About joining a party.

[x371322]

Okay, I know there are about a billion "which party" threads around here, but this question is little more than that. I live in Southeastern KY and there is ZERO leftwing activity. There are no branches of any parties within 200 or more miles of where I live. My question is about how I would be active if and when I decide to join a party with no local branch. Would I just agitate and hand out flyers and newspapers? Or what about forming my own branch down here? How difficult is it to do so? Has anyone else ever been in a similar situation and actually started your own branch of an existing party in your area? I would appreciate any words of wisdom you might have.

So far I've looked at Socialist Party USA, Socialist Action, PSL, Workers Party in America, and... that's it I think. Any other suggestions are welcomed though! I know I definitely want to get active in the future, I just don't know where to start with bringing a branch to my area.

Keep in mind I'm not really looking to join a party in the immediate future. I'm just shopping around. This is for informational purposes really. I'd just like to have a bit of starting point.

Thank you.

[syndicat]

My organization has quite a few isolated members, so we run into this problem. (We have one member in Charleston WV for example). What we try to do is advocate for members to be active in struggles or mass organizations of some sort in their area. Our member in Charleston is involved in a public employees union for example. There are groups there in that part of Appalachia fighting mountain top removal, to mention another possibility. The idea here is to build relationships and get to know people, and it provides a field for trying to influence things. We have another isolated member in the southwest corner of VA. He distributes leaflets that he writes and does stickering.

[el_chavista]

Perhaps you may want to check this link: "Revolution and How to Do it in a Modern Society" (http://www.kolumbus.fi/aquilon/content.htm)

[Zeus the Moose]

Okay, I know there are about a billion "which party" threads around here, but this question is little more than that. I live in Southeastern KY and there is ZERO leftwing activity. There are no branches of any parties within 200 or more miles of where I live. My question is about how I would be active if and when I decide to join a party with no local branch. Would I just agitate and hand out flyers and newspapers? Or what about forming my own branch down here? How difficult is it to do so? Has anyone else ever been in a similar situation and actually started your own branch of an existing party in your area? I would appreciate any words of wisdom you might have.

So far I've looked at Socialist Party USA, Socialist Action, PSL, Workers Party in America, and... that's it I think. Any other suggestions are welcomed though! I know I definitely want to get active in the future, I just don't know where to start with bringing a branch to my area.

Keep in mind I'm not really looking to join a party in the immediate future. I'm just shopping around. This is for informational purposes really. I'd just like to have a bit of starting point.

Thank you.

If you to decide to join any of those groups, tell them that you're interesting in organising a local branch in your area. Depending on where you are, there might be other at large members relatively nearby, so if you're interesting in organising, you won't have to start from nothing. So if you can get people around you together, you'll have more people to do what you're thinking about in terms of handing our flyers and hopefully organising a first meeting.

Now, this doesn't necessarily help decide which group to join, but it's a strategy for moving forward after you've joined.

[RadioRaheem84]

Is there a difference between the CP-USA base and the leadership, because I was almost recruited for the party and the members seemed pretty straight in their political beliefs, not a soc-dem in the bunch. They too complained about the social democratic tendency among the leadership but assured me that they're mostly Marxist-Leninist.

[x371322]

Thanks a lot Comrades! Let me ask you though... I know it's probably different for different organizations, but approximately how many people would be needed in order to organize an official branch? What be a normally accepted minimum in other words? Like 10? 50? More?

[Martin Blank]

We deal with this a lot, since most of our members are spread far and wide. In a situation like yours, even where it seems there's nothing, I'd make a number of suggestions for activity. (I preface what I write below by stating that I'm not at all familiar with the exact situation where you are, so some of this might be way off.)

For example, IIRC, southeastern Ky. is still coal mining territory. Have you looked into what's going on there? With the recent tragedy at the mine in W.V., there is an increased consciousness of the dangers of such work, and the failures of the government and UMWA to protect those workers. There may be some possibilities of discussing these issues and more with some miners in the area, or even possibly organizing something more sustained and ongoing.

Stemming off of this, as an area of "cold" work to initiate, there is certainly an opportunity to raise the question of the environment from a class perspective. Even if coal mining is not a local issue, the issue of how mining methods destroy local communities and environments is a concern to working people. Depending on who might also be in the area, you could see if there is a possibility of organizing a public meeting on the question.

