elaine
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USSF Report back on Workshop
Jul 16th
USSF in Detroit, June, 2010, MDS members
Today, Bastille Day, a revolutionary day in France, a day to remember the rising of the people, and the opening of the political prison, and the fall of the royalists. May that day come again, soon in our time, that the multitudes arise, and the political prisoners in our country and world wide are freed and democracy prevails over the oligarchs and monopolists, masters of war and makers of the big guns. It is our mission. The end of the system of war and creation of a culture of peace and non-violence for the children of the world, “..a society free from poverty ignorance, war, exploitation, racism and sexism…” as it says on our membership card.
The United States Social Forum in Detroit, June 22-26 was indeed a surge of energy in that mission. A thousand workshops, 50 peoples assemblies, 5 plenarys, art and culture, day and night. thousands of people. Inspiring diversity. Their web, ussf2010.org will give a comprehensive report.
The forum was exhilarating and exhausting, and with the 4th of July close on its heals, parading and reflecting on our right to rebel, and its celebration, and then real life and other urgencies and agonies intervening, time has flown. What i hoped would be a more immediate report has waited to now, on the 14th of July, and summoning that revolutionary resonance, it is due time to push “send”.
i hope you will find it useful and sufficient to prompt your “active participation” in the movement for a democratic society.
Before our Movement for a Democratic Society workshop, i attended two others that were very relevant, one on local organization form, and one on statewide common program.
Wednesday morning, i attended a workshop of the “arc109″ community in Chicago, “re-imagining the movement,” Hearing how a well developed, consciously learning from experience, local political group operates, was encouraging. The are models from which to learn, what works at the local level, how networks of relationship can draw people from many diverse questions to think and act together, different approaches the “the national questions”, unity and diversity. Chapter building is on the agenda in every place where we are, so this was a good start for the forum.
On Wednesday afternoon, there was a “people’s movement assembly” inviting all peace and justice activists from Michigan. Many came. We developed a statewide plan of “mobilizing Michigan’s millions,” presuming a much deeper discontent than has expressed itself, promoting a statewide march. “a moveable peace: creating the commons,” from the war system to the peace system. This was seen as a model appropriate for other states, as part of a national mobilization, in 3 time stages, this 4th of july to the next, 2011, next summer july 4 to labor day, 2011, , and labor day 2011 to election day 2012, a long campaign, creating, nurturing, linking in every community a “commons place” for considering a common “peace and justice program,” for dramatic presentation to governor, legislature and world media public.
The social forum, as those who were there can testify, hosted a beyond-abundance of excellence. On Thursday afternoon, when our workshop and organization meeting was scheduled, so also was scheduled, the SDS campus workshop, Organization for a Free Society workshop, Iranian workshop, the anti-war people’s movement assembly with Labor Against the War and Military Families Speak Out, the education people’s movement assembly, War Resisters League and Courage to Resist, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and Midnight Notes, for instance, in all of which we had friends indicating wish to come. except….
So the mds workshop attracted those who picked us out of the hundred and more alternative beacons, and had no other prior commitment.
We promised to deal with organization: “What forms of political (and other) association are adequate for our needs in these times.” i printed a thousand leaflets and was able to distribute nearly 500. The mds outreach statement was on one side, with improved graphics, strengthening the fist and making the heart fuller, and, on the other side, the workshop outline was printed, as proposed to the social forum for participation.
Of course, nothing went according to outline. An extreme tornado laden storm closed the East Coast air-lanes and Devra Morice, who would have facilitated the discussion and agenda, could not attend, and she had the multiple copies of the constitution that we were to discuss. No plane or train out of New York at the critical time. She was also slated to deliver a “not quite a chapter report,” So the order of the day was improvise.
We did well enough in attendance to have a great discussion, (more than a minyan) with presence from Kansas City, Denver, Berkeley, San Diego, Houston, Austin, Atlanta, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Montpellier in France, and with connections in Russia, and in Iraq, and regrets from an Iranian who was interested but otherwise obligated. We also had a beautiful span of generations. One, beside me, from the first generation of sds, long working in an Atlanta radio station, came with his grand daughter, a dynamo of a student at a school in Wisconsin.
