Resolution to Encourage Ad-Hoc Organization

Passed by membership: May 28, 2026

Whereas:

  • Our committees perform a lot of planning for events or campaigns that are not suited for getting done in specified committee time

  • Organizing basics such as “who brings what” or “who is running the tabling when” are often missed when organized in the current fashion of basically keeping everything in one person’s head and discussing at infrequent committee meetings

  • Ad-Hoc signal groups and other structures have been successful in organizing for strike support and other endeavours

  • Ad-Hoc groups are not necessarily the standard currently, and without an official way to initiate them, they are less likely to occur

  • Bylaws state the following definitions and policies on ad-hoc leadership roles and ad-hoc committees: 

“Article VII

Section C — Ad Hoc Leadership Roles

Chapter members may be appointed by the Co-Chairs to ad hoc leadership positions, or to ad hoc committees, on an as-needed basis. These are not Executive Committee members or official Chapter committees and have none of the privileges associated with such roles.”

Article IX

Section B — Committees

“...Ad hoc committees may be created and dissolved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee…”

Be it resolved:

  • The following amendments to the bylaws shall be executed:

  • Article VII - Section C “Ad Hoc Leadership Roles” shall be amended by substitution as follows:

    • “Chapter members may be appointed as “ad-hoc leadership” to ad-hoc committees (By the process defined in Article IX, Section D) or otherwise, on an as-needed basis by majority vote of the executive committee. These are not Executive Committee members and have none of the privileges associated with such roles.”

  • Article IX - Section B “Committees” shall be amended by removing the following:

    • “Ad hoc committees may be created and dissolved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.”

  • Article IX “Subgroups within Rhode Island DSA” shall be ammended by addition of Section D as follows:

    • Section D — Ad-Hoc Committees:

  1. “Ad-Hoc planning groups or committees can be made by any committee, by majority vote (including executive committee) with a clear intent to plan for an “event” or short term campaign with a clear end date, and a dedicated bottom liner (as referenced in Article VII, Section C). These votes must be approved at the next executive committee session. Ad-Hoc committees can be extended past their defined “end date” if necessary by a majority vote of the commissioning committee, but cannot last more than a total of 6 months (an official committee is more suitable in that case)”

    • Report back at the end of an ad-hoc committee’s planning efforts should be given to whichever of the committees that called for its formation. Report back should be based on answering the following questions:

      • How effective was the event or campaign?

      • What improvements would be made in the organizing/planning process?

      • What materials were generated and will be useful for future work.

    • After report back is complete, group should be formally dissolved (by majority vote of the commissioning committee), deleted and any useful documentation and records shall be archived

    • If possible, information on non-dsa members should be collected and follow-up recruitment calls by New Member Coordinators or relevant executive committee members should be performed.