Steering Committee

The Steering Committee administers the affairs of the Local Chapter and oversees the implementation of the decisions of Local Chapter Meetings; it may also propose policy to Local Chapter Meetings.  It shall have the power to receive reports of any Branch, Committee, or formally created Working Group, and advise thereon, to call Special Meetings of the Local Chapter, and to act on any matter that requires immediate and urgent action.  The Steering Committee is the regular executive body of the Local Chapter, and thus subordinate to its Legislative bodies, the Local Chapter Convention, and General Meetings.  

The Steering Committee shall be responsible for establishing program activities for the Local Chapter, for proposing guidelines and policies that shall subsequently be voted on by members in good standing, and for acting on the organization’s behalf between Local Chapter meetings.  

The Steering Committee is responsible for ensuring that the following responsibilities are assigned to Steering Committee members or other individuals: communications, internal and external; development of any standing rules; and preparation of an annual report to be presented to the membership at the beginning of the new fiscal year or at the Local Chapter Convention. 

The Steering Committee of the Local Chapter shall consist of up to six (6) Officers who collectively Chair the Organizing Committee, the Membership Committee, and the Treasurer’s committee.  Each officer must be a member of the Local Chapter and be current in their dues at the time of election and throughout the duration of their term.  The term of office shall be no more than one (1) year before running for re-election. Upon two-thirds (⅔) of the remainder of the Steering Committee Officers may remain appointed in-interim and until their successors are appointed by similar vote. At any given time, no more than three (3) officers shall be cisgender men nor from the same county; a full steering shall consist of three (3) officers from Nassau County and three (3) Officers from Suffolk County.

Coordinating Committee:

The Coordinating Committee shall be chaired by a member of steering and consist of current chairs of active  Working Groups, campaign or project leads, and liaisons from local yDSA groups. The committee shall support Local Chapter Campaigns and projects with difference to priority campaigns as voted on by members in-good-standing. The chair shall preside over(facilitate) Local Chapter Meetings or shall appoint a substitute to assume the powers and duties of the presiding officer (facilitator) as specified in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.

The Chairs shall be the official public spokespersons for the Local Chapter and shall initiate such actions and policies as the Local Chapter’s general welfare and interest may demand.  The Chairs shall be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations and political work of the Local Chapter’s campaigns and Working Groups as well as supporting Working Group Chairs in communications with coalition partners in service of coordinating campaigns and mobilization.

Membership Committee:

The Membership Chair(s) shall be responsible for answering all correspondence and queries of the Local Chapter and for maintaining an up-to-date membership list of the Local Chapter.  They shall ensure effective and timely communication with National DSA.  They shall temporarily assume the responsibilities of presiding officer and facilitator of Local Chapter Meetings, if the Organizing Committee Chair(s) is(are) unable to do so nor find an alternative facilitator.  

The Membership Chair shall be responsible for the overall health and growth of the Local Chapter membership by managing and leading in the performance of procedures related to outreach, recruitment, and engagement activities of the Local Chapter.  The Membership Chair shall oversee initiatives concerning membership growth, retention, engagement, participation, and leadership development. 

The Membership Chair shall organize chapter activities to be inclusive, culturally competent, and non-oppressive to marginalized groups.  Special attention shall be devoted to the recruitment of members from marginalized groups. 

The membership committee shall be responsible for summarizing the minutes of all Local Chapter Meetings and shall maintain custody of these minutes as well the documentation of any resolutions and votes.  Minutes shall include attendance of chapter officers, Branches, Committee, Collectives, and other report-backs presented. Membership Chairs shall report to Local Chapter Meetings on the business of the Steering Committee.

The Membership committee shall deliver official meeting minutes, membership lists, and official records of the Local Chapter in good condition with regards to accuracy and completeness to the Chapter Treasurer(s) for posterity and record-keeping.  The membership committee is responsible for managing and ensuring members’ maintain access to the latest versions of these bylaws, meeting minutes, agendas, resolutions, standing rules, and all other materials in the interest of the membership as appropriate and relevant to member’s standing and engagement with the chapter..

Treasurer:  

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the funds and financial records of the Local Chapter.  All funds collected by the Local Chapter shall be turned over to the Treasurer, who will hold these funds in a secure place until it is possible to deposit the funds in a credit union or bank account under the name of the Local Chapter.  The Treasurer shall prepare budgets and financial reports for consideration at Local Chapter Meetings and as requested by the Steering Committee, and ensure the Local Chapter’s regulatory compliance.  In cooperation with the Membership Chair, the Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring that membership dues are current.  

The Treasurer shall create and document policies and procedures for carrying out their duties and for maintaining healthy Local Chapter finances as a well as other operations. The Treasurer shall transfer to their successor the documented policies and procedures, financial records and reports, access to financial accounts securely, and official records of the Local Chapter. The Treasurer may perform internal audits to provide chapter officers, as well as membership, with assurance with respect to adherence to expected and required procedures and performance of various roles and duties within the chapter.

The Treasurer shall additionally develop, perform, and document policies and procedures for maintaining the various information systems and associated data in production, development, or archive. Information Systems duties shall include maintaining security, data integrity, and compliance requirements. The Treasurer shall transfer to their successor the access and procedural requirements to perform the role.