The elder was a retired minister, older than me. He began, in our go around, with a challenge, propelled by 25 years of frustration: are we really trying to organize a third force in American politics, are we serious about contending with power? challenging the Democrats and Republicans monopoly in politics. He had worked with the greens and was dissatisfied. Can we take on the corporations? bring down the oligarchs? He seemed satisfied, as the discussion progressed, that we were doing what others weren’t and were dealing with the right questions, corporate control of globalization, climate change, environment, re-localization, inter-organization relations, etc, to be relevant in Kansas City. Life long commitments and being inspired by what the old sds envisioned were also on our plus side.
One from the old sds put forth a 3 fold perspective, emphasizing the direct democratic possibility of new communications, the need to challenge the banking system monopoly control of the privatized money system which accepts usury as usual, and the global population growth that looms over all programs we consider.
A self described, “non-representative youth” among us was totally angry about more than he could say in 4 points, British Petroleum, the bank bail out, war rip-off and Katrina policy and 9/11, for starters, and impatient with non-violence, peace and harmony. Anger was a motivator to get off your ass and do something, The system was so corrupted, it should all come down and people start over.
As to how, Bob Meola conveyed an exposition of non-violence, as a means and social goal, like democracy, “in all areas of our common life.” He had also spoken at the War Resisters League workshop, meeting at the same time as ours. This statement is attached below.
A man from Cleveland worked on foreclosures, evictions, help for the uninsured and poor people’s economics. It reminded me of the Cleveland erap project (sds economic research and action project) and that the abolition of poverty is still the bottom line. Help is needed in Cleveland. (Afterwards, back in Ann Arbor i chanced to meet 4 young people visiting from Cleveland, not “political” at all, knowing nothing of the social forum, and hearing what went on and the ideal of mds and peace and justice, were quick and happy to join. Maybe help is at hand.)
We got a report on the local and wider struggle for democracy in the Service Employees International Union, and some reflections on the limitations and frustrations of “the union” as an instrument of the working class, and yet, that what there is, operating in a legally restrained collective bargaining model, and with no labor or workers party or independent political association, in America, or internationally, which is what we need, and again is our mission.
An interesting discussion ensued following the question of our aspiring to be a global network/organization/association and our presumption of democracy and democratic secular state forms. Traditional, tribal, clan based and religious rooted societies don’t operate in that model and yet can operate very well, and fairly, along traditional lines of conflict resolution and decision making, The old ways are not always fair, but also not inherently the enemy of fair. The strong indigenous people presence at the social forum gave voice to those usually silenced by the hegemony and occupation of empire.
When we got to our actual preamble and constitutional document, 2 recurrent questions again were raised.
1. It says we are “people on the left.” Do we want to say we are only the left, and not drawing from the right or the vast many who do not live at all in that left-right political paradigm of dualism? Neither left nor right, but forward? new paradigm? “progressive” has its problems too.
2. Do we really want the exclusionist clause: “apologists” for dictators are not welcome? What makes one an “apologists”, rather than a realist. dealing with what is? Are we not friends of Cuba, Venezuela, Palestine, in its various factions, none of which are exactly “democratic.” Is it not better to have discussion and critique of each situation in its own terms, and not presume some universal test or semantic purity.
All present endured a full reading of the constitution, transfixed by its riveting rhetoric and ingenious combinations of best practices.
Consensus agreed that we had still too few members to conduct formal organization business and elections. All present were invited to join the movement for a democratic society, and to join the organizing committee.
Membership cards had been printed, in an iww union shop, and 1000 cards were brought to the social forum, and distributed to the organizing team.
$1 to join, a symbolic amount of money, pledging a lifetime of commitment.
[Periodic dues were not set. Contributions are welcome. The mds web site has a "join" and "pay money" button. www.movementforademocraticsociety.org, or membership requests and joining dues and money can be sent to: "mds, p.o.box 7213, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107. ]
Our basic “adequate to meet our needs” organization structure establishes working groups or “secretariats” with collective leadership in 5 areas: on membership, actions, education, inter-organization relations, and media, with “chapters” of 5 or more members, either local geographical chapters , and non-local or multi-local project oriented or affinity chapters. and a “council of representatives.” and a “convention.” Association and liaison with other, allied organizations and groups is part of the form and function.
