Chapter Structure & Committees

Sonoma County DSA runs via its membership, based on ability and interest. The membership is the governing body and elects the Steering Committee for facilitation and outward representation.

We have two essential body structures within the chapter: committees and working groups.

Members can form working groups as needed and without chapter or Steering Committee approval. Committees, however, require Steering Committee approval and their own written bylaws, as they are responsible for delegated projects and tasks.

Below is an overview of our structure:

For an example of another DSA chapter’s structure, check out this chart from DSA LA.

Keep reading for more info about our committees and working groups!

Communications Committee 

This group manages all official communication channels between Chapter members and those intended to represent the Chapter and the will of its membership. This includes any publication, public profile, website, channel, or account named or created for the Chapter.

This committee currently monitors the Discord server, maintains our social media presence, promotes existing chapter social activities and business, and runs the Chapter’s newsletter, Red Rose.

They are led by our Media Officer.

Electoral Committee

If you are interested in electoral politics, this is the place for you!

This committee handles all electoral activities for the Chapter. This may range from running candidates for office, door-knocking for a ballot measure, to organizing a campaign to put pressure on local lawmakers around a specific bill.

They are led by our Electoral Co-Chairs.

Labor Committee

This committee is focused on helping educate the public on their labor rights and union benefits. The Committee helps existing unions in their struggles against the owner class and ensures their voice is heard by the wider community.

They also encourage the community to develop new union locals and ensure they have the support to succeed in the principles of class-based solidarity.

They are led by our Labor Co-Chairs.

Liaison Committee

The Liaison Committee undertakes some responsibilities of the co-chairs, such as representing the Chapter officially in certain circumstances.

SoCo DSA members who represent the Chapter in an official capacity are part of this committee. SoCo DSA speakers at protests and public events are also part of or must be approved by the committee.

They are led by our Co-Chairs.

Membership Committee 

This committee is open to any current DSA members who want to help with and build programs and activities that enable membership growth, retention, engagement, participation, and leadership development.

Current ongoing projects include: Protest and Non-Protest Tabling, Social Chapter Meeting, Coffee with Comrades, Cold Ones with Comrades, and Political Education (or book club).

They are led by our Membership Coordinator.

Mutual Aid Committee

This committee is dedicated to directly aiding people in our membership, our communities, and supporting other organizations that are allied with our principles. They aim to build the structures of tangible and accessible support needed to replace capitalism. “Solidarity, not charity.”

They approach such actions in a peer-to-peer way, rather than top-down. A Mutual Aid Captain is elected every three months and is tasked with executing meetings and coordinating the group. Anyone is welcome to join and propose ideas for projects! Non-members can participate in ongoing calls for aid.

They are led by our Mutual Aid Captain and the committee’s membership.

Protest Committee

This committee plans our protests and demonstrations, coordinates and debriefs these actions, and decides which third-party actions we will participate in and/or endorse. Similar to Mutual Aid, this committee’s structure is democratic and horizontal.

They are led by our Protest Captain and the committee’s membership.

Steering Committee

This committee is the highest elected body in the Chapter, responsible for directing and delegating actions and resources. They are elected by and beholden to our membership.

It is comprised of our Chapter Co-Chairs, our Secretary, our Treasurer, our Membership Coordinator, our Media Officer, our Electoral Co-Chairs, and a Contingent Steering Officer to break any tie votes.

For more about our Steering Committee, click here.

Working Groups

Working groups are a sort of ‘ad hoc’ group formation that can spring up whenever Chapter members feel the drive to pursue an unofficial goal. They do not require formal approval.

Below are just some of our ongoing working groups:

• Art & Theater
• Food Security
• Sanctuary County
• Spanish Learning (Aprenda Español Juntos)