Sunday, November 20th has been selected as the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Democratic Socialists of Vancouver. We will:
Elect our next Steering Committee
Submit & Vote on By-Law Amendments
Celebrate everything we’ve done so far!
Look forward to 2023!
The meeting will take place Over Zoom from 3-5pm PST. Voting on our next Steering Committee will stay open for 48 hours, and there will be information provided on all available candidates.
What is the Steering Committee?
The DSOV Steering Committee is primarily an administrative body that works to facilitate the functions and organization within the DSOV. Major governmental decisions are always deferred to the general membership. The SC manages DSOV finances, coordinates with Working Groups, manages documents and records, and interacts with the membership as much as possible.
The SC Meets once a month for 1.5 hours, usually on Zoom. The primary responsibility of an SC member is to attend these monthly meetings. SC members will also sometimes take on tasks asked of them at that meeting but usually do so on their own schedule. This is mostly stuff like getting a quote, sourcing supplies, etc. and it is always based on individual capacity. Total commitment is approximately 5 hours per month.
We communicate online through both Slack and What’s App. Our membership uses Slack to discuss activities, events and working groups.
Our bylaws stipulate that at least 60% of the members (eg. 6 of 9) of the Steering Committee will come from equity-seeking groups - communities that face significant collective challenges in participating in society.
We need your voices on the DSOV Steering Committee in order to truly be a democratic body.
Please consider putting your name forward - or that of a friend/associate who is willing to run. Send and email, with a short bio to democraticsocialistsyvr@gmail.com
Agenda Link Here →
Steering Committee Election
Per the DSoV By-Laws:
The Steering Committee of the DSoV will consist of 5-9 members.
At least 60% of the members (eg. 6 of 9) of the Steering Committee will come from equity-seeking groups.
The membership of the DSoV will elect Steering Committee members at the Annual General Meeting of the DSoV.
The Steering Committee will implement decisions made at general meetings and coordinate the affairs of the DSoV between general meetings.
If the Steering Committee makes a decision between general meetings, they will report that decision to the membership at the next general meeting and facilitate discussion in regard to that decision.
The Steering Committee will ensure that DSoV funds are spent equitably and fairly in the pursuit of the DSoV’s goals. Expenditures in excess of $1000.00 will be voted on by the general membership at a general meeting.
The Steering Committee will serve a term until the next Annual General Meeting.
If there is a vacancy on the Steering Committee, the membership will elect a new Steering Committee member at the next general meeting of the DSoV.
If you would like to stand as a candidate for our Steering Committee, or just have questions about please send us an email
By-Law Amendment Process
Per the DSoV By-Laws:
These By-Laws may be amended by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the members of the DSoV present at a General Meeting.
Any member can submit a By-Law Amendment for a vote at the AGM, which is our next General Meeting. We ask that members submit amendments no later than Wednesday, Nov 16th so the Steering Committee can send them out for review 48 hours before the meeting.
Each By-Law Amendment will be reviewed and read aloud at the meeting, followed by questions or comments, starting with the member(s) who submitted the amendment. Please be respectful of other members’ time and keep your comments limited to the Amendment at hand. The language of the amendment may be adjusted if the member who submitted it agrees.
We will then vote on the amendment. It will require a two-thirds majority based on the total attendance. If it passes, the By-Laws will be amended. If it fails, the amendment will be discarded.
All changes to the By-Laws will be noted and included in the minutes, which will be sent out within 2 weeks of the Steering Committee Vote Closing
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Example By-Law Amendment:
1. Steering Committee Term Length
Proposed by Outgoing Steering Committee
Purpose: Ensure continuity of administration between Steering Committees
Current Language: 24. The Steering Committee will serve a term until the next Annual General Meeting.
Proposed Change: 24. The Steering Committee will serve a term until the next Annual General Meeting, followed by 3 months training & assisting the incoming Steering Committee.
A list of the proposed By-Law Amendments can be found here