Committees and Caucuses
In addition to the working groups, Boston DSA has a number of other bodies with different purposes.
Committees
Committees are where we do work internal to the chapter to keep it running smoothly. Committee work is only available to chapter members in good standing, as it often involves access to internal administrative infrastructure such as member lists.
Administrative Committee
The Administrative Committee (AdComm) is responsible for handling our chapter’s routine administrative functions such as chapter communications, technology infrastructure, membership data maintenance, and new member onboarding. The Administrative Committee is chaired by the Communications Coordinator and the Membership Coordinators of the Coordinating Committee.
AdComm is a great way for members to contribute to our chapter asynchronously and remotely.
Direct Action, De-escalation & Security (DADS) Committee
DADS provides trainings, materials, and assistance to DSA members engaging in protests and direct actions, manages event safety for chapter-wide events such as General Meetings, and disseminates skills related to security (digital, informational, and physical), de-escalation, and anti-harassment throughout the chapter. DADS works in coalition with other Boston-area organizations to monitor and counter the far right whenever they threaten our organizing.
Full membership in DADS requires training and vetting; however, any chapter member in good standing who is interested in this type of work may join the Auxiliary Underground Network of Tactical Supports (AUNTS) Signal chat, which gets first notice of training and volunteer opportunities.
The demo team, which can be reached on the chapter Slack at #team-demos, focuses on putting together chapter-specific contingents at rallies and marches, with a focus on street gatherings as sites for political education, recruitment, and basebuilding, and is also open to all members in good standing.
Elections Committee (Hellections)
The Elections Committee exists to conduct and/or assist in internal chapter elections and votes. It strives to ensure that internal elections are fair, that they run smoothly allowing members to focus on the task of building socialism, that all members have the opportunity to vote, and that Elections Committee members themselves maintain scrupulous impartiality during the election process.
The Elections Committee’s primary task is administering chapter-wide elections for offices. It will also assist in any other elections or votes -- such as proposals in General Meetings -- upon request.
Harassment and Grievance Officers (elected)
The Harassment and Grievance Officers (HGOs) are four elected officers within Boston DSA who addresses incidents of harassment within the Chapter. The HGOs seek to resolve conflict between Boston DSA members and address breaches of the Boston DSA Code of Conduct.
The HGOs provide informal mediation to members in conflict and also formally investigate and respond to reports of misconduct via the Boston DSA Resolutions Procedure. Members always have the option to seek mediation or other assistance and advice from the HGOs before, or instead of, beginning the formal Resolutions Process.
IDentity Caucuses
Identity caucuses are affinity spaces hosting social events for members who share particular identities. Currently the only identity caucus that is regularly active is the AfroSocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus (AFROSOC).
AfroSocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus
The AfroSocialists & Socialists of Color Caucus is an affinity space for BIPOC socialists in Boston DSA. AFROSOC hosts a monthly social that is open to all socialists of color in the Boston area, at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month. Sign up here!
Contact: afrosoc@bostondsa.org
political caucuses
Political caucuses are vehicles for socialists to organize within the chapter in support of a shared political program. They are organized independently within DSA's "big tent" and operate at a bit of a remove from most formal chapter infrastructure, although they are allowed to create events on the chapter calendar.