In two short years, SDS has become one of the largest and fastest growing student led organizations, with over 120 active and dynamite chapters. Heroic thanks to everyone who organizes with us and makes it possible!
Last summer (2007) was a turning point for us. We had our first Action Camp and our second National Convention, two critical events that involved hundreds of SDSers and strongly shaped the work that happened during this year. As summer rolls around again, we are bringing back our biggest hits, but we need your help.
This summer, the National Convention and the Action Camps will again bring about 300 SDSers together for training, movement building, and friendship. That means we need to provide for food, mentors, and housing. Most importantly, we need funds to make sure that SDSers from working class backgrounds or far-away regions are able to come and participate. That’s right – we need money to make democracy work!
Here are some descriptions of the activities we need to fund:
’08 National Convention
July 24-27, University of College Park, MD. This year’s National Convention will bring together hundreds of SDSers to build a strategic and successful student movement. The convention is a place for SDSers from all over the country to meet and build skills together, while we develop national campaigns, internal structure and create direction for the organization for the following year.
By donating to the SDS National Convention, you ensure that we will have funds for guest facilitators , guest trainers, travel scholarships, housing, food, work spaces, and materials.
’08 Action Camps
August 15-17, Ashville NC. The Action Camps will bring together 60 SDSers this summer to help build a new generation of leadership in SDS. We will learn chapter building, campaign strategy, facilitation, media, direct action training and other valuable organizing skills from SDS trainers and trainers from outside organization.
Right now we still need money for housing , food for 60 SDSers, travel stipends for working class SDSers, plus travel, stipends and accommodations for 6 outside trainers.
RNC/DNC
At the RNC, Macalester SDS is organizing a “home base” convergence space where students from around the country can share resources, build coalitions, and work together to disrupt the convention. SDSers are also organizing a number of diverse actions, including organizing the student contingent of the largest planned march on the first day of the RNC, participating in the blockade strategy, and organizing student protests on the last day of the Convention when the candidate is announced. With help from home base, DC SDS is traveling from halfway across the country to bring their colossal street dance party “Funk The War” to the RNC.
At the DNC, Denver SDS is helping to organize a 5 day “Tent State University”: a student-led tent occupation of Denver featuring education and training for thousands of student leaders and gigantic concerts starring renowned band Rage Against the Machine. Based on the successful “Tent State University” model that has reclaimed campuses around the nation, SDS is encouraging and training national youth to build locally as a means to seize the national debate over important issues and move beyond protest politics.
Needs include money for props, supplies, and other materials for SDSers who are coming to the RNC and DNC to protest, participate, and recruit members!
