Good Afternoon Comrades!

 

Please read the following updates regarding upcoming elections for the branch steering committee and potential updates to the branch bylaws.

I. Election for Steering Committee - Deadline for Nominations is February 1, 2020.

The entire Montgomery County branch steering committee will be up for election in February. The steering committee currently consists of five at-large voting members. Montgomery County DSA is an all-volunteer organization and the commitment to the steering committee generally consists of a weekly planning meeting (alternating between in-person and video meetings), a monthly branch meeting, and assisting with various DSA campaigns and events of allied organizations. The steering committee oversees the finances of the organization, organizes and develops leadership in the branch, maintains relationships with other organizations, and assists members in organizing events and campaigns in Montgomery County.

If you would like to nominate yourself or another comrade, please send an email to [email protected] by February 1st.
 

Key Dates:       
February 1st - Deadline to send steering nominations to the branch elections committee
February 2nd - Steering candidate statements at Branch Meeting (not to exceed 2 minutes)
February 17th - Ballots for steering sent out via OpaVote (you will receive a secure link via email)

II. Updates to Branch Bylaws - Comments and Proposed Amendments Due January 19, 2020.

Last year, our branch and the Metro DC chapter approved bylaws for the Montgomery County Branch. Those bylaws included a sunset provision that would establish a bylaws committee to review the document after a one year period and offer new bylaws to the branch membership. The bylaws committee tentatively decided to retain the majority of the bylaws with several amendments (links to the original bylaws, the draft changes, and a summary of the proposed changes can be found below). The final proposed bylaws amendments will be released before the February 2nd Branch meeting. The entire branch will vote to ratify or reject the proposed bylaws on the same ballot at the February 17th Steering Committee Election.

The committee welcomes all feedback from branch members as well as any proposed amendments. The bylaws committee will make every effort to respond to all feedback offered and give substantive consideration to all amendments proposed by members. The deadline for comments and amendments will be January 19th. 

Useful Bylaws Links:
The current bylaws can be found at:
bit.ly/mocobylaws2019

The draft proposal of the bylaws committee can be reviewed here:
bit.ly/mocodraftbylaws2020

A summary of the proposed changes can be found here:
bit.ly/mcbylawsummary2020

Please send any questions, comments, or proposed amendments for consideration by the bylaws committee to [email protected].  
 

Solidarity,
Frank Santos Fritz
Chair - Bylaws Committee, Montgomery County Branch

Zach Wiita
Chair - Elections Committee, Montgomery County Branch

Elissa Laitin
Chair - Montgomery County Branch