Aside from those two suggestions, and rightly rejecting the suggestion of long travel or moving, there are also ways an individual member could help build an organization nationally, including writing for their publications, participating in strategy and planning meetings, and working with others on specific national projects. It might not lead immediately to a branch, local or unit of an organization, but it does help you gain the skills needed for that kind of work.

Given the size of organizations today, any kind of work that a member can do is (or, at least, should be) appreciated and valued.

[pcm]

Whichever party you join you're going to have to be an at large member of for at least a while. I don't think that should really affect your decision though. Think about what issues and characteristics of a party are the most important to you and choose based on that. If you want to (or have to) stay where you currently are, you'll probably have to do some party work there by yourself at first. But if the group you choose is a worthwhile one, at least by my standards, you'll have lots of support from them and they'll send people to help you from time to time.

I'm in a similar situation. When I joined the PSL a year ago, I was the only member within eight hours of my location. Since then, though, due to my own work, my support from the Party, and, perhaps most importantly, favorable conditions for growth, we have the beginning of a good-sized branch here now. It's really quite amazing. I'm sure that the same can happen for you. What matters is the politics and the organization of the party you decide to join. That is what will most affect both the area growth and your commitment to the party line/struggle.

Good luck. Let me know if you need any advice or help.

[Martin Blank]

Thanks a lot Comrades! Let me ask you though... I know it's probably different for different organizations, but approximately how many people would be needed in order to organize an official branch? What be a normally accepted minimum in other words? Like 10? 50? More?

For the WPA, chartered Party Units are two to 10 people, with Locals composed of two or more Units in an area. Other organizations, like the SPUSA and Socialist Action, use just a Local/Branch system, with a minimum of five members needed for a charter. I think PSL has a similar minimum as the SP and SA, but one of their members is welcome to confirm that.

[Zeus the Moose]

Thanks a lot Comrades! Let me ask you though... I know it's probably different for different organizations, but approximately how many people would be needed in order to organize an official branch? What be a normally accepted minimum in other words? Like 10? 50? More?

It probably varies. In the Socialist Party, you need five people to sign a local charter to become an official local of the Socialist Party USA. Out of those five, you need an elected chair, secretary, and treasurer. Realistically, though, you'd probably want more than five people so that you can have sustained local activity, especially so that work can be spread around enough to avoid burnout.

[mikelepore]

It seems backwards to me, to say you want to be active and therefore intend to choose a party to join. Seems to me, you're supposed to be studying the wide spectrum of viewpoints that are out there, and one day you find yourself naturally confirming that one of these viewpoints seems so right to you, compared to something that the other viewpoints are lacking. Then you decide to join and be active.

[x371322]

We deal with this a lot, since most of our members are spread far and wide. In a situation like yours, even where it seems there's nothing, I'd make a number of suggestions for activity. (I preface what I write below by stating that I'm not at all familiar with the exact situation where you are, so some of this might be way off.)

For example, IIRC, southeastern Ky. is still coal mining territory. Have you looked into what's going on there? With the recent tragedy at the mine in W.V., there is an increased consciousness of the dangers of such work, and the failures of the government and UMWA to protect those workers. There may be some possibilities of discussing these issues and more with some miners in the area, or even possibly organizing something more sustained and ongoing.

Stemming off of this, as an area of "cold" work to initiate, there is certainly an opportunity to raise the question of the environment from a class perspective. Even if coal mining is not a local issue, the issue of how mining methods destroy local communities and environments is a concern to working people. Depending on who might also be in the area, you could see if there is a possibility of organizing a public meeting on the question.

Aside from those two suggestions, and rightly rejecting the suggestion of long travel or moving, there are also ways an individual member could help build an organization nationally, including writing for their publications, participating in strategy and planning meetings, and working with others on specific national projects. It might not lead immediately to a branch, local or unit of an organization, but it does help you gain the skills needed for that kind of work.

Given the size of organizations today, any kind of work that a member can do is (or, at least, should be) appreciated and valued.

Yeah I know a lot of coal miners, friends and family. Many of my friends left high school and went straight to the mines. This is definitely coal territory. I'm sure there's a lot I could with to help out.

[x371322]

It seems backwards to me, to say you want to be active and therefore intend to choose a party to join. Seems to me, you're supposed to be studying the wide spectrum of viewpoints that are out there, and one day you find yourself naturally confirming that one of these viewpoints seems so right to you, compared to something that the other viewpoints are lacking. Then you decide to join and be active.

