Sponsored by: Delegate Training

Transcription

1 Sponsored by: The 2nd Congressional District Delegate Training Post Caucus, PreConvention March, 2016

2 Minnesota DFL Precinct Caucuses Tuesday, March 1, :00 PM to 8:30 PM Apple Valley High School Hayes Rd, Apple Valley, MN Apple Valley, Minnesota 11/23/201 3 Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#2 of 29) 2

3 TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN DFL ACTIVITIES WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND: DOCUMENTS STRUCTURE PROCESS Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#3 of 29) 3

4 DOCUMENTS DFL State Constitution/Bylaws Party Platform - 2 Parts Ongoing Platform - Philosophy & Beliefs Action Agenda Specific Policy we support (rewritten every 2 years resolutions) Official Call The How To Manual for the DFL All documents are available online at Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#4 of 29) 4

5 STRUCTURE ---NATIONAL--- In Presidential Election years - MN Delegation STATE-----CONGRESSIONAL-----LOCAL--- Organizing Unit (OU) County Units (CU) Senate Districts (SD) ---CAUCUS --- Neighborhood Meetings The gateway to everything! Developed by Roxanne Mindeman- MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#5 of 29) 5

6 EACH STRUCTURAL LEVEL HAS: Corresponding Ballot Position We endorse legislative candidates at Local Conventions We endorse a candidate for Congress at our CD-2 Convention We endorse candidates for State level offices and for the US Senate at our State the State Convention We endorse a candidate for President at the National Convention Convention (Local, Congressional, State, National) Committee Structure 1) Ongoing Committees 2) Temporary Convention Committees Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#6 of 29) 6

7 COMMITTEES Executive Committee : Officers elected at each level (Generally (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach and Inclusion Officer, 9-19 Directors, and Delegates to the State Central Committee) Central Committee : Primary Decision making body of the DFL. Made up of leadership elected at the previous level. Convention Committees (4-6 weeks) Rules Nominations Resolutions/Platform Arrangements Endorsements Credentials Constitution Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#7 of 29) 7

8 WHY CAUCUS? 1. SUPPORT A CANDIDATE - To support a candidate, at any level, all the way up to national, you must caucus, and become a delegate to your local convention. (Exception?) 2. the 3. SUPPORT AND/OR ADVANCE AN ISSUE - By resolution, using form found in the Call. SIGN UP OR ASK TO BE ON A CONVENTION COMMITTEE 4. VOTE - A PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE BALLOT OR STRAW POLL 5. ELECT PARTY LOCAL LEVEL & HIGHER 6. YOU CAN SIGN UP TO BE AN ELECTION JUDGE Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#8 of 29) 8

9 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN: CAUCUS CONVENOR - Initiates the caucus process using materials provided by the State DFL, and turns it over to the newly elected Caucus Chair. CAUCUS CHAIR - Conducts the Caucus using materials provided by the Convenor (from State DFL). This is a 2 hour job. PRECINCT CHAIR - The local/neighborhood grassroots leader and organizer. This is a 2 year job. Note: The convener is often elected to be Caucus Chair. The Caucus Chair is often elected Precinct Chair! Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#9 of 29) 9

10 WHAT IS THE JOB OF A PRECINCT CHAIR? Recruit New Members Keep members engaged through volunteerism Establish social and communications networks including current contact information Provide leadership to develop training for Members Support the development of fundraising skills Communicate with precinct members about DFL activities, events and volunteer opportunities 10 Help connect volunteers to local campaigns

11 CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO INSURE DIVERSITY 1. Affirmative Action/Outreach & Inclusion including nondiscrimination language in the Call 2. Gender Balance 3. Walking Sub-caucus Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#11 of 29) 11

12 Underrepresented Minorities/ Constituency Caucuses African American Caucus Asian American Democratic Association Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Disability Caucus Faith Caucus Feminist Caucus Hunting and Fishing Caucus Latino Caucus Minnesota Young DFL Native American Caucus Progressive Caucus Senior Caucus Somali American Caucus Stonewall DFL (GLTB) Veterans Caucus 12

13 NEW CAUCUSES FOR 2016: Muslim Caucus (created by vote of the State Central Committee on December 5, 2016) Developed by Volunteers in Minnesota s Second Congressional District 2013 (#13 of 35) Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#13 of 29) 13

14 Non-Discrimination (from the Call) Discrimination on the basis of any of these categories is prohibited in the conduct of DFL affairs: Gender or gender identity Age Religion Economic and employment status Racial, cultural or ethnic identity National origin Color Sexual and affectional orientation Family status Disability Veteran Status Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#14 of 29) 14

