GDC Member Application

DSA Growth and Development Committee Member Application
Growing our organization and movement requires real connections with people. We must ask people to join DSA. We must ask them to stay involved. Simple but disciplined internal organizing practices can help your chapter retain, engage, and grow your membership.

If this is important to you, apply to join the Growth & Development Committee! The DSA Growth and Development Committee oversees areas of membership growth, retention, chapter support, training and more. Read the NPC resolution on establishing the Growth and Development Committee, passed October 2019, to learn more about the GDC structure and goals. Also, read this resolution drafted by GDC members and passed at the 2021 Convention that outlines work ahead.

Please allow approximately 30 minutes to complete this application.
Your name*
Email*
YOU MUST USE THE EMAIL ADDRESS TIED TO YOUR DSA MEMBERSHIP
State*
Phone*
Chapter or OC Name*
If at-large choose AT-LARGE/NO CHAPTER
Which of these apply to your chapter/OC?*

RuralSmallSuburbanMediumUrbanLargeOther
Are you now or have you ever been involved in any other national committees, commissions or working groups?*

I am currently involved in one or more DSA national bodiesI have been involved in a DSA national body, but am not nowI have not been involved in a DSA national body
If yes, which committees? What did you think was most effective about your experience? What do you think could have made your organizing experience more effective ?
GDC Scope of Work

Recruitment: A recruitment strategy has been developed with the intention of diversifying the organization and tactics that can be used across the organization, including recruitment drives and recruiting through campaigns.

Member Retention and Development: We organize regular New Member Orientations that welcome members to participate in DSA as soon as they join. We developed a Recommitment Drive in order to encourage membership renewal and reverting from yearly to monthly dues for current members. We also develop programming to engage At-Large members. We send Spoke text message reminders each month to all DSA members whose memberships recently or are about to expire, and we plan to roll out a quarterly phonebank of members as well.

Training: Provides our members the resources they need to continue to strengthen their active work and campaigns. We update and add to the DSA Training Resource Library so that our groups (DSA/YDSA chapters, national committees, etc) have access to standardized educational and skill-building resources.

Chapter Surveys: We survey chapters to assess needs and work to provide trainings that meet the political moment.

Mentorship: Mentors work with field organizers to help with training and supporting chapter leadership, especially related to developing membership committees within chapters.

Matching Funds: DSA is about to disburse the first chunk of money raised to match chapter funds to open offices across the country! This represents a huge step forward in terms of material support for chapters that are ready to massively increase their organizing.
What role(s) would you be interested in serving on the GDC?*

Facilitator (small groups)Facilitator (mass calls)TrainerChapter mentorPhone/text bankerData analysisSteering CommitteeMatching Funds
What skills would you like to apply to the Matching Funds subcommittee? Check all that apply

FundraisingGrantwritingOrganizing/campaigningDocument managementFinancial and legal complianceReal estate/property assessment
Please elaborate on your experiences using the skills above (places, timeframes, etc). Make sure to include details about projects within DSA, grassroots organizations, and unions, and any successes or setbacks.
What are our most urgent tasks to ensuring that DSA grows with intention and retains our membership?*
Describe a project or initiative you were involved with that helped facilitate member retention, recruitment and/or engagement. What was your role? What went well, and what would’ve you done differently? (If you have not been involved in a DSA chapter, this can be an example from another organization.)*
Of the time you have to dedicate to organizing, what are your current commitments? (i.e. other national commitments, chapter leadership)
The GDC is tasked with creating, “a comprehensive recruitment, retention, and leadership development strategy prioritizing growth among black and brown workers, queer and women workers, and working class populations in general.” To accomplish this goal, the makeup of the GDC must be representative of the diverse working class.

To that end, the GDC will prioritize applications from members of underrepresented groups to ensure subcommittees are balanced.
What is your gender identity?
Do you identify as any of the following? (Check all that apply)

Native American/IndigenousBlack/of African descentHispanic/LatinxAsian/Pacific IslandSouth AsianMiddle Eastern/West AsianMixed/Multi-racialWhite/ of European DescentOther
What systems of oppression do you navigate in your daily life, and how does this inform your organizing? *
What do you see as the biggest obstacles to making DSA spaces safer and more welcoming to people of color, women, poor people and other underrepresented groups? What efforts have you been part of or seen that increased representation of underrepresented groups in your chapter or other organizations?*
Do you have any questions or concerns about what’s expected of a GDC member?
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DSA Growth and Development Committee Member Application