Omaha DSA – January Meeting

By / January 5, 2017 / Meetings

January 8 at 6 pm at 6112 Bedford, Omaha 68104.

Agenda

  1. Intro – brief introductions
  2. Opportunities for Action:
  3. Items suggested by us: A.Internal Education / Study Group; B. Platform Building; C. Coalition Building; D. Outreach
  4. Outreach: A. create socialist flyers/pamphlets; B. Extending political education – reading groups; trained speakers; conferences; C. DSA Podcast; D. Tabling events / Flyering – at Farmers Market – at UNO E. Parade events
  5. Coalition Building: A. Meet with other organizations; B. Identify and reach out to allies C. Tri-party; D. Radical solidarity
  6. Issues/Actions to focus on: A. Universal Medicare; B. Inauguration protest
  7. Additional Items suggested by us:
  8. Gentrification: A. Repairing properties to keep them up to code; B. Informing landowners on property tax abuses; C. Renter’s education; D. Focus pressure on City Council/mayoral candidates
  9. Nebraska’s collections agencies: A. Putting pressure on State Senators; B. Reach out to Nebraska Appleseed
  10. De-escalating marijuana ciminalization: Push against attorney general.
  11. Transportation: A. Align values with Heath Mello, Heartland 2050, Green Streets; B. Advocate for light rail
  12. Urban Agriculture; A. Resisting Stothert’s push against Urban Ag initiatives; B. Working with Omaha Permaculture and Douglas County Farmer’s Union
  13. Public Education: A. “school choice” and the campaign to bring charter schools to Nebraska
  14. Whiteclay: Upcoming legislative session will have lobby week for taking action on Whiteclay.
  15. Coalition Building: Look up list of 501c4’s to identify friendly organizations
  16. Organizations to Work With: A. Black Lives Matter Omaha  B. La Alianza  C. Farmer’s Unions across the state  D. Nebraskans for Civic Reform  E. Black Men United  F. Heartland Workers Center  G. Islamic-American Relations Council  H. Center for Rural Affairs  I. National Association of Social Workers. J. NAACP  K. NAACP  L. Teamsters  M. Omaha Together One Community
  17. Opportunities to table/have a presence: January 20 event at Milk Run/NEO on Leavenworth. — William Johnson
  18. Support for City Run Public Homeless Shelter


Lincoln Meeting: January 12

By / December 21, 2016 / Meetings

DSA Lincoln Meeting
Thursday, January 12 – 7:30pmThe Commons, 1239 South 14th St (14th & B)
Lincoln, NE
RSVP on Facebook here

At our last meeting, we formed an Organizing Committee – now we’ll be discussing our chapter’s constitution. Agenda forthcoming.

Want to help get the word out? Download this flyer template, make your own copies, and hand them out!

Meeting Agenda

  1. Intro
    1. Intro from Meeting Organizers
    2. Go around the room
  2. Discussion
    1. Review of December meeting
    2. Local Events Update
      1. Indivisible Lincoln Lunch – Jan. 14, noon, The Commons
      2. State CC meeting Jan 14 in Omaha
      3. Black Cat House 1601 B St theblackcathouse.org – Online Privacy Workshop: Monday, Jan 16: 7-9pm
      4. Lancaster County Democratic Central Committee Meetings
        Tue, January 17, 7pm – 9pm
        830 L Street, Suite 101
        Show up for 3, and you can vote!
      5. City Elections
        1. Candidate Filing Deadline: March 1
        2. Primary: April 4
        3. General: May 2
      6. What else?
    3. Legislative update
      1. Use the Unicam’s site at http://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills to search for bills.
      2. Let’s start showing up to testify at committee hearings
      3. LB75 – Provide for restoration of voting rights upon completion of a felony sentence or probation for a felony
      4. LB25 – Change provisions for presidential electors
      5. LR1CA – Constitutional amendment to require voter identification
      6. LB173 – Prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity
  3. Chapter Update
    1. Review chapter constitution draft
    2. Promoting DSA
      1. Button machines are $170 on ebay
      2. Looking for volunteers to help with legislative tracking, website mgmt, and graphic design.
      3. DSA national art
  4. J20: What are we gonna do?
  5. Next Time
    1. Set next meeting date and time
    2. Let’s plan a fun thing, too. Drinks? Game night? Potluck?
    3. Write down the name of who you’re bringing to the next DSA Lincoln meeting here:____________________________________
    4. Federal: call your congress critters and say “Hands off my SS/medicare/ACA”
      1. Representative Jeff Fortenberry: 202-225-4806
      2. Senator Deb Fischer: 202-224-6551
      3. Senator Ben Sasse (afrass): 202 224-4224
    5. Review the draft constitution at https://dsanebraska.org/about/constitution-lincoln-chapter/
      If you have changes, write them down, bring them to our next meeting.

