2009 Regional Socialism Conferences by the ISO

[OriginalGumby]

http://socialistworker.org/2009-socialist-conferences

The International Socialist Organization is putting on seven regional conferences across the US for radical activists to discuss politics and learn about the history of struggle.

Here are a few of the workshops but the like from socialist worker link goes to more info about each of the regional conferences including schedule, registration, location, and how to get contact the ISO. Note that free childcare is available and there is limited free housing.

What Would Socialism Look Like? | U.S. Imperialism in the Obama Era | The Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx | What's Wrong with Capitalism | Black Liberation and Socialism | The Democratic Party: A Critical History | Afghanistan: Good War or Quagmire? | Why We Need a Revolutionary Party | Trotsky's Struggle Against Stalinism | The Russian Revolution and Its Significance Today | Socialists and the Struggles for Reforms | The Socialist Strategy for Liberation of the Oppressed | Capitalism and the Ecological Crisis | Eyewitness reports from the siege of Gaza and the coup in Honduras | and many more.

Also I have attached a conference flier PDF in case you wanted to print them out and put them up in your area to organize a group of people to come.

[ellipsis]

won't be able to make it to new york this week.:(

[Jimmie Higgins]

won't be able to make it to new york this week.:(Fly out to the West coast then - ours'll be hella better anyway!
:laugh:
Ut-oh another west vs. east coast battle brewing.

[CELMX]

West Coast > East Coast :P
Seattle ftw

anyways, I was wondering if, say, you live in a small city like Spokane where literally NOTHING happens, should I hand out flyers/put up posters of events that are happening in an awesomer city like Seattle? Or would no one pay attention?
btw...if you didn't know, Spokane is in eastern washington, while Seattle is in western washington (duh, you probably knew that, but wtv:D)

[OriginalGumby]

It depends. I think it would make the most sense to put your local contact info on posters that you put up/hand out so that you can meet the interested people in your community for ongoing activities or at the least to carpool to the conference together. Also I would talk to people I already knew who might be interested. This might be more effective than postering if the town is really small or rightwing but I would try both. Chances are there are some people who would be interested in learning more. Good Luck

[which doctor]

I was planning on going to this out of curiosity, especially since one's being held at my university, until I found out how much it costs. I'm not an ISO member, nor do I even agree with much of their org, so I don't really think it's worth the cost to attend. I understand that things like this cost money, but they've been put on before without making visitors pay entrance fees. When you have a fee system like this does, you're going to discourage a lot of people from going who otherwise might have attended out of curiosity, like myself.

[OriginalGumby]

I was planning on going to this out of curiosity, especially since one's being held at my university, until I found out how much it costs. I'm not an ISO member, nor do I even agree with much of their org, so I don't really think it's worth the cost to attend. I understand that things like this cost money, but they've been put on before without making visitors pay entrance fees. When you have a fee system like this does, you're going to discourage a lot of people from going who otherwise might have attended out of curiosity, like myself.

The unfortunate reality is that we have to pay to have a venue and to transport some folks for these conferences and we can not just foot the bill because that would not be economically sustainable for us. The money also goes to hire free professional childcare so that working families can participate. There is a low income rate which is quite affordable as well as limited free housing. If there is a real problem with being able to afford contact the nearest branch of the ISO. The truth is that for the many people who are interested and think it's a priority to go the entrance fee is not a problem. I also don't think that we have put on free conferences but we have individual public meetings that are free on a regular basis. I hope you have a change of heart and that you do decide to go because the political discussions on the history of social movements, political theory, and struggle today have played an invaluable role for me personally in developing as an activist and I would think they would have the same benefit for you as well. It really is worth the cost.
Solidarity

[CELMX]

It depends. I think it would make the most sense to put your local contact info on posters that you put up/hand out so that you can meet the interested people in your community for ongoing activities or at the least to carpool to the conference together. Also I would talk to people I already knew who might be interested. This might be more effective than postering if the town is really small or rightwing but I would try both. Chances are there are some people who would be interested in learning more. Good Luck

Thanks for the advice! But, for now, I am not old enough to drive:(, and my parents are pretty over-protective:(, but one day, I will find a perfect opportunity to sneak out:D!

My social skills=shit
Do you think older adults (meaning, middle aged, etc.) would listen to a highschooler??? I need to work on my charisma-skills:rolleyes:
anyhoo, thanks again!