RISE UP!: GET INVOLVED IN THE SOCIALIST PARTY NYC LOCAL

Get active and help transform our society. Maybe you want to get socialist ideas you're passionate about onto people's radar, or get your own ideas heard? Or maybe you just found the Socialist Party and are wondering how you can best get involved? You're in the right place. Read on for ideas big and small -- from very easy, quick actions like posting a link on a blog to bigger projects like organizing our next Liberation Film Series screening.

If you have an idea that's not represented here or think we could do something more effectively, let us know! Contact Ari at locsec{at}spnyc.org with questions, comments, and ideas.

JOIN US!

Join the Socialist Party. The Socialist Party is a democratic, multi- tendency organization, with structure and practices visible and accessible to all members. Members can join our members-only mailing list and become voting members of our Local Executive Committee, and member dues support Party activities and campaigns. Fill out the on- line application, print out an application, or renew your membership online.

Come to a meeting. Meetings are informal and generally last about an hour. They're attended by our current elected Chair, Treasurer and Secretary as well as a core group of active members -- and you're more than welcome to join us. Come to three meetings and with the LEC's approval you can become a voting member yourself (note, only dues-paying Members can become voting members). Most importantly, this is probably the best way to get to know us and to get involved -- we'll be able to get all your questions answered, and you can chat with us directly about your ideas and interests so we can help you get active.

Stay in touch. We have two local mailing lists: Big Red Apple, a very low traffic SP-NYC events announcement list, and NYC-Local, a discussion and events list open to all SP-NYC members. View archives and subscribe/unsubscribe here: http://sp-usa.org/mailman/listinfo/bigredapple_sp-usa.org http://sp-usa.org/mailman/listinfo/nyc-local_sp-usa.org

ARMCHAIR ACTIVISM: QUICK AND EASY ACTIONS

Put a link to the Local in your email signature. Every time you send an email, you'll be helping increase our visibility. For even better impact, include a socialist quote to get people fired up or intrigued [LINK].

Use your blog, personal website, or social networking profile to promote the Party. Promote or review one of our events, tell folks why you joined the Party, or just give us a link.

Make a financial contribution. The Party relies on donations from members and friends to keep us going. Your donation will be used to support current campaigns and activities. Send your check/money order to: SPUSA, 339 Lafayette St. #303 NY, NY 10012, or donate via PayPal [LINK]. We appreciate your support!

CALLING ALL CREATIVES

Contribute to our website. Tommy runs our site, http:// www.spnyc.org , and it's always growing. You can set up a user account if you'd like to contribute socialist quotes, event listings, blog entries, articles, commentary on news of interest to socialists, art, and other material. Email Tommy at tommynyc{at}tomathon.com for help, or send him your submissions.

Contribute to our print publications. We have two publications, The Socialist and Socialist Women, that are always looking out for new material: organizing reports, articles, essays, poetry, art, opinion. Both publications are run by editorial collectives and are designed by volunteers, and both can always use promotion and distribution help. You can find out more about them and the folks to contact if you'd like to get involved here: http://sp-usa.org/socialist/
http://sp-usa.org/socialistwomen/

Translate our materials into different languages. If you have translation skills, we can use them. Spanish and Chinese translations of pieces written in English are particularly needed. Contact Ari at locsec{at}spnyc.org to volunteer -- and let her know what languages you can translate to and from.

GET THE WORD OUT: OUTREACH AND DISTRIBUTION

Get the word out about the Party. Distribute general informational fliers about the SP in your community -- tape them up on street corners, post them on bulletin boards, leave stacks in coffee shops, leaflet after an event with a receptive audience. Pass them around and help grow the party! Download fliers here, in English and Spanish [LINK].

Help promote our next Liberation Film Series screening. One of our most successful outreach campaigns, the Liberation Film Series is a monthly film screening and discussion series that brings diverse audiences into our office and the AJ Muste Institute. Attendees are often not SP members and aren't on our mailing list, but once they come to a screening, that's likely to change! Help this series continue to grow the party and spread socialist ideas by promoting our next screening. Find out what the next film is and download fliers and other outreach materials for distribution here [LINK]. For outreach ideas, read this brief list of best practices [LINK].

Distribute The Socialist and Socialist Women. Come by our office and pick up a stack of one (or both!) of our publications, and then pass them out or drop them off at a suitable spot in your community. For pick-up hours, contact Greg at natsec{at}socialistparty-usa.org.

Table at a local event. Are you a people person? We've got the materials and any tabling fees, but we need people to answer questions about socialism and the Party. If you hear of an event where the SP should table, let us know -- or contact us to find out where we need people. Good communication skills and solid familiarity with the Party and socialism are a plus. Contact Ari at locsec{at}spnyc.org to volunteer.

ORGANIZING: MAKE IT HAPPEN

Organize an upcoming Liberation Film Series screening. We've got a formula, and it works. Even if you have very little organizing experience, don't worry -- we'll pair you with a more experienced member who can help you make your event a success. Public speaking and discussion moderation skills are a plus. Contact Ari at locsec{at}spnyc.org to volunteer.

Organize your community. It's easier than it sounds -- and we can help you make it happen. A picnic, music concert, film screening, roundtable discussion, houseparty or other event in your neighborhood can be a great way to get the word out about the Party, inform your neighbors about socialism, build community solidarity, or raise money for an upcoming event or campaign. We can help you with funding, graphic design, outreach, and the other details that will make your event a success. Send your ideas and plans to Ari at locsec{at}spnyc.org, and we'll do what we can to help you mobilize and activate your community.

MEMBERS ONLY: BECOME A MOVER AND A SHAKER

NEW: Become our event mailings coordinator. The NYC Local currently does not send out paper mailings providing our current event listings, which cuts off members and potential members who don't have internet access from finding out about current SP events. We have the supplies, funding, and knowledge to make this happen, but we need an interested volunteer to organize this important new outreach campaign and make it happen. Those who are interested should email Ari at locsec{at}spnyc.org.

NEW: Become our volunteer coordinator. The NYC Local is growing, and new volunteers are coming in every day. Help volunteers get involved, and organizers get the help they need to make their campaigns a success. Organizing, communications, and experience working in collectives and other non-hierarchical organizations a plus. Are you the right person for the job? Contact Ari at locsec{at}spnyc.org with your qualifications.