Boston DSA New Member Handbook - What Do I Do As A Member?

What do I do as a member?

The way our active members become active members is usually, “show up to meetings, then take on work.” We have a variety of meetings every month: Each of them should include opportunities for members to dig into ongoing projects. If you’re not sure how or where to get involved, we have a couple examples in this section, but the events page of the website is our most frequently updated sources of things to do. For specific questions, the directories at the end of this document should help you figure out who to contact.

We think of all DSA members as socialist organizers (that’s what it says on your membership card!), but at the same time we know that almost no one comes to DSA a fully formed socialist organizer. Organizing requires us all to develop a variety of skills: being able to map out a social group, identifying natural leaders, figuring out what people need to hear in order to bring their best, and making courageous asks. These are skills you can apply inside the organization as you get your feet under you, but also outside of it: figuring out what friends to invite to which events, testing which appeals work on your uncle at Thanksgiving, and otherwise advancing socialism through honest conversations. Organizing also requires practical skills like being reliable, organized, and communicative about your limits and your availability.

Showing up builds trust

We all know "ideas guys." Good-sounding ideas are tossed around without serious consideration of what it would take to make them happen. This is undoubtedly a consequence of living in a society where we’re taught to be consumers instead of a community and where the prevailing ethos is “You don’t owe anyone anything.” We’ve all been guilty of this, at one point or another, but if we are going to seriously build a structure strong enough to remake the world, we need to show up on time for meetings.

In this organization, what you do matters. We might be socially conditioned to window-shop every single possible choice until the last minute, but that doesn’t foster a strong organization. Commit to something, and hold to it.

We’re not asking you to martyr yourself, because that’s how burnout happens. Don’t take on more than you can sustain. We also recognize that not everyone has a few extra hours per week because capitalism is awful. Just do what you can. You’re not going to get fired or yelled at if you get overwhelmed or drop the ball every once in awhile. But when you honor people’s time and energy, you build trust. When we have strong bonds of trust, we build power.

That said, here are some easy ways in!

Phone banking the membership for a big mobilization
Having in-depth conversations with strangers as part of a neighborhood canvass
Surreptitiously printing out DSA pamphlets on your work printer
Helping internal organizers administer online voting
Assembling signs for a Boston DSA contingent at a big march
Researching the background and properties of a predatory landlord
Joining a book club or study group

If you’re ever not sure or have questions, email coordinators@bostondsa.org. You can also check bostondsa.org/events for a continually refreshed set of things to show up to.

There’s also a lot of room for bottom-up creation.

If you want to do informal sociable things with your comrades like rock climbing, book clubs, or park clean-ups, just start doing it. Our movement gets stronger when we have a strong body of activities that stitch us together alongside the work.

If you have an idea for something more official, like putting together a climate preparedness plan, coordinating an event with another local organization, or tabling at the HONK festival, it helps to be plugged in. Find the committee (or caucus) doing the organizing closest to your idea, get involved with their ongoing work, and once you have the lay of the land, ask some of the organizers to talk it over with you. A good place to start is the list of working groups on our website. The more you can take on the logistical work surrounding your idea (and round up previously inactive members or interested non-members to help), the more likely you are to make it happen quickly.