July 23rd, 2025 – Steering Committee Meeting

Agenda

• Called to order at 6:16
• Anthony makes sure we know what we want to order
• Envisioning victory:
  • We have a successful term. What are we feeling, seeing, and hearing?
    • Feeling: Grateful, fulfilled, happy, we all still like each other, relieved, accomplished, “haha,” proud
    • Seeing & hearing: Folks come to us when they want to accomplish something, others feel happy and learned something, “I’m so glad I joined DSA when I did,” over 100 people at local convention, packed room at local convention, people ready and willing to make material change, folks willing to get involved, assembly democrats are mad because our members got elected, active organizers in spaces they want to organize in, people excited about how to engage in DSA.
  • Some challenges we may face that will prevent us from getting there.
    • Distributing work. Relying on the body. Not taking on too much work
    • Not building next generation of leaders. Get people to have stake in the chapter. Being too timid.
    • Communication between the SC. Not on same page. Afraid to dissent.
    • Limited chapter capacity.
    • New leaders. Learning curve.
    • Weak democratic structures in the chapter.
    • Communication with the member body / community.Mobilizing w/o organizing.
    • Tyranny of the group. We are being led rather than leading. Setting expectations for the body. (e.g. community defense). Also giving into partner orgs.
    • Failing to interconnect campaigns and formations.
    • Burnout.
  • What are we going to commit to so we can overcome our challenges
    • Jaden: I commit to open communication with the body. Soliciting advice. Being open to feedback.  Giving it a try.
    • Tiffany: I commit to supporting our new leaders. Make space comfortable to express dissent.
    • Shaun: I commit to communicating clearly and consistently. Reaching out to members directly. Shaun does NOT have a bit prepared.
    • Anthony: I commit to giving my all to the democratically elected priorities of the chapter, even if I disagree with it.
    • Joseph: I commit to giving the effort that the work deserves. More than a hobby.
    • Casey: I commit to communicating more directly. Not procrastinating.
    • Lorenzita: I commit to being a responsive, communicative leader. Identifying and supporting future chapter leaders.
    • Noah: I commit to taking charge of political education coordination. Planning events.
  • As LVDSA Steering Committee, we commit to putting in the effort to communicate openly with each other and other members and developing leaders, so that we can make our membership feel excited and empowered to organize and have a sense of responsibility and investment in the chapter.
    • Tiffany will send an email to the chapter about this commitment.
• How we will communicate with each other.
  • check into slack once a day. Read and catch up with the steering committee channel, or let people know when you won’t be able to. Acknowledge or respond to messages. Say in message if a response is required.
  • Prefer to make decisions in meetings. Emergency/time-sensitive decisions can be made on slack.
  • Problem: debate and discussion is difficult on slack
    • Solutions: Notice that needs to be acknowledged. Chairs determine emergency votes, will try to get everyone on a call. An SC member must affirmatively opt out (say go ahead without me).
• Regular zoom meetings, occasional in-person meetings (every other month or quarterly)
  • Every other week. Monday evenings 7-8pm.
    • Wednesday backup.
• Tiffany & Shaun will be gone in early  August for national convention.
• Leadership meeting with Tom, field organizer. Monday, August 18th at 6pm. Tiffany to send calendar invites.
• Casey L. is acting secretary, but can’t be listed on business license as two roles. Jaden and Anthony volunteer.
  • Tiffany can also be secretary since there’s only one chair spot.
• Western district calls are once a month. What other chapters are up to, toolkits and stuff, and a leadership building/roleplay exercise.
  • Third thursday of the month. Evenings.
  • Meeting minutes will be available.
• Campaign steward nominations
  • One-week nomination period.
  • Tiffany asking timeline to open nominations for labor. Anthony thinks we won’t get any.
  • Send out a form.
• GBM will be sunday afternoon in person. Action item: look at local libraries and book 2 hours. Report at next SC meeting.
• Merch orders need to be fulfilled. That’s Casey’s responsibility.
• Coalition stuff
  • Paul Catha w/ Culinary Union wants to meet with us
  • Communities(?) United is tapering off. Need a new SEIU contact.
• Palestine Solidarity WG. What are we doing with that?
  • Bring it up at GBM. Open nominations.
  • Dianne?
• Adjourned at 7:41