Spring 2008 Regional Meeting
From SP Boston
The spring 2008 New England regional meeting of the Socialist Party was held from 11 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday, 29 March 2008 in the Amherst library, in Amherst, MA. The Socialist Party presidential campaign was be a major focus of the meeting, which also addressed Todd Vachon's congressional campaign as well as grassroots activist projects. For more information, check out the full minutes below.
[edit] Agenda
- Introductions and agenda approval
- Local reports
- Tom Mooney (western Massachusetts) local
- Boston local
- Brattleboro, VT local
- Connecticut
- NC meeting report
- Presidential campaign and other electoral campaigns
- Ballot access
- Fundraising
- Campaigning
- Antiwar work
- Fair Food Campaign (SLAP Week of Action)
- SP-New England Podcast and Media Exposure
- This discussion is going to be around the development and production of content to specific to SP-New England, and how to distribute it and get it out there for wider consumption. There have been several ideas on the SP-New England list, but having a discussion at the general meeting would be helpful.
- Mark True is putting together a proposed programming format for the podcast
- Some ideas so far:
- Podcast
- Streaming radio show
- YouTube video program
- Wider dissemination to other progressive journals (Boston Pheonix comes to mind)
- Possible Media Committee or Corresponding Secretary?
[edit] Minutes
- Introductions and agenda approval
- The meeting was attended by Eric C., Susan D., Michael L. and Ed M. from western Mass.; Matt A. and David S. from Boston (Chris P. fell victim of car trouble); Todd V. from Connecticut; and Peter D., Mal H., Doris L., and Jerry L. from Vermont.
- Local reports
- Tom Mooney local
- 26 March hearing at UMass of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Susan wrote a statement which was read at the hearing, and copies were passed around.
- Ed discussed some activism at UMass, including a recent student strike and a new queer activist group.
- Arise for Social Justice has opened at a new (smaller) location right on Springfield's main drag.
- Some 5th anniversary antiwar actions in the area, but nothing that drew any big, active crowds.
- 30-40 show up for monthly Iraq Moratorium events in Greenfield, other events in Northampton, Amherst, etc. Very decentralized, valley-wide organizing efforts abandoned. Although not confrontational, all call for immediate withdrawal.
- Boston local
- David Rovics fundraising concert in Providence, laying groundworks for ballot access petitioning over the summer.
- Reporter at local meeting looking into labor situation at the Harvest Co-op Markets, which is also getting a deal of alternate press coverage. The IWW is holding a fundraising benefit on Saturday, 26 April.
- May Day events coming up -- rally on the Common on Thursday, 1 May, Wake Up the Earth festival on Saturday, 3 May.
- Stop the Wars Coalition recently had a visible presence at the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade, and is working on an upcoming regional antiwar organizing conference that will be held at Tufts University on 25-26 April.
- Matt summarized some new developments at the Harvest, which are trending to increasing surveillance and attempts to control the workforce.
- Brattleboro, Vermont local
- International Women's Day action merged with weekly peace vigil, accompanied by letter to Brattleboro Reformer.
- Collecting signatures to urge US legislators to repeal the Hyde Amendment.
- May Day celebration coming up, on the Common, Thursday 1 May.
- Many reports of Vermont primary voters having trouble getting Liberty Union ballots.
- Connecticut
- Todd needs 3000 verified signatures to get on the ballot for US Congress. Focusing on that instead of the less attainable goal of getting 8000 verified signatures to get presidential campaign on ballot. Focus on write-in for presidential campaign.
- SPCT involved with May Day festival in New Haven.
- Signature collecting day -- Saturday, 17 May. Location(s) to be researched and decided.
- Queers Without Borders endorses both Todd Vachon and Moore/Alexander.
- SPCT endorsed Connecticut United for Peace Conference, made $60 selling books.
- Tom Mooney local
- NC meeting report
- Lots of time spent on Wisconsin -- close to some kind of agreement? No final consensus reached. Upcoming Wisconsin state committee meeting in June will be next attempt to reach agreement -- proposal will be presented there.
- Relationship with Peace and Freedom Party -- Jerry and Andrea to talk with P&FP leaders. F&FP planning to expand to other states as well?
- Four issues of The Socialist and two issues of Socialist Women annually. Billie Warton elected as editor of The Socialist.
- Gabe Ross in Pennsylvania expelled.
- Endorsed "Open National Conference to Stop the War in Iraq and Bring the Troops Home Now".
- National Organizing Conference will take place this July in Ann Arbor, MI. Need concrete dates soon.
- Focus on recruitment of women, youth, people of color.
- Also revitalizing states and locals where groups have become inactive or dropped out.
- Discussion of electoral politics and its relation to socialist strategy and organizing. Dichotomy between platform -- working within capitalist society -- and final vision of future socialist society.
- More stuff that is not so internally focused -- how to participate and organize in coalitions and movements.
- Next NC meeting 15-17 August in Seattle, WA.
- Presidential campaign
- Ballot access
- Need twelve electors to get write-in status in MA. Have six that need voter status to be certified by town clerks or elections commissions.
- Fundraising
- Total raised almost $10,000, including over $2500 in the last two weeks. Most already spent, need to keep flow going.
- Campaigning
- Brian Moore may need to get full-time job starting in September, which would cut into campaigning.
- Ballot access
- Antiwar work
- As mentioned above, consider how to participate and organize in coalitions and movements. Also consider how to involve people of color.
- Present more thorough-growing analysis of capitalism and imperialism, going beyond superficial mainstream discussions.
- Discuss at next regional meeting... Vermont in the fall (probably September).
- Later (next spring?) do Northeast Regional Meeting near New York -- New Haven?
- SLAP -- Fair Food campaign
- SLAP = Student Labor Action Project
- The SLAP Student Labor Week of Action is (28 March through 4 April). We should do something to support their campaigns, particularly fair food, but nothing concrete has yet been planned on such short notice.
- Podcast/media presentation tabled since main author couldn't give presentation about it.