Hi xxxxxx,
Thanks for your input!  The majority of members of DSA and the population it appeals to are younger people, for whom the term “comrade” does not have the same negative connotations as it does for those older members who grew up during the "red scare" period.  In fact, it’s seen as a friendly, positive term that enhances solidarity between members and avoids potential issues with gendered language.  However, as a democratic organization, if a member has a problem with specific terminology, they are invited to raise a motion and call for a vote to avoid specific language.  You’re welcome to come to a meeting to make that motion, if you like.  Our next general meeting will be on September 19th in Pittsfield.

As to your second point, individual members of DSA are of course welcome to vote for whomever they choose. However, as a national organization, the will of its members is expressed in a democratic vote.  At this summer’s National Convention a resolution was passed that as an organization we will not endorse any other candidate than Bernie.  This does not prohibit any member from working to ensure that a different candidate beats Trump if Bernie is not the nominee.

Just for a little background on that, DSA is a “big tent” organization, that encompasses members from slightly left of Democrats to hardcore Socialists.  Quite a few of its members feel that engaging in electoral politics at all implicitly ratifies a cruel, imperialist system that will continue to oppress and wage wars on people around the world no matter who is elected, and that the best way to stop that from happening is to spend energy organizing a mass movement of the working class, unions, labor, etc. to overcome the power of corporate capitalism before it makes life on this planet untenable.  In that context, the fact that the organization was able to agree to endorse Bernie, even as their only candidate, was quite a victory for those of its membership who feel that electoral politics is still a viable way to winning power.

Best,
John.


__________________
John Prusinski
Co-Chair, Executive Committee
Berkshires DSA





On Aug 21, 2019, at 1:06 PM, xxxxxx Cooke <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear fellow Democratic Socialists,

I am compelled to comment on a couple of things.

1. Please stop referring to party members as “Comrades.” Taking on the trappings of Soviet era communism is no way to make Democratic Socialism appeal to the general public. If we want to be a viable third party, we must not confuse Democratic Socialism with Communism. Enough people already do that on their own. We should be aiming to make the benefits of Democratic Socialist policies clear to the American public — not acting like communist revolutionaries. 

2. Yes, Bernie is a favorite of mine, but the party should endorse ANY Democratic candidate that is selected to run against Donald Trump. Political purity is a luxury we cannot afford. Bernie supporters who refused to vote for Hillary are paying a price now — along with the rest of us.

OK, that’s it. Carry on with the otherwise good work.

— xxxxxx Cooke




On Aug 20, 2019, at 11:44 AM, Berkshires DSA <[email protected]> wrote:

Wow, great notes, comrade!  Thanks for posting!

(btw, for future reference, Extinction Rebellion goes by the initials “XR”)

John.


__________________
John Prusinski
Co-Chair, Executive Committee
Berkshires DSA





On Aug 20, 2019, at 10:18 AM, Amillie Coster <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Comrades,

A belated email with our meeting minutes from our Thursday monthly meeting on Aug. 15, at J. Allens Grille in Pittsfield.

Dan Raftery, Co-Chair presided over the meeting.

John Prusinski, Co-Chair, shared a short Means TV piece, covering highlights of the 2019 National DSA Convention. Prusinski recommends Means TV and District Sentinel  for news relating to DSA progress.

Raftery shared his highlights after attending the National DSA Convention as our Berkshires DSA delegate.
He ran through some of the resolutions, which we covered (many) in the previous month's meeting. Here's a good DSA reports highlighting the Convention.
Highlights include: 
Resolution 82 on electoral policy
Resolution 15 - if Sanders loses Primary, DSA won't endorse another Democratic candidate
Resolution 33 - Investing in political literacy
Res. 84
Res. 34- Green New Deal - a national staff member will be delegated with creating subcommittees.
Res. 9 - ANTIFA National Working Group formed- combatting white supremacy
Res. 73- Open Border, endorsing abolishment of ICE
Const. 31- nationally elected regional voting committee
Res 3 - Labor strategy- National Labor organizer - will create content
Res. 55- small chapter growth promotion, doubles due shares for first 50 members

Raftery was pleased with not only our small fundraiser but also Boston DSA's funding supporting Raftery representing us in Atlanta, earlier this month.

Prusinski joined strikers at the Kennametal Inc. in Greenfield, MA, where metal workers have been on strike following a large corporation buying Kennametal and cutting back raises, union healthcare, etc. . More here
Paul Mark was present at the strike.

Raftery still wants a Hosuing Working Group
Raftery will be missing  a couple of monthly meetings this fall so that he can participate in a 10-week program that Pittsfield City Council offers to make municipal operation transparent to it's citizens: Citizen's Academy. Raftery will share his notes with us. This is a great opportunity to help us better understand how we can getting into and finesse the local government system.

Amillie still wants to organize a Racial/Immigration Justice Working Group. Has notified NAACP and Multicultural BRIDGE. Standby for meeting date/location.

There's an Adams City Council meeting coming up on the topic of a new affordable housing initiative in the city. I believe it
s tomorrow, Aug 21. Local residents are speaking out against affordable housing (some xenophobia may be at play). This meeting is open to all who can attend to advocate for affordable housing for Adams Community and Berkshire Cty at large.

We discussed either creating more Socializing with Socialist events in the county farther up towards North Adams and Williamstown and down in Great Barrington, etc. as a way to bring access to our chapter to more people. Please contact [email protected] or use Slack to suggest venues and/or host a Socializing with Socialist event.

Comrade Judy Eddy of The Ecosocialist Working Group (led by Prusinkski) in Berkshires DSA has formed a Berkshires Chapter of Extinction Rebellion and presented ER's objective nationally and locally. Many events happened this past weekend that Berkshires DSA promoted locally. Participation in the Global Climate Strike on Sept. 20 is something that ER is preparing for (training, literacy, organizing etc.) Please consider getting involved and joining the strike.

ER and the Ecosocialist Working Group are working on collaborating across municipal governments/towns to design a bottom-up Green New Deal,

Pittsfield City Council debates are at BCC next Monday, Aug 26.

Race Task Force meeting Sept 1 @ 12:30pm
Rank Choice voting meeting is today at the Unitarian Church in Pittsfield

September is Opioid Awareness Month-- this is topical in the area -- stigma is dividing the public -- how do we mitigate?
Harley of Berkshires for Bernie calls for delegates to attend the Sept. 14 Democratic Convention in Springfield, MA to push progressive initiatives and standout for Bernie for at least a coupe of hours in the morning.

DSA voted to not only align with and promote ER Berkshire Chapter initiatives, but also Berkshires for Bernie events. Sun. Aug 25 is the next Berkshires for Bernie meeting.
In Berkshire Bank Community Room. 
Use #myBerniestory hashtag 

Oh- and we want a political revolution. 

There'e the minutes. More like seconds! See you all soon out there! Please spread word about all that you can and reach out on slack or by emailing [email protected] with any questions.

Currently, our Executive Committee is scheduling a meeting with Alex Morse (Holyoke's mayor who intends to run against Rep. Richard Neal) to hear more about Morse's priorities and to share our own objectives. 

If there is anything you want shared on Berkshires DSA social media, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Solidarity!!

Amillie Coster
Communications Coordinator
Berkshires DSA





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