No quorum was set to call or conduct a convention. Informally, it was “nodded to” that maybe when half or a quarter of the cards are signed up, we’ll have enough going for a proper convention. Until then we will continue to operate as an open organizing collective/team/group/committee.
On the “education” part, we had intended, in our formal agenda, to discuss a paper from “Cloudy” beginning a telling of the political story “from the old sds to the new mds.” This draft paper is also included as an attachment. It can be considered the beginning of our “internal education” program, inviting comments, for amplification, clarification, refinement, editing, etc, for possible release as an “external education” document.
A student spoke, far clearer than my generation did at her age, on the experience of the undemocratic university and the demand/insistence for change, “You can’t foster democracy out of tyranny,” as she sucinctly put it. She later went off to another workshop on creating the democratic university and came back before we were over to report on the meeting, which began planning October education focused actions. .
I spoke of the “campaign for the commons” in Ann Arbor and our local organization model of a Town Meeting, and cooperation across multiple organization loyalties. I also reported on the cross-silo model i heard in the ‘arc workshop,” and the Michigan state-wide strategy, within a national mobilization focused on 2012, and intending to create a “commons-based” independent political presence.
I also offered a report from the 50th anniversary Reunion of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, on what happened in Raleigh, the follow up “legacy project” to collect copies of all the documents and recollections of the sncc activity, an association of “children of sncc” being in touch with each other and stimulated one another’s creativity and activism, and the young people’s project, based in high schools, leading a campaign for a constitution amendment to guarantee the right to quality public education for everyone in America, as a federal responsibility, challenging existing “sharecropper education” and the school-to-prison beltway. The activist continuations group following the sncc reunion, provisionally called the “non-violent political coordinating committee, set out an organizing plan to link progressive activists, provide an activist training facility, scholarly committee to help think though difficult questions, and a legal aid team. Unfortunately, others from ex-sncc who had intended to come, could not come, variously for reasons of health, finances and local urgencies. The draft discussion outline of this perspective is attached.
The workshop meeting ended in good cheer and warmth to one another, some joining and some waitings-to-see. For the organizers there was satisfaction that we had gotten through it, and were ready for next steps. We got a nice photo of organizers by our poster. see below
Later in the forum i participated in a workshop on “Creating a nuclear weapons free zone in the middle east” and Israel/Palestine Peace.
Odile Hugonot Haber and I also directed a workshop on “the peace table” and a citizen initiative for a “cease fire! and come to the table to talk” world peace meeting, which we call the “megiddo peace project,” a global/local art for peace action, transforming armageddon.
There is more to tell of the forum. This is enough.
In our 4th of July parade in Ann Arbor, Michigan, i marched with the Gray Panthers, We put out a leaflet, “1,2,3, for democracy,”
promoting organizing campaigns for “medicare for all,” “challenging corporate power” via constitutional amendment, and creating an “Ann Arbor Community Commons,” downtown, for everyone. We distributed a thousand leaflets, none were left, to the outstretched arms of an eager general public. There was a lot of affirmation to one or another, or all of the 3 points. i saw a ready public; not many said “no” to what we offered.
Now is a ready time. Illusion of system competence and compassion is shattered in the experience of Katrina and banking rip off and British Petroleum.
pollution. Eyes are open, The emperor is naked. People are seeking. Now is a time when decisive, determinative change is possible. The inclusive political union of a movement for democratic society is but a decision away.
i invite others who were at the workshop to add your comments, and whoever sees this report, to respond. Say what you have been doing and join the movement building process this workshop advanced. mds-organizers has a google group to discuss planning, conference calls, follow-up activities.
thank you for reading this.
alan haber
JOIN US! — MDS TO HOST WORKSHOP-MEETING AT THE US SOCIAL FORUM
Jun 18th
![mds-symbol[1]](http://freenadler4.com/mds/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mds-symbol1-297x300.jpg "mds-symbol[1]")
On June 24th, 2010, Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS) and the MDS Organizing Committee will host a workshop-meeting at the United States Social Forum in Detroit. MDS is taking the social forum as an opportunity to present our work, our Constitution, and the organizing model we have developed. This is a critical time for movement mobilization. The workshop and meeting we are presenting is an effort to advance this mobilization.
