October 2009 Local Meeting
From SP Boston
The Socialist Party of Boston met at 5:30 pm on Sunday, 18 October 2009 in the Lucy Parsons Center. Full minutes are below.
[edit] Minutes
- Matt A., Jean F., Jason F., Billie M. and Mark S. attended.
- We went through introductions and discussed the current status of absent members and contacts.
- We approved the membership application of Mark S., who recently paid dues online and was in attendance. We deferred the application of Edward D., who also paid dues online, to the Local Executive Committee so someone could get in touch with him first.
- Treasurer's report
- The Western Massachusetts bank account was closed and the remaining balance of $200 was transferred to us.
- We spent $50 to sponsor the October 17 antiwar demonstration and $25 to sponsor the Sacco and Vanzetti march.
- We made $43 in online contributions. $75 in combined t-shirt sales at the National Convention and Oct 17th rally. We made $10 consignment from the sale of one t-shirt at the Lucy Parsons Center. We made $2 in the sale of buttons at the Oct 17th rally.
- Our current account stands at approximately $720.
- Matt reported back on the National Convention. We discussed some of the key issues debated at the convention, the new National Committee, and volunteer opportunities with the national organization (including commissions, fundraising, and a new National Organizing Committee).
- Matt and Billie reported on the Oct 17th rally. There were about 800 people at the rally, and possibly more who joined the march. Two people signed up for more information at our table. We marched with the Socialist Party of Massachusetts banner with comrades from Vermont and Connecticut.
- We discussed ideas for the Stop the Wars Coalition's Organizers Workshop, which will be at 3:30pm on Sunday, Oct 25th at the Community Church of Boston. There was general agreement that people need actions to plug into, not long meetings, to stay involved.
- We discussed the benefits of Instant Run-off Voting and the Voter Choice Campaign. We made plans to collect signatures at the Whole Foods by Mass Ave on Thursday, Oct 22nd, at 4:00pm.
- We decided to have a Socialist Coffee Social at the Espresso Royal (44 Gainsborough St, off Huntington Ave.) in the first week of November. We decided to have a discussion topic, possibly "Making Radical Demands on a System that won't Budge". Details can be determined by the Local Executive Committee.