February 2008 State Convention
From SP Boston
The 2008 State Convention of the Socialist Party of Massachusetts was held on Saturday, 16 February, in the Stone Soup Community Center in Worcester (4 King St.). Members from Boston, Worcester and western Massachusetts came together to work on statewide projects, campaigns, and organization. For more information, check out the minutes below.
[edit] Agenda
- Introductions and agenda approval
- Statewide projects, campaigns, and coalitions
- Socialized medicine
- Antiwar actions, coalitions, prospects
- Motion to endorse Open National Conference to Stop the War in Iraq and Bring the Troops Home Now, elect a representative to be involved with its planning and organizing, and encourage the national party to take similar action.
- International Women's Day (8 March) and other dates on the socialist calendar
- SPMA ad in May Day issue of The Socialist
- Fundraising for local and state organizations
- Local organizing
- Discuss ways locals and the state organization can support and assist each other
- Focus on mechanisms for encouraging the formation and continuing activity of new locals in currently unorganized areas
- Proposal to recruit volunteers to serve as contacts for currently unorganized areas
- Electoral action
- Presidential campaign: Moore/Alexander 2008
- Discuss ballot access and write-in campaigns, in Mass. and neighboring states
- Nominate slate of electors
- Fundraising -- The campaign needs $5,000 from each of twenty states to qualify for federal matching funds
- Candidate speaking tours in summer or fall
- Other electoral campaigns -- recruit candidates, campaign managers, committee treasurers, volunteers, etc.
- Announcement of Mass Alliance campaign manager training, 22-23 February
- Presidential campaign: Moore/Alexander 2008
- Pre-NC Meeting report
- State Executive Committee
- Currently composed of a Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer
- Consider changing composition, adding local representatives, organizer, or Web manager positions, for example
- Discuss duties of SEC and mechanisms for reliable operation
- Elect 2008 SEC
- SPMA Constitution
- Some proposals to flesh out the bare bones it provides, for instance, to outline the various tasks of SEC and other officers
[edit] Minutes
- Introductions and agenda approval
- The convention was attended by David S. and Chris P. from Boston; Nate F. and Chas H. from Worcester; Eric C., Susan D., and Ed M. from the Tom Mooney (western Mass) local.
- Matt A., Chris F., and Angela P. of Boston sent regrets.
- Also observing the opening portions was Nicole J., a reporter from Boston's Weekly Dig, which ran a short story on the convention.
- Statewide projects, campaigns, and coalitions
- Socialized medicine
- The SPMA is a member organization of the Mass-Care Coalition, which advocates universal single-payer health care. We discussed appointing an official contact to keep in touch with Mass-Care and abreast of its activity.
- There was general discussion of the need to clearly discuss our proposals, and specify what sets them apart from the "universal health insurance" being offered by Democratic presidential candidates. Could a flyer be made focusing on this issue?
- We proposed that the 1 March NC meeting in Milwaukee appoint a new coordinator for the socialized health care campaign. Eric and Susan will attend the meeting, and agreed to raise the issue.
- Ed offered to help with these plans, but not to take primary responsibility for them.
- Antiwar actions, coalitions, prospects
- David discussed the Stop the Wars Coalition, which the Boston local is involved with.
- Eric reported that the Tom Mooney local has taken part in Iraq Moratorium demonstrations in western Massachusetts.
- Motion submitted by David on behalf of Matt: "The Socialist Party of Massachusetts endorses the "Open National Conference to Stop the War in Iraq and Bring the Troops Home Now"
and makes its success our primary strategy for the peace movement in 2008, along with promoting our presidential ticket. The SPMA convention shall elect a representative to participate in planning and organizing efforts on our behalf with the National Assembly to End the Iraq War and Occupation. The SPMA shall encourage the SPUSA National Committee, meeting March 1st, 2008, in Milwaukee, WI to endorse and elect national representatives that can participate and coordinate between the National Conference and the SPUSA. - Eric noted that the Conference is focusing on a fall national mobilization, and urged focusing on local actions like those encouraged by the Iraq Moratorium.
- There were some other concerns about the politics and program of the conference, but there was general agreement that we should keep on top of its development and stay involved with its organization.
- The motion was amended by consensus to strike the opening sentence after the conference name (indicated above).
- The motion passed, as amended, by consensus.
- We agreed to offer Matt, as author of the motion, the position of representative. Should he refuse, Chris F. and Angela, who are actively involved with the Stop the Wars Coalition, are next in the queue, with Eric agreeing to serve if necessary.
- Eric and Susan will raise the issue at the NC meeting.
- International Women's Day (IWD, 8 March)
- Susan distributed a flyer on IWD and its connections with the anti-war movement, and encouraged those present to consider distributing copies at their local antiwar demonstrations.
- Susan also distributed some copies of the IWD issue of The Socialist, later sending more to the Boston local.
- Although Susan and Eric will be out of town, the annual Greenfield IWD rally and speakout will go ahead, and expects a big turnout, since IWD falls on a Saturday this year.