At this time, we’d like to invite all activists, friends, likeminded allies and the curious to attend, as we, in common struggle and solidarity, work to build a genuinely liberatory, directly democratic movement and society.
What is Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS)?
Movement for a Democratic Society is a global association of people on the left. It seeks to create a sustained community of educational and political concern and actions: one bringing together liberals and radicals, activists and scholars, students, faculty and workers in all trades. It maintains a vision of a democratic society, where at all levels the people have control of the decisions which affect them and the resources on which they are dependent. It seeks a relevance through the continual focus on realities and on the programs necessary to effect change at the most basic levels of economic, political, and social organization. It feels the urgency to put forth a radical, democratic program counter-posed to authoritarian movements.
Why should I attend the MDS WORKSHOP-MEETING at the USSF in Detroit on June 24th?
The workshop is entitled, “Organization: what are the best structures
for political (and more) association, adequate for our needs in these times?””
As people on the left, we speak of the need for better movement organization, more effective focus, sharper actions, wider reach, participatory democracy, bottom-up process, horizontal connections, and greater transparency. In 2009, an organizing committee for Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS) undertook the drafting of a Constitution, to describe the working form of such an organization and to incorporate the best practices we have learned.
On July 4, 2009, our proposed Constitution was released to the MDS member body for input and analysis. On October 11, 2009, it was voted upon and adopted in a multi-city membership conference call. At the Detroit workshop, we will present this document for review, discussion, and to elicit proposals for improvement, and implementation.
MDS has a rich history and legacy. Current members are moving forward based on that legacy, the strength of the organization, an openness to new, more cooperative ways of working together, a unique, multi-tendency approach, and a desire to see that approach continue.
Discussion will center around the importance of multi-generational organizing, working with allied groups, inter-organizational cooperation, non-hierarchical structuring, a commitment to direct action, sustaining a multi-issue approach, building a network of local chapters, a “one struggle, many fronts” orientation, and developing an international reach.
Topics include but are not limited to:
** A historical review: “How SDS became MDS”. What has MDS been doing on a local and national level?
** A mission statement: What are our needs?
** The international view. How do we tie into global networks and structures?
** Understanding and fully utilizing new modes of communication
** Cooperation and competition among organizations .
** Common actions based on shared values and issues
Following this presentation and discussion, members of MDS will hold a membership meeting at approximately 3:00 PM, to reflect on the workshop and conduct organizational business – putting into practice the principles we discussed.
Join Us!
Thursday, June 24 – 1:00-5:30 PM.
Room 02-35 Cobo Hall, 1 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI
We want the World, and we want it Now!
EPIC: Coalition Petitions Homeland Security to Suspend Airport Body Scanners
Apr 29th
Coalition Petitions Homeland Security to Suspend Airport Body Scanners
EPIC and a broad coalition of organizations sent a formal petition to the Department of Homeland Security to demand that the agency suspend the airport body scanner program. The petition states that the “uniquely intrusive search” is unreasonable and violates the Constitution. The petition further states the program fails to comply with several federal laws, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act , the Privacy Act of 1974, and the Administrative Procedures Act. The petitioners also argue that the machines are ineffective and that there are better, less costly security technology. The petitioners contend that the TSA has routinely misled the pubic about the ability of the devices to store and transmit detailed images of travelers’ naked bodies. In a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, EPIC has already obtained technical documents, vendor contracts, and hundreds of traveler complaints. EPIC is seeking additional documents. For more information, see EPIC: http://epic.org/2010/04/coalition-petition-homeland-se.html
ALSO SEE PETITION AT: http://epic.org/privacy/airtravel/backscatter/petition_042110.pdf
JOIN MDS AT THE UPCOMING SOCIAL FORUM!
