2026 Savannah DSA Convention

Agenda

April 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Sentient Bean | 13 E Park Ave., Savannah, GA 31401
Presiding: Caroline & Austin, Co-Chairs
Participation in the deliberative process -- including making motions, debating, and voting -- is reserved for dues-paying members in good standing (MIGS). Guests and non-members are welcome to observe. Verify your membership status at savgadsa.org/membership-proof.
How voting works tonight: All elections and resolution votes will be conducted through OpaVote, an online ranked-choice voting platform. Each resolution will be introduced, discussed, and debated at convention, then tabled until the OpaVote ballot is released. The voting window closes Saturday, April 11th at 11:59 PM. Watch your email for the OpaVote link. If you are not yet a dues-paying member and join before the voting window closes, you will be added to OpaVote and may cast your vote.
7:00 PM Doors Open

Sign in via QR code at the entrance. Voting cards will be distributed to verified MIGS only.

7:05 PM Call to Order & Adoption of Agenda

The Co-Chairs will confirm quorum and present this agenda for adoption by majority vote. Members may propose amendments to the agenda before it is adopted.

7:10 PM Kick-Off Speech

Ben -- first Co-Chair and founding member of Savannah DSA

7:15 PM Address from National Co-Chair of the NPC

Ahmed Husain -- DSA National Political Committee Member

7:20 PM Committee & Working Group Reports
  1. Membership & Outreach -- Lindsey
  2. Labor Working Group -- Luke
  3. Electoral Committee -- Reed
  4. Housing Working Group -- Meagan
  5. Migrant Rights Working Group -- George
  6. Mutual Aid Working Group -- Daphne
  7. Vote Kendra Clark Campaign -- KeyShawn
  8. Communications & Design Committee -- Austin
7:40 PM Steering Committee Elections

All five Steering Committee seats are up for election. Nominees will each have up to two minutes to address the body. Nominations remain open through convention -- you may nominate yourself or another MIGS from the floor.

Declared Candidates
  • Co-Chair (2 seats): George Robles, Melinda Workman, KeyShawn Housey, Jessie Herbert Jr.
  • Secretary: Ryan Powell*
  • Treasurer: Melinda Workman, Michael Helmicki
  • Membership Coordinator: Melinda Workman, Lindsey Grovenstein

*Eligibility pending verification of DSA membership status.

Note: Some candidates are running for more than one position. Per Bylaws Art. V, Sec. 1, no member may hold more than one office. If a candidate wins a higher-priority position, they will be removed from the ballot for remaining positions. Elections will be conducted through OpaVote using instant-runoff voting.
7:50 PM Resolutions

Each resolution will be introduced by its sponsor, the author will motivate the resolution, followed by discussion, a second, and debate. The item will then be tabled until the OpaVote ballot is released. All resolution votes are cast through OpaVote.

R26-002 -- Resolution to Adopt a New Chapter Logo
Proposes a new pirate-motif chapter logo reflecting Savannah's maritime history and democratic pirate traditions, grounded in the rose as a symbol of democratic socialism. The proposed design will be presented alongside the resolution.
R26-006 -- Developing Savannah DSA Members into Organizers
Submitted by Lindsey G., Austin R., and George R. Establishes a chapter-wide system for onboarding, training, and developing members into organizers, including a membership assessment, centralized engagement tracking, and a political education pipeline.
R26-001 -- Resolution to Rescind the Moratorium on Hosting Events at YourSpace
Rescinds a prior moratorium whose underlying basis no longer exists and restores YourSpace as an available organizing space for the chapter, its committees, and working groups.
R26-003 -- Savannah DSA Restorative Justice and Membership Standing Policy
Submitted by George Robles. Establishes a chapter policy framework for restorative justice and protections for membership standing in connection with pending criminal charges.
R26-004 -- A Resolution Affirming Savannah DSA's Commitment to Believing Survivors of Sexual Assault
Submitted by Kendra Clark. Affirms the chapter's commitment to believing survivors, centers non-carceral accountability, and calls for annual political education on the intersection of economic justice and sexual violence.
R26-005 -- Restorative Justice, Membership Standing, and Survivor-Centred Accountability Policy
Submitted by Meagan English. Combines and expands upon R26-003 and R26-004 into a unified policy framework establishing restorative justice protections for membership standing, survivor-centred accountability processes, and the chapter's commitment to believing survivors.
Consent Agenda -- Charter Ratifications (CR26-01)
Committee and working group charters submitted for ratification (CR26-01A, CR26-01B, etc.). Items will be ratified as a block unless a member requests that a specific charter be pulled for individual discussion.
8:30 PM Panel Discussion
  • Luke Hoffman
  • George Robles
  • Tia Brightwell
8:50 PM Closing Announcements & Upcoming Events
  • Kendra Clark Campaign -- Phone Banking, Post Card Party & Canvassing
  • Rapid Response Training -- April 8th at 6pm
  • CLC Fish Fry -- April 11th (Volunteers needed)
  • Book Club -- April 12th at 3pm -- "When the Levee Breaks"
  • Savannah Affordable Housing Alliance -- 3rd Forum, April 12th, 4-6pm
  • Mutual Aid Sharing -- Every Saturday, 2-4pm year round
Don't forget: Watch your email for the OpaVote ballot. All elections and resolution votes close Saturday night at 11:59 PM. If you join DSA as a dues-paying member before the window closes, you will be added to OpaVote and can vote.
9:00 PM Adjournment & Group Photo