What's your point? Remember I said that this is only a starting point. I'm just looking for information here, for my own educational purposes. I'm not going to go out tomorrow and join a party I know nothing about. I just wanted to know how someone in my situation could be active in a party with no other local members, that's all.

[Martin Blank]

Yeah I know a lot of coal miners, friends and family. Many of my friends left high school and went straight to the mines. This is definitely coal territory. I'm sure there's a lot I could with to help out.

Yeah. Right now, with all the questions of mine safety, the environmental impact, health care, etc., talking with your friends and family about these questions is probably one of the most important things you could do to advance class consciousness. A lot of the best revolutionary activity is done like this: talking to co-workers, friends, family, etc., about issues that impact all of you. You can do a lot more, and build a serious political movement a lot faster, this way in many cases -- certainly much more than standing alone on a corner passing out leaflets or selling newspapers, which just makes you look isolated and sad.

[x371322]

-- certainly much more than standing alone on a corner passing out leaflets or selling newspapers, which just makes you look isolated and sad.

Haha, True that.

[The Idler]

Start your own branch.

[MarxSchmarx]

You never said if you are employed. If you are, organize your workplace with a serious, industrial union. Even the traditionally "mainstream unions" like the SEIU and UAW are organizing outside their traditional constituency, and their organizers are often sympathetic to our cause. So see if you can organize your workplace with a good union.

If you are not employed, or if you are working in an environment where unionization is impractical (e.g., independent contractor) I'd encourage you to get involved with the political wings of industrial unions and work see if you can get started as an organizer.

[x371322]

You never said if you are employed. If you are, organize your workplace with a serious, industrial union. Even the traditionally "mainstream unions" like the SEIU and UAW are organizing outside their traditional constituency, and their organizers are often sympathetic to our cause. So see if you can organize your workplace with a good union.

If you are not employed, or if you are working in an environment where unionization is impractical (e.g., independent contractor) I'd encourage you to get involved with the political wings of industrial unions and work see if you can get started as an organizer.

Unfortunately no, I'm not employed. I just graduated from college and I'm still on the job search at the moment. If you don't mind me asking a stupid question, how exactly would one go about becoming a union organizer?

[Chimurenga.]

I would definitely recommend the PSL. I'm about to start my candidacy period with them. Users Kassad and Manic Expression can tell you more about the party than I can though.

[#FF0000]

Perhaps you may want to check this link: "Revolution and How to Do it in a Modern Society" (http://www.kolumbus.fi/aquilon/content.htm)

Er, the guy who wrote that is some weird nazbol fascist type. Just want to put that out there.

[MarxSchmarx]

If you don't mind me asking a stupid question, how exactly would one go abut becoming a union organizer?

Find out what campaigns a union has going. Call the campaign office and ask if they are hiring organizers; sometime they are, sometimes they aren't. Even if they aren't, they could use all the help they can get and if you do good work in an unpaid capacity they will forward your name to the international.

Actually if you are looking for a job, starting out as an organizer is a good start. You can also contact the union HQ directly, and even if they don't have an ongoing campaign, usually you will start out with an unpaid trial period to see if it's a good fit for both you and the union.

The best bet is a union that organizes aggressively or has routine campaigns - the CWU in the UK and the SEIU in North America for example.

[infraxotl]

Is there a difference between the CP-USA base and the leadership, because I was almost recruited for the party and the members seemed pretty straight in their political beliefs, not a soc-dem in the bunch. They too complained about the social democratic tendency among the leadership but assured me that they're mostly Marxist-Leninist.

If this was true, how come the leadership hasn't been given the boot?

[chegitz guevara]

Let me put in a bid for the SPUSA. We need more revolutionaries in the Party. Our wing of the Party is steadily growing, and in fact, the majority of active members, but we don't yet have enough of a majority to decisively defeat the social democrats.

BTW, if you're interested in organizing in coal country, you might check out Kasama and check out a number of the articles Mike Ely wrote about his time organizing in West Virginia's coal mines.

[x371322]

Thanks Chegitz. The SP-USA is definitely near the top of my list.

[Red Rebel]

Form a local branch of a party that you are interested in. That is a hell of a lot easier said than done. To find interested people I'd suggest hanging out with progressive groups in the area such as ant-war, anti-sweatshop, green, LGBTA, student groups, ect. You'd be suprised how many radicals are in those groups. Also to have a branch you probably just need ~5 interested cadres. If you get your condact info on the parties branch you'll be able to get more interested people to join.

