Update from the Young Democratic Socialists
August 25th, 2006
In this YDS EMAIL UPDATE you will find:
1) GREETINGS FROM NEW YDS ORGANIZER
2) BACK-TO-SCHOOL ORGANIZING KICKS IN!
3) NEW YDS COORDINATING COMMITTEE
4) CHOMSKY, EHRENREICH, SPIVAK @ YDS CONF!
5) ARE WE SAFE YET? ANTI-BUSH POSTER
6) FALL YDS INTERNSHIPS ON-LINE
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1) GREETINGS FROM NEW YDS ORGANIZER
Hi, I'm David Duhalde and I am YDS' new National Organizer.
I am back home in New York City where I first build my relationship with DSA, the labor movement, and all struggles against oppression. I was raised in a socialist household and was a leading activist at Bronx High School of Science. I attended Bowdoin College in Maine where I was the lead YDS chapter organizer and became a member of the national leadership my Sophomore year. I have worked in many progressive causes before becoming YDS National Organizer such as the AFL-CIO Union Summer program, a canvasser for America Coming Together during the 2004 election, and an internship at the Hong Kong based China Labour Bulletin.
I look forward to building the Young Democratic Socialists and a stronger movement for social justice with all of you across the country. Feel free to contact me anytime and anywhere! You can reach me at: david@dsausa.org or at 212-727-8610 ext. 4
2) BACK-TO-SCHOOL ORGANIZING KICKS IN!
It's always important with student activism to take advantage of the energy and excitement of the new fall semester. This is the most critical time to build YDS on your campus and attract new activists to your group. What follows is a check list of items to ensure you start off on the right foot:
CONTACT INFO: Make sure you have the campus contact information (including email and telephone) for everyone in your group. Please send us this contact info so we can keep our records up to date, and can follow up with folks about our upcoming activities. Make sure to bring email sign-up sheets when tabling on campus and at your meetings and teach-ins.
ORGANIZING PLAN: If you are involved in a YDS chapter, organizing committee, please draft an overview of how your group is doing, what you've accomplished, any problems you might have run into, what you hope to do this fall semester, and how national YDS can support your efforts. Contact the YDS National Organizer (david@dsausa.org) if you are interested in starting a new YDS group at your high school, college, university or community.
As always, please contact our national office if you would like us to mail you or your group organizing materials in the mail or as email attachments (YDS chapter guides, buttons, literature, stickers, sample meeting fliers etc.). These are very useful when setting up a table at important events like your campus activities fair.
Contact us for help organizing teach-ins, trainings, or visits from YDS organizers to strengthen existing chapters and help new ones get off the ground. We can also put you in touch with democratic socialist faculty members on campuses across the country. YDS can be reached at: yds@dsausa.org or 212-727-8610
3) WELCOME TO NEW YDS COORDINATING COMMITTEE
This past August 11-13 in New York City, YDS leaders and activists came together for our annual National Conference. Click the following link for the contact information of our newly elected Coordinating Committee: www.ydsusa.org/contact.html
Stay tuned for more info on the immigrant rights campaign we committed to prioritizing at the conference, in addition to our continued work for social and economic justice.
4) CHOMSKY, EHRENREICH, SPIVAK AT NEXT YDS CONFERENCE!
It's not for several months from now, but we're already excited about the upcoming YDS winter outreach conference occurring next Feb. 16-18th in New York City.
You'll be hearing more details here as we the semester develops... but we already have a stellar line-up of leftist speakers joining us, including: Noam Chomsky, Barbara Ehrenreich, and Gayatri Spivak!
Here's the latest from Barbara Ehrenreich's blog (she is an Honorary Chair of the Democratic Socialists of America): Wal-Mart Licks Its Wounds: http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/barbaras_blog
5) ARE WE SAFE YET? ANTI-BUSH POSTER
Where Bush's Arrogance Has Taken Us:
An illegal war, a long list of eroded rights, and a country run by and for the benefit of corporate campaign donors -- all courtesy of the imperial presidency.
ARTICLE: www.alternet.org/story/40678 POSTER: www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/833
6) FALL YDS INTERNSHIPS ON-LINE
Get school credit! Intern from home or at our NYC national office!
Click here for information about positions available in our ongoing internship program: www.ydsusa.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/YDS%20internships.pdf
or view postings on our Idealist site by searching for "Young Democratic Socialists" here: www.idealist.org
We´re looking for graphic/web designers, grassroots organizers, event planners, researchers, fundraisers, office support, writers/editors, and more!
Young Democratic Socialists
c/o DSA 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 505
New York, NY, 10038
office: (212) 727-8610
fax: (212) 608-6955
yds@dsausa.org
www.ydsusa.org
JOIN YDS!
It's easy, it's cheap, and it connects you with other democratic socialist activists around the country. Click here to read more about why you should consider joining: www.ydsusa.org/getinvolved.html
SPAM/JUNK MAIL REMINDER:
To make sure that our updates are not erroneously transferred into a junk mail folder by your anti-spam program, you should add the following email to your address book or approved contact list: yds@dsausa.org
GOT NEW CONTACT INFO?
Using a new email account? Got a new mailing address? Have a new phone number? Send us your latest contact info. and we'll keep you in the loop.
WANT TO JOIN THE YDS DISCUSSION LISTSERV?
Debate, strategize, and get your learn on with young democratic socialists around the country. Click here for instructions: http://lists.topica.com/lists/yds-discuss/
KNOW OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES?
Send in the email addresses of YDSers and sympathetic contacts on your campus or in your community and we'll add them to our weekly blast.