young Democratic Socialists Update: July 31, 2008

Activist Agenda
 
 
 
 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
2008-2009 Activist Agenda
Setting National Action Priorities for YDS  
 
One of the most important parts of the YDS summer conference is the adoption of the Activist Agenda.  The Activist Agenda is the organizing priorities that the YDS national office takes on with chapters and members.  The 2007-2008 Activist Agenda encompassed the continuation of our National Immigrant Rights Project and "Education is a Right – Not a Privilege: Campaign Against Student Debt."
 
 
We have posted the five proposed Activist Agenda items on our blog. We want your input and critiques before the convention.  We will start with this feedback during our debate on Sunday.  Odds are we will choose three or less of the proposed items in order to better focus our coordinated work.  Participating in this process is a great way to help set the activity your chapter might be working on. 
Click on the following links to read and give feedback on proposals:
 
 

YDS Coordinating Committee
Volunteering to Help Shape and Build YDS
 
The YDS Coordinating Committee (CC) is the national volunteer leadership that works with the national office to run YDS during the year.  YDS CC members help shape the course of the organization, represent YDS at major activist gatherings, and assist in programming for our conferences and national work.  It’s a great place to develop your leadership skills, network both in and outside YDS, and build our presence on the student left.
 
 
We will elect the next CC at the YDS conference, and we want to make the CC as diverse and strong as it can be.  We’ll be accepting personal statements of those running in absentia and reading them prior to voting.  If you would like to run in absentia, or just want to know more about what being on the CC would mean in terms of time and responsibilities, please e-mail yds@dsausa.org.  You can learn more about the Coordinating Committee, its officer positions, and its structure here.
 
YDS or Campus DSA 
Buy Help Us Decide on the Same Game or a New Name
 
The amendment to change the name of YDS to Campus Democratic Socialists of America has its supporters and its critics. Proponents of the name change argue that "Campus DSA" better describes whom YDS is and what it does, and that the new name would build bridges between younger campus-based members and DSA.  They also feel the name change would create more self-identification with DSA among youth section members; this will be one more step in easing the transition of youth cadre into DSA leadership.  Opponents believe the name is too exclusive - implying only students can be active - and that there needs to be a clear separation between DSA and it's youth section.
 
At the summer conference, we will vote on whether to continue as the Young Democratic Socialists, USA or not.  To change the constitution requires two-thirds of the body there.  Please write on our blog here your thoughts about the name change.  As this issue impacts all of YDS, we want to ensure that we have heard from as many voices as possible before making a final decision.
 
 
U.S. Democratic Socialist Solidarity with Farm Worker's Struggle
A History Lesson That Informs the Activist Agenda
 
Did you know that American democratic socialists were deeply involved in the fight for agricultural justice?  Since the early 20th century, organizations such as the Socialist Party of America and later the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee’s organizers and members participated in the farm worker movement.  Today, United Farm Workers legend Dolores Huerta and the highest-ranking foreign born union official, SEIU Executive Vice-President, Eliseo Media, are both honorary co-chairs of YDS’s parent organization, the Democratic Socialists of America.
 
 
Check YDS member Perry Landman-Hopman’s "Democratic Socialist Solidarity and the Farm Workers’ Struggles" for a brief, but solid history, of democratic socialist action with the farm worker movement for social justice.
 
  JOIN YDS!  It's easy, it's cheap, and it connects you with other democratic socialist activists around the country.  Click here to read more about why you should consider joining: www.ydsusa.org/getinvolved.html

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