Mar 29th
The USSF will take place June 22-26, 2010 at Cobo Hall and Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. The USSF will convene social movements from across the United States and globally. http://www.ussf2010.org/
Come join MDS members in their workshop to be announced! Check back here.
The Social Forum is the best place to network with the movement on the “left” and get to meet new like-minded people from across the Country and around the World!
Register at the link above, and watch for our workshop and join MDS.
Report Back from Haiti
Feb 6th
See blog at: http://elaine.worldcantwait.net
check us out on facebook at: Sustainable Orphanages for Haitian Youth
Watch video of the streets of Port au Prince:
Grassroots International works to create a just and sustainable world by building alliances with progressive movements.
Haitian Platform to Advocate Alternative Development (PAPDA)
The Haitian Platform to Advocate Alternative Development (PAPDA) is a coalition of nine Haitian popular and non-governmental organizations which work with the Haitian popular movement to develop alternatives to the neo-liberal model of economic globalization. When the Haitian government moved to privatize certain industries, PAPDA worked with the unions and the business community to create strategies that would improve production and minimize cost without privatization. The coalition has worked with the agricultural sector to devise ways of producing and selling indigenous Haitian crops and protecting Haitian farmers from cheap imported grains.
SAY NO TO VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCHES!
Jan 13th
ALL:
We’ve all heard alot of talk lately about “heightening security” at the airports. Well just want to say the members of Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS-SI-NYC) in coalition with other outraged activists, both locally and nationally, aren’t having it.
SIGN OUR PETITION FIRST AT: Say NO To Virtual Strip Searches, at http://www.rallycongress.com/2/2759/
WE ARE PLANNING PROTESTS AT LOCAL AIRPORTS. AND WITH YOUR HELP, ON A NATIONAL BASIS.
The use of full body scanners is as invasive to our privacy as it is degrading to our dignity. Targeting “terrorist prone counties” amounts to nothing less than racial profiling. We aren’t moved by pleas for increased security from “terrorists”.
We can’t be convinced that even more abuses to our privacy rights are needed for anyones safety. We won’t be bullied by government or media hysteria — No matter how ratcheted up the fearmongering gets or how overheated the propaganda becomes.
We plan to make our voices heard, and we’d like you to join in this campaign if you agree. The government violates privacy rights and makes people jump through hoops enough under the pretext of security. But the right to privacy is an inalienable human right. And our determination to protect that human right from increasing intrusions is unshakeable.
We not only refuse to subject ourselves to full body scans, we reject their use altogether. On any person, from any country, at any time!
THEY SAY, extra security screening of people from “terrorist prone countries” will make everyone safer.
WE SAY, it’s racist, and can’t be allowed to stand. Not in our name.
THEY SAY, head-to-toe x-raying of the entire body, adults and children alike, is “simply precautionary”, “safeguarded”, and “for our own good”.
WE SAY, we’d rather be blown to bits than to live in a world where fearmongering was the norm, and dehumanizing violations of our privacy were accepted.
Full body scans are nothing less than virtual strip searches. All human beings have a right to be secure in their person, and no amount of fearmongering should be able to strip that right away!
Send us an email at movementforademocraticsociety@gmail.com
for more information on how you can participate, help plan and organize
protests now.
If you’d like to engage in discussion, join the Google Group, “ScanThis”, at http://groups.google.com/group/scanthis
Our protest group is as yet unnamed, but our discussions begin immediately.
Look for our low volume Riseup list when it becomes active to receive
digest updates and action announcements.
And sign our preliminary petition, Say NO To Virtual Strip Searches, at
http://www.rallycongress.com/2/2759/
Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS) – SI-NYC Chapter
Movement for a Democratic Society Ratifies Constitution
Nov 12th
Movement for a Democratic Society Constitution 2009
(This constitution is adapted from the sds constitution 1962-67)
Preamble: Movement for a Democratic Society is a global association of people on the left. It seeks to create a sustained community of educational and political concern and actions: one bringing together liberals and radicals, activists and scholars, students, faculty and workers in all trades. It maintains a vision of a democratic society, where at all levels the people have control of the decisions which affect them and the resources on which they are dependent. It seeks a relevance through the continual focus on realities and on the programs necessary to effect change at the most basic levels of economic, political, and social organization. It feels the urgency to put forth a radical, democratic program counter-posed to authoritarian movements.
