The Plan to Re-Engage
YDSC has grown both through, and in spite of, the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic threw at our organization. We've engaged each other online--now the challenge is to re-engage each other, our fellow youth voters, and South Carolinians in general, again in person.
Strengthening Our Chapters
As we encourage our Chapters to meet in person again, we will also support Chapters that continue virtual options to include members who are unable to attend. YDSC will maintain its Zoom account for virtual chapter and caucus meetings, and most meetings of the Executive Council will remain virtual.
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YDSC will leverage our access to Votebuilder and our existing data to reach out to prospective and lapsed members to both build new chapters and strengthen our existing ones. Our goal is for every county in South Carolina to be covered by a YDSC chapter by 2024. Strong Chapter organization allows us to be better prepared to mobilize for elections, and to be effective in more counties.
Bringing the Family Together Again
Under Team Re-Engage, YDSC will hold three in-person general meetings a year in addition to the State Convention. We used to hold such meetings before the pandemic, and we should again in order to keep YDSC decision making as close to our members as we can.
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This also means we'll reintroduce some social events in the state co-sponsored by YDSC and the host chapter to go with these in-person general meetings.
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"Work and Fun; Get Something Done" - Jeni Atchley, 2018
Write a Biennial Budget & Stick To It
YDSC has not had major financial problems in several years but now is the time to write a permanent budget for our organization. We need to put our goals on paper, have our costs for those goals known, fundraise to that budget, and stick to it. We know people are more likely to donate to us when they know what they're giving money to us to do--let's make our budget, and make it permanent.
Breathe New Life into Our Caucuses
It's time to breathe new life into our Caucuses! Nearly all of us are current leaders in caucuses, or are directly responsible for their organization. In our current positions, we put on a Caucus Forum in March, reached out to current Caucus Chairs to get them to hold election meetings, and more to get our caucuses back on track now, because it's our responsibility.
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Should we take office, our unfinished business here becomes Job One: reorganize caucuses that did not re-charter; assist and strengthen the caucuses that did, and form three new Caucuses for High School and College students, and a Disability Issues Caucus.
We've Raised $20.000 in a Biennium. Let's Double That.
YDSC will schedule regular call time and set donor targets for Executive Board and Executive Council members and make fundraising the responsibility of our entire leadership. We'll also reintroduce some in-person receptions for YDSC throughout the year and formalize a recurring donor program similar to the SCDP's Yellow Dog Club or the RCDP's True Blue Club. This will not be easy, and we will have to prove to donors that investing in South Carolina is an investment well spent. We are ready to make that ask.
Taking a More Active Role in SCDP & Our Communities
YDSC has acted as a bridge between young voters and the Democratic Party, and will continue to do so. Under Austin and Team Re-Engage, we extend this bridge to community and issue advocacy groups throughout our state. South Carolina has a lot to work on, and our members stand ready to help where it's needed--whether it's at the Dorchester County Democratic Party or at the State House. We also extend an invite to outside activists and young SCDP members who haven't joined YDSC to take the opportunity to join us.