Resolution 22 on Communications

[Liz Blackbourn]

Hello everyone,

I am editing Resolution 22 to reflect the requested change from a “standing” to a “special” committee. This meets feedback and allows for the resolution process to be used. The goal here is the eventual creation of a standing committee via amending the Charter. 

Please review the Google Doc tabs for this resolution. I’ve attached the 2022 CLC resolution as an appendix because many newer members have asked about it. The resolution is not currently available on the Wiki. Merrill and Karen were informed. Resolutions and other AGM activities were never transitioned properly when the previous executive officers’ terms ended in 2023. I assume the former Resolutions Committee and others still have the original PDF. Enclosed is the originally distributed file in PDF. The resolution referenced begins on page 19. 

Please review the 2022 resolution before suggesting a trim-down of sections found after "be it resolved" clauses in the 2025 resolution. While some deem the section on roles to be "prescriptive", others find it to be the resolution's "heart" and "enforcement mechanism". 

Please let me know if I hit my targeted goals or if you have suggestions.

1. This resolution seeks to empower more messengers. 
   
2. It aims to provide the support and tools our CCs and other branches require 365 days of the year. 
   
3. It allows DPCA to expand its top-down approach. 
   
4. It sets clear expectations.
5. It sets a standard of accountability. 
   
6. It allows for the development of differentiated messaging to achieve organizational goals.
7. The resolution has a review process with a set end date so that future actions of amending the Charter and/or hiring staff are informed decisions.  

Thank you for your time.

Liz Blackbourn

DACN....@gmail.com

Signal: +1 608-443-7450

[Liz Blackbourn]

We have found the document for the 2022 resolutions. Julia Bryan submitted the resolution creating a Special Committee on Legal Compliance Strategies. In this document, you will also find a resolution submitted by Martha McDevitt-Pugh to create a Standing Voter Protection Committee. The 2025 communications resolution transitions the current Comms Team. It does not set out to form a committee to separately audit the work, as was the case for 2022's special committee.  

As the deadline for edits is now specified as the end of the day on May 19th, with publication on May 22nd, I hope we can have a meaningful discussion here and during our town halls. If you have fielded comments, please forward them to my attention. 

Liz

[Liz Blackbourn]

Please be aware that the Wiki still has 2 documents published for Resolution 22. The text is listed twice...under the correct title, then also using the title for Resolution 23. There are 2 sets of DPCA member feedback in 2 different documents for Resolution 22.  

Liz

[Sarajean Rossitto]

resolved - only 1 with edits and suggestions should be viewable now

comments are being moved

SJR

[Liz Blackbourn]

Hi everyone,

Still seeking clarification as to where and if I can add Non Country Committee/NCC to the document, or if this is ill-advised. There was a comment that adding "transational" may be permissible, but adding "NCC" may expand the scope of the Charter in some way. I can use Country Committee/CC for all, or even "local committee". Please advise. 

Working to get all three R22 documents and their comments addressed before the deadline, knowing that we discussed a (hopefully unnecessary) temporary extension during the very last town hall. 

Thanks, Liz

[Peter Gallego]

Dear DPCA Resolutions Committee:

What time are resolution edits due tonight?

And as I recall, the co-sponsorships are due 2 June 2025?  Correct me if I'm wrong.

I saw the forms on DA wiki.  Please let know, update me.

Wishing the BEST SUCCESS EXITO for all the resolutions that are scheduled to be considered, hopefully passed at our next AGM on 8 June 2025!

Keep up the good work, much luck Buena suerte boa sorte committe, team!

My Very Best,

Pete Gallego  ;)

DA Spain 🇪🇸 Member since 2016

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ResolutionsDisc...@democratsabroad.org.

[Sarajean Rossitto]

Good day 

All final edits are due by 11:59 pm Washington dc time - us Eastern daylight time 

We will only have 2 days to do the final report and resolutions packet so we need to be fairly strict

But you can continue to cosponsor until June - exact date will be in the packet 

Sarajean 

On May 20, 2025, at 7:51, Peter Gallego <pgall...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Peter Gallego]

Dear SaraJean:

Thanks for your kind UPDATE!  I have thoroughly reviewed the RESOLUTIONS.  Everything looks good, and I have co-sponsored several of them.

I look FORWARD to seeing the final edits, and what will be presented at our 2025 AGM on 6-8 June 2025.

Everyone TODOS TUDOS have worked very hard on these, and they will HELP move DA/DPCA Forward.

