February 2009 State Convention
From SP Boston
The 2009 State Convention of the Socialist Party of Massachusetts was held on Sunday, 15 February, beginning at 1 pm in the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) office in Cambridge. The State Convention brought together socialists from across the state to work on statewide projects, campaigns, and organization. Special attention went to the antiwar movement and International Women's Day. For more information, check out the full minutes below.
Minutes
- Introductions and agenda approval
- The meeting was attended by Matt A., Matt D., Jason F., Alexi G., David K., Ben K., Norah K., Brad M., Lynn M., Billie M., and David S.
- Political discussion
- We discussed the first few weeks of the Obama administration and what we can expect from it in coming months and years.
- Matt A. presented a statement titled New President -- Same Government, which was adopted with some minor amendments.
- David S. will produce a formatted version of the statement to include in the next bulletin, to go out around the end of March.
- Matt A. reported some highlights of the 24-25 January National Committee (NC) meeting in New Jersey:
- The 2009 Socialist Party convention will be in Newark, New Jersey, this fall.
- The NC voted to increase the hours worked by the National Secretary, requiring more fundraising to maintain the budget.
- The importance of transparency in budgeting and operations was emphasized by those considering donating. David S. reported that all
- Statewide projects, campaigns and coalitions
- Antiwar actions, coalitions, prospects
- Regular Iraq Moratorium events have been held in Boston (with some difficulty over the winter months), but the Tom Mooney local is no longer involved with Iraq Moratorium events in western Mass.
- We discussed
- We agreed to support and organize for both the March of the Pentagon on 21 March and the March on Wall Street on 4 April.
- Jason will represent the SP in the March 21 Mobilizing Committee.
- There was some confusion regarding the March on Wall Street, since both United for Peace and Justice and the International Action Center have announced events. The Boston local had earlier voted to support the UFPJ event, and the SPMA will hold off on getting involved until it is clearer what is actually going on.
- The National Assembly to end the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations will have its second National Conference on 10-11 July in Pittsburgh, PA.
- International Women's Day (8 March)
- Ed will table at UMass Amherst.
- Billie mentioned an IWD conference to be held at Roxbury Community College, but didn't have detailed information with her.
- International Workers' Day (May Day) events in recent years were discussed, but didn't have solid information on any plans this year.
- Coalition for Justice for Jason
- We voted to join the Coalition for Justice for Jason.
- The SEC will issue a statement on our support for Jason and the coalition.
- Though based in Amherst, the coalition recently organized a group in Boston. Locals are encouraged to have a representative involved with the group in their area.
- Fundraising for local and state organizations
- Lynn shared her design for a "Capitalism Is Organized Crime" t-shirt.
- Matt A. will look into costs and logistics for printing them.
- David S. suggested selling the shirt through the Socialist Party's online store as well.
- Antiwar actions, coalitions, prospects
- Local organizing
- Matt D. is interested in organizing a new Socialist Party local in southern New Hampshire.
- David S. mentioned that nearly half a dozen new locals had formed in recent months (or were in the process of forming), in Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida.
- We discussed general issues relating to organizing, including outreach, meeting logistics, communications and the importance of regular meetings and events.
- Norah suggested transcending state lines to consider a local covering northern Massachusetts (Lawrence, Lowell) in addition to southern New Hampshire.
- David mentioned that the National Office is working on putting together an organizing guide, and will help Matt D. get in touch with that project.
- Members from Massachusetts (and Vermont) are available to travel to New Hampshire to help organize and provide information and experience.
- SPMA Constitution
- We only had time to consider some of the proposed constitutional amendments and related motions.
- David S. will put a copy of the constitution on the SPMA Web site.
- Matt A. will combine the SPMA bank account with the Boston local's account, and keep track of the distribution of funds in the account.
- State Executive Committee
- We elected a new SEC for 2009 consisting of Norah as chair, David S. as secretary and Matt A. as treasurer.