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| Socialist
Party USA: National Organizing Conference |
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Join us in Ann
Arbor THIS
WEEKEND!
When: July 11-13,
2008
Where: ICC Education Center at: 1522 Hill St.
Ann Arbor, MI (behind the the Luther Cooperative House)
ICC
Education Center Home Page
Registration Fees:
$25 and up (self-defined
sliding scale).
* no one will be turned
away because they cannot pay the $25 fee.
Print out
the registration form here
or registration on-line here.
Pay registration with Pay
Pay here:
SATURDAY
JULY 12TH
Session 1: 10:00 -
11:15 a.m.
Workshop 1. The Nuts and Bolts of SP
and
Coalition Organizing
Facilitator: Greg Pason
This workshop will give concrete examples of ways to organize and
maintain Socialist Party locals, state parties, and regional networks;
and how to help members become more active and to stay connected to the
national party's organizational structure.
Workshop
2. Analyzing Capitalism Closely
Facilitator: Kevin Kane
This
workshop will focus on the economic issues and arguments against
capitalism, and less on the human rights, democracy, justice, etc
"sociopolitical" issues that are all too often thrown into the
traditional socialist arguments. This is an attempt to explain
the inner workings of our charge against capitalism, that are equitable
to the Libertarians' charges against the state, which are more
theoretical, rational (though not to say ours are irrational), and
harder to argue with. My goal is to explain socialism in a way
that does that and better.
PLENARY: 11:30AM - 1:00PM:
Organizing for Socialism in an Election
Year: Supporting Our Candidates, Building the Movement
Plenary, moderated by
Susan Dorazio (SP Women's Commission)
I. Opening remarks on electoral activity as an organizing tool--
Susan Dorazio
II. Background
on socialists and the ballot box -- Eric Chester (historian, SP
International Commission)
III.
Major organizing issues of 2008, and how socialist candidates connect
with them.
- Brian Moore (SP candidate for U.S.
President) on the anti-war movement as it can and should relate to
socialist principles and platform.
- Courtney
Campbell: Socialist Electoral Politics as an Expression of
International Solidarity. Independent Socialist Electoral Action in the
United States and Brazil.
III: Closing remarks on why
independent socialist electoral action is important, what socialist
campaigns can
accomplish, and proposals for increasing the resources and visibility
of socialist campaigns--
Matt Erard
(SPMI candidate for State Representative)
Dwain Reynolds
(SPMI candidate for State Board of Education)
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1:00 - 2:45 pm: Lunch
Session 2: 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.
Workshop 1.
Working with the Peace and
Justice Movement
Facilitator:
Greg Pason
A panel of reps
from SP locals who have joined/worked with existing local/state P &
J organizations will talk about their experiences, followed by a group
discussion on strategies for working within existing coalitions.
The focus will be on how we can put forward socialist ideas and
socialist electoral strategies in mainly "liberal" dominated coalitions.
Workshop 2.
The Role of Ballot Access in Our Electoral Strategy
Facilitator: Brian
Moore
This workshop will
include the following among its sub-topics: purpose of ballot
access; difficulties participating in ballot access efforts; potential
states to access, based on conditions; technical aspects of getting our
candidates on the ballot; targeting states to qualify on ballot as
"write-in" status only; seeking coordinators responsible for each
state, within the state; using internet and Web to solicit volunteers;
raising money to pay for paid petitioners, state fees, volunteer
expenses, legal fees, etc; and producing and distributing campaign
materials.
Workshop 3.
Contemporary Left Politics in Latin America
Facilitator: Courtney Campbell
Description coming
soon
Session 3: 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Workshop 1. Rescuing Lenin from the
Leninists
Co-Facilitators: Marc
Luzetti and Ted McTaggart
This topic
concerns how the left, both Leninist and anti-Leninist, has completely
misunderstood Lenin's conception of party building, why, and what we
can salvage from it.
Workshop 2. Breaking Down Walls: A Look at
Immigration Policy in the United States
Facilitator: Nicol
Partida
This workshop will
discuss the current US reactionary immigration policies riddled with
bigotry and leading to disastrous results.
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Marx
in Soho. Howard Zinn's award winning play, performed by
Socialist Party Co-Chair Jerry Levy as Karl Marx. Fundraiser for the
Socialist National Committee (Electoral Fund). See the Marx in Soho
website at: http://levyarts.com
SUNDAY JULY 13TH
Session 1: 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
Workshop 1.