Ok, keep us members of the PUBLIC, as DA Members posted!  Once again, thanks gracias for your LEADERSHIP always!

My Very Best,

Pete R. Gallego

DA Spain Espana Member since 2016

[Bob Vallier]

Hi

I just wanted to alert you that in order to be a cosponsor. You must be a DPCA voting representative. Unless I am mistaken, I do not believe that you are one. Is that correct?

Cheers

Bob Vallier

Resolutions Committee

Sent from my iPhone

On 20 May 2025, at 14:38, Peter Gallego <pgall...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Peter Gallego]

Dear Bob:

I am not atm, so I guess I cannot co-sponsor then.

So many rules, but I understand.

Can I be a supporter then, added to the bill in some form at the very least?

Nevertheless, I commend everyone on the work vested into the 23 resolutions.

And all the co-sponsors thus far.

If I can be added as a supporter to all the resolutions I wanted to co-sponsor, then add me on.

I will be fully engaged either way on this, the charter amendments, and anything DA/DPCA is doing to make the DPCA/DA better!

My Very Best,

Pete R. Gallego. :)

DA Spain 🇪🇸 Espana member since 2016

[Liz Blackbourn]

Dear Martha, Steve, Julia, current communications liaisons, and the 2025 Resolutions Committee,

I write this with a heavy heart and profound disappointment.

I am traveling and haven’t yet had time to fully research the committee’s statements on resolutions 22 and 23, but it appears and has been stated in 1:1 conversations that you are undermining the Resolutions process. I want to be unequivocal in saying: I am deeply disheartened by how this has unfolded.

At any point, truly, at any point, any and all of you, or anyone serving on the Resolutions Committee, could have come to me directly with specific edits for Resolution 22. Edits related to the Charter and Resolutions process that I was vocal in seeking.

The culture of “do as I say, not as I do” that continues to permeate our leadership is not only untenable, it is repulsive. We are being led by paranoia, not vision. We do not accept feedback; we deflect it, ignore it, and too often treat it as a personal affront. We are not organizing intentionally. Instead, we are seeking to institutionalize that disorganization through a Charter amendment. That I cannot support.

I cannot stand behind a system that continues to be willfully color-absent, resistant to inclusive growth, and afraid of honest dialogue. I cannot endorse a leadership model that fails to create space for new voices, for ideation, for people to contribute meaningfully and grow this organization.

To now have Aaron reach out to “hurry up and fix” the communications team…this far down the road…is shameful. Grossly unfair. It should never have gotten to this point. And the worst part is: it was entirely avoidable. The gaps, the cracks, the silences. I’ve pointed them out, and I have been told across the globe that leaders and volunteers have pointed them out again and again and again. I am not the sole author of this resolution, I am the person who put forth the resolution to the body. During the 2025 resolutions process, many further left supportive comments were made in the document of Resolution 22 itself. This feedback was received through texts, emails, phone calls, and meetings. For months. And yet, here we are.

We are losing. 

I say that not to point fingers, but as a statement of fact. We are losing, and we must finally acknowledge this fact. We must ask ourselves honestly and without ego, are we ready to reform? Are we willing to confront our fear and stop letting it drive our decisions? Or are we going to choose the safety of the status quo, and keep losing?

I know where I stand. At this time, I also withdraw all candidate endorsements and “whip” efforts. 

In grief, in frustration, and with resolve,

Liz Blackbourn 

[Keith Brannum]

Greetings Liz,

The Committee received your feedback and concerns.

The Resolutions Committee pursued an open and engaging process with all members. We:

• Publicly noticed the submission process and editorial guidelines to help authors.

• We held town halls, stating the same guidelines and initial committee feedback.

• We took feedback from members and leaders at said town halls. 

• We took feedback through all channels, from Google Groups to Mighty, outreach from leaders, existing relevant bodies of DA, etc. 

• We took feedback from members of other global teams that would have been affected by the submitted resolutions.

The Committee’s non-binding recommendations took all this into account. No one person has a monopoly on the conversation. We met as a committee and took all these consultations independently to produce the report with our non-binding recommendations. DPCA members will have the final word with their votes at the Annual Global Meeting. 

We invite the author and all readers to remember the DPCA Code of Conduct and that all members should be treated with respect and dignity at all times. Regardless of whether you disagree, that does not give anyone license to make statements of this kind towards anyone. 

We are all here to make the Democratic Party Committee Abroad a strong organization that helps win elections back home. 

If there are any questions, our door is always open. 

Sincerely,

The 2025 Resolutions Committee