Stick around for a group photo after adjournment. T-shirt pre-orders available at the table.

Member Reference

Participation in deliberation, motions, and voting is reserved for dues-paying Members in Good Standing (MIGS). Guests and non-members are welcome to observe.

How Voting Works

All elections and resolution votes are conducted through OpaVote (online ranked-choice voting).
Voting window: Opens after convention. Closes Saturday 11:59 PM.
Watch your email for the OpaVote link.
Not yet a member? If you join DSA as a dues-paying member before the voting window closes, you will be added to OpaVote and may cast your vote.

Your Rights as a MIGS

Make a motion: "I move to..." (requires a second from another MIGS)
Speak in debate: Raise your hand, wait to be recognized by the chair. Speakers alternate for and against.
Propose an amendment: "I move to amend the motion by..." (requires a second, majority vote)
Nominate from the floor: You may nominate yourself or another MIGS for any open Steering Committee position.
Pull a consent agenda item: Request any charter be removed from the block vote for individual discussion.
Point of order: If you believe procedure is being violated, say "Point of order." The chair must rule immediately.
Point of information: If you need factual clarification, say "Point of information."

Common Motions

What You WantYou SayVote
Approve something"I move to adopt..."Maj.
Change wording"I move to amend by..."Maj.
End debate"I call the question"2/3
Delay to later date"I move to postpone to..."Maj.
Set aside temporarily"I move to table"Maj.
Send to committee"I move to refer to..."Maj.
Challenge a ruling"I appeal the decision of the chair"Maj.
End the meeting"I move to adjourn"Maj.

Resolution Process Tonight

1. Sponsor introduces the resolution
2. Author motivates (explains why)
3. Discussion period
4. A MIGS seconds the motion
5. Formal debate (speakers for & against)
6. Item tabled to OpaVote ballot

Elections

Open seats: Co-Chair (2), Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Coordinator
Uncontested races may be elected by acclamation (no objection). Contested races go to OpaVote (instant-runoff).
Floor nominations are open. You do not need a second to nominate.
No member may hold more than one office. Officers shall not all be cis men.

Tonight's Resolutions

R26-002: Adopt new chapter logo
R26-006: Member Development Pipeline
R26-001: Rescind YourSpace moratorium
R26-003: Restorative Justice & Membership Standing
R26-004: Believing Survivors
R26-005: Combined RJ + Survivor-Centred Accountability
CR26-01: Charter Ratifications (Consent Agenda)

Discussion Guidelines

Assume good faith in your fellow comrades.
Step up / step back: If you've spoken, leave space. If you haven't, we want to hear from you.
One mic: Do not interrupt or speak while others are talking.
Progressive stack: The chair prioritizes speakers who haven't spoken and members from marginalized groups.
Challenge ideas, not people. If you disagree, address the argument.

Contact & Resources

Membership verification: savgadsa.org/membership-proof
Submit amendments: info@savgadsa.org
Report misconduct: savannah.hgo@savgadsa.org