- The Boston local was encouraged to plan IWD events. Film screenings were suggested as a relatively low-maintenance activity, and Susan sent along information about the Brattleboro Women's Film Festival, suggesting that some of their films might be appropriate (and obtainable).
- SPMA ad in May Day issue of The Socialist
- The convention approved $50 to purchase a quarter-page ad in the May Day edition of The Socialist, which had to be submitted by 20 February.
- Ed proposed using a quote by Judi Bari in the ad.
- Susan got in touch with Angela to see if she could put together some graphics to go along with the text.
- Socialized medicine
- Finances
- The state account currently has slightly under $200 after paying convention costs, but before adding in $50-$75(?) in dues or subtracting $50 for an ad in the May Day issue of The Socialist.
- The Boston local has raised some money selling radical books from Ocean Press at rallies, demonstrations and festivals. Eric suggested tabling at campuses in addition.
- Selling buttons and magazines also brings in smaller amounts of funds.
- State dues ($5-$20 sliding scale) were collected from those present.
- Local organizing
- David raised the issue of thinking of ways the state party could interact with members in unorganized regions, and help them become active and involved. He had few proposals, but wanted people to consider possibilities.
- The one proposal David did make was that official contacts or organizing committees be formed to start the process of local organizing in regions such as Worcester or Lawrence. This proposal did not seem to generate much excitement.
- Eric suggested that the semi-annual New England regional meetings could serve as valuable events and resources for members across the region. He noted that they often have relatively high turnout, particularly when the public is invited to an associated forum or event, and suggested that we could get especially high turnout at the upcoming regional meeting (29 March, western Massachusetts) by inviting Brian Moore, the SP presidential nominee.
- Electoral action
- Moore-Alexander 2008 presidential campaign
- Eric suggested trying to arrange for Brian to tour New England in late March or early April, where he could speak at the New England regional meeting, and perhaps at some colleges or forums elsewhere in the region (Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Boston). Eric noted that now is the best time to arrange these tours, before the candidate is swamped with campaigning in the summer and fall. Eric will get in touch with Brian to see what might work with his schedule.
- Ballot access
- The presidential campaign recently achieved ballot access in Vermont, through the Liberty Union Party, which required 1000 signatures.
- The Boston local will work with Rhode Island to get on the ballot there, which requires 1000 verified signatures. Chris will look into the forms and time frame in RI.
- Other states in New England require many more signatures, and we will only pursue official write-in status, if that.
- We will get official write-in status in Massachusetts. David will contact the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office to obtain the required forms, and arrange electors in Boston and other parts of the state.
- Finances
- David reported that the presidential campaign currently had roughly $1200 in the bank, much of which was already committed, particularly to fees and court costs for a ballot access lawsuit in Ohio.
- Eric objected that The Coalition for Free and Open Elections should be paying those costs, and will try to determine the situation at the upcoming NC meeting, if not before.
- David made a fundraising pitch for the presidential campaign and the Socialist National Committee (the SP's general Campaign Clearinghouse). Although he collected some donations for each, Eric dismissed the presidential campaign's goal of qualifying for matching funds by raising at least $5000 in each of at least 20 states, discussing the much smaller budget he and Mary Cal Hollis ran on in 1996.
- Other electoral campaigns
- The Tom Mooney local will focus on supporting Todd Vachon's Congressional campaign in Connecticut.
- Eric and Susan may be moving to the west coast over the summer, so are reluctant to run for office.
- David is considering running for State Representative in the 17th Suffolk district (Allston-Brighton), but has concerns about the amount of work involved and the possible negative impact on his career. He will attend a progressive campaign manager training focusing on state legislative campaigns on 23-24 February, and make a decision based on what he learns there.
- Eric or Matt, our current contacts with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, will contact that office to get the list of Massachusetts voters enrolled in the Socialist political designation. Eric recommended Matt take this on in case he would need to appear in person.
- Moore-Alexander 2008 presidential campaign
- Pre-NC Meeting report
- Eric and Susan will attend the upcoming NC meeting, on 1 March in Milwaukee, WI.
- In addition to the issues mentioned above, they expect the NC to consider Wisconsin's membership policies and more aspects of the presidential campaign.
- SPMA Constitution
- David distributed copies of the Constitution, along with some informal suggestions by Matt that it be amended to add more flesh to its bones.
- Since there was no specific proposal to consider, the convention suggested that the locals each appoint some members to construct concrete proposals in time for consideration at or after the spring regional meeting (late March).
- State Executive Committee
- Currently composed of a Chair (Matt), Secretary (David), and Treasurer (Eric).
- Chris was elected the new Treasurer. He will open a new bank account in the Boston area, at which point Susan will transfer the money in the current bank account.
- Susan was elected the new Secretary, with Ed to replace her should she move out of the state.
- The Boston local was delegated responsibility to elect a new chair.
- The former officers will advise those newly elected on the duties of each position to help them get settled in and address any problems.
- There was discussion of occasional phone conferences, but nothing was set.