Marxism
101
Facilitator: Matt Erard
This workshop will present an overview of the basic theoretical and
economic concepts of the paradigm that has most influenced the history
of socialist thought. The presentation will cover such core issues in
Marxian philosophy and political economy as dialectics, materialism,
class and the state, scientific socialism, alienation, ideological
formation, the labor theory of value, capitalist economic crises,
imperialism, socialist remuneration and stages, and the relevance of
Marx's predictions today.
Workshop 2.
Capitalism and the Exploitation of Animals
Facilitator: Nicol Partida
In
this
workshop we will explore the ways in which capitalism violently
objectifies and
commodifies animals within US systems and the potential for socialism
to
rectify these issues.
Session 2: 11:30AM - 12:45PM
Workshop 1. LGBTQ
liberation
Facilitator: Sara McClean
Description
coming soon
Workshop 3.
Organizing for Healthcare
Facilitator: Kristin Schall
This workshop will be a presentation of
the strategies and experiences of the New York City local to help build
the Coalition Against Privatization. This coalition brings
together a variety of trade union rank-and-file opposition and
left-wing groups to take action against the proposed conversion of
non-profit health care insurers GHI & HIP to for-profit status.
Session 3: 1:00 -
2:15 p.m.
Workshop 1. Our
Agenda,
Not Theirs: Socialist Feminist Organizing in the Electoral Arena
Facilitator: Susan
Dorazio
As socialist feminists, we have a unique analysis and program to bring
to women's rights/liberation issues. This is particularly
important when it comes to our electoral activity, where it is so easy
to get caught up in the politics of reformism. In this workshop
we will define the scope of "electoral activity"; talk about our
socialist feminist principles; review our Women's Commission platform;
and share ideas for ways to act on these principles and platform within
the electoral sphere of our political work.
Workshop 2.
Electoral
Alliances/Regroupment
Facilitator: Eric
Chester
The question of working more closely with other socialist
organizations, perhaps even merging with them, has frequently been
raised. This workshop will place this issue in an international
perspective and then move to a free-flowing discussion
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How
do I get there?
By airplane
Detroit
Metropolitan Airport
airport website
driving directions from
the airport to the NOC:
Take I-94 W toward Chicago. Take Exit 177 (State St.). Turn a right
onto State St. Turn right onto Hill St. The ICC Education Center will
be on your right behind the Luther Cooperative House.
Total Distance: 24.3 miles.
Shuttle/Taxi
services (some options)
AAA Airport Shuttle Express
www.annarborairportshuttle.net
* 734–394–1665
AAA Ann Arbor/Detroit
Metro Airport Shuttle www.a2airportshuttle.com
* 734-507–9220
Checker Sedan www.checkersedan.com/atairport.php
Metro Airport Taxi
www.metroairporttaxi.org
Michigan Flier www.michiganflyer.com/Rates_and_Reservations.html
More options will be
posted soon
Free rides
Socialist Party members in the Ann Arbor area will
provide transportation to and from the airport for as many conference
participants as possible on Friday July 11th. If you’d like to request
a ride from the airport, please email
spmi@spmichigan.org
or call Matt Erard at (248) 765-1605.
By train
Amtrak
Amtrak website
driving directions from the AMTRAK station to the NOC:
Start out
going Southeast on Depot St. toward Carey St. Depot St. will become
Fuller St. Turn right onto Glen Ave. Turn left onto E. Huron St. Turn
right onto Hill St. The ICC Education Center will be on your left
behind the Luther Cooperative House. Total Distance: 1.63 miles. A map
of the route from the Amtrak Station can be found here
By
Bus
Greyhound
Mega Bus
driving directions
from the Greyhound station to the NOC:
Head East on Huron
St. toward Main St. 2. Huron St.
will become Washtenaw Ave. 3. Turn right on Hill St. The ICC Education
Center will be on your left behind the Luther Cooperative House. Total
Distance: 1.52 miles. A map of the route from the Greyhound Station click here
Lodging
Free housing (mostly couch and
floor space, but some beds will be available).
Currently there is floor and couch space at the E. V. Debs House on
campus must bring sleeping bag & pillow)
and limited space at local members homes.
Contact Matt Erard for more info.
E-Mail: slnaphtali@yahoo.com Phone:
(248) 765-1605
Some local hotels (sent to
us form the Socialist Party of Michigan)
Vitosha Guest Haus.
(0.4 miles from the Conference location) Room accommodating 4 people at
$149/night.
Address: 1917 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. Phone: (734)
741-4969.
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Library Bed and Breakfast.(0.7
miles from the Conference location) Rooms accommodating 2-3 people
starting at $75/night. Address: 808 Mary St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Phone:
(734) 668-6815
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Ann Arbor Bed and Breakfast (1
mile from the Conference location) Address: 921 E Huron St Ann
Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 994-9100.