Minutes

The meeting began around 7:35 pm. Meeting organizers introduced themselves, then meeting attendees briefly introduced themselves and talked about why they were at the meeting.

The December 18 meeting was reviewed, and upcoming local events on the meeting agenda were announced. Meeting attendees also brought up other events:

  • an event at the Bay at 20th & Y st on January 28
  • The Women’s March in Lincoln at 2 pm, January 21
  • An MLK Rally January 14
  • Inauguration Day protests in Omaha

Newly introduced bills in state legislature were discussed as listed on the agenda. Additional legislative issues discussed included:

The group reviewed a proposed draft constitution. Print copies were distributed to meeting attendees. There was a consensus to delay voting until there had been ample time for input from member.s The draft is available online at https://dsanebraska.org/about/constitution-lincoln-chapter/.

Other DSA members volunteered to help with graphic design and printing, and two meeting attendees volunteered to run the next DSA Lincoln meeting.

The next DSA meeting was set for February 12 at 2pm at the Commons. A DSA Happy Hour was tentatively set for Jan. 20 at the Cottonwood, pending approval from Cottonwood owners.


Omaha 1st Meeting

By / December 4, 2016 / Meetings

Meeting Agenda

1. Intro
A. Meeting organizer intros.
B. DSA – history and structure and Dem Socialism Vision
C. Intros – around the room

2. What local issues need action?

3. The organizing committee and chapter. – putting Omaha DSA on the map
A. Organizing committee – 6 dues paying members – how we organize is up to us
B. Chapter – 15 dues paying members needed – again, our organization is up to us

4. Our next actions
A. What actions can we be involved in – as a group
B. What can we do – as individuals

5. Next meeting time and location?


DSA Lincoln: Second Meeting!

By / November 28, 2016 / Meetings

DSA Lincoln Meeting
Sunday, December 18 – 2pm
The Commons 1239 South 14th, Lincoln

Meeting Agenda

Download PDF

  1. Intro
    1. Intro from Meeting Organizers
    2. Go around the room
    3. Socialist School
  2. Discussion
    1. Summary of last meeting’s discussion
    2. Committees and Structure:
      1. Committee could include
        1. Membership, Outreach and Recruitment
        2. Website / Social Media
        3. Direct Action Group
        4. Issues Working Group (i.e. Feminism, Anti-Racism, Queer/Trans, Immigrant Issues, Economic Justice)
        5. Issue Framing / Communications
        6. Reading/Discussion/Movie group
        7. Leadership committe
        8. What other commitee ideas do we have?
    3. Local Update
      1. Proposed City Budget Charter
        1. The “Ratchet” effect
        2. City Council Hearing, Monday, 5:30 pm: Let’s show up
      2. City Council Candidates
        1. Bennie Shobe
        2. Lou Braatz
  3. Forming a Local Chapter
    1. Requirements from dsausa.org/constitution Article III: Local
      1. Written statement of agreement with the principles and policies of the organization
      2. a description of the geographic area to be served by the Local
      3. a proposed Constitution for the Local
      4. Signatures of 15 dues-paying members of national org
    1. This is too much to do today. So, we’ll form an Organizing Committee
      1. Need 5 dues-paying members to sign off
      2. Sign and send to Maria right there at the meeting
      3. OC members will help execute requirements in item III-A
      4. Schedule meeting for OC to do this.
      5. OC members welcome to join conf call with DSA Nat’l Mon, Jan 9 @ 7pm
  4. Next Time
    1. Set next meeting date and time
    2. Direct Action TODOs:
      1. Go to dsausa.org/calendar, RSVP for a call
      2. Become a dues-paying member at dsausa.org/join
      3. Testify at City Council Budget Hearing, Monday, 5:30pm
      4. Help Keep the Commons open! GoFundMe/Cash donations



First Meeting in Lincoln – Nov. 27

By / November 23, 2016 / Meetings

Thrilled to announce the first meeting of DSA Lincoln!