Article I: Name
The name of the organization shall be Movement for a Democratic Society (sometimes referred to herein as: MDS).
Article II: Membership
Section 1.
Membership is open to all people who share the commitment of the organization to democracy as a means and as a social goal.
Section 2.
Movement for a Democratic Society is an organization of democrats. We are civil libertarian in our treatment of those with whom we disagree, but clear in our opposition to any totalitarian principle as a basis for government or social organization. Advocates or apologists for such a principle are not eligible for membership.
Section 3. Dues
There shall be a membership fee of one dollar, supplemented by periodic dues, the amount and period of which shall be determined by the Council of Representatives.
Section 4. Associates
Individuals who do not wish to join the Movement for a Democratic Society, but who share the major concerns of the organization, may become associates, with rights and responsibilities as determined by the MDS Working Committee.
Article III: Chapters and Affiliates
Section I.
Any group of five or more members may apply to the MDS Working Committee for a charter as a chapter.
A chapter may be geographical in a specific community, or non-local, focused on a particular project.
Section 2.
A chapter may be chartered at any meeting of the Council of Representatives. It must be considered for chartering at the first meeting of the Council of Representatives after it has submitted a membership list, a constitution or statement of principles, and notification of its elected Council of Representatives “chapter representative” to the Council. In the period between submission of the required information to the Council of Representatives and the next Council of Representatives’ meeting, the chapter may be given a provisional charter at the discretion of the MDS Working Committee.
Section 3.
Chapters are expected to operate within the broad terms of policy set by the Movement for a Democratic Society Convention and the Council of Representatives. Points of conflict should be referred to the Council of Representatives and a procedure established to make the issue public to the organization. In matters judged to be detrimental to the interests of the organization, the Council of Representatives shall have the power to dissociate the organization from whatever activity that has been brought into question. The matter shall be finally resolved by the Council of Representatives in meeting or referendum.
Section 4. Associated Groups
Independent groups can affiliate as associates of MDS by vote of their membership and designation of a liaison representative to sit on the Council of Representatives with consultative vote. The representative shall be a member of Movement for a Democratic Society. Such association is provisional until the approval of the Council of Representatives.
The form of the relationship shall be worked out in each case between the associated group and the Council of Representatives.
Section 5. Fraternal, Sororal and Sibling Organizations
Organizations whose programs and purposes are consistent with the broad aims and principles of Movement for a Democratic Society can be invited by the Council of Representatives to be Fraternal, Sororal or Sibling with the Movement for a Democratic Society and have a Fraternal, Sororal or Sibling vote on the Council of Representatives. Such organizations shall appoint a liaison representative who shall be a member of Movement for a Democratic Society.
Section 6.
Movement for a Democratic Society welcomes the opportunity to cooperate with other individuals and organizations in jointly sponsoring specific action, programs and joint stands on specific issues. The Council of Representatives shall be empowered to determine specific cooperative activity.
Article IV: Regions
Section 1.
All or some of the chapters and/or members in a given geographical area may constitute themselves a region of Movement for a Democratic Society. New regions shall submit their constitutions and be recognized provisionally by the MDS Working Committee, pending the next regular Council of Representatives meeting. All disputes over regional boundaries shall be resolved by the Council of Representatives.
Section 2.
Regions of Movement for a Democratic Society shall hold at least one membership convention each year and may establish regional councils as deemed necessary. Regional programs, staff, and offices shall be governed by decisions arrived at by a democratically constituted regional council.
Section 3.
While fundamentally responsible to their regional constituency, regions are expected to operate within the broad terms of policy set by the Movement for a Democratic Society Convention and Council of Representatives. Any points of conflict shall be finally resolved by the Council of Representatives.
Section 4.
