home
join us
contact us
student activists email list
what is socialism
how to make a revolution
marxism versus anarchism
socialists and elections
bring the troops home now!
free mumia abu-jamal!
defend abortion rights!
campus activism
marxist theory
socialist action newspaper
reds around the world
socialist action/u.s.
socialist action/
canada
Getting Active
So, you've read over what we stand for and are interested in joining Youth for Socialist Action. Membership in YSA is open to any young person who is in agreement with our 10 Point Program, who pays annual dues of $10 a year (this can be waived under special circumstances) and who committs to be an active member in the organization. If that's you, contact us and apply to join!
Most members join YSA through existing chapters, but since we're still a small organization, if there isn't a YSA chapter in your area you'll have to join as an at-large members. As an at-larger we will try to work with you to come up with a personalized reading list and education plan, and help you in any way we can to pull together a new YSA chapter around you.
Here is a check-list we’ve put together of some of the things you can do to start a YSA chapter in your area:
1. Get in touch with the nearest YSA branch or the YSA National Office. We can help you in setting up a local group by doing things such as:
Putting you in touch with other YSA members and contacts who may live in your area.
Helping answer any questions you may have.
Letting you know what actions are coming up and what campaigns YSA is currently engaged in for you to help organize around and promote.
And, we can send you out an organizers’ package of bulletins from YSA, and our predecessor, the Young Socialist Alliance, that contain lots of useful information about organizing and our politics.
2. Find some people who are willing to help you.
You may already know some people who are interested in getting active in with a group like YSA. That's a start.
Call them up, ask them if they're interested in helping, organize a chance to meet them.
Put up a flier saying you’re interested in starting up a YSA chapter with an email address or phone number for people to contact you.
Set up a literature table with a banner, some YSA & Socialist Action literature (contact the N.O. for some brochures, etc.) and a clip board.
Order a bundle of Socialist Action newspaper to hawk on campus or at a demonstration. It can be a great way to meet people as well as introduce them to socialist politics.
Organize a study group on socialism with some friends.
Call a meeting and see who shows up.
3. How to organize a meeting
At your school/college, pick a convenient time to call a YSA meeting.
Reserve a room or pick a quiet spot where people can sit and talk. Some schools let students reserve rooms themselves, others require a teacher. If nothing else meet in a lounge or a part of the cafeteria. You might even try holding it at someone's house.
Get the word out: tell people that you know and ask them to tell others; put out a leaflet to post up and hand around. Use every medium you can, phone, email, bulletin boards, fliers, word of mouth, the U.S. Post Office, anything and everything.
4. The first meeting
Tell people why you've called the meeting and a little bit about YSA and the kind of things we do. Talk about ongoing campaigns or local activist issues.
Allow time for people to ask questions or raise their own ideas. Discussion is a good thing.
From there, you can discuss what the group should do and work out how it can be done. A good collective discussion will leave everyone excited and with something to do.
If you like, we might be able to send a speaker to come out and answer questions.
Get everyone’s name and phone number. Set a time and place for the next meeting.
5. Putting the “action” into Youth for Socialist Action
There are all sorts of ways to plug your new group into activism. The best way is to focus your attention on a particular issue or upcoming action. Pick something that is of concern to people. Here are some general tips for promoting an issue or publicizing an event.
Put up posters everywhere you can.
Hand out leaflets or fact sheets to other people at your school/college, at other nearby schools/colleges, and at public places.
Organize a coalition around specific demands and slogans if one doesn’t already exist, or plug into the existing coalition.
Try to get a broad array of speakers for any event.
Organize a YSA or school contingent for the action, make up picket signs.
6. Learning about the “socialism” of Youth for Socialist Action
We believe there can be no revolutionary action without revolution theory, therefore YSA places a great deal of emphasis on education. Each chapter should try to organize study groups and presentations to educate its members.
Make sure everyone has a subscription to Socialist Action newspaper.
Print out the “ABCs of Socialism” essays from the Theory page on the YSA website and distribute to all new YSA members.
Find out what issues people are most interested and organize a study group or class. Materials are available from the Theory page on the YSA website, and from the YSA National Office.
Encourage members to use the YSA Recommended Reading lists.
Organize presentations at chapter meetings on the positions that YSA holds (the 10 Point Program or What Socialists Stand For essay would be good source material).
7. Co-ordinate with the YSA National Office
Keep the National Office up to date about your progress.
Find out what YSA & Socialist Action literature is available.
Plug into any natioanl YSA meetings, conferences or campaigns.
Write for and help distribute Socialist Action newspaper, and the YSA website.
Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Links to Coalitions Worth Plugging Into:
United for Peace & Justice
Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
Northland Anti-War Coalition