15 HOW TO BECOME A DELEGATE TO A CONVENTION Sign up at your precinct caucus. (Note: previous ratio 1:25, now 1:40) 1. Send Absentee Participation Form to your caucus. (There is a form for this purpose in the Call) Get elected by your precinct caucus attendees (by plurality or majority vote) Get elected by Walking Sub-caucuses/ Proportional voting. (very unlikely at a caucus in CD2 anyway) Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#15 of 29)

16 Lets take a Break! Back in 10! Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#16 of 29) 16

17 WHAT HAPPENS AT A CONVENTION? 1. Election of Officers - With recommendations form the Nominations Committee. 2. Adoption or Amendment of the Local SD/OU Constitution, if needed. 3. Endorsement of Candidates for the November Ballot 4. Resolutions 5. Election of State Convention Delegates Lots of Speakers! Candidates & Elected Officials Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#17 of 29) 17

18 ELECTION OF OFFICERS With recommendations from Nominations Committee Chair Associate Chair (opposite gender) Secretary Treasurer Outreach and Inclusion Officer (formerly Affirmative Action Officer) Directors Number determined by OU/SD Constitution, an number between 7 and 19, usually 11 State Central Committee Members Consult the Call 18

19 ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES The choice of the party for the November Ballot There may or may not be an Endorsements Committee It may or may not make a recommendation Organized and Structured by the Rules Committee 60% constitutional requirement for endorsement Don t leave til your candidate has 60%! Subject to primary challenge - where the people (voters) can choose differently. Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#19 of 29) 19

20 RESOLUTIONS 1. Selection of Resolutions to be passed on for consideration for inclusion in the Party Platform Action Agenda 2. How many? It varies. Consult the Call. 3. How? Consult the Call - Options Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#20 of 29) 20

21 ELECTION OF STATE CONVENTION DELEGATES * State Convention delegates are also Congressional Convention Delegates * An Alternate for every Delegate * Gender Balanced * Affirmative Action Reminder * Almost always by Walking Sub-caucus Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#21 of 329) 21

22 WALKING SUB-CAUCUS See the Call Its your How to manual! 1. The Chair will advise the Convention of the number of Delegates to be elected as directed in the Call. 2. The Chair will determine if enough people to elect one Delegate want walking sub-caucus. 3. The Chair will invite the naming of sub-caucuses. Get in line and call one! Be creative! Governed by the Rules in the Call. Must name a candidate or uncommitted. May name an issue (or uncommitted ) Uncommitted/uncommitted? 4. The Chair will assign a place in the room for each named sub-caucus. 5. The Chair will explain the timing of the walks. Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#22 of 29) 22

23 THE WALKS After the first walk: First Count Viability Determination After the Second Walk: Allocation of Full Delegates based on number in the sub-caucus Allocation of remaining Delegates based on the largest remainders NEW RULE! (2010) If all sub-caucuses are viable after the first walk, there will be no second walk. Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#23 of 29) 23

24 Work it! Make a sign! Dress Conspicuously! Recruit a Friend! Stand out in the crowd! Developed by Roxanne Mindeman DFL CD (#24 of 29) 24

25 Do the Math! (See handout) When things get NUTS!...And they will. Important things to Remember! Viability round up to the next whole number/person. It takes at least 2, maybe 3 people to do a subcaucus One person to recruit One to hold your group together & fight off other recruiters! One person to do the calculations Calculate your remainder to 3 decimal points. Whole delegates are allocated first. Remaining delegate(s) allocated to the largest remainders. If even just 1 person moves, it changes at least 2 remainders and maybe the whole room! There may be only 1 walk - if all caucuses are viable after the first walk! Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD (#25 of 29) 25

26 ELECTING DELEGATES Each sub-caucus makes its won rules and procedures Plan on speaking to your sub-caucus 1 to 2 minute Say why you are getting involved - Supporting a candidate for endorsement at a higher level - Passionate about an issue/resolution - Whatever... Say if you have never been a Delegate to a State Convention before it will likely get you some votes! Developed Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#26 of 29) 26

27 LET S PRACTICE! Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#27 of 29) 27

28 DFL Training - PowerPoint Index Intro 1-3 Documents 4 Structure. 5-7 Caucuses Outreach & Inclusion Conventions Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#28 of 29) 28

29 Contact Information This presentation was developed for post caucus, pre-convention training in Minnesota s 2nd Congressional District. We are hopeful that other DFL trainers will find it useful in designing their own training presentations. We welcome your input for improvement of these training materials. We ask that you advise us by if you decide you would like to use all or portions of these materials for your own training presentations. Roxanne Mindeman: newtbuster@prodigy.net I am available for additional training. Ask for what you need! Developed by Roxanne Mindeman MN DFL CD2, 2015 (#29 of 29) 29