If one-third of the duly chartered chapters in the geographical area of a region so petition, the Council of Representatives shall immediately consider whether to declare the regional organization defunct and to prohibit it from speaking or acting on behalf of Movement for a Democratic Society.
Article V: Convention
Section 1.
The Movement for a Democratic Society shall meet in convention at least annually, at a time fixed by the Council of Representatives, with at least three months prior notice being given to all members.
Section 2.
The Convention shall serve to debate major issues and orientation of the organization, to set program mandates to the MDS Working Committee, and to elect MDS Working Committee members. The Convention shall be the policy-making body.
Section 3. Representation.
Chapters shall elect Convention Spokespersons on the basis of one Spokesperson for every five MDS members in the chapter. Each Spokesperson will have as many votes as they have individual proxies from their chapter members who are not attending the Convention. Individual MDS members shall have the right to attend the Convention with one vote each. Delegates from associated and sibling groups shall be elected by a procedure determined by the Council of Representatives. The MDS Working Committee shall draft Convention rules, accreditation procedures, and other requirements, and determine the place.
Article VI: Council of Representatives
Section 1.
The Council of Representatives shall be composed of (1) two representatives elected from each chapter with five to twenty-five members, and one additional representative for each additional twenty-five members or fraction thereof, in that chapter; (2) the elected members of the MDS Working Committee (without vote); (3) elected liaison representatives from associated groups (with consultative voice); (4) liaison representatives from Fraternal, Sororal and Sibling organizations (with consultative voice); and (5) Movement for a Democratic Society staff, if any (without vote).
In all cases, Council of Representatives’ members and liaison representatives must be members of Movement for a Democratic Society. (No more than three members can serve concurrently as MDS Working Committee Members.)
Section 2.
The Council of Representatives shall be the policy making and program body of the organization between conventions. It shall determine policy in the form of resolutions on specific issues within the broad orientation of the organization; determine program priorities and action undertaken by the organization consonant with the orientation and mandates set by the convention; advise the MDS Working Committee on financial matters; establish ad hoc committees, designate representatives, if any, to other boards; charter chapters, associated groups, and sibling organizations.
Section 4. Term Lengths
The Council of Representatives members, except those Secretariat members and others elected by the convention, shall serve for one (1) year with no more than two (2) consecutive terms (unless there is an exception requested by the chapter).
Section 3.
The Council of Representatives shall meet at least every 2 months either in person or through cyberspace or telephone. A quorum shall be 40 percent of the voting members. Chapter and liaison representatives may be represented by a designated alternate authorized by the chapter or liaison group.
Section 4. The Council of Representatives shall establish by-laws governing due process in case of grievances, transparency, open communication, recall procedures, accountability and other matters of internal democracy.
Article VII: The Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS) Working Committee
Section 1.
The MDS Working Committee shall be composed of two or more people from each secretariat, elected by the convention plus such other individuals as the convention may elect. If an MDS Working Committee member elected by the convention is unable to serve for a period, the Council of Representatives may select an alternate from among the chapter representatives on the Council. No more than three members from one chapter or associated group can serve concurrently on the MDS Working Committee.
Section 2.
The MDS Working Committee shall have formal address and office(s) at a place(s) determined by the Convention.
Section 3 The MDS Working Committee shall meet, via phone, internet web-cam and or in person, at least bi-weekly.
The MDS Working Committee shall compile and distribute to the membership a biweekly working group report, including pending questions and questions for consideration.
Section 4.
The MDS Working Committee members must have been members of the Movement for a Democratic Society at least two months prior to elections.
Section 5.
The MDS Working Committee is the day to day spokes vehicle of Movement for a Democratic Society. It shall be responsible for carrying out organizational policy and shall convene the Council of Representatives.
Section 6.
The MDS Working Committee shall have day to day responsibility for the implementation of programs approved by the Convention or Council of Representatives.
Section 7.
A representative of the MDS Working Committee shall not attend congresses, accept money, or establish formal relationships with organizations without the approval of the convention, the Council of Representatives, or, between Council of Representative meetings, the MDS Working Committee.