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Bell Tower Hotel (1 mile
from the Conference location) Rooms starting at $154/night. Address:
300 S. Thayer Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 769-2200.
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Claire's Guest House (1.3 miles
from the Conference location). $89/night for rooms accommodating one
person. $99/night for rooms accommodating two people. Address: 2100
Hall Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone:
(734) 996-0515
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Lamp Post Inn (1.4 miles
from the Conference location). Rooms starting at $49.95/night. Address:
2424 E. Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 971-8000.
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Burnt Toast Inn (Bed
and Breakfast - 1.4 miles from the Conference location) $100/night for
rooms
accommodating one or two people. Address: 415 W. William Ann Arbor, MI
48103. Phone: (734) 662-6685
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Murray Hotel (1.4
miles from the Conference location). Call for rates. Address: 338 E.
Ann St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Phone: (734) 222-0984
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Eighth Street Trekkers Lounge (2.1
miles from the Conference location) Call for rates. Address: 120 8th
St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 369-3107.
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Victory Inn (2.5 miles from the
Conference location). Rooms starting at $49.95/night. Address: 3750 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 971-2000
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Davie's House in Georgetown (2.5
miles from the Conference location). Call for rates. Address: 1355
King
George Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Phone: (734) 973-1722.
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Days Inn (3 miles from the
Conference location). Rooms starting at: $59.99/night. Address: 2380
Carpenter Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Phone: (734) 971-0700
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Baymont Inn (3 miles from the
Conference location). Rooms starting at: $79/night. Address: 2376
Carpenter Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Phone: (877) 229-6668
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Holiday
Inn Express (3 miles from the Conference location). Rooms starting
at $98/night. Address: 600
Briarwood
Circle Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Phone: (877) 863-4780
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Courtyard
Marriott (3 miles from the Conference location). Rooms
starting at: $129/night. Address: 3205
Boardwalk
St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 995-5900
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Fairfield
Inn (3.1 miles from the Conference location) Rooms starting at:
$99/night. Address: 3285
Boardwalk
St. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Phone: (734) 995- 5200.
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Motel 6 (3.3 miles from the
Conference location). Rooms starting at $44.95/night. Address: 3764 S.
State
St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Phone: (734) 665-2202
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Red Roof Inn – University South
(3.6 miles from the Conference location). Rooms starting at
$56.99/night. Address: 3505 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Phone:
(734) 996-5707
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Best Western Executive Plaza
(3.6 miles from the Conference location). Rooms starting at: $79/night.
Address:
2900 Jackson Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Phone: (734) 665-4444
Transportation
Between the Conference and Where You’re Staying
For those staying at
locations not within walking distance of the conference location,
nearly all
lodging
locations are accessible to and from the Conference location through
"The Ride" buses run by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. The
fare is $1.00. The city of Ann Arbor is known for having the most
regular and reliable bus service in Michigan.
The bus stop closest
to the conference location is Stop C – Washtenaw and S. University on
Route #4 –
Washtenaw. From that stop, go South down Washtenaw for one block and
turn East on Hill St. The ICC Education Center is located behind the
Luther Cooperative on Hill St. between Washtenaw Ave. and Lincoln Ave.
A map for this brief walk from the bus stop can be found here
Stops on numerous
other bus routes on The Ride will also put you within a very short
walking-distance of the Conference
location. You can check bus routes and schedules at: http://theride.
org. You can also call the Ann Arbor
Transportation Authority at: (734) 996-0400.
You can also take the
University of Michigan bus system fare-free to the Conference location
if the
place you’re staying is accessible on its routes. You can check
University of Michigan bus routes and schedules at: http://pts.umich. edu/
Ann
Arbor also has eight local taxi services:
A Cab 734-668-2222
Amazing Blue Taxi 734-846–0007
Ann Arbor Taxi, Inc. Ltd.
(734-741–9000),
Ann Arbor Taxi Service 734-0214–9999
Ann Arbor's Red Baron Taxi
734-277–3702
Blue Cab 734-547–2222,
Tree Town Transportation
734-213–1100
Veterans Cab 734-662–4477
Yellow Cab
734-663–3355.
The meter
rate is $2.50 to start, $2.10/mile, and $35/hour for waiting time.
After 11PM on weekdays and 7PM on
weekends,
Night Ride Taxi services is also available at a $5 flat rate
for any distance in the city by calling: (734)
528.5432.
Links:
University of
Michigan Campus Information Center
Ann Arbor Convention
and Visitor’s Bureau
Ann Arbor Visitor
Information
Ann Arbor
Inter-Cooperative Council
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