August 2007 Local Meeting
From SP Boston
The Socialist Party of Boston met at noon on Sunday, 26 August 2007 in the Lucy Parsons Center to prepare for upcoming elections, the start of the semester, the regional meeting and the National Convention. More information is available in the minutes.
[edit] Agenda
- Introductions and agenda approval
- Reports on recent events
- 8/4 IWW fundraiser
- 8/25 protest in Kennebunkport
- Platform -- write an addendum of Massachusetts-specific planks to attach to the national platform
- Electoral
- Update on Matt Geary campaign, what we've done, and what we could do
- Presidential candidates to be considered at the National Convention
- Any other local candidates for 2008.
- Ads
- In progressive publications.
- In the National Convention booklet.
- Approving new memberships -- Darren L., Martin G.
- Scheduling an mid-month meeting that Chris F. and Angela can make.
- Future events and actions
- Bread and Roses festival in Lawrence on Labor Day -- do we want to purchase a table?
- Iraq Moratorium beginning on 21 September.
- New England Regional Meeting in East Hartford, CT on 22 September
- March on the White House, 29 September.
- The National Convention in the fall, 19-21 October in St. Louis, MO. Review logistics, delegates, alternates.
- Student walkout and "Sick of War" sick day on 26 October
- Regional UfPJ antiwar demonstration, 27 October -- do we want to endorse?
[edit] Minutes
- Introductions and agenda approval
- The meeting was attended by Matt A., Billie M., Chris P., and David S. Several comrades were still in Maine and sent regrets.
- Since so many were out of town, we scheduled an informal get-together for Sunday, 2 September, at noon in the Au Bon Pain near the Symphony, across from the Christian Science church park.
- Reports on recent events
- The IWW party raised over $600 for food workers in New York; another is being planned in Lowell on 15 September.
- Newspapers report that around 4,000 attended the 25 August antiwar protest in Kennebunkport, ME. The Socialist Party had a table there, sold $30 in books, and had ten people sign up for information.
- Platform
- Matt proposed a special meeting including various stripes of socialists to consider what a socialist platform for the 21st century should look like.
- Matt noted especially the many local points on Matt Geary's campaign platform and plans to invite a representative of the Geary campaign.
- The meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, 23 September, the day after the New England regional meeting.
- Matt will write up a description and invitation to be sent out.
- Chris will look for a venue; the Lucy Parsons Center, the Democracy Center, UE and Encuentro5 may be possibilities.
- Electoral
- We've been tabling for Matt Geary's campaign, but all we have is a dense sheet not very suitable for posting or handing out. David should talk to the Geary campaign to try to get some of the flyers or stickers they mentioned. The primary election is 25 September.
- Presidential questionnaire responses from candidates for the SP's nomination have been posted online at vote-socialist.org; David brought in a copy for those in attendance to check out and pass around.
- Finances
- We sold $30 in books at the Kennebunkport protest on 25 August; our table there cost $25.
- We approved reimbursing Matt $8.50 for SP-related expenses
- We approved spending $25 for a table at the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence on Labor Day, 3 September.
- We approved chipping in part of the cost of the SP Mass ad in the National Convention booklet.
- Matt brought up a project he's developing with the national office to start a SP Sustainer's Club, which sympathizers could join without becoming members; they would get mailings and information and be added to lists, without having to worry about any membership responsibilities or regulations.
- Ads
- We tabled discussion of ads in progressive publications since some of those most interested in the topic were absent.
- Since there is already an SP Mass ad in the National Convention booklet, we didn't create one of our own, but will contribute part of the cost of the SP Mass ad.
- Approving new memberships -- Darren L., Martin G.
- We approved Darren for membership although Matt hadn't been able to get in touch with him, on the grounds that as a former member of the SP he is familiar with us and the Statement of Principles.
- Matt attempted to call Martin, but wasn't able to reach him. He will try to get in touch shortly, either through a call or email.
- Future events
- Since so many were out of town, we scheduled an informal get-together for Sunday, 2 September, at noon in the Au Bon Pain near the Symphony, across from the Christian Science church park.
- We agreed to arrange a table at the Bread and Roses festival, Sunday; Matt sent in a check with the relevant forms. We'll arrange carpools online.
- The next New England regional meeting is on Saturday, 22 September. We will arrange carpools online, and see what the mass transit situation is like.
- Since we have so much going on in September, we won't organize an Iraq Moratorium event of our own, but will support and attend some in the area.
- A group of Harvest Co-op members and workers has begun meeting to work on making the co-ops more responsible to their workers and communities. Meetings are at the Lucy Parsons Center, every Tuesday at 7 pm.