Article VIII Secretariats
Section 1.
The Movement for a Democratic Society shall have 5 secretariats, each with at least 2 secretaries, elected by the convention, and volunteer members as each may recruit. The voting members of the working committee are those elected by the convention or their alternates. The secretariats are expected to function as work collectives with shared leadership.
Section 2. Membership Secretariat: shall be responsible for list maintenance of chapter and at large members, membership recruitment, dues and finances, and maintaining the MDS web site and list serves.
Section 3. The Education Secretariat shall have the primary responsibility for the functioning of the internal membership education program, public education and publications.
Section 4. The Actions Secretariat: shall be responsible for helping support local chapter and regional actions and to coordinate actions and campaigns, as determined by the Convention and Council of Representatives.
Section 5. The Inter-Organization Relations Secretariat: shall have primary responsibility for liaison with Associated Groups, Fraternal, Sororal and Sibling Organizations, and other organizations, and for informing the membership about these groups.
Section 6. Media Secretariat: shall be responsible for “press releases,” relations with all media, and the place to which requests for organization statements are referred.
Article IX: Parliamentary Authority
In all cases not covered by this Constitution, How to Hold A good Meeting, Rusty’s Rules of Order, shall be the authority governing Movement for a Democratic Society business; except that on page 12, under the heading of “Making a Main Motion,” a motion may be amended either by agreement of the maker and the second, or by a motion to amend, with a second and a vote; and a proposed and seconded amendment may also be amended by the body, by a second and a vote, in accord with section 33 of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article X: Policy and Discipline
Section 1.
Any member of the organization may be expelled or relieved of duties by a two-thirds vote of Council of Representatives. Due process shall be followed in all cases, according to by-laws approved by the Council of Representatives.
Section 2.
Any three chapters, or one-third of the Council of Representatives can initiate a Movement for a Democratic Society organization-wide referendum on any question.
Section 3.
All material sent out in the name of the organization shall have the approval of a majority of the Council of Representatives and shall have been submitted to all of the MDS Working Committee members.
Article XI: Amendments
This constitution may be amended by one of three procedures:
a. by a two-thirds vote of the Convention in session on amendments introduced at the Convention, in which case the amendment will take effect at the following Convention;
b. by a two-thirds vote of the Convention in session on amendments introduced by distribution to the membership at least a month before the Convention, in which case the amendment will take effect immediately upon adoption;
c. by a two-thirds vote of the membership in referendum in which case the amendment will take effect immediately upon adoption
Michigan State SDS Reunion: Hope And History Come Together
Dec 8th
From NLN:
MSU SDS reunion program guide and local press coverage (Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
East Lansing, MI – December 6, 2007. Former members of MSU SDS, present day members of MDS and organizers from Ignite, the new MSU SDS chapter all came together for a counter-recruitment protest and later, a moving MSU SDS reunion. Friday, November 30, 2007 was a bitter cold day in East Lansing. A spirited demo outside a Marine Corps recruiting center, on busy Grand River Avenue, opposite the MSU campus, was abbreviated due to the frigid temperatures. But later in the day, an SDS reunion held in MSU’s South Kedzie Hall, warmed hearts and fired up the activists – young and old. Bob Meola, an MSU SDS alumnus, emceed the affair which featured speeches by Cole Smith of Ignite, Alan Haber, Bernardine Dohrn, Bill Ayers and the man of the hour – Bert Garskof who had been the faculty advisor to the original MSU SDS chapter. Garskof, fired by MSU for his devotion to his students and the Movement, was described by Ayers as “a mentor, an inspiration”.
Bert Garskof: teacher, mentor and activist (Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
The event was part hope, part history and part humor – master of ceremonies Bob Meola commented on some early controversy: “There were some who said that we, meaning in 1969, were a divided chapter and they wanted to know: ‘by whose authority is this being organized?’ We didn’t look to invite a particular faction. We invited everybody…like somebody said…the same people who wanted to put us all away then would want to put us all away now and they’d put us all in the same camp together…yeah..it’s silly, we’re beyond those disputes. Welcome to all factions!”