DSA Lincoln Meet & Greet & Organize
Sunday, November 27 2pm
The Commons 1239 South 14th St, Lincoln

RSVP on Facebook here

Meeting Agenda

  1. Intro
    1. Who Are These People (Meeting Organizers)
    2. Brief History of DSA – What it is, How it’s Organized
      1. Democracy at all levels
      2. Everything Is Intersectional
      3. Diversity at all levels
    3. The ABCs of Democratic Socialism
    4. Go around the room – ask guests who they are, why they’re here, what they want to do
  2. Discussion Time
    1. What state and Local Issues matter?
    2. What issues do we want to work on?
    3. What’s in the DNC Platform you like? Don’t like?
  3. Short Term Goals
    1. Forming an Organizing Committee
      1. Need five paying members to form Organizing Committee (OC)
      2. Fill out form in back of Organizing Guide PDF and send to National Org.
    2. Forming a Local Chapter
      1. We need 15 dues-paying members for a Local Chapter
      2. Chapters are autonomous and democratic. How they are organized is up to us.
      3. Officers? Leadership Committee?
      4. What other Committees do we want? Membership & Outreach, Tech/Communication/Design, Direct Action Group, Study Group, Issue Working Group (i.e. Feminism, Anti-Racism, Queer/Trans, Immigrant Issues, Economic Justice)
    3. Identify Local Allies
    4. Recruit, Recruit, Recruit!
  4. Next Time
    1. What meeting place and times work?
    2. Your Goal: Bring 3 people to the next meeting!
    3. Call to Action: What YOU can do
    4. Call Your Reps
    5. Write a letter

Minutes

The meeting began at 2pm. Meeting organizers introduced themselves as volunteer organizers with DSA.

A brief history of DSA was provided, including its structure nationally and locally. Then the basic tenets of Democratic Socialism followed. Both lessons are available on the website dsanebraska.org/about

All meeting attendees were given the chance to introduce themselves and talk about why they were at the meeting and what made them want to become politically active, and what was important to them.

Notes from this discussion include:

  • Becoming a more active citizen
  • Labor movement
  • Having a greater voice in modern politics
  • Anti-racism
  • Need strong movement against systemic problems
  • Making local politics more progressive
  • Concern over undue influence of money in politics
  • Collectivism
  • Child education & welfare

A summary of the issues discussed at the 2016 Nebraska Democratic Convention platform writing process followed, including:

  • Alcohol sales at Whiteclay
  • Saving Medicaid
  • Mental healthcare issues, especially for Vets
  • Affordable Healthcare
  • Solar Roadways
  • Living Wage
  • Opposition to Gerrymandering
  • Opposition to the Death penalty
  • LGBTQ rights
  • Protecting Natural Resources
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Addressing increasing income inequality
  • Addressing Property tax corruption
  • Abolishing the super delegates system in the Democratic Primary
  • Universal public pre-K education
  • Abolishing the Electoral College

 

The group then discussed potential objectives for local actions, including:

  • Affordable housing / opposing gentrification
  • Natural Resources and the environment, including renewable energy and the impact of the chicken processing plant proposed by Costco in Nebraska
  • Anti-fascism
  • The projected $1 billion state budget shortfall for 2017-2018 and Governor Ricketts proposing tax cuts
  • Bathroom access for trans people
  • Electoral reform, including addressing gerrymandering, ranked choice voting, electoral college reform
  • Connecting to workers and unions
  • Living wage

Creating an Issues Framing committee was proposed. This committee would help create narratives and talking points to help members talk about issues and help educate the public. Specifically on policies and concepts that may be familiar by name but not by concept to people, such as Democratic Socialism and Tax Increment Financing.

The process of forming a local DSA Chapter in Lincoln was discussed. A local chapter needs 15 dues-paying member, and their organization is up to the local chapter. There was a consensus to postpone setting group structure and leadership until later meetings, assuming more people would attend future meetings and should have a say in the make-up of a Lincoln chapter.

An upcoming public meeting on December 2 was discussed. The public meeting was a discussion of the candidates for Lancaster County Director of Corrections.

The next meeting was set for December 18 at the same location, the Commons at 14th & B. Meeting attendees were encouraged to invite other people to the next meeting.