I went to my first DSA general meeting in over five years last night; the venue had changed and was much smaller, reflecting the post-pandemic trend towards hybrid meetings. And while I have no idea how many members were on the Zoom, I have a sense that this also reflects other trends too; I think the chapter lost a lot of members since I was last active. I don’t know the stats, but it’s pretty obvious that there are far fewer working groups now.
The energy was a lot less fractious than I remember too, but the goofy vibe that turned me off so thoroughly before wasn’t completely absent either; during the break, I overheard some non-comradely snark dripping with the kind of acid I could do without. But no matter; it feels like the overall dynamic is a lot less chaotic these days.
I was especially inspired by the passion of the newly-ratified “Save Our Schools” workgroup, which had apparently been organizing unofficially for a while. I think it’s a very good campaign to mobilize the membership around most broadly.
Do I feel like I belong yet? Not really. I do feel reconnected though; more conversant in the discourses affecting my city, if not more plugged in. And I appreciate that part, at least.