[x371322]

Thanks Red Rebel. Getting a branch going is definitely one of my goals. It looks like I'm going to have to do a little bit of looking to find other leftists in my area. I may have to try and convert a few social dems I know.

[syndicat]

The best way to be a union organizer is to be a worker who is organizing one's coworkers directly into a union you all control collectively. this means not being a part of the topdown AFL-CIO or CTW bureaucratic mchine, tho.

[which doctor]

Find out what campaigns a union has going. Call the campaign office and ask if they are hiring organizers; sometime they are, sometimes they aren't. Even if they aren't, they could use all the help they can get and if you do good work in an unpaid capacity they will forward your name to the international.

Actually if you are looking for a job, starting out as an organizer is a good start. You can also contact the union HQ directly, and even if they don't have an ongoing campaign, usually you will start out with an unpaid trial period to see if it's a good fit for both you and the union.

The best bet is a union that organizes aggressively or has routine campaigns - the CWU in the UK and the SEIU in North America for example.
From what I've heard from people I know who are organizers, it is a lot more difficult than this. I will preface this by saying most of this is UNITE HERE experience, but I think it applies, to a slightly lesser extent, to many other unions. First off, they don't just hire people off the street, so just calling up and asking for a position really is out of the question. Labor unions recruit organizers from two sources, within the rank-and-file itself, and students at elite universities. And most organizers I know don't get paid at all, but are expected to work not only 40 hours a week at their job, but also 40 hours a week for the union, building relationships with workers and organizing them. It's an incredibly stressful commitment to make. Their intent is essentially to break you, so you sell your soul to the union. And only then do they begin paying you. Being a union organizer will become your entire life, so if you don't want something like this, I would highly advise against becoming one. It's an incredible commitment to make, not to mention all the psychological shit they will put you through.

[manic expression]

The PSL branch in Chattanooga should be able to provide you with support, materials, advice and other help; by my (amateur) calculations, they're closer to you than I was to the closest PSL branch when I first got involved. Get in touch with them and see what can be worked out:

http://www.pslweb.org/site/PageServer?pagename=contactus#chattanooga

All the best, comrade.

[MarxSchmarx]

Originally Posted by MarxSchmarx http://www.revleft.com/vb/revleft/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.revleft.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1724533#post1724533)
Find out what campaigns a union has going. Call the campaign office and ask if they are hiring organizers; sometime they are, sometimes they aren't. Even if they aren't, they could use all the help they can get and if you do good work in an unpaid capacity they will forward your name to the international.

Actually if you are looking for a job, starting out as an organizer is a good start. You can also contact the union HQ directly, and even if they don't have an ongoing campaign, usually you will start out with an unpaid trial period to see if it's a good fit for both you and the union.

The best bet is a union that organizes aggressively or has routine campaigns - the CWU in the UK and the SEIU in North America for example.From what I've heard from people I know who are organizers, it is a lot more difficult than this. I will preface this by saying most of this is UNITE HERE experience, but I think it applies, to a slightly lesser extent, to many other unions. First off, they don't just hire people off the street, so just calling up and asking for a position really is out of the question. Labor unions recruit organizers from two sources, within the rank-and-file itself, and students at elite universities. And most organizers I know don't get paid at all, but are expected to work not only 40 hours a week at their job, but also 40 hours a week for the union, building relationships with workers and organizing them. It's an incredibly stressful commitment to make. Their intent is essentially to break you, so you sell your soul to the union. And only then do they begin paying you. Being a union organizer will become your entire life, so if you don't want something like this, I would highly advise against becoming one. It's an incredible commitment to make, not to mention all the psychological shit they will put you through.

Actually that is true, the point about the union breaking you if you work for them is true - it is a rough job. THe unpaid trial period sees huge attrition. I was responding to a poster who wanted to know where to start if they are interested. For someone without the connections you mention it sounds like UNITE HERE isn't interested.

However, I've come across union organizers who were involved in auxiliary or ancillary campaigns in a non-paid capacity, and then made contacts inside the union that way that they were able to get started in the sort of grueling work you describe. For an unemployed recent graduate, that route still seems to me to be the best route if they're interested in directly becoming an organizer. It's not someone off the street because you were involved in a campaign - e.g., in america gotv campaigns are coming up, and you will be appalled at the sort of volunteers these groups take. Even organizing campaigns they need people to do grunt work, try to salt, all unpaid of course but if you can provide your own means and are serious, I doubt an organizer would turn down the help.